WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.599 I'm surprised by the way that God graciously works in your life when you've done everything 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:25.539 the wrong way, been rebellious, been hard-hearted, been stubborn, just plain disobedient. 00:00:25.539 --> 00:00:38.200 Sometimes I just get in awe of how God puts up with me, how He shows grace. 00:00:39.500 --> 00:00:41.579 I am so thankful for His grace. 00:00:42.599 --> 00:00:44.340 I hope you are as well. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:52.820 Well, that's what we're going to look at this morning in Jonah chapter 1, God's surprising grace. 00:00:52.820 --> 00:00:58.619 And the first thing we're going to look at today is that God sometimes uses unbelievers 00:00:58.619 --> 00:01:01.780 to accomplish His gracious purpose. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:04.939 I want you to look with me. 00:01:05.140 --> 00:01:06.299 If you would, open your Bible. 00:01:07.739 --> 00:01:09.379 We're in Jonah chapter 1. 00:01:10.180 --> 00:01:14.620 We have read the entire chapter several times, part of it several times. 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:18.560 We're going to read more today, but I don't want to read the whole section again. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:24.840 I want you to think with me and look at verse 5. 00:01:26.760 --> 00:01:32.840 Think about the actions of the sailors on the ship with Jonah. 00:01:34.219 --> 00:01:37.980 If you haven't been here, if you're not familiar with the story, Jonah was God's prophet. 00:01:38.140 --> 00:01:41.400 He was called by God to go to a certain place and preach. 00:01:41.859 --> 00:01:42.579 He didn't. 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:44.140 He went the opposite direction. 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:50.840 And as a part of going the opposite direction, He boarded a ship that would take him far away. 00:01:51.659 --> 00:01:58.379 But then God hurled a storm at the ship to stop Jonah. 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:09.340 When the storm first struck, these pagan sailors prayed to their own false gods. 00:02:09.340 --> 00:02:39.319 When Jonah was identified as the guilty one, 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:43.580 they began to question Him. 00:02:43.979 --> 00:02:45.599 Look with me in verse 7 and 8. 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:47.920 And they said to one another, 00:02:48.259 --> 00:02:54.500 Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:58.920 So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 00:02:59.819 --> 00:03:00.719 Then they said to Him, 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:03.819 Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:03:04.140 --> 00:03:05.500 What is your occupation? 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:06.939 Where do you come from? 00:03:06.939 --> 00:03:08.199 What is your country? 00:03:08.919 --> 00:03:10.919 And of what people are you? 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:16.020 I want you to look at how Jonah responded. 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:27.900 I want you to think about his response and his description of God and how it affected these sailors. 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:30.939 I'm going to put this on the screen, verses 9 and 10 now. 00:03:31.760 --> 00:03:32.620 And He said to them, 00:03:32.620 --> 00:03:42.000 I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. 00:03:42.659 --> 00:03:46.460 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to Him, 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:48.900 What is this that you have done? 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:54.080 For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord because he had told them. 00:03:55.860 --> 00:04:04.040 I want you to note that Jonah identified himself as a Hebrew, part of the people of Israel. 00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:09.659 He identified himself as a Hebrew. 00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:14.659 And his God as, look at it, the Lord. 00:04:16.099 --> 00:04:20.759 And that is a translation of God's special covenant name, Yahweh. 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:24.180 God's holy name. 00:04:26.099 --> 00:04:29.759 Jonah identified God by that name. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:32.579 And then look at their response. 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:35.519 They were terrified. 00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:43.539 When they heard he was a Hebrew, that their God, his God was Yahweh. 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:46.159 Why would they do that? 00:04:47.459 --> 00:04:57.480 Why would such hardened men most likely be afraid of this Hebrew who served the Lord God? 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:04.580 Well, many commentators believe these sailors had heard about the people of Israel. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:07.900 They'd heard about Israel's God. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:10.080 And it makes sense. 00:05:11.200 --> 00:05:12.360 They're professional sailors. 00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:14.800 They sailed the Mediterranean Sea. 00:05:15.840 --> 00:05:20.660 This trip that they're on right now began in Joppa, which is not far from Israel. 00:05:20.660 --> 00:05:28.240 Richard Phillips, in his commentary, gives us a good explanation for why these sailors responded with fear 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:32.740 when they heard Jonah mention the Lord, that name. 00:05:33.520 --> 00:05:34.080 Look at it. 00:05:34.640 --> 00:05:39.840 The mariners likely would have heard about the Hebrews and their frightening God. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:44.980 He was the God who broke Pharaoh's power in order to set his people free 00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:49.080 and who parted the waters of the Red Sea for the Hebrews to pass through. 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:52.800 But then drowned the pursuing Egyptians. 00:05:53.579 --> 00:05:58.819 This was the stern God who took his people into Canaan with such frightening power. 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:04.639 Therefore, they realized that this was a great God, this God of the Hebrews. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:13.060 And it was this God, not a weak God, who was pursuing them for the sake of Jonah. 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:18.680 Here they are in the midst of a hurricane type storm. 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:23.379 They're scared to death of that. 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:30.139 And then they're described with even a heightened sense of fear 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:34.180 when Jonah identifies himself as part of the people of God 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:36.939 and calls God by that covenant name. 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:47.480 Even though they knew Jonah is rebelling against this God, 00:06:48.779 --> 00:06:55.300 they still revere him, so to speak, by asking him, 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:57.220 what should we do? 00:06:57.220 --> 00:07:04.240 And when Jonah told them that the only way for the sea to calm 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:07.440 and for them to save themselves was to throw him overboard. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:11.620 But I want you to look at what they said in verse 13. 00:07:17.980 --> 00:07:19.120 If I can find it. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:38.340 Jonah has identified himself and his God. 00:07:40.860 --> 00:07:43.439 They have confidence he knows what he's talking about. 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:45.980 And so they ask him, what should we do? 00:07:45.980 --> 00:07:47.500 And he tells them very clearly. 00:07:47.900 --> 00:07:50.180 It wasn't an answer he wanted to tell them. 00:07:50.379 --> 00:07:51.780 He was actually being truthful. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:57.000 But instead of taking this stranger 00:07:57.000 --> 00:08:00.259 who had brought this storm on them, 00:08:00.340 --> 00:08:01.939 caused them to lose their cargo 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:04.720 and maybe going to lose their lives, 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:08.220 instead of them gladly throwing him overboard, 00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:14.520 they did their best to row out of the storm. 00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:17.060 Now think about that. 00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:24.560 It seems that their discovery of God 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:28.759 caused them to show Jonah mercy. 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:31.420 Mercy is a quality of God. 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:36.100 Mercy is one of the characteristics of a Christian 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:38.940 that Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount 00:08:38.940 --> 00:08:40.120 in the Beatitudes. 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:47.139 If we have a right relationship with God, 00:08:47.220 --> 00:08:49.159 if we want to please God, 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:53.639 we're going to have a merciful heart 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:57.659 and desire to show mercy to people 00:08:57.659 --> 00:09:01.960 instead of just being cruel, 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:04.740 just giving people what they deserve. 00:09:04.740 --> 00:09:07.879 And you see it in these pagans 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:11.539 right as they first become aware of God. