WEBVTT

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 If you'll turn with me now in your Bibles to the book of Jonah, if you have Bibles,

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 this is going to be on the screens as well.

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 If you have the church Bibles, it's Jonah chapter 1.

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 If your Bibles are the same as mine, that's on page 928.

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 We're going to read Jonah chapter 1.

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 We'll read the whole chapter.

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 This is going to be the text for our sermon this morning as well.

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 Let us hear God's word.

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 The word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai.

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 Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.

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 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.

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 He went down to Chapa, where he found a ship bound for that port.

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 After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

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 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm rose that the ship threatened to break up.

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 All the sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own God.

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 And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.

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 But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

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 The captain went to him and said,

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 How can you sleep?

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 Get up and call on your God.

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 Maybe he'll take notice of us so that we will not perish.

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 Then the sailors said to each other,

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 Come, let's cast lots to find out who's responsible for this calamity.

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 They cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

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 So they asked him,

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 Tell us, who's responsible for making all this trouble for us?

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 What kind of work do you do?

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 Where do you come from?

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 What's your country?

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 From what people are you?

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 He answered,

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 I'm a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.

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 This terrified them, and they asked,

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 What have you done?

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 They knew he was running away from the Lord because he'd already told them so.

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 The sea was getting rougher and rougher.

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 So they asked him,

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 What should we do to make the sea calm down for us?

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 Pick me up and throw me into the sea, he replied, and it will become calm.

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 I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.

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 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land.

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 But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.

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 Then they cried out to the Lord,

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 Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man's life.

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 Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man,

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 for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.

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 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard,

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 and the raging sea grew calm.

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 At this, the men greatly feared the Lord,

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 and they offered sacrifices to the Lord and made vows to him.

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 Now the Lord provided huge fish to swallow Jonah,

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 and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

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 May God bless his word.

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 Will you bow your heads with me as we pray?

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 Our Father in heaven,

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 we again give you thanks that we can know you as our Father.

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 We give you thanks that we can know that you hear us,

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 that you are concerned for us.

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 Once again, we marvel that you have chosen us,

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 and that you have saved us through your Son.

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 And we pray that you would continue to be at work within us by your Holy Spirit.

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 We ask that each day that you would be focusing our thoughts upon you.

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 We pray, Father, that your name would be honored.

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 We pray that your kingdom would come,

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 and that your church would grow.

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 We rejoice in the Lord Jesus' promise

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 that he would build his church,

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 and that the gates of hell would not stand against it.

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 And so we pray, Father,

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 that we would see evidence of that in our own time.

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 We pray for the concert that will soon be taking place.

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 We pray for your blessing upon that,

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 that it would be an encouraging time of fellowship.

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 We thank you for the desire to raise funds for the church plant in Galashiels.

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 We pray for that church.

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 We thank you for it.

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 We pray that you would be with Craig and his family.

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 We ask that you would bless them.

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 We pray that you would encourage them.

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 We pray for the church there.

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 We ask that you would continue to draw people to it.

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 We pray for your blessing upon Craig's preaching,

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 upon his role as minister.

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 We ask that you would raise up others as leaders in that church.

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 We pray, Father,

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 that you would enable them,

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 not only on Sundays in the preaching of your word,

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 but we pray that as they go out into the community there,

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 that you would enable them to live such lives

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 that would bear good witness to you.

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 And we pray, Father,

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 that you would be drawing people to yourself,

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 and that you would be building your church,

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 that more and more people would be professing faith in the Lord Jesus

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 and following him.

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 We pray, Father,

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 for our own congregation.

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 We pray those things for us as well.

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 We pray that you would be with us as we seek to reach out

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 to the community around us

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 and to those people that we have contact with.

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 We pray, Father,

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 that you would bless us as a congregation.

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 We pray that you would be with those

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 who are going through times of difficulty.

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 We pray for those

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 who are experiencing difficulties with their health

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 or whose loved ones are unwell.

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 We commit them to you,

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 and we pray, Father,

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 for your hand to be upon them.

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 In all that we face in this world,

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 we ask, Lord,

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 that you would be with us.

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 We pray for those facing financial difficulty.

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 We ask that you would provide for them.

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 We pray for those facing difficulties in relationships.

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 Give them wisdom and grace

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 as they seek to respond to those situations.

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 We pray that you would build us together

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 as a community,

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 that you would give us a genuine love for one another.

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 Father,

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 we think of our own nation.

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 We pray for the government in Holyrood

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 and also in Westminster.

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 We commit these men and women to you.

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 Humble them, Father.

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 May they know that there is a God

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 to whom they are accountable.

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 We pray that you would give them wisdom

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 and integrity

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 as they go about the work

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 to which you have called them.

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 We pray, Father,

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 that you would bless other nations.

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 We think of the terrible situation

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 in Israel and in Gaza at this time.

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 We pray, Father,

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 for those who have experienced

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 the loss of loved ones.

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 We pray for those who are suffering now.

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 We ask that you would bring an end

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 to the violence

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 and the enmity there.

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 We pray, Father,

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 for a quick resolution

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 to the situation.

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 As we think of these things,

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 we recognize how beyond us that is.

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 We recognize how almost impossible

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 that seems to us.

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 But we pray, Father,

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 that you would do this.

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 And we ask for your church

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 in that country.

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 We pray that you would watch over your people,

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 those who acknowledge the Lord Jesus

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 as their Savior.

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 We pray that you would enable them

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 to be a blessing to those around them.

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 We pray similarly

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 for the situation in Ukraine,

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 a situation that has gone on for so long

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 that we almost begin to take it for granted.

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 We pray, Father,

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 for those who continue to suffer there.

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 Again, we pray for an end

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 to that conflict.

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 We thank you, Father,

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 for the measure of peace

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 and prosperity

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 that we know in our own country.

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 We do not take these well off,

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 and we do,

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 and we confess that.

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 But we recognize

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 that this is a gift from you.

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 And so we pray, Father,

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 that you would enable us

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 to make the most of that opportunity

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 and to make the most

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 of the freedoms that we have here

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 to live faithfully to you.

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 We pray, Father,

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 that you would continue with us

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 as we turn now to your word.

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 Hear our prayers.

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 Forgive our sins.

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 We ask this in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 We're going to continue our worship now

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 singing,

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 Our God Will Go Before Us.

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 If you would again stand with me

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 as we sing.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 For every step is faithfulness, is the truth that lights our way.

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 Our God will go before us, the Lord of hosts is with us.

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 Oh, praise the one who leads us on, for his grace will bring us home.

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 Though evil forms against us, all heaven will defend us.

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 The gates of hell shall not prevail, for the battle is the last.

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 Our God will go before us, the Lord of hosts is with us.

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 Oh, praise the one who leads us on, for his grace will bring us home.

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 Now send us with your presence, and lead us on to heaven.

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 Where songs of sorrow stray no more, and our every breath is praise.

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 Our God will go before us, the Lord of hosts is with us.

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 Oh, praise the one who leads us on, for his grace will bring us home.

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 Oh, praise the one who leads us on, for his grace will bring us home.

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 Now our second reading is in the New Testament.

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 It's in Luke's Gospel.

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 Luke chapter 18, we'll read verses 9 to 17.

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 Let us hear God's word.

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 To some who are confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable.

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 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

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 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed,

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 God, I thank you that I am not like other people.

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 Robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

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 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.

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 But the tax collector stood at a distance.

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 He wouldn't even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said,

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 God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

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 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.

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 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled,

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 and all those who humble themselves will be exalted.

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 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them.

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 When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

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 But Jesus called the children to him and said,

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 Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,

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 for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

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 Truly, I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

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 May God bless this word.

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 If you turn to me again, if you have Bibles with you there,

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 if you turn back to the book of Jonah,

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 I'm going to be focusing on that book this morning.

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 If we were to play a word association game,

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 and I was to say to you,

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 Jonah,

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 you would say,

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 whale.

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 whale.

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 We think of Jonah as the book about a whale.

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 Jonah and the whale.

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 Jonah and the big fish.

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 And in fact,

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 the book of Jonah

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 is a book about a lot of big things.

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 If you look with me in Jonah chapter 1,

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 at verse 2,

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 you notice that it begins by mentioning

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 a great city.

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 Literally a big city.

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 You notice in verse 4,

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 then the Lord sent a great wind,

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 a big wind.

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 You notice also it mentions a violent storm.

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 That again is the word big storm.

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 In verse 10,

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 we see how people responded to what Jonah told them.

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 In verse 10,

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 this terrified them.

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 Literally they feared a big fear.

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 In verse 12,

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 it mentions a great storm,

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 a big storm again.

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 In verse 16,

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 we're back to fear.

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 The men greatly feared the Lord.

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 They feared Yahweh with a great fear.

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 In verse 17,

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 now the Lord provided a huge fish,

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 a great fish,

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 a big fish.

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 It gets translated different ways in English,

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 but in the original,

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 all of that is the same word.

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 And in fact,

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 if we were to carry on,

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 if we were to look in chapter 4,

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 for example,

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 to Jonah,

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 this seemed very wrong

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 and he became very angry.

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 He had a big anger.

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 And notice in verse 6 of that chapter,

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 then the Lord provided a leafy plant

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 and made it grow up over Jonah

00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:41.479
 to give shade for his head

00:16:41.479 --> 00:16:42.719
 and to ease his discomfort.

00:16:43.219 --> 00:16:44.919
 And Jonah was very happy.

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.439
 He had great joy.

00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:50.000
 Over and over and over again,

00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:50.859
 the book of Jonah

00:16:50.859 --> 00:16:52.839
 tells us about big things.

00:16:52.959 --> 00:16:54.579
 It's a very little book

00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:56.819
 about a lot of big things.

00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:58.179
 A big city,

00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:59.479
 a big wind,

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.620
 a big storm,

00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:01.919
 big fear,

00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:02.759
 big fish,

00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.580
 big evil,

00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:06.500
 big joy,

00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.700
 lots and lots of big things.

00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:09.940
 Now,

00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:12.160
 when an author does that,

00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:13.220
 typically,

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:14.640
 they want you to notice.

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.839
 The author of the book of Jonah

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:18.299
 is making a point

00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:19.559
 by telling us about

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.680
 all of these big things.

00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.779
 But his point

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:25.700
 isn't about a big fish

00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:27.279
 or a big fear

00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.819
 or a big storm.

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.960
 The author of the book of Jonah

00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.660
 is wanting to impress upon you

00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:34.059
 the fact that there is

00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:36.340
 a big God.

00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:38.980
 The book of Jonah

00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:40.660
 is about the majesty

00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:42.700
 and the greatness of God.

00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:44.840
 And maybe

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:47.200
 this is a particularly good time

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.500
 for us to hear about that.

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:50.799
 We should probably acknowledge

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:52.180
 all of the time

00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:53.759
 that our lives are uncertain

00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:55.480
 and that our lives are short.

