1. KEEP THY HEART WITH ALL DILLIGENCE.
THE JONAH SYNDROME
AND THE PRODICAL SON
BROTHER.

2. We are told in the scriptures that we must keep our heart
with all diligence. Prov.4:23
‘’Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life’’
Therefore it is important to be very careful of what we think
and fed our mind with, that’s why God in His mercy give us
eight guidelines of the things we must think upon.
So as we walk the Christian pathway we may be viligence
and diligence in whatever issues of life we may be engage
in.

3. We are told in Phil 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things.

4. We are told that we must think upon the things that are true,
the word True mean ‘’Conforming with facts, correct ,
accurate, genuine, loyal, perfectly in tune, truthful, rightly’’
Webster new English dictionary pg.495
Now many of us as human beings have a tendency to let our
minds dwell upon the things that are not true, we tend to
remember something negative more than something
posivtive

5. David tells us in Ps 119:160
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of
thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
KJV
Truth is consistent, but a lie will always be a lie, because
it’s never consistent with itself, so is error.
David also says in Ps 146:6
Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that
therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
KJV

6. Having the fact of a matter is highly important to prevent
against rumors, gossip and evil speaking, if we speak the
things which we think is true and not having evidence or
facts, I call it faithlessness, and speculations
Therefore we must keep our heart with all diligence.

7. The next thing we are told to think upon is the things that are
Honest.
The word Honest mean: ‘’Truthful, trustworthy, sincere, or
genuine, gained by fair means, frank, open.’’ Webster new
English dictionary pg221
This is one of the hardest trait to find in people, ever so often
we come in contact with people who by some means or the
other is not truthful, or genuine, in their conduct.
We are told in Acts 6:3
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of
honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we
may appoint over this business.
KJV

8. Luke 8:15
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest
and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring
forth fruit with patience.
KJV
If one is honest in business they will be patient

9. Rom 12:17-18 says
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in
the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably
with all men.
2 Cor 8:21 says
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord,
but also in the sight of men.
1 Peter 2:12 says
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,
whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by
your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the
day of visitation.

10. quote

12. Quote:
‘’Stop blaming your spouse for your unhappiness, your parents
for your lack of motivation, the economy for your social status,
your childhood for your problems, and anything else to which
you assign your blame points, you are the result of the choice
you have made in your life.’’

13. Another attribute we must think upon is the things that are
just.
JUST—meaning ‘’Fair impartial, deserved, merited, proper,
exact, conforming strictly with the facts, exactly, justly,
equitable by right.’’ Webster’s new English dictionary pg.254
Having a preconceived idea of someone or something without
the facts is also being unjust,

14. A wealthy man walked into a bar in Miami. As soon as he
entered, he noticed an African woman (black), sitting in one
corner.
He walked over to the counter, removed his wallet and shouted,
"Bartender! I am buying drinks for everyone in this bar, except
that black woman over there!"

15. The bartender collected the money from the man and began
serving free food and wine to everyone in the bar except the
African. When the waiter finished serving the food and drinks,
the African woman simply smiled at the man and said, Thank
you!" That made him furious. So he leaned over the counter and
asked the bartender, "What is wrong with that black woman? I
have bought food and drinks for everyone in this bar except for
her, and instead of becoming angry, she just sits there, smiles at
me and shouts 'Thank you.' Is she mad?" The bartender smiled at
the wealthy man and said, "No, she is not mad. She is the
OWNER of this establishment."

16. The Jonah syndrome
Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way;
and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do
unto them; and he did it not.
Jonah 4:1-3
1.But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
2. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord,
was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore
I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious
God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and
repentest thee of the evil.
3 Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me;
for it is better for me to die than to live,

17. Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?
5. So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the
city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow,
till he might see what would become of the city.
6. And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up
over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver
him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
7. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next
day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

18. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the
gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
10. Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the
which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which
came up in a night, and perished in a night:
11. And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are
more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern
between their right hand and their left hand; and also much
cattle?

22. Another attribute we must think upon is the things that are
Pure.
PURE- ‘’Clean not contaminated, not mix, chase, innocent, free
from taint or defilement,’’
Webster new English dictionary pg.372
Matt 5:8 says
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Prov 30:12
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is
not washed from their filthiness.