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:14.080 That's powerful. 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:18.720 God's doing a work in these men's lives right here. 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:22.639 And we see it in the way they treated Jonah. 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:24.840 I mean, be honest. 00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:25.960 If you'd have been there, 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:28.279 you think you're going to die, 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:30.500 and some guy you don't know, 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:31.100 you don't care about, 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:32.079 you think this guy, 00:09:32.199 --> 00:09:34.899 you know, he's running from this powerful God 00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:35.579 we've heard about. 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:36.799 He says, 00:09:37.079 --> 00:09:38.319 if we want to see the calm, 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:38.860 throw him overboard. 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:41.360 Wouldn't you throw him overboard? 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:43.819 I'd throw you overboard if it was you. 00:09:44.439 --> 00:09:46.740 You'd throw me overboard if it was me in that setting. 00:09:46.740 --> 00:09:51.600 But they didn't Jonah. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:57.460 God used these unbelievers, 00:09:57.820 --> 00:09:58.440 pagans, 00:09:58.899 --> 00:10:00.820 idol worshipers at this time 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:05.180 to show grace to Jonah. 00:10:07.560 --> 00:10:08.620 We're going to see later on 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:09.700 the actual way of grace 00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:10.899 was to throw him overboard. 00:10:11.700 --> 00:10:13.060 But right now, at the beginning, 00:10:13.460 --> 00:10:15.920 they think the way of being gracious and merciful 00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:18.320 is to try to row out of the storm 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:19.680 and avoid throwing him overboard. 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:23.019 But finally, God shows these sailors 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:24.179 they're wasting their time. 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:26.759 They cannot outrun the storm. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:28.959 And so they've got a choice. 00:10:29.059 --> 00:10:29.959 Either throw him overboard 00:10:29.959 --> 00:10:31.219 or die themselves. 00:10:33.379 --> 00:10:34.879 So they decide to do it. 00:10:35.659 --> 00:10:37.199 But look at verses 14 and 15. 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:40.259 They call out to God 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:41.979 for mercy on themselves 00:10:41.979 --> 00:10:43.419 before they do it. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:44.539 Therefore, 00:10:45.419 --> 00:10:46.459 they called out to the Lord. 00:10:46.459 --> 00:10:47.179 O Lord, 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:48.939 let us not perish 00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:50.360 for this man's life 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:52.240 and lay not on us 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:53.060 innocent blood. 00:10:53.400 --> 00:10:54.440 For you, O Lord, 00:10:55.280 --> 00:10:56.360 have done 00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:58.160 as it pleased you. 00:10:58.320 --> 00:10:59.340 That's their way of saying, 00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:02.120 this is your call, Lord. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:04.660 Don't blame us. 00:11:04.780 --> 00:11:05.340 Blame you. 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.780 So they picked up Jonah 00:11:07.780 --> 00:11:09.160 and hurled him into the sea 00:11:09.160 --> 00:11:11.360 and the sea ceased 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:13.160 from its raging. 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:17.199 What I want us to see here 00:11:17.199 --> 00:11:19.740 is that God will do 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:20.639 whatever it takes 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:23.539 to change us 00:11:23.539 --> 00:11:26.000 if we are his child 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.699 and he has determined 00:11:28.699 --> 00:11:30.899 to use us 00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:31.919 in a certain way. 00:11:33.339 --> 00:11:35.019 God will do whatever it takes 00:11:35.019 --> 00:11:38.480 if he is determined 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.000 to use us 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:40.659 in a certain way. 00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:42.500 God will do whatever it takes 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:45.100 to cause us 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:46.299 to change our mind 00:11:46.299 --> 00:11:47.059 if we are rebelling. 00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:49.740 God will do whatever it takes 00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:51.220 to make us willing 00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:52.799 to do it. 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:54.259 God works through 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:55.299 these unbelievers 00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:57.019 and God will work 00:11:57.019 --> 00:11:57.600 through unbelievers 00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:58.240 around us. 00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:59.519 God is never limited. 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:01.480 There may be times 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:02.220 in your life 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:04.039 when you are not close 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:04.480 to God, 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:05.860 you are disobeying him, 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:07.279 something is going on 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:09.179 and you don't come 00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:09.679 to church 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:10.839 because you think 00:12:10.839 --> 00:12:12.559 that's one way 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:13.360 I can get away 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:14.740 from being convicted. 00:12:14.939 --> 00:12:15.980 Maybe I can forget. 00:12:16.319 --> 00:12:16.779 Maybe the Lord 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:17.439 will leave me alone 00:12:17.439 --> 00:12:18.500 so you don't come to church 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:19.360 or you don't want 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:19.899 to be around 00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:20.959 Christian people. 00:12:22.220 --> 00:12:23.279 Well, God could even 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.039 work through 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:25.919 pagans. 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:27.899 God could even work 00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:28.699 through the worst people 00:12:28.699 --> 00:12:29.240 you know 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:31.259 if he chooses to 00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:34.319 to touch you, 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:36.379 to correct you, 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:37.860 to bring you 00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:38.379 to the point 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:39.539 where he wants you 00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:40.080 to be. 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:42.259 God sometimes 00:12:42.259 --> 00:12:43.379 even uses miracles 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.120 to get our attention. 00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:44.939 Look at number two, 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:45.539 this point. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:47.159 God sometimes 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:48.439 uses miraculous 00:12:48.439 --> 00:12:49.200 interventions 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:50.220 to put us 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:50.980 on the path 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:52.460 he has chosen for us. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:53.879 This chapter 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:54.799 begins and ends 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:55.939 with a strong statement 00:12:55.939 --> 00:12:57.240 of how God 00:12:57.240 --> 00:12:58.639 sovereignly 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:00.259 intervenes 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.460 in Jonah's life 00:13:02.460 --> 00:13:04.519 to prevent him 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:05.480 from escaping 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:06.539 God's call. 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:08.200 God first hurled 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.080 a great storm 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:10.100 at Jonah's ship 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:11.939 that we've read about 00:13:11.939 --> 00:13:12.539 and talked about 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:13.840 already in verse four 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.039 and then in verse 17 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:17.899 God appointed 00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:19.019 a great fish 00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:20.399 to rescue Jonah 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:22.080 and prevent him 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:22.480 from drowning. 