WEBVTT

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 So, over the last few weeks, we've been working through the story of Jonah.

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 Chapter 1, we heard that God commanded Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh and call

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 out against it.

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 But Jonah, in a moment of defiance and possibly fear, leads to Tarshish, a city that was located

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 somewhere in southern Spain, completely in the opposite direction of Nineveh.

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 Instead of obeying God's command, Jonah chose to run.

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 He boards a ship, thinking he can escape God's call, but God sends a mighty storm to intercept

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 him.

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 The sailors, realizing that Jonah is the cause of the storm, reluctantly throw him overboard

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 in a miraculous act of both judgment and mercy.

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 Jonah is swallowed by a great fish, where he spends three days and three nights in the

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 depth of the sea.

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 Then, in chapter 2, we witness Jonah's prayer from within the fish.

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 In the belly of this creature, Jonah has no way out, no escape from God's presence.

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 In that moment of desperation, he turns back to God, acknowledging his power and mercy.

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 Jonah repents for his disobedience, and in his prayer, he recognizes the profound truth

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 that salvation comes from the Lord.

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 After this, God speaks once again, not to Jonah this time, but to the fish, commanding it to

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 release Jonah onto dry land, sparing his life and giving him a second chance.

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 At this point, it's clear that Jonah isn't the one guiding the story.

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 In fact, when we turn back to the very first verse of the very first chapter, we see that

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 the book of Jonah doesn't even begin with Jonah.

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 It's something far greater, the word of the Lord.

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 It's not just any word, but the very word of him who spoke creation into existence, saying

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 that there be light, and there was light.

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 Him who spoke creation into existence.

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 As John's gospel testifies, this is the same word that was with God in the beginning.

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 Of course, the book of Jonah doesn't proceed like the gospel to speak of the word made flesh,

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 being Jesus Christ, but it does reveal the power of God's word made manifest.

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 God's word comes with purpose, setting things in motion and bringing unexpected things to light.

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 The creative words that shape the universe is the same word that governs history and shapes human lives.

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 And just as it quite visibly reveals, can be revealed in the story of Jonah.

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 This is a story originated, unfolded, and driven by God's word to his creatures.

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 It begins with the word of the Lord, and in the end, the same word as the final word.

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 In between, his word propels the events forward, commanding the fish to release Jonah,

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 sending him to Nineveh with a message, and even, as we'll read next week in the fourth chapter,

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 engaging in a conversation with the distraught prophet when Nineveh is spared.

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 Jonah's flight itself is triggered by God's word,

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 though in a negative way, indeed, the word often has this dual aspect.

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 Jonah runs, not from danger, but from the very commission he was given by the same word.

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 Even the sailor's decision to throw him overboard is brought about by the revelation of the name of the Lord,

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 the God who speaks these words.

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 Without this word, there would be no story,

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 no movement,

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 no tension,

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 no flight,

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 and no rescue.

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 The message of the story,

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 the events themselves,

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 are inconceivable without this word,

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 and the particular God whose word it is.

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 Then the words of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.

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 Here in the third chapter of Jonah,

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 everything begins again,

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 just as it did before.

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 We hear the very same words from the beginning of the book,

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 with only one addition,

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 the reminder that this is the second time

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 the Lord is persistent,

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 not quick to abandon his purposes,

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 and always willing to begin again.

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 But this time things are different.

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 Jonah is not merely starting over.

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 He has been given new life,

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 delivered from the depths of Sheol,

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 much like Israel delivered from exile out of Babylon.

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 The second half of the book tells the story of one

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 who has been brought back from the dead.

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 And because of this,

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 Jonah's response to the words of the Lord

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 will reflect that transformation.

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 When Jonah is given a second chance in chapter 3,

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 something has changed.

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 The same word is spoken,

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 but Jonah's heart has been renewed

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 through his experience in the belly of the fish.

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 He no longer runs from God's command.

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 Instead, he obeys and goes to Nineveh.

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 This transformation reveals profound truth.

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 When we encounter God's word,

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 we too are given opportunities for a fresh start.

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 Jonah's change in attitude

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 is a testimony to God's grace and patience.

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 It shows us that no matter how far we stray,

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 God's word remains a call to repentance and obedience.

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 Jonah's new response to that God's word

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 doesn't just bring about external change,

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 it transforms the hearts of those who hear it.

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 Like Jonah, we are recipients

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 of the same powerful living word of God.

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 The Bible is not just a historical text,

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 it's a living revelation

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 speaking into our lives with authority and power.

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 God's word is the capacity to enter our hearts,

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 challenge our sinful tendencies,

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 guide us in the path of righteousness.

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 It calls us to repentance,

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 just as it did for Nineveh.

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 It convicts us of sin,

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 but also offers hope, forgiveness,

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 and restoration.

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 In a world filled with uncertainty,

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 the word of the Lord remains our anchor and guide,

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 calling us to walk in the light of his truth.

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 As we look through Jonah 3,

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 we'll see the power of the words of God

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 is evident in at least three key ways.

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 The first thing we notice,

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 a rather obvious but important point,

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 is that the message Jonah is entrusted with

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 originates not from any human source,

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 but directly from the creator of the universe.

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 This is significant because it places Jonah's task

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 within the framework of God's sovereign rule

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 over all creation.

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 In Jonah 3,

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 when the word of the Lord comes to Jonah,

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 it's not a mere suggestion or a piece of advice

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 or an opinion.

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 Instead, it's a divine declaration

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 from the same God who spoke the world into existence.

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 The message Jonah carries is powerful

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 because it comes with the authority of the creator.

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 It should remind us that

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 any message we receive from God today

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 when we read scripture

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 carries the same weight.

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 It's coming from the one

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 who holds all things in his hands.

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 The message of salvation

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 is not merely advice or philosophy,

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 but a call from the one

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 who has the power to create,

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 sustain, and redeem all things.

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 What's striking about Jonah's message

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 is that it doesn't rely on his skill or eloquence.

