WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.439
 Okay, let's turn our thoughts then to Jonah, particularly verse 1 to 3, and we will be referencing

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! Chapter 4, verse 2 as well.

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! When you come to a book like Jonah, I think it's one of the most important things

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 in terms of starting off looking at Jonah is that you see yourself in the message,

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 or you see a little bit of Jonah's heart in ourselves. I think the shocking reality for

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 us that when we do and look at Jonah, the shocking reality is we're more like him than we think.

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 And that's the challenge I hope that we are willing to face up to. So, when we hear the hard call of God,

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 in his case, to go to Nineveh to a people that he despised and hated because of what they did,

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 and they were an enemy of Israel. But we might find it difficult with some neighbors,

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 difficult people around us, and we might actually be a little bit more like Jonah than we realize.

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 And the challenge, of course, is to realize that God is sovereign, God is all-powerful,

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 God is gracious, and so on. And he will empower us as we live our lives for the glory of Jesus,

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 even with the most difficult people around us. Because our calling is to be like Jesus,

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 not just as we gather and sit beside each other in church, but to those that we are called to go out

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 to. Because that is what God called, Jesus called his disciples to do, to go to all the ends of the

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 earth, to all the people groups in his name and his power and his authority to make disciples of all

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 nations. And here God calls Jonah. And immediately you see the struggle that he faces. Now, we don't know

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 a great deal about Jonah other than some words that are mentioned for us in 2 Kings 14. And the words

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 that are recorded for us from Jonah there are that he confirmed in the time of Jeroboam that the Lord was

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 building the boundaries or rebuilding the boundaries of Israel. That's all we know. But why is that

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 important? Well, if you go back to the previous verses that what the Lord revealed to Israel and to Jonah

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 and to everybody around them was this, that during the time of Jeroboam II, it says that he did evil in

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 the eyes of the Lord which had caused Israel, which he had caused Israel to commit. And this is the

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 challenge I think that we always face as Christians. When we have a culture and we see things moving and

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 changing in our culture and the impact it has on the Christian church, on the gathering or mission,

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 the fear that we might have, that we might get a mouthful from whomever we have, in a sense,

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 we might also have a disparaging view of the mission field that you're called to go to.

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 And that is what is exposed here. The hypocrisy of Jonah is this,

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 that he knew the repeated mercy of God in the life of Israel. The ups, the downs, the ups,

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 the downs. You cannot read the Old Testament without seeing it for yourself.

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 Times of great, you know, terrible events and terrible lifestyles, etc., in there by,

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 led by kings and Jeroboam in this case, his sin came up before the Lord. And it is easy to forget that,

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 to forget even our own sin from what we have been saved from, and see others and their lives as much

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 worse and much more terrible than what God had to deal with with you and me.

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 And it's a dangerous move from the church. And it's an easy thing to fall into, an easy pattern.

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 And it is so easy to forget what the Lord saved you and me from. Now, granted, most of you were

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 probably not like me back in the day. And all the mistakes and the wrongs, etc., I'm very much an unlikely

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 candidate. But God, but God stepped in. But God saved. God saves the unexpected, the rascals,

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 the people of Nineveh. He showed, he called Jonah to go to these people that he despised,

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 forgetting the very sins that the Lord had repeatedly forgiven and restored Israel time

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 and time again. So, it is easy to fall into that pattern. And that's the challenge I think we face as

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 we look at Jonah, as we think about the first three verses and also his own confession regarding God's

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 character when it comes to dealing with the sins of people. Now, one writer said this. He says,

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 challenging us about our Christian lifestyles, our mission, etc. He said, your Christianity is not defined

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 by Sunday morning when you're throwing your head back and singing praise to God.

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 He says, that's the easy call of God.

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 That doesn't define your Christianity alone. Our call is to be Christ-like in every day

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 and in submission to Him and in worship every single day of our lives. Now, that includes the very clear

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 command of Scripture, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love

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 your neighbor as yourself. And as we all know, sometimes they can be the most difficult of people.

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 Sometimes God calls us to hard things, to hard places. It's not easy, but we are never going on our own strength.

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 And so, you can understand in one sense Jonah's unwillingness to go,

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 but he had known God's redeeming grace repeatedly in the life of Israel.

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 And it's something that he didn't want to share with the people of Nineveh.

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 So, when God is calling you to tough places, what's your response?

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 How do you respond to Him?

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 We could say, and I think I've probably done this myself,

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 Lord, lead me anywhere you want me to go.

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 Except, and except, or in Jonah's case, Nineveh.

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 In fact, his effort was to try and reach as far away from Nineveh as possible and go to Tarshish,

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 the end of the then known world would be Europe to most commentators.

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 So, what do I hope that we do this evening as we look at these words, and as we think about the

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 tough call of God on your life? What if He's calling you to ministry,

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 and you feel there are so many hurdles in your way? What if He's calling you to

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 minister in some way or other to people at work, or whatever it may be? And sometimes you just simply

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 resist and don't fulfill that calling because it's too tough for you and for me.

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 Well, here we find out that God is truly sovereign and all-powerful.

