WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.140 Just a quick review. 00:00:01.580 --> 00:00:03.540 If you know anything about the book of Jonah, 00:00:03.540 --> 00:00:04.980 maybe you don't know anything. 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:07.600 We've been studying through Jonah. 00:00:07.719 --> 00:00:07.600 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.839 The opposite direction. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:32.119 A 180 degree turn. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:35.579 You know, when we talk about repentance, 00:00:35.579 --> 00:00:39.299 we say that repentance is turning from our sin. 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:40.780 That 180 degrees. 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:45.299 No longer doing sin, but doing something else. 00:00:46.939 --> 00:00:49.100 But repentance isn't just the action. 00:00:49.219 --> 00:00:51.960 Because here we have Jonah turning 180 degrees. 00:00:52.400 --> 00:00:54.019 Repentance is turning from the sin 00:00:54.019 --> 00:00:56.100 and turning towards something or someone 00:00:56.100 --> 00:00:59.700 who for us is God. 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:04.480 So Jonah turns and runs the exact opposite direction 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:05.859 towards Tarshish. 00:01:06.819 --> 00:01:08.379 He finds a ship there. 00:01:08.859 --> 00:01:10.420 He has money to pay for the ship. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:11.799 He gets on the ship. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:14.340 A ship that is actually going to where his destination, 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:15.920 where he wants to go. 00:01:17.299 --> 00:01:20.319 He gets on the ship and immediately he finds a bed 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:21.420 and goes to sleep. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:24.960 A deep sleep, in fact, what Jonah chapter 1 says. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:29.519 God knows where Jonah is and hurls a wind at him. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:30.900 And the ship. 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:33.859 He throws this wind. 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:36.579 The sailors. 00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:40.900 Seasoned sailors. 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:42.120 Veterans of the sea. 00:01:42.780 --> 00:01:45.980 The storm is so bad that these guys are scared. 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:48.859 That these guys are worried for their life. 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:51.179 So the sailors cast lots. 00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:54.060 They throw down stones to see who's at fault. 00:01:55.159 --> 00:01:57.439 And the lot fell on Jonah. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:00.019 Proverbs 16.33 says, 00:02:00.140 --> 00:02:01.719 The lot is cast into the lap, 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:04.239 but every decision is from the Lord. 00:02:04.900 --> 00:02:08.319 So the Lord here has shown the sailors who is at fault. 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:11.539 The sailors become even more scared 00:02:11.539 --> 00:02:14.739 because of the clear disobedience of Jonah 00:02:14.739 --> 00:02:18.659 and the clear attempt by the Lord to get Jonah's attention. 00:02:19.219 --> 00:02:21.120 And the sailors are right in the middle of it. 00:02:22.219 --> 00:02:23.859 So Jonah finally says, 00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:24.620 Throw me overboard. 00:02:24.959 --> 00:02:25.740 Here's your solution. 00:02:26.379 --> 00:02:28.340 So they throw Jonah overboard. 00:02:29.379 --> 00:02:30.359 He sinks to the bottom. 00:02:30.519 --> 00:02:30.840 He sinks. 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:33.079 The word says in chapter 2, 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:34.659 To the roots of the mountains. 00:02:34.659 --> 00:02:37.120 He's sinking down deep into the ocean. 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:40.139 Seaweed is wrapped around his head. 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:43.139 He's in great despair. 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:45.319 And he fears for a death. 00:02:46.019 --> 00:02:46.680 Or of death. 00:02:48.199 --> 00:02:50.219 And then God appoints a big fish 00:02:50.219 --> 00:02:53.759 to come and swallow or save Jonah. 00:02:55.099 --> 00:02:56.919 God shows Jonah mercy 00:02:56.919 --> 00:02:59.639 despite his disobedience. 00:03:01.079 --> 00:03:03.180 In chapter 2, we have a prayer of Jonah 00:03:03.180 --> 00:03:04.939 that he prays to God. 00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:07.819 Jonah realizes his foolishness 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:09.640 and he repents of his foolishness 00:03:09.640 --> 00:03:10.719 and his disobedience. 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:14.580 And repents based on who God is. 00:03:15.140 --> 00:03:16.080 God being merciful. 00:03:17.460 --> 00:03:19.060 And not based on who He is, of course, 00:03:19.140 --> 00:03:20.840 because He's clearly been disobedient 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:24.719 and clearly been foolish in His actions. 00:03:25.980 --> 00:03:27.300 So this is where we sit. 00:03:27.780 --> 00:03:29.439 We finally come to chapter 3 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:32.040 where Jonah turns from his sin. 00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:34.959 He realizes that he's been foolish. 00:03:35.859 --> 00:03:37.959 The message that God originally said to him, 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:39.459 He is now going to deliver. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:41.280 So this is where we sit. 00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:43.560 So we have this message. 00:03:46.259 --> 00:03:49.319 The message is God's word to the people of Nineveh. 00:03:49.399 --> 00:03:51.479 It is a message of wrath, 00:03:52.299 --> 00:03:53.560 a message of repentance, 00:03:54.079 --> 00:03:55.680 and a message of mercy. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:59.800 The fact that in verse 1, 00:04:00.260 --> 00:04:02.900 the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time 00:04:02.900 --> 00:04:06.000 is just another example of God's grace to Jonah. 00:04:06.760 --> 00:04:08.200 Jonah probably didn't admit 00:04:08.200 --> 00:04:10.200 that the fish was God's grace to him, 00:04:10.260 --> 00:04:12.580 but clearly because we have the whole story, 00:04:12.659 --> 00:04:14.480 we know that God's grace was shown to him 00:04:14.480 --> 00:04:16.100 by providing a fish 00:04:16.100 --> 00:04:17.740 and not letting him drown. 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:21.420 And here, 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.139 the word of the Lord comes to Jonah again 00:04:24.139 --> 00:04:27.720 as another opportunity for Jonah to be obedient. 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:32.079 Saving Jonah from destruction 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:34.720 wasn't enough for God who is merciful. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:38.800 God also involved him in His kingdom work. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:39.400 Now, 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:42.360 the same command, 00:04:42.540 --> 00:04:44.300 look at verse 2 in chapter 3, 00:04:44.379 --> 00:04:44.579 it says, 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:45.460 Arise, go. 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:48.220 The exact same command in chapter 1, 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:48.780 verse 2, 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:50.020 Arise, go. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:51.319 Get up 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:53.040 and go to Nineveh. 00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:55.340 This is your marching orders, 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:55.900 now go. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:00.240 Jonah gets it this time. 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:01.780 He gets it. 00:05:02.180 --> 00:05:02.699 Okay, God, 00:05:02.840 --> 00:05:03.939 I'm going to go. 00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:04.960 I'm going to go to Nineveh. 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:05.819 You got it. 00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:10.519 And God chooses to involve Jonah 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:12.920 in His work. 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:14.959 So, 00:05:15.159 --> 00:05:17.060 when you guys, 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:18.699 and when we see a need, 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:21.159 and we see somebody who's hurting, 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:23.019 or somebody who needs some counsel, 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:25.620 or somebody who just has physical need, 00:05:25.659 --> 00:05:26.519 and we meet that, 00:05:27.039 --> 00:05:28.560 it's God's grace on us 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:30.259 by involving us in His work. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:34.379 When we share with somebody at a coffee shop, 00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:36.040 and we get to pour out to them 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:37.759 the hope that we have in Christ, 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.139 that's God's grace on our lives. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:44.620 When we go on a mission trip to India, 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:45.800 or to Taiwan, 00:05:46.159 --> 00:05:47.839 or to South Africa, 00:05:48.939 --> 00:05:50.920 it's God's grace on our lives, 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:52.959 inviting us into what He's doing. 00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:54.600 And here, 00:05:54.740 --> 00:05:58.000 Jonah is invited into what God is doing, 00:05:58.379 --> 00:05:59.920 or wants to do to Nineveh. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:01.840 You know, 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:02.500 a lot of times, 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:03.640 we have this mentality 00:06:03.640 --> 00:06:06.879 that I'm going to do a great work for God. 00:06:08.180 --> 00:06:09.580 On North Georgia campus, 00:06:09.699 --> 00:06:11.600 I'm going to do a great work for God. 00:06:12.340 --> 00:06:13.540 The reality, though, 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:14.540 what it should say, 00:06:15.080 --> 00:06:17.439 is I get to do a great work for God. 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:19.620 And that's what we see here, 00:06:20.139 --> 00:06:22.020 is God using Jonah 00:06:22.020 --> 00:06:24.340 to speak to enemy of Israel, 00:06:24.339 --> 00:06:30.159 and allowing Jonah to be part of this work. 00:06:31.599 --> 00:06:32.579 For us, 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:34.719 as Christians, 00:06:35.459 --> 00:06:36.379 our message, 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:37.599 or our marching orders, 00:06:37.699 --> 00:06:38.560 is the Great Commission. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:41.039 Go and make disciples. 00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:46.120 And God chooses to fulfill that work 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:47.939 by using us, 00:06:48.099 --> 00:06:49.239 by using His church. 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:51.019 So, 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:53.079 when we read the story of Jonah, 00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:55.000 it's a story about a fish. 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:56.000 I almost said whale. 00:06:57.019 --> 00:06:57.960 We're not sure what it is. 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:00.660 It's a story about this man 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:02.280 who lived in the belly of a fish. 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:03.819 But more importantly, 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.360 when we read this story, 00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:08.840 when we read it to our kids, 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:09.980 or to our future kids, 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:11.079 or our grandkids, 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:13.620 or we read it and we study it ourselves, 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:15.300 be encouraged 00:07:15.300 --> 00:07:17.600 that God gave Jonah a second chance. 00:07:18.340 --> 00:07:19.139 Be encouraged 00:07:19.139 --> 00:07:22.779 that God invited Jonah into his work, 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:26.699 and involved him in rescuing Nineveh. 00:07:27.159 --> 00:07:28.979 Even somebody like Jonah, 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:31.500 who clearly was disobedient, 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:34.000 who clearly sinned against God, 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:37.560 and held his opinion higher 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:38.979 than the opinion of God. 