WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.960 Jonah chapter 3. Charles Darwin was reflecting on his many many travels around the globe and 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:19.140 ! he wrote in his journal, should a voyager chance to be on the verge of shipwreck on some unknown coast, 00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:24.539 ! he will most devoutly pray that the lessons of the missionary will have reached this far. 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:34.299 Isn't that interesting? When the chips are down, what did Charles Darwin trust in? Natural selection? 00:00:34.299 --> 00:00:44.039 The survival of the physicist? No. The message of the missionary. The message of the missionary 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:49.299 today is derided, isn't it, in our culture at every opportunity. It's almost like a swear word 00:00:49.299 --> 00:00:54.879 to be a missionary. Every documentary you see in TV, on TV, talks about the damage that 00:00:54.879 --> 00:01:02.140 missionaries have caused to indigenous cultures. And it's fashionable, isn't it, to write off 00:01:02.140 --> 00:01:08.659 missionary activity as cultural imperialism. It's just not appropriate for today. To be 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:13.479 a missionary today is in many ways not the worst thing that you could be. But I want to 00:01:13.479 --> 00:01:18.840 say it might stand with Charles Darwin this evening. I'll take that out of context. That instead 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:25.260 of being made to feel guilty about missionary activity, or the church, or embarrassed, we 00:01:25.260 --> 00:01:32.140 ought to thank God for it. The day of world missions is not over. In fact, it's still to 00:01:32.140 --> 00:01:37.159 come. And if you're an any judge about that, then I invite you to look at Jonah chapter 3. 00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:44.020 3 ends tonight. The man, the message, and the miracle. First of all, let's look at the man 00:01:44.019 --> 00:01:51.599 that's going to use Philip, verse 10 of chapter 2. And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:59.739 Jonah out upon the dry land. There he is. It's not a very pretty sight, is it? Covered in 00:01:59.739 --> 00:02:08.560 fish vomit. He spent three days and three nights, not in the Hotel Grand, or the Ritz, or the 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:16.740 Nineveh Hilton, but in the belly of a large fish. He must have looked and smelt terrible. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:25.840 And not only that, he was a Hebrew, and Nineveh was a Syrian. And it seems that he only knows 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:34.039 one sentence in a Syrian. Can you look at verse 4? Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's 00:02:34.039 --> 00:02:41.719 journey, and he called out, yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. It's not exactly 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:46.780 the sentence you need, is it, to win friends and influence people. Apparently those are 00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:51.699 the only words that he ever spoke in the city of Nineveh. So you compare Jonah with Isaiah, 00:02:52.299 --> 00:02:57.539 or Jeremiah, and there are pages and pages and pages on there of oracles. The oracle of 00:02:57.539 --> 00:03:08.719 Jeremiah. But Jonah has only one line to learn. Just five words in Hebrew. I don't know how 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:13.079 many words it would have been in a Syrian. But you can just picture him, can't you, making 00:03:13.079 --> 00:03:21.519 his way in the suburbs. He goes into one shop, and he asks someone, what is a Syrian for overthrow? 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:26.860 And then he goes down a few streets into the center of the city, and he asks someone else, 00:03:27.180 --> 00:03:34.680 how do you say forty days in your language? And so he puts his sermon together. And maybe 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:39.620 those five words in Hebrew are the only words Jonah has spoken in a Syrian. But it was enough, 00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:44.480 just as God used five smooth stones that David picked up and put his sling to bring down 00:03:44.480 --> 00:03:50.340 Goliath, so God uses five words in Hebrew to bring this giant city of Nineveh to its knees. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:04:03.040 Look what he said in verse four. Yet forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown. And then 00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:09.160 verse five, and the people of the Lord believed Jonah. It doesn't say that, does it? That's 00:04:09.160 --> 00:04:16.000 the shock. It doesn't say that. Here's the incredible thing. This very strange looking and smelling 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:23.000 man with just a few words of a Syrian wandering through the city streets, and the entire city 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:33.519 of Nineveh believed God. God spoke to that city through this man, Jonah. I think that is 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:44.399 the most effective evangelistic sermon ever preached. Eight words in English. Eight words, and 120,000 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:57.199 people are converted. That is 15,000 converts per word. 40 more days, and Nineveh will be overthrown. 00:04:57.259 --> 00:05:05.659 That's all he said, and it goes viral. And it sparked off an instant revival. And you might 00:05:05.659 --> 00:05:09.439 think, well this is so far fetched, isn't it? It's so far fetched, these things don't happen. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:14.740 Well let me tell you, it has happened many, many times in the history of God's people. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:19.639 So children, here's your children's talk, okay? Listen up, stop, whatever you're doing. 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:30.659 In 1859, in Coleraine, Coleraine in Northern Islands, the 1859 revival is one of the great movements 00:05:30.659 --> 00:05:35.120 of God in church history. It's part of the second evangelical awakening. It's one of the great 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:41.780 revivals that spread all over the world, from the UK to America and far afield. Let me tell 00:05:41.780 --> 00:05:47.680 you how it started, children. It started in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. And there was 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:54.759 a schoolboy under deep conviction of sin, probably I think about 12 years old. And this little 00:05:54.759 --> 00:06:00.060 boy was so affected that he was unable to concentrate in class and unable to continue in his lessons 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:05.100 with his studies. The teacher was a Christian in the class. And the teacher understood what 00:06:05.100 --> 00:06:11.879 was going on. And so the teacher sent the little boy home with another lad. Another lad 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:18.740 who was already a Christian. On the way home, these boys looked at an empty house. And they 00:06:18.740 --> 00:06:28.300 went in to pray. And at last, the unhappy boy found peace with God. They went back to the 00:06:28.300 --> 00:06:31.900 school, he returned to the classroom to tell his teacher. And these are the words that he 00:06:31.900 --> 00:06:39.319 spoke. He said, I'm so happy I have the Lord Jesus in my heart. That's all the boy said. 00:06:39.660 --> 00:06:48.220 I'm so happy that I have the Lord Jesus in my heart. And that innocent testimony had an impact 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:51.600 on the whole class. Imagine somebody coming into your class, one of the children, and saying, 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:58.800 I'm so happy I have the Lord Jesus in my heart. Well, it had a great effect on the class. And 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:04.840 boy after boy, it was a boys' school, slipped outside. The teacher was standing on something 00:07:04.840 --> 00:07:09.840 to look out the window, to see the boys kneeling in prayer all around the school playground. 