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:23.019 Look at that. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:23.580 And the Lord 00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:24.639 appointed a great fish 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:26.460 to swallow up Jonah. 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.460 That's what we're 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:28.779 going to start 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:30.519 looking at next week. 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:32.379 But these two 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:34.019 miraculous interventions 00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:36.240 make it clear 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:38.679 that when God 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:39.919 chooses us 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:40.679 to carry out 00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:41.460 his plan 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:44.840 he's going 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:45.500 to so 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.179 manipulate 00:13:46.179 --> 00:13:47.439 things in our 00:13:47.439 --> 00:13:48.039 lives 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:50.860 that we will 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:51.319 eventually 00:13:51.319 --> 00:13:52.500 be willing 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:54.319 to do 00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:54.919 his will. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:56.559 Now I want 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:57.120 to pause here 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:57.600 and be clear 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:58.220 about this matter 00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.179 of disobeying God. 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:01.559 we can disobey 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:01.939 God. 00:14:03.059 --> 00:14:03.620 Jonah 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.739 disobeyed God. 00:14:06.339 --> 00:14:07.339 Sometimes God 00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:07.939 allows us 00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:08.759 to disobey him 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:10.759 as his children 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:14.959 and miss out 00:14:14.959 --> 00:14:15.919 on the blessing 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:17.019 that we would 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:17.899 have received 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:19.919 if we had 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:20.599 obeyed him. 00:14:21.599 --> 00:14:22.199 We can see 00:14:22.199 --> 00:14:22.699 an example 00:14:22.699 --> 00:14:23.179 of that 00:14:23.179 --> 00:14:23.639 in the book 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:24.419 of Acts 00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:26.179 chapter 13 00:14:26.179 --> 00:14:27.559 when Mark 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:28.339 the writer 00:14:28.339 --> 00:14:28.939 of the second 00:14:28.939 --> 00:14:29.459 gospel 00:14:29.459 --> 00:14:31.379 he took off 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.299 on the first 00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:33.339 mission trip 00:14:33.339 --> 00:14:34.059 of the New Testament 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:34.579 church 00:14:34.579 --> 00:14:35.599 in Acts 13 00:14:35.599 --> 00:14:36.379 he went with 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.199 Paul and Barnabas 00:14:37.199 --> 00:14:37.759 but he didn't 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:38.439 go far 00:14:38.439 --> 00:14:39.759 he quit. 00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:41.099 You can read 00:14:41.099 --> 00:14:41.419 about it. 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:42.199 He quit. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.139 He turned around 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.839 and he went 00:14:43.839 --> 00:14:44.199 home. 00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:45.079 He abandoned 00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:46.939 his mission team. 00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:49.900 Well Paul 00:14:49.900 --> 00:14:50.600 was offended 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.140 by that 00:14:51.140 --> 00:14:52.700 angered 00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:53.160 by that 00:14:53.160 --> 00:14:54.160 and later 00:14:54.160 --> 00:14:54.720 on 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.540 Mark 00:14:56.540 --> 00:14:57.040 wanted to 00:14:57.040 --> 00:14:57.540 go on a 00:14:57.540 --> 00:14:58.260 second trip 00:14:58.260 --> 00:14:58.740 with Paul 00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.500 and Barnabas 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:01.080 and Paul 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:01.440 said you 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:01.940 ain't going. 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:03.100 You quit 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:03.300 on me 00:15:03.300 --> 00:15:03.780 one time 00:15:03.780 --> 00:15:04.260 you will 00:15:04.260 --> 00:15:04.880 not quit 00:15:04.880 --> 00:15:05.160 on me 00:15:05.160 --> 00:15:05.660 a second 00:15:05.660 --> 00:15:06.120 time. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:07.880 Well Barnabas 00:15:07.880 --> 00:15:08.220 was more 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:08.860 compassionate 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:10.940 more merciful 00:15:10.940 --> 00:15:11.380 maybe. 00:15:12.780 --> 00:15:13.240 He wanted 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:13.640 Mark 00:15:13.640 --> 00:15:14.060 to go. 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:14.380 He wanted 00:15:14.380 --> 00:15:14.640 to give him 00:15:14.640 --> 00:15:14.900 a second 00:15:14.900 --> 00:15:15.440 chance. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.700 Paul 00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:17.180 didn't 00:15:17.180 --> 00:15:17.760 back down 00:15:17.760 --> 00:15:18.820 and their 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:19.280 disagreement 00:15:19.280 --> 00:15:19.700 was so 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:20.300 strong 00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:20.920 over Mark 00:15:20.920 --> 00:15:21.300 that they 00:15:21.300 --> 00:15:21.840 split. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.120 Paul went 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:23.660 one way 00:15:23.660 --> 00:15:23.960 and took 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.580 Silas 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:25.800 Barnabas 00:15:25.800 --> 00:15:26.840 took Mark 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:27.540 and went 00:15:27.540 --> 00:15:28.100 another way. 00:15:29.400 --> 00:15:29.780 You can read 00:15:29.780 --> 00:15:30.160 about that 00:15:30.160 --> 00:15:31.320 in Acts 15. 00:15:32.520 --> 00:15:32.940 Here's what 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:33.220 I want us 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:33.600 to see. 00:15:34.800 --> 00:15:35.360 Mark's 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.460 failure 00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:37.620 quitting 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.140 the first 00:15:38.140 --> 00:15:38.540 missionary 00:15:38.540 --> 00:15:38.900 trip. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:40.780 It had 00:15:40.780 --> 00:15:41.300 some serious 00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:42.020 consequences. 00:15:42.880 --> 00:15:43.240 It led 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:43.580 to the 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.040 breakup 00:15:44.040 --> 00:15:44.700 of the 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:45.020 Paul 00:15:45.020 --> 00:15:45.700 Barnabas 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:46.160 mission 00:15:46.160 --> 00:15:46.680 team. 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:47.840 The original 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:48.180 mission 00:15:48.180 --> 00:15:48.500 team. 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:49.879 And then 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:50.720 Mark missed 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:52.220 out on 00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.200 the blessings 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:54.560 of seeing 00:15:54.560 --> 00:15:55.300 how God 00:15:55.300 --> 00:15:56.580 used his 00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:57.379 team 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:59.640 to save 00:15:59.640 --> 00:16:00.440 many people's 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:00.879 lives. 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:02.400 To start 00:16:02.400 --> 00:16:03.600 new churches. 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:05.720 Mark could 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.000 have been a 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.460 part of that 00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:07.080 but he 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:08.200 wasn't 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:09.800 because of 00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:10.320 his failure. 