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:41.719 So, 00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:43.099 the message, 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:45.740 verse 4, 00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:46.819 is our message 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:48.339 to the people of Nineveh. 00:07:49.139 --> 00:07:52.759 Jonah began to go into the city, 00:07:53.180 --> 00:07:54.319 going a day's journey, 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:55.279 and he called out, 00:07:56.939 --> 00:07:58.139 Yet forty days, 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:00.939 and Nineveh should be overthrown. 00:08:04.779 --> 00:08:05.959 Yet forty days, 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:07.219 and Nineveh 00:08:07.219 --> 00:08:08.979 shall be overthrown. 00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:11.819 I don't know if you thought, 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:12.520 like me, 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:12.960 on this, 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:13.900 but this message, 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:15.860 I don't know if it's, 00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:17.379 if we're just getting a piece of it, 00:08:17.420 --> 00:08:18.300 or this is the message, 00:08:18.420 --> 00:08:19.400 but it just doesn't sound, 00:08:20.140 --> 00:08:21.120 it doesn't say what I think 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:21.740 it should have said. 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:24.240 I think that Jonah 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:25.300 should have gone into Nineveh, 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:26.580 and said that God is merciful, 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:27.400 if you repent, 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:28.340 you will be saved, 00:08:28.780 --> 00:08:30.040 God is great, 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:31.379 you guys are evil, 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:34.159 maybe, 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:34.700 maybe not, 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:35.700 God will show me mercy, 00:08:35.700 --> 00:08:36.980 but try anyway. 00:08:39.140 --> 00:08:39.560 He says, 00:08:39.640 --> 00:08:40.500 Yet forty days, 00:08:40.620 --> 00:08:42.200 and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:46.520 Message is a little questionable here. 00:08:48.020 --> 00:08:48.740 We get to see, 00:08:48.860 --> 00:08:49.100 maybe, 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:50.620 Jonah's side of, 00:08:50.700 --> 00:08:51.660 of this message. 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:54.340 Basically, 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:55.540 the message is, 00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:56.480 forty days, 00:08:56.540 --> 00:08:57.280 you guys are destroyed. 00:08:58.100 --> 00:08:58.480 But see, 00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:00.379 God used this message, 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:02.740 to speak to the people of Nineveh. 00:09:02.740 --> 00:09:04.460 God used this message, 00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:06.080 and the people of Nineveh, 00:09:06.180 --> 00:09:06.740 as we know, 00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:07.940 we just read it, 00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:08.639 got it. 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:11.080 They heard what Jonah was saying. 00:09:11.180 --> 00:09:12.740 They heard what God was saying, 00:09:12.820 --> 00:09:13.840 through Jonah. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:15.399 Now it says that, 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:16.980 that Nineveh was a great city, 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:18.480 three days journey in breadth. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:20.039 Now whether that means, 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:21.779 that it took three days to cross, 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:23.639 to go from one side to the other, 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:25.100 or it took three days, 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:27.779 to talk to and preach to everybody, 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:29.240 either way, 00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:30.159 it's a great city. 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:31.159 The end of chapter four, 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:33.579 tells us that there's 120,000 people. 00:09:34.699 --> 00:09:35.959 120,000 people. 00:09:36.459 --> 00:09:37.539 A large city, 00:09:37.659 --> 00:09:39.419 filled with evil people, 00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:40.120 with sinners. 00:09:41.579 --> 00:09:42.000 A people, 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:43.399 no matter how evil, 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:44.439 or how much sin, 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:45.860 a people who needed rescuing. 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:48.259 And it was God's mission, 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:49.959 to rescue these people. 00:09:50.319 --> 00:09:52.279 And it was Jonah's message, 00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:53.659 that God used. 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:56.600 In regards to this message, 00:09:56.740 --> 00:09:59.399 there are three observations, 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:00.980 that I want to share with you guys. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:03.500 First of all, 00:10:03.579 --> 00:10:04.000 the message, 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:06.219 is always for a certain people. 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:08.159 The message is always, 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:09.439 for a certain people. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:12.919 It is for a specific people, 00:10:13.139 --> 00:10:14.480 no matter what message, 00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:15.279 in the Bible, 00:10:15.439 --> 00:10:17.120 it has a specific audience. 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:18.179 So, 00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:19.219 in Jesus, 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:19.919 when he preached, 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:20.860 on the Sermon on the Mount, 00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:22.559 the group started out being, 00:10:23.860 --> 00:10:24.299 believers, 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:25.379 followers of him, 00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:26.620 non-believers, 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:27.579 religious people, 00:10:27.659 --> 00:10:28.919 and by the time it got to the end, 00:10:28.959 --> 00:10:29.759 of the Sermon on the Mount, 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:30.879 it was just the believers. 00:10:31.419 --> 00:10:31.720 Because, 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:32.759 his audience, 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:34.840 was to those believers. 00:10:37.899 --> 00:10:38.379 In, 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:40.720 another example, 00:10:40.819 --> 00:10:41.580 in Matthew 12, 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:43.399 where Jesus is talking about Jonah, 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:46.919 he says, 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:48.959 the people of Nineveh, 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:49.939 will cast judgment, 00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:51.000 on the religious leaders. 00:10:51.199 --> 00:10:52.860 He is talking to religious leaders, 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:53.240 because, 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:54.959 the people of Nineveh, 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:57.100 have repented of their sin, 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.279 they have received, 00:10:58.340 --> 00:11:00.679 eternal life, 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:01.679 Christ, 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:01.679 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.279 the religious leaders, 00:11:03.599 --> 00:11:04.059 have not, 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:05.500 because they are so full of themselves, 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:06.699 and so self-righteous, 00:11:07.059 --> 00:11:08.379 that they can't see Christ, 00:11:08.459 --> 00:11:08.959 the Messiah, 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:09.679 in front of them. 00:11:10.699 --> 00:11:10.839 Well, 00:11:10.859 --> 00:11:11.579 Jesus' audience, 00:11:11.819 --> 00:11:13.019 is the religious leaders, 00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:14.179 at that moment. 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:16.919 For you, 00:11:16.979 --> 00:11:17.439 and for me, 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:18.099 our message, 00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:19.139 is the gospel. 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:20.539 Our message, 00:11:20.699 --> 00:11:21.059 is, 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:23.439 is, 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.479 Christ born, 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:26.019 Christ lived, 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:26.620 Christ died, 00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:27.399 Christ resurrected, 00:11:27.399 --> 00:11:29.039 for our sin, 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:30.319 because we were created, 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:31.039 in, 00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:32.620 bondage. 00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:36.179 And that message, 00:11:36.299 --> 00:11:37.399 is to those around us. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:40.840 It may change, 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:41.519 in context, 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:42.799 you may change the words, 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:43.539 you may change, 00:11:44.079 --> 00:11:44.220 the, 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:46.220 how you relate, 00:11:46.319 --> 00:11:46.779 to somebody, 00:11:46.899 --> 00:11:47.899 but you will not change, 00:11:47.939 --> 00:11:48.459 the content. 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:49.659 The message is the same. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:50.980 The gospel is the same. 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:53.379 It's always specific, 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:53.620 though, 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:54.919 to a specific audience. 00:11:56.460 --> 00:11:57.379 And that audience, 00:11:57.399 --> 00:11:58.379 is the church. 00:11:58.679 --> 00:11:59.220 That audience, 00:11:59.319 --> 00:12:00.120 is those who are going, 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:00.939 to become Christians. 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:02.319 Now, 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.159 I kind of got you there, 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:04.939 because that's very, 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:05.439 a general, 00:12:06.179 --> 00:12:07.259 that's pretty much everybody, 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:08.459 there's no specific there, 00:12:08.579 --> 00:12:08.879 but, 00:12:10.199 --> 00:12:13.059 it's easy to say, 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:14.939 but you and I, 00:12:15.059 --> 00:12:15.679 do not know, 00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:16.480 who's going to be part, 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:16.879 of the church. 00:12:17.019 --> 00:12:17.779 We do not know, 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:18.639 who's going to be Christians. 00:12:19.199 --> 00:12:19.919 We don't have, 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:20.639 a clue. 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:22.939 We have hopes. 00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:24.240 We have desires, 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.059 of certain people, 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:25.939 children, 00:12:26.520 --> 00:12:26.980 parents, 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:27.460 family, 00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:29.920 but we don't know. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:31.340 So for us, 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:32.880 our audience, 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:33.920 when we share the gospel, 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:35.500 is very general. 