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 And that is what we need to take on board in the tough calls that He gives us,

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 the people that He seeks you to minister to, because He goes with you and before you,

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 and it is through Him that people come to know Him. So, what is the first thing then about Jonah that we

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 should take consideration of? It's his heart. His heart.

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 You know, you read these words, the first three verses there, and there is clearly something about

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 the prophet. He does a runner. He just runs. How do we know his heart? It comes from his confession

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 in chapter 4. He says,

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 O Lord, and he prayed to the Lord and said, O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country?

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 That is why I made haste to flee to Tarsus. For I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful,

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 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and relenting from disaster.

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 There is the revelation of what he knew about God in this moment.

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 He knew the character of God in every aspect of his life, and what he said about the character of God,

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 what God displayed even through the message of judgment in the time of Israel,

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 was a God who was compassionate and slow to anger and rich in mercy, and who relented when the people

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 prayed in repentance. What an incredible testimony to the majesty and the grace and the wonder of God.

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 God, but it exposes his heart. It shows you how he was so disturbed at the thought that these terrible people

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 might discover, feel, receive that compassion,

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 that love,

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 that slow to anger and rich in mercy, God in heaven, who relents from disaster.

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 There is the exposure of his heart and what he is truly thinking,

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 and that he is willing to be a roadblock to these people ever responding to God.

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 It is really difficult to try and understand how someone could get to that place.

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 Very difficult.

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 How someone refused, or he was, yes, he refused till later,

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 but he refused to go to Nineveh,

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 wanted to go to Tarshish because he didn't want

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 to proclaim the gracious judgment of God.

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 Now, one or two of you might be saying,

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 did he just say gracious judgment?

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 Yes, that's exactly what I said.

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 God's gracious judgment.

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 Now, if you're a non-Christian and you're hearing the word judgment,

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 it's probably the case that you really don't like

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 that word,

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 and very often

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 we don't do a great job

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 when we're talking about the gracious judgment of God.

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 A lot of us have probably never put the two words together.

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 But I call it gracious judgment for a reason.

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 You can call it gracious revelation.

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 God knew the heart of the people of Nineveh.

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 Their sin had come up before him.

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 It also had come up before Jonah,

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 and Jonah's response was,

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 really, in a sense,

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 Lord, just bring rain down judgment upon them.

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 But when the Lord reveals judgment in this way,

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 in this gracious judgment way,

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 what He is doing is,

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 is He exposes the heart of people.

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 And if you're a non-Christian this evening,

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 when He reveals your heart,

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 the point of it is to bring you to a place

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 where you are no longer on the throne of your life,

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 but that He is on the throne,

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 and He is the one who is supreme Lord and sovereign King.

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 He is the one who judges.

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 But He is also the gracious one

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 who will relent when you turn to Him.

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 He is the one who provided the means

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 for you and me to turn away from this judgment

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 because He gave His only begotten Son,

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 and judgment was poured upon Him

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 for the sin of the world.

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 And that's the incredible truth in front of you,

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 that this prophet of God,

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 God spoke to him.

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 God called him to a hard calling

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 to get up and go,

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 and not just simply lob grenade bombs

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 of judgment on the people of Nineveh.

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 Pick yourself up,

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 go to Nineveh,

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 and proclaim what I have told you to proclaim,

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 that their sin has come up before me,

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 and judgment is coming.

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 Why does the Lord do that?

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 So that you can turn.

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 So that you can turn from it,

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 from its outcome.

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 When you want to be Lord of your own life,

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 but there is only one Lord,

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 and it is Him who offers you

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 mercy and love and compassion

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 and salvation and transformation

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 and the new birth and eternal life.

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 That's why I call it His gracious judgment.

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 Now, of course, we know the outcome

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 when He goes to Nineveh and preaches it,

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 and you read that in chapter 3.

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 The whole city, everybody turns to Him.

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 And I just want to point this out to you.

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 There are different responses in the Bible

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 to God's gracious judgment.

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 God's gracious judgment came to Nineveh.

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 The whole place, every person,

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 and even sackcloth and ashes on animals.

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 It was incredible.

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 What a glorious moment it could have been

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 for Jonah to be remembered as the prophet

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 to have seen 100 plus thousand people

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 come to the Lord.

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 But He despised them.

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 I want to give you another example

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 about God's gracious judgment

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 that wasn't received.

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 Go back to the time of Noah,

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 when their sin had come up before the Lord,

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 and there was 120 years,

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 and only some were saved.

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 And judgment reigned.

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 The point is this,

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 that when God speaks judgment,

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 He wants you to come to Him

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 because it is Him who can heal you,

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 save you, change you,

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 and make you His child

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 and part of His family.

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 That is the God that Jonah confesses.

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 I knew that you were gracious,

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 a gracious God,

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 merciful and slow to anger,

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 abounding in steadfast love

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 and relenting from disaster.

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 That's the call that I have for you tonight

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 if you're a non-Christian.

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 For us as Christians, then,

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 what an incredible challenge it is.

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 You know, if the statistics are right,

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 and I cannot confirm the statistics are right,

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 but I have heard many a preacher

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 and many a person say

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 that if we in this nation

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 only have about 2% of evangelical,

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 2% of the nation

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 engaging in evangelical Christianity,

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 things are rough.