00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:57.180
 But sometimes

00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:58.460
 we particularly come

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.579
 to appreciate that.

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:01.679
 just within the last

00:18:01.679 --> 00:18:03.460
 little bit more than a week,

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.119
 suddenly,

00:18:04.439 --> 00:18:05.259
 there's war

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.439
 in the Middle East.

00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:09.399
 We take it for granted

00:18:09.399 --> 00:18:09.879
 now,

00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:10.460
 I think,

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:10.939
 often,

00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:11.460
 sadly,

00:18:11.699 --> 00:18:13.000
 but there's even war

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.500
 in Europe.

00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:15.859
 That should be shocking

00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.740
 to us.

00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:18.319
 And it's very troubling

00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.379
 to us.

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.659
 And there are so many

00:18:20.659 --> 00:18:21.460
 other things.

00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.439
 In the journal Nature

00:18:24.439 --> 00:18:25.279
 that they've noted,

00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.980
 we talk often

00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:29.139
 about the climate crisis

00:18:29.139 --> 00:18:30.980
 and the environmental crisis.

00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:33.399
 And psychiatrists

00:18:33.399 --> 00:18:34.500
 sometimes talk about

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.200
 the way that that

00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.460
 preys on people's mind

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.359
 and the effect

00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.039
 that that has

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:39.440
 upon people's mental health.

00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:40.579
 And particularly

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.460
 younger people

00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.399
 who are disproportionately

00:18:42.399 --> 00:18:44.180
 affected by that.

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.240
 The article in Nature

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:46.879
 links it

00:18:46.879 --> 00:18:48.299
 to PTSD,

00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:50.180
 post-traumatic stress disorder,

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.319
 anxiety,

00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:52.440
 depression,

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:54.019
 learning disorder,

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.960
 anger amongst

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.779
 young people.

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.900
 These are terrible things.

00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:59.259
 We live in a very

00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.460
 stressful time.

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:01.720
 And perhaps

00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.700
 in the midst of that,

00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.920
 it's a very good time

00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:05.599
 for us to be reminded

00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:07.559
 that there is a God

00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.279
 who is greater

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.759
 than all of these things.

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.259
 I want us to look

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.779
 this morning

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.660
 at the book of Jonah

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:15.079
 and to see what it tells us

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.579
 about the greatness

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:17.920
 of this God.

00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.539
 And we're going to see

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.519
 two things.

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:21.900
 First of all,

00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:22.639
 the book of Jonah

00:19:22.639 --> 00:19:23.680
 emphasizes maybe

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.539
 most obviously

00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:26.120
 that God is great

00:19:26.120 --> 00:19:27.340
 in power.

00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:29.560
 Do you notice

00:19:29.560 --> 00:19:30.500
 something strange

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:31.380
 about verse 9?

00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:35.120
 They were asking

00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:35.539
 Jonah,

00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.360
 who on earth

00:19:36.360 --> 00:19:36.880
 was he

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.140
 that he had caused

00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:38.759
 all of this?

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.640
 And do you notice

00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:40.320
 his response

00:19:40.320 --> 00:19:41.000
 in verse 9?

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.660
 Jonah says,

00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.680
 I'm a Hebrew

00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.980
 and I worship

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:45.620
 the Lord,

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.000
 the God of heaven,

00:19:47.340 --> 00:19:48.400
 who made the sea

00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:49.700
 and the dry land.

00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:52.200
 maybe we'll mention

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:52.759
 this again

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.600
 as we go on,

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.120
 but if you read

00:19:54.120 --> 00:19:54.640
 through the book

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.100
 of Jonah,

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.460
 everything that

00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.420
 Jonah says

00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.680
 is technically

00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.360
 correct

00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.960
 and completely

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.720
 orthodox,

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.740
 even when he's

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.279
 doing the very

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.480
 opposite in terms

00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.140
 of his actual

00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:06.759
 actions.

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.180
 So the statement

00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:08.819
 that Jonah

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.720
 makes here,

00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:11.299
 it's a very

00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:12.420
 true statement.

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.019
 Yahweh is the

00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.720
 God of heaven,

00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.720
 he is the one

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.440
 who made the sea

00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:17.279
 and the dry land,

00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.360
 and what is Jonah

00:20:18.360 --> 00:20:19.759
 doing as he says

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.120
 that?

00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:22.880
 Well, he's running

00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:23.720
 away from the God

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.539
 who made the sea

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.680
 on the sea.

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.319
 And how well

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:28.860
 does that go

00:20:28.860 --> 00:20:29.400
 for Jonah?

00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:32.079
 It's not working

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.779
 out very well.

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:34.079
 Notice verse 4,

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:34.980
 the Lord sent

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.819
 a great wind

00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.400
 on the sea

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.240
 and such a

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.120
 violent storm

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.220
 arose that the

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:41.120
 ship threatened

00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.079
 to break up.

00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:43.400
 Do you notice

00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:43.940
 the language

00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:44.640
 that's used there

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.320
 in verse 4?

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.220
 The ship wasn't

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.980
 being swamped

00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.560
 with water,

00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:50.080
 it wasn't sort

00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:51.300
 of slowly sinking.

00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:52.680
 Apparently,

00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:53.680
 I only saw

00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.300
 this recently,

00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:55.040
 over the weekend

00:20:55.040 --> 00:20:55.360
 were there

00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.100
 several ships

00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:56.680
 in Granton

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.300
 Harbor that

00:20:57.300 --> 00:20:58.320
 filled with

00:20:58.320 --> 00:20:59.040
 water and

00:20:59.040 --> 00:20:59.520
 sank.

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:01.100
 That's not

00:21:01.100 --> 00:21:01.580
 what we're told

00:21:01.580 --> 00:21:02.180
 was happening

00:21:02.180 --> 00:21:02.820
 to this ship,

00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:03.460
 it wasn't just

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.280
 going to founder.

00:21:05.060 --> 00:21:05.860
 The storm

00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:07.020
 was so bad

00:21:07.020 --> 00:21:08.220
 that the ship

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.680
 was going to

00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.380
 be smashed

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:10.220
 to pieces.

00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.600
 Imagine being

00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.220
 at sea in a

00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.120
 ship like that

00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:14.599
 in that

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.919
 kind of storm.

00:21:18.739 --> 00:21:19.500
 It was a

00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:19.919
 storm of

00:21:19.919 --> 00:21:20.679
 such power,

00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.559
 the hardened

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.079
 sailors,

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:22.619
 they were

00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.299
 terrified.

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:25.899
 But notice

00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:27.739
 the power

00:21:27.739 --> 00:21:28.179
 of God

00:21:28.179 --> 00:21:28.779
 has revealed

00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:29.399
 in the book

00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:29.839
 of Jonah,

00:21:30.179 --> 00:21:30.939
 not just in

00:21:30.939 --> 00:21:31.500
 these great

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:33.379
 obvious things,

00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:35.179
 notice as well

00:21:35.179 --> 00:21:36.259
 that it's also

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.679
 God exerts

00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:38.299
 his power

00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:38.959
 and his control

00:21:38.959 --> 00:21:39.699
 even in the

00:21:39.699 --> 00:21:40.799
 smallest of details.

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:40.919
 miracles.

00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:42.559
 So notice

00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:44.359
 in chapter 4

00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:45.000
 for example,

00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.639
 in verse 6,

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:48.960
 then the Lord

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.700
 provided a

00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.460
 leafy plant.

00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:52.500
 That single

00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.659
 plant that

00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:54.539
 grew up

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.919
 came from

00:21:55.919 --> 00:21:56.339
 God.

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:57.980
 It was under

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.899
 his control,

00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.500
 under his

00:21:59.500 --> 00:21:59.879
 power.

00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:01.480
 The same

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:01.980
 word that's

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.480
 used there

00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.099
 that the Lord

00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:03.879
 provided this

00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.619
 in verse 8,

00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:06.079
 when the sun

00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.359
 rose,

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.539
 God provided

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.059
 a scorched

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.579
 east wind.

00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.019
 the wind

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.559
 that came

00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:11.379
 was under

00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:11.799
 God's

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.220
 control.

00:22:13.419 --> 00:22:13.980
 That's also

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.399
 the same

00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:14.799
 word that's

00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.279
 used back

00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.119
 in verse 17,

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.659
 when it says

00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:17.119
 that the Lord

00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.139
 provided a

00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.879
 huge fish.

00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.279
 All of these

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.720
 things are

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.279
 manifestations

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.699
 of the power

00:22:23.699 --> 00:22:24.559
 and the

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.679
 control of

00:22:25.679 --> 00:22:26.059
 God.

00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:28.319
 God's

00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:28.859
 control and

00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:29.359
 his power

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:29.980
 is manifest

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.619
 throughout this

00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:30.839
 book,

00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:31.980
 most obviously

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:33.059
 in the storm,

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.679
 but even in

00:22:34.679 --> 00:22:35.139
 all of the

00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:35.859
 smallest of

00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:36.299
 details.

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:38.500
 they were

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.139
 experiencing

00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:39.659
 the power

00:22:39.659 --> 00:22:40.200
 of God,

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.240
 and we

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.980
 should recognize

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.899
 that we

00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:43.539
 experienced

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.039
 the power

00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.419
 of God

00:22:44.419 --> 00:22:44.940
 as well.

00:22:46.659 --> 00:22:47.139
 Creation

00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:48.220
 itself testifies

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.980
 to the power

00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:49.579
 of its

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.059
 creator.

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:51.779
 We saw

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.399
 something of

00:22:52.399 --> 00:22:52.559
 that,

00:22:52.639 --> 00:22:52.940
 didn't we,

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.379
 over this

00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:54.220
 weekend even.

00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:56.059
 Thankfully

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.500
 here,

00:22:56.659 --> 00:22:57.319
 I live right

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:57.799
 beside the

00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.000
 river,

00:22:58.139 --> 00:22:58.539
 so I was

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.559
 very grateful.

00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.279
 Thankfully

00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:00.639
 here,

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.299
 it wasn't as

00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:01.859
 bad as in

00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:02.519
 some places,

00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:03.960
 but we've

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.659
 experienced the

00:23:04.659 --> 00:23:05.319
 power of that

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:05.720
 storm,

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.279
 the storm

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.880
 Babbitt

00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:07.480
 that came.

00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:09.640
 Before moving

00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:11.039
 to Musselboro,

00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:11.720
 my family and

00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.180
 I used to

00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:12.460
 live in

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:12.860
 Skye,

00:23:13.620 --> 00:23:13.980
 and that

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.240
 was sort

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.480
 of like

00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.259
 every October.

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.339
 We lived

00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:16.660
 in a very

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.400
 old house

00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:17.680
 there,

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:17.839
 and it

00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.059
 was a

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.220
 very

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:18.860
 substantial

00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:19.700
 stone

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.220
 house

00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:20.860
 with walls

00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:22.059
 maybe that

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:22.480
 thick.