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:17.300 Each one apart. The teacher was so overcome, so moved, that he asked the converted boy that 00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:25.540 he asked to go initially to comfort them. And soon the whole school was in a strange disorder. 00:07:26.340 --> 00:07:31.819 And the clergyman, ministers, were thankful. And the ministers remained all day dealing with 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:41.160 seekers after peace, children that wanted to know God. Schoolboys, schoolgirls, teachers, 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:50.020 parents, neighbors. The school grounds were occupied just before 11 o'clock that night. 00:07:51.100 --> 00:07:56.840 On the 7th of June, 1859, an open air meeting, there was a meeting outside, like we have maybe 00:07:56.840 --> 00:08:03.280 on Drayton Green, where somebody speaks, was held on Fair Hill to hear one or two of the converts. 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:10.059 So many thousands attended that it was deemed advisable to divide the crowd into separate meetings, 00:08:10.219 --> 00:08:16.279 each addressed by the minister of what he not jumbled denomination or law. The people stood 00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:23.719 motionless until the very last moment when a hearer cried out in distress. Several others, 00:08:23.919 --> 00:08:32.579 likewise, bowed down, bewildered. The ministers had no similar experience previously, and they 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:36.900 scarce knew how to help the distressed in soul and body. The minister spent all day and night 00:08:36.900 --> 00:08:42.740 in working with those who were in spiritual need. When the sun rose the following day, 00:08:43.400 --> 00:08:49.259 it was spent in the same manner. But I want you to see tonight, I want you to see just, 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:58.920 just some words spoken by a child that sparked a remarkable movement of God. 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:05.819 Just a couple of words spoken with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, that's all it will take to bring 00:09:05.819 --> 00:09:13.039 Ealing to its knees, and London to its knees. And that is what God uses, isn't it? Not human eloquence, 00:09:14.719 --> 00:09:21.039 and not slick communication, just a few words. Just one sentence spoken faithfully with the anointing 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:25.059 of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of God came to that place. Do you see what it says in verse 5? 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:36.079 And the people of Nineveh believed God. And they knew that God was speaking to them. And they made the 00:09:36.079 --> 00:09:45.139 connection between those few words, yet forty days in Nineveh shall be overthrown, and God. 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:50.879 Now just imagine you go down that Ealing Broadway, and tomorrow you get on the tube, you're going down 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:55.799 the escalator, and you notice there's a kind of poster on the side of the escalator. And you see 00:09:55.799 --> 00:10:04.120 the words, yet another forty days, and Ealing will be destroyed. You wouldn't think of God, would you? 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:12.240 You'd think, what has Boris Johnson done now? Or you'd probably think more likely of terrorist attack. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:18.700 Or maybe some kind of gimmick to kind of get book sports tickets, some UFC thing. 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:25.539 But you wouldn't necessarily automatically make the connection between those words and God, 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:30.259 but they did. Yet forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown. 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:37.539 And I don't want you to underestimate the size of the task that God has given to Jonah. It was a daunting task. 00:10:37.539 --> 00:10:45.019 Nineveh was a great city. It was so big, according to verse three, that it took three days to cross. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:52.699 That probably doesn't mean I'm walking three days from one point to the other point. It means three days to crisscross it. 00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:56.779 If you'd go around all the cities, streets and city. It's a huge place. 00:10:57.199 --> 00:11:00.819 According to verse eleven of chapter four, 00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:03.920 There's 120,000 people there. 00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:10.800 And if you've ever been to the British Museum, you'll know that there's a room there called the Nineveh Gallery. 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:17.379 And in that room, in the British Museum, you'll see a milestone taken from the main road in Nineveh. 00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:22.600 And the main road in Nineveh apparently was wider than a six-lane motorway. 00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:23.580 That was the main road. 00:11:23.580 --> 00:11:28.540 Going through Nineveh, wider than a six-lane motorway, 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:32.980 There appears to have been a kind of N25 around Nineveh. 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:37.520 A wall, a hundred foot high. 00:11:38.740 --> 00:11:42.300 So broad was this wall that it could take three chariots side by side. 00:11:42.400 --> 00:11:45.759 So you can imagine, to arrive unannounced in a city that size, 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:47.620 Is to say the least daunting. 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:50.419 But it wasn't only daunting, it was dangerous. 00:11:50.560 --> 00:11:53.759 A hundred years later, the prophet Nahum, towards the back of the Old Testament, 00:11:54.179 --> 00:11:56.259 He describes the noise of the traffic. 00:11:57.500 --> 00:12:01.060 If you read the book of Nahum, he mentions particularly the violence and the corruption of the city. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:03.360 This is Nahum chapter three. 00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:08.060 It's a city of blood, totally deceitful, full of plunder, never without prey. 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:13.279 The crack of the whip, the rumble of the wheel, the galloping horse, the jolting chariot, 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:18.319 The charging horsemen, the flashing sword, the shining spear, heaps of slain, 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:21.819 Mounds of corpses, dead bodies without end. 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:23.039 That's Nahum chapter three. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:25.379 You can see it, can't you? 00:12:25.439 --> 00:12:28.019 They were a wild and brutal bunch of people. 00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:32.939 History tells us that when the Ninevites took over a town, 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:34.980 They would impale the survivors on sticks. 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:39.360 They would often cut off the heads of their enemies, 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:41.439 And wear them as ornaments from their neck. 00:12:41.439 --> 00:12:42.299 It's like IS. 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:47.879 And so it's no wonder it is that Jonah has to be told twice to go to Nineveh. 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:51.220 He's as likely to get mugged or mown down by a chariot, 00:12:51.319 --> 00:12:54.120 Than to make any impression on a place like that. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:54.500 Isn't he? 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:59.399 If I was Charles Darwin, I'd want to stay on board the Beagle. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.039 I think, wouldn't you? 00:13:02.579 --> 00:13:04.539 If I were Jonah, I'd run away to Spain. 