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:37.340 It's to anybody, 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:37.900 and everybody, 00:12:38.040 --> 00:12:39.540 that we come in contact with. 00:12:41.300 --> 00:12:42.200 But to God, 00:12:42.260 --> 00:12:42.980 it's very specific. 00:12:43.280 --> 00:12:43.940 God knows, 00:12:44.580 --> 00:12:45.760 who's going to be his children. 00:12:46.040 --> 00:12:46.620 God knows, 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:47.020 who has, 00:12:47.780 --> 00:12:49.140 who he has chosen to be, 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:50.820 his children. 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:52.820 So in, 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.740 in the book of Jonah, 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:54.120 then, 00:12:55.280 --> 00:12:55.640 Nineveh, 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:56.520 God has chosen, 00:12:57.260 --> 00:12:58.000 to be, 00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:59.420 the audience of this message. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:02.800 The message, 00:13:03.040 --> 00:13:03.560 is always, 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.520 for a certain, 00:13:04.920 --> 00:13:05.200 people. 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:06.820 The next, 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:07.900 observation, 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:08.580 on the message, 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.560 is it's measured, 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:11.060 based on God, 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:12.200 not on man. 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:14.240 No one, 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:14.780 but God, 00:13:14.880 --> 00:13:15.240 knew, 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:16.380 an entire city, 00:13:16.460 --> 00:13:16.920 would repent. 00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:17.860 Nobody. 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.980 Jonah certainly, 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:20.500 didn't. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.139 An entire city, 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.740 of 120,000 people. 00:13:25.180 --> 00:13:26.060 And in verse 5, 00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:26.460 it says, 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:27.440 the end of verse 5, 00:13:28.300 --> 00:13:29.519 and the people of Nineveh, 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:30.379 believed God, 00:13:30.800 --> 00:13:31.980 they called for a fast, 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.159 and put on sackcloth, 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.600 from the greatest of them, 00:13:34.940 --> 00:13:36.019 to the least of them. 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:38.080 The politicians, 00:13:38.800 --> 00:13:39.440 the actors, 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:40.879 the restaurant owners, 00:13:41.300 --> 00:13:41.940 the teachers, 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:42.920 the soldiers, 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:43.960 the babysitters, 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:44.960 the garbage men, 00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:45.560 the students, 00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:46.460 all of them, 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.200 from the greatest, 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:47.980 to the least. 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:50.660 Now, 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:51.440 who's to say, 00:13:51.520 --> 00:13:52.460 that this couldn't happen, 00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:53.220 in our time? 00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:55.860 Who's to say, 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:57.060 that God couldn't reach, 00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:57.680 an entire, 00:13:57.940 --> 00:13:58.300 small, 00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:59.280 rural town, 00:13:59.400 --> 00:13:59.940 of Dahlonega? 00:14:01.660 --> 00:14:02.420 Who's to say, 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:03.640 that God couldn't do it, 00:14:03.800 --> 00:14:04.680 on a small, 00:14:04.780 --> 00:14:05.820 North Georgia campus? 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:08.660 How about, 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:09.700 how about in a small, 00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:11.000 county in North Georgia? 00:14:11.680 --> 00:14:12.200 What about, 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:13.460 all of North Georgia? 00:14:14.640 --> 00:14:14.860 See, 00:14:14.920 --> 00:14:15.259 God, 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:16.960 holds the measuring stick. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:18.420 God is the one, 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.340 that decides, 00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.259 what's going to be done. 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:23.120 You and I, 00:14:23.420 --> 00:14:25.100 have to finally be like Jonah, 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:26.920 and be obedient, 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:28.160 and deliver the message. 00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:31.220 I have to believe, 00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:32.420 that one reason, 00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:33.640 the book of Jonah is written, 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.340 and one reason, 00:14:34.400 --> 00:14:35.020 it's in the Bible, 00:14:35.420 --> 00:14:36.400 is so that we can see, 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.720 that an entire city, 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:38.720 is converted, 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:41.180 of 120,000 people. 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:43.379 Because we have cities, 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:44.000 like Jericho, 00:14:44.059 --> 00:14:44.899 that get destroyed. 00:14:45.599 --> 00:14:46.459 Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:47.259 get destroyed. 00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:48.399 But do we have cities, 00:14:48.479 --> 00:14:49.179 that have been saved? 00:14:49.699 --> 00:14:50.239 Do we have cities, 00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:51.059 that have been converted, 00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:52.779 because of God's mercy? 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:54.799 Now yeah, 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.719 we see the sovereignty, 00:14:55.719 --> 00:14:56.679 of God in the story, 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:56.899 but, 00:14:57.459 --> 00:14:58.159 but we get to see, 00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:59.019 God's mercy, 00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.879 poured out, 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:00.359 on a city, 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:01.199 that is evil, 00:15:01.199 --> 00:15:01.959 towards Israel. 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:05.320 What a great book. 00:15:06.780 --> 00:15:08.160 The third observation, 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:09.060 is the message, 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.280 from God, 00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:11.400 always, 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.660 demands something, 00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:13.700 of the messenger. 00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:17.920 God's going to demand, 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:18.820 something of you, 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:20.080 if you are, 00:15:20.280 --> 00:15:20.900 a messenger. 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:21.940 And if you're a follower, 00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:22.460 of Christ, 00:15:22.540 --> 00:15:23.160 and you are, 00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:24.500 a messenger, 00:15:24.800 --> 00:15:26.019 you cannot avoid it. 00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:30.340 He's going to call you, 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:30.900 to deliver, 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:31.900 a message, 00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:33.400 so, 00:15:33.660 --> 00:15:34.320 so for Jonah, 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.019 whether that means, 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:35.420 you're, 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:37.000 you've repented, 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.720 of your evil, 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:39.040 before you, 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.860 deliver a message, 00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:41.900 on repentance, 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:42.740 like Jonah. 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:45.400 Or you go to a place, 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:46.019 where you fear, 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:46.759 for your life, 00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:48.379 and you truly have to, 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.240 trust in God, 00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:50.320 and his leading. 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.180 Either way, 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:53.980 there's something, 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.740 demanded there. 00:15:55.280 --> 00:15:56.720 Turn to Acts chapter 20. 00:16:00.040 --> 00:16:01.100 Acts chapter 20, 00:16:01.180 --> 00:16:01.480 we have, 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:02.340 we have, 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.500 we have Paul, 00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:06.400 speaking to the elders, 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.139 in Ephesus. 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:15.980 Acts 20, 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.220 we're going to start reading, 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.740 in verse 22. 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:26.279 it says, 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:26.940 and now, 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.580 behold, 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.899 I am going to Jerusalem, 00:16:30.060 --> 00:16:30.299 Paul, 00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:32.299 constrained by the Spirit, 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:33.919 not knowing, 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:35.220 what will happen to me there, 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:36.620 except, 00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:38.500 that the Holy Spirit, 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.560 testifies to me, 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.440 in every city, 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:41.720 that imprisonment, 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.139 and afflictions, 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:44.060 await me. 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:46.039 but I do not, 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.939 account my life, 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.899 with any value, 00:16:48.059 --> 00:16:48.899 nor as precious, 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:49.719 to myself, 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.059 if only, 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:51.859 I may finish, 00:16:51.859 --> 00:16:52.639 my course, 00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:53.379 and the ministry, 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.339 that I received, 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.359 from the Lord Jesus, 00:16:55.479 --> 00:16:56.139 to testify, 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.039 to the gospel, 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:58.599 of the grace, 00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.519 of God. 00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:01.599 So, 00:17:01.599 --> 00:17:02.079 Paul's saying, 00:17:02.219 --> 00:17:02.500 I'm not, 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.000 I'm not sure, 00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:03.719 what's going to happen, 00:17:04.659 --> 00:17:05.339 I'm really not sure, 00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:05.920 what's going to happen, 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.420 in Jerusalem, 00:17:06.659 --> 00:17:07.960 but I know one thing, 00:17:08.619 --> 00:17:09.839 I know that affliction, 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.000 is going to be there, 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:12.019 I know that affliction, 00:17:12.139 --> 00:17:13.079 is going to come on me, 00:17:13.939 --> 00:17:15.319 and that's okay, 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.699 that's okay, 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:17.220 because, 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.500 because I do not, 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.319 count my life, 00:17:19.419 --> 00:17:20.439 worth anything, 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.159 except my ministry, 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.359 for the Lord Jesus. 