00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.620
 It was the

00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.039
 mats that

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.500
 was originally

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:24.960
 built in

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.720
 the 1800s

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.019
 with the

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.299
 church,

00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.579
 massive stone

00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.220
 walls.

00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:28.839
 If you

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.240
 looked up

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.600
 into the

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:30.240
 crawl space,

00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:30.600
 up into

00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:31.100
 the attic,

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.259
 the timbers

00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:32.559
 and the

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:32.980
 roof were

00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.440
 massive,

00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.559
 big timbers.

00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.779
 It was a

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.379
 substantial

00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:36.980
 house,

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.819
 and you

00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.240
 could sit

00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:38.599
 in that

00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:39.119
 house in

00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:39.839
 October when

00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.339
 the storms

00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:40.720
 came,

00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:41.399
 and the

00:23:41.399 --> 00:23:42.200
 whole thing

00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.960
 would tremble

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.940
 because of

00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.579
 the force

00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.220
 of the

00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:45.579
 storms.

00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.240
 We've

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.919
 experienced

00:23:47.919 --> 00:23:49.000
 the power

00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.579
 of these

00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:49.980
 things.

00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:51.839
 We should

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.639
 also recognize

00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:53.259
 that God's

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:53.940
 power is

00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:54.639
 revealed not

00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.379
 just in the

00:23:55.379 --> 00:23:55.919
 forces of

00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:56.259
 nature.

00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:57.440
 The Bible

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.539
 also tells us

00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.240
 that Jesus'

00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.839
 resurrection is

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.480
 the greatest

00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.160
 proof of

00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.720
 his power.

00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:04.700
 There's one

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.200
 point in the

00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.700
 New Testament

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.099
 where the

00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:06.740
 Apostle Paul

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.420
 speaks about

00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.120
 God's

00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:09.099
 incomparably

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.339
 great power,

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:11.860
 which he

00:24:11.860 --> 00:24:12.460
 then goes on

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.079
 to describe

00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.740
 as God's

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.779
 mighty strength

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.799
 which he

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.460
 exerted when

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.039
 he raised

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.680
 Christ from

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.140
 the dead

00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:19.039
 and seated

00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:19.599
 him at his

00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.259
 right hand

00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:20.519
 in the

00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.259
 heavenly realms

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.519
 far above

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.480
 all rule

00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.180
 and authority,

00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.019
 power,

00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:26.019
 and dominion,

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:26.779
 and every

00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.420
 name that is

00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:27.920
 invoked,

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.599
 not only in

00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.019
 the present

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.440
 age,

00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.259
 but also

00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:31.500
 in the

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:31.860
 one to

00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:32.180
 come.

00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.620
 Two thousand

00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:35.220
 years ago,

00:24:35.320 --> 00:24:36.259
 Jesus died,

00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.039
 and three

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.740
 days later,

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.259
 he was

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.759
 raised from

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.200
 the dead.

00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.059
 And when

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.900
 that happened,

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:42.680
 it was a

00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.279
 manifestation

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.120
 of God's

00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:45.080
 incomparably

00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:46.640
 great power.

00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:48.820
 God is

00:24:48.820 --> 00:24:49.620
 overwhelming

00:24:49.620 --> 00:24:50.420
 in power.

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.519
 And what

00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.120
 effect should

00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:52.600
 that have

00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:53.100
 on us?

00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.559
 If we're

00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.080
 honest,

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.600
 very often

00:24:57.600 --> 00:24:58.100
 we behave

00:24:58.100 --> 00:24:58.740
 like Jonah.

00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:00.000
 We'll say

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.240
 a little

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.740
 bit more

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.460
 about his

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:01.900
 behavior

00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:02.359
 in a

00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:02.700
 moment.

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.200
 But what

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:04.700
 we ought

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.259
 to do,

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.259
 we see

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.500
 that

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.220
 exemplified

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:07.619
 in the

00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:07.980
 sailors.

00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:09.440
 Do you

00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:09.839
 notice in

00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.599
 verse 16?

00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.700
 At this,

00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:14.380
 and what

00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:14.940
 is this?

00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:17.740
 This is

00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.640
 in verse 15,

00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:19.140
 the sea

00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:19.839
 grew calm.

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.380
 You'd think

00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:21.779
 they'd just

00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.579
 be relieved,

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.680
 go back to

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.200
 whatever they'd

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:24.619
 been doing.

00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:25.759
 at this

00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.099
 the men

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.719
 greatly

00:25:26.719 --> 00:25:27.339
 feared the

00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:27.619
 Lord,

00:25:27.899 --> 00:25:28.500
 and they

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:28.819
 offered

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.659
 sacrifices

00:25:29.659 --> 00:25:30.139
 to the

00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:30.379
 Lord,

00:25:30.639 --> 00:25:31.119
 and made

00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:31.859
 vows to

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.099
 him.

00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:34.579
 These

00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.039
 people were

00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.539
 previously

00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.119
 pagans.

00:25:36.239 --> 00:25:36.500
 In verse

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:36.819
 5,

00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:37.199
 we tell

00:25:37.199 --> 00:25:37.559
 that they

00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.159
 were told

00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:38.459
 that they

00:25:38.459 --> 00:25:38.719
 had been

00:25:38.719 --> 00:25:39.119
 worshipping

00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:39.899
 all of

00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:40.219
 their own

00:25:40.219 --> 00:25:40.639
 gods.

00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.099
 Now,

00:25:42.939 --> 00:25:43.819
 they fear

00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.359
 Yahweh,

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:45.979
 and they

00:25:45.979 --> 00:25:46.519
 worship

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.519
 Yahweh.

00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:51.339
 when we

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:51.839
 go out

00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.619
 and we

00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:53.019
 see the

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:53.559
 majesty

00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.319
 and the

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:54.920
 grandeur

00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.379
 of the

00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:55.779
 creation

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.539
 around us,

00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.059
 when we

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:58.660
 experience

00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:59.220
 something of

00:25:59.220 --> 00:26:00.019
 the power

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.299
 of the

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.859
 forces of

00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:01.119
 nature,

00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:01.339
 which

00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:01.859
 reveal to

00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:02.700
 us just

00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.720
 a tiny

00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.440
 bit of

00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:04.839
 God's

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.220
 infinite

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.660
 power,

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:06.440
 when you

00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.099
 experience

00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:07.660
 those things,

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.019
 it should

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.440
 fill you

00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:08.720
 with a

00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.079
 sense of

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:09.460
 awe.

00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:11.660
 It should

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:11.920
 give you

00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.299
 a desire

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:12.900
 to worship

00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.420
 the God

00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:14.139
 who stands

00:26:14.139 --> 00:26:14.639
 behind

00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:15.420
 all of

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:15.720
 that.

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:17.720
 these

00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:17.940
 things

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.120
 should

00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:18.440
 lead us

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:18.640
 to

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.000
 worship

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.519
 God.

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:21.740
 Also,

00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:23.779
 I recognize

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.299
 that many

00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:24.680
 of these

00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:24.920
 things,

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.180
 if we

00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.660
 talk about

00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:26.140
 the power

00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:26.539
 of God

00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.019
 revealed

00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:28.579
 in the

00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:29.039
 storms,

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:29.799
 we think

00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:30.160
 about the

00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:30.779
 control of

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.279
 God over

00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:31.900
 all things,

00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.000
 I recognize

00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.480
 that that

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.000
 will also

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.299
 raise

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:34.880
 questions

00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:35.460
 for us.

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.240
 The book

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.579
 of Jonah

00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:37.980
 doesn't

00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.360
 seek to

00:26:38.360 --> 00:26:38.920
 answer all

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.220
 of these

00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:39.600
 questions.

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.160
 Why does

00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.680
 God allow

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.059
 a certain

00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:41.440
 thing to

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:41.759
 happen?

00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.079
 These

00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:43.819
 questions do

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.279
 come to

00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:44.539
 mind.

00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:45.799
 this book

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:45.920
 is

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.299
 emphasized

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:46.720
 in the

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:46.920
 simple

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.379
 fact that

00:26:47.379 --> 00:26:48.000
 God is

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.559
 in control

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:48.859
 and that

00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:49.339
 he is

00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:50.559
 all-powerful.

00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:51.519
 And one

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:51.759
 of the

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.139
 striking

00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:52.759
 things is

00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.059
 that the

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:53.319
 Bible

00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:54.000
 often

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.720
 emphasizes

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.200
 this

00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:56.539
 for your

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.039
 comfort.

00:26:59.119 --> 00:26:59.519
 Think of

00:26:59.519 --> 00:26:59.940
 what Jesus

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.460
 says.

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:01.819
 Are not

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.720
 two sparrows

00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.279
 sold for

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.680
 a penny?

00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:05.720
 Sparrows,

00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:06.579
 tiny,

00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.440
 insignificant

00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:07.859
 birds,

00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:08.279
 you can buy

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:08.599
 them for

00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:08.960
 nothing.

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:09.960
 Two sparrows

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.440
 sold for

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:10.839
 a penny,

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.740
 yet not

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.279
 one of

00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.000
 them will

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.619
 fall to the

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.779
 ground outside

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.239
 of your

00:27:15.239 --> 00:27:15.839
 Father's

00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.199
 care.

00:27:18.439 --> 00:27:19.319
 Jesus is

00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:19.839
 saying this

00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.079
 in a

00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.779
 context in

00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.179
 which he's

00:27:21.179 --> 00:27:22.539
 emphasizing that

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.239
 the disciples

00:27:23.239 --> 00:27:24.379
 needn't worry,

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.000
 that they

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.879
 needn't panic,

00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:27.339
 because they

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.000
 know God.

00:27:29.479 --> 00:27:30.000
 And he is a

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.319
 God of

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.799
 unlimited

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.379
 power,

00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:32.500
 whose power

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.279
 extends even

00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:33.919
 to the most

00:27:33.919 --> 00:27:35.559
 minute things.

00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.079
 And notice

00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.599
 how Jesus

00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:38.759
 tells us to

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.500
 think of God

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:39.879
 there.

00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:39.920
 care.

00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.280
 Not one

00:27:42.280 --> 00:27:42.540
 of them

00:27:42.540 --> 00:27:43.060
 falls to

00:27:43.060 --> 00:27:43.400
 the ground

00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.400
 outside of

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.360
 your Father's

00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:46.020
 care.

00:27:47.820 --> 00:27:48.400
 And you

00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:48.860
 remember how

00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.540
 Jesus taught

00:27:49.540 --> 00:27:49.840
 us to

00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:50.080
 pray.

00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.420
 He taught

00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:52.720
 us to

00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:52.880
 say,

00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:53.660
 our Father

00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:55.340
 in heaven.

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.640
 People have

00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.300
 commented on

00:27:58.300 --> 00:27:58.820
 those two

00:27:58.820 --> 00:27:59.120
 words,

00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.060
 Father and

00:28:00.060 --> 00:28:00.420
 heaven.

