WEBVTT

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 Thank you, Abby.

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 Well, folks, as we dive into those passages,

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 before we do so, let us pray together.

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 Let's pray.

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 Heavenly Father, we thank you for the wonderful privilege

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 it is to gather around your word again this evening.

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 And Lord, I pray that as we do so,

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 you would soften our hearts, open our ears.

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 And may the words of my mouth

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 and the meditations of all of our hearts

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 be pleasing to you, our rock and our redeemer.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Have you ever had a movie recommended to you?

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 You know those movie recommendations.

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 People give you just enough details of the plot line

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 and the events that happen that you are invested.

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 You are hooked.

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 Your interest is piqued.

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 And they point out different parts of the movie

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 that they'll think you will enjoy.

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 And so you eagerly go down to the cinema

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 or if you're like me, you find it on Netflix

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 and you settle in to watch it.

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 For me recently, it was The Revenant.

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 Maybe for you, it was Inception or The Matrix.

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 I'm not endorsing any of those movies.

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 But for most of us, if not all of us,

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 have been in that situation, haven't we?

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 So you've got your popcorn,

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 you've got your drink of choice,

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 and you are committed to this movie.

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 But as it goes on,

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 you find out that it's actually completely different

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 from what you're expecting.

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 You'd been sold a superficial run-through

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 of a plot line that was actually really, really complex.

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 And so you leave the cinema confused,

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 thinking you've wasted your time and your money

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 and you're trying to connect the dots in your head

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 of what you've just seen.

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 You were sold a simple story,

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 but it turned out to be very complex.

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 That is the book of Jonah.

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 See, as we start this series,

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 maybe you're expecting to hear a lot about a big fish.

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 Maybe you're expecting us preachers to stand up here

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 and say, Jonah is a bad man.

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 Don't be like him.

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 Or maybe you've got images of children's story Bibles

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 that make this story seem very, very simple.

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 Well, the longer I've studied Jonah over the last few months,

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 the more confusing I found it.

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 See, on one level, this story is simple

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 and a child can pick up the book of Jonah

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 and read it and get something from it.

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 But when you get into the details of the book,

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 it really isn't that straightforward.

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 And that's why tonight we're going to do

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 an introductory sermon,

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 thinking about Jonah and his background,

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 giving a bit of an overview of the book,

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 and then some of the specific challenges

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 that it brings us today.

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 And as we go through this series,

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 what I want us to do is forget everything we know

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 about the book of Jonah.

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 And instead, let the text of God's word inform our minds,

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 challenge our hearts, and impact our lives.

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 See, this book will both convict and comfort us

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 as it presents us with its main message,

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 which the Lord saves.

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 So the first thing I want us to consider tonight

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 is Jonah's background.

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 Look at Jonah chapter one, verse one.

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 It says,

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

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 We get a little bit of more information about Jonah

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 as Abby read to us in 2 Kings chapter 14.

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 If you turn there in your Bibles,

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 we'll spend a little bit of time there.

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 See, this passage introduces us to the prophet Jonah

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 and helps us see the context and background

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 that he's coming from.

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 Now, knowing someone's background

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 helps us make sense of their present actions, doesn't it?

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 I'll give you a silly example of this.

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 Sabina and I have a friend

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 who makes spaghetti bolognese

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 in the most bizarre way I've ever seen.

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 So once the meat is cooked and everything,

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 they blend it with a soup mixer

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 into some kind of strange, chunky, smooth sauce.

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 And now it's perfectly fine

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 if you have a gag reflex at that

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 because I know we did when we first heard it.

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 Now, when I heard that,

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 I thought it was unbelievably strange.

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 But when she explained

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 that that's how her parents had done it,

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 that's how they taught her

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 how to cook spaghetti bolognese,

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 it made sense.

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 Background is important.

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 And the same is true for Jonah.

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 We need to see his background

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 to understand why he acts the way he does

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 in this, in the book of Jonah.

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 So in 2 Kings 14, verse 23,

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 we're introduced to the king of Israel.

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 Read it with me.

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 In the 15th year of Amaziah, son of Joash,

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 king of Judah,

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 Jeroboam, son of Jehoiash, king of Israel,

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 became king in Samaria,

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 and he reigned 41 years.

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 Jeroboam II was the most significant political king

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 of the northern tribe of Israel.

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 Now, you've got to remember the history

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 of the Old Testament here.

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 After King Solomon died,

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 the 12 tribes of Israel split,

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 10 remaining in the north,

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 which then became known as the country of Israel,

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 and two in the south, known as Judah.

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 The southern kingdom included Israel.

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 They had the temple,

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 and they were the more faithful of the two,

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 but by no means perfect.

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 They were captured and taken into captivity

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 to Babylon first.

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 But the northern kingdom,

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 where Jeroboam was king

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 and where Jonah was prophet,

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 that was a whole different story.

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 As you read the book of Kings,

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 you'll see time and time again

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 that repeated phrase,

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 as it does here in verse 24,

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 the king did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

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 Now, Jeroboam II led Israel

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 in a time of prosperity,

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 but it was also a rocky time

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 because of the idolatry

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 that had taken root in their country

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 and in the hearts of its people.

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 See, the tribes of Israel

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 were told to travel to the temple in Jerusalem

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 where they were to worship God.

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 But in a political move,

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 Jeroboam II set up two golden calves

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 and shrines,

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 one in the north and one in the south

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 of the kingdom of Israel.

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 Private places of worship

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 and golden calves,

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 two things that should send alarm bells ringing

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 in our minds for the nation of Israel.

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 And as yeast spreads through bread,

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 impacting every part of it,

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 so the yeast of idolatry

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 has taken a hold of this nation.