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:11.720 God 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.700 is an 00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:13.240 example of 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:13.760 how God 00:16:13.760 --> 00:16:14.760 sometimes 00:16:14.760 --> 00:16:16.180 allows us 00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:16.680 to disobey 00:16:16.680 --> 00:16:17.000 him. 00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:18.920 And he 00:16:18.920 --> 00:16:19.580 uses other 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:20.160 people to 00:16:20.160 --> 00:16:21.379 do what 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:21.960 he originally 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:22.540 wanted us 00:16:22.540 --> 00:16:22.960 to do. 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:24.920 And the 00:16:24.920 --> 00:16:25.940 result will 00:16:25.940 --> 00:16:26.520 always be 00:16:26.520 --> 00:16:27.120 that we 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:27.900 miss out 00:16:27.900 --> 00:16:30.300 on being 00:16:30.300 --> 00:16:30.900 used of 00:16:30.900 --> 00:16:31.300 God to 00:16:31.300 --> 00:16:31.900 bless somebody 00:16:31.900 --> 00:16:32.300 else. 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.500 And we 00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:34.180 miss out on 00:16:34.180 --> 00:16:35.520 being blessed 00:16:35.520 --> 00:16:37.920 ourselves by 00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:38.460 being obedient 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:38.879 to God. 00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:41.379 But God 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:41.879 does not 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.840 always allow 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:43.220 us to 00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:43.580 disobey 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.519 him and 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:44.940 get by 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:45.180 with it. 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:45.379 I want 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:45.519 you to 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:45.960 hear this. 00:16:47.280 --> 00:16:47.820 We've 00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:48.460 talked in 00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:48.639 some of 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:48.879 the other 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:49.540 messages about 00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:50.180 how Jonah 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:50.960 disobeyed. 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.259 Mark did. 00:16:53.160 --> 00:16:54.000 We have. 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.320 We've 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:55.940 suffered for 00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:56.040 it. 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:56.500 We've missed 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:56.980 out on some 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:57.480 things most 00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:57.840 likely. 00:16:58.920 --> 00:16:59.300 But there 00:16:59.300 --> 00:17:00.220 are times 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:02.480 when God 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:03.280 is not going 00:17:03.280 --> 00:17:03.940 to allow 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:04.380 us to 00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:04.680 disobey 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:07.799 him or 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.340 keep on 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:08.879 disobeying 00:17:08.879 --> 00:17:10.279 him because 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:10.639 he is 00:17:10.639 --> 00:17:11.319 determined to 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:12.319 use us. 00:17:13.199 --> 00:17:13.500 Let's take 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.059 some examples. 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:14.779 Moses. 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.139 God 00:17:16.139 --> 00:17:17.759 raised up 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.099 Moses, 00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:18.879 called him 00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:19.500 to be 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.059 his 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:21.000 spokesman, 00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:21.879 the 00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:22.759 deliverer 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.159 of the 00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:23.779 people of 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.359 Israel 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.519 from Egyptian 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.240 bondage. 00:17:26.659 --> 00:17:27.220 But a lot 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.559 of you know 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.000 the story. 00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:28.480 At first, 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.059 Moses, 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:29.839 he didn't 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.299 want to go. 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.339 He didn't 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:31.839 want to be 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:32.039 that. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.480 He didn't 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:32.919 want to do 00:17:32.919 --> 00:17:33.099 that. 00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:33.500 He made 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.159 excuses. 00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:35.919 But God 00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:36.879 would not 00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:37.779 accept his 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:38.299 excuses. 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.019 God had 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.700 chosen him 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:40.960 for that 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.460 assignment. 00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:43.539 And God 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.359 made sure 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:45.240 that Moses 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.500 fulfilled it. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.119 Paul, 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.099 the apostle, 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:51.579 he was 00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:52.500 chosen by 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:52.879 God. 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:53.539 He says in 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.019 Galatians 00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:54.619 chapter 1, 00:17:54.879 --> 00:17:55.299 from his 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.119 mother's 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:56.500 womb. 00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.119 Before he 00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.480 ever entered 00:17:59.480 --> 00:17:59.960 this world, 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:00.579 God had a 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.019 plan for 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:01.599 his life. 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:03.420 He was 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:03.700 going to be 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:04.059 a great 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.500 missionary, 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.079 a great 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:07.220 evangelist, 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.039 great church 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:08.779 planter. 00:18:09.100 --> 00:18:09.480 God was 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:09.819 even going 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:10.279 to use 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:10.860 him to 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:11.600 write a 00:18:11.600 --> 00:18:12.539 large portion 00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:13.079 of the 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:13.660 New Testament. 00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.140 But Paul 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:16.819 began his 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:17.620 adult life 00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:18.539 as an 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.420 enemy of 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.339 Jesus Christ 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:21.380 and the 00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:21.860 church. 