00:13:04.699 --> 00:13:05.279 You can blame him. 00:13:05.339 --> 00:13:07.159 But look what it says in the opening verse. 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:08.179 There's three. 00:13:08.179 --> 00:13:13.759 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, 00:13:13.859 --> 00:13:16.419 Saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, 00:13:16.579 --> 00:13:19.899 And calling out against it the message that I tell you. 00:13:20.459 --> 00:13:22.919 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, 00:13:22.979 --> 00:13:24.819 According to the word of the Lord. 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:27.460 Now let's look at the message. 00:13:27.560 --> 00:13:28.700 Here's the man that God uses. 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:31.500 Let's take a closer look at the message that God has given to the city. 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:32.500 In verse 4, 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:35.600 Well he sounds just like that crank in Oxford Street. 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:38.020 You know the weirdos with sandwich boards, 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:39.000 A prophet of doom. 00:13:40.060 --> 00:13:40.980 Forty days, 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:42.460 And Nineveh will be overthrown. 00:13:42.460 --> 00:13:45.960 What's the preacher message on that? 00:13:48.280 --> 00:13:52.780 It is one of the devil's most successful strategies, isn't it? 00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:54.660 To caricature God's servants. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:14:00.620 To discredit God's message by making fun of it. 00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:05.560 And so we all laugh at the man on the sandwich board, 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:07.160 Flee from the wrath that come. 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:10.240 And it's worked, hasn't it? 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.840 The devil's strategy has worked, 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:14.420 Because who is preaching a message right now in London today? 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:18.360 Nobody, no church I know, 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:20.280 Wants to be thought of as a prophet of doom. 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:26.360 We have all retreated from that kind of preaching. 00:14:27.160 --> 00:14:28.460 To claim the circles I move in, 00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:30.259 Because it's not what people want to hear. 00:14:32.040 --> 00:14:34.420 It's not the kind of message that fills our church. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:37.400 We give people who agree what they want to hear. 00:14:37.920 --> 00:14:40.160 So smile, God loves you, 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:42.379 And he's got a wonderful plan for your life. 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:44.019 That's what people want to hear. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:44.839 But look again, 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:47.019 Look more closely at this message in verse 4. 00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:49.059 It's not all doom and gloom, is it? 00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:55.859 I want you to see that there is mercy mixed with judgment in verse 4. 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:58.680 If you look very carefully, 00:14:58.680 --> 00:15:00.340 It says 40 days. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.399 Yet 40 days. 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:04.080 It's only 6 weeks. 00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:07.220 There's 6 weeks grace here. 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.600 There's 6 weeks now, 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:11.720 To put your house in order. 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:16.539 It's like a final reminder from your electricity company. 00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:19.360 Pay your bill. 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.839 Or otherwise you're going to be cut off. 00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:26.620 And instead of resenting this message, 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.539 The Ninevites welcomed it. 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.919 And it strikes a chord with them. 00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:31.139 They know they are guilty. 00:15:32.579 --> 00:15:34.899 They know that if disaster is to be averted, 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:36.659 They need to get right with Jonah's God. 00:15:36.719 --> 00:15:38.039 And they've got 6 weeks to do it in. 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:41.419 And they are overwhelmed by the kindness of God, 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:42.379 To send them a messenger. 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:43.919 And to give them 6 weeks grace. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:47.659 And to give them notice of the judgment that's about to fall on them. 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:49.539 That is the sign of Jonah. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:54.019 The sign of Jonah is that a man, 00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:56.599 Has come back from the dead. 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:00.479 And that's our message for the world today. 00:16:01.719 --> 00:16:03.319 It's a message about a man, 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:04.879 Who has come back from the dead. 00:16:04.979 --> 00:16:06.279 A resurrection preacher. 00:16:06.839 --> 00:16:09.559 Coming to bring the word of God to the nations. 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:10.980 Isn't that who Jesus is? 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:14.120 A man who's gone down into the depths. 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:15.899 Down into death itself. 00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:17.820 And has been raised up again. 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:20.500 And God has appointed that man, 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:21.779 To judge the world. 00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.440 And he's given notice, Paul says, 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.680 By raising him from the dead. 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:27.399 That's the sign of Jonah. 00:16:28.920 --> 00:16:30.980 And now God commands all people everywhere, 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:32.779 To repent. 00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:34.600 That is the message we have for Ealing. 00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:35.539 For London. 00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:37.279 For the world. 00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:41.719 That as a race of human beings, 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:43.120 We're living on borrowed time. 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:48.559 This is the day of salvation. 00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:53.620 Now is the acceptable time. 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:56.959 Now is the time for us to get right with God. 00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:58.899 Because there is judgment coming. 00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:03.039 And God has given us notice, 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:04.359 That that judgment is coming, 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:06.400 By raising Jesus from the dead. 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:12.400 I think there's a really profound misunderstanding, 00:17:12.859 --> 00:17:14.039 About gospel preaching. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.099 In evangelical churches today. 