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 It was a religious melting pot of ideas

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 that stood against everything

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 God had commanded his people to do.

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 And that's the context Jonah was in,

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 a land of prosperity and idolatry.

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 And yet God was still working

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 and the expansion of this kingdom

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 was his doing.

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 Look at verse 25.

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 The expansion of the kingdom,

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 it was done in accordance

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 with the word of the Lord,

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 the God of Israel,

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 spoken through his servant Jonah,

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 son of Amittai,

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 the prophet from Gath-Hefer.

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 It was Jonah who communicated

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 God's will to this evil king

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 to lead the northern country of Israel

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 in their prosperity.

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 All of it is God's will.

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 And then in verse 26,

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 it says,

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 the Lord had seen how bitterly

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 everyone in Israel,

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 whether slave or free,

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 was suffering.

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 There was no one to help them

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 and since the Lord had not said

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 he would blot out the name of Israel

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 from under heaven,

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 he saved them by the hand

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 of Jeroboam,

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 son of Jehoiash.

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 God was the one who put Jeroboam

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 on the throne.

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 Prior to his rule,

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 Israel was suffering.

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 It was poor.

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 It was neglected.

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 So God delivered them

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 by giving them this king.

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 And this teaches us

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 that God can be at work

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 and ultimately use things,

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 people,

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 and nations

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 that are evil

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 for his own good purposes

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 and to fulfill

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 his own good plan.

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 We may not understand that.

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 We certainly probably all

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 have questions

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 about how that works

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 as we think of examples

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 in our minds.

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 But that's the reality

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 of what this passage teaches us.

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 God can use

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 all things,

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 even evil things,

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 for his good.

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 God is compassionate

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 to the rebellious

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 people of Israel.

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 So whilst we may not

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 understand it fully,

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 it is a wonderful thing

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 because it is that same

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 compassion of God

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 that results in sinners

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 like you and like me

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 having the opportunity

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 to hear the gospel

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 and to be made right

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 with God.

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 So Jonah was a prophet

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 to Jeroboam II.

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 And in verse 25,

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 he's mentioned

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 a little bit like

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 a prophet of the court,

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 a prophet of God

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 who would advise

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 the king

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 or the government

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 on matters

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 and be a voice of reason.

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 So Jonah lived

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 a very comfortable life.

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 He had a place

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 of power

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 and honor

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 in the courtroom

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 of an evil king.

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 But he wasn't

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 the only prophet

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 active at this time.

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 Amos and Hosea

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 were active

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 at the same time.

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 And if you read

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 their books

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 in the Old Testament,

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 which I'd encourage you

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 to do,

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 you'll see that

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 they spoke very,

00:10:09.580 --> 00:10:10.580
 very bluntly

00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:12.500
 against the idolatry

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 going on

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 in the northern kingdom

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 of Israel.

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 But not Jonah.

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 So we have no indication

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 that he spoke

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 against idolatry.

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 And what we do know

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 of him

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 from the book of Jonah

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 doesn't really fill us

00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:27.419
 with confidence,

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 does it?

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 A prophet of God

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 who might not be

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 promoting idolatry,

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 but he is idly

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 standing by

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 and he is present

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 when it's happening.

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 He doesn't seem

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 to be calling it

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 to stop.

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 Could it be

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 that the comfort

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 Jonah enjoyed

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 in Israel

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 under Jeroboam II

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 has led

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 to spiritual

00:10:52.780 --> 00:10:54.000
 lukewarmness?

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 Look at the places

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 in the world

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 where there is largely

00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:01.040
 peace and prosperity.

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 They are generally

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 the places

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 that are also

00:11:05.340 --> 00:11:06.960
 spiritually lukewarm.

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 And those places

00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.040
 in the world

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 where the church

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 is growing

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 and thriving

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 are often

00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:15.639
 the places

00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.340
 where peace

00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:17.080
 and plenty

00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:18.060
 are not the norm.

00:11:19.680 --> 00:11:20.720
 So the reality

00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:22.040
 of our human hearts

00:11:22.040 --> 00:11:23.820
 is that when we

00:11:23.820 --> 00:11:24.600
 get comfortable

00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:25.300
 in life,

00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:25.960
 when things

00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:27.080
 are going well

00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:27.480
 for us,

00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:28.240
 we assume

00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.639
 that we have

00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:30.340
 the Lord's favour.

00:11:32.700 --> 00:11:33.220
 Jeroboam

00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:33.800
 and Israel

00:11:33.800 --> 00:11:34.400
 show us

00:11:34.400 --> 00:11:35.060
 that that isn't

00:11:35.060 --> 00:11:35.759
 always true.

00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:37.139
 They had peace

00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:38.220
 and plenty

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.080
 and yet they were

00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:39.819
 still seen

00:11:39.819 --> 00:11:40.379
 as evil

00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:41.379
 in God's sight.

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:43.860
 Now there are

00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:44.460
 two challenges

00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:45.220
 for us today

00:11:45.220 --> 00:11:45.819
 as we think

00:11:45.819 --> 00:11:46.539
 about Jonah's

00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:46.960
 background.

00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:48.519
 The first

00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:49.500
 is that a nation

00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.639
 can be prosperous.

00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:52.379
 It can be

00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:52.899
 a place

00:11:52.899 --> 00:11:53.419
 of peace

00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:54.120
 and plenty

00:11:54.120 --> 00:11:55.080
 and still

00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:56.279
 be evil

00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:57.740
 in the Lord's eyes.

00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.600
 Think

00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:01.539
 of our home.