23. We must also think on the things that are LOVELY.
LOVELY- Meaning== ‘’Beautiful , highly enjoyable,
Webster new English dictronary.pg277
Many today set their minds on negative things, things that is not
lovely.
If we do represent Christ, we shall make his service appear
attractive, as it really is. Christians who gather up gloom and
sadness to their souls, and murmur and complain, are giving to
others a false representation of God and the Christian life. They
give the impression that God is not pleased to have his children
happy, and in this they bear false witness against our Heavenly
Father (steps to Christ,81)

24. Many, walking along the path of life,
dwell upon their mistakes and
failures and disappointments, and
their hearts are filled with grief and
discouragement. While I was in
Europe, a sister who had been doing
this, and who was in deep distress,
wrote to me, asking for some word of
encouragement. The night after I had
read her letter, I dreamed that I was in
a garden, and One who seemed to be
the owner of the garden was
conducting me through its paths,

25. I was gathering the flowers and enjoying
their fragrance, when this sister, who had
been walking by my side, called my
attention to some unsightly briers that
were impeding her way. There she was,
mourning and grieving. She was not
walking in the pathway, following the
guide, but was walking among the briers
and thorns. "O," she mourned, "is it not a
pity that this beautiful garden is spoiled
with thorns?" Then the guide said, "Let
the thorns alone, for they will only
wound you. Gather the roses, the lilies,
and the pinks."

26. There are many who have an
erroneous idea of the life and
character of Christ. They
think that he was devoid of
warmth and sunniness, that
he was stern, severe, and
joyless. In many cases the
whole religious experience is
colored by these gloomy
views.

28. GOOD REPORT== Many today, love to hear good things
but how many, carry a good report.
Prov 25:25 says
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far
country.
, .

29. VIRTURE==Meaning- ‘’Moral excellence any admirable
quality, chastity, merit.’’ Webster new English dictionary.
Pg. 2132
Peter 1:5
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

32. s
Called to Glory and Virtue, June 7
God has called us to glory and virtue. We have no right
to assimilate with the world—dressing, talking, and
living as worldliness do. God has given us a high
standard to reach. To enable man to reach this
standard, God sent into the world His only begotten
Son. In our behalf Christ made an infinite sacrifice. He
laid aside His kingly crown and royal robe, clothed His
divinity with humanity, and came into our world to
teach men and women the laws of life and salvation,
which they must carry out to the letter in order to have
everlasting life in the kingdom of glory. By Ellen g
white

33. PRAISE– Meaning= ‘’To express approval of to
commend….’’ Webster new English dictionary. 356
THE PRODICAL SON BROTHER.

34. Luke 15:24-29
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew
nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things
meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath
killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father
out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I
serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment:
and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with
my friends:
KJV

35. Thus far in the Savior's parable there is no discordant note to jar the
harmony of the scene of joy; but now Christ introduces another
element. When the prodigal came home, the elder son "was in the field;
and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and
dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these
things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy
father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and
sound. And he was angry, and would not go in." This elder brother has
not been sharing in his father's anxiety and watching for the one that
was lost. He shares not, therefore, in the father's joy at the wanderer's
return. The sounds of rejoicing kindle no gladness in his heart. He
inquires of a servant the reason of the festivity, and the answer excites
his jealousy. He will not go in to welcome his lost brother. The favor
shown the prodigal he regards as an insult to himself. Christ’s object
lesston.208

36. By the elder son were represented the
unrepenting Jews of Christ's day, and also
the Pharisees in every age, who look with
contempt upon those whom they regard as
publicans and sinners. Because they
themselves have not gone to great excesses in
vice, they are filled with self-righteousness.
Christ met these cavilers on their own
ground. Like the elder son in the parable,
they had enjoyed special privileges from
God. They claimed to be sons in God's house,
but they had the spirit of the hireling.

37. Luke 15:8-10
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver,
if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and
sweep the house, and seek diligently till she
find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her
friends and her neighbours together, saying,
Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece
which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner
that repenteth.

38. December 4, 2013 ·
The lost coin, in the Saviour’s parable, though lying in the dirt
and rubbish, was a piece of silver still. Its owner sought it
because it was of value. So every soul, however degraded by sin,
is in God’s sight accounted precious. As the coin bore the image
and superscription of the reigning power, so man at his creation
bore the image and superscription of God. Though now marred
and dim through the influence of sin, the traces of this
inscription remain upon every soul. God desires to recover that
soul and to retrace upon it His own image in righteousness and
holiness. {MH 163.1}