00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:21.819 It isn't my job as a preacher, 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:23.740 To invite you to judge Jesus. 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.639 I am not here. 00:17:28.699 --> 00:17:30.199 The Christian preacher is not here, 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:32.839 To invite you to judge Jesus. 00:17:34.879 --> 00:17:36.319 I am here to inform you, 00:17:36.379 --> 00:17:37.819 That Jesus is going to judge you. 00:17:40.399 --> 00:17:42.119 That is the Christian message. 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:46.119 I'm not here to say, 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:49.500 Make up your mind about Jesus. 00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:50.359 You know, 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:52.699 Weigh out the pros and the cons. 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.859 I'm not here to say that to you. 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:58.059 I'm not here to invite you, 00:17:58.199 --> 00:17:59.639 To judge Jesus. 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:03.939 I'm here to tell you, 00:18:03.979 --> 00:18:05.159 That Jesus is going to judge you. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.539 And he's given you time, 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.539 To do something about it. 00:18:11.479 --> 00:18:12.359 He's given you time, 00:18:12.439 --> 00:18:13.259 To do something about it. 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:17.039 That is my message. 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:18.839 That is the Christian preacher's message. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.980 And that is the message, 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:21.799 Paul preached in Athens. 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:23.420 To be honest with you, 00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:26.839 What do you think about Jesus? 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:27.500 Is it relevant? 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.019 Is it? 00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:33.759 It doesn't change who Jesus is, 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.319 For my daughter. 00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.539 It's interesting to notice, 00:18:40.619 --> 00:18:41.819 A slightly different word, 00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:43.960 And the ESV doesn't bring it out, 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.839 And it should bring it out. 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:45.859 The MIV does. 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.339 But if you notice, 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.700 There's a slight difference. 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:49.720 Let me show it to you, 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.619 If you've got another version of the Bible, 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.039 You'll see it. 00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:51.920 In chapter 3, 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:52.740 Verse 2, 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:55.420 The word of the Lord came to Jonah, 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:57.039 The second time I was saying, 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:57.640 Arise, 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.480 Go to Nineveh, 00:18:58.599 --> 00:18:59.400 That great city, 00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:01.879 And call out against it. 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:03.520 The message, 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.540 That I tell you. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.760 It's really, 00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:10.260 Preach to, 00:19:10.260 --> 00:19:12.560 Nineveh there. 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.620 But if you look in, 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:15.800 Chapter 1, 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:19.200 Verse 2 of chapter 1, 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:21.880 Arise, 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.420 Go to Nineveh, 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.020 That great city, 00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:24.820 And call out against it. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.920 There's a slight difference, 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:30.360 In the words of, 00:19:30.760 --> 00:19:31.780 Chapter 1 and verse, 00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:32.280 To, 00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.440 Which is, 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:35.020 You preach against it. 00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:37.120 And then in chapter 3, 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.600 In verse 2, 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:39.100 Which the ESV doesn't hide, 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:39.500 It says, 00:19:39.760 --> 00:19:40.560 Call out to it. 00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:41.800 There are different words, 00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:42.540 Literally in the Hebrew. 00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:44.980 I don't want to make too much, 00:19:45.020 --> 00:19:45.760 A big difference about it, 00:19:45.800 --> 00:19:46.320 But I, 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:47.480 But I think there is, 00:19:47.540 --> 00:19:48.300 Quite a big difference, 00:19:48.360 --> 00:19:48.580 Isn't there, 00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:50.140 Between being preached at, 00:19:51.320 --> 00:19:52.360 Preached at, 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.200 The great city, 00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.200 And preached to, 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.880 The great city. 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:59.300 You'll know, 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.960 If you've been on the receiving end of that, 00:20:01.040 --> 00:20:02.520 If somebody's preached at you, 00:20:03.060 --> 00:20:04.260 And somebody's preached to you, 00:20:04.320 --> 00:20:05.320 There is a difference. 00:20:07.580 --> 00:20:09.280 And the difference is in the heart of the preacher. 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:12.539 Because something has happened to Jonah, 00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:14.559 From chapter 1 and verse 2, 00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:16.139 To chapter 3 and verse 2. 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.460 Something's happened that's changed him. 00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:19.899 Jonah is now, 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:21.500 A walking trophy, 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.879 Of God's grace. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.779 Jonah has been through, 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:27.240 The judgment of God, 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.339 In the belly of that fish. 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:30.240 He has died to his sin, 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:32.240 And he's been raised again, 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.180 To newness of life. 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.279 And he comes out, 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:36.279 Not to preach at Nineveh, 00:20:37.080 --> 00:20:38.320 But to preach to Nineveh. 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.700 He's no longer a declaimer, 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:43.240 He is a pro-claimer. 00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:44.440 He's a message, 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.160 He is a message, 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:46.380 From God for the city. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.480 And there's a sense, 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:49.140 In which Jonah discovers Jesus, 00:20:49.340 --> 00:20:50.539 In the black belly of the fish. 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.259 Just like Shabrach, 00:20:52.320 --> 00:20:52.600 Meshach, 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.200 And Abednego, 00:20:53.320 --> 00:20:54.019 Discovered Jesus, 00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:55.420 In the burning fiery furnace. 00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.200 Do you remember, 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:59.920 What he says, 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:03.160 In verse 1 of chapter 2, 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:05.039 I called out, 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:05.940 To the Lord, 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.880 Out of my distress, 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:08.259 And he answered me. 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:10.140 Verse 6, 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.580 Yet you brought my life up, 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.580 From the pit. 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:15.680 O Lord my God, 00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:17.220 When my life was fading away, 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.500 I remembered the Lord. 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.640 Verse 9, 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:24.660 A wonderful verse, 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.340 Which in many ways, 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.460 Is a summary of the Bible, 00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:27.340 Is it salvation, 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.259 Belonging to the Lord. 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.560 What does the name Jesus mean? 00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:31.380 What does it mean? 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:33.400 It means exactly that. 00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:36.140 It means that Jesus, 00:21:36.280 --> 00:21:37.320 Is the salvation, 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:38.620 Of Yahweh, 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.340 Of Jehovah. 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:41.120 That is what Jonah discovered, 00:21:41.600 --> 00:21:42.760 In the belly of the fish. 00:21:42.840 --> 00:21:43.580 And that's what we need, 00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:44.380 To understand. 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.740 That the only way, 00:21:45.800 --> 00:21:47.220 For Nineveh to be saved, 00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:48.420 Is by Jesus. 00:21:51.020 --> 00:21:52.460 There is no other name, 00:21:52.580 --> 00:21:53.500 Given under heaven, 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:54.260 By which, 00:21:55.100 --> 00:21:56.160 We must be saved. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:59.580 There is no other way. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.300 Whatever culture, 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.060 They are in, 00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:06.000 Whichever part of the world, 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:06.480 They are in, 00:22:06.540 --> 00:22:07.640 There is no other way, 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.920 For people to be saved, 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:10.019 Except through Jesus. 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.500 And it's always been like that. 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.140 So Paul argues, 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:15.080 In Romans chapter 3, 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:15.400 He says, 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.500 God presented Jesus, 00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:17.540 As a propitiation, 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.740 Through faith in his blood. 00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:20.480 Propitiation, 00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:21.820 That's the idea, 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:23.040 Of someone satisfying, 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.899 In the anger of God, 00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:25.079 That the anger of God, 00:22:25.159 --> 00:22:26.240 Falls on him, 00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:26.899 On Jesus. 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.039 And it is satisfied, 00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.299 And Paul says in Romans 3, 00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:30.859 That God presented him, 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.259 Jesus, 00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:32.359 As a propitiation, 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:34.319 Through faith in his blood, 00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:36.200 To demonstrate, 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.639 His righteousness. 00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:39.819 Because in his restraint, 00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.680 God passed over, 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.099 The sins previously committed. 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.879 The sins of Nineveh. 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:50.119 And God presented Jesus, 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.720 To demonstrate his righteousness, 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:53.160 And the prayers of the times, 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.039 So that he would be, 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.779 The just, 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:56.240 And the justifier, 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:58.000 Of those who have faith in Jesus. 00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:58.700 It's complicated, 00:22:58.860 --> 00:22:59.839 But see what Paul is saying. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.880 You mustn't think that, 00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:05.200 God spared the great city of Nineveh, 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:06.000 In chapter 3, 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.539 The wicked, 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:07.960 Evil city of Nineveh, 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.360 Because he was being soft. 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.140 You mustn't think that, 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:13.759 God was turning a blind eye, 00:23:13.860 --> 00:23:14.559 To their sin, 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.200 Sweeping it under the carpet, 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:17.079 As if it didn't matter. 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.100 No, Jesus died, 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.900 For those Ninevites. 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:22.019 God's anger, 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:23.920 Was poured out on Jesus, 00:23:24.080 --> 00:23:25.540 Because of the sins of that city. 00:23:26.820 --> 00:23:29.019 The cross is retrospective, 00:23:29.820 --> 00:23:31.019 As well as prospective. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.200 We are saved, 00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:34.740 Because of what Jesus made, 00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:35.820 Two thousand years ago. 00:23:37.100 --> 00:23:38.519 The Ninevites are saved, 00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:39.940 Because of what Jesus did, 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.880 On the cross. 