WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.339 Please do turn back to Jonah 3, Jonah chapter 3 on page 775. 00:00:10.339 --> 00:00:16.219 ! We've seen so far that the book of Jonah is not really about a big fish. 00:00:16.219 --> 00:00:18.960 ! It's about God's mercy. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:25.320 In chapter 1, God has mercy on the sailors by sparing their lives. 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:32.259 In chapter 2, God has mercy on Jonah by saving him from darkness and death. 00:00:32.259 --> 00:00:35.399 And then the fish spits him back up onto dry land. 00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:39.840 And today, we begin with even more mercy. 00:00:40.740 --> 00:00:41.480 Look at verse 1. 00:00:42.679 --> 00:00:46.539 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time. 00:00:48.100 --> 00:00:50.579 Jonah is living his second chance. 00:00:51.380 --> 00:00:52.420 Another life. 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:56.399 God has not abandoned him in his sin. 00:00:57.300 --> 00:00:59.039 God has not let him run. 00:00:59.539 --> 00:01:03.380 God did not see Jonah's first failure and give up on him. 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:05.680 No, God persisted. 00:01:06.820 --> 00:01:12.700 Though Jonah was running, God's grace and his mercy would not stop following Jonah. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:16.260 And we see the fruit of that here. 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:20.640 Jonah is standing in God's mercy on dry land. 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:22.640 A new life. 00:01:23.900 --> 00:01:26.299 And God even continues to use Jonah. 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:27.540 Look what God says to him. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:28.099 Verse 2. 00:01:29.299 --> 00:01:30.819 Arise, go to Nineveh. 00:01:31.299 --> 00:01:35.099 That great city and call out against it the message that I tell you. 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:39.760 God doesn't say, Jonah, you've sinned too much. 00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:41.240 I can't use you anymore. 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:43.960 He doesn't say, I can't. 00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:45.159 I'm done with you now. 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:48.000 No, he says, arise. 00:01:49.039 --> 00:01:52.920 Go and preach and tell Nineveh about me. 00:01:53.819 --> 00:01:55.659 I want to use you, Jonah. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:59.420 And it's the same message he was meant to preach before. 00:02:00.420 --> 00:02:02.159 Call out against their evil. 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:10.159 He's sending Jonah on the same preaching mission to the big city of Nineveh. 00:02:11.500 --> 00:02:15.280 Now, Nineveh was the main hub of the Assyrian Empire. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:18.939 And the Assyrians were Israel's big enemies. 00:02:18.939 --> 00:02:21.400 They were a brutal nation. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:28.879 And so God is saying, Jonah, go into the heart of the enemy and preach. 00:02:30.340 --> 00:02:36.919 This is like an English preacher in 1940 being told, go to Berlin and preach against the Nazis. 00:02:38.379 --> 00:02:42.020 Call out against their evil and tell them about me. 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:45.620 And look how Jonah responds to this task. 00:02:46.219 --> 00:02:47.060 It's so refreshing. 00:02:47.060 --> 00:02:47.620 Verse 3. 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:54.460 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. 00:02:55.939 --> 00:02:58.819 There's not, but Jonah went the other direction. 00:02:59.700 --> 00:03:00.080 No. 00:03:00.740 --> 00:03:02.780 So Jonah arose. 00:03:04.379 --> 00:03:07.460 God's discipline in Jonah's life has worked. 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:14.460 The storm and the death and the darkness that has all been in Jonah's life, it's all been for a reason. 00:03:14.460 --> 00:03:18.980 It's all brought Jonah to this wonderful point right now. 00:03:19.620 --> 00:03:21.860 It's brought him to obedience. 00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:25.480 God has made him a new man. 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:29.179 But now Jonah has a hard task. 00:03:30.539 --> 00:03:32.879 Jonah may be out of the darkness. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:38.239 But now he has to preach darkness against Nineveh. 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:42.000 He has to call out against Nineveh. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:49.159 In chapter 1, God says, their evil has come up before me. 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:51.419 And it needs to be addressed. 00:03:51.419 --> 00:03:54.240 It needs to be called out against. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:56.079 God sees their evil. 00:03:56.419 --> 00:03:58.719 He smells their wickedness. 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:00.259 And it cannot be ignored. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:01.579 It needs to end. 00:04:01.580 --> 00:04:06.540 And so Jonah is going to Nineveh with a hard message. 00:04:07.540 --> 00:04:10.140 With a sobering and heavy message. 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:14.120 And it's a message we all need to hear today too. 00:04:15.580 --> 00:04:16.900 God has not changed. 00:04:17.660 --> 00:04:19.400 And so this message has not changed. 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:24.220 It's a message that is for you just as much as for Nineveh. 00:04:24.220 --> 00:04:26.640 And we must hear this. 00:04:26.820 --> 00:04:27.780 And so are we all listening? 00:04:29.080 --> 00:04:30.240 This is the message. 00:04:31.380 --> 00:04:34.180 God must overthrow evil. 00:04:35.320 --> 00:04:37.800 God must overthrow evil. 00:04:39.880 --> 00:04:44.080 So Jonah heads to Nineveh with his sermon notes in hand. 00:04:44.660 --> 00:04:46.140 And look how big Nineveh is. 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:47.200 Verse 3. 00:04:47.960 --> 00:04:49.980 It's three days journey in breadth. 00:04:51.280 --> 00:04:52.960 This is a huge task. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:55.819 This is like me asking you. 00:04:56.239 --> 00:04:58.799 Go preach to everyone from here in Ealing. 00:04:59.219 --> 00:05:01.120 All the way to Buckingham Palace. 00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:04.899 And you need to reach all the parts in your preaching. 00:05:05.779 --> 00:05:06.419 Ealing Broadway. 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:07.099 Preach there. 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:08.859 Then Acton. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:11.219 All the high streets and the parks there. 