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 Jonah's message was brief,

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 just a simple proclamation,

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 but God used it to move the hearts

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 of an entire city.

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 In the same way,

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 the power of the gospel

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 doesn't depend on the messenger's abilities.

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 St. Paul understood this when he said,

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 my message and my preaching

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 were not with wise and persuasive words,

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 but with a demonstration

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 of the Spirit's power.

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 As we read in 1 Corinthians,

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 the effectiveness of God's words

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 comes not from human effort,

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 but from his Spirit.

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 Again, in 1 Corinthians we read,

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 God chose the foolish things of the world

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 to shame the wise.

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 God chose the weak things of the world

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 to shame the strong.

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 Our skill,

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 our wisdom,

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 our eloquence,

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 are not what makes God's message powerful.

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 It's God's choice to use us

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 that makes his word effective,

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 and that truth should fill us

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 with both confidence

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 and humility.

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 The gospel's power

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 is in God's action.

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 It's reassuring to know

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 that the power of God's message

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 doesn't rely on the skill of the messenger,

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 but even more comforting

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 is the fact that the message itself

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 reminds us of some important aspects

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 of God's character.

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 For one,

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 God is unchanging.

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 Despite Jonah's initial disobedience,

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 the message doesn't change.

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 God recommissions Jonah

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 in chapter 3.

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 It's the same message.

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 Go to the great city of Nineveh

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 and proclaim to it

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 the message I have given you.

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 It reminds us that

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 God's word is stable,

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 reliable,

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 and unwavering in its purposes.

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 His plans are

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 not altered by human failure

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 or resistance.

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 Even when we falter,

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 God remains steadfast,

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 showing us that

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 his will continues to move forward,

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 unaffected by our shortcomings.

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 His changing nature of God

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 brings comfort

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 because it reminds us

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 that we can trust in his word

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 and his promise

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 regardless of our own failings.

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 As well as revealing

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 God's unchanging nature,

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 the message reveals

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 two other elements of his character.

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 One hand is his justice,

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 also is his mercy.

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 In warning Nineveh

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 of impending judgment,

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 God demonstrates his righteousness

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 and his commitment

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 to uphold justice.

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 As we see in Jonah's message,

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 God's mercy

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 is equally present.

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 He gives the Ninevites

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 a chance to repent

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 and turn from their sin.

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 The power of God's message

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 lies in the fact

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 that it reflects his heart

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 with his righteous justice

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 and his deep desire

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 to save sinners.

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 This is not a message

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 of condemnation,

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 but an invitation

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 to experience mercy

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 and redemption.

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 God is just,

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 yet he extends grace

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 to those who turn to him.

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 Ultimately,

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 the power of the gospel

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 lies not in our words

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 or efforts,

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 but in God's action.

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 Just as he worked

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 through Jonah's simple message

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 to bring about

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 the repentance of Nineveh,

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 so too does God

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 work through the gospel

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 to bring mercy

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 to sinners today.

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 Our role

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 is simply

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 to be faithful messengers

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 trusting that the true power

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 comes from God himself

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 who is always at work

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 to accomplish

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 his purposes.

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 Another message we see

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 is that

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 the message is simple,

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 surprisingly brief.

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 In fact,

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 in Jonah 3, 4,

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 we read his proclamation,

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 40 more days

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 and Nineveh will be overthrown.

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 It's most likely

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 that he said

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 more than this

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 during his time in Nineveh,

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 but I think

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 the simplicity

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 of the message

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 recorded in the scripture

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 seems intentional.

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 The brevity

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 underscores

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 the power of God's word.

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 Even without detailed

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 explanation

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 or lengthy sermon,

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 the message was clear enough

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 to reach the hearts

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 of the people.

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 Jonah's simple proclamation

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 led to a citywide repentance

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 from the king

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 to the common people,

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 showing that it's not

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 the complexity

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 of the message,

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 but the power behind it

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 that brings change.

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 To provide some

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 background in Nineveh,

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 we know from the book

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 of Kings

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 that Jonah lived

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 during the reign

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 of King Jeroboam II,

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 which places his life

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 somewhere between

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 793 and

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 753

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 BC.

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 Nineveh was the capital

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 of the Assyrian Empire,

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 which is located

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 near Mosul,

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 modern-day Iraq.

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 At the time,

00:12:26.819 --> 00:12:27.519
 Assyria was

00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.879
 surrounded by

00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.959
 some of the most powerful

00:12:29.959 --> 00:12:32.719
 nations on the earth

00:12:32.719 --> 00:12:33.259
 at that time.

00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:34.559
 To the east,

00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:35.340
 there was Elam,

00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.720
 there was Phrygia

00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:38.100
 and around Damascus

00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:38.639
 to the west.

00:12:39.439 --> 00:12:40.000
 To the south,

00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:40.559
 there were the kingdoms

00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:41.340
 of Israel and Judah,

00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:42.439
 and to the north,

00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:43.659
 Araratu,

00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:45.319
 among many other

00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:45.919
 kingdoms,

00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:46.960
 smaller kingdoms.

00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:49.679
 The result of this

00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:50.059
 was that

00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:51.299
 the empire became

00:12:51.299 --> 00:12:52.620
 highly militarized,

00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:54.360
 a society built

00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:55.000
 in conquest,

00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:56.720
 and to main control

00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:57.620
 over the vast

00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:58.200
 territories,

00:12:59.100 --> 00:12:59.620
 the Assyrians

00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:00.220
 were infamous

00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:01.220
 for the brutality.

00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:03.420
 Using extreme

00:13:03.420 --> 00:13:04.180
 acts of cruelty

00:13:04.180 --> 00:13:05.240
 to strike fear

00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:05.980
 into their enemies.

00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:08.340
 These horrific displays

00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:09.240
 served as a chilling

00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:10.399
 warning to other cities,

00:13:11.160 --> 00:13:11.840
 resist Assyria,

00:13:12.560 --> 00:13:13.200
 and you will face

00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:14.259
 terrifying consequences.

