WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.480 If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn with me to the book of Jonah. 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:07.140 And we're going to look at the book of Jonah this morning, 00:00:07.299 --> 00:00:10.519 and I'm going to preach all four chapters this morning. 00:00:11.700 --> 00:00:13.320 It's probably going to take two or three hours, 00:00:13.419 --> 00:00:15.939 but I know that you don't mind and you don't have anywhere to go. 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:16.920 No, I'm teasing. 00:00:17.580 --> 00:00:19.580 I'm going to do it in about 30, 35 minutes. 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:24.140 And there's a reason, because some books of the Bible you need to dissect 00:00:24.140 --> 00:00:26.580 and look at verse by verse by verse. 00:00:26.580 --> 00:00:28.940 And some books of the Bible, to be honest with you, 00:00:28.940 --> 00:00:31.920 you need to start in chapter 1 and read them all the way to the end 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:35.460 and then step back and ask yourself, what is God saying? 00:00:35.620 --> 00:00:37.340 And this is one of those kind of books. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:40.100 You're actually better off, you'll understand the book better 00:00:40.100 --> 00:00:45.980 if you read it as a whole than if you dissect it into many, many different parts. 00:00:46.680 --> 00:00:49.380 How many of you remember the movie Forrest Gump? 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:51.320 How many of you actually saw that movie? 00:00:51.400 --> 00:00:52.780 Raise your hand real high, Forrest Gump. 00:00:53.460 --> 00:00:54.120 That's great. 00:00:54.340 --> 00:00:56.320 All God's people saw that movie, right? 00:00:56.859 --> 00:00:58.000 It's a great, great movie. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:00.560 I think it's probably my favorite movie of all time. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:04.680 I got a lot of favorites, but I really think that's right there near the top. 00:01:05.060 --> 00:01:09.579 It's probably the most quoted movie I can ever remember seeing in my lifetime, 00:01:09.579 --> 00:01:14.879 and I don't think I ever laughed harder or experienced a wealth of emotions more 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:16.840 in any other picture than that. 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:19.140 There were times I'd just laugh myself silly, 00:01:19.500 --> 00:01:22.359 and other times, I mean, tears would be streaming down my face. 00:01:22.420 --> 00:01:24.319 It was just a heart-touching movie. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:28.619 Let me just test your memory on something, prove what I saw about her. 00:01:28.899 --> 00:01:30.639 See if you can remember some of these quotes. 00:01:31.699 --> 00:01:34.379 Forrest used to say, my mama always said what? 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:35.239 Anybody remember? 00:01:35.639 --> 00:01:36.479 Now, you're going to read it. 00:01:36.519 --> 00:01:37.599 You're going to get the clue, right? 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:39.259 Well, go ahead and say it with me. 00:01:39.339 --> 00:01:41.019 Life is like a box of chocolates. 00:01:41.139 --> 00:01:43.179 You never know what you're going to get. 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:45.299 Mama was a wise gal. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:48.280 She said, life is like a box of chocolates. 00:01:48.379 --> 00:01:49.399 You never know what you're going to get. 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:53.620 She also said, stupid is as stupid does. 00:01:53.700 --> 00:01:54.400 Remember that? 00:01:55.080 --> 00:02:01.960 And then he said of Jenny, me and Jenny go together like peas and carrots. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:06.660 And then in the end of the movie, when she's trying to convince him that she's not right for him, 00:02:06.740 --> 00:02:08.159 remember what Forrest says? 00:02:08.500 --> 00:02:12.719 He says, I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is. 00:02:13.140 --> 00:02:15.099 That was a great statement, wasn't it? 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:17.460 I remember so many things about that movie. 00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:20.520 Here are a few of my favorite things that occurred in that movie. 00:02:20.820 --> 00:02:24.000 You remember when he's on the park bench and people would come up and they'd sit down beside him 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:25.300 and have those little conversations? 00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:27.600 Wasn't that a great, great part of the movie? 00:02:27.920 --> 00:02:31.960 And remember when he went to play football at Alabama and he played for Bear Bryant 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:34.620 and they gave him the ball and, boy, he was fast, greased, lightning. 00:02:34.700 --> 00:02:35.480 He goes around the end. 00:02:35.700 --> 00:02:37.840 He runs down the sideline, scores the touchdown. 00:02:37.980 --> 00:02:39.400 They just forgot to tell him to stop. 00:02:39.640 --> 00:02:41.180 And he keeps running right out of the stadium. 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:41.800 Remember that? 00:02:42.480 --> 00:02:46.060 And then, of course, he ran and ran and ran all across the West. 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:48.379 And he comes to a place where he says, I think I'm tired. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:49.099 I'm going to stop. 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:49.800 Love that part. 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:55.140 When he's on the bus with Bubba, his buddy who later, they started a shrimp business. 00:02:55.259 --> 00:02:57.840 And he says, here are all the ways you can fix shrimp. 00:02:58.500 --> 00:03:01.319 So many different things about that movie caught my attention. 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:05.000 One of the best things, the ping pong scene now that we're in the Olympics. 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:08.740 Remember when he plays ping pong and it's just incredible how fast he can play? 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:10.680 Here's my question to you. 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:12.920 Is that a movie about ping pong? 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:16.020 Is it a movie about football? 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:18.780 Is it a movie about shrimp? 00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:28.620 Is it a movie about waiting on a bus or getting off a school bus or fleeing from bullies or standing at the Washington Mall? 00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:31.560 It's not about any of those things. 00:03:32.020 --> 00:03:36.640 That's just things that set up the telling of the story, right? 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:42.379 And here's what's at the heart of the movie, and you may have never thought about this movie that seriously before. 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:50.179 But if you really sat down and you gave it some thought, and I've had the opportunity to do that, you're kind of at a disadvantage springing this on you this morning. 00:03:50.399 --> 00:03:54.379 But if you sat down and thought about it, I think you'd probably agree with this assessment. 00:03:54.379 --> 00:04:06.879 This is a movie about how a simple man can love so profoundly, and his love impacts the people who he interacts with. 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:09.560 I mean, in a marvelous, profound way. 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:10.500 Remember Jenny? 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:12.199 Boy, how he loved Jenny. 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:14.060 And how he loved his mother. 00:04:14.859 --> 00:04:16.519 And how he loved Captain Dan. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:18.779 And how he loved Bubba. 00:04:19.379 --> 00:04:23.500 And then ultimately, how he loved his little boy through Jenny, right? 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:25.939 It's a powerful, powerful movie. 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:27.899 But it's not about any of those other things. 00:04:28.060 --> 00:04:31.420 They're just things we see as we watch the movie. 00:04:32.420 --> 00:04:33.560 You say, why are you telling me this? 00:04:34.459 --> 00:04:38.339 Because that's the way it is with the book of Jonah. 00:04:39.100 --> 00:04:42.420 I want to tell you the story, and when I finish, I don't think anyone here will say, 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:49.480 you took a liberty with that, because I'm going to try to tell you as forthrightly the book of Jonah in just a few minutes as I possibly can. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:50.480 Here goes, you ready? 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:53.199 Chapter 1, Jonah gets a call from God. 00:04:53.500 --> 00:05:01.220 God says, Jonah, I want you to go to the north and to the east, to Assyria, and I want you to preach. 00:05:01.420 --> 00:05:04.279 I'm going to destroy that city in 40 days unless they repent. 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:06.240 Go tell them to repent. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:07.860 You know what Jonah does? 00:05:08.420 --> 00:05:10.000 He heads west. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:11.920 He goes to the coast. 00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:13.199 He catches a ship. 00:05:13.579 --> 00:05:15.139 He's headed toward Spain. 00:05:15.259 --> 00:05:16.300 He's going to Tarsus. 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:22.620 They don't get too far offshore until a great storm begins to prevail. 00:05:23.579 --> 00:05:30.620 And the scripture says that Jonah, while others are scurrying about experienced seamen knowing their lives on the line, 00:05:30.980 --> 00:05:32.780 they're throwing cargo overboard. 00:05:32.939 --> 00:05:35.980 They're trying to lighten the load so the ship will rise in the water. 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:39.300 They're fearful it's going to be swamped and they'll sink. 00:05:39.300 --> 00:05:44.639 And they find Jonah asleep in the belly of the ship. 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:46.920 Jonah, how can you be asleep? 00:05:47.520 --> 00:05:48.699 Man, we're about to die. 00:05:48.939 --> 00:05:51.079 We're all calling out to our gods. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:52.960 We worship an assortment of gods. 00:05:53.259 --> 00:05:54.500 Why don't you call to your God? 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:57.280 Maybe he'll reveal who's at fault here. 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:00.680 Jonah turns to him and says, hey, I don't need to do that. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:01.620 I know who's at fault. 00:06:01.699 --> 00:06:02.160 It's me. 00:06:02.519 --> 00:06:03.660 I'm fleeing from God. 00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:05.220 I'm disobedient to God. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:07.939 And so God has brought about this storm. 00:06:07.939 --> 00:06:10.420 If you want the storm to end, you need to throw me overboard. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:13.139 Well, they're reluctant to do that. 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:15.240 They continue to lighten the load of the ship. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:17.779 Finally, there's no other alternative. 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:20.959 Reluctantly, they throw him overboard. 