00:12:02.580 --> 00:12:03.159
 In times

00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:03.919
 when our nation

00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:04.919
 is prospering

00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:05.460
 which it has

00:12:05.460 --> 00:12:05.920
 been doing

00:12:05.920 --> 00:12:06.540
 for a very

00:12:06.540 --> 00:12:07.379
 long time,

00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:09.280
 we might

00:12:09.280 --> 00:12:09.720
 be tempted

00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:10.560
 to be proud

00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:12.379
 and think

00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:12.800
 that we're

00:12:12.800 --> 00:12:13.639
 blessed by God.

00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:14.240
 We must be

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:14.940
 doing something

00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:15.560
 right or

00:12:15.560 --> 00:12:16.400
 we must be

00:12:16.400 --> 00:12:17.320
 something special.

00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:20.259
 We do that

00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:20.820
 on a national

00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:21.480
 level but we

00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:21.820
 do it

00:12:21.820 --> 00:12:22.440
 in our

00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:22.840
 individual

00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:23.540
 lives too,

00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:23.960
 don't we?

00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:26.220
 We speak

00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:26.759
 a lot about

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.680
 idolatry in our

00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:28.259
 own hearts,

00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:28.920
 things that we

00:12:28.920 --> 00:12:29.460
 worship,

00:12:29.920 --> 00:12:30.500
 the bigger

00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.440
 bank balance,

00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:32.620
 the bigger

00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:33.019
 house,

00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:33.580
 the faster

00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:34.259
 car,

00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:34.720
 the newest

00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:35.240
 phone.

00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:36.639
 We always

00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:37.280
 want more

00:12:37.280 --> 00:12:37.600
 and we

00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:38.240
 never seem

00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:38.700
 to have

00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:39.040
 enough.

00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:39.600
 We're so

00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:40.500
 focused on

00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:41.040
 the temporary

00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:41.620
 things of

00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:42.400
 this life

00:12:42.400 --> 00:12:43.620
 that we

00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.200
 forget about

00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:44.820
 the important

00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:45.860
 and eternal

00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:46.920
 things that

00:12:46.920 --> 00:12:47.680
 really matter.

00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:50.879
 See,

00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:51.340
 in comfort

00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:51.900
 it's easy

00:12:51.900 --> 00:12:52.639
 to neglect

00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:54.020
 our spiritual

00:12:54.020 --> 00:12:54.800
 welfare.

00:12:56.920 --> 00:12:57.620
 Maybe you

00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:58.020
 think you're

00:12:58.020 --> 00:12:58.660
 fine because

00:12:58.660 --> 00:12:59.100
 you're living

00:12:59.100 --> 00:12:59.600
 in a lovely

00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:00.100
 city,

00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:01.920
 because you're

00:13:01.920 --> 00:13:02.240
 going to

00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:02.960
 church every

00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:03.300
 Sunday,

00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:03.860
 you're doing

00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.379
 and saying

00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:04.800
 all the

00:13:04.800 --> 00:13:05.399
 right things

00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:05.759
 in front

00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:06.240
 of people,

00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:06.860
 you have

00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:07.300
 the outward

00:13:07.300 --> 00:13:07.920
 appearance

00:13:07.920 --> 00:13:08.500
 that everything

00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:09.120
 is fine,

00:13:10.040 --> 00:13:11.080
 but inside

00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:11.759
 you're spiritually

00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:12.340
 anemic.

00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:15.960
 Could we

00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:16.540
 be doing

00:13:16.540 --> 00:13:17.220
 our normal

00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:18.159
 routine and

00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:18.920
 still be

00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:19.820
 called evil

00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:20.759
 in the

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.200
 Lord's

00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:21.700
 sight?

00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:24.120
 Now we

00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:24.899
 must understand

00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:25.800
 that a

00:13:25.800 --> 00:13:26.460
 Christian is

00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.139
 secure in

00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:27.980
 Christ because

00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:28.800
 it is God

00:13:28.800 --> 00:13:29.639
 who saves.

00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:30.659
 Not our

00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:31.180
 morality,

00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:31.860
 not our

00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:32.759
 religiosity.

00:13:33.420 --> 00:13:34.060
 Jesus and

00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:34.820
 his sacrifice

00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:35.700
 are the only

00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:36.420
 way that a

00:13:36.420 --> 00:13:37.019
 person can

00:13:37.019 --> 00:13:37.740
 be saved

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:38.659
 and that

00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:39.639
 salvation is

00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:40.580
 secure in

00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:40.899
 him.

00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.240
 But we

00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.000
 must challenge

00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:44.720
 ourselves and

00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:46.000
 ask if we're

00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.379
 just going

00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:46.740
 through the

00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:48.540
 motions or

00:13:48.540 --> 00:13:49.120
 are we truly

00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.060
 following Christ?

00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:52.560
 So the

00:13:52.560 --> 00:13:53.100
 book of Jonah

00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:53.840
 should act as

00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:54.700
 a warning not

00:13:54.700 --> 00:13:55.200
 to become

00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:56.620
 comfortable and

00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:57.800
 reject faithful

00:13:57.800 --> 00:13:58.620
 devotion to

00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:58.960
 God.

00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:00.879
 But the

00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.620
 second challenge

00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:02.180
 that it

00:14:02.180 --> 00:14:02.759
 brings to

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.379
 us is we

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:04.920
 need to ask

00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:05.700
 ourselves if

00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:06.320
 we are like

00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:06.680
 Jonah.

00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:09.420
 If we're

00:14:09.420 --> 00:14:10.300
 blending in.

00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:11.500
 If we're

00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:11.980
 being so

00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:12.740
 influenced,

00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:13.639
 if we're being

00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.399
 influenced more

00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:14.820
 by our

00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:16.879
 surroundings than

00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.680
 we are by what

00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:18.340
 God has revealed

00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:19.060
 to us in his

00:14:19.060 --> 00:14:19.440
 word.