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 Times are tough.

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 But God hasn't changed.

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 It is the same God

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 who is slow to anger

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 and rich in mercy.

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 The same God.

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 Why has the church diminished so?

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 We can give loads of different reasons,

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 but I want us to really think that through.

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 When you hear what Jonah confesses

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 in light of what took place in Nineveh,

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 that God relented,

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 God poured out His grace,

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 God brought these people to life,

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 He hasn't changed.

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 And our calling is to go

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 in His name,

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 His authority,

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 even to the tough people

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 in this town.

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 And many a person

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 who lambasted a Christian

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 eventually came to know

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 the King of Kings,

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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And so,

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 His heart is exposed

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 to the reality of who God is.

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 And we, the church,

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 need to take confidence,

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 if I can put,

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 it's a weak word,

00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:02.819
 I suppose,

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 but it's,

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 you get the idea.

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 And who we are

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:09.400
 redeemed by,

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 saved by,

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 whom we worship in song,

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 whom we worship in life,

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 whom we seek to give glory

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 in our lives,

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 it is the same Lord

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 who provided His

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 only begotten Son,

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 the same Lord

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 who raised Him

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 from the dead,

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 defeating sin and death,

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 the same Lord

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 that raised us to life.

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 don't be a Jonah

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 and run away

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 from the hard call of God.

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 Jonah did something

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 he knew he couldn't do.

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 When we were singing

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 our first praise,

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 again,

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 I hope that most ministers

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 try and pick something

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 relating to the text

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 and not just our favorite

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 bits of Scripture,

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 you hear the words

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 of the psalmist,

00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.579
 which I'm pretty sure

00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:04.279
 he would have known.

00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.239
 O Lord,

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:06.059
 you have searched me

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.739
 and you know me,

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:08.359
 you know when I sit

00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:09.239
 and when I rise,

00:21:09.479 --> 00:21:10.699
 you perceive my thoughts

00:21:10.699 --> 00:21:11.319
 from afar,

00:21:11.439 --> 00:21:12.859
 you discern my going out

00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:13.759
 and my lying down,

00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:15.000
 you are familiar

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.079
 with all my ways

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.500
 before a word

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.299
 is on my tongue,

00:21:18.739 --> 00:21:19.879
 you know it completely,

00:21:21.219 --> 00:21:22.279
 you hem me in

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.439
 behind before,

00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:26.299
 you have laid

00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:27.979
 your hand upon me,

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.559
 such knowledge

00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:30.900
 is too wonderful for me,

00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:32.039
 too lofty for me

00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.660
 to attain.

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:35.120
 Where can I go

00:21:35.120 --> 00:21:36.019
 from your Spirit?

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:37.440
 Where can I flee

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.220
 from your presence?

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:40.500
 If I go up to the heavens,

00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:41.099
 you are there.

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.799
 If I make my bed

00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.500
 in the depths,

00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:44.299
 you are there.

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.559
 If I rise

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.660
 on the wings of dawn,

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.299
 if I settle

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.880
 on the far side

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:50.640
 of the sea,

00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:52.299
 his Tarshish,

00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:55.759
 even there,

00:21:55.919 --> 00:21:57.159
 your hand will guide me,

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.960
 your right hand

00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.599
 will hold me.

00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.919
 He was delusional

00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:03.159
 and we are delusional

00:22:03.159 --> 00:22:03.799
 ourselves

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:05.359
 or lacking

00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:06.480
 in understanding

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.879
 that this God

00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:08.899
 is our God

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:11.359
 and his almighty power,

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:13.039
 he uses his church

00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:15.000
 as a vessel of grace

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.940
 to the world

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.879
 that is broken.

00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:18.940
 And that is

00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:19.840
 our call

00:22:19.840 --> 00:22:20.500
 to go.

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.380
 It is on his name,

00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.420
 his authority,

00:22:23.780 --> 00:22:24.900
 on his provision

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:27.080
 and on his message

00:22:27.080 --> 00:22:28.080
 that reveals

00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:28.740
 the heart

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.760
 of people

00:22:29.760 --> 00:22:31.520
 and exposes it

00:22:31.520 --> 00:22:32.920
 to his living word.

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.980
 And some will say,

00:22:35.520 --> 00:22:36.740
 no can do.

00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:38.940
 I don't want to know.

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:41.540
 Some of us said that

00:22:41.540 --> 00:22:42.440
 a few times.

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:45.720
 But I praise God

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.500
 that he continued

00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:48.620
 to this day

00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:51.000
 even in my stubbornness

00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.680
 when I finally

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.799
 heard him say,

00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:54.259
 come,

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.340
 follow me.

00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:59.120
 Three things

00:22:59.120 --> 00:22:59.860
 I want to say then

00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:00.680
 before we conclude.

00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:03.440
 And this is the challenge

00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:05.059
 I hope that we will take

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:08.580
 regarding what we see

00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:09.840
 here with Jonah.

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:14.180
 The first thing is this

00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.180
 and listen carefully.

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.720
 Jonah ran from God

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:20.500
 because he did not have

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:22.259
 God's sensitivity

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:23.120
 to sin.