00:06:21.699 --> 00:06:23.600 Immediately, the sea's calm. 00:06:24.540 --> 00:06:28.959 He's drifting down through the waters to the very bottom, chapter 2 tells us, 00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:34.159 when God rescues him through a fish that we read about in chapter 1. 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:36.480 He has prepared a great fish. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:41.200 The fish swoops down and swallows Jonah whole. 00:06:42.140 --> 00:06:42.620 Incredible. 00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:46.180 You'd think he'd have been bitten by the fish, devoured by the fish. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:49.100 He swallows Jonah whole. 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:52.319 Chapter 2, he's in the belly of the fish. 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:58.080 He's there three days, and he begins to pray, God, somehow rescue me. 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:00.640 Well, God does just that. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:07.939 He spits him up through the whale or through the great fish on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:15.000 He immediately goes to Assyria as he was instructed to do the first time. 00:07:15.539 --> 00:07:16.519 Chapter 3. 00:07:17.019 --> 00:07:18.339 He gets to Assyria. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:20.759 There are 120,000 people in this city. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:22.759 Now, just think with me, using common sense. 00:07:23.159 --> 00:07:24.319 No skyscrapers. 00:07:24.599 --> 00:07:26.139 No apartment complexes. 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:31.639 So, to have 120,000 people, you know this is an expansive city. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:38.980 He begins walking from one end of the city to the other, and as he walks, here's what he's saying and preaching. 00:07:38.980 --> 00:07:43.680 40 days and Nineveh is going to be destroyed. 00:07:44.780 --> 00:07:48.259 40 days and Nineveh is going to be destroyed. 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:53.360 Hey, 40 days and Nineveh is going to be destroyed. 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:55.480 He gets to the end. 00:07:56.280 --> 00:08:01.220 He's actually hopeful that no one is going to heed his message. 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:03.000 That's what he's hoping. 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:04.180 They won't listen. 00:08:04.700 --> 00:08:06.240 God will rain down fire on them. 00:08:06.379 --> 00:08:07.200 They'll be destroyed. 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:15.879 He goes to this mountaintop, chapter 4, and he's perched on the mountaintop, and he's looking at the city of Nineveh. 00:08:16.479 --> 00:08:22.240 He's angry because he's already made up his mind what's going to happen. 00:08:23.159 --> 00:08:26.180 In his mind, he's thinking, I know, I know, I know. 00:08:26.219 --> 00:08:27.180 That's why I didn't want to come. 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:30.959 God is going to relent, and God is going to forgive these people. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:33.039 And sure enough, that's what happened. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:37.819 They adorn themselves with sackcloth and ashes, a means of showing repentance. 00:08:38.179 --> 00:08:40.779 They call out to God, and God is merciful. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:47.199 From the king down, everyone in Assyria, they repent of their sin, and God spares Nineveh. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:49.139 So here's Jonah. 00:08:50.099 --> 00:08:52.120 He's angry as an old, wet horn. 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:52.919 Let me ask you. 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:55.599 I want to ask you to raise your hand. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:09:00.100 Have you ever been so angry you could just hardly spit? 00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:02.960 I mean, you're just so mad. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:05.159 The veins are protruding in your neck. 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:07.500 Your face, the countenance of your face is changed. 00:09:07.940 --> 00:09:09.360 Your fists are clenched. 00:09:10.040 --> 00:09:11.480 I mean, you're just angry. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:14.899 And almost angry, can't even talk. 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:16.940 Any of you ever been that way? 00:09:17.420 --> 00:09:18.779 Well, that's where Jonah is. 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:19.960 He's that mad. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:22.879 God speaks to him, Jonah, why are you so mad? 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:29.179 He says, Lord, back in Exodus 34, it says, 00:09:29.439 --> 00:09:34.860 You're compassionate and slow to anger and patient and long-suffering and forgiving, 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:38.580 and you forgave the Hebrews back at Mount Sinai, 00:09:38.779 --> 00:09:40.539 and I knew this was going to happen. 00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:43.320 That's why I didn't want to come here and preach. 00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:49.000 Well, he refuses to really say any more to God. 00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:51.419 And guess what God does? 00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:54.459 He allows this vine to begin to grow, 00:09:55.339 --> 00:09:59.159 and it grows up until it covers Jonah's head 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:02.899 and becomes a shelter for Jonah. 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:07.579 Jonah is now more pleased. 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:10.819 He's out of the hot sun, the baking sun of the Mideast. 00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:14.819 He's shaded from the sun, a little more bearable now, 00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:17.659 until the next morning when he awakens, guess what? 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:21.100 God has prepared a worm, and the worm comes, 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:26.299 and he eats this plant that's growing over Jonah's head. 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:30.980 He devours the root, and the plant withers and dies. 00:10:31.839 --> 00:10:36.620 On top of that, God sends a scorching, the Bible says, 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:42.220 scorching east wind, and now he's miserable. 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:44.639 Any of you ever been out in the desert? 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:47.539 I lived in El Paso for about a year one time. 00:10:48.100 --> 00:10:49.860 Boy, it can get so hot in the desert, 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:52.819 and when it's dry and the wind gets up and the sand starts blowing, 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:55.439 and you've seen pictures of that in the Middle East, right? 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:58.299 Our soldiers in Afghanistan and those different places, 00:10:58.460 --> 00:10:59.519 Syria, different places. 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:02.799 He is miserable beyond belief, 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:04.600 and this time he just explodes, 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.179 and he really takes it to God. 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:08.039 I knew this would happen. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:08.480 I knew this. 00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:10.600 I wish I could die. 00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:12.740 Boy, you better be glad I wouldn't, God, 00:11:12.820 --> 00:11:14.220 because I said, okie dokie. 00:11:14.920 --> 00:11:17.620 We'll just let you die right here. 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:19.000 But God doesn't. 00:11:19.060 --> 00:11:19.899 He's patient with it. 00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:22.680 And then God gives him this message. 00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:24.379 He says, Jonah, 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:29.100 how is it that you're discomfortable 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:31.720 because this vine that was over your head 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:35.000 and sheltering you from the sun has withered and died, 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:39.000 and you didn't do anything to bring about its growth? 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:40.919 You didn't plant it. 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:42.059 You didn't cultivate it. 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:43.500 It just appeared. 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:46.740 And now that it's gone because of this worm 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:48.159 and there's a scorching wind, 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:50.700 you are just beside yourself and living, 00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:53.379 and you'd rather die than continue living. 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:55.860 When down below, 00:11:56.779 --> 00:11:58.820 there are 120,000 people. 00:11:58.899 --> 00:11:59.600 Now listen to this. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:01.299 This is a stinging indictment. 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:05.500 Down below, there are 120,000 people. 00:12:06.580 --> 00:12:08.360 Can you imagine how many people that is? 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:10.800 You see Clemson Stadium on a Saturday, 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:12.960 and it's about 80,000 people? 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:16.159 You hack that again. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:19.379 That's 120,000 people. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:21.460 He says there are 120,000 people. 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:23.159 They're not uncomfortable. 00:12:24.060 --> 00:12:25.279 They're not just hot. 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:27.060 There's not just a scorching east wind. 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:30.019 They don't know their left hand from their right hand, 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:31.639 and in 40 days, 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:36.059 they're all going to die unless I intervene and rescue them. 00:12:36.179 --> 00:12:39.740 And all you can think about is your own discomfort. 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:44.139 Now that's the story of Jonah. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:46.340 Here's the million-dollar question. 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:48.680 What's it about? 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:52.779 What do you think God wants us to take away from that? 00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:57.560 I want to begin by telling you what the book is not about, 00:12:57.680 --> 00:12:59.019 two things it's not about, 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:01.799 and I'm going to tell you one thing it is about. 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:07.000 And some of you may leave here a little shook 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.379 because you'll say, you know what? 00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:10.359 I always thought it was about this, 00:13:10.979 --> 00:13:13.159 but really true it's not. 00:13:14.339 --> 00:13:18.679 Let me begin by telling you this is not a fish story. 