00:14:20.560 --> 00:14:21.740
 Whose agenda

00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:22.580
 are we

00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:22.920
 following?

00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:25.000
 have we

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:25.719
 become so

00:14:25.719 --> 00:14:26.639
 comfortable in

00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.299
 this world that

00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:27.939
 we no longer

00:14:27.939 --> 00:14:28.779
 stand out?

00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:30.799
 We blend in

00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:32.079
 so much that

00:14:32.079 --> 00:14:32.539
 people don't

00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:33.199
 even know we're

00:14:33.199 --> 00:14:33.659
 Christians.

00:14:35.819 --> 00:14:36.899
 Do your

00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.539
 community,

00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:39.599
 your family,

00:14:40.339 --> 00:14:41.219
 our friends,

00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:41.799
 our work

00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:42.620
 colleagues notice

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.759
 a difference in

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.339
 the way that we

00:14:44.339 --> 00:14:46.120
 live, the way

00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:46.819
 that we talk,

00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:48.259
 the way that we

00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:49.179
 think and the

00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:49.980
 way we approach

00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:50.840
 people?

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.720
 Do they see

00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:54.360
 a fundamental

00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:55.120
 difference that

00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:55.700
 we are living

00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:56.680
 for something,

00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:57.519
 for someone

00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.080
 else?

00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:00.860
 So our lives

00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:01.420
 as Christians

00:15:01.420 --> 00:15:02.220
 shouldn't be,

00:15:02.300 --> 00:15:02.960
 should be

00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:04.039
 counter-cultural,

00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:05.139
 not cultural

00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.399
 conformists.

00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:09.259
 That's Jonah's

00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:09.720
 background.

00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:11.019
 He was a

00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:11.980
 prophet in a

00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:13.379
 rebellious nation

00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:14.620
 under a

00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.519
 rebellious king

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.980
 who lived a

00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:17.840
 life of peace,

00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:18.860
 plenty,

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:19.960
 and promise.

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.460
 dominants.

00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:22.659
 The second

00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.220
 thing I want

00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:24.240
 us to think

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:24.700
 about this

00:15:24.700 --> 00:15:25.200
 evening is

00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.019
 Jonah's book.

00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:26.840
 Now turn back

00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:27.840
 with me to the

00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:28.460
 book of Jonah.

00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.680
 And the big

00:15:30.680 --> 00:15:31.460
 question we need

00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:32.340
 to ask when we

00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:32.940
 come to any

00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:33.560
 book of the

00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:34.320
 Bible is,

00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.159
 who was it

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.920
 written by,

00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:37.279
 and who was

00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:38.220
 it written for?

00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:40.300
 Now we aren't

00:15:40.300 --> 00:15:41.240
 told who wrote

00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:41.800
 it, but there

00:15:41.800 --> 00:15:42.659
 are details in

00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.240
 this book that

00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:43.920
 only Jonah

00:15:43.920 --> 00:15:44.899
 himself would

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.159
 know.

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:45.860
 So personally,

00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:46.940
 I think this

00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:47.800
 book was written

00:15:47.800 --> 00:15:49.639
 by Jonah after

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:50.319
 the events,

00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:51.500
 after everything

00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:51.939
 had taken

00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:52.439
 place.

00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:55.379
 So Jonah was

00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.460
 written to the

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:58.039
 Israelites, the

00:15:58.039 --> 00:15:58.720
 people that we

00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.179
 were just

00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:00.120
 thinking about in

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:00.919
 Jonah's background.

00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.519
 Let me tell you

00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.059
 why I think

00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:03.460
 this.

00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:05.000
 As you go

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.379
 through the

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:05.899
 book, you'll

00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:07.259
 see that Jonah

00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:08.120
 has certain

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:10.220
 ideas about who

00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:11.059
 and where,

00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:13.279
 to who,

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:14.159
 sorry, and

00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:14.899
 where God's

00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:16.299
 love and mercy

00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:17.000
 should be shown.

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.860
 And the

00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:19.500
 whole point of

00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:21.000
 this book is

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:21.580
 to help the

00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.360
 readers see that

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:23.139
 God's love,

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.039
 God's compassion

00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.659
 is not limited to

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:26.639
 a certain people

00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:27.779
 in a certain

00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:28.679
 place, but it

00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:29.720
 extends far,

00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.639
 far wider than

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.179
 we can even

00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:32.259
 begin to

00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:32.600
 imagine.

00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:34.879
 So if you're

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.559
 looking for a

00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:36.159
 statement that

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.259
 summarizes Jonah

00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.039
 and this sermon

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:38.799
 series, it is

00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:39.580
 that the Lord

00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.860
 saves.

00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.080
 Let's dive into

00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:44.539
 the specifics of

00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:45.399
 the book itself.

00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:47.139
 See, Jonah's

00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.579
 one of those

00:16:47.579 --> 00:16:48.360
 books that most

00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:49.100
 people who've

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:50.059
 spent any time

00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:50.819
 in church at

00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:52.779
 all will have

00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:53.299
 heard it.

00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.120
 Children's

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:57.000
 Bible story

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.519
 books will

00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.259
 normally have a

00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:58.980
 story about it,

00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.059
 but do we

00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:01.639
 really understand

00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.559
 what this book

00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.059
 teaches?

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.559
 For example,

00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.319
 most of you,

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.039
 when you think

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.000
 about the book

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.359
 of Jonah,

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:08.900
 will think,

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.539
 and hopefully

00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.700
 you can engage

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.220
 with me a little

00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.160
 bit and join in

00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:12.960
 and finish this

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.759
 sentence for me,

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.099
 Jonah and the

00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:17.240
 whale.

00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:18.539
 Jonah or the

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.219
 big fish.