00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:28.059
 Just pause and think

00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:29.660
 of what I'm trying to say.

00:23:31.840 --> 00:23:32.720
 You see,

00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:33.600
 many of us

00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.500
 have preached judgment

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:36.620
 and we let people

00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:37.779
 know the full force

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:40.080
 of the word

00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:41.600
 in that moment.

00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:44.720
 what I mean

00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.620
 about the sensitivity

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:47.000
 is that God knows

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.720
 their predicament.

00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.680
 God knows

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.700
 their situation.

00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:50.980
 And we go

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:52.059
 with that sensitivity

00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.700
 knowing

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:54.039
 that the outcome

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.840
 is dreadful.

00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:58.340
 But we go

00:23:58.340 --> 00:24:00.180
 with a sensitivity

00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:01.759
 in that God

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.660
 will relent.

00:24:02.820 --> 00:24:03.920
 That God will relent

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:04.700
 when a person

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.360
 repents

00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.580
 and turns to the Lord.

00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:08.720
 That is the message

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.320
 that we're called

00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:09.880
 to go with.

00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:14.640
 it is a sensitivity

00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:17.540
 to reignite

00:24:17.540 --> 00:24:18.100
 in us

00:24:18.100 --> 00:24:19.120
 a sensitivity

00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:20.340
 to the fallenness

00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:20.820
 of man,

00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:23.220
 to the broken world

00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:24.000
 around us,

00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:26.180
 that the testimony

00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.020
 of the church

00:24:27.020 --> 00:24:28.480
 to the majesty

00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.040
 of Jesus

00:24:29.040 --> 00:24:29.740
 is getting

00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.640
 lower

00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:31.620
 and lower

00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:33.260
 and dimmer

00:24:33.260 --> 00:24:34.040
 and dimmer.

00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:35.500
 it is time

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.279
 for us

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:36.779
 to have

00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.599
 that sensitivity

00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.960
 to be driven

00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.859
 by the character

00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:41.619
 of God

00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.700
 to a people

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.619
 that are lost.

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.700
 And even if it's

00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.500
 just one

00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.519
 or two

00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:49.019
 or five hundred

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:50.980
 the call

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.579
 is to go.

00:24:52.879 --> 00:24:53.779
 We need

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.619
 that sensitivity.

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:56.679
 and it is

00:24:56.679 --> 00:24:56.959
 driven

00:24:56.959 --> 00:24:58.319
 by our own

00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.799
 life

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:00.739
 and knowledge.

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.839
 Amazing grace

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.619
 that saved

00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:04.479
 a wretch

00:25:04.479 --> 00:25:05.019
 like me.

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.959
 That's the first thing.

00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:10.779
 The second thing

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.259
 is this.

00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.059
 It is clear

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:14.519
 that Jonah

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.339
 resisted

00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:15.759
 the plan

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.259
 of God.

00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:18.419
 The plan

00:25:18.419 --> 00:25:19.019
 was simple

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.699
 but hard.

00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:22.379
 Go to Nineveh

00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:23.179
 and speak.

00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.779
 the message

00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.299
 of judgment

00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:25.980
 against it.

00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.420
 That I have

00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:28.160
 seen their sin.

00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:30.180
 The plan

00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:30.700
 of God.

00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.340
 We know

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:32.880
 the plan

00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:33.400
 of God.

00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:34.799
 It is preached.

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.160
 I've listened

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.799
 to Calum

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.180
 and others

00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:38.640
 preaching.

00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:40.460
 I know

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.060
 that the plan

00:25:41.060 --> 00:25:41.440
 of God

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.140
 has been spoken

00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:42.980
 about repeatedly

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:44.840
 in this place

00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:46.360
 and in other churches.

00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.539
 Praise be to God.

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:51.039
 But we need

00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.640
 to not only

00:25:51.640 --> 00:25:52.120
 listen

00:25:52.120 --> 00:25:52.700
 and hear

00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.279
 the words

00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:54.340
 but put

00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:55.500
 them in action.

00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:56.860
 Put the plan

00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:57.319
 of God

00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:57.960
 in action.

00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.400
 Jesus

00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:00.220
 said it

00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:01.100
 to his disciples

00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:02.120
 and I repeat

00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:03.160
 go

00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:04.980
 therefore

00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:07.100
 go

00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:07.620
 therefore

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.620
 into all

00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.539
 the earth

00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:11.880
 and your town.

00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.180
 Now I am

00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.799
 very grateful

00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.519
 for the opportunity

00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:14.980
 of speaking

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.519
 about Mission

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.019
 International.

00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:17.340
 It is my delight

00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:18.100
 to be able

00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:18.660
 to do that

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.279
 and to raise

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.080
 the profile

00:26:20.080 --> 00:26:20.740
 of Christians

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.579
 in different

00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.079
 places.

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.779
 But I marvel

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.319
 at the fact

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.059
 that these people

00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.920
 speaking in tough

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:26.700
 situations

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.579
 or preaching

00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:28.640
 in tough situations.

00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:29.480
 Myanmar

00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.819
 with a military junta

00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:32.059
 bombing

00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:34.019
 just because

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.539
 they can

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.519
 because they want

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:35.740
 to.