00:05:11.679 --> 00:05:12.799 Then Shepherd's Bush. 00:05:13.599 --> 00:05:14.719 Go to Notting Hill. 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:15.259 Preach there. 00:05:15.379 --> 00:05:15.839 Kensington. 00:05:16.159 --> 00:05:18.339 Don't forget all of Hyde Park as well. 00:05:18.859 --> 00:05:21.339 And then go to Buckingham Palace and preach there. 00:05:21.339 --> 00:05:25.679 Make sure everyone hears what God has to say. 00:05:27.579 --> 00:05:29.859 So you can imagine Jonah in this city. 00:05:30.119 --> 00:05:31.419 Standing in the squares. 00:05:32.219 --> 00:05:33.239 Outside the shops. 00:05:33.359 --> 00:05:34.039 In the parks. 00:05:34.159 --> 00:05:35.159 On the benches. 00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:36.539 Preaching. 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:39.379 And look what his message is. 00:05:39.419 --> 00:05:39.819 Verse 4. 00:05:39.819 --> 00:05:43.199 Jonah began to go into the city. 00:05:43.599 --> 00:05:44.779 Going a day's journey. 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:46.839 And he called out. 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:51.139 Yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:54.040 This is God's message. 00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:58.839 Yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:03.919 Now Jonah likely said more than this when he was preaching. 00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:06.919 Because when the Ninevites respond. 00:06:07.060 --> 00:06:08.539 They know that this is from God. 00:06:09.799 --> 00:06:12.399 Jonah likely spoke about who the Lord is. 00:06:13.039 --> 00:06:15.259 He likely spoke about their evil ways. 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:18.399 But this is at the heart of the message. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:21.959 This is the main point of his sermon. 00:06:23.099 --> 00:06:26.739 And it's a warning about where this city is heading. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:31.899 Yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 00:06:31.899 --> 00:06:35.879 This city is about to be destroyed. 00:06:37.819 --> 00:06:40.219 Their evil has come up before God. 00:06:40.599 --> 00:06:44.799 And God is going to flip this entire city on its head. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:47.359 Completely wipe it out. 00:06:47.859 --> 00:06:49.959 It's like flipping your dinner table over. 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:51.639 And completely destroying it. 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:57.060 In fact this is the same language God uses against Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:06:58.239 --> 00:07:00.439 When God overthrew those cities. 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:04.319 He sent sulfur and fire from heaven. 00:07:04.860 --> 00:07:06.420 And incinerated them. 00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:10.660 Well that is what is happening in 40 days. 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:15.100 Nineveh is literally going to be obliterated. 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:20.540 Jonah is coming with the message of God's judgment. 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:25.959 It's like Nineveh is on the train tracks. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:28.920 And the freight train of God's wrath. 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:30.860 Is hurtling toward them. 00:07:31.879 --> 00:07:33.100 And Jonah is saying. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:34.680 Everyone listen. 00:07:34.819 --> 00:07:37.300 In 40 days it's going to hit. 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:41.700 The stench of their lives. 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:43.560 Of their evil. 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:45.220 Has come up to heaven. 00:07:45.900 --> 00:07:47.759 And God cannot stand it. 00:07:48.960 --> 00:07:50.700 He needs to wipe it out. 00:07:50.699 --> 00:07:55.399 And this is the main point of Jonah's sermon. 00:07:55.599 --> 00:07:57.620 And it's the main point of my sermon tonight. 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:01.039 God must overthrow evil. 00:08:03.719 --> 00:08:05.839 And we need to realise something important. 00:08:06.659 --> 00:08:08.939 About what God is about to do. 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:11.740 We need to realise. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:13.779 This is fair. 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:17.620 God is not being hot headed. 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:19.379 Or unreasonable here. 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:21.839 This is fair. 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:27.360 If we think God is overreacting here. 00:08:27.819 --> 00:08:29.779 We have completely missed who God is. 00:08:29.779 --> 00:08:33.399 We have completely missed the wisdom. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:35.019 And the righteousness. 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:36.639 And the justice of God. 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:39.819 God is holy. 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:42.879 And God is always right. 00:08:44.339 --> 00:08:48.639 And when evil lies before the splendour of his holiness. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:52.980 It's not just like a little mistake in God's eyes. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:58.460 Sin is not just a blemish on a basically otherwise good world. 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:00.379 No. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:04.460 Any evil in the eyes of the pure and holy God. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:06.699 Is an utter abomination. 00:09:08.699 --> 00:09:11.759 And so God in his perfect justice. 00:09:12.279 --> 00:09:14.259 Looks down at Nineveh. 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:18.039 And says that evil must be overthrown. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:23.019 And just think what this city has been doing. 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:26.039 It's been living in God's world. 00:09:26.819 --> 00:09:28.240 Before his eyes. 00:09:28.319 --> 00:09:29.259 Under his law. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.360 Running from his presence. 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:34.340 Committing evil against his holiness. 00:09:35.199 --> 00:09:37.460 Taking his good gifts in this world. 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:39.519 And throwing it back in his face. 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:43.860 Their lives are full of evil. 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:48.039 And God hates evil too much to let it slide. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:51.019 And so what must God do? 00:09:51.179 --> 00:09:52.220 What is fair? 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:56.299 God must overthrow evil. 00:09:56.299 --> 00:10:00.839 But we must also see. 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:03.419 This message Jonah is preaching. 00:10:04.359 --> 00:10:05.620 This is merciful. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.620 If Nineveh are on the train tracks. 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:11.439 And the freight train is coming. 00:10:13.079 --> 00:10:15.120 Nineveh have been completely unaware. 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:18.039 They're on the train tracks. 00:10:18.359 --> 00:10:19.719 Playing and laughing. 00:10:20.019 --> 00:10:21.240 And not caring at all. 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:24.379 And God has sent Jonah to say. 00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:26.340 The train is coming. 00:10:26.700 --> 00:10:28.019 Get off the tracks. 00:10:31.060 --> 00:10:33.060 You might often hear people complain. 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:35.060 That when the church preaches judgment. 00:10:36.620 --> 00:10:37.399 They'll complain. 00:10:37.539 --> 00:10:38.419 Well that's not loving. 00:10:39.580 --> 00:10:40.080 They'll say. 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:42.240 Don't talk about the judgment of God. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:44.519 Because it forgets about the love of God. 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:47.039 Well that's a bunch of nonsense. 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:51.559 It is loving to tell people the train is coming. 00:10:52.819 --> 00:10:55.299 It is merciful on Nineveh to warn them. 00:10:55.539 --> 00:10:57.939 But would you rather the train just hit them? 00:10:59.159 --> 00:10:59.679 No. 00:11:00.339 --> 00:11:01.839 In God's mercy. 00:11:02.579 --> 00:11:05.480 He is warning sinners of the judgment to come. 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:13.139 And God is still showing that same mercy to the world today. 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:18.580 Because God has sent his son into this world. 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:19.960 Preaching the same message. 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:25.440 Do you remember what the first words of Jesus' first sermon were? 00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:27.460 Repent. 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:30.259 For the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:35.000 And so God warns us today. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:39.980 This world is on the train tracks. 00:11:40.920 --> 00:11:45.100 And the freight train of God's wrath is hurtling towards us. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:49.420 God's justice hasn't changed. 00:11:50.840 --> 00:11:53.759 Evil is still an abomination in his eyes. 00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:57.840 He cannot let the evil of this world slide. 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:01.440 The sin in our lives cannot be ignored. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:04.019 Even today God must overthrow evil. 00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:08.000 And one day he will. 00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:14.699 A day is coming when God will overthrow this whole world. 00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:19.500 When this world will be turned on its head. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:23.460 And all evil and sin that has not been atoned for. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:25.580 Will face the wrath of God. 00:12:27.180 --> 00:12:28.759 The freight train is coming. 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:32.299 Now we don't know the timings. 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:35.759 We haven't been given a time span like 40 days. 00:12:35.939 --> 00:12:36.720 But it is coming. 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:40.379 And Jesus says we won't expect it. 00:12:40.439 --> 00:12:42.460 It will be like a thief in the night suddenly. 00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:46.220 And so he says we need to be prepared. 00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:51.259 Because right now the world is totally unaware. 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:55.300 We're laughing and playing on the tracks. 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:57.259 Living carefree lives. 00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:59.700 Not knowing that something is coming our way. 00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:02.700 Judgment day is coming. 00:13:04.680 --> 00:13:07.920 One day Jesus will appear from heaven with his angels. 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:11.720 And he will gather all the nations before him. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:14.560 And he will come to judge the living and the dead. 00:13:16.160 --> 00:13:19.040 All evil will be set before him. 00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:19.900 Every sinner. 00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:24.400 And we will all have to give an account of what we have done with our lives. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:28.360 No one will slip under the radar on that day. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:33.720 And on that day all evil will be overthrown. 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:36.879 It will be eternally punished. 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:42.480 This world is on the brink of something catastrophic. 00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:47.740 And so I need to be like Jonah for you today. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:52.399 I can't let anyone leave here tonight without knowing this. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:55.899 Judgment day is hurtling towards us. 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:58.740 And this world is on the tracks. 00:14:00.319 --> 00:14:02.279 We're on the tracks right now. 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:06.620 Yet only a little while and this world will be overthrown. 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.240 Forget about asteroids. 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:10.759 Forget about viruses. 00:14:11.579 --> 00:14:14.159 The judge is about to come from heaven. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:17.059 So let me ask you. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:18.840 Are you prepared? 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:23.120 Do you know this day is coming? 