Jonah and Jesus
Series: Jonah- Grace for Everyone
Speaker: John Lau
Date: 22nd June 2025
Passages:
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Morning all. If you don't know me, I'm John Lau. I've been here a long time.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:14 Over the last seven weeks, we have been studying the Old Testament Book of Jonah.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:20 ! Do you have a chance to reveal those sermons? Did you miss any one of them?
00:00:21 --> 00:00:29 Let me encourage you to go to our church website or our YouTube channel to hear or watch Jonah again.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:39 As Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, why do we spend two months reading a book from the Old Testament?
00:00:40 --> 00:00:50 What does the Book of Jonah or his story have to do with Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the Christian faith, as it says in Hebrews chapter 12?
00:00:51 --> 00:00:58 The Book of Jonah set out to help us to understand who we are as God's creation,
00:00:58 --> 00:01:03 especially about the situation and conditions that humans are in,
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 and who God, our day creator, is,
00:01:07 --> 00:01:15 to understand his grace and compassion through the treatment and interaction between the characters of the Book,
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 the sailors, the Ninevites, Jonah, and God.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:25 The Book of Jonah teaches that God's grace and compassion,
00:01:25 --> 00:01:32 His love, extend beyond Israel to the other nations into the whole creation.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:34 Grace is for everyone.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:44 The Book of Jonah demonstrates God's grace and compassion through his unrelenting pursuits towards his prophet Jonah
00:01:44 --> 00:01:51 to draw to attention the inconsistency of his claims of being a follower and worshiper of God.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:59 And in turn, it's also written for us to reflect on our relationship with God.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:06 Instead of accepting that they are calling to help others come to know the true God,
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 to know about his grace and compassion,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:15 many believers like Jonah pick and choose who they share God's love with.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:19 If someone has wronged or hurt them,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 they will expect God to lay out retribution.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 They are willing to step towards those people.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:33 Many Christians consider people of certain ethnicity are more dangerous or barbaric.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:38 They look at people holding different belief systems to them as enemy of God,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 or people with certain practice in life as outcasts.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:49 But in fact, they cause God more grief than those unbelievers.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:54 To treat others with contempt is not acceptable to God.
00:02:55 --> 00:03:00 To show conformity of action on the outside,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 but harbor bitterness and curses in your heart,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:08 is as wicked as those deliberately rebels against God.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 Let's revisit how God pursued Jonah
00:03:13 --> 00:03:19 through Jonah's interaction with the sailors, the Ninevites, and God.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 And how Jesus used Jonah in his teaching.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 So if you turn to me back to Jonah,
00:03:25 --> 00:03:26 in chapter 1,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 it tells us that after the word of the Lord come to Jonah,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 sending him to go to Nineveh
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 and preach against his wickedness,
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 Jonah went away to the opposite direction
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 to flee.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 In verse 4 of chapter 1,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:44 it tells us that
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 the Lord sent a great wind on the sea,
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 and such a violent storm arose
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 that the ship threatened to be broken up.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 The sailors each cried out to their own God
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 and was doing everything to save their life.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 And the captains found Jonah
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 in deep sleep under deck.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:08 What the captains say to Jonah
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 revealed something common
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 about how people treat their gods.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 He tells Jonah to get up
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 and call on your God,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 maybe take notice of us
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 so that we will not perish.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 To many people,
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 their God is at a distance.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 They only approach their God
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 when they want something.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 They do not have an ongoing relationship
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 with their God.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 Looking at Jonah,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 even though he understands
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 his God is of heaven
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 who made the sea and dry land,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 do you agree that
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 he tried to flee from God
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 so that he thinks like those sailors
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 and other people too?