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.099
 They bomb churches

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.660
 and everything

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.539
 so that people

00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.099
 aren't meeting

00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:39.539
 together.

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:40.940
 And yet

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:42.000
 every month

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.039
 I get a report

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:44.839
 that the

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.519
 pastors

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.460
 and the evangelists

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:47.019
 are going to

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.799
 different places

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:49.160
 throughout Myanmar.

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.599
 And sometimes

00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.160
 they say

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.980
 we spoke

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:54.139
 to 60 people.

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:55.639
 Nobody

00:26:55.639 --> 00:26:57.460
 professed

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.559
 faith in Jesus.

00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.079
 And other times

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.299
 they tell

00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:01.740
 the story

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.740
 of many people

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.139
 reached

00:27:03.139 --> 00:27:04.639
 20 interested

00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:06.180
 10 baptized.

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:07.799
 The Lord

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.500
 is working

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:10.279
 in the tough

00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:10.859
 places.

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.720
 What I fear

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.259
 is that we've

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:14.039
 got comfortable

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:15.200
 with church

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.099
 being our

00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:17.259
 safe place.

00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:18.039
 It should be

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.759
 a safe place.

00:27:18.879 --> 00:27:19.359
 Absolutely.

00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:21.059
 But it's a

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.139
 commissioning place,

00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:24.000
 an equipping place

00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:25.240
 for us to be

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.319
 prepared to do

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:26.859
 the works of

00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:27.460
 good service

00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.399
 and proclamation

00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:29.159
 of the gospel,

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:29.920
 the message,

00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.119
 to fulfill

00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:32.579
 the plan of God

00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:34.079
 through the

00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.920
 New Testament church

00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.720
 to the world

00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.339
 around us.

00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.039
 That's what

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.799
 we're called to.

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.039
 Thirdly,

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:45.680
 Jonah

00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.779
 did not

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.299
 have a

00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:47.779
 commitment

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:49.420
 to the

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.220
 grace of God

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.500
 and the

00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.079
 outworking

00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:52.519
 of that

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:52.960
 grace

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:54.759
 through the

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.240
 message of

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:55.680
 his word.

00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:57.859
 That is

00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:58.240
 such a

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.639
 challenge.

00:27:59.659 --> 00:28:00.420
 It really

00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:00.740
 is.

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.740
 There are

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.379
 times when

00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:02.720
 the Lord

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.559
 confronts me

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.019
 about my

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.619
 own heart,

00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:07.359
 about my

00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:08.339
 lethargy

00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:09.000
 at times,

00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:10.379
 whatever it

00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:10.759
 may be.

00:28:10.899 --> 00:28:11.740
 He speaks

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.599
 and confronts

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:12.980
 through his

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.319
 word,

00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.459
 through preachers,

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:14.959
 but through the

00:28:14.959 --> 00:28:15.459
 reading of his

00:28:15.459 --> 00:28:15.779
 word,

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.639
 through reading

00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:17.019
 books.

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.079
 Just,

00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:19.980
 he does it

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:20.959
 and I freely

00:28:20.959 --> 00:28:21.619
 admit it.

00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.299
 Grace

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:27.519
 to us

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.259
 and we know

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.099
 it full well.

00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:30.240
 And this is the

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.719
 challenge,

00:28:31.179 --> 00:28:31.839
 whether it's to

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.480
 people who have

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.199
 wronged us

00:28:33.199 --> 00:28:34.059
 or offended us

00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.959
 or the people

00:28:34.959 --> 00:28:35.319
 that we are

00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:35.939
 called to on

00:28:35.939 --> 00:28:37.079
 mission or

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.759
 people within

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.399
 the church

00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:39.379
 that we don't

00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:40.000
 get on with.

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.180
 We may be

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:41.780
 able to sing

00:28:41.780 --> 00:28:42.160
 out loud,

00:28:42.300 --> 00:28:43.060
 amazing grace

00:28:43.060 --> 00:28:44.040
 that saved

00:28:44.040 --> 00:28:44.700
 a wretch like

00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:44.980
 me.

00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.460
 Amazing grace,

00:28:46.540 --> 00:28:47.060
 how sweet

00:28:47.060 --> 00:28:47.620
 the sound

00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.180
 that saved

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:48.760
 a wretch like

00:28:48.760 --> 00:28:49.000
 me.

00:28:51.340 --> 00:28:52.120
 But we're

00:28:52.120 --> 00:28:52.560
 becoming

00:28:52.560 --> 00:28:53.180
 resistant

00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:56.300
 to sharing

00:28:56.300 --> 00:28:57.040
 that grace

00:28:57.040 --> 00:28:58.080
 to someone

00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:58.500
 who may

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.240
 offend us,

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.800
 to the

00:29:00.800 --> 00:29:01.300
 culture

00:29:01.300 --> 00:29:02.380
 around us

00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:04.740
 that is

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.920
 anti-Christian.

00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:10.900
 That's

00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.200
 where we

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:11.500
 were.

00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:14.320
 Some of us

00:29:14.320 --> 00:29:14.880
 didn't grow up

00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:15.220
 in church,

00:29:15.280 --> 00:29:15.680
 but that's

00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:15.960
 where we

00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.280
 were.