00:28:01.800 --> 00:28:02.500
 The fact

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:02.860
 that God

00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:03.560
 is Father

00:28:03.560 --> 00:28:04.380
 in the

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:04.780
 sense that

00:28:04.780 --> 00:28:05.040
 he is

00:28:05.040 --> 00:28:06.620
 willing to

00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:07.080
 help you,

00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:07.380
 he is

00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:08.000
 willing to

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.660
 receive you.

00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:10.400
 There are

00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:10.820
 many things

00:28:10.820 --> 00:28:11.140
 that I am

00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:11.580
 willing to

00:28:11.580 --> 00:28:11.840
 do.

00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:12.640
 There are

00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.020
 many things

00:28:13.020 --> 00:28:13.200
 that are

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.680
 outside of

00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:14.100
 my control

00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:14.380
 that I

00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:14.880
 can't do

00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.320
 even if I

00:28:15.320 --> 00:28:15.880
 wanted to.

00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.480
 But your

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.300
 Father is

00:28:18.300 --> 00:28:18.800
 in heaven.

00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:20.960
 He is not

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.560
 limited by

00:28:21.560 --> 00:28:22.080
 anything.

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:23.780
 He is a

00:28:23.780 --> 00:28:24.060
 God of

00:28:24.060 --> 00:28:24.600
 unlimited

00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:25.220
 power.

00:28:26.780 --> 00:28:27.480
 So this

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.020
 gives you

00:28:28.020 --> 00:28:28.760
 confidence.

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.020
 It doesn't

00:28:30.020 --> 00:28:30.680
 answer all of

00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.240
 the questions

00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.160
 that you may

00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:32.500
 have.

00:28:32.760 --> 00:28:33.140
 It doesn't

00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:33.680
 necessarily

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.400
 enable you to

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:35.220
 understand why

00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:36.120
 something has

00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:36.520
 happened.

00:28:36.800 --> 00:28:37.320
 But in the

00:28:37.320 --> 00:28:38.040
 midst of all of

00:28:38.040 --> 00:28:38.700
 these things,

00:28:38.800 --> 00:28:39.240
 things which

00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.780
 prey upon

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.200
 our mental

00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:40.599
 health,

00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.559
 things which

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.819
 often affect

00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.420
 our physical

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:45.119
 health, the

00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:45.759
 most difficult

00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.700
 things that you

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.180
 might go

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:48.299
 through, in

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:48.819
 the midst of

00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.579
 all of that,

00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.240
 you can know

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.720
 that there is a

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.740
 God behind all

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.259
 of that.

00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:53.740
 And through

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:55.180
 Jesus, you can

00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:55.680
 know him as

00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:56.839
 your Father in

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.139
 heaven.

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:58.920
 This is

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.519
 astonishing.

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.440
 It should lead

00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:01.299
 you not only to

00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:02.259
 worship him, but

00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:03.059
 also to be able to

00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:04.119
 take comfort in

00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:05.839
 him, recognizing

00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.660
 that he loves you

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.379
 and that he cares

00:29:07.379 --> 00:29:08.259
 for you.

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:08.400
 God.

00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:09.859
 So in the

00:29:09.859 --> 00:29:10.559
 first place, the

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.099
 book of Jonah

00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:12.000
 reveals to you a

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.839
 God who is

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:13.839
 unlimited in

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:15.140
 power, who is

00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:16.500
 overwhelming in

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:16.879
 power.

00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:18.579
 The second

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:20.339
 thing that the

00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:21.000
 book of Jonah

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.400
 emphasizes, which

00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:23.220
 we might not at

00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:24.000
 first appreciate,

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:25.259
 is that this is a

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.559
 God of mercy.

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.480
 The book of Jonah

00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.480
 reveals that God is

00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:30.799
 great in mercy.

00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:33.359
 I find Jonah a

00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:34.259
 fascinating book

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:36.079
 because of the way

00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:36.619
 it was written.

00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:37.639
 And at the

00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.119
 very beginning,

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:38.579
 one of the

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.519
 fascinating things

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.240
 is that at the

00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:40.839
 beginning of the

00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.899
 account, there

00:29:41.899 --> 00:29:43.720
 are two, well, we

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.019
 could say

00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:45.000
 ambiguities, two

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.599
 things that we're

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.559
 not certain about.

00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:47.819
 We might make

00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:48.659
 assumptions about

00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:49.399
 them, but there

00:29:49.399 --> 00:29:50.059
 are two things that

00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.659
 aren't actually

00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:51.740
 clear at the

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.299
 beginning of the

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:52.639
 book.

00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:54.000
 And both of them

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.500
 relate to

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.019
 motivation.

00:29:56.439 --> 00:29:57.419
 The first of them

00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:58.319
 relates to God's

00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:58.839
 motivation.

00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.720
 Why is God

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:02.319
 sending Jonah to

00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:02.779
 Nineveh?

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:04.079
 And then the

00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:04.940
 second one relates

00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.759
 to Jonah's

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.319
 motivation.

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.920
 Why does Jonah

00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:08.879
 run away from

00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.319
 Nineveh?

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.639
 Some of you may

00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:11.940
 know, but Tarshish

00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:13.259
 is believed to be

00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.539
 about where

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:15.619
 Gibraltar is.

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:17.039
 So if Jonah was

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.680
 supposed to go

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.899
 east to Nineveh,

00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:20.000
 and then he goes

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.960
 west to

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:22.200
 Gibraltar, he's

00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:24.019
 going as far as

00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:25.019
 he possibly can in

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.680
 the opposite

00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.240
 direction.

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.119
 So we might

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:29.039
 wonder, why is

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.619
 Jonah doing

00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:30.079
 that?

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.700
 With regard to

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.299
 that first

00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.220
 question, what's

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:34.160
 motivating God,

00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:35.039
 there's a degree

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.700
 of ambiguity.

00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.340
 If you look at

00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:40.019
 verse 2, go to

00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.920
 the great city of

00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.539
 Nineveh and

00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.900
 preach against it

00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:44.100
 because its

00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:44.980
 wickedness has

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:45.720
 come up before

00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.019
 me.

00:30:47.840 --> 00:30:48.720
 Now that's a

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.400
 possible way of

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.200
 translating it,

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.080
 and if it's

00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:51.860
 translated that

00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.759
 way, what's

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.779
 motivating God to

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.900
 send Jonah to

00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:55.380
 Nineveh?

00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:57.580
 Well, his

00:30:57.580 --> 00:30:58.059
 anger.

00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.700
 God's angry at

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.480
 the Ninevites

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.480
 because of what

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:02.960
 they've done,

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.400
 isn't he?

00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.519
 It's his wrath

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.640
 that's motivating

00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:05.940
 him.

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.799
 Their wickedness

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.360
 has come up

00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:09.779
 before me.

00:31:09.840 --> 00:31:10.400
 Go and preach

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.440
 against them.

00:31:12.580 --> 00:31:13.360
 What if I were

00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:14.000
 to tell you that

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.740
 verse 2 could

00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.620
 just as equally

00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:16.559
 be translated,

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.120
 go and preach

00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:19.200
 to them,

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:20.920
 because their

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:22.080
 calamity has

00:31:22.080 --> 00:31:22.819
 come up before

00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:23.960
 me, because the

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:25.100
 danger that they

00:31:25.100 --> 00:31:25.840
 are in has come

00:31:25.840 --> 00:31:26.559
 up before me.

00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:28.200
 The word that's

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.599
 translated here as

00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:32.000
 wickedness, that's

00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.839
 the same as the

00:31:32.839 --> 00:31:33.519
 word that's used

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.599
 in verse 7.

00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:36.519
 Come, let us

00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.379
 cast lots to

00:31:37.379 --> 00:31:38.419
 find out who is

00:31:38.419 --> 00:31:39.299
 responsible for

00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.399
 this calamity.

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.299
 It wasn't

00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:43.159
 wickedness that

00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:43.740
 they were talking

00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:43.899
 about.

00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.460
 It was the

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.139
 terrible danger

00:31:45.139 --> 00:31:45.700
 that they were

00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.839
 afraid of that

00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:47.379
 they're talking

00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:47.639
 about.

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:49.019
 So verse 2

00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:50.220
 could be

00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:51.279
 translated in

00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:52.139
 either of those

00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:52.379
 ways.

00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:52.960
 There's a degree

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:54.519
 of ambiguity there.

00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:57.119
 What is it

00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:58.079
 that's motivating

00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.319
 God?

00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:58.920
 What's the

00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.359
 answer?

00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.180
 Well, the

00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:02.019
 shocking thing

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:03.799
 as we get to

00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:04.319
 the end of the

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:06.519
 book is that

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.700
 the thing that's

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.759
 motivating God

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.480
 is his

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:10.160
 compassion.

00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:12.940
 The Lord

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.359
 said,

00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:15.139
 you've been

00:32:15.139 --> 00:32:15.819
 concerned about

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.779
 this plant,

00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:17.799
 though you

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.639
 didn't tend it

00:32:18.639 --> 00:32:19.200
 or make it

00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:19.500
 grow.

00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:20.279
 It sprang up

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:20.980
 overnight and

00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:21.799
 died overnight.

00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:23.420
 And should I

00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:23.980
 not have

00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.500
 concern for

00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.220
 the great

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:25.920
 city of

00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:26.440
 Nineveh,

00:32:26.839 --> 00:32:27.559
 in which

00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:28.059
 there are

00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:28.440
 more than

00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.960
 120,000

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:30.980
 people who

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:31.559
 cannot tell

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.019
 their right

00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.759
 hand from

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.420
 their left?

00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.220
 We would

00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:36.839
 be wrong

00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:37.759
 if we assumed

00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.019
 at the

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:38.880
 beginning that

00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:39.319
 God was

00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:40.079
 motivated by

00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:40.819
 his wrath

00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.180
 and his

00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:41.619
 anger.

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.059
 I suppose

00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:43.599
 wrath and

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.319
 anger is a

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:44.480
 thing.

00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.039
 It is part

00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:45.440
 of God's

00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:46.079
 response to

00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:46.640
 human sin.

00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:47.380
 But that's

00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:47.700
 not the

00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:48.059
 thing that's

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.660
 being emphasized

00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.180
 here.

00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:49.880
 And that's

00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.220
 not the

00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:50.680
 reason that

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.059
 God is

00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:51.839
 sending Jonah

00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.440
 to Nineveh.

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:53.480
 God tells

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.099
 us at the

00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:54.919
 end that

00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.279
 the thing

00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.519
 that's

00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.019
 motivating

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.519
 him to

00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.119
 send Jonah

00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:57.679
 to Nineveh

00:32:57.679 --> 00:32:58.319
 is his

00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:59.179
 great concern

00:32:59.179 --> 00:32:59.599
 for the

00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.019
 people of

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.539
 that city

00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.619
 in spite of

00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:02.419
 their wickedness.

00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:04.419
 And this is

00:33:04.419 --> 00:33:04.959
 tremendous,

00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:05.619
 isn't it?