00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:25.100 He was 00:18:25.100 --> 00:18:25.980 well known 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:28.019 in the 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.620 church, 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.259 before he 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:29.799 became a 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.140 Christian, 00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.839 as one 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:32.360 who will 00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:32.960 track you 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.519 down, 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.640 and have 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.120 you put in 00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:35.500 prison, 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:35.960 and possibly 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:36.799 even executed, 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.660 all because 00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.440 you are a 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:39.059 follower of 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:39.500 Jesus. 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.700 But when 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:42.039 the Lord 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.519 got ready 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.019 to use 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.279 him, 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:45.599 the Lord 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.920 miraculously 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:47.740 broke into 00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.480 his life, 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:49.519 and you can 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:49.779 read about 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.099 this in 00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:50.960 Acts 9, 00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:53.059 God literally 00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:53.900 knocked him 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:54.240 to the 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:55.380 ground and 00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:56.559 blinded him 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.119 for a period 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:57.660 of time 00:18:57.660 --> 00:19:00.380 because God 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:01.019 was serious 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:01.640 about getting 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.279 his attention 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:04.740 and changing 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:06.259 everything about 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.000 his life 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:09.059 because God 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.519 was going to 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.220 use him 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:12.000 in a 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.519 tremendous 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:15.059 way as 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:15.379 one of the 00:19:15.379 --> 00:19:16.399 early leaders 00:19:16.399 --> 00:19:17.440 of the 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:17.859 church. 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.539 God can 00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:21.299 intervene in 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.299 your life and 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.240 mine at any 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:23.779 time. 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:27.460 If it requires 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.799 disciplining us 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.799 severely, he 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:33.019 will and 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:33.359 just do 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:33.859 whatever it 00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:35.480 takes to 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:37.079 cause us 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:38.279 to want 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.639 to obey 00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:39.940 him. 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.319 That's what 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:41.919 God's doing 00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:42.779 with Jonah in 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:44.220 chapter 1 and 00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:44.899 2, and we're 00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:45.399 going to read in 00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:46.159 chapter 3 a 00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:46.539 little bit later 00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:47.519 on that when 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.240 God called 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:48.899 Jonah the 00:19:48.899 --> 00:19:49.700 second time to 00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:50.200 go and preach 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.359 to Neva, he 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:53.539 went and he 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.559 did not argue. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:56.899 But just 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:57.299 think, that 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.139 was after his 00:19:58.139 --> 00:19:59.779 painful experience 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:01.700 of being thrown 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:02.579 off a ship in 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:02.980 the middle of 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.399 the storm, 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.339 nearly drowning 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:05.099 and spending 00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:05.779 three days and 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:06.500 three nights 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:08.639 stuck inside 00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:10.559 a great fish. 00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:13.619 I want to 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:14.179 encourage you. 00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:16.859 Always 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:17.559 listen 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:20.919 when God 00:20:20.919 --> 00:20:21.419 speaks. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:21.839 And God 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.639 speaks to us 00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:23.159 through his 00:20:23.159 --> 00:20:23.659 word. 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:25.899 That's the 00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:26.519 clearest way he 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:26.980 speaks to us 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.240 today. 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.480 If you're a 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:28.839 Christian, he 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.319 speaks through 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:30.099 his spirit who 00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:30.819 indwells you. 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:32.259 God speaks 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:33.579 through wise 00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:34.379 people he's put 00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:35.299 into your life. 00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.679 God speaks to 00:20:36.679 --> 00:20:37.119 us in all 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:37.679 different kinds 00:20:37.679 --> 00:20:38.339 of ways. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.200 And when he 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.679 speaks, we 00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:42.299 need to listen 00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:44.480 with the idea, 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:45.579 I want to know 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.940 God's will because 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.799 I want to do 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.480 God's will. 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:51.339 Paul tells us 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:51.980 at the end of 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:52.659 Romans 12, 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.059 2, 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:55.639 that God's 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:56.539 doing God's 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:58.599 will will be 00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:59.279 good for us 00:20:59.279 --> 00:20:59.980 because God's 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.759 will is good 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.539 and acceptable 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.319 and perfect. 