00:14:24.920 --> 00:14:26.540 Are you prepared for this day? 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:29.860 Well now you know. 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:34.280 And there's only one way to prepare for that day. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:37.379 And we see it in the lives of the Ninevites. 00:14:39.040 --> 00:14:39.840 Judgment is coming. 00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:40.620 And what do they do? 00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:42.420 They repent. 00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:44.979 And it's my second point today. 00:14:45.099 --> 00:14:45.939 Judgment is coming. 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:46.459 Repent. 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:48.539 Judgment is coming. 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.139 Repent. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:55.419 How the Ninevites respond to Jonah's preaching, it's the model response. 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:57.599 We really need to learn from them. 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:59.439 And what is the first thing they do? 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:03.599 And the people of Nineveh believed God. 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:06.580 They didn't ignore this message. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.019 They didn't laugh at it. 00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:11.420 No, they heard it, listened, and believed. 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:15.879 When God tells you judgment is coming, believe it. 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:16.759 Take it seriously. 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:19.800 And did you notice? 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:23.420 It doesn't say they believed Jonah, does it? 00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:26.300 It says they believed God. 00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:32.740 They hear Jonah speaking, but they know this is really from God. 00:15:33.459 --> 00:15:35.139 This is a message from God. 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:38.479 And I hope that's what we're all doing right now. 00:15:40.439 --> 00:15:43.099 But their response is also so much more. 00:15:43.599 --> 00:15:45.000 Look what they do. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.059 Verse 5. 00:15:47.439 --> 00:15:50.219 They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:52.859 from the greatest of them to the least of them. 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:59.240 Now, sackcloth is like rough, itchy clothing. 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:02.220 So imagine an old sack of potatoes, 00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:04.259 you know, that ropey material. 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:06.060 That's what it's like. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:11.360 And when people put on sackcloth and facet and satin ashes, 00:16:12.180 --> 00:16:13.440 that was an act of mourning. 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.120 It was grieving. 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:19.220 People might do this after a family member has died. 00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:22.440 It's a sign of utter sorrow. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:25.539 And the whole city did it, 00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:27.500 from the greatest of them to the least. 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:31.720 And this response seems to have come down from the king. 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:32.759 Look at verse 6. 00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:35.460 The word reached the king of Nineveh, 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:37.259 and he arose from his throne, 00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:38.399 removed his robe, 00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:40.300 covered himself with sackcloth, 00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:41.180 and satin ashes. 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:45.840 The king himself hears Jonah's preaching, 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:47.720 and it hits him hard. 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:50.320 He believes it, 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.720 and he starts to mourn, 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:53.820 and he gets the whole city to do the same. 00:16:53.820 --> 00:16:56.399 And he issued a proclamation, 00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.620 and published through Nineveh, 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:59.700 by the decree of the king and his nobles, 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:01.019 let neither man nor beast, 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.840 herd nor flock, 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:02.560 taste anything. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.960 Let them not feed or drink water, 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:07.539 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, 00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:10.740 and let them call out mightily to God. 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:13.819 Let everyone turn from his evil way, 00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:15.579 and from the violence that is in his hands. 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.660 Who knows? 00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:19.059 God may turn and relent, 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:20.680 and turn from his fierce anger, 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:22.600 so that we may not perish. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:26.779 The whole city goes into mourning. 00:17:28.820 --> 00:17:30.180 When the queen died, 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.500 this whole city, 00:17:31.600 --> 00:17:33.240 well, the whole nation went into mourning, 00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:33.640 didn't they? 00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:38.220 Well, this is even greater mourning than that. 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:41.440 Even the animals are involved. 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:46.420 But this isn't just generally feeling sad. 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:50.700 This isn't just grief about dying in 40 days. 00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:54.140 This isn't even just a general sense of guilt. 