WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.679 If you aren't familiar with the book of Jonah, you can find on our church website the other two sermons on Jonah chapter 1, Jonah chapter 2. 00:00:07.140 --> 00:00:09.240 And that brings us up to speed where we are today. 00:00:12.040 --> 00:00:14.300 I'm going to read the entire chapter for us. 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:16.440 You can follow along in your Bible. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:19.120 I'll be reading from the King James. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:23.719 Then I'll be expositing a little bit from both, including the ESV. 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:27.740 I think it's helpful for us to hear God's word from a variety of different English versions. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:35.759 And as I read this, remember that this is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient word. 00:00:35.839 --> 00:00:37.479 It's God's very own word for you. 00:00:37.879 --> 00:00:43.539 If you believe that about the Bible and you receive it that way, after I'm done reading Jonah 3, I'll say, 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:46.799 This is the word of the Lord, and you respond, Thanks be to God. 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:51.799 Jonah chapter 3, verses 1 through 10. 00:00:51.799 --> 00:01:15.739 Verse 4. 00:01:15.739 --> 00:01:36.299 Verse 6. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:02:06.280 Verse 6. 00:02:06.299 --> 00:02:07.700 Verse 9. 00:02:19.639 --> 00:02:27.539 Who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not? 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:40.579 And God saw their works, that they were turned from their evil way, and God repented of the evil that he had said he would do unto them, and he did it not. 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:44.039 This is the word of the Lord for the people of God. 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:47.019 Thanks be to God. You may be seated. 00:02:57.539 --> 00:03:07.299 The Bible says that the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever. 00:03:08.239 --> 00:03:09.479 Would you pray with me? 00:03:10.359 --> 00:03:12.259 From Isaiah 55, 6. 00:03:12.259 --> 00:03:27.799 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 00:03:28.699 --> 00:03:33.399 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth. 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:43.719 It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:53.060 May this be so today, Lord, through the ministry of your word, for the glory of King Jesus in this congregation, we pray. Amen. 00:03:53.060 --> 00:04:04.060 Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, how do you receive the word of the Lord? 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:08.120 The word of the Lord goes out. 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:11.000 How do you receive it? 00:04:13.939 --> 00:04:17.420 A freed slave is expected to cherish his freedom. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:22.879 A pardoned criminal is expected to live a reformed life. 00:04:23.060 --> 00:04:33.280 There is a term in criminal justice used to describe this human tendency to relapse into a previous mode of behavior. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:34.939 Do you know what it is? 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:37.860 Recidivism. 00:04:38.579 --> 00:04:46.180 I learned this week that Colorado has consistently been ranked as having one of the highest recidivism rates in the USA. 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:52.980 Almost half of those criminals released within about six months commit the same crime for which they were arrested. 00:04:53.060 --> 00:05:00.500 Kids, what that means is for every two prisoners that maybe paid their time five years, they get released. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:07.139 One of them has to end up right back in the slammer for another five years for committing the same crime. 00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:13.379 See, Israel had been enslaved in Egypt. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:15.659 The Lord delivered them out of there. 00:05:16.039 --> 00:05:17.419 He said, I will be your people. 00:05:17.979 --> 00:05:19.979 I will be your God and you will be my people. 00:05:20.259 --> 00:05:23.699 And I give you my law and you will walk with me in a way that pleases me. 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:28.120 And Israel falls back into their bondage and their captivity. 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:32.019 Not to Israel, not to Egypt as a nation, but to sin. 00:05:32.019 --> 00:05:35.799 And they turned to all the idols of the surrounding nations instead. 00:05:37.539 --> 00:05:41.659 If Israel had cherished their freedom, then they would love God who set them free. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:49.599 But Israel loved the idols of their own hearts and all the other nations more than they loved their Savior. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:56.640 So at this time of the book of Jonah, God had sent two other prophets that were contemporaries of Jonah. 00:05:57.240 --> 00:05:59.080 These were Amos and Hosea. 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:04.200 And Amos and Hosea are going throughout the cities of Israel declaring the word of the Lord 00:06:04.200 --> 00:06:06.740 and calling the Israelites to repent to their God. 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:10.100 Amos chapter 3 verse 6, he says, 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:13.520 Is a trumpet blown into a city and the people are not afraid? 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:16.439 You hear the horn go off. 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:17.339 You should do something. 00:06:17.459 --> 00:06:18.939 You should receive it and respond. 00:06:19.620 --> 00:06:20.620 The trumpet is sounded. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:23.359 And Amos and Hosea are preaching to God's people. 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:26.959 But it falls on deaf ears and hard hearts. 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:28.639 Amos wrote, 00:06:29.060 --> 00:06:32.859 Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has done it? 00:06:34.199 --> 00:06:37.359 Israel, God will bring his disaster on you. 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:38.799 It will come from the hand of God. 00:06:39.620 --> 00:06:40.939 Hear his word now and repent. 00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:41.139 Repent. 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:44.560 And Israel is paralyzed, cold. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:48.920 So the word of the Lord was proclaimed to Israel. 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:51.219 And they did not repent. 00:06:52.219 --> 00:06:55.379 And I see the theme of chapter 3 of Jonah being the word of the Lord. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:56.620 And it goes out. 00:06:57.079 --> 00:06:58.500 And it causes a response. 00:06:58.899 --> 00:06:59.779 How is it received? 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:05.540 The word of the Lord, that phrase is used in the Bible 446 times. 00:07:06.159 --> 00:07:07.879 And four times right here in this chapter. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:10.000 The word of the message of God. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:15.620 So my prayer this week has been that we not be blind and hard hearted like Israel. 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:19.519 If the Lord has in fact delivered you from sin, Satan, worldliness. 00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:21.639 He set you free. 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:22.959 Then we receive his word. 00:07:23.339 --> 00:07:26.279 We don't fall back into the idols of our hearts. 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:29.639 We receive his word the way he wants us to receive it. 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:36.379 So I'm going to show you seven ways I believe this chapter teaches us to receive God's word. 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:41.019 Before we get going with that, let me just ask you to reflect. 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:42.879 How much has God forgiven you? 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:48.279 The one who's been forgiven much loves much. 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:53.699 The only fitting response to God's gracious word is gratitude. 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:58.800 I hope that comes through as a clear theme from this chapter. 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:00.719 Number one. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:10.160 Jonah chapter 3 teaches us to receive the word of the Lord as God's gracious word to you. 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:15.580 So receive the word of the Lord, number one, as gracious to you. 00:08:17.420 --> 00:08:20.120 You'll notice the way that this chapter begins in verse 1. 00:08:20.260 --> 00:08:24.200 It's that the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time. 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:29.979 Chapter 3 is really just a mirror of chapter 1. 00:08:31.159 --> 00:08:34.580 The description of what happens is almost word for word. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:39.879 How the book began in Jonah chapter 1 with where we're at now happening a second time in Jonah chapter 3. 00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:44.860 Someone said it's like we got to that point in the story where Jonah got swallowed and then spit back up. 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:49.879 Now the tape got reversed, got rewound all the way back and we're starting a second time. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.059 That's God's grace to Jonah. 00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:56.899 Notice how God did not stay silent toward Jonah. 00:08:57.799 --> 00:09:03.579 Despite Jonah's rebellion and disobedience, Jonah had disqualified himself. 00:09:03.859 --> 00:09:05.379 He should not be considered a prophet. 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:11.759 He has no humanly right to be considered one who would receive the word of the Lord to go declare it with authority. 00:09:12.959 --> 00:09:17.939 Jonah disobeyed God's command to go to Nineveh and preach the word I give you. 00:09:18.719 --> 00:09:21.039 And yet the word comes to Jonah a second time. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:23.259 See how gracious God is? 00:09:24.959 --> 00:09:27.719 We read in chapter 1 verse 3 that Jonah fled. 00:09:28.059 --> 00:09:28.819 What did he flee? 00:09:29.219 --> 00:09:30.839 He fled the presence of the Lord. 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:32.659 That's why he's trying to get out of town. 00:09:33.939 --> 00:09:38.299 And he ran not toward Nineveh, the exact polar opposite direction. 00:09:38.439 --> 00:09:39.379 He ran to Tarshish. 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:41.579 And the city port there is Joppa. 00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:48.300 And in chapter 1 we see this literary theme of going down deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper. 00:09:48.540 --> 00:09:52.620 It's a downward spiral of sin and rebellion in Jonah's life. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:56.560 Jonah chapter 2 verse 10. 00:09:57.139 --> 00:10:02.320 We're toward that the word of the Lord then came to the depths of the ocean. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:06.080 And it was the word of the Lord that made that fish spit Jonah out. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:09.640 You see the word of the Lord is what carries power here. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:15.120 In Jonah chapter 1 we read how Jonah went down to Joppa. 00:10:15.420 --> 00:10:17.200 Then he went down onto the ship. 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:20.060 And he went down into the inner part of the ship. 00:10:20.300 --> 00:10:22.280 Then they threw him down off the ship into the water. 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:26.420 Then the fish swallowed him and took him down to the depths of Sheol. 00:10:26.419 --> 00:10:28.079 He calls it hell on earth. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:32.419 And he's down in the deepest part of the fish now. 00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:35.860 That's how deep his rebellion was toward the Lord. 00:10:37.339 --> 00:10:40.599 But it was from the depths of that fish's stomach. 00:10:41.219 --> 00:10:49.019 With the smell of rotting fish and the acid of the stomach working on his hair, on his body and covering him. 00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:54.699 And the Lord even provided oxygen inside the stomach of the big fish for him to breathe in 00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:57.580 and cry out a prayer of repentance himself. 00:10:59.180 --> 00:11:04.160 And then the word of the Lord caused Jonah to be vomited up on the beach. 00:11:08.540 --> 00:11:12.200 Jonah's going to march from Joppa all the way across Israel. 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:15.080 And then beyond Israel all the way to Assyria. 00:11:15.300 --> 00:11:16.980 To the capital of Assyria. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:23.560 And this second time now in chapter 3 he receives the gracious word of the Lord. 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:25.679 Jonah was a reluctant prophet. 