00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:16.600
 The Assyrians

00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:17.259
 were by nature

00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.399
 aggressive,

00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.080
 hard-hearted,

00:13:20.180 --> 00:13:20.580
 but somehow

00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:21.840
 this hard-hearted

00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:23.420
 city in a hard-hearted

00:13:23.420 --> 00:13:23.740
 kingdom

00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:25.100
 was moved

00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:25.759
 by the words

00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:26.279
 of one man.

00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:29.019
 The power of the message

00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:29.980
 was not in its length,

00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:31.080
 sophistication,

00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:33.139
 but in its divine

00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:35.379
 origin and authority.

00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.800
 The message of the gospel,

00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:39.820
 like the message of Jonah,

00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.100
 is also simple

00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:41.720
 yet powerful.

00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.399
 Repent and believe

00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:43.920
 the good news

00:13:43.920 --> 00:13:44.399
 as we hear

00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:45.120
 in Mark's gospel.

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.259
 The gospel is rooted

00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.340
 in the straightforward truth.

00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:50.000
 Despite its simplicity,

00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:50.680
 this message

00:13:50.680 --> 00:13:51.720
 has the power

00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:52.860
 to transform lives.

00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:54.300
 Just as Jonah's

00:13:54.300 --> 00:13:54.899
 simple warning

00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.259
 that the people of Nineveh

00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:56.879
 to repentance,

00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:58.860
 and simplicity

00:13:58.860 --> 00:14:00.080
 doesn't diminish

00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:00.519
 its power.

00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:01.299
 In fact,

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:02.759
 it emphasizes

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.240
 that God's work

00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:04.740
 in salvation

00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:06.320
 depends solely

00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.299
 on the sovereign grace

00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:08.220
 and the response

00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:09.200
 of our own hearts.

00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.200
 The message

00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:11.700
 of the gospel

00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:14.019
 is simply this.

00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:16.939
 God created the world

00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:17.960
 and humanity

00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:19.059
 out of love,

00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:20.759
 intending for us

00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:21.139
 to live

00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:22.980
 in a perfect relationship

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.340
 with him.

00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:25.620
 Humanity sinned

00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.860
 by disobeying God,

00:14:27.580 --> 00:14:28.379
 which led to a separation

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:28.820
 from him

00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:30.540
 and spiritual death.

00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:33.080
 Despite our sins,

00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.000
 God sent his son,

00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:35.700
 Jesus Christ,

00:14:35.780 --> 00:14:36.360
 into the world

00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.160
 to save us.

00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:39.160
 Jesus lived

00:14:39.160 --> 00:14:39.879
 a sinless life,

00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.580
 died on the cross

00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:42.519
 to take the punishment

00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.259
 for our sins,

00:14:44.160 --> 00:14:44.879
 and rose from the dead,

00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:46.399
 conquering both sin

00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.500
 and death.

00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:49.240
 By repenting

00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:49.700
 of our sins

00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:50.600
 and placing our faith

00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.400
 in Jesus Christ,

00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:53.139
 we receive forgiveness

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.279
 and eternal life

00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:55.620
 and are restored

00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:56.259
 to relationship

00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:56.799
 with God.

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.579
 The gospel

00:14:58.579 --> 00:15:00.159
 promises that all

00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:01.179
 who trust in Jesus

00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:02.679
 will experience

00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:03.340
 eternal life

00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:03.779
 with God

00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.939
 in his kingdom,

00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.319
 free from sin,

00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:07.759
 suffering,

00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:08.639
 and death,

00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.240
 both physical

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.740
 and spiritual

00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.819
 in our separation

00:15:11.819 --> 00:15:12.319
 from God.

00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:14.919
 Sometimes

00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:16.199
 we feel like

00:15:16.199 --> 00:15:17.340
 we need to have

00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:18.100
 all the right words

00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:19.679
 or deep theological

00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.179
 insights

00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.279
 or arguments

00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.919
 to share the gospel

00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:23.419
 effectively,

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:25.099
 but God's message

00:15:25.099 --> 00:15:25.699
 can be simple

00:15:25.699 --> 00:15:26.659
 and even a few words

00:15:26.659 --> 00:15:27.879
 can make a big difference

00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:29.299
 when they come from him.

00:15:31.319 --> 00:15:31.759
 So,

00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:33.179
 another thing we learn

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:34.199
 about the message

00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:35.099
 God sent Jonah

00:15:35.099 --> 00:15:37.199
 is that it was for all.

00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:38.459
 Jonah's message

00:15:38.459 --> 00:15:39.519
 to the people of Nineveh

00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.839
 was clear,

00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:42.379
 accessible to everyone,

00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:43.819
 regardless of how good

00:15:43.819 --> 00:15:44.479
 or bad they were.

00:15:45.599 --> 00:15:46.659
 Even though the Ninevites

00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.179
 were notorious

00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:48.839
 notorious for their wickedness

00:15:48.839 --> 00:15:49.419
 and unfamiliar

00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:50.379
 with the God of Israel,

00:15:51.339 --> 00:15:52.059
 they were all given

00:15:52.059 --> 00:15:52.639
 the opportunity

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.359
 to repent.

00:15:54.719 --> 00:15:56.079
 We see that God's mercy

00:15:56.079 --> 00:15:57.239
 extends to all people

00:15:57.239 --> 00:15:58.239
 no matter how far

00:15:58.239 --> 00:15:58.979
 they have strayed

00:15:58.979 --> 00:16:00.039
 from what their past

00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:00.559
 looks like.

00:16:01.859 --> 00:16:02.519
 God's call

00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.159
 to repentance

00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:04.559
 is not reserved

00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:05.139
 for the righteous,

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:07.199
 but is offered

00:16:07.199 --> 00:16:07.839
 for everyone,

00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:09.819
 showing his desire

00:16:09.819 --> 00:16:10.459
 to save all

00:16:10.459 --> 00:16:10.919
 regardless

00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:12.079
 of their sins.