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:25.000 See, 00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:25.960 Paul knew, 00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:26.599 that affliction, 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.399 was headed his way, 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:27.960 but yet, 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.299 he followed, 00:17:29.439 --> 00:17:29.779 the leading, 00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:30.720 of the Holy Spirit, 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:31.919 and went, 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:32.699 anyway. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.039 There is a cost, 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:35.899 for being, 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.779 a messenger. 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.460 In Matthew 18, 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.240 we have a story, 00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:40.079 of the unforgiving, 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.559 or unforgiving servant. 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:44.099 The story goes, 00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:44.960 where a king, 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.919 decides to, 00:17:47.379 --> 00:17:48.399 to get his money, 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.139 from his servants, 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:49.679 that owe him, 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:51.019 so he brings a servant in, 00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:52.980 and the servant, 00:17:53.139 --> 00:17:53.440 he says, 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.019 you owe me, 00:17:54.139 --> 00:17:54.899 this amount, 00:17:55.399 --> 00:17:56.220 and it happens to be, 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.220 20 years, 00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.559 worth of wages, 00:17:59.079 --> 00:17:59.519 for his, 00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:00.259 for this servant. 00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:01.659 And he says, 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.460 you owe me this, 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.579 and I need you to pay now. 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.559 And the servant says, 00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:05.940 oh, 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:06.339 oh, 00:18:06.679 --> 00:18:07.019 king, 00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:08.299 please have mercy on me, 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.579 I can't pay that, 00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:10.220 there is no way, 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:11.539 I have nothing, 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.139 please have mercy on me. 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.220 And the king says, 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:14.599 okay, 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.759 you are forgiven, 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.639 and your debt is forgiven. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.740 The servant goes out, 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:23.399 and sees, 00:18:23.659 --> 00:18:24.440 a fellow servant, 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.179 and owes him, 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.200 a day's wages. 00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.359 And he basically, 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.099 beats him, 00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:30.500 and says, 00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:31.559 give me my money, 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:33.079 you owe me this. 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.639 The king finds out, 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.440 has him put in jail, 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:40.759 and says, 00:18:40.840 --> 00:18:41.660 you will not get out, 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.519 until you pay me, 00:18:42.840 --> 00:18:43.559 the full amount. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.160 The point of the story is, 00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:47.680 if you are shown mercy, 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.200 which, 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.700 if you are a follower of Christ, 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.900 we are all shown mercy, 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.799 then our job, 00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:54.420 is to show mercy to others. 00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:55.920 There is a cost, 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.440 of being that messenger, 00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.539 of being, 00:18:58.840 --> 00:19:00.180 a follower of Christ. 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.200 See, 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:02.620 Jonah, 00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:03.960 in the book of Jonah, 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:05.220 Jonah was shown mercy. 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:07.900 Jonah was shown, 00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:09.900 God's mercy, 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.140 by, 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.400 by saving him, 00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:12.039 from drowning. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.000 And now Jonah, 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:17.160 is the messenger here, 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.759 delivering, 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:18.980 a message, 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.039 of mercy. 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.019 Luke, 00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.620 chapter 9, 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.339 verse 23, 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:25.940 and 24, 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:26.440 says, 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:27.360 if anyone, 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.319 would come after me, 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:30.460 let him deny himself, 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.640 and take up his cross, 00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:32.400 daily, 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:33.660 and follow me. 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.060 For whoever, 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.040 would save his life, 00:19:36.100 --> 00:19:36.519 will lose it. 00:19:36.580 --> 00:19:36.860 But whoever, 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.820 loses his life, 00:19:37.860 --> 00:19:38.660 for my sake, 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.800 will save it. 00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:44.440 Chapter 14, 00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:44.940 of Luke, 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:45.840 verse 26, 00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:46.759 if anyone, 00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:47.519 comes to me, 00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:48.759 and does not hate, 00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:49.840 does not hate, 00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:51.540 his own father, 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:52.620 and mother, 00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:53.620 and wife, 00:19:53.780 --> 00:19:54.440 and children, 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.259 and brothers, 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.140 and sisters, 00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:56.900 and yes, 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:58.259 and even his own life, 00:19:59.240 --> 00:19:59.920 he cannot, 00:20:00.300 --> 00:20:01.420 be my disciple. 00:20:03.380 --> 00:20:04.040 Now Jesus, 00:20:04.280 --> 00:20:06.000 is not talking about, 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:06.480 hate, 00:20:06.560 --> 00:20:07.920 as we would describe hate. 00:20:08.820 --> 00:20:09.620 He's talking about, 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.420 putting priorities, 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:11.940 in proper perspective, 00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:12.700 where Christ, 00:20:13.060 --> 00:20:14.700 is above everything. 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:16.960 And so everything else, 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.840 becomes secondary. 00:20:18.540 --> 00:20:19.780 Dying is okay. 00:20:21.060 --> 00:20:21.820 Family members, 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:22.820 being lost, 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:23.740 is okay for, 00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:24.940 the gospel, 00:20:25.320 --> 00:20:26.400 for Christ. 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.200 And it's hard truth, 00:20:28.280 --> 00:20:29.540 it's a radical life. 00:20:30.340 --> 00:20:31.560 But there's a cost, 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:33.220 to be, 00:20:33.379 --> 00:20:34.039 a messenger. 00:20:34.639 --> 00:20:35.599 There's always, 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.299 a cost, 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:37.419 to following Jesus. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.460 See God, 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.359 demands something, 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.019 from us. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:44.000 Not as a, 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.139 vengeful dictator. 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.819 Not as a, 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:49.139 a ruler, 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:49.679 who just, 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:50.980 wants to see, 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.839 his people hurt. 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:53.659 He demands, 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.980 because he is merciful, 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.659 and because he is loving. 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:59.099 It is for our good, 00:20:59.099 --> 00:21:00.000 that he demands, 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.819 some things. 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.299 Because those things, 00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:03.919 are usually, 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.059 what need to be removed, 00:21:05.179 --> 00:21:05.579 anyway. 00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.699 Like the rock, 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.279 that's in the middle, 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:10.819 of the clay, 00:21:10.899 --> 00:21:11.799 that has to be removed, 00:21:11.919 --> 00:21:12.699 and thrown down. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.219 Or the air pockets, 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:15.359 that has to be beat out, 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:15.639 so that, 00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:16.779 so that he can make it, 00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.599 into a beautiful, 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:19.059 sculpture. 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:23.039 There's a cost, 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.979 to being a messenger. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:27.019 God will work, 00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:28.859 in the lives of those, 00:21:29.179 --> 00:21:30.779 who deliver messages. 00:21:31.419 --> 00:21:31.799 And guys, 00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.679 that's all of us. 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.759 We are all, 00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.500 messengers. 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:39.119 So we have the message. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:42.079 The next thing we have, 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:42.859 is the reaction, 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:44.139 to the message. 00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.559 This is verses, 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.699 five through eight. 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.059 It says, 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.519 And the people of Nineveh, 00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:51.379 believed God. 00:21:51.959 --> 00:21:53.379 They called for a fast, 00:21:53.459 --> 00:21:54.699 and put on sackcloth, 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:56.419 from the greatest of them, 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.479 to the least of them. 00:21:59.079 --> 00:22:00.219 The word reached, 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.159 the king of Nineveh, 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.719 and he arose, 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.759 from his throne, 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:05.639 removed his robe, 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.359 covered himself, 00:22:07.459 --> 00:22:08.339 with sackcloth, 00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:09.639 and sat in ashes. 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.339 And he issued, 00:22:11.459 --> 00:22:12.119 a proclamation, 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.240 and published, 00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.500 through Nineveh. 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:15.980 By the decree, 00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:16.720 of the king, 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.519 and his nobles, 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.579 let neither man, 00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:19.179 nor beast, 00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:19.740 herd, 00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:20.419 nor flock, 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.639 taste anything. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.799 Let them not, 00:22:23.959 --> 00:22:25.339 feed or drink water, 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:26.579 but let man, 00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.000 and beast, 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:28.480 be covered with sackcloth, 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.319 and let them, 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:30.839 call out mightily, 00:22:30.959 --> 00:22:31.399 to God. 00:22:32.159 --> 00:22:33.039 Let everyone, 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.399 turn from his evil way, 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.419 and from the violence, 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.699 that is in his hands. 00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:40.139 The reaction, 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:40.759 to the message, 00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:41.679 is repentant, 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.720 action. 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.980 It is repentance. 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:45.539 Now, 00:22:45.679 --> 00:22:46.179 the act, 00:22:46.199 --> 00:22:47.419 of putting on sackcloth, 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.220 was a sign, 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:48.959 of mourning. 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.599 Mourning, 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.559 over their sin, 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.959 and fearing, 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:54.299 for what will happen, 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:54.980 because, 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:56.240 of that sin. 00:22:57.899 --> 00:22:58.439 Calling, 00:22:58.439 --> 00:22:59.159 for fast, 00:22:59.220 --> 00:22:59.779 was an act, 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.439 of humility. 00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:02.899 Replacing, 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:03.559 food, 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.819 with a reverence, 00:23:05.199 --> 00:23:05.939 with a reverence, 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:07.180 towards God, 00:23:07.340 --> 00:23:08.080 towards the Lord, 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:08.700 Yahweh. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:10.880 Now, 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.660 sackcloth, 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.380 and fasting, 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:14.400 is a pagan town. 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.340 It was not, 00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:16.420 a religious activity. 00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.059 It wasn't something, 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.720 that they did, 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.460 once a week. 00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:23.259 But, 00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:23.680 it was something, 00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:24.820 that they truly, 00:23:24.820 --> 00:23:25.380 knew, 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.440 that they had to do. 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:27.460 That they, 00:23:27.820 --> 00:23:28.779 by revelation, 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.460 of the Lord, 00:23:29.580 --> 00:23:29.740 or, 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:30.840 or whatever, 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.880 God had revealed, 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:32.400 to them, 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:34.080 their sin. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.799 And, 00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.519 that he was going, 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.240 to destroy them, 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.240 if they did not repent. 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.799 They got it. 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:39.899 Like, 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.220 like the sailors did. 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:43.879 Like the sailors did. 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.359 The sailors got it. 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.699 When God revealed himself, 00:23:46.699 --> 00:23:47.199 to them, 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:49.079 by, 00:23:49.179 --> 00:23:50.139 by the storm, 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.460 by Jonah, 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:52.819 by the storm, 00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:53.059 all, 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.480 storm, 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.000 all of a sudden, 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:54.619 stopping, 00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:57.339 once Jonah was thrown in. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.139 God revealed himself, 00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:00.579 to them, 00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:02.359 and then, 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.539 the Ninevites here, 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:04.339 knew, 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.139 that this message, 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.119 that Jonah had preached, 00:24:06.159 --> 00:24:06.819 that this message, 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.980 that Jonah had communicated, 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:08.500 to them, 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:09.819 needed, 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.000 or deserved, 00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:11.539 attention. 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.299 Verse 5, 00:24:16.379 --> 00:24:16.539 again, 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.000 says that, 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.059 from the greatest of them, 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:18.899 to the least of them, 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.099 everyone, 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:21.139 was involved, 00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.099 in this activity. 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:23.920 Everyone. 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:26.500 See, 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.059 the people, 00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:28.659 heard the message first, 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.879 according to chapter 3. 00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:31.480 The people got it. 00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:32.839 And then, 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:33.559 it made its way, 00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.619 however long it took, 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.779 made its way, 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.359 to the king. 00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:38.659 And then the king got it. 00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:39.939 And the king, 00:24:40.179 --> 00:24:41.519 removed his robe, 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:43.179 arose from his throne, 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:44.159 and covered himself, 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.079 with sackcloth. 00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:47.639 See, 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:50.899 he removed his robe, 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.919 his robe that, 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:53.559 that labeled him as king. 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.740 What, 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:57.799 what separated him, 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.579 from everyone else, 00:24:58.639 --> 00:24:59.379 was this robe, 00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:00.300 that was decorated, 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.440 and it was beautiful. 00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:03.240 It was, 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:03.580 but, 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:03.940 but, 00:25:04.540 --> 00:25:05.340 it was, 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:07.060 what covered the wounds, 00:25:07.780 --> 00:25:09.260 from his evil life, 00:25:09.320 --> 00:25:10.260 from the battles, 00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:11.020 that he had fought, 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:12.140 or the scars, 00:25:12.260 --> 00:25:12.840 from fight, 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.080 after fight, 00:25:14.600 --> 00:25:15.660 the shoulders, 00:25:16.040 --> 00:25:16.740 that bore, 00:25:16.840 --> 00:25:17.300 the burden, 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.780 of ruling a city. 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:19.600 See, 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:20.840 he removed that robe, 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.920 and revealed himself, 00:25:22.020 --> 00:25:22.560 to the Lord. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.760 He removed that robe, 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:26.039 and said, 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.920 here am I, 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:28.420 have mercy on me. 00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:31.099 I am but a king, 00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:32.180 and I am nothing, 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.119 now, 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.319 based on, 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.480 or compared to you, 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.019 oh Lord. 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:38.079 His identity, 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:39.059 had been removed. 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:42.480 And all that was left, 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:44.039 was the ashes, 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:45.299 that he was sitting in, 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.299 and the, 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:48.299 sackcloth, 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.519 that was made of goat hair. 