00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.039
 That's immediately

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.599
 what we think

00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:20.980
 about, isn't

00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:21.139
 it?

00:17:24.219 --> 00:17:25.359
 Well, Jonah has

00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.019
 four chapters.

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:26.759
 It is made up

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.879
 of 48 verses,

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.579
 and guess how

00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.399
 many of those

00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:30.339
 are dedicated

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:31.379
 to the fish?

00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.000
 Two.

00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:35.539
 Jonah 1.17.

00:17:35.899 --> 00:17:36.859
 Now the Lord

00:17:36.859 --> 00:17:37.859
 provided a huge

00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:38.679
 fish to swallow

00:17:38.679 --> 00:17:40.219
 Jonah, and Jonah

00:17:40.219 --> 00:17:40.980
 was in the belly

00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:41.859
 of the fish three

00:17:41.859 --> 00:17:42.759
 days and three

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.199
 nights.

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:43.819
 And then in

00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.480
 chapters 2,

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:45.100
 verse 10,

00:17:45.600 --> 00:17:46.059
 and the Lord

00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:46.799
 commanded the

00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.519
 fish and it

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.299
 vomited Jonah

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:49.460
 onto dry ground.

00:17:50.580 --> 00:17:51.400
 One mentioned

00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.180
 when Jonah was

00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:53.360
 swallowed and the

00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:54.120
 next when he was

00:17:54.120 --> 00:17:54.960
 spat out on the

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.860
 sea, on the

00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:56.160
 beach.

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:58.720
 See, I don't

00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.120
 think, I don't

00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:01.340
 know, I don't

00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:01.819
 think we know

00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:02.480
 this book as well

00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.000
 as we think we

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:03.220
 do.

00:18:04.340 --> 00:18:04.920
 Because we

00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:05.819
 associate it with

00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:06.620
 an event that's

00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:07.120
 actually only

00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:08.120
 mentioned twice,

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.539
 or referenced

00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.460
 twice, and in

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.460
 passing at that.

00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:13.960
 So what I want

00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:15.240
 us to do is

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:15.840
 forget everything

00:18:15.840 --> 00:18:16.500
 we know about

00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.600
 Jonah and

00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:18.539
 have the Bible

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:20.120
 inform our

00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:20.860
 understanding of

00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.059
 it.

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.299
 See, the book

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.059
 can be summarized

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:23.640
 like this.

00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:25.220
 God tells Jonah

00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:25.960
 to go to a

00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.819
 scary people,

00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:27.759
 the Ninevites.

00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.500
 Jonah runs the

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:30.220
 opposite way.

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.240
 Prophet goes to

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.980
 the sea, he's

00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.600
 eaten by a

00:18:33.600 --> 00:18:33.900
 fish.

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:34.920
 Jonah repents

00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:35.840
 in that fish

00:18:35.840 --> 00:18:37.100
 and is puked up

00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:37.799
 on the beach.

00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:40.180
 Jonah goes to

00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:40.880
 the bad people

00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.460
 of Nineveh.

00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:42.460
 They repent.

00:18:43.260 --> 00:18:44.140
 Jonah is

00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:44.660
 angry.

00:18:47.040 --> 00:18:47.340
 And so

00:18:47.340 --> 00:18:47.960
 usually the

00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:48.700
 application that

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.500
 people come to

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.560
 when they read

00:18:50.560 --> 00:18:51.460
 Jonah is, Jonah

00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.840
 is a bad

00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:53.880
 racist man.

00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:55.260
 Do not be

00:18:55.260 --> 00:18:55.920
 like Jonah.

00:18:57.520 --> 00:18:58.200
 But that

00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.720
 doesn't quite

00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.180
 fit.

00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:00.960
 Because in the

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.520
 New Testament,

00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.340
 in Luke 11,

00:19:02.540 --> 00:19:03.320
 Jesus compares

00:19:03.320 --> 00:19:04.140
 himself to

00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:04.440
 Jonah.

00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.520
 So surely

00:19:06.520 --> 00:19:07.940
 we can't say

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:08.520
 that Jonah is

00:19:08.520 --> 00:19:09.120
 bad and we

00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:09.920
 shouldn't be

00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:10.460
 like him.

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.100
 This book

00:19:14.100 --> 00:19:15.060
 does raise a

00:19:15.060 --> 00:19:15.300
 lot of

00:19:15.300 --> 00:19:15.980
 questions that

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.400
 we'll get

00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.980
 to over the

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:18.539
 next four

00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:18.940
 weeks.

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.039
 Questions like

00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.720
 why is

00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:21.620
 Jonah so

00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:23.180
 angry, both

00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:23.460
 of the

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.320
 Ninevites and

00:19:24.320 --> 00:19:24.800
 at God?

00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:26.940
 Why exactly

00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.600
 didn't he want

00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:28.160
 to go to the

00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:28.560
 Ninevites?

00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:29.200
 What are his

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.700
 motives behind

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.800
 all of this?

00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.820
 Why does this

00:19:32.820 --> 00:19:33.680
 book end the

00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.380
 way it does?

00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:37.440
 See, Jonah

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.260
 isn't like any

00:19:38.260 --> 00:19:38.840
 other prophetic

00:19:38.840 --> 00:19:39.480
 book in the

00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.040
 Old Testament.

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.440
 Most other

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.320
 books focus on

00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:43.160
 the message of

00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:43.580
 the prophet.

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:45.060
 They're basically

00:19:45.060 --> 00:19:45.960
 full of speeches

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.740
 that God has

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.320
 commissioned

00:19:47.320 --> 00:19:48.680
 prophets to go

00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.320
 and communicate

00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:50.180
 to people, to

00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:50.880
 call them to

00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.500
 repent and

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.320
 turn to God.