00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:14.540
 In addition to

00:16:14.540 --> 00:16:15.400
 passing over

00:16:15.400 --> 00:16:16.139
 past sins,

00:16:16.800 --> 00:16:17.360
 Jonah's message

00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:17.940
 cuts across

00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:19.160
 all levels of society,

00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:20.320
 from the king

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:20.879
 in his palace

00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.320
 to the lowest servant

00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:22.940
 in the streets.

00:16:24.160 --> 00:16:24.680
 Every person

00:16:24.680 --> 00:16:25.240
 heard the call

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:25.740
 to repent,

00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:27.080
 and every person

00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:27.580
 responded.

00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:29.660
 This is a demonstration

00:16:29.660 --> 00:16:30.560
 of the inclusiveness

00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:31.780
 of God's offer of grace,

00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.420
 reaching all levels

00:16:33.420 --> 00:16:34.139
 of society,

00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:36.040
 regardless of social class

00:16:36.040 --> 00:16:36.680
 or education

00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:37.900
 or status.

00:16:39.520 --> 00:16:40.020
 Similarly,

00:16:40.920 --> 00:16:41.540
 the Great Commission

00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:42.919
 given by Christ

00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:43.879
 calls us to bring

00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:44.279
 the gospel

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.480
 to all nations

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.699
 and all people.

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.219
 The gospel,

00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:49.719
 like Jonah's message,

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.539
 is intended

00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.240
 for all people.

00:16:52.219 --> 00:16:53.139
 We read in St. Paul's

00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.219
 letter to the Galatians,

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.299
 he declares that

00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:56.279
 in Christ there is

00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:58.120
 neither Jew nor Gentile,

00:16:58.860 --> 00:17:00.019
 neither slave nor free,

00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:01.279
 nor is there male

00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:01.839
 and female,

00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.699
 for you are all one

00:17:03.699 --> 00:17:04.680
 in Christ Jesus.

00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:07.019
 Just as the Ninevites

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.420
 were given

00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.259
 the opportunity

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:08.859
 to repent,

00:17:09.659 --> 00:17:10.599
 so too is the gospel

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.200
 an invitation

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:12.420
 for everyone

00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.299
 to turn to God

00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.539
 and receive

00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.279
 his grace.

00:17:21.600 --> 00:17:22.500
 So as we

00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:24.039
 reflect on Jonah's

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.420
 message to Nineveh

00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.740
 and the remarkable

00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.259
 transformation

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:28.299
 of an entire city,

00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.759
 we're led to consider

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.340
 one of the most

00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.380
 central themes

00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:32.039
 in scripture,

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:33.580
 repentance.

00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:35.960
 The story of Nineveh

00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:37.120
 is not simply

00:17:37.120 --> 00:17:37.819
 a tale of a city

00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:38.580
 avoiding destruction,

00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:39.919
 it's a powerful

00:17:39.919 --> 00:17:41.019
 illustration of what

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:41.559
 true repentance

00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:42.199
 looks like,

00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.679
 the impact it can

00:17:43.679 --> 00:17:44.220
 have on both

00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.220
 individuals

00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.559
 and communities.

00:17:48.199 --> 00:17:48.939
 Repentance is not

00:17:48.939 --> 00:17:50.039
 just an emotional

00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:50.639
 response

00:17:50.639 --> 00:17:51.740
 or a fleeting

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.539
 feeling of guilt,

00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.039
 it's a total

00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.839
 change of direction,

00:17:55.679 --> 00:17:56.679
 turning away from sin

00:17:56.679 --> 00:17:57.799
 and turning towards

00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.099
 God.

00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.119
 The story of Nineveh

00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:01.720
 gives us

00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.839
 a vivid picture

00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.379
 of the different

00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:04.339
 aspects of repentance.

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:06.419
 The Nineveh

00:18:06.419 --> 00:18:07.639
 demonstrate their

00:18:07.639 --> 00:18:08.159
 repentance

00:18:08.159 --> 00:18:09.259
 is not passive

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.539
 but active.

00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:11.579
 It involves

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.359
 hearing God's word,

00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:14.119
 responding with

00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:14.459
 action,

00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.000
 being transformed

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.119
 from the inside

00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:17.419
 out.

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:18.759
 True repentance

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.359
 is about more

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:21.419
 than feeling sorry

00:18:21.419 --> 00:18:22.359
 for past wrongs,

00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:23.699
 it's about making

00:18:23.699 --> 00:18:24.419
 a genuine shift

00:18:24.419 --> 00:18:25.019
 in our behavior,

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.279
 our mindset,

00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:27.539
 and our relationship

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.000
 with God.

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:30.399
 So as we explore

00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.379
 the nature of repentance,

00:18:31.959 --> 00:18:32.740
 we'll look at four

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.720
 key aspects

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.299
 of the marriage

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.200
 from Jonah 3.

00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.740
 Each of these

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.700
 elements reveals

00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:39.579
 something important

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:41.339
 about how repentance

00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:42.859
 can work in our lives.

00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:44.460
 Conversely,

00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.259
 true repentance

00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:48.440
 begins with hearing

00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.000
 and believing

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.599
 God's word.

00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.539
 Without hearing

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.099
 God's word,

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.660
 the people

00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:55.799
 remain unaware

00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.480
 of their sins

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.700
 and they need

00:18:57.700 --> 00:18:58.460
 to turn back to him.

00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:59.440
 Imagine a person

00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.799
 walking towards danger

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.460
 without realizing it,

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.559
 unless someone

00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:04.120
 warns them,

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.180
 they remain

00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:06.259
 unaware of the peril

00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:06.819
 ahead.

00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.299
 In the same way,

00:19:10.360 --> 00:19:11.180
 God's word serves

00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:11.920
 as both a warning

00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.319
 and a guide,

00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:14.640
 opening our eyes

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.600
 to the reality

00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:16.180
 of our sin,

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.559
 leading us towards

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.079
 repentance.