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:51.299 I don't know, 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:52.519 if you've ever pet a goat. 00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:55.119 My kids have pet a goat, 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.879 and I've had to pet a goat. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.500 It's not, 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.539 soft, 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.579 one bit. 00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:03.619 I mean, 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:03.779 it, 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.940 we want to say, 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.379 it's like, 00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:07.000 burlap. 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.000 Either way, 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:10.180 we both get the idea, 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.460 that this is not a comfortable thing, 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.039 to put on. 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:14.039 And that's what he, 00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:15.660 he trades his robe, 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.379 for sackcloth, 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:17.740 because, 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.879 he knows, 00:26:18.879 --> 00:26:20.099 that God can, 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:21.680 destroy, 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.259 them. 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:24.759 Now, 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.039 I, 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.200 I, 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:25.819 I wonder, 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:29.259 I wonder how many of you, 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:31.059 and how many of us, 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.119 me included, 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.359 even as I wrote this, 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.559 and even as I'm saying it, 00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:38.139 need to remove our robe, 00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:40.220 and step down, 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.039 off of our throne. 00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:43.700 How many of us, 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.559 need to, 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:48.559 need to mourn, 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:50.019 for the city that we've built, 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.099 our life, 00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:52.439 the, 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.199 the sin, 00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:53.939 and the evil, 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.919 has taken it over. 00:26:56.199 --> 00:26:56.779 How many, 00:26:56.959 --> 00:26:57.879 how many of us, 00:26:57.919 --> 00:26:58.459 need to just, 00:26:58.959 --> 00:26:59.939 sit in ash, 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.519 and repent? 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.039 I wonder how many, 00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:03.000 in this room, 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.819 have mourned, 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:05.000 over their dorm hall, 00:27:05.419 --> 00:27:05.859 or their, 00:27:05.959 --> 00:27:06.980 their roommates, 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:09.099 or mourned, 00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:09.399 over, 00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:10.919 over those in their class, 00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:11.059 or, 00:27:11.159 --> 00:27:12.399 or those at their workplace, 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:15.820 or those that we see, 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.700 walking down the, 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.680 down the street. 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:19.660 I, 00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.780 I think I've shared this, 00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:21.480 with the community group, 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.380 and I don't know if I've shared it, 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:22.860 with you guys. 00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:25.880 I have more mercy, 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.420 if I see, 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.259 if I see a woman, 00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.580 walking down the road, 00:27:28.780 --> 00:27:28.840 and, 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:29.900 or down the sidewalk, 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:31.240 and she has a shaved head, 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.960 and has a bandana on, 00:27:33.320 --> 00:27:34.980 clearly she's suffering from, 00:27:35.300 --> 00:27:36.320 from cancer, 00:27:36.560 --> 00:27:36.680 or, 00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.560 or dealing with that, 00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:38.500 or going through chemo. 00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:41.140 I feel really bad for her. 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.799 I feel horrible for her. 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.779 I can't believe that, 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:44.380 that, 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.839 that we have to go through that, 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:47.460 and some people have to go through that in life. 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:48.119 I, 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:48.859 I just hate it. 00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:53.319 I don't mourn. 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.500 I don't get sad. 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.299 I don't, 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.680 feel bad, 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.259 for people, 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.799 who just walk down the street, 00:27:58.859 --> 00:27:59.319 that I know, 00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.180 don't have Christ. 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:02.220 That don't have the hope that I have. 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:03.920 That is far worse, 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.359 than cancer. 00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.900 Cancer is temporary. 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:12.940 How many of us, 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:15.220 have mourned for the people around us? 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:18.079 What about the city of Dahlonega? 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.400 You know, 00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:21.740 we have a large population, 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:23.400 of demonic activity, 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.799 in Lumpkin County, 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.640 in Dahlonega. 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:28.380 Gays and lesbians, 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.819 find Dahlonega friendly. 00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.759 We have a church. 00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:34.279 The first church you see, 00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:35.420 when you pull into town, 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.859 is a church that teaches nothing, 00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:39.339 that believes in nothing, 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:41.539 and that adheres to nothing. 00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:43.599 But it's the first church we see, 00:28:43.659 --> 00:28:44.659 when we pull into town. 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:47.759 See, 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:49.279 just a little perspective. 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.659 We have a county, 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.740 that has a population, 00:28:51.919 --> 00:28:55.079 that is only 4% of the people of Nineveh. 00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.979 5,000 people, 00:28:58.179 --> 00:29:00.279 and 5,100 in the county. 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:03.220 Why can't God, 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:06.440 with a people, 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:09.000 who mourn for the sin of that area, 00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:11.039 who mourn for the sin, 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:12.500 who repent of their sin, 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.759 why can't God reach, 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:15.899 an entire county in North Georgia? 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:19.379 4% of what He did in Nineveh. 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:23.260 Now, 00:29:23.540 --> 00:29:25.540 I know you guys are college students, 00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.760 and some of you are probably thinking, 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.260 well, 00:29:27.280 --> 00:29:28.480 I don't live here all the time. 00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:30.260 Well, 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:30.900 you know, 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.640 I'm only here, 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:32.920 three quarters of the year. 00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:33.760 Exactly! 00:29:34.820 --> 00:29:35.940 Three quarters of the year. 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:39.900 And I can show you, 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.160 in Scripture, 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:42.060 in Jeremiah, 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:44.300 where Jeremiah tells the Israel, 00:29:44.300 --> 00:29:46.700 to plant their cells. 00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:51.760 They're not in Israel. 00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:52.460 And He says, 00:29:52.760 --> 00:29:54.240 plant yourselves. 00:29:54.860 --> 00:29:55.680 Make a family. 00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:56.940 Have wives. 00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:57.940 Have kids. 00:29:58.340 --> 00:29:59.600 Let them have wives. 00:30:00.760 --> 00:30:02.160 Where you are, guys, 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:03.580 you are messengers. 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:10.240 So when was the last time, 00:30:10.520 --> 00:30:11.520 that we mourned, 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:13.920 over this county? 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:16.040 So, 00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:16.960 this king, 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:19.180 this king was the king, 00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:20.980 who knew his people, 00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:22.700 and knew the sin of that people. 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:25.580 Probably the leader of all the sin. 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:28.140 Probably the guy who let him down this evil. 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:32.360 And he removed his earthly identity, 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.160 and he repented, 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:35.120 and mourned for his city, 00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:35.779 and for himself. 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:37.360 So, 00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.120 verse 7 and 8, 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:40.019 let's look at the message of the king. 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.039 Now, 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:44.039 it sounds weird, 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:46.019 that livestock was not to eat. 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:50.200 This is odd. 00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:52.160 It's odd that the king says, 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:52.940 okay, 00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.480 livestock, 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.559 you're not going to eat either. 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.619 In fact, 00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:58.460 they were to fast, 00:30:58.619 --> 00:30:59.440 and not eat, 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.200 or drink. 