00:33:06.919 --> 00:33:07.699
 If you're here

00:33:07.699 --> 00:33:08.459
 this morning and

00:33:08.459 --> 00:33:09.139
 you're not yet a

00:33:09.139 --> 00:33:09.500
 Christian,

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.299
 this is the

00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:10.799
 thing that makes

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.399
 all the

00:33:11.399 --> 00:33:11.799
 difference,

00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:12.240
 isn't it?

00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:15.339
 God is

00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:15.779
 great in

00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.220
 power.

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.339
 That wouldn't

00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:17.740
 really be

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.259
 encouraging,

00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:18.740
 would it?

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.740
 Unless we

00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.039
 knew that

00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:21.440
 that God

00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:21.980
 was for

00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.380
 us.

00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:23.880
 If we

00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:24.720
 were alienated

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.180
 from that

00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:25.420
 God,

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:25.980
 the fact that

00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:26.259
 he is a

00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:26.519
 God of

00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:27.019
 overwhelming

00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.519
 power would

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:27.819
 be a

00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.279
 terrifying

00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:28.819
 thing.

00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:31.180
 But the

00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:31.660
 point of

00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:31.940
 the book

00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.319
 of Jonah,

00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:32.839
 one of the

00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:33.099
 points,

00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:33.880
 is that you

00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:34.359
 can know

00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:35.039
 that this

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.819
 God is

00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.700
 for you.

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.519
 He's

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.579
 motivated by

00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.419
 his concern

00:33:40.419 --> 00:33:41.019
 for you.

00:33:42.419 --> 00:33:42.779
 In the

00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.299
 New Testament

00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:43.879
 we read,

00:33:43.939 --> 00:33:44.220
 we could

00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:44.919
 pick many

00:33:44.919 --> 00:33:45.460
 examples,

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:47.279
 in 1 John,

00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:48.099
 in one of

00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.699
 John's letters,

00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:49.639
 he said,

00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:50.659
 this is how

00:33:50.659 --> 00:33:51.139
 we know

00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:51.759
 what love

00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:52.179
 is.

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.359
 Jesus Christ

00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:54.919
 laid down

00:33:54.919 --> 00:33:55.679
 his life

00:33:55.679 --> 00:33:56.779
 for us.

00:33:58.439 --> 00:33:58.740
 And then

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.259
 later on,

00:33:59.299 --> 00:33:59.740
 John goes

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.240
 on to say,

00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.460
 this is love.

00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:03.319
 Not that we

00:34:03.319 --> 00:34:04.159
 loved God,

00:34:05.159 --> 00:34:06.000
 but that he

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.019
 loved us

00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:07.939
 and sent

00:34:07.939 --> 00:34:08.840
 his sins

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:10.720
 son as

00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:11.260
 an atoning

00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:11.920
 sacrifice

00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.820
 for our

00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:13.380
 sins.

00:34:14.620 --> 00:34:15.340
 God didn't

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:15.820
 just send

00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:16.300
 Jonah,

00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:18.059
 God sent

00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:18.680
 his son,

00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:20.360
 God sent

00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:20.820
 Jesus,

00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:21.260
 and he

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:21.840
 sent him

00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.780
 to save

00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:23.079
 you.

00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.039
 That's

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.420
 really an

00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:26.940
 astonishing

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.620
 thought.

00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:28.260
 If you

00:34:28.260 --> 00:34:28.620
 have a

00:34:28.620 --> 00:34:28.840
 sense,

00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:29.320
 all of us

00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:29.600
 have a

00:34:29.600 --> 00:34:29.960
 conscience,

00:34:30.700 --> 00:34:31.240
 we know

00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:31.620
 that we've

00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:32.120
 done things

00:34:32.120 --> 00:34:32.380
 that are

00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:32.680
 wrong.

00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:34.320
 If you

00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:34.780
 recognize

00:34:34.780 --> 00:34:35.360
 that and

00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:35.640
 you have

00:34:35.640 --> 00:34:35.860
 some

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.400
 conception

00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:36.980
 of a

00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:37.400
 great and

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.160
 all-powerful

00:34:38.160 --> 00:34:38.400
 God,

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:38.880
 that would

00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.039
 be

00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:39.700
 terrifying.

00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:41.480
 But he

00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:41.880
 has given

00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:42.539
 proof of

00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:42.920
 the fact

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.160
 that he

00:34:43.160 --> 00:34:43.460
 is a

00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:43.900
 merciful

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.320
 and a

00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:44.559
 loving

00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:44.940
 God

00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:45.240
 in that

00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:45.619
 he has

00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:45.840
 sent

00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.059
 his

00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:46.340
 son.

00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:47.099
 And

00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:47.519
 Jesus

00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.119
 died

00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:48.539
 for the

00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:48.760
 sins

00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:49.059
 of his

00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:49.420
 people.

00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:50.780
 So if

00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:51.099
 you're not

00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:51.599
 a Christian

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.059
 here this

00:34:52.059 --> 00:34:52.300
 morning,

00:34:52.720 --> 00:34:53.280
 you can

00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:53.519
 be.

00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.180
 You can

00:34:55.180 --> 00:34:55.720
 know this

00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:56.059
 God.

00:34:57.099 --> 00:34:57.460
 You can

00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:57.900
 turn to

00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.460
 Jesus and

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:58.960
 trust in

00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.900
 him and

00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.300
 know that

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:00.599
 as you

00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.240
 do so,

00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:03.240
 you experience

00:35:03.240 --> 00:35:03.920
 the mercy

00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.519
 of God,

00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:05.360
 the compassion

00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:05.960
 of God.

00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:07.579
 Jesus'

00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:08.559
 resurrection is

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.139
 the proof

00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:09.679
 of that.

00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.860
 If you're

00:35:12.860 --> 00:35:13.340
 here this

00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:14.119
 morning and

00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:14.800
 you are a

00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:15.179
 Christian,

00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:17.119
 this is

00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:17.400
 also

00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:18.000
 tremendously

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.619
 encouraging.

00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:19.940
 Because how

00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:20.519
 often are we

00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.119
 like Jonah?

00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:23.360
 There's the

00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.179
 Jonah of the

00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:24.920
 first half of

00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:25.360
 the book,

00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:26.460
 who is sort

00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:26.980
 of openly,

00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:27.679
 aggressively

00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:28.720
 hostile toward

00:35:28.720 --> 00:35:29.179
 God and

00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:29.519
 doing the

00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:30.139
 opposite of

00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:30.400
 what he

00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:31.320
 knows God

00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:31.780
 wants him

00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:32.179
 to do.

00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:33.940
 There's the

00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:34.739
 Jonah of

00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:35.279
 the second

00:35:35.279 --> 00:35:35.839
 half of

00:35:35.839 --> 00:35:36.279
 the book,

00:35:36.399 --> 00:35:37.000
 who is

00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:37.659
 maybe we

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:37.960
 could say

00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:38.500
 passively

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:38.940
 aggressive.

00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:40.980
 He sort

00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:41.399
 of does

00:35:41.399 --> 00:35:41.819
 what he's

00:35:41.819 --> 00:35:42.339
 supposed to

00:35:42.339 --> 00:35:42.619
 do,

00:35:42.739 --> 00:35:43.419
 doesn't he?

00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:44.539
 But not

00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:45.000
 really.

00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:46.319
 Do you

00:35:46.319 --> 00:35:47.199
 notice his

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:47.879
 message to

00:35:47.879 --> 00:35:48.579
 the Ninevites?

00:35:51.379 --> 00:35:52.099
 Forty more

00:35:52.099 --> 00:35:52.719
 days and

00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:53.219
 Nineveh will

00:35:53.219 --> 00:35:54.039
 be overthrown.

00:35:55.719 --> 00:35:56.539
 It might not

00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:57.359
 be described as

00:35:57.359 --> 00:35:57.699
 the most

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.859
 winsome gospel

00:35:58.859 --> 00:35:59.619
 message ever.

00:36:00.919 --> 00:36:01.379
 Jonah did

00:36:01.379 --> 00:36:01.719
 the bare

00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:02.000
 minimum.

00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:02.380
 He did

00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:02.619
 what he

00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:03.000
 had to

00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.260
 do.

00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:04.780
 But do

00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:05.039
 you notice,

00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:05.420
 lest you

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:06.019
 think I'm

00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:06.559
 being too

00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.679
 hard on

00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:08.219
 Jonah,

00:36:09.739 --> 00:36:10.119
 at the

00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:10.440
 end of

00:36:10.440 --> 00:36:10.719
 this,

00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.599
 in spite

00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:13.340
 of the

00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:13.840
 terseness

00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:14.239
 of his

00:36:14.239 --> 00:36:14.719
 message,

00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:15.739
 in verse

00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:16.199
 10 of

00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:16.800
 chapter 3,

00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:17.219
 when God

00:36:17.219 --> 00:36:18.179
 saw what

00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:18.639
 they did

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:18.920
 and how

00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:19.460
 they turned

00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:19.840
 from their

00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.460
 evil ways,

00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:21.400
 he relented

00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:21.900
 and did

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.539
 not bring

00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:22.860
 on them

00:36:22.860 --> 00:36:23.539
 the destruction

00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:23.880
 that he

00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:24.380
 had threatened.

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.239
 The Ninevites,

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:26.940
 this is

00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:27.519
 tremendous

00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:28.019
 news.

00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:29.420
 At this

00:36:29.420 --> 00:36:29.659
 point,

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:30.119
 Jonah's

00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:30.679
 delighted,

00:36:30.900 --> 00:36:31.219
 yes?

00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:33.079
 or not.

00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.000
 But to

00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:35.319
 Jonah,

00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:36.099
 this seemed

00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:37.039
 very wrong

00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:37.739
 and he

00:36:37.739 --> 00:36:38.659
 became angry.

00:36:39.459 --> 00:36:39.859
 He prayed

00:36:39.859 --> 00:36:40.199
 to the

00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:40.459
 Lord,

00:36:41.279 --> 00:36:41.779
 isn't this

00:36:41.779 --> 00:36:42.139
 what I

00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:42.399
 said,

00:36:42.519 --> 00:36:42.639
 Lord,

00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:42.959
 when I

00:36:42.959 --> 00:36:43.339
 was still

00:36:43.339 --> 00:36:43.759
 at home?

00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.079
 That is

00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:45.500
 why I

00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:45.980
 tried to

00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:46.419
 forestall,

00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:46.839
 this is

00:36:46.839 --> 00:36:47.139
 what I

00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:47.599
 tried to

00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:48.079
 forestall

00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:49.039
 by fleeing

00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:50.179
 to Tarshish.

00:36:50.179 --> 00:36:51.179
 God.