00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:19.880
 In Jonah 3.4,

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.700
 Jonah's proclamation

00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.420
 to Nineveh,

00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:22.720
 although simple,

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.319
 lies in an urgent

00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:25.620
 call to change.

00:19:27.840 --> 00:19:28.500
 The Ninevites

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.160
 could have ignored

00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:29.660
 the message,

00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.299
 but instead

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.420
 they listened.

00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:33.160
 The act of hearing

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:33.680
 God's word

00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.840
 is crucial

00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:36.320
 because it

00:19:36.320 --> 00:19:36.960
 initiates

00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.779
 the message,

00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:38.360
 but instead

00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:39.380
 they listened.

00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.019
 Sorry,

00:19:41.300 --> 00:19:41.900
 the Ninevites

00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:42.440
 could have ignored

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:42.920
 the message,

00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:43.519
 but instead

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.120
 they listened.

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.060
 The act of hearing

00:19:46.060 --> 00:19:46.840
 God's word

00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.620
 is crucial

00:19:47.620 --> 00:19:48.400
 because it

00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:48.840
 initiates

00:19:48.840 --> 00:19:49.240
 an encounter

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:49.980
 with God's truth.

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.140
 This encounter

00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:53.160
 often acts

00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:53.539
 as a mirror

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.019
 revealing

00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:55.200
 areas of sin

00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.320
 in our own lives

00:19:56.320 --> 00:19:56.759
 that we have

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.940
 otherwise ignored.

00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:59.720
 repentance

00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:01.460
 is impossible

00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.059
 without first

00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:02.779
 hearing God's word.

00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:04.720
 This was true

00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.340
 for Nineveh

00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:06.779
 and is true

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.460
 for us today.

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.180
 We often,

00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.299
 like the Ninevites,

00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.600
 are unaware

00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:12.600
 or ignoring

00:20:12.600 --> 00:20:13.000
 the path

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.519
 we are on

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.980
 until God's word

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:16.039
 awakens us

00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:16.860
 to reality.

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.180
 The phrase,

00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:19.840
 the Ninevites

00:20:19.840 --> 00:20:20.539
 believe God,

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.960
 shows that repentance

00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.820
 also begins

00:20:22.820 --> 00:20:23.400
 with faith.

00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:25.460
 They didn't just

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.060
 hear the message

00:20:26.060 --> 00:20:26.740
 and dismiss it.

00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.340
 They believed

00:20:28.340 --> 00:20:29.040
 in the truth

00:20:29.040 --> 00:20:30.000
 of God's warning

00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.080
 and trusted

00:20:31.080 --> 00:20:31.540
 that he would

00:20:31.540 --> 00:20:32.000
 respond

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.040
 if they repented.

00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:35.180
 St. Paul says

00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.660
 in his letter

00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:36.140
 to the church

00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:36.460
 in Rome,

00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:37.420
 faith comes

00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:37.860
 from hearing

00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:39.259
 and hearing

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.220
 from the word

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:40.720
 of the Lord.

00:20:42.080 --> 00:20:42.759
 Without faith

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.560
 in what they

00:20:43.560 --> 00:20:43.960
 have heard,

00:20:44.800 --> 00:20:45.300
 the Ninevites

00:20:45.300 --> 00:20:45.780
 would have

00:20:45.780 --> 00:20:46.120
 continued

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:46.680
 in their way.

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.700
 Faith is not

00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:52.000
 just intellectual

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:52.519
 acknowledgement

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.299
 but a response

00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:53.740
 of trust

00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.160
 in God's

00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:54.539
 character

00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:55.839
 and his promises.

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:57.720
 The Ninevites

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.940
 did not ignore

00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:00.079
 or resist Jonah's

00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:00.460
 message.

00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:01.940
 Instead,

00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.559
 they responded

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.059
 immediately

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:04.240
 with belief

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:04.960
 and action.

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:06.639
 Repentance

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:07.720
 requires more

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.259
 than just hearing

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:08.759
 God's words

00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.299
 with our ears,

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.440
 it requires

00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:10.960
 listening with

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.440
 our hearts,

00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:12.980
 allowing his truth

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:14.039
 to enter deeply.

00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:15.900
 Today,

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.960
 we must approach

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.519
 God's word

00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.339
 with openness

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:19.599
 and humility,

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.319
 ready to respond

00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:21.940
 in repentance

00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:23.080
 and God

00:21:23.080 --> 00:21:23.860
 convicts us

00:21:23.860 --> 00:21:24.200
 of sin.

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.279
 We must ask

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.019
 God for the grace

00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:28.180
 to not harden

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.700
 our hearts

00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:29.940
 but to allow

00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.400
 his word

00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:31.380
 to change us

00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:31.880
 from the inside

00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:32.200
 out.

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.059
 Ignoring God's

00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:35.240
 word leads

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.820
 to spiritual

00:21:35.820 --> 00:21:36.160
 blindness

00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:36.799
 and ultimately

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:38.000
 judgment.

00:21:44.840 --> 00:21:45.680
 True repentance

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.180
 leads to action.

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:49.259
 true repentance

00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:49.720
 is seen

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.960
 when God

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.759
 saw what they

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.000
 did,

00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:52.700
 how they

00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.060
 turned from

00:21:53.060 --> 00:21:53.380
 their evil

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:53.700
 ways.

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:54.940
 God

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.480
 acknowledges

00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.180
 repentance

00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:56.840
 when it's

00:21:56.840 --> 00:21:57.560
 accompanied by

00:21:57.560 --> 00:21:58.560
 genuine life

00:21:58.560 --> 00:21:58.980
 change,

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.000
 not merely

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.560
 words or

00:22:00.560 --> 00:22:00.960
 rituals.

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.720
 In Jonah 3,

00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.039
 5,

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.299
 we see the people

00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:05.019
 of Nineveh

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.640
 proclaiming a

00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.259
 fast from the

00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:07.060
 greatest to the

00:22:07.060 --> 00:22:07.539
 least of them.