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:43.680 God's anger was satisfied, 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:47.460 God was declared, 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.340 And proved, 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.560 Justice was declared, 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.920 And proved by the cross. 00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:54.039 To be both just, 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:55.259 And the justifier, 00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:56.680 Of ungodly people like us, 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:56.980 You see. 00:23:58.560 --> 00:23:59.799 So the only way, 00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:01.299 That people can be saved, 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.320 Anywhere, 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.500 At any time, 00:24:03.580 --> 00:24:04.519 Is through Jesus. 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:08.579 So when it says, 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.339 In verse 10, 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.539 When God saw, 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.879 What they did, 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:14.200 And how they turned, 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.500 From their evil way, 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.680 God relented, 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.539 Of the disaster, 00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.779 That he had said, 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:19.480 He would do to them, 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.700 And he did not do it. 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.980 That is because of Jesus. 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.279 It's not because, 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.079 He turned a blind eye, 00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:26.839 To their wickedness. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.200 That is because of Jesus. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.299 It's because, 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:31.579 Jesus did the Jonah thing, 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:34.500 And plunged himself, 00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:36.539 Into the anger of God for us, 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:37.919 And God raised him, 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.740 From the dead. 00:24:41.179 --> 00:24:41.799 And so we've looked, 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.299 At the man, 00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:42.799 And the message, 00:24:42.939 --> 00:24:43.460 Clearly let's look, 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:43.960 At the miracle. 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.159 The miracle that God, 00:24:46.199 --> 00:24:47.319 Actually performed in Nineveh, 00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:48.579 Because that is the great miracle, 00:24:49.399 --> 00:24:50.480 Of the book of Jonah, 00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:51.699 It's not the fish. 00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:54.159 That's not the great miracle, 00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.319 The miracle in the book of Jonah, 00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:56.419 Is what happened in the city, 00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.419 Because it's almost unprecedented. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.199 Look at verse 5. 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:02.120 People of Nineveh believed God, 00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:03.140 They called for a fastball, 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.700 And sackcloth, 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.620 From the greatest of them, 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.420 To the least of them. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.120 The word reads, 00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:07.759 The king of Nineveh, 00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:08.779 And he arose from his throne, 00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:09.460 And moved his robe, 00:25:09.580 --> 00:25:10.880 And covered himself with sackcloth, 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.740 And sat in ashes. 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.840 And he issued a proclamation, 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.860 And published through Nineveh, 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.960 By the decree of the king, 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.400 And his nobles, 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.080 Like neither man, 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:21.580 Nor beast, 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.080 Nor herd, 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:22.480 Nor flock, 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.019 Taste anything, 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:23.779 Let them not feed, 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.360 Or drink water, 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.299 But let man and beast, 00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:27.259 Be covered with sackcloth, 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.840 And let them call out, 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:29.859 Mightly to God, 00:25:30.459 --> 00:25:31.939 They'll ever turn from his evil way, 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:33.339 And from the violence of his hands. 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.939 They dressed, 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.459 Didn't they, 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.720 As if they were going to a funeral, 00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:41.079 Sackcloth is the dress of mourning, 00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:44.179 And they all dressed, 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.059 As if they were going to a funeral, 00:25:45.199 --> 00:25:45.959 If God says, 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.959 We're as good as dead, 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.759 Then we're going to act, 00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.859 As if we're as good as dead, 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:51.459 And that is really, 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.079 What they were doing, 00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:53.179 By putting on sackcloth, 00:25:53.179 --> 00:25:54.119 And then the king issues, 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.179 Is to create Nineveh, 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.899 By order of the king, 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:59.019 Either man, 00:25:59.080 --> 00:25:59.600 Nor beast, 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.100 Herd, 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:00.840 Nor flock, 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.580 Chase anything, 00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:05.360 Let them not feed, 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:05.980 Or drink water, 00:26:06.060 --> 00:26:06.860 But let man and beast, 00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:08.000 Be covered with sackcloth, 00:26:08.040 --> 00:26:08.700 And let them call out, 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.400 Mightly to God, 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:11.019 Let everyone turn from his evil way, 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.280 And from the violence, 