00:36:51.179 --> 00:36:51.199
 I

00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:51.639
 knew that

00:36:51.639 --> 00:36:51.759
 you

00:36:51.759 --> 00:36:52.039
 were a

00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:52.379
 gracious

00:36:52.379 --> 00:36:52.659
 and

00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:53.179
 compassionate

00:36:53.179 --> 00:36:53.559
 God,

00:36:53.859 --> 00:36:54.419
 slow to

00:36:54.419 --> 00:36:54.859
 anger and

00:36:54.859 --> 00:36:55.259
 abounding

00:36:55.259 --> 00:36:55.779
 in love,

00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:56.460
 a God

00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:57.059
 who relents

00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:57.619
 from sending

00:36:57.619 --> 00:36:58.279
 calamity.

00:36:59.799 --> 00:37:00.199
 Again,

00:37:00.299 --> 00:37:00.619
 that's

00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:00.980
 true.

00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:02.399
 And

00:37:02.399 --> 00:37:02.699
 Jonah's

00:37:02.699 --> 00:37:03.440
 angry about

00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:03.699
 it.

00:37:06.599 --> 00:37:07.259
 This is,

00:37:07.379 --> 00:37:07.960
 incidentally,

00:37:08.019 --> 00:37:08.399
 I mentioned,

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.179
 we make two

00:37:09.179 --> 00:37:09.559
 assumptions.

00:37:09.739 --> 00:37:10.139
 We assume

00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:10.359
 at the

00:37:10.359 --> 00:37:10.819
 beginning of

00:37:10.819 --> 00:37:11.199
 the story

00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:11.659
 that Jonah

00:37:11.659 --> 00:37:12.279
 ran away

00:37:12.279 --> 00:37:12.599
 from the

00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:12.980
 Ninevites

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.399
 because he

00:37:13.399 --> 00:37:13.839
 was scared

00:37:13.839 --> 00:37:14.199
 of them.

00:37:15.399 --> 00:37:15.859
 We could

00:37:15.859 --> 00:37:16.079
 read,

00:37:16.139 --> 00:37:16.339
 if you

00:37:16.339 --> 00:37:16.599
 wanted,

00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:16.980
 you could

00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:17.419
 read in

00:37:17.419 --> 00:37:17.799
 Nahum,

00:37:17.839 --> 00:37:18.239
 in chapter

00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:18.519
 three,

00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:19.039
 there's a

00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:19.479
 description

00:37:19.479 --> 00:37:20.219
 of what

00:37:20.219 --> 00:37:20.739
 Nineveh was

00:37:20.739 --> 00:37:20.959
 like.

00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:21.539
 It was a

00:37:21.539 --> 00:37:21.959
 terrifying

00:37:21.959 --> 00:37:22.519
 place.

00:37:22.739 --> 00:37:23.000
 I would

00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.359
 run away

00:37:23.359 --> 00:37:23.939
 from Nineveh.

00:37:24.439 --> 00:37:25.299
 I would

00:37:25.299 --> 00:37:26.139
 be terrified.

00:37:27.459 --> 00:37:27.699
 Jonah

00:37:27.699 --> 00:37:28.179
 didn't run

00:37:28.179 --> 00:37:28.679
 away because

00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:29.000
 he was

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.419
 scared.

00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:30.559
 Jonah ran

00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:31.139
 away because

00:37:31.139 --> 00:37:31.719
 he hated

00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:31.959
 them.

00:37:32.959 --> 00:37:33.179
 And he

00:37:33.179 --> 00:37:33.659
 was afraid

00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:33.979
 that if

00:37:33.979 --> 00:37:34.199
 he went,

00:37:34.219 --> 00:37:34.599
 he tells

00:37:34.599 --> 00:37:34.959
 us this,

00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:35.219
 he was

00:37:35.219 --> 00:37:35.659
 afraid that

00:37:35.659 --> 00:37:35.899
 if he

00:37:35.899 --> 00:37:36.199
 went,

00:37:36.479 --> 00:37:36.819
 that God

00:37:36.819 --> 00:37:37.139
 would have

00:37:37.139 --> 00:37:37.839
 mercy upon

00:37:37.839 --> 00:37:38.059
 them.

00:37:38.479 --> 00:37:38.899
 And his

00:37:38.899 --> 00:37:39.419
 hatred of

00:37:39.419 --> 00:37:39.739
 them was

00:37:39.739 --> 00:37:40.199
 such,

00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:42.679
 justifiably,

00:37:42.779 --> 00:37:43.039
 you might

00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:43.299
 argue,

00:37:43.359 --> 00:37:43.639
 they had

00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:44.339
 done horrible

00:37:44.339 --> 00:37:44.899
 things.

00:37:45.399 --> 00:37:46.299
 But Jonah's

00:37:46.299 --> 00:37:48.019
 hatred of

00:37:48.019 --> 00:37:48.320
 them was

00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:48.840
 such that

00:37:48.840 --> 00:37:49.320
 he did

00:37:49.320 --> 00:37:49.860
 not want

00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:50.159
 them to

00:37:50.159 --> 00:37:50.679
 experience

00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:51.099
 God's

00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:51.480
 mercy.

00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:54.099
 Maybe we're

00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:55.179
 not quite as

00:37:55.179 --> 00:37:56.320
 extreme as

00:37:56.320 --> 00:37:56.719
 Jonah,

00:37:58.039 --> 00:37:58.880
 but how

00:37:58.880 --> 00:37:59.599
 often are we a

00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:00.219
 little bit like

00:38:00.219 --> 00:38:00.440
 him?

00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:02.420
 We know all

00:38:02.420 --> 00:38:02.820
 of the right

00:38:02.820 --> 00:38:03.340
 words to

00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:03.679
 say,

00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:06.539
 we're correct

00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:07.599
 in all of

00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.000
 that,

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:10.059
 we know what

00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:10.500
 we ought to

00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:10.800
 do, and

00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:11.360
 sometimes we

00:38:11.360 --> 00:38:11.940
 even sort of

00:38:11.940 --> 00:38:12.460
 do it,

00:38:12.460 --> 00:38:13.539
 good, but

00:38:13.539 --> 00:38:13.940
 our hearts

00:38:13.940 --> 00:38:14.440
 not really

00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:14.960
 in it.

00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:16.039
 And

00:38:16.039 --> 00:38:16.800
 particularly,

00:38:17.460 --> 00:38:18.699
 the challenge

00:38:18.699 --> 00:38:19.280
 here is to

00:38:19.280 --> 00:38:19.800
 demonstrate

00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:20.699
 God's mercy,

00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:21.920
 but I

00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:22.579
 mention this

00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:22.980
 at this

00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.420
 point,

00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.340
 because this

00:38:25.340 --> 00:38:26.000
 is also

00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:26.860
 encouraging for

00:38:26.860 --> 00:38:27.139
 you.

00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:28.539
 If you're

00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:28.920
 here this

00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:29.579
 morning and

00:38:29.579 --> 00:38:29.920
 you're not

00:38:29.920 --> 00:38:30.400
 a Christian,

00:38:30.840 --> 00:38:31.820
 the overwhelming

00:38:31.820 --> 00:38:32.780
 greatness of

00:38:32.780 --> 00:38:33.699
 God's mercy

00:38:33.699 --> 00:38:34.860
 is tremendously

00:38:34.860 --> 00:38:35.639
 good news.

00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:37.179
 And if you

00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:37.880
 are a

00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:38.260
 Christian,

00:38:38.720 --> 00:38:39.500
 it is also

00:38:39.500 --> 00:38:40.260
 tremendously

00:38:40.260 --> 00:38:41.079
 good news,

00:38:41.079 --> 00:38:42.159
 because so

00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:43.039
 often we're

00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:43.659
 like Jonah.

00:38:45.099 --> 00:38:45.679
 So in the

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:46.179
 first place,

00:38:46.279 --> 00:38:47.319
 this is an

00:38:47.319 --> 00:38:48.259
 encouragement to

00:38:48.259 --> 00:38:48.719
 us, this is

00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:49.880
 the best news.

00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:52.019
 There is also

00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:52.840
 a degree of

00:38:52.840 --> 00:38:53.759
 challenge for

00:38:53.759 --> 00:38:54.239
 us here.

00:38:55.219 --> 00:38:55.440
 Do you

00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:55.840
 notice how

00:38:55.840 --> 00:38:56.239
 the book of

00:38:56.239 --> 00:38:57.039
 Jonah ends?

00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:00.840
 It ends

00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:01.079
 with a

00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:01.500
 question,

00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:02.119
 doesn't it?

00:39:03.759 --> 00:39:04.539
 Should I

00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.119
 not have

00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:05.819
 concern for

00:39:05.819 --> 00:39:06.259
 the great

00:39:06.259 --> 00:39:06.840
 city of

00:39:06.840 --> 00:39:07.299
 Nineveh?

00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.139
 God

00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:10.460
 asked Jonah

00:39:10.460 --> 00:39:11.179
 a question

00:39:11.179 --> 00:39:13.340
 and Jonah

00:39:13.340 --> 00:39:13.740
 doesn't

00:39:13.740 --> 00:39:14.240
 answer.

00:39:15.619 --> 00:39:16.199
 At least

00:39:16.199 --> 00:39:16.500
 we're not

00:39:16.500 --> 00:39:16.960
 told how

00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.280
 Jonah

00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:17.720
 answered.

00:39:19.039 --> 00:39:19.699
 That's not

00:39:19.699 --> 00:39:20.300
 by accident,

00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:20.760
 is it?

00:39:21.740 --> 00:39:22.539
 The author

00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:22.940
 of the book

00:39:22.940 --> 00:39:23.960
 wants us

00:39:23.960 --> 00:39:24.480
 to ask

00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:25.240
 that question.

00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:26.900
 Should

00:39:26.900 --> 00:39:27.659
 God

00:39:27.659 --> 00:39:28.440
 not have

00:39:28.440 --> 00:39:29.079
 compassion

00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:30.139
 for those

00:39:30.139 --> 00:39:30.360
 who are

00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:31.240
 still alienated

00:39:31.240 --> 00:39:31.760
 from him?

00:39:32.760 --> 00:39:33.280
 And part

00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:33.539
 of the

00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:34.380
 point of

00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:34.800
 the book

00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:35.260
 of Jonah

00:39:35.260 --> 00:39:36.179
 is not

00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:37.119
 merely for

00:39:37.119 --> 00:39:37.440
 us

00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:38.380
 ourselves

00:39:38.380 --> 00:39:39.900
 to know

00:39:39.900 --> 00:39:40.679
 the compassion,

00:39:40.900 --> 00:39:41.300
 the mercy,

00:39:41.400 --> 00:39:41.579
 and the

00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:41.940
 forgiveness

00:39:41.940 --> 00:39:42.519
 of God

00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.320
 through Jesus.

00:39:44.119 --> 00:39:44.639
 Part of

00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:44.980
 the point

00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:45.220
 of the

00:39:45.220 --> 00:39:45.559
 book of

00:39:45.559 --> 00:39:45.800
 Jonah

00:39:45.800 --> 00:39:46.539
 is for

00:39:46.539 --> 00:39:46.980
 us to

00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:47.480
 demonstrate

00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:47.900
 that

00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:48.380
 attitude

00:39:48.380 --> 00:39:48.860
 toward

00:39:48.860 --> 00:39:49.119
 other

00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:49.500
 people.