00:22:08.560 --> 00:22:09.400
 Fasting in this

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:11.180
 context is more

00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:11.900
 than just abstaining

00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:12.340
 from food.

00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:13.399
 It's a powerful

00:22:13.399 --> 00:22:13.939
 symbol of

00:22:13.939 --> 00:22:14.279
 repentance.

00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.019
 By giving up

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.480
 their basic

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.319
 physical needs,

00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.519
 the Ninevites

00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.159
 were demonstrating

00:22:19.159 --> 00:22:19.639
 their willingness

00:22:19.639 --> 00:22:20.299
 to turn away

00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:20.659
 from their

00:22:20.659 --> 00:22:21.220
 former ways.

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.199
 Fasting

00:22:23.199 --> 00:22:24.299
 represents a

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:24.959
 conscious decision

00:22:24.959 --> 00:22:26.039
 to forsake

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:26.439
 the things

00:22:26.439 --> 00:22:26.799
 that once

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.459
 consumed us,

00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:28.899
 whether it be

00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.959
 sinful habits,

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.699
 selfish desires,

00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:32.859
 or the pursuit

00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.980
 of personal gain.

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:35.819
 It's an outward

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:37.179
 expression of an

00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:37.980
 inward conviction,

00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:39.259
 acknowledging that

00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.039
 the paths we were

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:41.319
 on led us

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:41.919
 away from God.

00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.939
 giving up food,

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.439
 they were declaring

00:22:45.439 --> 00:22:46.299
 that their desire

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.079
 for God's mercy

00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:49.399
 and favor was

00:22:49.399 --> 00:22:49.959
 greater than their

00:22:49.959 --> 00:22:50.519
 physical hunger.

00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:52.559
 In addition to

00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.679
 fasting, the

00:22:53.679 --> 00:22:54.439
 people of Nineveh

00:22:54.439 --> 00:22:55.399
 clothed themselves

00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:56.079
 in sackcloth,

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.539
 and even the

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.119
 king himself

00:22:58.119 --> 00:22:59.179
 sat in ashes

00:22:59.179 --> 00:23:00.000
 as described in

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.179
 Jonah 3, 6.

00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:03.319
 Sackcloth and

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.139
 ashes are ancient

00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:04.959
 symbols of mourning

00:23:04.959 --> 00:23:05.459
 and grief,

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.759
 humility.

00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:09.240
 Sackcloth was

00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:09.919
 a coarse material,

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.399
 it was uncomfortable

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:12.680
 and symbolized

00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:13.420
 the discomfort

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.040
 of the soul,

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.660
 a heart grieving

00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.220
 over sin.

00:23:17.600 --> 00:23:19.220
 Ashes associated

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.780
 with death

00:23:19.780 --> 00:23:21.900
 symbolized decay

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:23.280
 and signified

00:23:23.280 --> 00:23:23.820
 the awareness

00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:24.880
 of one's own

00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.360
 mortality

00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:27.000
 and the unworthiness

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.000
 before a holy

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.300
 God.

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.500
 By choosing

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.120
 to wear a

00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:31.720
 sackcloth and

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.320
 covering themselves

00:23:32.320 --> 00:23:32.840
 in ashes,

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.280
 the Ninevites

00:23:34.280 --> 00:23:35.040
 were publicly

00:23:35.040 --> 00:23:35.880
 humbling themselves,

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.259
 acknowledging their

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.380
 guilt and their

00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:39.600
 dependence on God's

00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:39.879
 mercy.

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.139
 It's a visible

00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:42.939
 expression of the

00:23:42.939 --> 00:23:43.759
 inward realization

00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.379
 that they were

00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:45.639
 nothing without him.

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.619
 True repentance

00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.879
 always comes with

00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:49.299
 humility,

00:23:50.179 --> 00:23:50.799
 realizing that we

00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:51.559
 are in need of

00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:52.119
 God's grace.

00:23:53.399 --> 00:23:53.980
 The actions of

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.480
 the Ninevites

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.459
 remind us that

00:23:55.459 --> 00:23:58.000
 repentance is not

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.000
 only about regret,

00:23:59.119 --> 00:23:59.459
 but about

00:23:59.459 --> 00:24:00.159
 surrendering our

00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:01.599
 pride and coming

00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.219
 before God

00:24:02.219 --> 00:24:03.119
 with a humble

00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:03.459
 heart.

00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:07.180
 well, the

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.579
 outwards actions

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.120
 of repentance

00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:10.279
 like fasting

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:10.720
 and wearing

00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.480
 sackcloth are

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.000
 important.

00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:13.799
 Psalm 51

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:15.400
 verses 16 and

00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:16.319
 17 remind us

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.360
 that God's

00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:19.360
 desire, God

00:24:19.360 --> 00:24:19.900
 desires more

00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:20.860
 than just physical

00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.299
 displays.

00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.240
 King David

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:22.740
 writes in the

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:22.940
 Psalm,

00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.019
 you do not

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.779
 delight in

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:26.299
 sacrifice or I

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:26.779
 would bring it.

00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.259
 You do not

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.000
 take pleasure in

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.640
 burnt offerings.

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.519
 My sacrifice,

00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.000
 O God,

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.140
 is a broken

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:33.579
 spirit,

00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.460
 broken and a

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.140
 contrite heart.

00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:37.359
 You, God,

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:39.000
 will not despise.

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.819
 This passage

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.480
 speaks of the

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.000
 truth that

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.180
 outward rituals

00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.740
 and actions

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:46.079
 mean nothing

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:47.420
 if they are

00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:47.920
 not accompanied

00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:48.660
 by a genuine

00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:50.000
 change of heart.

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.359
 People of

00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.140
 Nineveh understood

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.559
 this.

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.039
 They did not

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.759
 just fast or

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.440
 wear sackcloth

00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:56.859
 to avoid

00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.339
 destruction,

00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:58.740
 but they humbled

00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.220
 their hearts

00:24:59.220 --> 00:24:59.819
 before God.