00:29:18.360 --> 00:29:19.040
 Ever so

00:29:19.040 --> 00:29:19.680
 thankful that

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.620
 someone stopped

00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:21.280
 one day to

00:29:21.280 --> 00:29:21.980
 just give me a

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.600
 tract and start

00:29:22.600 --> 00:29:23.180
 the discussion.

00:29:24.900 --> 00:29:25.640
 Didn't go down

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.460
 too well in

00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:26.900
 some ways,

00:29:27.020 --> 00:29:28.280
 but you get

00:29:28.280 --> 00:29:28.700
 the gist.

00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.360
 Someone did

00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:30.540
 it.

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.640
 Someone heard.

00:29:32.040 --> 00:29:32.320
 Someone

00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:32.759
 was a

00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:33.480
 practitioner

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.299
 of the

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:34.759
 grace of

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.579
 God to

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.659
 go to

00:29:36.659 --> 00:29:37.119
 rebels,

00:29:37.399 --> 00:29:37.740
 and they

00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.539
 picked six

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:38.919
 or seven

00:29:38.919 --> 00:29:39.319
 of us

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:39.779
 in our

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.039
 ranger

00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:40.439
 scars.

00:29:43.939 --> 00:29:44.439
 He's

00:29:44.439 --> 00:29:45.019
 joyful this

00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.379
 weekend.

00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:45.960
 It'll not

00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.379
 last long.

00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.259
 But there

00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:48.700
 we are.

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.500
 They came to

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:49.939
 people that

00:29:49.939 --> 00:29:50.339
 they wouldn't

00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:51.019
 probably normally

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.559
 speak to,

00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:52.759
 but they

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.019
 did.

00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:54.700
 And eventually,

00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.200
 as God

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:58.000
 opens doors

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.480
 and whatever

00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.079
 he did to

00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:00.559
 bring me to

00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.079
 a place

00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:02.179
 where I

00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:03.019
 professed faith

00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.400
 in him,

00:30:04.060 --> 00:30:04.680
 I'm ever so

00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.180
 grateful for

00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:05.640
 that moment.

00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.960
 We have to

00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.960
 have a

00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.980
 commitment to

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.660
 the grace of

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.060
 God, to

00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:11.680
 the plan of

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:14.279
 God, and

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:16.880
 understand God's

00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:18.320
 compassion for

00:30:18.320 --> 00:30:19.180
 the broken world

00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:19.920
 that we're called

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:20.400
 to go to.

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.900
 We need to be

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.340
 equipped,

00:30:24.080 --> 00:30:24.580
 encouraged,

00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.660
 discipled,

00:30:26.840 --> 00:30:28.240
 prepared for

00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.660
 action.

00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:30.599
 But it's

00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.240
 driven by

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.799
 grace.

00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:32.920
 It's driven

00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.740
 by the grace

00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.380
 of God for

00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:34.779
 a broken

00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:35.620
 world that

00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.039
 he knows

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.660
 full well

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.500
 that he gave

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.019
 his son

00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:39.000
 for.

00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.180
 And it

00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.059
 is him

00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:42.599
 who not

00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:43.859
 only took

00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:45.500
 judgment

00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.859
 upon himself

00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:47.940
 and the

00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:48.559
 judgment of

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.400
 my sin

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.359
 and your

00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:51.500
 sin upon

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.079
 himself,

00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:55.740
 but that

00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.500
 same one

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.659
 who exchanged

00:30:57.659 --> 00:30:58.379
 that judgment

00:30:58.379 --> 00:30:59.460
 for his

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.000
 righteousness

00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:01.159
 and my

00:31:01.159 --> 00:31:01.899
 standing and

00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:02.480
 your standing

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.199
 as a believer

00:31:03.199 --> 00:31:04.879
 completely altered

00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:05.779
 and changed

00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:07.019
 because of the

00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:07.579
 grace of God,

00:31:07.639 --> 00:31:08.579
 the saving grace

00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:09.039
 of God.

00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.460
 but we also

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:12.200
 live by

00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:14.079
 that grace.

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.200
 That's the

00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:16.639
 challenge.

00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:18.399
 Are we

00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:19.259
 channels

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:20.240
 of

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.139
 his

00:31:21.139 --> 00:31:22.220
 grace?

00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:24.460
 Are we

00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:25.220
 throttling

00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:26.279
 that grace

00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.960
 for whatever

00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.440
 reason?

00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:29.680
 Are we

00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.139
 listening

00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:31.460
 to the

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.139
 hard call

00:31:32.139 --> 00:31:32.639
 of God

00:31:32.639 --> 00:31:33.599
 and depending

00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.039
 on him

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.700
 in humility

00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.960
 because he

00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:37.279
 strengthens

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.299
 us if we

00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:38.799
 come with

00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.599
 humble hearts

00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:40.039
 saying,

00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:42.139
 I can't

00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:42.519
 do this

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:43.240
 by myself.

00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:45.659
 And that

00:31:45.659 --> 00:31:46.359
 is a

00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.220
 delight to

00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:47.619
 God

00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:49.039
 because God

00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:50.139
 resists the

00:31:50.139 --> 00:31:50.559
 proud.