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:13.080 That is in his hands, 00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:13.600 Who knows, 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.960 God may turn and relent, 00:26:17.080 --> 00:26:18.580 And turn from his fierce anger, 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.519 So that we may not perish, 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:23.579 This cruel, 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.339 Proud, 00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.079 Pagan, 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.339 And violent city, 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:31.819 Right across the social pile, 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:34.339 From the beast in the fields, 00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:35.519 To the king on his throne, 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.619 They turn to God, 00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:40.139 Roland Hill, 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.579 Was one of the early Methodists, 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.879 He's a very colourful character, 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:44.259 And one of the Methodist preachers, 00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:47.519 Early Methodist preachers, 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.019 Said this, 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:48.319 He said, 00:26:48.379 --> 00:26:50.019 I don't care for man's repentance, 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:52.559 If his dog and cat, 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:53.859 Are not the better for it, 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:57.539 And something happened in this city, 00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.599 That violent, 00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.539 Violent city, 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.220 By the note, 00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:02.000 William Wilberforce, 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:03.639 And his friends in the Clapham sect, 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:05.799 That started the RSPCA, 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:08.139 It wasn't called the RSPCA then, 00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:11.099 But the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:12.680 But it was William Wilberforce, 00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:13.900 That did it, 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:17.019 In 1904, 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:20.400 In the Welsh Revival, 00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.639 There was a slowdown, 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.980 In mining production, 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:24.299 It's a true story, 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:26.519 In that the ponies, 00:27:26.639 --> 00:27:28.299 That used to work underground, 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.000 Stopped working, 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.059 The reason they stopped working, 00:27:31.139 --> 00:27:33.180 Is because their masters stopped swearing, 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:35.240 They couldn't understand their instructions anymore, 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:38.339 And production went down, 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:41.279 For two years, 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.339 In 1904 to 1906, 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:45.079 Wales was known as the land of the white gloves, 00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:48.279 Because the magistrates, 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:49.640 When they didn't have any trials, 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:51.079 Wore white gloves, 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:54.140 And for two years, 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:54.579 Something happened, 00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.420 There were lots of funny, 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:57.099 Odd and weird things in that revival, 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:59.240 But there was an authentic move of the Lord, 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:02.359 And something like that happens in Nineveh, 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:02.819 Do you see, 00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:04.740 Why I say this is the real miracle, 00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:09.619 And if it happened in Nineveh, 00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:11.599 It can happen in healing, 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:15.019 The people in Nineveh, 00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:15.859 Repented, 00:28:16.159 --> 00:28:17.240 And they believed God, 00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:18.599 And they turned to God, 00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.539 Look at verse 9, 00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:20.619 Who knows, 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.399 Who knows, 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:25.460 God's judgment might not be the end for us, 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.419 We richly deserve it, 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:28.359 They said Amen to Jonah's message, 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:30.159 They acknowledged that they are sinners, 00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.579 That they deserve nothing, 00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:33.559 But God's angry punishment for their sins, 00:28:33.659 --> 00:28:34.500 They acknowledge that, 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:36.659 That's why they wear sackcloth and ashes, 00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:38.619 And yet there is a note of hope, 00:28:38.699 --> 00:28:38.939 Is there, 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.639 Who knows, 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.919 Do you see what they're doing there, 00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:43.960 Who knows, 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:45.939 They're not being presumptuous and arrogant, 00:28:48.419 --> 00:28:50.240 I think it's Catherine the Grease of Russia, 00:28:50.419 --> 00:28:50.679 Who said, 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.779 When one brave preacher, 00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:53.179 Warned her of the judgment to come, 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.559 She said, 00:28:53.619 --> 00:28:54.439 Well God will forgive, 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.240 That's his job, 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.579 But that's not the attitude, 00:28:56.899 --> 00:28:58.000 The Nineveh said, 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:02.220 They are not being presumptuous here, 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.980 They are throwing themselves, 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:05.960 On the mercy of God, 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:07.460 Who knows, 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.299 He might relent, 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.200 And that is faith, 00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:11.319 That is not presumption, 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.119 Repentance and faith, 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.279 Always go together, 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:19.000 And they are the two sides, 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:19.740 Of the same coin, 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.839 The Virgin put it, 