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 He saw no difference to the unbeliever.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 He does not understand
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 the uniqueness of the Lord
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 that he came to worship,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:06 and he misses the heart of grace
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 and compassion of the Lord.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 A typical case of familiarity
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 breeds contempt.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 He came to worship or feed the Lord,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 but in his heart of hearts,
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 there is another God
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 that takes the center place.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 The sailors pray and ask the Lord
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 not to hold them accountable
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 for the killing of an innocent man.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 For you, Lord,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 have done all you please
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 just before they threw Jonah
00:05:33 --> 00:05:33 into the sea.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 They believe the divine being
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 always do as they please.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 Isn't that what a lot of people
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 believe too?
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 Or maybe you also believe that.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 We can see all through
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 the book of Jonah,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 he did exactly that.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 He did only what pleases him.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 And what takes place
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 in Jonah's heart
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 is himself.
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 He, in fact,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 is his own God.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 Such as they want to save themselves,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 the sailors were not willing
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 to sacrifice someone
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 to achieve their salvation,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 especially an innocent man.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 Repeatedly,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 the sailors did their best
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 to save each other,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 but in the end,
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 they have no choice
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 but to rely on the word
00:06:20 --> 00:06:20 of the Lord
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 through his wayward prophet.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 We will come back
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 to this sacrifice
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 of the innocent later.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 After throwing Jonah overboard
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 and a raging sea
00:06:31 --> 00:06:31 climbed down,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 the sailors realized
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 that the Lord
00:06:35 --> 00:06:35 has answered
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 this desperate plea
00:06:37 --> 00:06:37 to save them.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 The sailor
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 saw what genuine faith
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 and worship looks like.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 In verse 16,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 at this,
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 the men greatly
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 feared the Lord
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 and they offered
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 a sacrifice to the Lord
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 and made vows to him.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 The God-appointed prophet,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 the man who think
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 he is all right with God,
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 ran away
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 and tried to flee from God.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 Where the pagan sailors
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 became a true believer,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 understood that they have saved
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 by God's grace
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 and compassion
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 when they understand
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 that salvation
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 was only from the Lord.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 They entered
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 into a confident relationship
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 with God
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 by vows.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 What a contrast
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 between Jonah
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 and the sailors.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 To Jonah,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:25 the Lord
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 is only another mean
00:07:27 --> 00:07:27 for him
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 to get what he wants.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 This fact
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 about Jonah's heart
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 shows up more
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 in his interaction
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 with the Ninevites.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 With the word
00:07:37 --> 00:07:37 of the Lord
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 come to him
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 a second time
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 after the fish
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 vomited him
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 out on dry land.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 In chapter 3 of Jonah,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 it tells us that
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 the great city
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 of Nineveh
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 was so large
00:07:50 --> 00:07:50 that it takes
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 three days
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 to go across it.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:54 And Jonah
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 didn't even go
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 into the heart
00:07:57 --> 00:07:57 of the city.
00:07:58 --> 00:07:58 He only walked
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 one journey.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:01 And he proclaimed
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 the dooming message,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 40 more days
00:08:05 --> 00:08:05 and Nineveh
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 will be overthrown.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 He delivered
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 the Lord's message
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 with accuracy
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 but without
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 any compassion
00:08:13 --> 00:08:13 or grace.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 The fact that
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 he went out
00:08:16 --> 00:08:16 of the city
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 and sat down
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 and waited to see
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 God's place
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 judgment on Nineveh
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 after the whole city
00:08:23 --> 00:08:23 has already shown
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 signs of repentance,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25 so even more
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 about his heart.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 Further on,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 he became angry
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 at God
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 when God relented
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 and did not bring
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 the destruction
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 on the city.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 He had threatened.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 Jonah's reaction
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 reveals again
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 how far
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 his heart
00:08:42 --> 00:08:42 is from the Lord.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 He is so blinded
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 towards God's grace
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 and compassion
00:08:47 --> 00:08:47 for all people.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 The king of Nineveh
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 in chapter 3,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52 verse 9
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 was betting on
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 the possibility
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 that maybe God
00:08:56 --> 00:08:56 will relent
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 and with compassion
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 turned from
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 his fearsome
00:09:00 --> 00:09:00 anger
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 so that they
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 will not perish.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:03 He is willing
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 to stop
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 and give up
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 all their evil
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 ways
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 and their violence
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 and physically
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 show signs
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 of remorse
00:09:13 --> 00:09:13 to exchange
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 for God's mercy.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 They are willing
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 to untrust
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 their life
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 into the mercy
00:09:19 --> 00:09:19 of God
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 and respond
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 to God's correction.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 Historically,
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 we know that
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 the change
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 by the Nineveh
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 was very short-lived.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 We might even
00:09:29 --> 00:09:29 question
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 the generiveness
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 of their repentance.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 But their quick
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 response
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 to repent
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 in repentance
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 was praised
00:09:37 --> 00:09:37 by Jesus
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 as we have
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 just read out.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 Saying both
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 Matthew 12,
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 41
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 and Luke 11,
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 32
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 that the man
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 of Nineveh
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 will stand up
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 at the judgment
00:09:49 --> 00:09:49 with this
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 generation.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 and condemn it
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 for they repent
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 at the preaching
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 of Jonah
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 and now something
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 greater than Jonah
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 is here.