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:28.459 Jonah was a rebellious soul. 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:32.439 Jonah was a disqualified minister of the word of God. 00:11:33.139 --> 00:11:37.659 And yet the word of the Lord came to him and the word of the Lord was gracious to Jonah. 00:11:38.079 --> 00:11:41.979 And the gracious word of the Lord made Jonah a gracious soul. 00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:48.379 Thomas Brooks pointed out that a gracious soul may look through the darkest cloud 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:51.359 and see God smiling on him. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:54.659 Has God made you a gracious soul? 00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:57.000 Is God teaching you that? 00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:57.800 Maybe right now. 00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:03.759 Despite your previous sin and mine, 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:08.539 the Lord graciously keeps giving you and me his word, doesn't he? 00:12:09.060 --> 00:12:10.800 He keeps speaking to us. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.300 His word keeps coming to us. 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:14.840 Time and again. 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:22.700 It's considered child abuse when a parent gives one of their children the silent treatment. 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:27.700 When a parent stops talking to their child for extended periods of time, 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:30.600 it's considered emotional abuse. 00:12:32.040 --> 00:12:34.920 Isn't it comforting that the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.580 the living word of God, 00:12:36.660 --> 00:12:38.019 he never is silent. 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:40.220 The word of the Lord is gracious. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:42.340 It keeps coming to his children. 00:12:42.920 --> 00:12:44.180 It comes a second time, 00:12:44.300 --> 00:12:44.960 a third time. 00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:46.639 It comes day after day, 00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:47.860 week after week. 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:50.779 The word of the Lord comes to you graciously. 00:12:52.300 --> 00:12:56.040 Notice how Jesus is described in Luke chapter 4, verse 23. 00:12:57.920 --> 00:12:59.399 God the Son took on flesh, 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:00.300 walking the earth, 00:13:00.420 --> 00:13:02.440 revealing who the Father is. 00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:04.080 And here's the description. 00:13:04.420 --> 00:13:04.600 Quote, 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:06.700 all spoke well of him 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:07.980 and marveled, 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:08.800 listen to this, 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:11.480 at the gracious words 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:13.700 that were coming from his mouth. 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:15.480 The word of the Lord 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:17.019 from the lips of Jesus 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:19.820 is a gracious word to you. 00:13:21.300 --> 00:13:23.399 How much has God forgiven you? 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:27.060 The only fitting response 00:13:27.060 --> 00:13:28.779 to God's gracious word 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:30.440 is your gratitude. 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:32.960 Receive the word of the Lord 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:34.399 as gracious. 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:36.060 toward you today. 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:38.899 Number two, 00:13:39.019 --> 00:13:40.259 receive the word of the Lord 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:42.440 as unbending. 00:13:44.680 --> 00:13:46.060 Receive the word of the Lord 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:47.019 as unbending. 00:13:49.040 --> 00:13:50.220 Notice in verse two, 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.120 the word of the Lord 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:52.759 told Jonah, 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:53.440 arise, 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:54.600 go to Nineveh, 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:55.700 that great city, 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.080 and call out against it. 00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:59.519 Not a compromise message, 00:13:59.680 --> 00:14:01.340 not a softer version, 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.620 but call out against it 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.620 the message. 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:05.159 It's the same message. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:07.019 The message will not change, 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:07.360 Jonah. 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.820 You can be rebellious, 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:09.779 you can try to flee. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:13.100 My word will not return void. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:14.580 Go declare my message 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:15.600 like I told you. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:18.539 See, 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:20.480 nothing changed about Assyria. 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.460 Assyria still had the same number 00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:24.139 of inhabitants. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:25.840 It was still the same metropolis 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:27.139 of the Assyrian Empire. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:29.779 Nineveh was the great seat 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:31.600 of the greatest monarch on earth. 00:14:33.339 --> 00:14:34.459 But now Jonah 00:14:34.459 --> 00:14:35.600 has been a changed man. 00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:38.240 His fear of this great city, 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:38.720 Nineveh, 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.600 has been displaced 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:41.439 by a greater, 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:42.459 more reverent, 00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:43.319 more holy fear. 00:14:44.319 --> 00:14:45.319 The Lord taught him 00:14:45.319 --> 00:14:46.360 the fear of God. 00:14:47.819 --> 00:14:49.019 And the fear of God 00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:50.379 replaced in his heart 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.059 and his soul 00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:52.139 that fear of man. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:54.319 Now Jonah went knowing 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:55.600 the mighty God, 00:14:55.920 --> 00:14:56.640 the true king. 00:14:58.020 --> 00:14:58.960 And the king himself 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:00.060 really is the message 00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:00.860 for Nineveh. 00:15:01.900 --> 00:15:02.940 Jerry Bridges pointed out, 00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:04.280 the object of our faith 00:15:04.280 --> 00:15:05.800 is not the mere content 00:15:05.800 --> 00:15:07.120 of the message, 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:08.280 but the one 00:15:08.280 --> 00:15:09.420 whom the message 00:15:09.420 --> 00:15:10.220 is about. 00:15:11.180 --> 00:15:12.200 Jonah's going to declare 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:12.780 God 00:15:12.780 --> 00:15:13.860 to the Ninevites. 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:18.519 Jeremiah 10.10 says, 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:20.560 the Lord is the true God. 00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:22.080 He is the living God 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:24.800 and he is the everlasting king. 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:25.680 Why would you fear 00:15:25.680 --> 00:15:27.220 the king of Assyria 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.539 who lives in Nineveh? 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.039 Now, 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:32.680 what we know of Assyria, 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:34.019 you can visit 00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:35.259 the British Museum 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:35.899 and you will be 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:36.720 blown away 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.659 by two empires, 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:38.539 the Babylonian 00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:40.080 and the Assyrian Empire. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:41.560 And historians, 00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:42.500 secular historians, 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:43.200 tell us that 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.920 everything about Nineveh 00:15:44.920 --> 00:15:45.560 was set up 00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:46.340 to put terror 00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:47.560 in all of the visitors. 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.540 You've probably watched 00:15:49.540 --> 00:15:50.620 some R-rated movies 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.240 for violence 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.940 and you can see 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:52.440 like these, 00:15:52.520 --> 00:15:52.860 you know, 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:53.900 brave heart images 00:15:53.900 --> 00:15:55.000 of torture 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.220 and just cruel treatment 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:57.160 of the human body. 00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:58.040 And so, 00:15:58.160 --> 00:15:59.400 as you would enter Nineveh, 00:15:59.900 --> 00:16:00.800 there would be spikes 00:16:00.800 --> 00:16:02.520 of decapitated victims 00:16:02.520 --> 00:16:03.640 of kings and generals 00:16:03.640 --> 00:16:04.860 that had been defeated. 00:16:05.020 --> 00:16:05.160 So, 00:16:05.280 --> 00:16:06.320 welcome into Nineveh. 00:16:06.920 --> 00:16:07.780 This is the fear 00:16:07.780 --> 00:16:08.700 they're trying to strike 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.960 in the heart of man. 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:11.700 So, 00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:12.500 here comes Jonah 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.240 straight out of 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.279 the belly 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.220 of the big fish 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:16.139 marching into 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:17.019 this big city 00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:18.259 commanded by 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:19.059 the true king, 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:20.279 the God, 00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.379 the creator of heaven 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.460 and earth. 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.840 I know that the fear 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:25.539 of man is real 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:26.139 in my heart, 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.500 but I look around 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.460 our cities today, 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:30.179 it's pretty soft. 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:31.820 It's pretty soft. 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:32.539 We're afraid 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:33.899 of this man? 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:34.559 I mean, 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.639 look at Nineveh, 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:36.480 look at these great 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.639 empires of the ancient 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:37.960 world, 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.799 of the Middle Ages. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:41.079 Think of the physical, 00:16:41.359 --> 00:16:42.039 literal torture 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:43.919 God's people have been 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.979 called to march through 00:16:44.979 --> 00:16:45.899 over the centuries. 00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:47.719 We better not be soft. 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:48.839 We better be called 00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:49.740 out of this culture. 