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:22.079 Repentance is the tear, 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.099 In the eye of faith, 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.759 Isn't that beautiful, 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:26.299 Repentance is the tear, 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.700 In the eye of faith, 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:31.119 And the Nineveh are turning to God, 00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:32.339 And they are turning with real, 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.379 Heartfelt repentance, 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.859 They are genuinely sorry, 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.500 For their sin, 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:37.019 And they are turning to the God of Jonah, 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:37.960 And Israel, 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.500 Who knows, 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.019 They say, 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:40.960 They throw themselves on his mercy, 00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:44.079 And they are not taking anything for granted, 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:45.359 They are not presuming on it, 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:47.539 And none of us deserve God's mercy, 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:49.259 It's not a basic human right, 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.339 For God to forgive us, 00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:52.339 The exercise of mercy, 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:53.939 For God, 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:56.099 It is optional, 00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.379 And that's why it's mercy, 00:29:58.639 --> 00:30:00.439 Mercy is God dealing with us, 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.419 Not as we deserve, 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:03.019 And the Ninevites didn't assume, 00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:04.699 That God was bound to forgive them, 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.619 They nevertheless, 00:30:05.959 --> 00:30:07.879 Throw themselves on the mercy of God, 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.639 And we are told in verse 10, 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:12.779 When God saw what they did, 00:30:13.879 --> 00:30:15.659 How they turned from their evil ways, 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:17.279 That God relented of the disaster, 00:30:17.379 --> 00:30:18.439 That he said he would do to them, 00:30:19.179 --> 00:30:20.099 And he did not do it, 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:25.779 And now if God did that for Nineveh, 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.919 Don't you think he could do that, 00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:27.779 For Ealing in London, 00:30:28.179 --> 00:30:33.619 What else is going to touch, 00:30:33.699 --> 00:30:34.720 The needs of the city, 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:40.659 People grow up, 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.519 They are born, 00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:42.599 And they grow up, 00:30:42.679 --> 00:30:43.980 And they live in this borough, 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:44.740 And they die, 00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:46.659 And they never give God a thought, 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:50.940 What else is going to touch, 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.500 This city, 00:30:52.620 --> 00:30:55.200 Where so many, 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.120 Many people, 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:57.259 That live on your street, 00:30:57.340 --> 00:30:58.259 And you work with, 00:30:58.340 --> 00:30:59.600 They are untouched, 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.820 By the message of the gospel, 00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:07.960 About 15 years ago, 00:31:08.040 --> 00:31:09.279 There was a massive pressure, 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:11.160 Amongst the evangelicals, 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:11.900 That we wanted to see, 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:13.660 10% of London, 00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:14.740 Converted, 00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:17.299 They got it from the Sydney diocese, 00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:20.039 And there was lots of missions planned, 00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:21.299 There were lots of good things, 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:23.779 It's nowhere near that, 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:24.859 We've utterly, 00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.680 Utterly failed, 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:27.039 Of course nobody ever talks about it, 00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:28.519 It's going to be an airbrush from history, 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:33.680 And we need to face up to that, 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.000 Don't we? 00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:38.579 And how we need to cry out to God, 00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:40.220 You can call it revival if you want, 00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:44.220 For revival where? 00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.339 Was it revival in Nineveh? 00:31:46.100 --> 00:31:46.460 No, 00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:47.779 There wasn't a revival in Nineveh, 00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:50.240 There was a visitation, 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:51.299 Of the spirit of God, 00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:52.940 There was an extraordinary work, 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.900 Of God's salvation, 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:54.880 But there was no revival, 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.960 You can't revive something, 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.779 That's not been alive, 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.120 Can you? 00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.940 The revival was in Jonah, 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:03.319 The word of God, 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.579 Came to Jonah a second time, 00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:05.380 And it's the church, 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.299 That needs reviving, 00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:07.140 It's us, 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.200 That needs reviving, 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.860 It's me, 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:11.500 God has said go, 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:14.340 Jesus says go, 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:16.100 We say no, 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:18.200 I prefer not to, 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:23.180 Spirit of the living God, 00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:26.140 Fall afresh on me, 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:28.340 Break me, 00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:29.819 Melt me, 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:31.759 Mould me, 00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:32.420 Fill me, 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:35.740 Spirit of the living God, 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:38.259 Fall afresh on me, 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.279 Let's pray.