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 The speediness
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 of the Nineveh
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 in responding
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 to Jonah's message
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 is a great contrast
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 towards Jonah's
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 lowness
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 in coming to terms
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 of God's grace
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 and compassion
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 of the idols
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 of his own heart.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 God uses sailors
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 to show Jonah
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 what it means
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 to truly fear
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 and worship him.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 is to honor
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 the relationship
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 you have
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 with God.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 Submit
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 and commit
00:10:26 --> 00:10:26 to him.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 God used
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 the Nineveh
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 to show
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 the slowest
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 of hearts
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 and the idols
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 in Jonah's heart.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 What has God
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 shown you
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 over the last
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 seven weeks?
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 What is the lesson
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 that you have been
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 taking on your heart?
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 looking at Jonah's heart,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 it got me thinking
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 about his prayer,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 especially
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 with this hindsight
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 of what happened
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 in the interaction
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 between God
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 and Jonah
00:10:57 --> 00:10:57 in chapter 4.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 Going back
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 through this
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 just a short
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 four chapters
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 of Jonah,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 I would say
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 the sinister side
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 of me
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 do wonder
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 about the state
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 of mind
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 of Jonah
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 when he say
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 those prayers
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 in chapter 2.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 I do not think
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 Jonah's prayer
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 in chapter 2
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 is a confession
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 and repentance prayer.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 It sounds more like
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 he was glad
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 that even though
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 it was dark
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 and fishy,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 disgusting,
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 smelly,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 at least
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 he's not
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 in the lake of fire.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 As he sat around
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 in the dark
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 in the belly
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 of the fish,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 he was still alive,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 maybe even
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 gaining some strength.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 I wonder
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 in chapter 2
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 his prayer
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 is it just
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 a thanks
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 thinking that
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 God somehow
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 is still alright
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 with me.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 God had kept me
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 to race again
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 in the resurrection
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 that last day
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 because that's
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 what the Jews
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 believe.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 That's what Martha
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 tell Jesus
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 when Jesus
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 told her
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 that Lazarus
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 will rise again
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 in John 11.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 I'm thinking
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 that because
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 just as Jonah
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 thinks that
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 he's still alright
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 with God,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 maybe he's thinking
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 that him
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 offering himself
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 as a sacrifice
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 to save the sailor
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 have,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 even now
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 he's running
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 away from God
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 and he's less guilty
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 because of
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 selfish act.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 As he cries,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 salvation comes
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 of the Lord!
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 I'm ready to stay
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 here until the last
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 day!
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 And God
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 commanded the fish
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 to back him out.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 It's like God
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 said,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 rightio,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 go to the great
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 city,
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 to Nineveh
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 and proclaim
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 the message
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 I gave you
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 and make good
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 on your vow
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 to serve me.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 Jonah's anger
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 towards God
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 for relenting
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 from destruction
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 and his
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 tension
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 sped about
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 the plans
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 show me
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 that he still
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 has many,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 many
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 things to God
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 and that's
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 why I do not
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 think his
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 prayer in the
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 belly of fish
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 is a sign
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 of repentance.