00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:50.839 We better have 00:16:50.839 --> 00:16:52.659 at least the same 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:54.019 reverence for God 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:55.179 that displaces 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.219 that fear of man 00:16:56.219 --> 00:16:57.240 in our hearts. 00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:57.679 I'm preaching 00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.500 to myself here. 00:16:59.959 --> 00:17:00.439 God says, 00:17:00.579 --> 00:17:01.359 arise and go. 00:17:02.219 --> 00:17:02.979 Call out 00:17:02.979 --> 00:17:04.119 God's message. 00:17:04.919 --> 00:17:05.919 God is against 00:17:05.919 --> 00:17:06.980 the great violence, 00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:08.240 the wickedness, 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.400 against the evil, 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.680 against the sin. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.259 God is ultimately 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.079 against Satan 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.900 who is behind 00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:15.019 all of this 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.860 that attacks 00:17:15.860 --> 00:17:17.240 the image bearers 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:17.700 of God 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:19.319 in this awful city. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.019 You know, 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:22.740 God forgives 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.839 these Ninevites, 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:24.660 these wicked, 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.400 violent men. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.500 God forgives them. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.059 How much 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:29.140 has God forgiven you? 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:32.160 The only fitting response 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:34.140 to God's gracious 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:35.099 word in our life 00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:35.920 is gratitude. 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:36.060 gratitude. 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.720 Receive the word 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:38.279 of the Lord. 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:41.279 It is an unbending word. 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:44.220 God won't bend His word. 00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:44.820 We're the ones 00:17:44.820 --> 00:17:46.000 who better bend ourselves, 00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.519 submit to Him. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.759 Number three here 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.720 is receive the word 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.340 of the Lord 00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:53.460 as that which you will 00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:55.140 immediately obey. 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.640 Receive the word 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.120 of the Lord, 00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.680 number three, 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:00.000 as that which you will 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.820 immediately obey. 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:04.700 Notice in verse three, 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.559 this time around, 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.460 the second time, 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.840 Jonah arose 00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:08.960 and went to Nineveh 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.380 according to what? 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.360 Look in your Bible, 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:12.960 verse three, 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.000 according to 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.980 the word 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.819 of the Lord. 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.539 Now Nineveh, 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:17.980 we're told, 00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.980 was an exceeding 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.080 great city, 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.200 three days journey 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.200 in breadth. 00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:24.319 Well, 00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:25.100 God had used 00:18:25.100 --> 00:18:26.220 Jonah's affliction 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:28.720 to sanctify Jonah. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:31.480 God had disciplined 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:31.880 Jonah 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:33.519 and He had done it 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.400 as a loving father 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.319 to restore 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:35.980 Jonah's 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.059 wandering soul. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:38.960 Jonah was 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:40.079 straying from his father 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:40.539 and the father 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.640 used that discipline. 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:42.779 He took him 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:43.299 to the pit 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.640 of death itself 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.059 and then brought him 00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:46.579 out of that 00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:48.400 to correct Jonah 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.620 until Jonah learned 00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:50.779 to obey 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.440 the word 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:51.960 of the Lord. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.460 And this time, 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:54.640 Jonah does not delay. 00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.579 As John Gill put it, 00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:57.939 under the influence 00:18:57.939 --> 00:18:59.000 of God's power 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.000 and grace, 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:01.379 this word of the Lord 00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:02.079 that sends him, 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.539 Jonah stands 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.839 not consulting 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:06.159 with his flesh, 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:07.799 but immediately 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:08.819 arises 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:10.539 as God commanded him. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:12.519 Verse four says, 00:19:12.639 --> 00:19:13.599 Jonah began to go 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.379 into the city. 00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:17.740 So we can picture Jonah 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:19.960 approaching the outskirts, 00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:20.859 seeing it, 00:19:21.699 --> 00:19:23.159 smells hit his nostrils, 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.519 the sounds. 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:26.920 One thing the Ninevites 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.480 repent of 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.379 is their violence. 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.059 It was in your face. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:30.759 It was everywhere 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.440 you looked. 00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:33.700 And God had given him 00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:34.240 a message. 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.559 And as he walked 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.139 through the city, 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:37.000 he would call out, 00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:38.259 yet 40 days 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:38.940 in Nineveh 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:40.460 shall be overthrown. 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.299 Can you picture 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:42.900 that scene 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:45.200 in this ancient city, 00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:46.339 this prophet 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:48.799 of weak little Israel 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.619 walking 00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:50.819 wherever the people 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:51.299 are gathered, 00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:51.859 wherever there's 00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.799 a big intersection, 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.379 repeating this message, 00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:55.060 over and over. 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.140 And the language 00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:57.800 here tells us 00:19:57.800 --> 00:19:58.580 he had barely 00:19:58.580 --> 00:19:59.920 gotten into the city, 00:20:00.040 --> 00:20:00.820 this great city, 00:20:01.280 --> 00:20:02.460 declaring this message. 00:20:03.280 --> 00:20:04.580 And God's word 00:20:04.580 --> 00:20:05.540 caused an effect 00:20:05.540 --> 00:20:06.620 on the Ninevites. 00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:08.240 They realized 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:08.920 this is not a, 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:10.160 this is clearly 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.280 not the threat 00:20:11.280 --> 00:20:13.340 of a military conqueror. 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:13.800 This is not 00:20:13.800 --> 00:20:14.620 a mighty general 00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.460 trying to threaten 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.620 some political thing. 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.380 Here's a man 00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:19.340 who died, 00:20:19.540 --> 00:20:20.480 essentially died, 00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.580 and is living now, 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.460 telling them 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.620 of a coming judgment 00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.539 unless they turn. 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:26.259 And the word 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.259 overthrown, 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.640 yet 40 days 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.039 Nineveh 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.299 shall be overthrown. 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.819 It's the same word 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.600 that is used 00:20:32.600 --> 00:20:33.180 to describe 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:33.660 the judgment 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.160 God brought 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.220 on Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.059 Nineveh 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:38.420 will be overthrown. 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:41.340 It can also be 00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:41.779 translated 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:43.059 overturned. 00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:45.779 The people of Nineveh 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.640 will turn 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:47.860 in 40 days. 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.700 This whole city 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.519 will turn. 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:52.420 That's what he's declaring. 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.660 Just as Amos 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:55.319 had trumpeted 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:55.879 that message 00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:56.700 to the Israelites, 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.980 no response. 