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.359
 And maybe

00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:54.019
 churches in

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.700
 this country

00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.839
 have demonstrated

00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:56.680
 more pride

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.419
 than humility

00:31:57.419 --> 00:31:59.599
 when God

00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:00.299
 resists

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:01.159
 pride.

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.720
 But he

00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.379
 will work

00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:04.819
 with the

00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.180
 humble,

00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.619
 restore,

00:32:07.619 --> 00:32:09.239
 empower us

00:32:09.239 --> 00:32:10.239
 to fulfill

00:32:10.239 --> 00:32:11.639
 this commission

00:32:11.639 --> 00:32:13.139
 of grace

00:32:13.139 --> 00:32:13.799
 to a broken

00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:14.259
 world.

00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:15.959
 So we

00:32:15.959 --> 00:32:16.399
 have that

00:32:16.399 --> 00:32:16.939
 challenge in

00:32:16.939 --> 00:32:17.519
 front of us

00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.799
 as we

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.079
 kind of

00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.559
 close our

00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.239
 time together.

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:21.619
 Do you

00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:22.759
 have God's

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.399
 sensitivity

00:32:23.399 --> 00:32:24.219
 to sin?

00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:27.459
 Do you

00:32:27.459 --> 00:32:28.279
 understand the

00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:29.019
 plan of God

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.839
 for you as a

00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.539
 Christian and

00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.339
 as a church?

00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:34.220
 do you have

00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.019
 God's commitment

00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:35.679
 to this

00:32:35.679 --> 00:32:36.359
 incredible

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:36.819
 grace,

00:32:36.919 --> 00:32:37.539
 this gracious

00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:39.819
 God who

00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.599
 blessed us

00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:41.159
 with His

00:32:41.159 --> 00:32:42.519
 grace when

00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:42.879
 we were

00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:43.379
 lost?

00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.480
 Well,

00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:45.919
 He wants

00:32:45.919 --> 00:32:47.879
 us to

00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.299
 do to

00:32:48.299 --> 00:32:49.139
 others what

00:32:49.139 --> 00:32:50.480
 others did

00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:52.419
 for you when

00:32:52.419 --> 00:32:52.699
 they were

00:32:52.699 --> 00:32:53.240
 channels of

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:53.879
 God's grace.

00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:56.280
 God saves.

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:57.900
 But He

00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:58.460
 uses the

00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:58.980
 vehicle of

00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.420
 the church

00:32:59.420 --> 00:32:59.980
 and His

00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:01.640
 people to

00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:02.220
 proclaim the

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:03.360
 message and

00:33:03.360 --> 00:33:04.320
 not be afraid

00:33:04.320 --> 00:33:05.000
 in a time

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:05.760
 when the

00:33:05.760 --> 00:33:06.720
 culture is

00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.660
 difficult and

00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:08.200
 resistant.

00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:10.000
 He is

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.780
 still sovereign

00:33:10.780 --> 00:33:11.640
 over all

00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:12.100
 nations.

00:33:13.600 --> 00:33:14.280
 He is

00:33:14.280 --> 00:33:15.320
 still ruler

00:33:15.320 --> 00:33:16.880
 and power

00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:17.760
 over all.

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.500
 He is on

00:33:20.500 --> 00:33:20.980
 His throne

00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:22.440
 and He

00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:22.900
 wants to

00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.559
 use every

00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:24.480
 single gift

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.140
 He has

00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:26.180
 bestowed upon

00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:26.860
 you, His

00:33:26.860 --> 00:33:27.799
 people, you

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.799
 this church,

00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:29.980
 His people,

00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.900
 to use every

00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.539
 gift for the

00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:33.099
 glory of His

00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:34.200
 name, for

00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:34.700
 the blessing

00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.259
 of the people

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:35.839
 of Stornoway

00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:37.099
 or if you

00:33:37.099 --> 00:33:38.140
 include Plasterfield

00:33:38.140 --> 00:33:38.740
 and different

00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.420
 places like that

00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:39.900
 in Stornoway

00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:40.440
 these days, I

00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:40.960
 think you do,

00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:42.279
 but in all the

00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:43.799
 places that you

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.380
 belong to.

00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:46.700
 And I

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.519
 believe that God

00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.059
 will do great

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:49.640
 things when

00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.039
 we're a

00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:50.440
 humble

00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:52.440
 church that

00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:53.160
 comes with an

00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:53.920
 open heart

00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:55.759
 knowing we

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.539
 cannot do it

00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:58.259
 ourselves, but

00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:58.940
 He will do it

00:33:58.940 --> 00:34:00.440
 through us for

00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:01.140
 the glory of

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:01.880
 His name.

00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:03.299
 We pray all

00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:03.779
 things.

00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.120
 Let's pray.

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.260
 Lord God,

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:08.679
 our Heavenly

00:34:08.679 --> 00:34:10.320
 Father, Lord,

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.059
 we just pray

00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:11.559
 that you will

00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:13.139
 continue speaking

00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:13.720
 to us and

00:34:13.720 --> 00:34:14.559
 challenging us,

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:17.260
 checking our

00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:18.320
 hearts this

00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:18.900
 evening, Lord,

00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:23.720
 searching us.