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:23.779 All the part about the great fish is interesting, 00:13:24.319 --> 00:13:25.919 and it's real, 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:28.579 and it's historically accurate, 00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:31.340 and I think it really and truly happened, 00:13:31.540 --> 00:13:32.820 but I want you to understand this. 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:36.320 This is not a fish story. 00:13:37.520 --> 00:13:42.100 And sadly, sometimes when we hear people teach our children, 00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:45.120 that's what they seemingly make this all about. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.520 It's all about the great fish, 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:48.340 and it's not. 00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:51.600 And sometimes in worship in certain places 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:54.420 where guys don't handle the passage right, 00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:57.640 I've heard folks, even adults, 00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:58.919 preachers stand in the pulpit 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:00.340 and talk about that great fish 00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:01.799 more than they talk about anything else, 00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:03.139 how God did it, 00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:04.159 and try to convince people. 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.980 It's historically accurate. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:08.620 It's historically accurate 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:10.419 because Jesus affirms it. 00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:12.399 Jesus says in the New Testament, 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:15.699 even as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:18.439 so the Son of Man will be in the grave three days. 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:19.460 That settles it. 00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:20.179 It happened. 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:21.899 But I want to tell you something. 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:24.960 There's no way you're ever going to make sense of that someone 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:27.860 unless they see this as a miracle 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:29.840 because that's what it is. 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:30.519 You understand it? 00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.320 It's a miracle. 00:14:31.920 --> 00:14:33.879 A fish doesn't swallow a man 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:35.220 never had before that time, 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:36.639 never has after that time, 00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:38.660 and the man not be devoured 00:14:38.660 --> 00:14:42.100 and live even further in the belly of the fish 00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:43.360 for three days. 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:46.660 That just doesn't happen unless, 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:47.379 why? 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:48.980 It's a miracle. 00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:51.680 So you either got to accept it as a miracle 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:52.500 or you got to say, 00:14:52.579 --> 00:14:53.339 that didn't happen. 00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:55.079 I choose to believe 00:14:55.079 --> 00:14:57.199 it happened exactly as the scripture said. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.279 It's a miracle, 00:14:58.719 --> 00:14:59.559 but here's the deal. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:02.439 That's not why God did it. 00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:04.679 He didn't give us this book 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:05.439 so you would say, 00:15:05.819 --> 00:15:07.399 wow, how powerful God is 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.579 because he created this fish 00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:12.120 in which a man could survive for three days. 00:15:12.219 --> 00:15:12.779 Is it true? 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.459 It's true. 00:15:14.339 --> 00:15:17.120 But don't miss what the book is about. 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:19.259 It's not a fish story. 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:21.199 And I'm going to prove it to you right now. 00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:22.700 I'm going to show you something 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:24.220 you may have never seen before. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.420 And I want you to look at the scripture 00:15:26.420 --> 00:15:27.360 so if you got your Bible, 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:29.000 I don't care what translation you're using, 00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:30.000 I want you to open your Bible 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:33.660 and look at Jonah chapter 1 and verse 17. 00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:36.480 Now, as soon as you found it, 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.080 you got that? 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:38.440 Look up and look at me. 00:15:38.520 --> 00:15:39.160 It's real important, 00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:39.920 just for a second. 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:42.759 How many of you are using the King James Version? 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:44.060 Raise your hand if you're using it. 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:45.220 Anybody here? 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:46.140 One there in the balcony? 00:15:46.280 --> 00:15:46.780 Anywhere else? 00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:48.240 New King James Version. 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:48.520 Anybody? 00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:49.840 One over here? 00:15:50.040 --> 00:15:50.520 One here? 00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.720 A couple back there? 00:15:52.059 --> 00:15:53.559 How many are using the NAS? 00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:56.179 One, two, three here? 00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:57.500 Anybody else? 00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:58.720 How about the Holman? 00:15:59.019 --> 00:15:59.799 The ESV? 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.779 A bunch with ESV, I'm sure. 00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:03.299 Okay. 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.679 I don't care what translation. 00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:06.340 NIV. 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:09.620 Oh, a lot of you NIV people. 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:10.720 NLT. 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:11.600 Anybody else? 00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:12.360 Okay. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.079 Down here on the front, 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:13.980 a couple there in the back. 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:16.060 Now, listen to me carefully. 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:19.539 I don't care which translation you're using. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:24.220 It's all going to be the same in this sense. 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.680 The writer of Hebrews, 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:29.000 or the writer of Jonah, rather, 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:29.800 in Hebrew, 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:34.420 is giving us chapter 1 and verse 17, 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:37.019 and he's going to use a word 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:39.000 that's going to be used repeatedly 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:40.659 here in the book of Jonah. 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.959 Look at 117. 00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:44.519 I'm reading from the Holman, 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.759 and the ESV says the same thing. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:49.620 The Lord appointed a great fish. 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.339 Now, 00:16:51.719 --> 00:16:54.019 I'm talking about the word appointed. 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:56.419 Look at your translation 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.659 and see what it says. 00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:58.879 You see what it says? 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:01.259 If you're reading from the King James Version, 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:02.519 prepared. 00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:03.179 NAS, 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.119 designated. 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:04.879 NIV, 00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:05.500 provided. 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.299 NLT, 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.160 arranged. 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.420 ASV, 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.200 prepared. 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.799 Anybody see anything different than that? 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.339 That's what they all say, right? 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.379 Now, let me show you something else. 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:17.240 Go with me to chapter 4 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:19.359 and look at verse 6. 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:23.160 It's where he describes 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.480 this plant 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:26.779 that grew over Jonah's head. 00:17:28.060 --> 00:17:29.320 In my translation, 00:17:30.060 --> 00:17:30.840 remember what I said? 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.720 It said in the Holman, 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:32.440 the ESV, 00:17:32.600 --> 00:17:32.940 appointed. 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:34.980 Chapter 4, 00:17:35.040 --> 00:17:35.460 verse 6, 00:17:35.560 --> 00:17:37.700 the Lord appointed a plant. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:38.680 Now, 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.560 look at your translation, 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.259 whatever it is. 00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:41.940 Whatever it says in 4, 6, 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.560 that's what it's going to say in 117. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.120 This is yes and no. 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:46.980 You got it? 00:17:47.060 --> 00:17:47.660 Isn't that right? 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.480 Everybody agree with that? 