00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.559 Now this 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:01.079 reluctant prophet, 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.500 Jonah, 00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.079 the loser, 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:02.940 the one who's 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:04.000 disqualified himself, 00:21:04.639 --> 00:21:05.180 he's going 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:05.900 and doing the exact 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.460 same thing 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.420 to the Gentiles. 00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:09.200 Not just any Gentiles, 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.960 the most wicked 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.200 of all the Gentiles 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.779 on the earth 00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.279 right now, 00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.240 and the most 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:13.859 to be feared. 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:15.599 He's trumpeting, 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:17.539 you will be turned 00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:17.900 over 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:19.900 in 40 days. 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.940 The fact that 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:23.180 there's a 40-day delay 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:24.620 is also interesting 00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:25.500 because it's 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.720 eliciting a response. 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:27.820 It's saying, 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.920 there are 40 days here. 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.860 This is not today. 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:31.019 It's not tonight. 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:32.480 You have 40 days, 00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:33.000 Ninevites. 00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:34.720 How will you receive 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:36.040 this word of the Lord? 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.040 You see, 00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:37.740 that's the message. 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.320 How do you receive 00:21:39.320 --> 00:21:40.220 the word of the Lord? 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:44.620 You will be overturned. 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.539 We don't know 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.440 what the overturning 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.319 will look like 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.180 in our lives, 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:53.460 but most of us 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.059 can look back 00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:55.019 just a few years 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.759 or a decade 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.799 and you can see times 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.360 where God has 00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:58.400 overturned you. 00:21:59.100 --> 00:21:59.799 He's overturned 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.660 parts of your life. 00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:01.339 Amen? 00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:04.279 When he overturns us, 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:04.960 he's turning us 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.759 back to himself 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:07.819 to make a connection 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:09.039 with where we're at 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:10.019 in the Gospel of John. 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:11.440 If God is pruning you, 00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:13.039 it's so that you 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:14.019 will bear more fruit. 00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:15.920 If God is disciplining you 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.960 as a loving Father, 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.220 it's so that 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:19.720 the fruit of Christ 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.899 will be multiplied 00:22:20.899 --> 00:22:21.680 in your life. 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.720 If God is humbling you 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.799 like he humbled Jonah, 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.579 it's to make you ready 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.359 like Jonah 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:29.480 to obey him immediately. 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.019 Obedience can be 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.759 as simple 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:37.159 as moral law. 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.299 It's the moral law 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:39.500 of God in my life. 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.299 I need to take 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:41.240 that step of obedience 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.919 right now 00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:43.240 with what he's shown me. 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.440 He's made his will 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:45.440 to us very clear. 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.339 The will of God 00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:47.259 in your life 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:48.440 is your sanctification. 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.440 Don't put off 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.339 obeying him 00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.759 as the Spirit 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.500 convicts you. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.099 Jerry Bridges said, 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:55.960 it's love 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.619 that provides 00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:57.319 the motive 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.159 for obeying 00:22:58.159 --> 00:22:59.119 God's moral law 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:00.460 and it's his law 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.539 that provides 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.919 the specific direction 00:23:02.919 --> 00:23:04.539 on how to exercise 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:05.480 that love. 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:07.860 how much 00:23:07.860 --> 00:23:08.299 has God 00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.099 forgiven you? 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.140 Has he put 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:11.640 his love 00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.200 in your heart? 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:12.960 Is he putting 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.500 more and more 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:13.799 and more 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.019 of his love 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.920 inside of you? 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:16.960 Love for God 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.880 and love for others? 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.420 Then the only 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.440 fitting response 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.920 to God's gracious 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.420 word 00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:23.420 is gratitude. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.420 Receive the word 00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.000 of the Lord 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.700 as that which will 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.620 bring 00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:29.120 immediate 00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:31.000 obedience 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.720 in your life. 00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:32.579 Don't negotiate 00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.319 with your flesh. 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.140 You receive it 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.100 to obey it 00:23:35.100 --> 00:23:35.980 right now. 00:23:37.520 --> 00:23:38.000 Number four, 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:39.140 the word 00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:39.720 of the Lord 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:41.920 we see in this passage. 00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:43.259 We're to receive it 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.320 trusting that it 00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:45.580 will accomplish 00:23:45.580 --> 00:23:46.940 God's purpose. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:48.940 Receive the word 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.380 of the Lord, 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:49.960 number four, 00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:51.840 trusting that God's 00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:53.440 word will accomplish 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.600 his purpose. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.240 In verse five, 00:23:59.320 --> 00:24:00.240 we read that the people 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.020 of Nineveh 00:24:01.020 --> 00:24:03.220 believed God. 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.779 they believed 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.360 this word 00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.120 that Jonah preached 00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:06.460 to them. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.559 They called 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.299 for a fast. 00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:10.600 They put on 00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:11.220 sackcloth, 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.079 not just a few, 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.680 all of them 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.360 from the greatest 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:16.360 to the least. 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:18.120 Verse six says, 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.839 the word 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.100 reached the king 00:24:20.100 --> 00:24:20.660 of Nineveh. 00:24:21.100 --> 00:24:21.759 You see the word 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.860 of God going forth 00:24:22.860 --> 00:24:23.559 all the way 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.100 to the top 00:24:24.100 --> 00:24:26.000 and he arose 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.160 from his throne. 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.240 He removed 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.880 his robe. 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.100 He covered himself 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:30.959 with sackcloth 00:24:30.959 --> 00:24:32.279 and he sat 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:33.039 in ashes. 00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:37.319 What happened 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:37.859 in Nineveh 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.779 is an illustration 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.919 for us 00:24:39.919 --> 00:24:40.939 of that promise 00:24:40.939 --> 00:24:42.019 of Isaiah 55, 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:42.639 six. 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:45.039 The word of the Lord 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.659 goes out 00:24:45.659 --> 00:24:46.279 from the mouth 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:46.740 of God 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.619 and it shall not 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:48.519 return empty. 00:24:48.959 --> 00:24:50.019 It shall accomplish 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.099 that which I purpose. 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.599 It shall succeed 00:24:52.599 --> 00:24:53.500 in the thing 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.779 for which I sent it. 00:24:54.959 --> 00:24:55.759 Here's an illustration 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.659 of that happening 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.920 right before their eyes. 