00:34:24.220 --> 00:34:24.660
 May Your

00:34:24.660 --> 00:34:25.639
 Word be like a

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.360
 mirror to us,

00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:27.740
 exposing the

00:34:27.740 --> 00:34:28.440
 weaknesses of

00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:29.039
 our character,

00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:31.400
 the flaws in

00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:32.940
 us that feel

00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:34.900
 anxious about

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.539
 our time,

00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.720
 but this is not

00:34:38.720 --> 00:34:39.119
 our home,

00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:39.400
 Lord.

00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:41.760
 This is,

00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:44.040
 grace, we

00:34:44.040 --> 00:34:44.620
 know that we

00:34:44.620 --> 00:34:45.120
 are in the

00:34:45.120 --> 00:34:46.300
 in-between time,

00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.920
 and it is still

00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:48.660
 the time of

00:34:48.660 --> 00:34:50.000
 grace until

00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.620
 You return.

00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:52.580
 And I pray

00:34:52.580 --> 00:34:53.100
 then that we

00:34:53.100 --> 00:34:53.760
 would have that

00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:54.280
 sense of

00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:54.880
 urgency,

00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:57.160
 be prayerful,

00:34:57.760 --> 00:35:00.820
 be willing

00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:03.260
 to share the

00:35:03.260 --> 00:35:05.640
 grace of God

00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:06.280
 with people,

00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:08.220
 in the hope

00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:09.100
 that they too

00:35:09.100 --> 00:35:10.580
 may come and

00:35:10.580 --> 00:35:11.220
 join us at

00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:11.800
 Your feet.

00:35:12.560 --> 00:35:13.260
 Lord God,

00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:13.800
 our Heavenly

00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:14.580
 Father and

00:35:14.580 --> 00:35:14.840
 Savior,

00:35:15.540 --> 00:35:16.580
 we thank You.

00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:18.600
 Lord, I pray

00:35:18.600 --> 00:35:19.000
 that You will

00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:20.120
 move us as a

00:35:20.120 --> 00:35:21.660
 people and we

00:35:21.660 --> 00:35:23.600
 commit ourselves

00:35:23.600 --> 00:35:24.360
 to You.

00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:26.120
 I pray in a

00:35:26.120 --> 00:35:27.780
 new way to

00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:30.080
 see You do

00:35:30.080 --> 00:35:31.820
 great things in

00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:32.720
 this town and

00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:33.460
 further afield.

00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:35.300
 for the glory

00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:35.599
 of Your

00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:36.019
 name we

00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:36.340
 pray.

00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:37.559
 Amen.

00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:42.159
 Okay, we're

00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:42.699
 going to sing

00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:44.400
 our final

00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:45.280
 praise this

00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:45.780
 evening from

00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:46.880
 Psalm 130,

00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:50.720
 and that's

00:35:50.720 --> 00:35:50.980
 in the

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:51.360
 Psalter,

00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:53.019
 page 421,

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:54.860
 actually.

00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:58.760
 Lord,

00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:00.079
 from the

00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:01.420
 depths I

00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:02.079
 cried.

00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:03.099
 My voice,

00:36:03.099 --> 00:36:03.900
 Lord, do

00:36:03.900 --> 00:36:04.559
 Thou hear,

00:36:05.299 --> 00:36:05.900
 unto my

00:36:05.900 --> 00:36:06.719
 supplications

00:36:06.719 --> 00:36:07.199
 voice,

00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:09.079
 give an

00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.539
 attentive

00:36:09.539 --> 00:36:10.299
 ear.

00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:10.819
 We'll sing

00:36:10.819 --> 00:36:11.339
 the whole of

00:36:11.339 --> 00:36:11.960
 that psalm

00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.500
 to God's

00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:12.779
 praise.

00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:32.780
 For from the dead to thee I cry, my voice for dear thou dear,

00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:51.780
 Until thy son in nature's heart, in heaven at every year.

00:36:51.780 --> 00:37:09.780
 Lord, who shall stand in power, O Lord, to spark iniquity?

00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:28.780
 But yet will thee forgive, that if thou hast me,

00:37:28.780 --> 00:37:47.780
 I wait for God, my soul of me, My hope is in His word.

00:37:47.780 --> 00:38:07.780
 For from the dead to thee I cry, my soul of me, My hope is in His word.

00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:25.780
 I say, Lord God, may I to watch, The Lord be not to see.

00:38:25.780 --> 00:38:44.780
 Let Israel open the door, For with Him bless His King.

00:38:44.780 --> 00:38:58.780
 And when Jesus redeemed for His name,

00:38:58.780 --> 00:39:22.780
 And from all His name, He will be, He is blessed and redeemed.

00:39:22.780 --> 00:39:29.420
 And now may the grace and the mercy and peace and joy and the love of God

00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:32.080
 that we find in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God,

00:39:32.660 --> 00:39:36.960
 may these blessings rest upon you and dwell in your lives now

00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:39.000
 and until you meet them face to face.

00:39:39.140 --> 00:39:41.140
 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

00:39:52.780 --> 00:39:54.780
 Amen.

00:40:22.780 --> 00:40:24.780
 Amen.