00:39:51.400 --> 00:39:51.880
 What did

00:39:51.880 --> 00:39:52.440
 Jonah do?

00:39:53.720 --> 00:39:53.960
 Did

00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:54.539
 Jonah ever

00:39:54.539 --> 00:39:54.880
 repent?

00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:55.480
 The Ninevites

00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:55.940
 repented?

00:39:56.079 --> 00:39:56.480
 Did Jonah

00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:57.099
 ever repent?

00:39:58.380 --> 00:39:59.440
 We don't

00:39:59.440 --> 00:39:59.700
 know.

00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:00.519
 It's left

00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:00.800
 us an

00:40:00.800 --> 00:40:01.519
 open question

00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:03.079
 because we

00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:03.320
 are to

00:40:03.320 --> 00:40:03.880
 ask that

00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:04.340
 question.

00:40:05.880 --> 00:40:06.300
 We

00:40:06.300 --> 00:40:07.440
 probably

00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:07.759
 don't

00:40:07.759 --> 00:40:08.079
 normally

00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:08.380
 take

00:40:08.380 --> 00:40:08.699
 things

00:40:08.699 --> 00:40:08.980
 to the

00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:09.320
 extreme

00:40:09.320 --> 00:40:09.559
 that

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:09.840
 Jonah

00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:10.340
 did.

00:40:11.719 --> 00:40:12.380
 But how

00:40:12.380 --> 00:40:12.759
 often

00:40:12.759 --> 00:40:13.199
 are we

00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:13.579
 maybe

00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:14.739
 just

00:40:14.739 --> 00:40:15.500
 unconcerned

00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:15.699
 about

00:40:15.699 --> 00:40:15.960
 other

00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:16.340
 people?

00:40:17.480 --> 00:40:18.199
 We know

00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:18.559
 that they're

00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:18.820
 not

00:40:18.820 --> 00:40:19.219
 Christians

00:40:19.219 --> 00:40:19.759
 in theory,

00:40:19.880 --> 00:40:20.139
 we know

00:40:20.139 --> 00:40:20.840
 the implications

00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:21.320
 of that,

00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:21.800
 but we

00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:22.320
 really don't

00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:22.800
 worry about

00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:23.119
 it very

00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:23.599
 much.

00:40:25.759 --> 00:40:26.099
 But then

00:40:26.099 --> 00:40:26.460
 this book

00:40:26.460 --> 00:40:27.420
 is challenging

00:40:27.420 --> 00:40:27.739
 us,

00:40:27.820 --> 00:40:28.199
 isn't it?

00:40:28.659 --> 00:40:29.320
 God is

00:40:29.320 --> 00:40:29.800
 concerned

00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:30.420
 about these

00:40:30.420 --> 00:40:30.759
 people,

00:40:30.760 --> 00:40:31.500
 and so

00:40:31.500 --> 00:40:32.340
 should we

00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:32.600
 be.

00:40:33.520 --> 00:40:33.960
 Practically,

00:40:34.060 --> 00:40:34.380
 in terms

00:40:34.380 --> 00:40:34.620
 of what

00:40:34.620 --> 00:40:34.940
 we do

00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:35.260
 about

00:40:35.260 --> 00:40:35.640
 that,

00:40:36.660 --> 00:40:37.260
 one thing

00:40:37.260 --> 00:40:38.300
 very simply

00:40:38.300 --> 00:40:38.620
 that you

00:40:38.620 --> 00:40:39.020
 can do

00:40:39.020 --> 00:40:39.620
 is that

00:40:39.620 --> 00:40:39.860
 you can

00:40:39.860 --> 00:40:40.180
 pray.

00:40:42.680 --> 00:40:43.280
 Those of

00:40:43.280 --> 00:40:43.480
 you who

00:40:43.480 --> 00:40:43.960
 are Christians

00:40:43.960 --> 00:40:44.460
 here this

00:40:44.460 --> 00:40:44.700
 morning,

00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:45.220
 you will

00:40:45.220 --> 00:40:45.800
 know people

00:40:45.800 --> 00:40:46.720
 who aren't.

00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:47.940
 You can

00:40:47.940 --> 00:40:48.380
 pray that

00:40:48.380 --> 00:40:48.800
 God would

00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:49.320
 give them

00:40:49.320 --> 00:40:49.880
 a desire

00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:50.320
 to know

00:40:50.320 --> 00:40:50.580
 him.

00:40:52.420 --> 00:40:53.060
 You can

00:40:53.060 --> 00:40:53.460
 pray that

00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:53.860
 God would

00:40:53.860 --> 00:40:54.160
 give you

00:40:54.160 --> 00:40:54.800
 an opportunity

00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:55.580
 to speak

00:40:55.580 --> 00:40:55.960
 to them.

00:40:57.860 --> 00:40:58.540
 We can

00:40:58.540 --> 00:40:59.020
 seek to

00:40:59.020 --> 00:40:59.680
 live lives

00:40:59.680 --> 00:41:00.380
 in a way

00:41:00.380 --> 00:41:01.000
 that reflects

00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:01.579
 well upon

00:41:01.579 --> 00:41:02.200
 the gospel.

00:41:03.720 --> 00:41:04.340
 Just in

00:41:04.340 --> 00:41:04.960
 simple ways

00:41:04.960 --> 00:41:05.539
 we can

00:41:05.539 --> 00:41:05.940
 seek to

00:41:05.940 --> 00:41:06.480
 address this,

00:41:06.740 --> 00:41:07.300
 even simply

00:41:07.300 --> 00:41:07.840
 by praying

00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:08.440
 for people,

00:41:09.320 --> 00:41:09.800
 praying for

00:41:09.800 --> 00:41:10.200
 ourselves,

00:41:10.340 --> 00:41:10.680
 praying that

00:41:10.680 --> 00:41:11.099
 God would

00:41:11.099 --> 00:41:11.539
 give us

00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:12.500
 that desire

00:41:12.500 --> 00:41:13.380
 and that

00:41:13.380 --> 00:41:13.840
 concern.

00:41:15.220 --> 00:41:15.800
 So there

00:41:15.800 --> 00:41:16.099
 is a

00:41:16.099 --> 00:41:17.059
 challenge to

00:41:17.059 --> 00:41:17.519
 us here.

00:41:18.340 --> 00:41:19.059
 But as we

00:41:19.059 --> 00:41:19.380
 conclude,

00:41:19.500 --> 00:41:19.960
 I want us

00:41:19.960 --> 00:41:20.559
 to return to

00:41:20.559 --> 00:41:21.079
 the fact that

00:41:21.079 --> 00:41:21.400
 this is

00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:21.860
 profoundly

00:41:21.860 --> 00:41:22.880
 encouraging.

00:41:24.460 --> 00:41:25.019
 And one

00:41:25.019 --> 00:41:25.220
 of the

00:41:25.220 --> 00:41:25.579
 things that

00:41:25.579 --> 00:41:25.920
 I think is

00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:26.519
 most striking

00:41:26.519 --> 00:41:27.019
 in this

00:41:27.019 --> 00:41:27.700
 book is

00:41:27.700 --> 00:41:28.260
 not God's

00:41:28.260 --> 00:41:28.960
 compassion to

00:41:28.960 --> 00:41:29.679
 the Ninevites.

00:41:30.400 --> 00:41:30.900
 I think one

00:41:30.900 --> 00:41:31.240
 of the most

00:41:31.240 --> 00:41:31.980
 striking things

00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:32.380
 in the book

00:41:32.380 --> 00:41:32.820
 of Jonah

00:41:32.820 --> 00:41:33.980
 is God's

00:41:33.980 --> 00:41:34.659
 patience with

00:41:34.659 --> 00:41:35.000
 Jonah.

00:41:37.720 --> 00:41:38.380
 God didn't

00:41:38.380 --> 00:41:38.820
 have to put

00:41:38.820 --> 00:41:39.139
 up with

00:41:39.139 --> 00:41:39.440
 Jonah.

00:41:40.300 --> 00:41:40.780
 God didn't

00:41:40.780 --> 00:41:41.059
 have to

00:41:41.059 --> 00:41:41.480
 provide the

00:41:41.480 --> 00:41:42.079
 great fish.

00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:43.360
 God didn't

00:41:43.360 --> 00:41:44.019
 need Jonah

00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:44.619
 to save the

00:41:44.619 --> 00:41:44.940
 Ninevites.

00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:45.300
 He could have

00:41:45.300 --> 00:41:45.800
 sent somebody

00:41:45.800 --> 00:41:46.220
 else.

00:41:46.900 --> 00:41:47.260
 But he

00:41:47.260 --> 00:41:48.440
 persevered with

00:41:48.440 --> 00:41:48.800
 Jonah.

00:41:49.860 --> 00:41:50.420
 God didn't

00:41:50.420 --> 00:41:50.940
 have to put

00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:51.300
 up with

00:41:51.300 --> 00:41:51.699
 Jonah's

00:41:51.699 --> 00:41:52.639
 behavior in

00:41:52.639 --> 00:41:53.360
 chapters 3

00:41:53.360 --> 00:41:53.940
 and 4.

00:41:55.179 --> 00:41:55.720
 And yet he

00:41:55.720 --> 00:41:55.920
 did.

00:41:55.920 --> 00:41:56.700
 All through

00:41:56.700 --> 00:41:57.039
 the book

00:41:57.039 --> 00:41:57.400
 of Jonah

00:41:57.400 --> 00:41:58.639
 God persevered

00:41:58.639 --> 00:41:59.599
 with Jonah.

00:41:59.940 --> 00:42:00.500
 And we

00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:00.960
 don't know

00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:01.579
 what happened

00:42:01.579 --> 00:42:02.559
 but I

00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:03.039
 think we

00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:03.880
 can believe

00:42:03.880 --> 00:42:04.820
 that God

00:42:04.820 --> 00:42:06.000
 continued to

00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:06.720
 persevere with

00:42:06.720 --> 00:42:07.760
 Jonah after

00:42:07.760 --> 00:42:08.280
 the book

00:42:08.280 --> 00:42:09.639
 because we

00:42:09.639 --> 00:42:09.980
 have the

00:42:09.980 --> 00:42:10.180
 book,

00:42:10.280 --> 00:42:10.639
 don't we?

00:42:12.099 --> 00:42:13.440
 Who recorded

00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:13.920
 this for us?

00:42:13.940 --> 00:42:14.320
 Who gave

00:42:14.320 --> 00:42:15.220
 us this?

00:42:15.420 --> 00:42:16.220
 If not

00:42:16.220 --> 00:42:16.720
 Jonah.