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.759 I was trying to picture 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.759 what this would be like 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.320 right here 00:25:02.320 --> 00:25:03.480 in Colorado. 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.700 Would you like to see 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:06.279 a reform of Colorado? 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:08.019 This is Reformation Sunday. 00:25:08.380 --> 00:25:08.860 You want to see 00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:10.080 Colorado be reformed, 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.380 turning and repenting 00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:11.880 to the Lord? 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.779 It's okay to respond 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.940 with a little bit 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:15.860 of volume in your mouth. 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.700 Do you want to see that 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.100 or not? 00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:18.340 Oh, amen. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.000 Well, I mean, 00:25:20.060 --> 00:25:20.640 picture like 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.720 the wickedest day 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.279 that Denver 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:23.180 has come up with. 00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.140 Everybody's out 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.600 on the streets 00:25:24.600 --> 00:25:25.779 celebrating sin 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.639 and wickedness. 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.180 And picture 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:29.379 the prophet of the Lord 00:25:29.379 --> 00:25:30.039 marching in 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.480 and saying, 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:31.899 in 40 days, 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.779 this city will be overturned. 00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:36.139 16th Street Mall, 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.899 people take off 00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:38.839 whatever they were wearing 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.879 and instead 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.700 they cover themselves 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:41.339 with ashes 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.220 and sackcloth. 00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:43.819 And they're saying, 00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:44.799 Lord, forgive us. 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.879 Have mercy, Lord. 00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:48.619 What a scene. 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.940 The word of the Lord. 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:50.720 It goes forth 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.319 with power. 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.460 Can't think of 00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:55.319 a better sermon text 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.399 for Reformation Sunday 00:25:56.399 --> 00:25:57.419 for those of us 00:25:57.419 --> 00:25:58.220 where God has planted 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.099 right here in Colorado. 00:26:00.139 --> 00:26:01.659 Now, we don't need to guess 00:26:01.659 --> 00:26:02.700 at what was going on 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.259 in Nineveh 00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.700 because the New Testament 00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:06.220 interprets it for us. 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.559 In Matthew 12, 00:26:07.639 --> 00:26:08.720 39 through 41, 00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:09.539 we read that 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.359 Jesus, 00:26:10.879 --> 00:26:12.159 he explained 00:26:12.159 --> 00:26:13.240 why this happened 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:13.879 ultimately. 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.240 He said, 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.619 evil and adulterous 00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:17.259 generation, 00:26:17.659 --> 00:26:18.779 you seek for a sign 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.500 but no sign 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.539 will be given to it 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.579 except the sign 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.059 of Jonah. 00:26:22.899 --> 00:26:23.500 What do you mean, 00:26:23.639 --> 00:26:24.099 Lord Jesus? 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:25.719 Just as Jonah 00:26:25.719 --> 00:26:26.899 was three days 00:26:26.899 --> 00:26:27.719 and three nights 00:26:27.719 --> 00:26:28.240 in the belly 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:29.199 of the great fish, 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.480 so will the Son 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:30.919 of Man 00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:31.679 be three days 00:26:31.679 --> 00:26:32.399 and three nights 00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:33.500 in the heart 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:34.579 of the earth. 00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.919 Now, listen to this. 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.119 Jesus said, 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:39.339 the men of Nineveh 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:40.659 will rise up 00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:41.439 at the judgment 00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:42.699 with this generation 00:26:42.699 --> 00:26:44.139 and condemn it 00:26:44.139 --> 00:26:45.279 for they repented 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.259 at the preaching 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:46.799 of Jonah 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.859 and behold, 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.859 one greater 00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:49.740 than Jonah 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.519 is here. 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:55.539 our Lord Jesus. 00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:58.700 He took on 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.019 the sin 00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.660 of his people 00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:01.180 and he nailed it 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:01.819 to the cross. 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:03.940 The Lord Jesus 00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:05.059 was taken down, 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:06.720 dead, 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.339 and he was buried. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.319 The Lord Jesus 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.940 transformed the grave. 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.660 He transformed 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.160 that grave 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.019 into a womb 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:16.660 and Jesus rose 00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.879 from that grave. 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.119 He was born again, 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.019 the first man. 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.619 Just as Jonah 00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:23.079 essentially died 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.799 inside the belly 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.339 of the fish 00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:25.659 and was vomited out, 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.419 a new man, 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.039 newness of life. 00:27:30.179 --> 00:27:31.219 Jesus Christ 00:27:31.219 --> 00:27:32.179 appeared to over 00:27:32.179 --> 00:27:33.199 500 witnesses. 00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:34.559 He says, 00:27:34.959 --> 00:27:35.959 one greater than Jonah 00:27:35.959 --> 00:27:36.759 is here 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:38.379 and he's giving you 00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:39.379 the word of the Lord. 00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.639 How do you receive it? 00:27:41.739 --> 00:27:42.799 Repent and believe. 00:27:44.459 --> 00:27:45.819 We saw in chapter 1 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.579 the name Jonah 00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.500 means dove 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.759 and a dove 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.359 is an emblem 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.519 for Israel 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.359 of peace. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.400 Jesus is the prince 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:53.960 of peace. 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.559 He comes to inaugurate 00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:56.579 the new creation. 00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:59.680 Jonah was cast 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:00.539 into the waters 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.500 of God's judgment 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:03.799 and the Lord 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.779 settled the waters. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.119 He brought peace 00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:07.359 by dying 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:07.859 on behalf 00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:09.019 of those Gentiles 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.500 in the boat. 00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:11.299 Jesus Christ 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.039 passed through 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.599 the waters 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.180 of judgment 00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:15.039 and he rose up 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:15.859 alive 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:17.439 to bring peace 00:28:17.439 --> 00:28:17.979 on earth, 00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:19.519 the peace 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.099 from heaven. 00:28:20.919 --> 00:28:21.119 See, 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.439 Jonah was a shadow. 00:28:23.479 --> 00:28:24.119 Jesus Christ 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:25.139 is the substance. 00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:27.399 When Jonah 00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:28.519 comes a second time 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:28.759 now, 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:30.219 this is an image 00:28:30.219 --> 00:28:30.599 for us 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.399 of the resurrected 00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.599 Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.539 And when the Gentiles 00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.740 repent and believe, 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.279 this is foreshadowing 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:38.639 the ingathering 00:28:38.639 --> 00:28:39.500 of all the Gentiles. 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:40.079 That's us. 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.699 Believing now. 00:28:42.199 --> 00:28:42.959 Jesus Christ, 00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:44.059 one greater than Jonah, 00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:45.179 he is here. 00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:46.959 How do you receive 00:28:46.959 --> 00:28:47.639 his word? 00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:50.819 When you receive Christ 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:52.039 as the living word 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.539 of God, 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.740 the greater Jonah, 00:28:54.199 --> 00:28:55.039 you want to eat up 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.799 all of the Bible. 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.159 Show me, 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:57.419 Lord, 00:28:57.659 --> 00:28:58.679 this is who you are. 00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.439 Show me more. 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.539 Spurgeon said, 00:29:02.699 --> 00:29:04.379 eat into the very soul 00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:04.979 of the Bible 00:29:04.979 --> 00:29:06.199 until at last 00:29:06.199 --> 00:29:07.159 you come to talk 00:29:07.159 --> 00:29:08.359 in scriptural language 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.419 and your spirit 00:29:09.419 --> 00:29:10.139 is flavored 00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:11.339 with the words 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.099 of the Lord. 00:29:13.199 --> 00:29:13.799 Don't you want 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.839 to receive God's word 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:15.279 that way? 