00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:53.640
 But Jonah

00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:54.480
 isn't really

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:54.940
 about his

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:56.500
 message, but

00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.080
 it's about his

00:19:57.080 --> 00:19:57.480
 journey.

00:19:59.040 --> 00:19:59.660
 Jonah's actual

00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.560
 message is in

00:20:00.560 --> 00:20:01.760
 chapter 3, verse 4,

00:20:01.820 --> 00:20:02.300
 where it says

00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.460
 this, 40

00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.639
 more days and

00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:05.480
 Nineveh will

00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.339
 be overthrown.

00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:08.220
 The shortest

00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:08.899
 sermon you've

00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:09.519
 ever heard in

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.019
 your life.

00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.039
 A message that

00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.779
 is actually only

00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.779
 five words in

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.139
 the Hebrew

00:20:14.139 --> 00:20:14.879
 language.

00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:16.639
 See, Jonah's

00:20:16.639 --> 00:20:17.480
 a bit like a

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.460
 Hollywood thriller

00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:18.819
 movie.

00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:19.419
 You know those

00:20:19.419 --> 00:20:20.440
 movies, they're

00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.899
 full of ups and

00:20:21.899 --> 00:20:23.399
 downs, plot

00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:24.460
 twists and turns.

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.159
 One minute you

00:20:25.159 --> 00:20:25.819
 think the main

00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.639
 character will do

00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:28.319
 one thing, but

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:28.839
 then you're left

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:30.079
 absolutely confused

00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:30.980
 as it twists and

00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:32.220
 they do something

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.940
 completely different.

00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:35.940
 That's Jonah.

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:38.019
 He is a classic

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.799
 example of Hebrew

00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:41.000
 literature, which

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.759
 Archie will touch

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.460
 on next week.

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.640
 There are intricate

00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:45.779
 structure, parallels,

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.819
 humour, irony, all

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:49.160
 put together in a

00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.380
 masterpiece to help

00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.400
 us see the truth

00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:52.120
 that the Lord

00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:53.200
 saves.

00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:56.339
 But why did

00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:57.059
 Israel get this

00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.360
 book?

00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:59.460
 Well, my personal

00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:01.019
 opinion is that

00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.860
 Jonah wrote this

00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:02.839
 after the events

00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:04.779
 took place because

00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.599
 he got home to

00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.199
 the nation of

00:21:06.199 --> 00:21:07.779
 Israel and he

00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.719
 saw the danger

00:21:08.719 --> 00:21:09.539
 of their view of

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:09.879
 God.

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.699
 He saw how their

00:21:12.699 --> 00:21:13.659
 understanding of

00:21:13.659 --> 00:21:14.599
 God's love and

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.639
 mercy was restricted

00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:16.679
 to them as a

00:21:16.679 --> 00:21:17.059
 people.

00:21:18.659 --> 00:21:19.099
 And so in

00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:21.099
 humility, Jonah

00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:22.119
 penned this book

00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:24.199
 using himself as

00:21:24.199 --> 00:21:25.159
 an example of

00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:26.099
 that change that

00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:26.939
 needed to happen

00:21:26.939 --> 00:21:27.939
 in the hearts of

00:21:27.939 --> 00:21:28.419
 Israel.

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:30.600
 See, it's as if

00:21:30.600 --> 00:21:31.480
 Jonah got back to

00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:31.960
 the land of

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.880
 Israel after all

00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:33.340
 of this had

00:21:33.340 --> 00:21:34.100
 happened, saw

00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:34.860
 those attitudes

00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:35.700
 that he saw in

00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:37.759
 himself and he

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.220
 says, everyone

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.019
 come in, story

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.340
 time.

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.300
 Let me tell you

00:21:41.300 --> 00:21:41.980
 about a time in

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:44.240
 my life that you

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.180
 need to hear as

00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:45.400
 well.

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.860
 See, this book

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.980
 focuses on God's

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.860
 control over all

00:21:49.860 --> 00:21:51.420
 creation, people and

00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.660
 planet alike and it

00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.740
 is God's decision

00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:55.180
 salvation who he

00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.220
 showers his love

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.900
 and mercy on because

00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.140
 it is the Lord who

00:21:59.140 --> 00:21:59.660
 saves.

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.579
 That's what this

00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.640
 book will teach us.

00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:05.120
 But the third and

00:22:05.120 --> 00:22:06.059
 final thing I want us

00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:06.920
 to think about this

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:09.140
 evening is Jonah's

00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:10.019
 challenge.

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.680
 And by that I mean

00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.920
 what this book means

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.819
 for us today.

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.779
 So it presents us

00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.579
 with that wonderful

00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.559
 truth that the Lord

00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.259
 saves.

00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:20.220
 And the impact of

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.160
 that message has

00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:23.039
 consequences on how

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.519
 we view ourselves

00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:26.920
 as Christians and

00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:28.480
 how we view and

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.859
 act towards non

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.700
 Christians around

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.159
 us.

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.399
 See, as Christians

00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.319
 we understand the

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:34.659
 gospel.

00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:36.460
 We know the

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.500
 life-saving message

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:39.079
 of Jesus' death and

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:40.240
 resurrection which is

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:42.740
 wonderful but it

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.460
 can also produce

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.639
 pride in us.

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.039
 See, it can lead to

00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.339
 what I call Christian

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.039
 snobbery.

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:51.279
 The idea that

00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.200
 because of our faith

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.839
 we're somehow

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.839
 better than everyone

00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:54.839
 else out there

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:57.919
 can lead to

00:22:57.919 --> 00:22:58.759
 Christians looking

00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:00.059
 down on others

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:01.919
 instead of showing

00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:03.179
 them love and

00:23:03.179 --> 00:23:04.679
 being witnesses to

00:23:04.679 --> 00:23:05.439
 them like we were

00:23:05.439 --> 00:23:06.119
 called to do.