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:02.960 He describes it 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.399 that way. 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:05.440 Well, think about 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:05.919 it this way. 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.740 When we're 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:09.779 faithful to do 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.399 what we know 00:21:10.399 --> 00:21:11.079 God wants us 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:11.559 to be, and it 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:12.019 may be something 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:14.779 small, maybe 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.779 about your 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:17.059 attitude, your 00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.639 relationships, 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.099 some of the 00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:18.720 people you live 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:20.059 with, the way 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:20.619 you go about 00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:21.179 your job, 00:21:21.659 --> 00:21:22.179 whatever it 00:21:22.179 --> 00:21:22.819 is, when 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.439 we're faithful 00:21:23.439 --> 00:21:24.500 to God to 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.239 do whatever it 00:21:25.239 --> 00:21:25.799 is he's calling 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:28.019 us to do, he's 00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.379 going to be 00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:29.039 pleased, he's 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.539 going to be 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:31.019 glorified in it. 00:21:32.459 --> 00:21:33.479 The people that 00:21:33.479 --> 00:21:34.259 we're involved 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:36.519 with, they'll be 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:36.959 helped. 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:39.519 And we 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:42.419 ourselves, we 00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:43.079 ourselves in the 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:44.699 long run, we 00:21:44.699 --> 00:21:45.979 will be blessed 00:21:45.979 --> 00:21:47.819 by doing God's 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.460 will and pleasing 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:48.859 him. 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:51.740 Let's look at 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.319 one more thing. 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.299 God sometimes 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.960 uses us in 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.939 spite of our 00:21:56.939 --> 00:21:58.960 rebellion to 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.500 bless other 00:21:59.500 --> 00:21:59.839 people. 00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:01.939 Chapter one 00:22:01.939 --> 00:22:02.539 begins with 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.519 Jonah refusing 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.259 to preach to 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.059 the pagan people 00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.740 of Nineveh. 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:07.619 He hated 00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:07.839 them. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.319 They were the 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:10.399 enemies of his 00:22:10.399 --> 00:22:10.919 country, they 00:22:10.919 --> 00:22:11.379 were the enemies 00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:11.839 of Israel. 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:13.220 They were ruthless, 00:22:13.659 --> 00:22:15.220 savage, brutal 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.099 people. 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:18.419 He didn't 00:22:18.419 --> 00:22:19.119 want to go for 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:19.500 a lot of 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:19.939 reasons, but 00:22:19.939 --> 00:22:20.219 one of the 00:22:20.219 --> 00:22:20.759 reasons was he 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.319 wanted them to 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:21.939 die and go to 00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:22.299 hell. 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.279 He didn't want 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:25.759 these people to 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.419 be saved. 00:22:27.719 --> 00:22:28.379 He didn't want 00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:28.679 to go and 00:22:28.679 --> 00:22:29.099 preach and 00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:29.699 them turn. 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:31.779 And we'll see 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.379 some of the 00:22:32.379 --> 00:22:34.459 things about how 00:22:34.459 --> 00:22:35.159 he didn't like it 00:22:35.159 --> 00:22:35.740 when they did 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.480 later on. 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:40.039 This chapter 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.519 begins with 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.139 Jonah refusing 00:22:41.139 --> 00:22:41.519 to go and 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:41.959 preach to the 00:22:41.959 --> 00:22:42.599 pagan people of 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.639 Nineveh, but 00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:44.599 it closes with 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:46.079 Jonah unwillingly, 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:48.819 preaching to the 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:50.939 pagan sailors on 00:22:50.939 --> 00:22:51.439 the ship. 00:22:52.939 --> 00:22:53.839 God worked 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:55.619 through Jonah in 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.219 spite of his 00:22:56.219 --> 00:22:58.119 rebellion to 00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:59.319 save these men. 00:22:59.419 --> 00:22:59.980 That's what verse 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:01.119 16 indicates. 00:23:01.199 --> 00:23:01.740 Look at it. 00:23:02.459 --> 00:23:03.279 Then the men 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.419 feared the Lord 00:23:04.419 --> 00:23:06.339 exceedingly, and 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.259 they offered a 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.379 sacrifice to the 00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.539 Lord and made 00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.159 vows. 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:12.079 Again, they call 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:13.179 on God's covenant 00:23:13.179 --> 00:23:14.339 name, the Lord, 00:23:14.679 --> 00:23:15.240 Yahweh. 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.579 Here's what I 00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:17.859 want you to 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:18.000 know. 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.900 They did this 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:19.740 after the storm 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.380 stopped. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:23.799 Think about it. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.759 If they had done 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.460 this before the 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:29.640 storm stopped, we 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:30.259 might think they 00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:30.640 were just doing 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:32.039 whatever it took to 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.660 try to save 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.299 themselves. 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.319 Jailhouse religion, 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.339 foxhole religion, 00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:36.819 whatever you want to 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.220 call it. 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:40.200 A lot of times, 00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:41.319 people, maybe some 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:41.960 of us in here, 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:45.100 will bargain with 00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:46.400 God, will tell God 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.900 what we'll do, and 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.819 maybe even go through 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:49.500 the motions of doing 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.539 certain things until we 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.460 get out of a jam. 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.400 Then we forget about 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:54.559 it. 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.880 Well, these people, 00:23:56.880 --> 00:24:00.420 they feared the 00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:01.120 Lord, offered 00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:02.280 sacrifices, made 00:24:02.280 --> 00:24:03.960 vows after the 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.980 danger had 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:05.560 passed. 