00:17:55.660 --> 00:17:57.860 No, this is God-centered mourning. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:01.340 Look who they call out to, verse 8. 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:05.320 Let them call out mightily to God. 00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:10.060 This grief is a godly grief. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.660 That's what the New Testament calls it, 00:18:12.800 --> 00:18:13.700 godly grief. 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:16.980 This is a conviction of sin. 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:21.200 This is a realization of who they are, 00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.220 and who God is. 00:18:22.580 --> 00:18:25.480 They realize the evil they've been doing before God 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:27.019 the whole time, their whole lives, 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:29.279 and it's cut them to the core. 00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:34.380 This is a whole city confessing their sin, 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:36.000 crying out to God, 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.380 hating their sin, 00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:38.840 and turning from it. 00:18:39.860 --> 00:18:42.640 Laying their whole lives before the judge. 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:46.420 And look how they talk about their lives. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:46.980 Verse 8. 00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:50.580 Let everyone turn from his evil way 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:52.539 and from the violence that is in his hands. 00:18:54.620 --> 00:18:55.519 Jonah preaches. 00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.660 They believe it. 00:18:58.580 --> 00:19:01.340 And then there's city-wide turning. 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:05.059 They turn from their evil ways. 00:19:05.899 --> 00:19:07.519 They turn their lives around. 00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:09.699 They were running from God. 00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:10.899 They stop. 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:11.779 They turn. 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:13.720 And they start running to God. 00:19:15.419 --> 00:19:18.819 And this turning is called repentance. 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.899 Repentance just means turning. 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:25.380 And this is what Jesus came preaching. 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.759 Repent. 00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.519 Turn. 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:30.120 For the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:33.000 Turn from your evil ways 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.620 and turn to God. 00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:39.479 And this is how you prepare for judgment day. 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:42.299 This is what we all need to do. 00:19:43.159 --> 00:19:44.139 Judgment is coming. 00:19:45.159 --> 00:19:45.579 Repent. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.319 Whoever you are, 00:19:48.459 --> 00:19:49.599 wherever you are, 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.619 turn your life around 00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:53.299 and turn to God. 00:19:55.219 --> 00:19:57.000 And if you want to know what that means for you, 00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:58.639 just look at Nineveh's repentance. 00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:00.540 Look what they do. 00:20:01.040 --> 00:20:03.080 Their repentance was urgent, wasn't it? 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.620 They heard of judgment 00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:07.180 and they acted immediately. 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:10.200 They didn't wait to see if it would happen. 00:20:10.340 --> 00:20:12.060 They didn't wait 39 days. 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.640 They didn't say, 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:15.540 oh, I'll do something when I'm a bit older. 00:20:16.320 --> 00:20:17.320 They didn't hang around. 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:20.400 No, they believed and did something immediately. 00:20:22.280 --> 00:20:24.820 And their repentance involved their whole life, didn't it? 00:20:25.840 --> 00:20:28.220 That's why the animals were involved too. 00:20:29.020 --> 00:20:31.980 You can imagine them taking the food away from the sheep, 00:20:32.540 --> 00:20:34.600 putting sackcloth over the horses. 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.780 All their possessions, 00:20:37.020 --> 00:20:39.160 every aspect of their life 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:40.600 was involved in this turning. 00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:44.140 Nothing in their life was untouched by the word of God. 00:20:46.060 --> 00:20:49.440 And also, notice how practical and specific 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.460 this repentance was. 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.500 What did the king say? 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:56.700 You know those evil ways we've been living, 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:57.940 that violence, 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:00.559 those harmful things, 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:01.359 the murder, 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:02.099 the anger, 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:04.880 these specific things in our lives 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:06.900 that they need to stop now 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:08.240 and we need to change. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:12.740 And this is the repentance we need to do. 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:16.180 If you are running from God tonight, 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.640 if you are like Nineveh 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:21.240 and you are happily going about your life 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:24.380 and you never thought a day is coming 00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:25.859 when God will end this world, 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:28.839 you've never realized you're on the train tracks, 00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:30.819 well, here's your wake-up call. 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:33.659 And here is how you need to respond. 