00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:09.199
 This book also

00:23:09.199 --> 00:23:10.659
 views, so challenges

00:23:10.659 --> 00:23:11.459
 the way we view

00:23:11.459 --> 00:23:12.139
 other people.

00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:13.939
 Now Jonah did

00:23:13.939 --> 00:23:15.299
 express a sense of

00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:17.019
 toxic nationalism and

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:18.819
 racism towards the

00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:19.359
 Ninevites.

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:21.359
 As an outsider

00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.579
 looking in on the

00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:24.179
 city of Nineveh,

00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.859
 Jonah saw a

00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:27.259
 ruthless people,

00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:29.500
 brutal in their

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.219
 attacks and who

00:23:30.219 --> 00:23:30.859
 would stop at

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:32.240
 nothing to expand

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.000
 their borders.

00:23:33.639 --> 00:23:34.619
 Historical paintings

00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.659
 and artifacts

00:23:35.659 --> 00:23:37.479
 highlight the

00:23:37.479 --> 00:23:38.439
 brutality of this

00:23:38.439 --> 00:23:39.259
 kingdom that was,

00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.439
 would become the

00:23:40.439 --> 00:23:42.740
 biggest power at

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.279
 the time.

00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:46.619
 and who would

00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.920
 eventually attack

00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.019
 and conquer the

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.660
 northern kingdom

00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:50.359
 of Israel.

00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:53.039
 See, it's as if

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.920
 when Jonah heard

00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:57.039
 God tell him,

00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:57.899
 go and preach to

00:23:57.899 --> 00:23:58.799
 Nineveh, he said,

00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.099
 the Ninevites?

00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:01.779
 Why would I

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.440
 preach to the

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.099
 Ninevites?

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.759
 They don't deserve

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.839
 a relationship with

00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.200
 God.

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:08.200
 They only deserve

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.700
 punishment for their

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.599
 sins and their

00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.220
 stupidity.

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.140
 they don't deserve

00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:12.720
 forgiveness.

00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:16.059
 Now, maybe we

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.860
 don't use those

00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:18.960
 words, but that

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.200
 sentiment is alive

00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:20.640
 today.

00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:23.440
 Because like Jonah,

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.640
 in our time of

00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.980
 peace and plenty,

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:27.100
 we have forgotten

00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:29.240
 the urgency and

00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.360
 the necessity to

00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:31.000
 share the good

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.640
 news of Jesus

00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:33.140
 Christ with all

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:34.140
 people as we've

00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:34.759
 been thinking in

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.460
 the book of Acts

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.039
 in the morning

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.640
 service.

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:39.340
 See, we're

00:24:39.340 --> 00:24:40.640
 tempted to look

00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.380
 at others and

00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:42.360
 their conduct and

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.120
 think that we are

00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:44.120
 superior to them

00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:45.300
 and they don't

00:24:45.300 --> 00:24:46.080
 deserve the gospel.

00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:48.780
 We might see a

00:24:48.780 --> 00:24:49.620
 non-Christian living

00:24:49.620 --> 00:24:50.220
 out a party

00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.120
 lifestyle and

00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:51.640
 feeling the

00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:52.580
 effects of that

00:24:52.580 --> 00:24:53.420
 on their body,

00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:54.520
 on their mental

00:24:54.520 --> 00:24:55.340
 health, on their

00:24:55.340 --> 00:24:56.259
 finances, and we

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:57.120
 might think they're

00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:57.820
 being stupid.

00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.640
 What we should

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.860
 actually be doing

00:25:01.860 --> 00:25:02.940
 is coming alongside

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:04.080
 that person because

00:25:04.080 --> 00:25:05.220
 they're hurting.

00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:08.920
 standing on the

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:09.759
 sidelines in

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.000
 judgment whilst

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.039
 people are hurting

00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:13.160
 is never something

00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.860
 we should do.

00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:15.240
 And it is not

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.000
 something the Bible

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.860
 tells us to do

00:25:16.860 --> 00:25:17.180
 either.

00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.259
 The problem was

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.960
 that Jonah looked

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.980
 at other people and

00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:23.839
 all he saw was

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:26.440
 enemies instead of

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:26.920
 viewing them as

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.779
 people in need of

00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:28.519
 God's salvation.

00:25:30.620 --> 00:25:31.279
 See, Jonah looked

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:32.920
 at Nineveh and saw

00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:33.960
 people deserving of

00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.319
 judgment.

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.440
 Jesus looked at

00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:37.620
 people and saw

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:39.160
 he saw all the

00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.440
 chaotic worlds that

00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.059
 we live in.

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:43.039
 He saw the mess of

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.539
 their lives.

00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:44.720
 He saw rebellion and

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.100
 sin.

00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:46.100
 And what did he say?

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:48.500
 Matthew 9 verse 36

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.620
 says, when he,

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:51.220
 Jesus, saw the

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.839
 crowds, he had

00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:54.700
 compassion on them

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.480
 because they were

00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:57.380
 harassed and helpless

00:25:57.380 --> 00:25:58.940
 like sheep without a

00:25:58.940 --> 00:25:59.220
 shepherd.

00:25:59.220 --> 00:26:03.039
 So as you look out of

00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:03.880
 the people on this

00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.680
 world, they are not

00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.440
 enemies.

00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.700
 They are human beings

00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.920
 made in the image of

00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:09.000
 God who need to be

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:10.180
 told the life-changing

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:11.920
 message of Jesus.