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:15.960 Well, 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.779 the Ninevites did, 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.680 at least temporarily. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.559 How much more 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:19.960 should we 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:20.539 with the spirit 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.519 regenerating us, 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.279 causing us 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.099 to love God, 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.639 giving us a hunger 00:29:24.639 --> 00:29:25.500 for his word? 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.720 If you've been 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.619 forgiven much, 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.559 the only fitting response 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.920 is to receive 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:32.480 God's gracious word 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.200 with gratitude 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:34.539 and eat it up. 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.859 Receive the word 00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.420 of the Lord, 00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:39.859 trusting that it 00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:41.200 shall accomplish 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:42.619 his purpose 00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:43.859 in your life. 00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:45.919 number five, 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.659 receive the word 00:29:46.659 --> 00:29:47.259 of the Lord 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.779 as his powerful 00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:50.119 means for changing 00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:51.019 your heart. 00:29:52.399 --> 00:29:53.359 Receive the word 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:53.939 of the Lord, 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.939 number five, 00:29:55.419 --> 00:29:56.240 as his powerful 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:58.519 means for changing 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.259 your heart. 00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:03.879 we need our hearts 00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:04.779 to be changed. 00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:06.539 We need to be overturned 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.960 time and time again. 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.279 A second time, 00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:10.059 the word of the Lord 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:11.599 graciously comes to us 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:12.539 to turn our hearts 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.180 back to him. 00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:14.279 A third time, 00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:16.039 a hundred and fourth time, 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.240 the word of the Lord 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.079 keeps graciously 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.980 coming to us. 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.500 Notice how the word 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:20.859 of the Lord 00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:21.379 makes its way 00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:21.740 all the way 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.379 to the king 00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:24.400 of this great empire 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.279 of Assyria. 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:26.319 In verse seven, 00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:28.139 he issued a proclamation 00:30:28.139 --> 00:30:29.339 and published 00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:29.940 through Nineveh 00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:30.599 by the decree 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.160 of the king 00:30:31.160 --> 00:30:31.920 and his nobles, 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:33.079 let neither man 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:33.680 nor beast, 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:35.019 herd nor flock 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.819 taste anything. 00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:37.379 Let them not feed 00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:38.299 or drink water, 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:39.599 but let man 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:40.299 and beast 00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:40.779 be covered 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.599 with sackcloth 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.420 and let them 00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:43.579 call out mightily 00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:44.139 to God. 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.019 Let everyone 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.500 turn from his evil way 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.940 and from the violence 00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:50.139 that is in his hands. 00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.079 Who knows, 00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:52.299 God may turn 00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:53.079 and relent 00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:54.460 and turn 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.599 from his fierce anger 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:56.980 so that we 00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:58.159 may not perish. 00:30:58.659 --> 00:30:59.139 Do you see how 00:30:59.139 --> 00:30:59.700 they received 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.500 the word of the Lord? 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:02.639 They didn't take this 00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.619 as a military threat. 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.220 They took this 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:05.299 as God himself 00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:06.259 is not pleased 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.379 with our sin. 00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.019 See, 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:08.799 the law of the creator 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.240 was written 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:09.960 on their hearts. 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:10.980 They knew 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.079 their acts of violence 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:13.419 deserve judgment. 00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:14.200 They knew that. 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:18.359 This most wicked, 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.139 most pagan, 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:21.240 most sin-enslaved people 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.799 repents. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.900 And God captures 00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:25.740 this whole story 00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:27.000 in his word. 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.779 I looked this up. 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:32.279 I'm going to read it 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.160 from my phone for you 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:34.359 because I believe 00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:35.039 this is true. 00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:36.519 Why? 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.400 Here's the question. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:37.920 Why now? 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.900 Why do we have this? 00:31:40.599 --> 00:31:41.519 One commentator 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.240 believes that 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:42.940 this repentance 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.819 of the Ninevites 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.579 is a foil. 00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:46.220 A foil 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.680 is when a character 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.900 or one people 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.359 is set up 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:50.120 in contrast 00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:50.819 to another. 00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.579 It's typically 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:53.579 a contrast 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.740 against the protagonist 00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.879 in order to better 00:31:55.879 --> 00:31:56.659 highlight 00:31:56.659 --> 00:31:57.579 and differentiate 00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:58.799 certain qualities 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:00.139 of the protagonist. 00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.480 So contrast 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.379 means differences. 00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.919 And let me give you 00:32:05.919 --> 00:32:06.319 an example 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:06.980 from literature 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.460 that might be 00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:08.039 more familiar. 00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:09.279 In Romeo and Juliet, 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:10.319 Shakespeare has 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:11.899 Benvolio 00:32:11.899 --> 00:32:13.259 and he has Tybalt. 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:15.700 Benvolio is passive. 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:17.139 Tybalt fights. 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:19.099 Benvolio is even-keeled. 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:21.139 Tybalt is quick-tempered. 00:32:21.859 --> 00:32:23.159 Benvolio is very loyal 00:32:23.159 --> 00:32:24.119 to his friends. 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.980 Tybalt is more loyal 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.740 to his family. 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.819 So you see the contrast 00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:29.179 set up. 00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.500 One is a foil 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.399 to the other. 00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:36.500 Ninevites were a foil 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:37.459 to the protagonist, 00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:38.259 which was the people 00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:38.679 of God. 00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.339 It was Israel. 00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:41.579 We need a contrast here. 00:32:41.639 --> 00:32:42.179 We need to see 00:32:42.179 --> 00:32:43.299 what are the traits 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:44.059 of the Ninevites 00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:45.099 that need to expose 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:45.980 the sins 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:47.259 of God's own people. 00:32:48.219 --> 00:32:49.459 Expose their hypocrisy. 00:32:49.879 --> 00:32:50.259 That's why 00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:51.000 the word of the Lord 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.579 does this. 00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:52.559 And it foreshadows 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.480 what God's going to do 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.379 to the ends 00:32:54.379 --> 00:32:55.199 of the earth. 00:32:56.139 --> 00:32:57.279 Brian Estelle commented, 00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:58.740 Ninevites are a foil 00:32:58.740 --> 00:32:59.699 to God's people. 00:33:00.159 --> 00:33:01.039 God is rebuking 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:01.839 Israel's lack 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.419 of repentance 00:33:02.419 --> 00:33:03.759 from the prophetic 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:05.079 preaching of God's word 00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:05.859 to them. 00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:07.339 You ignored Amos. 