00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:35.779 You need to repent. 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:41.119 Something urgent needs to happen in your life. 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:43.919 You need to come to God 00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:45.460 and grieve before him. 00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:47.980 Confess your sin. 00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:52.019 Admit how you've been running from him. 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:55.859 Grieve over what your life has been 00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:58.319 and lay it all before God. 00:21:58.319 --> 00:22:00.859 And you can't delay this. 00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:03.639 The train is about to hit. 00:22:04.919 --> 00:22:06.200 God is calling you now. 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:08.079 So don't just hear my words. 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.980 Listen to God. 00:22:09.939 --> 00:22:10.740 This is your warning. 00:22:10.939 --> 00:22:13.259 Please do not wait until you're older. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:16.500 Please don't wait until next week 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.519 or tomorrow. 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:19.359 No, no. 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:21.399 Turn to God now. 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.299 Repent. 00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:26.659 And this will involve your whole life. 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:28.680 Not just your Sundays. 00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:29.680 Not just your appearance. 00:22:29.800 --> 00:22:31.500 Not just cleaning up your language. 00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:33.700 But every aspect of your whole life 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.620 needs to turn to God. 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:36.720 Your heart. 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.740 Your eyes. 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:41.920 Your bedroom. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.160 Your work. 00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:46.500 Your thoughts. 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.279 Your calendar. 00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:52.580 Nothing in your life can go untouched. 00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:54.220 This is your chance. 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.679 Judgment is coming. 00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:56.779 Repent. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:02.579 And for us believers here today, 00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:06.799 this repentance must keep going on in our lives. 00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:11.279 For the Christian, repentance is daily. 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:14.379 It's constantly turning to God. 00:23:15.139 --> 00:23:18.799 We all know our hearts wander from God every day, don't they? 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:24.259 We feel that pull when we just can't be bothered with godliness. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:28.819 We can go days, maybe even weeks or months, 00:23:28.879 --> 00:23:30.159 really thinking about God. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:32.759 And without knowing it, 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:35.079 our lives have slowly turned from God. 00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:38.859 We've wandered, and now we're lost. 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:42.779 And so we need to repent every day. 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:49.299 You can think of our hearts like a car on a winding road. 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:53.479 If we take our hands off the wheel, 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:55.019 if we stop turning, 00:23:55.639 --> 00:23:56.740 what will happen? 00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:59.000 We will drift off into the ditch, won't we? 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:04.679 Our hearts drift into a car crash if we do nothing. 00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:07.840 But daily repentance, 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:10.880 it's like nudging and turning the wheel 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:12.519 to keep us on track. 00:24:14.320 --> 00:24:15.600 And so let me ask you, 00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:17.259 brothers and sisters, 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.640 do you repent every day? 00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:22.680 Do you confess your sin every day? 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:26.980 Do you grieve over your sin? 00:24:28.380 --> 00:24:30.060 It can be very easy to say, 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:31.519 yeah, I know I'm a sinner, 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.660 and we don't really mean it. 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:37.380 We can confess our sin in church, 00:24:37.540 --> 00:24:40.080 but really, we're just reading out the words on the paper. 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:43.640 But do you come before God? 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.920 Are you honest with him? 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:48.380 Do you admit specific sins, 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.960 hate them, 00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.620 and grieve over them? 00:24:53.800 --> 00:24:56.740 Don't let your life drift off into the ditch. 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.080 Judgment is coming. 00:25:00.540 --> 00:25:00.940 Repent. 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.019 Repent. 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:05.740 But God does not say this 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:07.720 just to make us grovel. 00:25:08.820 --> 00:25:10.080 He says this 00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:12.279 out of mercy on you. 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:15.660 Because God has mercy 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:18.060 on everyone who repents. 00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.980 That's my final point today. 00:25:20.080 --> 00:25:22.080 God has mercy on everyone who repents. 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:25.460 Look how God treats Nineveh in verse 10. 