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:51.340 Whatever word it used 00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:52.500 in chapter 117, 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.200 he uses that same word 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.079 in chapter 4, 00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:55.700 verse 6. 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:56.200 Now, 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:57.059 go to the next verse, 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:57.839 verse 7. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:01.000 The Lord appointed a worm. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.460 Again, 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:03.680 whatever word is used 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.180 of that worm 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.059 is used of the plant, 00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.579 is used of the great fish. 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:07.599 Finally, 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.599 go to 4, 8. 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.180 God appointed 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:12.740 a scorching east wind. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.920 Whatever word you use 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:17.240 in 4, 8, 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:18.700 it uses in 4, 7. 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.759 In 4, 6, 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.319 in 117. 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:22.740 Now, 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:23.640 look up and listen 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.480 and get this. 00:18:24.580 --> 00:18:25.600 Stay on the page with me. 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:29.000 These are all 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:31.360 things that historically, 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.299 realistically, 00:18:32.580 --> 00:18:33.559 authentically happened. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:37.039 They are all miracles 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.900 and they are all props 00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:40.720 of God 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.600 in the telling 00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:42.519 of this story. 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.460 And that's all they are. 00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:47.180 We get all 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:47.920 worked up 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:48.960 over the big fish, 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:51.039 but the big fish 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.980 is no more 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:53.579 a miracle 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:56.440 than the plant 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:58.039 or the worm 00:18:58.039 --> 00:19:00.539 or the scorching wind. 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:02.220 Do you see that? 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.579 I want to show you 00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.279 something you may 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:05.100 not have thought about. 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:07.240 How many of you 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.279 have always marveled 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.840 how fast kudzu grows? 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:10.980 Well, 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.900 I'm from Oconee County. 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.640 It'll just take over 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.460 the world sooner or later, 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:13.720 right? 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.120 Kudzu? 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.980 It'll cover every building 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:17.220 inside you get a chance. 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.059 It grows. 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.380 In the mountains, 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:21.220 I had a pastor one time, 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.980 he was from Bat Cave 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.579 and he told me 00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.200 in the mountains, 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:25.460 we call it foot of day 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.819 because that's how much 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.079 it'll grow. 00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:28.160 They come and they cut 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:28.759 along the highway, 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.680 it'll grow a foot 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:30.339 before you come back 00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.299 the next day. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.120 I don't know 00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:32.779 if that's true or not. 00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:34.319 My wife has a begonia 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.880 and you can take 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:37.220 a cutting of this begonia 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:38.860 and put it in water 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:39.960 and put it in dirt 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.400 and I want to tell you something, 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:42.360 you come back 00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:43.339 three to four weeks later 00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:44.099 and that begonia 00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:44.959 will be this high. 00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.759 We've got two 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.740 beside our front door. 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:48.779 They just grow, 00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:49.799 you can't kill them. 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:51.519 They just grow like crazy. 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:54.000 Could a man hide 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.179 beneath that begonia 00:19:55.179 --> 00:19:57.639 as fast as it grows 00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:58.659 and get shelter? 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.379 I'm going to tell you something. 00:20:00.939 --> 00:20:02.199 For a plant to come up 00:20:02.199 --> 00:20:02.899 out of the ground 00:20:02.899 --> 00:20:04.159 and to cover a man's head 00:20:04.159 --> 00:20:05.220 and he can make a shelter 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:06.419 from it in a single day, 00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.659 that's a miracle. 00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:09.639 Would you agree with that? 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:12.060 That's nothing short 00:20:12.060 --> 00:20:12.940 of a miracle. 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:15.500 A fish that can swallow 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:17.240 a man and him be unharmed 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.400 after living three days 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:18.840 in his belly, 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.700 that's a miracle. 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:23.240 Well, what about the worm? 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.560 The worm doesn't get 00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:26.640 his just due, does he? 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.200 The worm comes along 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:30.300 and eats away at this plant 00:20:30.300 --> 00:20:31.500 and within hours, 00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:32.840 it dies. 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:35.240 That's a pretty powerful worm, 00:20:35.320 --> 00:20:35.840 wouldn't you say? 00:20:36.679 --> 00:20:38.099 God has given that worm 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:39.359 pretty special powers. 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:41.459 This scorching east wind, 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:41.939 I believe, 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:43.779 came absolutely out of nowhere. 00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:44.939 If there had been 00:20:44.939 --> 00:20:46.439 a meteorologist that morning, 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:46.980 he wouldn't have said, 00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:47.799 hey, today there's going 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.980 to be a scorching east wind. 00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.699 It's going to be tough 00:20:50.699 --> 00:20:51.539 on us here in Nineveh. 00:20:52.439 --> 00:20:53.559 God created that 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.339 and it came out 00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:55.279 of absolutely nowhere. 00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:56.459 But understand this, 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.099 each one of those 00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:59.059 are props 00:20:59.059 --> 00:21:00.699 in the telling of the story 00:21:00.699 --> 00:21:02.459 and the worm is not the story 00:21:02.459 --> 00:21:03.799 and the plant's not the story 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.919 and the scorching east wind 00:21:04.919 --> 00:21:05.699 is not the story. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:07.379 And the fish 00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:09.179 is not the story. 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.039 Everybody with me? 00:21:11.939 --> 00:21:12.559 I want to tell you 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.619 a second thing that's not. 00:21:15.179 --> 00:21:16.199 And this second thing 00:21:16.199 --> 00:21:17.559 is a mistake 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:19.099 that some preachers have made. 00:21:19.179 --> 00:21:20.019 I probably made it 00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:21.299 sometime in my life. 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:25.359 We look at chapter one 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.539 and see Jonah's 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:28.279 saying, yes, I'll go 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:30.099 and then his disobedience 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:32.299 and then he's swallowed 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.059 by the fish 00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:34.339 and he repents 00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:35.359 and he's thrown up 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:35.879 on the shore 00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:36.759 and we say, 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.679 how important 00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:40.659 our obedience 00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:41.559 to God is 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:43.000 in accomplishing 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.220 what God 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:45.339 is wanting to do. 