00:42:18.099 --> 00:42:18.579
 Presumably

00:42:18.579 --> 00:42:19.059
 then God

00:42:19.059 --> 00:42:20.079
 persevered with

00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:20.639
 him and was

00:42:20.639 --> 00:42:21.500
 at work in

00:42:21.500 --> 00:42:21.700
 him.

00:42:22.099 --> 00:42:22.539
 Isn't that

00:42:22.539 --> 00:42:23.200
 good news for

00:42:23.200 --> 00:42:23.539
 us?

00:42:24.460 --> 00:42:25.039
 Because so

00:42:25.039 --> 00:42:25.659
 often we're

00:42:25.659 --> 00:42:26.300
 like Jonah.

00:42:27.179 --> 00:42:27.599
 All the

00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:28.039
 time we're

00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:28.599
 like Jonah.

00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:29.219
 Maybe I

00:42:29.219 --> 00:42:29.559
 should speak

00:42:29.559 --> 00:42:30.039
 for myself.

00:42:30.139 --> 00:42:30.420
 All the

00:42:30.420 --> 00:42:30.860
 time I'm

00:42:30.860 --> 00:42:31.420
 like Jonah.

00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:32.759
 Either the

00:42:32.759 --> 00:42:33.840
 open rebellious

00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:34.340
 Jonah at

00:42:34.340 --> 00:42:34.679
 the beginning

00:42:34.679 --> 00:42:35.179
 of the book

00:42:35.179 --> 00:42:35.440
 or the

00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:35.940
 passively

00:42:35.940 --> 00:42:36.360
 aggressive

00:42:36.360 --> 00:42:37.059
 Jonah in

00:42:37.059 --> 00:42:37.440
 the second

00:42:37.440 --> 00:42:37.880
 half of

00:42:37.880 --> 00:42:38.179
 the book.

00:42:38.579 --> 00:42:38.960
 I'm not

00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:39.380
 really sure

00:42:39.380 --> 00:42:39.800
 if one's

00:42:39.800 --> 00:42:40.279
 better than

00:42:40.279 --> 00:42:40.659
 the other.

00:42:41.699 --> 00:42:42.440
 But all

00:42:42.440 --> 00:42:42.960
 of the time

00:42:42.960 --> 00:42:43.460
 we struggle

00:42:43.460 --> 00:42:43.880
 with these

00:42:43.880 --> 00:42:44.300
 things.

00:42:45.579 --> 00:42:45.820
 And yet

00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:46.199
 God

00:42:46.199 --> 00:42:47.119
 perseveres

00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:47.659
 with us.

00:42:48.179 --> 00:42:48.400
 And that

00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:49.179
 is tremendously

00:42:49.179 --> 00:42:49.840
 encouraging.

00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:50.880
 That you

00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:51.199
 can know

00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:51.579
 that this

00:42:51.579 --> 00:42:53.019
 God is

00:42:53.019 --> 00:42:53.699
 not only

00:42:53.699 --> 00:42:54.300
 a God

00:42:54.300 --> 00:42:54.559
 who is

00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:55.000
 great in

00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:55.360
 power.

00:42:56.599 --> 00:42:57.079
 We

00:42:57.079 --> 00:42:57.579
 experience

00:42:57.579 --> 00:42:57.980
 that in

00:42:57.980 --> 00:42:58.380
 the forces

00:42:58.380 --> 00:42:58.960
 of nature.

00:42:59.599 --> 00:42:59.699
 The

00:42:59.699 --> 00:43:00.000
 resurrection

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:00.639
 of Jesus

00:43:00.639 --> 00:43:01.079
 is a

00:43:01.079 --> 00:43:01.280
 great

00:43:01.280 --> 00:43:01.739
 testimony

00:43:01.739 --> 00:43:02.199
 to the

00:43:02.199 --> 00:43:02.699
 power of

00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:03.000
 God.

00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:04.579
 God

00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:05.059
 is great

00:43:05.059 --> 00:43:05.739
 in power

00:43:05.739 --> 00:43:07.420
 and God

00:43:07.420 --> 00:43:07.980
 is also

00:43:07.980 --> 00:43:08.579
 great in

00:43:08.579 --> 00:43:09.019
 mercy.

00:43:10.280 --> 00:43:10.539
 He's

00:43:10.539 --> 00:43:11.360
 proven that

00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:12.139
 in the

00:43:12.139 --> 00:43:12.599
 cross,

00:43:12.960 --> 00:43:13.500
 in the

00:43:13.500 --> 00:43:14.259
 giving of

00:43:14.259 --> 00:43:14.739
 his son.

00:43:16.300 --> 00:43:16.500
 Will you

00:43:16.500 --> 00:43:16.800
 bow your

00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:17.179
 heads with

00:43:17.179 --> 00:43:17.539
 me as we

00:43:17.539 --> 00:43:17.759
 pray?

00:43:17.759 --> 00:43:17.820
 Amen.

00:43:17.820 --> 00:43:17.840
 Amen.

00:43:17.840 --> 00:43:17.860
 Amen.

00:43:17.860 --> 00:43:17.880
 Amen.

00:43:17.880 --> 00:43:17.900
 Amen.

00:43:17.900 --> 00:43:17.940
 Amen.

00:43:17.940 --> 00:43:17.960
 Amen.

00:43:17.960 --> 00:43:17.980
 Amen.

00:43:17.980 --> 00:43:18.000
 Amen.

00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:18.019
 Amen.

00:43:18.019 --> 00:43:18.039
 Amen.

00:43:18.039 --> 00:43:18.480
 Amen.

00:43:18.480 --> 00:43:19.880
 Amen.

00:43:19.880 --> 00:43:19.960
 Amen.

00:43:19.960 --> 00:43:24.699
 Our Father

00:43:24.699 --> 00:43:25.079
 in Heaven,

00:43:25.179 --> 00:43:25.720
 we rejoice

00:43:25.720 --> 00:43:26.220
 in your

00:43:26.220 --> 00:43:26.599
 word.

00:43:28.800 --> 00:43:29.480
 We pray

00:43:29.480 --> 00:43:29.760
 that you

00:43:29.760 --> 00:43:30.139
 would enable

00:43:30.139 --> 00:43:30.679
 us to take

00:43:30.679 --> 00:43:31.199
 these things

00:43:31.199 --> 00:43:31.940
 in and

00:43:31.940 --> 00:43:32.460
 to marvel

00:43:32.460 --> 00:43:32.800
 at the

00:43:32.800 --> 00:43:33.260
 magnitude

00:43:33.260 --> 00:43:34.179
 of your

00:43:34.179 --> 00:43:34.599
 mercy.

00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:36.960
 We pray,

00:43:37.199 --> 00:43:37.280
 Father,

00:43:37.360 --> 00:43:37.720
 for any

00:43:37.720 --> 00:43:38.139
 here this

00:43:38.139 --> 00:43:38.679
 morning who

00:43:38.679 --> 00:43:39.159
 are not

00:43:39.159 --> 00:43:39.840
 yet Christians.

00:43:40.340 --> 00:43:40.880
 We ask

00:43:40.880 --> 00:43:41.159
 that you

00:43:41.159 --> 00:43:41.579
 would draw

00:43:41.579 --> 00:43:41.980
 them to

00:43:41.980 --> 00:43:42.340
 the Lord

00:43:42.340 --> 00:43:42.880
 Jesus and

00:43:42.880 --> 00:43:43.119
 they would

00:43:43.119 --> 00:43:43.679
 experience

00:43:43.679 --> 00:43:44.360
 your mercy

00:43:44.360 --> 00:43:45.519
 and compassion.

00:43:46.820 --> 00:43:47.220
 We pray

00:43:47.220 --> 00:43:47.659
 for those

00:43:47.659 --> 00:43:48.079
 of us

00:43:48.079 --> 00:43:48.840
 who are

00:43:48.840 --> 00:43:49.279
 following

00:43:49.279 --> 00:43:49.699
 Jesus.

00:43:51.019 --> 00:43:51.659
 We pray

00:43:51.659 --> 00:43:51.960
 that you

00:43:51.960 --> 00:43:52.299
 would give

00:43:52.299 --> 00:43:52.699
 us a

00:43:52.699 --> 00:43:54.319
 fresh sense

00:43:54.319 --> 00:43:54.699
 of your

00:43:54.699 --> 00:43:55.159
 love for

00:43:55.159 --> 00:43:55.420
 us,

00:43:56.179 --> 00:43:56.940
 that we

00:43:56.940 --> 00:43:57.239
 would be

00:43:57.239 --> 00:43:57.779
 overwhelmed

00:43:57.779 --> 00:43:58.480
 by this,

00:43:58.579 --> 00:43:58.779
 that we

00:43:58.779 --> 00:43:59.400
 would delight

00:43:59.400 --> 00:43:59.799
 in it.

00:44:01.380 --> 00:44:02.019
 We pray

00:44:02.019 --> 00:44:02.279
 that you

00:44:02.279 --> 00:44:02.619
 would make

00:44:02.619 --> 00:44:03.039
 yourself,

00:44:03.239 --> 00:44:03.460
 Father,

00:44:03.679 --> 00:44:03.880
 Son,

00:44:03.940 --> 00:44:04.299
 and Holy

00:44:04.299 --> 00:44:04.719
 Spirit,

00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:05.679
 to be the

00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:06.460
 most precious

00:44:06.460 --> 00:44:07.059
 thing to

00:44:07.059 --> 00:44:08.259
 us in

00:44:08.259 --> 00:44:08.719
 all our

00:44:08.719 --> 00:44:09.420
 experience.

00:44:10.559 --> 00:44:11.139
 And we

00:44:11.139 --> 00:44:11.319
 pray,

00:44:11.579 --> 00:44:11.639
 Father,

00:44:11.719 --> 00:44:11.960
 that we

00:44:11.960 --> 00:44:12.259
 would have

00:44:12.259 --> 00:44:12.840
 a desire

00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:13.819
 to make

00:44:13.819 --> 00:44:14.199
 you known

00:44:14.199 --> 00:44:14.619
 to those

00:44:14.619 --> 00:44:15.299
 around us.

00:44:16.699 --> 00:44:17.279
 We ask

00:44:17.279 --> 00:44:17.420
 that you

00:44:17.420 --> 00:44:17.739
 would watch

00:44:17.739 --> 00:44:18.139
 over us

00:44:18.139 --> 00:44:18.399
 as we

00:44:18.399 --> 00:44:18.779
 go from

00:44:18.779 --> 00:44:19.000
 here.

00:44:19.599 --> 00:44:20.059
 Hear our

00:44:20.059 --> 00:44:20.559
 prayers.

00:44:20.779 --> 00:44:21.199
 Forgive us

00:44:21.199 --> 00:44:21.539
 all our

00:44:21.539 --> 00:44:21.879
 sins.

00:44:22.279 --> 00:44:22.639
 We ask

00:44:22.639 --> 00:44:23.079
 these things

00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:23.500
 in Jesus'

00:44:23.739 --> 00:44:23.939
 name.

00:44:24.500 --> 00:44:24.759
 Amen.