00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:28.640 When God saw what they did, 00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:31.019 how they turned from their evil way, 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:33.200 God relented of the disaster 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.460 that he had said he would do to them. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:38.000 And he did not do it. 00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:41.500 God had mercy on them. 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:45.680 The judgment that was coming on them 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:47.079 did not land on them. 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.980 The train was diverted. 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:52.980 And for everyone who repents, 00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:54.599 this is how God will treat you. 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:57.460 Judgment will not land on you. 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:59.299 God will not do it. 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.240 Whatever you've done, 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:03.299 whatever evil is in your past, 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:05.779 when you repent and believe in God, 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.819 judgment will never, 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:09.160 ever fall on you. 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:12.540 Because when you turn to God, 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.840 you will find 00:26:14.840 --> 00:26:17.320 judgment has already landed 00:26:17.320 --> 00:26:18.160 on someone else. 00:26:19.600 --> 00:26:20.940 You will find Jesus 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:22.320 has taken it all for you. 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:26.140 The freight train of God's wrath 00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:27.779 has struck Christ 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:29.019 once and for all. 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.500 On the cross, 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.700 the judgment of God 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.880 has struck Jesus. 00:26:34.560 --> 00:26:35.900 And so for all who will repent, 00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:38.040 it will never strike you. 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:40.519 There's nothing left 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.220 to fall on you. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.960 And this changes everything 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.740 about your future. 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.599 Judgment day is coming. 00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:48.480 But for those in Christ, 00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:50.279 that is not a day to fear. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.579 Because when Christ 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.619 appears from heaven, 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:55.960 you will not see the one 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:57.519 who will punish your sin. 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.379 No, you will see the one 00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:01.619 who has paid for your sin. 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.519 Jesus is your only hope 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.119 on judgment day. 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:07.659 And for everyone who turns to him, 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:09.680 you can have the greatest comfort, 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:11.539 the greatest assurance tonight. 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.779 You can look at Jesus 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:16.259 and know God will not do it. 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:19.440 He will not bring judgment on you. 00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:22.019 Jesus Christ 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:23.920 is the greater Jonah. 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:27.639 He's the one who not only warns 00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:28.779 of the judgment to come. 00:27:29.399 --> 00:27:31.000 No, he's also the one 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.960 who says to an evil world, 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:35.360 come and find your refuge in me. 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:42.079 God has not left us 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:43.039 on the train tracks. 00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:46.640 No, he has sent his son 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:48.140 to rescue us. 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:51.980 Jesus Christ is the greatest mercy 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.079 this world could ever know. 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.779 And he's there for anyone 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.680 who will repent. 00:27:56.680 --> 00:28:00.299 which means when we come 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.759 to him daily with our sin, 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:04.900 when we do that daily repentance, 00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:06.620 you will not find a God 00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:08.259 who is fed up with you. 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:10.060 You will not find a God 00:28:10.060 --> 00:28:11.500 who's ready to punish you. 00:28:12.580 --> 00:28:14.160 No, you will find a God 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:15.920 who is merciful to you. 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.240 Whatever you've done, 00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:18.900 however bad, 00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:20.160 however far you've wandered, 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:21.700 God wants you to turn 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.820 to your Saviour 00:28:22.820 --> 00:28:24.480 and know his mercy. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.560 And you will never find 00:28:27.560 --> 00:28:28.259 an end to it 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:30.700 because his mercy 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:32.540 is new every morning. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.880 Let me pray.