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:03.460 But here's the reason, guys. 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.720 Here's the reason. 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:07.519 That they were so desperate, 00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:08.879 for God's mercy. 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:10.359 That they knew, 00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:11.920 their situation. 00:31:12.080 --> 00:31:13.000 They knew they're evil. 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:14.779 And they said, 00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.519 we've got to pull, 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:17.200 we've got to pull every punch. 00:31:17.860 --> 00:31:18.940 Pull nothing back. 00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:21.420 Animals, 00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:22.980 you're not eating either. 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.380 In fact, 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.920 you're going to wear goat hair. 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:30.480 They were desperate, 00:31:30.820 --> 00:31:32.300 for the mercy of God. 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:32.840 See, 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.519 like Jonah, 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.460 in chapter 2, 00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.240 who was desperate, 00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:36.980 for God to save him, 00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:38.120 who knew, 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:38.800 or felt like, 00:31:38.840 --> 00:31:39.740 he was going to die, 00:31:39.800 --> 00:31:40.460 in the ocean, 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:41.820 sinking, 00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:42.560 or in the sea. 00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:44.980 See, 00:31:45.060 --> 00:31:45.840 the king, 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.840 the nobles, 00:31:48.320 --> 00:31:49.360 and all the people, 00:31:50.200 --> 00:31:50.640 knew, 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.640 that they needed God's mercy. 00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:56.019 See, 00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:56.620 it was God, 00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:57.620 who was going to determine, 00:31:58.340 --> 00:31:59.000 their future. 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.420 The end of verse 8, 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.060 tells them, 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:05.200 his message. 00:32:05.300 --> 00:32:05.720 He says, 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.800 let man and beast, 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:10.180 be covered with sackcloth, 00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:12.640 and let them call out, 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.820 mightily, 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:14.500 to God. 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.900 I guess that's the middle of verse 8. 00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:18.900 To call out, 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.580 mightily, 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.480 to God. 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:23.039 This isn't just a cry. 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:24.680 This isn't just a whimper. 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:25.600 This is, 00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:27.220 with strength, 00:32:27.340 --> 00:32:28.039 and conviction. 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:30.460 This is our only hope. 00:32:36.060 --> 00:32:37.380 Our only hope, 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:37.840 is God, 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:39.080 to show mercy on us. 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:39.240 So, 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:41.120 with everything you've got, 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:42.660 cry out mightily, 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:43.480 to God. 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.380 Let everyone, 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.860 turn from his evil way, 00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.340 and from the violence, 00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:49.360 that is in his hands. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.820 The last part of verse 8. 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:53.359 everyone, 00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:56.419 whether, 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.740 the Ninevites, 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:58.019 whether, 00:32:58.139 --> 00:32:59.700 whether they understood it or not, 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:00.839 they, 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:02.500 they are echoing, 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.799 Romans 3.23, 00:33:03.899 --> 00:33:04.200 and actually, 00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:04.619 I guess, 00:33:04.939 --> 00:33:05.279 I guess, 00:33:05.399 --> 00:33:07.439 I guess Paul is actually echoing, 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:09.500 Jonah chapter 3, 00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:09.759 where, 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:11.259 where Paul says, 00:33:11.379 --> 00:33:12.359 for all have sinned, 00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:13.139 and fall short, 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:14.240 of the glory of God. 00:33:15.079 --> 00:33:15.940 And the king says, 00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:16.160 look, 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:17.980 everyone turn from this evil. 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:21.019 Stop the evil. 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.400 Turn away from it. 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.779 Look the opposite direction. 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:25.460 If the evil is here, 00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.640 go here. 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:29.000 If the evil is over here, 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.579 look to God over here, 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.720 for He is merciful, 00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:33.400 or we hope He is merciful. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.440 And from the violence, 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:39.019 that is in His hands. 00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:41.120 See, 00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:42.420 up to the final moments, 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:43.200 of this decree, 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:47.880 the king feared, 00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:48.799 that evil, 00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:49.860 injustice, 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:50.680 and hatred, 00:33:50.840 --> 00:33:51.779 was going on, 00:33:51.840 --> 00:33:52.039 even, 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.840 maybe the news, 00:33:54.900 --> 00:33:56.380 hadn't reached everybody yet. 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.319 So at that moment, 00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:58.700 he says, 00:33:58.779 --> 00:34:00.039 drop the evil, 00:34:00.120 --> 00:34:01.019 that's in your hands. 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:02.259 Drop. 00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:05.299 Stop being evil. 00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:06.580 Make it happen. 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:08.079 No more. 00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.519 And verse 9, 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.599 is unbelievable, 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.420 incredible, 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.240 and powerful. 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:14.980 Verse 9, 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:17.340 all this to be done, 00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:18.519 without any assurance, 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:20.079 that God will be merciful. 00:34:23.180 --> 00:34:24.280 Who knows, 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.700 God may turn, 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.380 and relent, 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:28.200 and turn from His fierce anger, 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.400 so that we, 00:34:29.579 --> 00:34:31.599 may not perish. 00:34:33.200 --> 00:34:33.800 Incredible, 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:35.639 that they do this, 00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:36.599 hoping, 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:38.039 that God would be merciful. 00:34:43.339 --> 00:34:43.779 But, 00:34:43.779 --> 00:34:45.519 for you and for me, 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.460 when we read this, 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:49.199 if we are Christians, 00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:50.819 if we are followers of Christ, 00:34:52.259 --> 00:34:54.019 this is a big black eye on us. 00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:55.339 Because, 00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:56.779 we know, 00:34:56.779 --> 00:34:59.139 that God has already been merciful to us. 00:34:59.139 --> 00:34:59.239 God, 00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:02.579 and yet, 00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:03.639 we do nothing, 00:35:03.799 --> 00:35:04.619 like this. 00:35:06.879 --> 00:35:07.119 See, 00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:08.699 we think that God, 00:35:08.759 --> 00:35:09.739 is somehow pleased, 00:35:09.819 --> 00:35:11.319 with the few songs, 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:11.980 that we sing, 00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:13.000 and the hour, 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:13.859 and 15 minutes, 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:15.159 that we sit on Sunday morning, 00:35:15.299 --> 00:35:16.799 and the small check, 00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:17.739 that we write out, 00:35:17.879 --> 00:35:19.379 that God is pleased with us. 00:35:20.179 --> 00:35:20.480 But, 00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.559 as I have already shown you, 00:35:21.619 --> 00:35:22.400 there is a price, 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.299 there is a cost, 00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:24.639 of following Christ. 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:26.579 Whether that's just repentance, 00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:29.119 or that's fearing for your life, 00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:30.099 or affliction, 00:35:30.259 --> 00:35:30.900 or suffering, 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.839 whatever that is, 00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:32.819 there is a cost. 00:35:35.179 --> 00:35:35.359 See, 00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:36.099 the Ninevites, 00:35:36.259 --> 00:35:37.219 they stopped, 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.379 the life that they knew. 00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:40.219 They ceased, 00:35:40.359 --> 00:35:41.480 to do what they knew, 00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:42.579 for so long. 00:35:44.299 --> 00:35:45.960 And laid themselves down, 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:47.239 at the mercy of God. 00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:48.699 And God, 00:35:48.859 --> 00:35:49.440 might, 00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:50.279 be merciful. 00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:54.619 And since we know, 00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.359 the whole story, 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:57.440 we know, 00:35:57.679 --> 00:35:58.199 verse 10, 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:00.559 that God, 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:02.719 did show mercy, 00:36:03.359 --> 00:36:03.879 to Nineveh. 00:36:04.799 --> 00:36:05.319 So, 00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:05.980 we have, 00:36:06.319 --> 00:36:07.500 the results, 00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.900 of the result, 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:10.139 of the message, 00:36:10.659 --> 00:36:11.759 is the last point, 00:36:11.879 --> 00:36:12.339 this morning. 