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:46.839 This is not a story 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:47.759 about how important 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.259 we are 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.259 in God's will 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:51.279 being accomplished. 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:53.500 We way, 00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:54.159 way, 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:54.659 way 00:21:54.659 --> 00:21:55.799 overemphasize 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.019 Jonah's importance 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.940 if you make that 00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.519 the teaching 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.160 that comes 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.319 out of this passage. 00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:02.680 I want to tell you 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:02.960 something. 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.859 God could have 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.539 resurrected 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:07.400 Balaam's donkey 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:08.519 from the dead 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:10.180 and send him 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:10.960 to Nineveh 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:12.879 and in my estimation 00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.480 he'd have probably 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.259 done a better job 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.660 of preaching 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.500 than Jonah did. 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:17.099 If you think 00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:17.579 that city 00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.799 got saved 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:20.000 because of 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.559 Jonah's great 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:20.900 preaching, 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.680 you have missed 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.720 this story. 00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.259 I want to tell you, 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.680 he reluctantly, 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.660 even after being 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:29.099 swallowed by the fish, 00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:31.180 goes to Nineveh 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:31.940 and preaches 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:33.259 and I think 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:33.920 it was probably 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:35.400 as sorry a message 00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:36.599 as anybody 00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.519 has ever preached. 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:39.819 It's obvious 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.859 by how he reacts 00:22:40.859 --> 00:22:41.640 in chapter four, 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:43.140 he doesn't want 00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:43.660 these people 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.480 to respond 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:46.500 and so I can see 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.059 Jonah now 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.120 hands in his pocket 00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:49.799 40 days 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.799 and God's going 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.480 to wipe you 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.099 off the face 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:52.720 of the earth 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.799 and under his breath 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:54.500 and I kind of 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.460 hope he does. 00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:58.259 40 days 00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:58.799 and Nineveh 00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.279 is going to be 00:22:59.279 --> 00:22:59.920 destroyed. 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.839 40 days 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:03.460 and Nineveh 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.180 is going to be 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:04.720 destroyed 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:06.079 and he does 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.960 that three days 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:07.620 and then he goes 00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:08.599 off and he pouts 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:10.180 and he's hoping 00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:10.940 that God is going 00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:11.640 to bring judgment 00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.720 on but instead 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:14.079 God shows 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:15.039 absolute 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.199 mercy. 00:23:17.639 --> 00:23:18.720 I'm telling you 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:21.399 it is not about 00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:23.639 how God needs us 00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:24.639 for his will 00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:25.359 to be accomplished. 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.079 I want to tell you 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.359 something. 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:28.259 You need to obey 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:29.419 God because if you 00:23:29.419 --> 00:23:30.099 obey God 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:30.799 God will bless 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.480 in your life 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.019 and you will 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:33.199 live close to God 00:23:33.199 --> 00:23:34.099 and know fellowship 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.819 and communion 00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.399 with God 00:23:35.399 --> 00:23:36.559 and he is God 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.299 and we need to 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:37.859 obey him 00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:38.480 and bring him 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:38.879 glory. 00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.460 But if you do 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.199 not obey him 00:23:41.199 --> 00:23:41.699 I want to tell you 00:23:41.699 --> 00:23:41.859 something. 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:43.000 You will never 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.979 keep God's will 00:23:43.979 --> 00:23:45.000 from coming about. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:47.479 He is sovereign 00:23:47.479 --> 00:23:49.159 and God is going 00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:50.079 to do what God 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:51.000 desires to do 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:52.139 and God desired 00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:53.319 to save Nineveh 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.959 and Jonah was not 00:23:54.959 --> 00:23:55.779 about to get in the 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.959 way of that 00:23:56.959 --> 00:23:57.379 occurring. 00:23:58.419 --> 00:23:59.539 So let's bring it 00:23:59.539 --> 00:23:59.839 home. 00:24:00.719 --> 00:24:01.799 What is this story 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.279 about? 00:24:02.419 --> 00:24:04.099 One simple truth. 00:24:04.979 --> 00:24:05.799 Please understand 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.179 this. 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:08.560 This is a story 00:24:08.560 --> 00:24:09.759 about the incredible 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.360 mercy and grace 00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.539 of God. 00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.360 Did you get that? 00:24:15.060 --> 00:24:15.519 Had you ever 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.220 thought that before? 00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:17.039 I hope so. 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:19.299 This story is about 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:19.779 one thing. 00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:20.539 The story of Jonah 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.320 is about the 00:24:21.320 --> 00:24:21.900 matchless, 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:22.640 wonderful, 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.920 powerful love 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.700 of God 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:26.120 for humanity. 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.980 He loves 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.860 sinners. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:31.160 He loves people 00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:31.759 who are way, 00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:32.299 way, way 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.160 away from him. 00:24:34.040 --> 00:24:34.880 We may not 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:35.580 give a nickel 00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:36.040 about them 00:24:36.040 --> 00:24:37.180 but God 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:38.120 loves them. 00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:39.800 It's about the 00:24:39.800 --> 00:24:41.040 grace and the 00:24:41.040 --> 00:24:42.279 mercy and the 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:43.220 depths of the 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:44.300 love of God. 00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.540 Now listen to me 00:24:45.540 --> 00:24:45.900 carefully. 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.480 If I want to 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.480 demonstrate how 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:50.600 white white is, 00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.040 do you know how 00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:51.600 I do that? 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.440 I put it against 00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.580 a backdrop of 00:24:55.580 --> 00:24:56.100 black. 00:24:57.560 --> 00:24:58.440 There's no better 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.140 way to show the 00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:00.080 whiteness of white 00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:02.279 than against the 00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.420 backdrop of black. 