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:09.000 You ignored Hosea. 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:09.759 Fine. 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.299 I'll take the reject. 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.079 I'll take Jonah. 00:33:12.719 --> 00:33:13.240 And I'll show you 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:14.159 what, not him, 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:15.240 but what my word 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:15.680 will do. 00:33:16.580 --> 00:33:17.140 You give me 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:17.779 the hardest city 00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:18.220 in the world 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.480 to turn over Nineveh? 00:33:19.600 --> 00:33:19.800 Fine. 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:20.759 I'm going to send 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:22.019 Jonah to Nineveh 00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:22.860 to show you 00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:23.600 the power 00:33:23.600 --> 00:33:24.480 of the word 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.320 of God. 00:33:28.320 --> 00:33:29.120 Augustine said, 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.120 God's promised 00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:30.820 forgiveness 00:33:30.820 --> 00:33:33.180 to your repentance. 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.900 God has promised 00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:35.779 if you repent, 00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:36.759 he will forgive. 00:33:37.360 --> 00:33:37.759 And that's what 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.380 the king of Nineveh 00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:39.180 was counting on. 00:33:39.560 --> 00:33:40.540 Lord, if we turn, 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:41.380 maybe you'll withhold 00:33:41.380 --> 00:33:41.980 your wrath. 00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.140 But Augustine said, 00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.420 God has not promised 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.120 tomorrow 00:33:46.120 --> 00:33:47.420 to your 00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:48.640 procrastination. 00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:49.620 Israel, 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:51.060 learn this example. 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.660 The way I made 00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.340 my word, 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.840 made Nineveh respond, 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:55.759 you need to respond 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.240 that way. 00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:59.080 We're no different. 00:33:59.360 --> 00:33:59.920 We're no better 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:00.660 than the Ninevites. 00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.259 We're no better 00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:01.800 than Israel. 00:34:01.800 --> 00:34:02.840 If you have been 00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:03.580 forgiven much, 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.480 the only fitting 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.420 response is to 00:34:05.420 --> 00:34:06.680 receive God's word, 00:34:07.060 --> 00:34:07.940 his gracious word 00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.900 to you again today 00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:10.180 with gratitude. 00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:12.859 receive the word 00:34:12.859 --> 00:34:13.319 of the Lord 00:34:13.319 --> 00:34:14.219 as his powerful 00:34:14.219 --> 00:34:16.000 means for changing 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:17.039 your heart. 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:18.119 He did it to Nineveh. 00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:19.219 He can change 00:34:19.219 --> 00:34:19.899 that hard heart 00:34:19.899 --> 00:34:20.659 in your family, 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.460 of that co-worker, 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:23.980 maybe your own 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.719 heart right now. 00:34:25.339 --> 00:34:26.799 His word works 00:34:26.799 --> 00:34:27.460 powerfully 00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:28.739 to change hearts. 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.319 The reason for this 00:34:30.319 --> 00:34:31.179 is number six. 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:33.000 We receive the word 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.559 of the Lord, 00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:35.639 trusting that he 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.179 is glorified 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:38.219 when he proves 00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:39.619 himself true to it. 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:41.759 God is glorified 00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:42.500 when he proves 00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:42.919 to you, 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.039 I was true 00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:44.679 to my word. 00:34:45.179 --> 00:34:46.119 That's why we receive 00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:47.179 it, trusting he 00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:48.259 will bring glory 00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:49.259 to himself 00:34:49.259 --> 00:34:50.440 through his word. 00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:51.819 Look at verse 10. 00:34:52.379 --> 00:34:53.139 When God saw 00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:54.239 what they did, 00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.699 how they turned 00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.859 from their evil way, 00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:58.500 God relented. 00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:00.259 The King James, 00:35:00.399 --> 00:35:01.179 God repented 00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:02.639 of the disaster 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.779 that he had said 00:35:03.779 --> 00:35:04.699 he would do to them 00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:06.219 and he did not 00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:07.000 do it. 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:10.360 Well, this brings up 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:11.219 a big question 00:35:11.219 --> 00:35:12.019 about God. 00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:13.420 Recently, 00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:14.079 there's been 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:15.760 wrong teaching 00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:16.559 on this topic 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.300 that God doesn't 00:35:17.300 --> 00:35:18.239 even know the future. 00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:19.460 He created possibilities 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.559 and the future 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.219 will unfold 00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:22.400 based on human choices. 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:25.639 So, this is tricky. 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.800 Did God repent here? 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:27.559 What does this mean? 00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:28.860 Did God change his mind? 00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.480 Or did God decree 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.380 everything that will 00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.099 come to pass 00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:33.039 in the future? 00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:35.159 What's at stake here 00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:35.739 is sovereignty. 00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:37.059 Who is truly sovereign 00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:38.259 over what comes 00:35:38.259 --> 00:35:39.139 to pass on earth? 00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:39.820 Is it God 00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:41.039 or is it man? 00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:43.219 This is a tricky passage. 00:35:44.219 --> 00:35:45.500 We have a hermeneutical 00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.019 principle. 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:47.599 In Sunday school, 00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:48.400 we've been going through 00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:49.199 different tools 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:49.980 we need to use 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.039 to correctly understand 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:52.019 all of God's word. 00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.739 The hermeneutical principle 00:35:53.739 --> 00:35:54.340 in this case 00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.420 that's helpful is this. 00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:57.619 What the Bible reveals 00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:59.320 about God's essence, 00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:00.699 his nature, 00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:01.699 his attributes, 00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:03.019 who God is, 00:36:03.879 --> 00:36:05.460 that clarifies for us 00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:06.399 other language 00:36:06.399 --> 00:36:07.159 that describes 00:36:07.159 --> 00:36:08.000 God's actions 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.879 or feelings 00:36:08.879 --> 00:36:10.419 because we know 00:36:10.419 --> 00:36:11.039 from the Bible 00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:12.339 that God is not 00:36:12.339 --> 00:36:12.939 a creature 00:36:12.939 --> 00:36:14.359 with human passions. 00:36:14.899 --> 00:36:15.339 He's not. 00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:17.639 What does the Bible 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:19.259 say about God's essence, 00:36:19.399 --> 00:36:19.980 God's nature? 00:36:20.099 --> 00:36:20.919 That comes first. 00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:22.799 Psalm 33, 11 says, 00:36:22.939 --> 00:36:24.219 the counsel of the Lord 00:36:24.219 --> 00:36:25.919 stands forever. 00:36:26.419 --> 00:36:27.699 The plans of his heart 00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:30.159 to all generations. 00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:30.379 Romans. 00:36:31.739 --> 00:36:32.679 Brian Estella, 00:36:32.819 --> 00:36:32.940 again, 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:33.539 helped clarify, 00:36:33.759 --> 00:36:34.899 Scripture speaks to us 00:36:34.899 --> 00:36:35.980 in terms of 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.859 analogical discourse. 00:36:38.279 --> 00:36:39.199 To say one thing 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:40.579 is like another thing. 00:36:40.879 --> 00:36:42.159 It's a way of communicating 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:43.399 to help us understand 00:36:43.399 --> 00:36:44.019 and make sense 00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:45.839 based on what we can relate to. 00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:47.819 John Calvin said, 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:48.920 God talks to us 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:50.159 in baby talk. 00:36:51.159 --> 00:36:52.079 He accommodates 00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:52.980 his truth 00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:53.619 to work 00:36:53.619 --> 00:36:55.339 in us 00:36:55.339 --> 00:36:56.779 that which we are capable 00:36:56.779 --> 00:36:57.779 of making sense 00:36:57.779 --> 00:36:58.659 and receiving. 00:36:58.659 --> 00:36:59.739 So, 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:00.559 this language 00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:01.399 is not describing 00:37:01.399 --> 00:37:02.460 God as he is 00:37:02.460 --> 00:37:03.159 in himself, 00:37:03.559 --> 00:37:05.019 but it's describing 00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:06.339 God as he seems 00:37:06.339 --> 00:37:07.139 to us. 00:37:07.940 --> 00:37:09.000 We know from the Bible 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:10.420 that there is no shadow 00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:11.759 of turning in God. 00:37:12.920 --> 00:37:14.039 To say that God 00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:15.339 repented in this case, 00:37:15.379 --> 00:37:15.960 it means that 00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:17.139 God revealed 00:37:17.139 --> 00:37:18.659 that his action 00:37:18.659 --> 00:37:19.519 would be changed 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:20.179 toward them. 00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:21.039 He had warned them 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:21.759 40 days. 