00:24:06.760 --> 00:24:07.940 It appears that 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.760 these men had 00:24:08.760 --> 00:24:09.520 truly been 00:24:09.520 --> 00:24:10.160 converted. 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.560 It seems that 00:24:12.560 --> 00:24:13.100 what we read there 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:14.040 in verse 16 are 00:24:14.040 --> 00:24:16.740 expressions of 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:18.640 faith, real faith 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:19.700 in God, gratitude 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.560 to Him. 00:24:22.060 --> 00:24:22.480 They are 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.140 thankful. 00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:24.180 They love this 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:26.160 God, this one 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.680 true God, Yahweh, 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:30.080 who has rescued 00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:30.480 them. 00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:33.400 God graciously 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:34.780 used rebellious 00:24:34.780 --> 00:24:36.360 Jonah to 00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.400 accomplish His 00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:38.380 purpose in these 00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:41.300 men's lives, to 00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:42.200 call them to be 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.800 His children. 00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:44.160 Now, I want you 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:46.340 to think, if God 00:24:46.340 --> 00:24:47.920 could do that with 00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:49.580 uncooperating 00:24:49.580 --> 00:24:52.160 Jonah, think about 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:53.120 how God could use 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:55.899 us when we 00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:57.039 willingly cooperate 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.079 with Him and are 00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.500 willing to do 00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.079 whatever it is He 00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.739 tells us to do. 00:25:01.739 --> 00:25:02.579 You know, we've 00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.259 looked at chapter 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:05.099 one now for five 00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.559 weeks. 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.799 There's a lot of 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:08.919 great lessons here 00:25:08.919 --> 00:25:10.699 about God's 00:25:10.699 --> 00:25:13.099 grace, about how 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:14.279 God graciously 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.859 works out His 00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:17.459 purpose in our 00:25:17.459 --> 00:25:19.899 lives and in this 00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:20.279 world. 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.279 God's grace. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:23.279 Therefore, we 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.559 must not be 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.539 intimidated by 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.899 anyone's unbelief. 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:29.819 You shouldn't 00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:31.079 write off anyone 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:33.019 as beyond God's 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.160 ability to save. 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:36.019 If God could save 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.899 these pagan 00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:39.039 sailors who 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:40.139 worshipped false 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:42.879 gods with this 00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:44.259 unfaithful prophet 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:46.299 of His, He can 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:46.960 save anyone. 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.140 one. 00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:48.559 Here's the point I 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.140 want to make here. 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.940 Most of us in this 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:54.059 room, we have 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:56.380 family members or 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:58.279 close friends who 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:58.960 are not Christians. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.600 And some of them, we 00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:04.180 may think, they're 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:05.079 beyond hope. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.759 Some of them may 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.779 claim to be atheists. 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.279 Some of them may just 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:12.840 be hard-hearted, mean 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:13.759 individuals. 00:26:15.639 --> 00:26:16.839 You may have tried to 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.559 share the gospel with 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.139 them before and they 00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:19.299 just brushed you off, 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:21.099 cussed you out even. 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:24.179 There may be people in 00:26:24.179 --> 00:26:26.119 our lives that we've 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:26.959 just sort of given up 00:26:26.959 --> 00:26:27.839 on, but what I want us 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:29.119 to see to happen with 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:30.240 Jonah and these sailors 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:33.039 is no one is beyond 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.639 hope. 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:36.159 So don't quit praying 00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:37.119 for that person. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:41.339 Don't quit trying to 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.639 live out your faith in 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.860 front of them and be a 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:46.080 real friend to them. 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:50.220 And don't not share 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.240 the gospel with them 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.400 because you're afraid, 00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:54.800 because they've not 00:26:54.800 --> 00:26:55.600 responded well in the 00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:56.040 past. 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.860 Prayerfully, carefully, 00:26:59.520 --> 00:27:02.780 lovingly, ask God to 00:27:02.780 --> 00:27:06.700 use you as you willingly 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:08.600 try to influence them. 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.240 Ask God to use you the 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.920 way he used unwilling 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.360 Jonah. 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:15.500 Ask God to let you see a 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.500 miracle happen before 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:18.300 your eyes and see that 00:27:18.300 --> 00:27:19.780 hardened family member or 00:27:19.780 --> 00:27:20.140 friend. 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.420 See that hardened person, 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.700 that person with a hard 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:25.640 heart's heart melt and 00:27:26.560 --> 00:27:27.600 embrace Jesus as their 00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.200 Lord and Savior. 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.980 A second lesson we find in 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:33.160 chapter one is we as 00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:34.480 individuals, we must stay 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.400 on guard against becoming 00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:36.620 hard-hearted toward God 00:27:36.620 --> 00:27:37.680 ourselves. 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:45.140 throughout this ordeal, Jonah 00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:49.120 is running from God, unwilling 00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:51.380 to change, unwilling to stop. 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.940 It comes to the point where 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:58.120 Jonah realizes these sailors, 00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:01.460 they now know that the only way 00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.700 for this storm to stop and save 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.660 their own lives is throw me 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.140 overboard. 