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.579 There's no better 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.559 way to show the 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.700 blackness of black 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:09.680 than to put it 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.359 against the 00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:12.680 backdrop of white. 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:15.000 Nothing contrasts 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.940 black like white 00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:17.220 or white like black. 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.559 And that's what God 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.339 does in this book. 00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.740 God is bringing us 00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.980 to chapter four so 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.879 he can say to 00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:25.700 everyone in this 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:27.160 room and to 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:28.039 Jonah and to the 00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.759 people of that day 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.259 and time, 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.200 I want to show you 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:33.740 how I love and 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.240 I want to show 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.700 you how you 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.160 love. 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.000 I want to show 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.880 you what concerns 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:40.039 me and I want to 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.559 show you what 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:42.240 concerns you. 00:25:43.580 --> 00:25:44.819 Jonah, you're all 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:46.000 about your comfort. 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:48.180 Man, when that 00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:49.080 vine grew over 00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:49.940 your head and 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.819 there was shade 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:52.440 and it was 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:54.440 blistering hot and 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.900 you found comfort 00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:57.960 and shade, you 00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.559 were okay. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:00.279 your temper began 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.079 to ease because 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:01.980 really and truly, 00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:02.519 Jonah, you know 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.019 what you're all 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.299 about? 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.279 You are all 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:06.139 about you. 00:26:07.399 --> 00:26:08.500 You are self 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.019 absorbed. 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.940 You're the picture 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:11.639 of what it is to 00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:13.000 be self absorbed. 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.099 As long as things 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:14.839 are good in your 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:16.079 world, it's okay. 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:18.700 But Jonah, look 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:19.460 below you. 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:22.019 There are 120,000, 00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.720 listen to this, 00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:24.460 older men like here 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.419 this morning and 00:26:25.419 --> 00:26:27.159 middle-aged men and 00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:28.759 young men and 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.740 young women and 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.620 middle-aged women 00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:32.100 and older women and 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:33.580 children and babies 00:26:33.580 --> 00:26:36.440 just like they're in 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:36.960 Nineveh. 00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.580 Not to even talk 00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:39.420 about their livestock 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:40.300 and their animals. 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.779 And those people 00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.600 are pitiful. 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.480 You know how God 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.180 describes them? 00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:47.620 In chapter 4, just 00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.360 turn with me and 00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:48.700 look there. 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:50.100 Look in chapter 4 00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:52.140 in verse 10. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.980 This is what God 00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.480 says. 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:55.640 So the Lord said, 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:56.680 you cared about the 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.640 plant which you did 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.960 not labor over and 00:26:58.960 --> 00:26:59.680 did not grow. 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.700 It appeared in a 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.740 night and perished 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.360 in a night. 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.740 Should I not care 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.559 about the great city 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.559 of Nineveh, which 00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:07.220 has more than 120,000 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:08.480 people who cannot 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.620 distinguish between 00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:10.599 their right and 00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:12.299 their left as well 00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:14.319 as many animals? 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.299 Boy, what a 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:18.599 stinging indictment. 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:21.120 He says, you're so 00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:21.860 concerned about that 00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:22.099 vine. 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:22.919 Should I not be 00:27:22.919 --> 00:27:23.639 concerned about that 00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:24.740 120,000? 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.519 And this is what he 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.819 says, who can't 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.659 distinguish their 00:27:27.659 --> 00:27:28.679 left from their 00:27:28.679 --> 00:27:29.439 right. 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.099 You know what that 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:31.399 means? 00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:33.379 They are spiritually 00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:34.519 blind. 00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:37.079 They don't have any 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.519 moral, spiritual 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.599 compass. 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.859 Can I just ask you 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.679 folk at First Baptist 00:27:43.679 --> 00:27:45.339 Pigs, are you aware 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.519 how blessed you are? 00:27:47.719 --> 00:27:48.819 Not all of you, but 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.699 many of you are like 00:27:49.699 --> 00:27:49.980 myself. 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.740 You are raised in 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.519 Christians' homes. 00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:53.519 You worshipped in a 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.959 beautiful facility like 00:27:54.959 --> 00:27:56.480 this most all your 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:56.919 life. 00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:59.599 You had copy after 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:01.240 copy of copy of the 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:02.559 word of God in your 00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:02.959 home. 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:05.240 If you don't have a 00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:05.799 sense of moral 00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:07.719 direction, it's your 00:28:07.719 --> 00:28:08.379 own fault. 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:11.399 But there are billions 00:28:11.399 --> 00:28:12.179 of people out there in 00:28:12.179 --> 00:28:14.159 our world, about a 00:28:14.159 --> 00:28:15.079 billion Chinese. 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:17.319 They don't have a clue 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:18.339 who Jesus is. 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:20.959 They're about a billion 00:28:20.959 --> 00:28:21.740 Indians. 00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:24.039 They don't have a clue 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.980 who God is. 00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:28.159 And we look at them 00:28:28.159 --> 00:28:29.059 and we judge them and 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:29.899 we say, man, they do 00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:30.919 such crazy things and 00:28:30.919 --> 00:28:31.879 they're acting this way 00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.259 and that way. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.159 And even people in our 00:28:33.159 --> 00:28:34.859 own culture who've never 00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.899 been exposed to the 00:28:35.899 --> 00:28:37.039 gospel, many of them. 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:41.519 People like LBGQT. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:45.980 I mean, they do crazy 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:47.000 things and we look at 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.920 that and we say, my 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:49.519 goodness, how could they 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.559 be so perverted? 