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:01.920
 True repentance

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.600
 begins in the

00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.560
 heart with

00:25:03.560 --> 00:25:04.080
 an acknowledgement

00:25:04.080 --> 00:25:05.259
 of sin and

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.840
 a deep desire

00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:06.740
 to be reconciled

00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.180
 with God.

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.000
 Without that

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.740
 inner transformation,

00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.660
 even the most

00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:12.480
 dramatic physical

00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.039
 actions are

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.300
 empty.

00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:15.279
 God values

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.340
 sincerity over

00:25:16.340 --> 00:25:17.420
 ritual and he

00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:18.220
 is moved by a

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.259
 heart that is

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.900
 truly broken

00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:21.779
 over sin and

00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.700
 desires reconciliation

00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.340
 with him.

00:25:24.560 --> 00:25:25.019
 This is the

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.700
 essence of genuine

00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.259
 repentance,

00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:27.900
 not just outward

00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.320
 behavior,

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.680
 inward renewal.

00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:32.940
 true repentance

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.500
 needs to change.

00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:36.860
 Jonah's journey

00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:38.140
 is not one of

00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:38.820
 simple obedience,

00:25:39.820 --> 00:25:40.220
 but one that

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.480
 includes a deep

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.000
 wrestling with

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:42.580
 God's mercy

00:25:42.580 --> 00:25:43.320
 towards those

00:25:43.320 --> 00:25:43.980
 he views as

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.360
 enemies.

00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.720
 His internal

00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:48.200
 conflict parallels

00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:49.019
 the process of

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.519
 true repentance,

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:52.259
 which involves a

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.080
 shift in heart

00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:53.720
 and perspective.

00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.779
 Jonah, in his

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.940
 reluctance, struggles

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.860
 to see beyond his

00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:58.719
 own biases and

00:25:58.719 --> 00:26:00.339
 judgments, much

00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:00.779
 like how we

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:02.079
 often fail to

00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:03.359
 recognize our

00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:04.779
 own failures when

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.539
 we judge others.

00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.219
 This blindness

00:26:07.219 --> 00:26:08.719
 prevents us from

00:26:08.719 --> 00:26:10.139
 truly understanding

00:26:10.139 --> 00:26:10.959
 both God's will

00:26:10.959 --> 00:26:12.299
 and the people

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:12.859
 around us.

00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:14.339
 We read in the

00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:15.000
 Gospel of Matthew,

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.119
 Jesus says,

00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:17.439
 Why do you look at

00:26:17.439 --> 00:26:18.339
 the speck of sawdust

00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:18.959
 in your brother's

00:26:18.959 --> 00:26:19.579
 eye and pay no

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.219
 attention to the

00:26:20.219 --> 00:26:20.819
 plank in your own

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:20.979
 eye?

00:26:21.699 --> 00:26:22.399
 How can you say

00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:22.879
 to your brother,

00:26:23.479 --> 00:26:25.019
 let me take the

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.679
 speck out of your

00:26:25.679 --> 00:26:26.719
 own eye, when all

00:26:26.719 --> 00:26:27.479
 the time there is a

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:28.240
 plank in your own

00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.440
 eye?

00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:29.799
 You hypocrites,

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.140
 first take the

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:31.819
 plank out of your

00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:33.099
 own eye and you

00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:34.360
 will see clearly to

00:26:34.360 --> 00:26:35.720
 remove the speck from

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.360
 your brother's eye.

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:38.740
 Failing to

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:40.000
 recognize our own

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:42.700
 sin blinds us, not

00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.559
 just to God's truth,

00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.220
 but also to reality

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:47.779
 in others and in

00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.180
 the world.

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:50.900
 By acknowledging and

00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:51.720
 addressing our inner

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:53.400
 selves, we can see

00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:54.940
 clearly and engage

00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:56.579
 with truth and move

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.480
 towards love.

00:27:00.659 --> 00:27:01.799
 Repentance is about

00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.720
 turning towards love

00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.879
 and compassion.

00:27:05.199 --> 00:27:05.699
 The people of

00:27:05.699 --> 00:27:06.559
 Nineveh, by

00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.460
 repenting, demonstrated

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.460
 a shift from evil and

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.960
 violence to humility

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:11.339
 and an openness to

00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:11.879
 God's mercy.

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:13.819
 Without genuine

00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:16.579
 repentance, we, like

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:17.079
 the people of

00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:18.059
 Nineveh, for their

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:19.679
 change, live in a

00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:20.319
 spiritual hell,

00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:22.359
 separated from

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.159
 experiencing the

00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:24.240
 love of God.

00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:30.200
 Finally, we see in

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:32.519
 Jonah 10, it's

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:34.019
 emphasized that God

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.880
 is not indifferent to

00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.740
 the actions of those

00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.640
 who seek him in

00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:36.940
 repentance.

00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:39.519
 He's attentive to the

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.300
 sincerity of our

00:27:40.300 --> 00:27:41.680
 hearts and he

00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.580
 responds to true,

00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:43.920
 heartfelt repentance.

00:27:45.040 --> 00:27:45.840
 The people of

00:27:45.840 --> 00:27:46.540
 Nineveh didn't just

00:27:46.540 --> 00:27:47.080
 acknowledge their

00:27:47.080 --> 00:27:48.080
 sins, they

00:27:48.080 --> 00:27:49.040
 demonstrated repentance

00:27:49.040 --> 00:27:49.779
 by changing their

00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.120
 behavior.

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:52.139
 God looks beyond

00:27:52.139 --> 00:27:53.159
 superficial actions

00:27:53.159 --> 00:27:53.859
 and recognizes

00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.799
 genuine transformation

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:56.359
 which was evident

00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:57.119
 when the Ninevites

00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.799
 turned from their

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.399
 evil ways.