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:09.280 And he's willing to be thrown 00:28:09.280 --> 00:28:12.140 overboard before he will confess 00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:14.000 his sin to God and repent. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:17.240 There is every reason to believe 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:19.100 that if Jonah at any point on this 00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:21.240 ship, if he had just said, God, I'm 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.900 tired of running, you win. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:25.980 If Jonah just confessed his sin, his 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:28.900 disobedience, repented, changed his 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:32.100 mind and said, Lord, I will go now and 00:28:32.099 --> 00:28:33.039 preach to the people of Nineveh. 00:28:33.199 --> 00:28:34.579 There's no reason to think that God 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.519 wouldn't have stopped the storm 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:35.859 then. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.599 That was the whole point, getting 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.299 Jonah to go. 00:28:39.699 --> 00:28:41.419 But his heart was so hard, he was 00:28:41.419 --> 00:28:44.879 so stubborn, he was willing to die, 00:28:44.959 --> 00:28:48.119 be thrown overboard, rather than to 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:50.019 go to these people and preach. 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:58.779 You and I, we could become so 00:28:58.779 --> 00:29:01.559 hardened by our sin and disobedience 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:05.539 that we destroy our own lives. 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:08.559 You know, the writer to the Hebrews 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:10.539 issued a warning about this. 00:29:10.599 --> 00:29:11.079 Look at it. 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:13.539 He says, but encourage one another 00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:15.180 daily as long as it is called today, 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:17.859 so that none of you, writing to 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:21.779 Christians, may be hardened by sin's 00:29:22.639 --> 00:29:23.500 deceitfulness. 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:30.259 In a room this size, there's most 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:32.619 likely people, professing Christians, 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:36.900 and if you're honest, your heart is a 00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:38.579 whole lot harder right now than it was 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.460 this time last year. 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:47.099 You think, are you less sensitive to 00:29:47.099 --> 00:29:48.359 the Spirit of God right now? 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:50.839 Are you less merciful and compassionate 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.799 and loving? 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:56.639 Have you developed some calluses in 00:29:56.639 --> 00:29:57.259 your heart? 00:29:58.039 --> 00:30:00.579 Not just toward God, but even toward 00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.099 people. 00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:04.500 This is a warning to us. 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:09.079 Don't be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 00:30:10.159 --> 00:30:11.459 I want you to understand, it can ruin 00:30:11.459 --> 00:30:12.119 your life. 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.740 It can cost you some relationships. 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:16.980 It can cost you more than you want to 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.259 pay. 00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:20.599 Let's learn from Jonah. 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:25.700 Don't become so hardened that you're 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:27.779 willing to die before you'll do God's 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.019 will. 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:35.940 He may, he could let you do that. 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:38.700 The final lesson I want us to look at 00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:41.519 this morning is, it's always to our 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:44.819 advantage that we maintain an open heart 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:48.359 and mind to God's call and a willingness 00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:50.039 to do His will. 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:53.000 Just think, if Jonah had obeyed God the 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:56.619 first time, he would have avoided all the 00:30:56.619 --> 00:30:58.559 pain and misery that he went through and 00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:00.460 that he caused these sailors and everybody 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.559 else in the ship to go through. 00:31:03.659 --> 00:31:10.099 God's will is always the best for us and 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.419 the people around us. 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:16.279 Don't make God teach you every lesson the 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.839 hard way. 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:19.379 All of us in this room, we've learned a lot 00:31:19.379 --> 00:31:20.459 of lessons the hard way. 00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:22.439 It's no fun, is it? 00:31:23.659 --> 00:31:25.399 We don't need to learn God's lessons the 00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:27.119 hard way and we don't have to. 00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:30.679 Let's learn from Jonah's mistakes. 00:31:31.199 --> 00:31:33.059 Let's learn to trust God. 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:37.000 To obey Him willingly the first time, 00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.740 every time. 00:31:40.159 --> 00:31:45.339 And if we love Him, why don't we do it? 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:51.639 If we're confident that He loves us, we 00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:54.000 have to be confident that His plan, His 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:57.359 will will lead to the best life possible 00:31:57.359 --> 00:31:58.139 for us. 00:31:58.140 --> 00:32:03.980 So let's learn to trust God and be 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:06.960 faithful to obey Him every time. 00:32:07.560 --> 00:32:08.280 Let's pray together. 00:32:08.800 --> 00:32:12.480 Father, show us now how we should 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:12.980 respond. 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:19.160 Make it clear if our heart is hard. 00:32:20.820 --> 00:32:22.680 Maybe we don't even see it. 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.900 We don't know it because it's so hard. 00:32:24.900 --> 00:32:30.360 Lord, intervene in whoever's life needs 00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:32.460 your intervention to make this known. 00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:34.880 If there are people here who are not 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:37.540 Christians, make it clear to your God that 00:32:37.540 --> 00:32:41.060 their real problem is that they don't 00:32:41.060 --> 00:32:41.660 know you. 00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:45.259 They're far from you. 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:48.000 And I pray that you'll help that person to 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:52.540 be honest and admit it, turn from their 00:32:52.540 --> 00:32:54.640 sin and trust Jesus as their Savior and 00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:55.580 Lord right now. 00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:59.580 If there's Christians in this room, Father, 00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:01.420 who are running from you, running from 00:33:01.420 --> 00:33:04.940 doing something specific that they know 00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:07.860 you want them to do, help them to 00:33:07.860 --> 00:33:09.820 understand they can run all they want to, 00:33:09.860 --> 00:33:10.840 but they can't get away. 00:33:13.040 --> 00:33:14.700 And Father, help us all to understand that 00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:16.000 if there's something that you have 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:18.740 determined that we will do, we will do it. 00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:22.299 But Lord, help us to avoid the pain, 00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.599 the discipline 00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:29.299 of getting us in a position where 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:32.359 we do want it. 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:37.579 Let's just all be still and quiet before the Lord 00:33:37.579 --> 00:33:41.059 and respond to Him as He speaks to us. 00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:44.319 And I would be happy to pray with you during this time. 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:46.839 If you want to come down to the front as musicians play. 00:33:47.419 --> 00:33:47.559 Thank you. 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:48.139 Thank you. 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:48.419 Thank you.