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.620
 And we need to

00:26:13.620 --> 00:26:14.920
 remember that it is the

00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.799
 Lord who saves.

00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:16.480
 No amount of

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:18.460
 religiosity, no amount

00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.579
 of moral living will

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.779
 ever be enough.

00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.620
 Nobody is saved

00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:24.819
 outside the saving

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.799
 work of God through

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:27.039
 his son, Jesus Christ.

00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:29.940
 And the turning

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.879
 point to an extent

00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:32.019
 for Jonah was when

00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:32.859
 he was in the belly

00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.539
 of the fish.

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.799
 God worked out his

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:37.039
 sovereign plan by

00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:39.159
 sending his man into

00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:40.180
 the depths for three

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:41.539
 days and three nights.

00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:44.539
 How does that change

00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:46.119
 come about in our

00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:46.559
 hearts?

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.359
 Well, through the

00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:49.420
 greater servant, the

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.599
 ultimate servant of

00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.539
 God, Jesus, the

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:53.539
 suffering servant who

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.359
 was nailed to a

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.539
 cross, murdered the

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.659
 though innocent,

00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.920
 placed in a borrowed

00:26:58.920 --> 00:27:00.680
 tomb for three days

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:02.099
 and yet who rose

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:03.440
 victorious, defeating

00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:05.180
 sin, defeating death

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:06.399
 and bringing forgiveness

00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:08.879
 to all who would

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:10.000
 call on his name.

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:13.019
 That is the change

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.879
 of heart that we need

00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.899
 in order to view this

00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:17.079
 world not as enemies

00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:19.119
 but to have compassion

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.220
 on them because they

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:21.259
 are harassed and

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.960
 helpless like sheep

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.899
 without a shepherd.

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.900
 God's love for you.

00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:25.900
 God's love for you.

00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.900
 God's love for you.

00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:28.259
 This book, Jonah,

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:30.840
 challenges us and

00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:32.180
 challenges our view of

00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:33.300
 God, our view of

00:27:33.300 --> 00:27:34.580
 others and our view of

00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:35.080
 ourselves.

00:27:35.280 --> 00:27:36.200
 The message that it

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.160
 leaves ringing in our

00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:39.140
 ears is the Lord

00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:40.280
 saves.

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.960
 The book of Jonah

00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:44.040
 ends with a question

00:27:44.040 --> 00:27:45.820
 and is deliberately

00:27:45.820 --> 00:27:47.380
 being written like that

00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:48.759
 so that the reader can

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.980
 ask themselves that same

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.480
 question.

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:52.319
 At the end of Jonah

00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:53.360
 in chapter 4, God

00:27:53.360 --> 00:27:55.059
 simply asks Jonah and

00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:56.299
 I'm paraphrasing but he

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:57.799
 basically says, and we

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.880
 need this question today

00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:01.099
 too, isn't it right,

00:28:01.620 --> 00:28:03.779
 God says, for me to

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:05.980
 show love and mercy to

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:08.319
 all people, not only

00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.380
 those that you think

00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:10.099
 deserve it?

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:14.339
 So you think back to

00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:15.279
 that movie recommendation

00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.240
 from a friend.

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.779
 That turns out to be

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.960
 much more complex than

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.759
 they said it would be.

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:21.339
 Jonah is like that.

00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:24.379
 On the surface, it is

00:28:24.379 --> 00:28:25.879
 simple but it presents

00:28:25.879 --> 00:28:26.839
 us with a lot of hard

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.359
 questions.

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:30.240
 The book of Jonah isn't

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.400
 a kid's story that we

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.779
 can easily skip over

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.819
 because it's short and

00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:35.500
 simple but it is part of

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:37.680
 God's word and it will

00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.759
 challenge our minds, it

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.480
 will stretch our

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.839
 imagination of who God

00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:43.480
 is and how he

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:46.319
 approaches people and it

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:47.700
 will encourage us to see

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:50.279
 that his limitless love

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:53.019
 and mercy extends way

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:54.000
 beyond we can even

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:56.680
 imagine to people who

00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:58.580
 are harassed like sheep

00:28:58.580 --> 00:28:59.460
 without a shepherd.

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:01.420
 Let's pray together.

00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:10.460
 Heavenly Father, we thank you

00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:11.200
 for your word.

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.279
 We thank you for the

00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.640
 wonderful news that you

00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:16.340
 alone are the one who

00:29:16.340 --> 00:29:16.920
 saves.

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.800
 Father, forgive us for the

00:29:19.800 --> 00:29:21.019
 times where we have looked

00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:23.240
 down on others, where we

00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:24.300
 have thought that we are

00:29:24.300 --> 00:29:25.500
 superior because of our

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.279
 faith in you.

00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:28.639
 Lord, help us remember

00:29:28.639 --> 00:29:31.000
 that we are solely saved

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:33.599
 by your grace and that

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.680
 nobody is deserving of

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:36.139
 salvation.

00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:39.579
 But also, Lord, we ask

00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.359
 that you would be with

00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:42.379
 those who maybe think

00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:44.039
 that they are beyond

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:45.859
 salvation, that they've

00:29:45.859 --> 00:29:47.099
 done too much, that they've

00:29:47.099 --> 00:29:48.059
 gone too far.

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.420
 As we journey through the

00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:51.539
 book of Jonah, would the

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.940
 truth ring in their minds

00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:54.720
 that there is no one who

00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:56.420
 can out-sin God's grace?

00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:59.740
 Father, would you lift our

00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:01.440
 eyes to Jesus?

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:04.140
 And would we be better

00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:06.539
 disciples of him as we

00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.579
 wrestle with the book of

00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:07.920
 Jonah?

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.799
 We ask this in Jesus' name.

00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.120
 Amen.