00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:52.119 I'll tell you what, they 00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:52.940 don't know their left 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:53.819 hand from their right 00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.240 hand. 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:56.279 Do you understand that? 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.079 They don't have a moral 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:58.440 compass. 00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:58.960 They don't have a 00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.900 spiritual compass. 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.920 And so they're lost. 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.319 My friend, that's the 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.920 message of the book of 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.160 Jonah. 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.619 Can I make three or four 00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:09.720 real, real quick? 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.680 I mean, just about a 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.319 minute, a point. 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.680 Three or four quick 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.220 observations. 00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:15.059 Here's the first. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.480 First and foremost, Jonah 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.240 is a picture. 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:18.740 You won't like this. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.579 I don't like it. 00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:21.400 Of us. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.779 Jonah is a picture of 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.039 me. 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:26.180 It's a picture of you. 00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:27.079 It's a picture of us. 00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:28.200 And when I say us, I'm 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:28.839 getting personal. 00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:30.559 I'm not talking about 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:31.700 people outside the faith. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.380 I'm not talking about 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:32.900 humanity. 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.819 It's a picture of those 00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:36.460 of us who claim to know 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.600 God. 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.559 Because I got news for you. 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.839 We're pretty self-absorbed. 00:29:42.419 --> 00:29:43.779 We say, I'm not like 00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.440 old Noah, man. 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.679 I'm concerned about lost 00:29:45.679 --> 00:29:45.879 people. 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.000 We're concerned about 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:48.359 lost people in name. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.559 I mean, if we see 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:53.000 pictures of people in 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.259 countries who don't know 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.539 God and they're 00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:57.139 perishing, we go like 00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:57.440 this. 00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.539 Boy, that's bad. 00:29:59.119 --> 00:29:59.899 That's terrible. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:01.000 Sunsuit teacher really 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.879 did a good job bringing 00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:02.559 that point home this 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:02.720 morning. 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.000 That mission speaker did 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.440 a good job. 00:30:04.639 --> 00:30:05.259 Let's go get a 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.720 cheeseburger. 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.200 You want to? 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:09.259 What's for lunch today? 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:12.599 And we rush off to our 00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:13.779 comfortable little homes. 00:30:14.659 --> 00:30:15.639 Truth of the matter is, 00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:17.480 we get way more worried 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.519 if the stock market 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:20.059 suddenly collapses. 00:30:21.639 --> 00:30:23.379 If the housing market 00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:24.500 suddenly collapses. 00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:25.599 Oh, that's what gets us 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:25.879 upset. 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.240 If one of us gets sick 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.759 and has to go to the 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.980 hospital, now that'll get 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.519 our attention. 00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:33.379 Because, you see, we're 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:34.259 pretty self-absorbed. 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:35.799 This is a book about us. 00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:37.899 It's a book about us. 00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:42.319 Secondly, people in our 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.539 world are exactly like 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:45.879 the people who live in 00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:46.399 Syria. 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:49.359 They're as lost as they 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:49.819 can be. 00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:52.480 Sorry, I'm having trouble 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.279 with this with my big old 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.700 ears. 00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:00.460 They're just as lost as 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.119 they can be. 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:03.679 They don't know up from 00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:05.779 down, right from left, 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:08.839 and they're just lost. 00:31:10.219 --> 00:31:12.039 And that's the way it is 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:14.859 with those folk in 00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:15.859 Assyria as well. 00:31:16.239 --> 00:31:18.099 Look at a third point. 00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:21.039 Like Jonah, we don't like 00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:21.819 them very much. 00:31:23.159 --> 00:31:24.599 If we're just really honest, 00:31:25.239 --> 00:31:27.039 we don't like the lost people 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.939 of the world very much. 00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:30.120 And we don't like them for 00:31:30.120 --> 00:31:31.600 the same reasons that Jonah 00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:32.240 didn't like them. 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:32.940 And you know why he didn't 00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:33.279 like them? 00:31:33.820 --> 00:31:34.980 Because they were a threat 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.380 to him. 00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:36.519 He knew that. 00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:40.519 In 722, Assyria is going to 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:41.759 forsake God, and they're 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:43.440 going to march south into 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:46.259 Jerusalem and into Israel. 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.900 And they're going to defeat 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.460 Israel. 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:51.299 And it's going to collapse 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.600 and be no more as a nation 00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:53.620 until 1948. 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.320 I don't know if Jonah saw 00:31:56.320 --> 00:31:57.240 that coming or not, but he 00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:58.019 knew they were a real 00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.700 serious threat. 00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.779 And that's the reason he 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.299 didn't want to see them 00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.759 saved. 00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:03.700 He wanted them to perish 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:05.720 because he didn't like them. 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:06.519 And I'll tell you, they 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.559 earned their reputation. 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:09.740 They were a brutal bunch. 00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.640 Man, they would scatter 00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:10.960 people. 00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:13.120 They weakened every culture, 00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:15.400 every country, every society 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:16.220 they ever conquered. 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:19.039 So they had earned their 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.599 reputation. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.740 And if we'll be real, real 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.940 honest, we don't like the 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.859 lost people of the world 00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:24.700 today either, do we? 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.759 What we like to do is find 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:28.000 somebody who's kind of like 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:29.079 us and share the gospel 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:30.000 with him and see them be 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.279 saved. 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.559 But if they're really out 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.599 there on the edge and 00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:33.640 they're way away from us 00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:34.559 and they don't have a clue 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.619 about spiritual things, 00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:38.799 eh, they're expendable. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.879 They're disposable. 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:45.019 Fourthly and finally, and I 00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:47.420 close, in spite of how we 00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:50.319 feel, God loves them. 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:54.779 In spite of how we feel, boy, 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.579 God loves them. 00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:58.139 And that's what the book of 00:32:58.139 --> 00:32:58.679 Jonah is all about. 00:32:58.740 --> 00:32:59.980 He's just wanting to pound 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:01.539 home to Jonah and pound home 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:04.200 to us how much he cares for 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:05.599 people who are sinners. 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.179 And you know what? 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:07.379 When his son comes on the 00:33:07.379 --> 00:33:08.220 scene in the New Testament, 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.359 and we're going to get that in 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:11.480 a few weeks, you're going to 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.240 find the same thing is true 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.639 of Jesus. 00:33:12.879 --> 00:33:14.119 He is a friend of sinners. 00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:16.659 He is a friend of sinners. 00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:18.040 They may not matter to us, 00:33:18.080 --> 00:33:19.900 but they matter like 00:33:19.900 --> 00:33:21.320 everything to God. 00:33:21.540 --> 00:33:22.900 And because they matter to 00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.980 him, they should matter to 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:24.259 us. 00:33:24.360 --> 00:33:25.019 I want to tell you something. 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:27.180 The gospel is the gospel 00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:29.820 and it's good news for us. 00:33:30.580 --> 00:33:32.360 And it was good news for the 00:33:32.360 --> 00:33:32.720 Hebrews. 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:36.200 And it was good news for the 00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:36.840 Assyrians. 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.620 And I want to tell you something. 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.660 It's good news for our world. 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:45.800 When I was a young man getting 00:33:45.800 --> 00:33:46.640 ready to go in the high school, 00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:49.519 I was at Raines Heights Baptist 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:53.779 Church and in comparison to 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.820 this building, I was on the 00:33:54.820 --> 00:33:58.980 next to the last row, about two 00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:00.279 or three people over on that 00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:01.920 next to the last row, sitting 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:04.340 in the back, my right arm around 00:34:04.340 --> 00:34:06.720 the young lady, just trying to be 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.040 cool. 00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:10.659 And somebody had said to me, 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:13.039 about two weeks earlier in a 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:15.639 locker room, he went on to become 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.279 a pastor. 00:34:17.339 --> 00:34:20.920 He said, if you were to die today, 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:22.000 if we were to die today, I 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:23.940 actually said, do you think we'd go 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.299 to heaven? 00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:25.659 We both had grown up in that 00:34:25.659 --> 00:34:26.759 church or were going to that 00:34:26.759 --> 00:34:27.119 church. 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:29.359 And I turned to him and I said, 00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:32.400 Bruce, no way in the world I would. 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:35.139 I know I'm going to hell. 00:34:36.740 --> 00:34:39.559 Because I'm not right with God. 00:34:40.180 --> 00:34:41.000 I know I'm not. 00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:46.320 And I'm sitting on that next to the 00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:49.340 last pew and the pastors preached the 00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:49.780 message. 00:34:51.340 --> 00:34:53.300 And at some point, the Holy Spirit got a 00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:54.139 hold of my heart. 00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:56.599 And he convicted me. 00:34:56.659 --> 00:34:59.480 He showed me just how messed up I was. 00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:01.460 And boy, I was pretty messed up with 00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:02.319 somebody that age. 00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:04.980 I was just running from God. 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.819 Just crazy. 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:10.699 And I got up out of that pew, left that 00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:13.659 young lady and came down that aisle and 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.980 came right here to the front where the 00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:15.699 pastor was. 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:19.659 And I said, pastor, I need to be saved. 00:35:20.219 --> 00:35:21.000 I was already a member. 00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:21.960 The church had been baptized. 00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:24.519 He says, Frankie boy, that's what they 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:24.820 call me. 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:26.500 Frankie boy, you don't need to be saved. 00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:28.099 You just need to rededicate your life. 00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:31.119 And thank God I had enough sense to know 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:32.679 he was wrong and I was right. 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:36.059 And I went over and I kneeled about where 00:35:36.059 --> 00:35:36.800 that would be. 00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:38.900 And I just talked to God. 00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:39.820 I didn't know how to talk. 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:40.980 I just talked to God. 00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:44.159 And I said, God, I desperately need you to 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:45.740 show me mercy and grace. 00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.860 I believe you died for me. 00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:49.720 And I'm asking you to forgive my sins. 00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:52.459 And right there in the moment, he forget it 00:35:52.459 --> 00:35:54.419 was the greatest moment of my life. 00:35:54.679 --> 00:35:56.699 It changed everything about my life from 00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:59.179 then to this very moment in time. 00:35:59.339 --> 00:36:00.199 It changed everything. 00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:04.919 I am so glad that God loved this sinner like 00:36:04.919 --> 00:36:05.279 me. 00:36:06.719 --> 00:36:08.980 And Jonah should have been so glad that God 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:10.299 loved this sinner like him. 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:13.799 And that he loved his Hebrew ancestors, 00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:14.699 predecessors. 00:36:15.759 --> 00:36:17.759 The gospel is good for everybody. 00:36:17.760 --> 00:36:18.720 Amen? 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:21.200 It'll save everybody. 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:23.440 And it's good for you today. 00:36:23.520 --> 00:36:24.840 If you're here in this room and you've never 00:36:24.840 --> 00:36:26.700 received Christ, you may say, you know what? 00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:28.300 I just don't get Christians. 00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.880 I just don't understand why they live, 00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:30.660 the way they live. 00:36:31.660 --> 00:36:33.460 I just keep messing up. 00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:35.760 And I just make a mess of my life. 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:36.920 I'm going to tell you something. 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:38.140 You need God in your life. 00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:40.480 You need what those Ninevites needed. 00:36:41.120 --> 00:36:42.280 You need what I needed. 00:36:43.020 --> 00:36:45.040 You need the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart. 00:36:45.140 --> 00:36:45.920 And God loves you. 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:48.099 And that's why he gave us this book, to let you know how 00:36:48.099 --> 00:36:49.320 much he loves you. 00:36:50.700 --> 00:36:51.860 Would you come to him today? 00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:54.740 Would you trust him today? 00:36:56.059 --> 00:36:59.659 If you're here, maybe you're already a believer, but you're 00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:02.559 just out there, man, as long as everything's good in my world, 00:37:03.099 --> 00:37:03.639 I'm good. 00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:06.960 Would you allow God to break your heart? 00:37:07.059 --> 00:37:10.039 Would you allow him to give you a compassion for lost people 00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:13.079 that maybe right now you just don't have, but you'd like to 00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:13.559 have that? 00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:17.579 Would you leave your seat this morning and consider coming here 00:37:17.579 --> 00:37:19.739 and kneeling at the altar and doing business with God? 00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:21.619 You don't need to talk to me necessarily. 00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:25.119 You just need to do what I do, come talk to God and say, God, 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:27.579 here's what I need to get right in my life. 00:37:28.860 --> 00:37:32.299 We're going to stand and the instrument is going to play. 00:37:32.300 --> 00:37:36.880 And I'm wondering if the spirit of God is dealing with you and if 00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:38.740 he is, would you come? 00:37:39.240 --> 00:37:43.560 As we sing or as we're not going to sing, but as they play, you 00:37:43.560 --> 00:37:43.860 come. 00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:44.460 Let's stand. 00:37:44.460 --> 00:37:48.440 Let's stand. 00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:52.579 Let's play. 00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:53.980 Let's stand. 00:37:53.980 --> 00:37:54.059 Let's stand. 00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:55.139 Let's stand.