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.059
 True repentance

00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:02.819
 isn't merely about

00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.559
 feeling remorse,

00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:04.899
 but involves a

00:28:04.899 --> 00:28:05.439
 turning away from

00:28:05.439 --> 00:28:07.219
 sin and a desire

00:28:07.219 --> 00:28:08.019
 to live in

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.579
 alignment with

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.039
 God's will.

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.899
 The mercy God

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.739
 showed to Nineveh

00:28:12.739 --> 00:28:14.079
 was not because

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:14.679
 they earned it,

00:28:15.479 --> 00:28:16.299
 but because of his

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.019
 gracious character.

00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:19.940
 God's mercy,

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.420
 while freely given,

00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:24.079
 does require genuine

00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:26.680
 repentance from us.

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:29.019
 The people of Nineveh

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:30.279
 didn't just feel bad

00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:30.879
 for their sins,

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.960
 they actively sought

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.900
 change through

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.900
 fasting and prayer

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:36.099
 and turning from

00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:36.660
 their wickedness.

00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:38.759
 While repentance is

00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:40.519
 necessary, mercy is

00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.900
 ultimately a gift of

00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.839
 God's grace, not

00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:43.480
 something we can

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.660
 merit through our

00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.180
 own efforts.

00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:48.259
 God gives mercy

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.160
 out of his abundant

00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:50.840
 love and it's

00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:52.100
 always undeserved.

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.220
 God's decision to

00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:56.039
 relent from bringing

00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:57.259
 disaster upon Nineveh

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.759
 is a reflection of

00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:01.560
 his nature.

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.900
 We'll read next

00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:04.840
 week in Jonah 4.2,

00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.019
 Jonah himself

00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:06.759
 acknowledges that

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.420
 God is gracious

00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.080
 and compassionate,

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:09.820
 slow to anger

00:29:09.820 --> 00:29:11.019
 and abounding in

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.220
 love.

00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:13.900
 This is a powerful

00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:15.600
 reminder that God's

00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:16.140
 response to

00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:17.480
 repentance is not

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.880
 mechanical but is

00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:19.720
 deeply rooted in

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:21.720
 who he is,

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.100
 merciful and

00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:23.519
 compassionate,

00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:24.960
 patient.

00:29:26.300 --> 00:29:27.620
 His desire is not

00:29:27.620 --> 00:29:29.340
 to punish but to

00:29:29.340 --> 00:29:30.820
 restore and forgive

00:29:30.820 --> 00:29:32.140
 when people turn

00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:32.660
 back to him.

00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.620
 This shows that

00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:36.100
 God's mercy flows

00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:36.740
 from his character

00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:38.040
 of love and grace,

00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.300
 rather from any

00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:40.519
 external pressure

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.460
 our conditions.

00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.139
 The story of

00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:47.819
 Jonah and

00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:49.619
 Nineveh and

00:29:49.619 --> 00:29:50.460
 its deliverance

00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:52.180
 foreshadows the

00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:52.920
 ultimate act of

00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:54.000
 mercy shown to

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:55.420
 us through Jesus

00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:55.839
 Christ.

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.879
 Just as the people

00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:58.539
 of Nineveh were

00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:59.119
 spared from the

00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:00.400
 destruction they

00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:02.339
 deserved, we too

00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:02.940
 have been spared

00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.859
 from the consequences

00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:05.619
 of our sin through

00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:06.779
 the sacrifice of

00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:07.019
 Jesus.

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.079
 He took upon

00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:09.639
 himself the

00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.140
 judgment we

00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:12.400
 deserve, offering

00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:12.980
 us forgiveness

00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:14.100
 and reconciliation.

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.480
 This mercy

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.620
 should not be

00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:18.400
 taken for granted

00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:20.040
 but should move

00:30:20.040 --> 00:30:20.480
 us towards

00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:22.240
 gratitude and a

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.020
 transformed life.

00:30:24.280 --> 00:30:25.180
 In light of the

00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:25.680
 mercy we've

00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.960
 received, we're

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.500
 all called to

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.160
 live in obedience

00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.380
 and humility,

00:30:30.300 --> 00:30:30.920
 reflecting on how

00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:31.620
 God's grace

00:30:31.620 --> 00:30:32.820
 continues to

00:30:32.820 --> 00:30:33.240
 shape our

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.580
 lives.

00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:33.680
 Amen.

00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.500
 So as we

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.840
 close, let

00:30:41.840 --> 00:30:43.080
 us, we

00:30:43.080 --> 00:30:43.440
 should take a

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:43.759
 moment to

00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:45.080
 reflect on the

00:30:45.080 --> 00:30:45.740
 mercy God has

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.340
 shown to us.

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.520
 Have we truly

00:30:48.520 --> 00:30:49.800
 repented of the

00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:50.500
 areas where we've

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.100
 turned away from

00:30:51.100 --> 00:30:51.280
 him?

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.620
 Are we living in

00:30:53.620 --> 00:30:54.120
 the freedom that

00:30:54.120 --> 00:30:54.840
 comes from knowing

00:30:54.840 --> 00:30:55.980
 we are forgiven

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:57.960
 or do we take his

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.620
 mercy for granted?

00:30:58.619 --> 00:31:01.039
 I encourage you

00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:03.319
 today, just as God

00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:05.099
 spared Nineveh, he's

00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:05.679
 waiting with open

00:31:05.679 --> 00:31:06.759
 arms to receive us

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.619
 when we repent.

00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:10.039
 His mercy is not

00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:11.039
 limited by our

00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.599
 failures but is

00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.500
 made new every

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:13.779
 morning.

00:31:15.439 --> 00:31:16.059
 So let us live

00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:17.059
 lives marked by

00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:18.879
 gratitude, humility

00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:19.839
 and a deep

00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.679
 awareness of the

00:31:20.679 --> 00:31:21.139
 mercy we've

00:31:21.139 --> 00:31:22.819
 received because

00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:23.319
 through Jesus

00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:25.039
 Christ we too

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.719
 have been

00:31:25.719 --> 00:31:25.979
 spread.

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:28.099
 Let us pray.