00:36:16.359 --> 00:36:17.279 God has shown, 00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:17.759 Nineveh, 00:36:17.839 --> 00:36:18.179 mercy. 00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:20.500 See, 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.579 what God, 00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.259 could have done, 00:36:22.379 --> 00:36:23.739 and I'm certain, 00:36:23.739 --> 00:36:25.079 that what Jonah, 00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:25.859 thought God, 00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:26.739 should have done, 00:36:27.459 --> 00:36:28.459 was wipe them out. 00:36:30.059 --> 00:36:30.659 Just, 00:36:30.899 --> 00:36:32.199 destroyed it. 00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:34.519 Like, 00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:34.739 like, 00:36:34.739 --> 00:36:35.719 Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:44.179 Chapter 1, 00:36:44.839 --> 00:36:45.939 verse 2, 00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:47.599 go to the great city, 00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:48.760 and call out against it, 00:36:49.079 --> 00:36:50.039 for their evil, 00:36:50.280 --> 00:36:51.619 has come up before me. 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:53.059 I can just see Jonah, 00:36:53.200 --> 00:36:53.480 saying, 00:36:53.860 --> 00:36:54.159 God, 00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:54.980 their evil, 00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:55.800 has come up before you. 00:36:56.119 --> 00:36:56.559 Their evil, 00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:57.139 has come up before you. 00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:58.260 You really need to destroy it. 00:36:58.940 --> 00:36:59.860 Let's wipe it out. 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:01.579 Who cares? 00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:02.679 120,000 people. 00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:03.639 They are evil. 00:37:03.720 --> 00:37:04.539 They deserve it. 00:37:07.420 --> 00:37:08.220 I think back, 00:37:08.220 --> 00:37:08.780 to the story, 00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.340 in Joshua, 00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:10.119 chapter 7, 00:37:10.260 --> 00:37:11.039 where Achan, 00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.900 where Israel, 00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:14.099 loses the battle, 00:37:14.200 --> 00:37:15.660 which they haven't lost too many, 00:37:15.700 --> 00:37:16.360 up to this point. 00:37:17.240 --> 00:37:17.420 And, 00:37:18.220 --> 00:37:21.139 God tells Joshua, 00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:21.760 there's sin, 00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:22.760 in your camp. 00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:23.300 There's somebody, 00:37:23.440 --> 00:37:24.079 who has stolen, 00:37:24.400 --> 00:37:25.400 what they shouldn't have stolen. 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:26.860 And so, 00:37:27.240 --> 00:37:28.099 Joshua finds out, 00:37:28.180 --> 00:37:28.539 who it is, 00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.539 and he calls his family, 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:30.760 and calls him in, 00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:31.019 and says, 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.720 what have you done? 00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.360 Be honest, 00:37:33.420 --> 00:37:34.220 before the Lord, 00:37:34.220 --> 00:37:35.039 tell us. 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.039 And he says, 00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:37.019 I've taken silver, 00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:38.360 and I've taken robes, 00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:39.119 and I've taken this, 00:37:39.180 --> 00:37:39.700 and I've taken that. 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:41.519 It's in my tent, 00:37:41.619 --> 00:37:42.359 under the robe. 00:37:44.460 --> 00:37:44.739 And, 00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:49.839 God tells Joshua, 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.099 to kill him. 00:37:52.339 --> 00:37:53.219 Not just him. 00:37:54.859 --> 00:37:55.359 Sons, 00:37:56.139 --> 00:37:56.480 daughters, 00:37:57.199 --> 00:37:57.659 wives, 00:37:58.379 --> 00:37:58.819 animals. 00:38:00.819 --> 00:38:01.579 Wipe them out. 00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:03.559 They stone him, 00:38:04.399 --> 00:38:05.460 they burn him, 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:07.960 and then they bury him. 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:11.099 God takes sin seriously. 00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:12.280 And so, 00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:12.880 Jonah is, 00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:15.059 who knows if he's thinking of that story, 00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:15.619 but he's thinking, 00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:16.460 God, 00:38:16.740 --> 00:38:19.079 this is what you've done. 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:19.720 Now, 00:38:19.780 --> 00:38:20.320 do it again. 00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:22.679 And I'm going to go over here, 00:38:22.720 --> 00:38:23.280 and I'm going to sit, 00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:23.960 and I'm going to watch. 00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.579 This is going to be a great show. 00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:28.119 But God, 00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:30.880 God shows mercy, 00:38:31.039 --> 00:38:31.659 because, 00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:33.900 Nineveh repents. 00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:37.240 God was merciful, 00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:39.559 on this day. 00:38:43.320 --> 00:38:44.220 Verse 10, 00:38:45.220 --> 00:38:46.860 when God saw what they did, 00:38:47.260 --> 00:38:48.820 how they turned from their evil way, 00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:50.420 God relented, 00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:51.599 of the disaster, 00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:52.380 that he had said, 00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:53.199 he would do to them, 00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:55.240 and he did not do it. 00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:57.740 It is important to note, 00:38:57.920 --> 00:38:59.699 that though God changed his mind, 00:39:00.139 --> 00:39:00.519 clearly, 00:39:01.019 --> 00:39:02.139 he changed his mind. 00:39:02.139 --> 00:39:04.679 He did not weaken, 00:39:05.359 --> 00:39:06.940 or remove his wrath, 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:07.659 on their sin. 00:39:08.219 --> 00:39:09.539 God still hates sin, 00:39:09.859 --> 00:39:11.159 and he still punishes it. 00:39:11.960 --> 00:39:12.960 The difference though, 00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:14.019 the change is, 00:39:15.019 --> 00:39:17.299 the recipient, 00:39:17.559 --> 00:39:18.639 of that wrath, 00:39:18.799 --> 00:39:19.440 is changed. 00:39:21.379 --> 00:39:21.599 See, 00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:23.199 instead of fire from heaven, 00:39:23.279 --> 00:39:24.279 down on Nineveh, 00:39:24.739 --> 00:39:25.639 being the judgment, 00:39:25.879 --> 00:39:27.559 and Nineveh being destroyed, 00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:29.940 Jesus Christ, 00:39:30.019 --> 00:39:31.099 for the wrath of God, 00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:32.139 for them. 00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:35.860 Matthew 12, 00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:36.259 again, 00:39:36.380 --> 00:39:36.960 tells us, 00:39:37.219 --> 00:39:38.679 that the people of Nineveh, 00:39:38.759 --> 00:39:39.699 will cast judgment, 00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:40.860 on the religious leaders, 00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:42.119 which means that, 00:39:42.259 --> 00:39:43.299 that they have received, 00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:44.480 Jesus' righteousness, 00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:47.739 instead of God's wrath. 00:39:47.739 --> 00:39:50.679 See, 00:39:50.799 --> 00:39:52.119 the kicker for you, 00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:52.659 and for me, 00:39:52.779 --> 00:39:53.119 is that, 00:39:53.419 --> 00:39:54.759 is that the same wrath, 00:39:54.919 --> 00:39:55.879 of Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:56.579 and of Achan, 00:39:56.759 --> 00:39:58.519 and so many other stories, 00:39:58.859 --> 00:40:01.719 that's intended for you, 00:40:01.799 --> 00:40:02.419 and for me. 00:40:03.259 --> 00:40:04.779 We are guilty. 00:40:06.779 --> 00:40:08.359 But Jesus Christ, 00:40:08.459 --> 00:40:09.439 took that wrath, 00:40:10.239 --> 00:40:13.279 in order that we can receive, 00:40:13.439 --> 00:40:13.859 His favor, 00:40:14.359 --> 00:40:15.219 and His righteousness, 00:40:15.719 --> 00:40:16.599 and His love, 00:40:16.599 --> 00:40:17.799 and like Jonah, 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:18.679 chapter 3, 00:40:19.199 --> 00:40:19.819 His mercy. 00:40:23.179 --> 00:40:24.779 God showing mercy, 00:40:24.779 --> 00:40:25.719 to sinners. 00:40:27.599 --> 00:40:28.199 So, 00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:29.460 so here's the question, 00:40:29.539 --> 00:40:30.420 of the morning for you, 00:40:30.980 --> 00:40:32.460 and I'll finish with this. 00:40:33.940 --> 00:40:34.860 Does the story, 00:40:34.860 --> 00:40:35.440 of Jonah, 00:40:35.559 --> 00:40:36.339 excite you? 00:40:38.319 --> 00:40:39.420 Do you love, 00:40:39.619 --> 00:40:40.119 hearing it? 00:40:40.199 --> 00:40:41.019 Do you like it? 00:40:41.139 --> 00:40:42.139 Not just as a story, 00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:42.819 but the, 00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:44.279 God's mercy, 00:40:44.420 --> 00:40:45.239 and God's sovereignty, 00:40:45.239 --> 00:40:46.279 and God, 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:48.199 and man's repentance, 00:40:48.539 --> 00:40:48.719 and, 00:40:49.919 --> 00:40:53.019 does the story, 00:40:53.099 --> 00:40:54.199 of Jonah excite you? 00:40:54.979 --> 00:40:56.239 Or does it make you, 00:40:56.239 --> 00:40:57.199 feel unsettled? 00:40:58.199 --> 00:40:59.259 Does it make you, 00:40:59.519 --> 00:41:00.099 feel uncomfortable? 00:41:02.099 --> 00:41:02.319 See, 00:41:02.399 --> 00:41:03.639 if it excited you, 00:41:03.779 --> 00:41:03.899 then, 00:41:03.979 --> 00:41:04.759 then rejoice. 00:41:05.379 --> 00:41:06.199 Then be happy, 00:41:06.299 --> 00:41:06.819 be glad, 00:41:06.899 --> 00:41:07.500 be joyful, 00:41:07.619 --> 00:41:08.119 for you, 00:41:08.339 --> 00:41:09.179 are the recipients, 00:41:09.179 --> 00:41:10.319 of God's mercy, 00:41:10.759 --> 00:41:11.639 through Jesus Christ. 00:41:11.639 --> 00:41:14.480 If it makes you, 00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:15.159 unsettled, 00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:16.599 uncomfortable, 00:41:17.980 --> 00:41:18.460 rejoice, 00:41:18.879 --> 00:41:19.859 because you have, 00:41:20.179 --> 00:41:20.539 heard, 00:41:20.779 --> 00:41:21.699 how to be the recipients, 00:41:21.879 --> 00:41:22.579 of God's mercy, 00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:23.519 through Jesus Christ. 00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:27.599 See, 00:41:27.759 --> 00:41:27.859 in, 00:41:27.900 --> 00:41:28.859 in Jesus Christ, 00:41:29.159 --> 00:41:30.500 through Jesus Christ, 00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:31.819 verse 10, 00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:34.859 can be our song. 00:41:35.659 --> 00:41:36.519 Verse 10, 00:41:36.599 --> 00:41:37.379 can be our song, 00:41:37.420 --> 00:41:37.940 this morning, 00:41:38.019 --> 00:41:38.519 and forever. 00:41:38.519 --> 00:41:38.639 Remember, 00:41:40.179 --> 00:41:41.980 when God, 00:41:42.059 --> 00:41:43.000 saw what they did, 00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:43.900 how they turned, 00:41:44.059 --> 00:41:44.900 from their evil way, 00:41:45.739 --> 00:41:46.559 God relented, 00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:47.480 of the disaster, 00:41:47.579 --> 00:41:48.219 that he had said, 00:41:48.280 --> 00:41:49.019 he would do to them, 00:41:49.599 --> 00:41:50.159 and he, 00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:51.280 did not, 00:41:51.579 --> 00:41:51.960 do it. 00:41:54.860 --> 00:41:56.199 In Christ Jesus, 00:41:57.320 --> 00:41:58.320 and instead, 00:41:58.559 --> 00:41:59.199 the disaster, 00:41:59.199 --> 00:41:59.940 was done, 00:42:00.619 --> 00:42:01.619 to Jesus Christ. 00:42:02.800 --> 00:42:03.219 Amen. 00:42:03.500 --> 00:42:04.340 What a good, 00:42:04.940 --> 00:42:05.900 merciful God. 00:42:06.239 --> 00:42:07.380 And what good news, 00:42:07.380 --> 00:42:08.980 from a bunch of pagans, 00:42:09.140 --> 00:42:10.480 who repented of their sin, 00:42:11.079 --> 00:42:12.840 and God showed mercy on them. 00:42:14.240 --> 00:42:14.960 Pray with me. 00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:15.400 Amen. 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.400