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:24.460 God knew 00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:25.500 that this was 00:37:25.500 --> 00:37:26.199 his decree 00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:26.899 all along. 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.500 he knew 00:37:27.500 --> 00:37:28.280 they would repent. 00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:28.820 His word 00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:29.519 would cause them 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.000 to repent. 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.200 And he knew 00:37:31.200 --> 00:37:32.360 that he would not 00:37:32.360 --> 00:37:33.340 destroy them now 00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:34.240 in this moment. 00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:35.019 So, 00:37:35.160 --> 00:37:35.960 the word of the Lord 00:37:35.960 --> 00:37:37.160 going to the Ninevites 00:37:37.160 --> 00:37:38.360 is what made 00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:39.639 their repentance happen. 00:37:40.160 --> 00:37:40.920 It's actually 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:41.700 reinforcing 00:37:41.700 --> 00:37:43.059 the divine decree. 00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:45.119 Because Israel 00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:46.360 refused to obey God, 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:46.639 see, 00:37:46.820 --> 00:37:47.160 God, 00:37:47.720 --> 00:37:48.680 he would bring 00:37:48.680 --> 00:37:49.860 unrepentant Israel 00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:51.079 into exile 00:37:51.079 --> 00:37:52.260 for his glory. 00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.260 Because he would also 00:37:53.260 --> 00:37:53.940 bring them back 00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:54.579 out of exile 00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:55.460 into their land 00:37:55.460 --> 00:37:56.599 with Ezra and Nehemiah 00:37:56.599 --> 00:37:57.400 and rebuilding 00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:58.380 and setting the stage 00:37:58.380 --> 00:37:59.719 for the coming of Christ. 00:37:59.900 --> 00:38:00.699 All of this 00:38:00.699 --> 00:38:01.860 for his glory. 00:38:02.779 --> 00:38:03.940 He's teaching his people 00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:05.019 who he is. 00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:06.279 He is just. 00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.259 He has wrath 00:38:07.259 --> 00:38:07.900 towards sin. 00:38:08.400 --> 00:38:09.759 But God is long-suffering. 00:38:10.279 --> 00:38:11.000 He is patient, 00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:12.099 desiring that none 00:38:12.099 --> 00:38:13.159 should perish. 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.539 All of this is true 00:38:14.539 --> 00:38:15.319 of who God is. 00:38:15.659 --> 00:38:16.599 And he reveals this 00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:17.099 to us 00:38:17.099 --> 00:38:18.139 in this story. 00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:23.500 In Genesis 1 and 2 00:38:23.500 --> 00:38:24.460 we have a pattern 00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:24.960 established 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:25.859 for the word of God 00:38:25.859 --> 00:38:26.460 going out 00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:27.420 and creating 00:38:27.420 --> 00:38:28.519 that which he intends. 00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:30.239 This is one more example 00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:31.159 of how God does that 00:38:31.159 --> 00:38:31.559 in time. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:32.599 The word of the Lord 00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:33.319 goes forth 00:38:33.319 --> 00:38:34.000 and he brings 00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:34.819 into creation 00:38:34.819 --> 00:38:36.599 that which he decrees. 00:38:37.239 --> 00:38:38.379 He creates order 00:38:38.379 --> 00:38:39.440 out of disorder. 00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:40.500 He creates life 00:38:40.500 --> 00:38:41.480 out of chaos 00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:42.039 and death. 00:38:42.699 --> 00:38:43.739 And here with the Ninevites 00:38:43.739 --> 00:38:44.900 his word goes forth 00:38:44.900 --> 00:38:46.460 and it brings about 00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:48.119 that which God decreed 00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:48.800 all along 00:38:48.800 --> 00:38:50.460 foreshadowing 00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:51.420 the work of his son. 00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.059 And the purpose 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:53.340 for all of this 00:38:53.340 --> 00:38:54.099 is the glory 00:38:54.099 --> 00:38:55.280 of God alone. 00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.480 Does Jonah get any glory 00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:57.059 in this story? 00:38:58.240 --> 00:38:59.260 Jonah gets pushed 00:38:59.260 --> 00:38:59.940 lower and lower. 00:39:00.740 --> 00:39:01.480 Do the Ninevites 00:39:01.480 --> 00:39:02.820 get glory for repenting? 00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.099 No. 00:39:03.260 --> 00:39:04.000 They're so wicked. 00:39:04.780 --> 00:39:05.420 God was gracious 00:39:05.420 --> 00:39:05.960 to them. 00:39:06.360 --> 00:39:07.440 It's the word of the Lord 00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:08.280 that brings glory 00:39:08.280 --> 00:39:09.639 to God alone. 00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:12.119 How much has God 00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:12.880 forgiven you? 00:39:14.099 --> 00:39:15.559 The only fitting response 00:39:15.559 --> 00:39:16.820 to his gracious word 00:39:16.820 --> 00:39:18.079 to you yet again today 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:20.199 is gratitude 00:39:20.199 --> 00:39:22.360 for his glory alone. 00:39:22.799 --> 00:39:23.599 You receive it. 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:26.500 The Lord receives you 00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:27.900 and you receive his word 00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:29.699 trusting that he is glorified 00:39:29.699 --> 00:39:30.820 when he proves himself 00:39:30.820 --> 00:39:31.880 true to his word 00:39:31.880 --> 00:39:33.320 in your life as well. 00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:36.679 I've got one last point here 00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:37.639 and this is not even 00:39:37.639 --> 00:39:38.440 from Jonah 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:39.719 but it's what this 00:39:39.719 --> 00:39:40.500 all points to 00:39:40.500 --> 00:39:41.539 which is the fulfillment 00:39:41.539 --> 00:39:42.940 the final word 00:39:42.940 --> 00:39:43.440 of the Lord. 00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:44.500 How do you receive 00:39:44.500 --> 00:39:46.099 the Lord Jesus himself? 00:39:46.539 --> 00:39:47.380 That's number seven. 00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:49.119 Receive the final 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:50.480 and full word of God. 00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:52.780 Our Lord Jesus Christ himself. 00:39:53.740 --> 00:39:54.579 When you receive 00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.400 the word of the Lord 00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.579 when you receive Jesus 00:39:56.579 --> 00:39:58.599 he changes you. 00:39:59.480 --> 00:40:00.599 You receive Christ 00:40:00.599 --> 00:40:03.179 with life changing gratitude. 00:40:03.179 --> 00:40:07.480 The Lord had promised Israel 00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:08.519 in Exodus 34 00:40:08.519 --> 00:40:10.599 that the Lord is a God 00:40:10.599 --> 00:40:11.739 merciful and gracious 00:40:11.739 --> 00:40:12.919 slow to anger 00:40:12.919 --> 00:40:15.179 abounding in steadfast love 00:40:15.179 --> 00:40:16.179 and faithfulness. 00:40:16.619 --> 00:40:17.539 That's who God is. 00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:19.440 That's who God has proved himself 00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:20.980 to be once again 00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:22.699 with the Ninevites repenting. 00:40:23.699 --> 00:40:25.139 We're told in John 1 14 00:40:25.139 --> 00:40:26.839 that the word became flesh 00:40:26.839 --> 00:40:28.319 and dwelt among us 00:40:28.319 --> 00:40:30.019 and we have seen his glory. 00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:31.819 God's only son 00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:32.760 full of grace 00:40:32.760 --> 00:40:33.940 and truth. 00:40:33.940 --> 00:40:35.180 Have you received 00:40:35.180 --> 00:40:35.760 the final 00:40:35.760 --> 00:40:36.980 full word of God 00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:38.240 Jesus Christ himself? 00:40:39.400 --> 00:40:40.519 Hebrews 5 8 says 00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:42.660 although Jesus was a son 00:40:42.660 --> 00:40:43.940 he learned obedience 00:40:44.580 --> 00:40:45.680 through what he suffered 00:40:45.680 --> 00:40:47.240 and being made perfect 00:40:47.240 --> 00:40:47.920 he became 00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:48.920 the source 00:40:48.920 --> 00:40:50.640 of eternal salvation 00:40:50.640 --> 00:40:51.780 to all 00:40:51.780 --> 00:40:52.960 who obey him. 00:40:55.200 --> 00:40:56.680 A freed slave 00:40:56.680 --> 00:40:57.480 is expected 00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:59.120 to cherish his freedom. 00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:01.000 A pardoned criminal 00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:02.519 is expected 00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.179 to live 00:41:03.179 --> 00:41:04.619 a reformed life. 00:41:05.699 --> 00:41:06.280 In Christ 00:41:06.280 --> 00:41:07.539 you have been 00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:08.940 forgiven much. 00:41:10.139 --> 00:41:10.900 Receive him. 00:41:11.320 --> 00:41:12.420 Receive God's 00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:13.559 gracious word today 00:41:13.559 --> 00:41:15.340 with life changing 00:41:15.340 --> 00:41:15.840 gratitude 00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:16.699 for the glory 00:41:16.699 --> 00:41:17.199 of God 00:41:17.199 --> 00:41:17.900 alone. 00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:19.659 Would you pray with me? 00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:22.019 Oh Lord 00:41:22.019 --> 00:41:23.840 your word 00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:24.460 is gracious 00:41:24.460 --> 00:41:26.059 like you say 00:41:26.059 --> 00:41:27.000 in Proverbs 16 24 00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:28.239 your word 00:41:28.239 --> 00:41:29.280 is like a honeycomb. 00:41:30.179 --> 00:41:30.820 It is sweetness 00:41:30.820 --> 00:41:31.619 to the soul 00:41:31.619 --> 00:41:32.519 and health 00:41:32.519 --> 00:41:33.219 to the body. 00:41:34.719 --> 00:41:35.719 Lord we see 00:41:35.719 --> 00:41:36.460 through your word 00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:37.460 that even our suffering 00:41:37.460 --> 00:41:38.099 like Jonah 00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:39.679 if it leads to repentance 00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:40.519 it's gracious. 00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:43.679 As hard as it is 00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:44.559 for us to accept 00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:45.559 that and understand it 00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:46.159 we thank you 00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:46.699 that you have 00:41:46.699 --> 00:41:47.519 revealed 00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:49.119 your steadfast love 00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:50.059 your mercy 00:41:50.059 --> 00:41:50.820 your grace 00:41:50.820 --> 00:41:51.760 to us. 00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:53.000 Lord we testify 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:53.539 like Jonah 00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:54.159 you are 00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:55.119 so slow 00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:55.699 to anger 00:41:55.699 --> 00:41:57.579 like the Ninevites 00:41:57.579 --> 00:41:57.860 Lord 00:41:57.860 --> 00:41:58.840 you do abound 00:41:58.840 --> 00:42:00.599 in steadfast love 00:42:00.599 --> 00:42:02.099 and faithfulness. 00:42:02.739 --> 00:42:03.719 Please teach us 00:42:03.719 --> 00:42:03.960 Father 00:42:03.960 --> 00:42:04.880 to receive 00:42:04.880 --> 00:42:05.940 your word 00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:06.719 to receive 00:42:06.719 --> 00:42:07.659 Jesus Christ 00:42:07.659 --> 00:42:09.079 and to obey you 00:42:09.079 --> 00:42:09.719 now 00:42:09.719 --> 00:42:11.079 to abide in you 00:42:11.079 --> 00:42:12.219 every day 00:42:12.219 --> 00:42:13.059 and forever 00:42:13.059 --> 00:42:14.480 for your glory 00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:15.000 in our midst 00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:15.539 we ask 00:42:15.539 --> 00:42:16.259 Amen.