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 Last week,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 look at the
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 compassion of God
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 from chapter 4.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:04 God's compassion
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 manifests
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 by his
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 concern about
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 Jonah
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 by providing
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 a plan
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 to ease
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 his discomfort
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 and sending
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 him to the
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 great city
00:13:15 --> 00:13:18 with 120
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 Ninevites
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 who cannot
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 tell the right
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 from the left.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 I can't tell
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 my left.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 But he said
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 right from the left.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 God voluntarily
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 attached himself
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 with Jonah
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 and Ninevites.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 He patiently
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 guided,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 provided
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 for his
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 wayward prophet
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 to lead him
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 to repentance.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 for someone
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 who has
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 all the right
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 to be angry
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 with Jonah,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 God gently
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 asks with
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 great restraint,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 is it right
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 for you to be
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 angry?
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 Is it right
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 for you to be
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 angry about
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 the plant?
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 To provoke
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 Jonah into
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 a deeper
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 self-reflection.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 God relentlessly
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 pursued Jonah
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 to turn him
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 away from the
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 idol that will
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 eventually
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 destroy him
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 and turn him
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 back towards
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 God himself.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 God used
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 a plant
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 to sprung up
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 overnight
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 and die
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 overnight
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 to show
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 to Jonah
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 the inconsistency
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 of his worship
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 towards him.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 There was no
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 rebuke,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 no harsh
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 words.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 The way
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 that God
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 dealt with
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 Ninevites
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 and Jonah
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 truly support
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 Jonah's
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 understanding
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 about God
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 that he is
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 a generous,
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 gracious,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 compassionate God,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 slow to anger
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 and abandoning
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 enough.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:42 God has all
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 the time
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 he has
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 and he'll
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 use all
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 the time
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 they need
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 to get
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 to repent
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 and turn
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 to him.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 Let me say
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 that again.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 God has all
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 the time
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 he has
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 and he'll
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 use all
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 the time
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 needed
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 to turn
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 us
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 and repent
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 back to him.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 it's like
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 what Peter
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 teaches
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 in his
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 second letter
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 in chapter 3
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 verse 8 to 9.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 Do not
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 forgive
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 anything,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 dear friends.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 With the Lord
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 a day is like
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 a thousand years
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 and a thousand years
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 is like a day.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 The Lord
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 is not slow
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 in keeping
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 his promise
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 as some
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 are slowest.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 Instead
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 he's patient
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 with you
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 not wanting
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 anyone to perish
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 but everyone
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 to come to repentance.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 if God's
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 grace
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 and compassion
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 can change
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 someone like
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 Jonah
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 who also
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 changed you
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 and bring you
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 into a new life
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 alive under
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 our Lord
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 Jesus Christ.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 In Jesus'
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 time
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 both
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 Luke
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 told us
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 that Jesus
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 referred to
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 Jonah
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 in his
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 teaching
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 especially
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 when
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 the religious
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 leader
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 come to
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 see him.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 Matthew
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 12
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 verse 38
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 which have
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 read out
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 for us
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 before.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 Then some
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 of the Pharisees
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 and teachers
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 of the Lord
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 said to him
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 we want
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 to see
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 a sign
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 from you.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 He answered
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 a wicked
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 and dangerous
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 generation
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 asked for
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 a sign
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 but none
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 will be
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 given it
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 except the
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 signs of
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 the prophet
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 Jonah.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 For as
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 Jonah
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 was three
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 days
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 and three
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 nights
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 in the
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 belly
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 of the
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 hill
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 fresh
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 so the
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 son of
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 man
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 will be
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 three days
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 and three
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 nights
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 in the
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 heart
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 of the
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 earth.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 Again
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 in Luke
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 11
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 starting
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 verse 29
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 it reads
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 as the
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 crowds
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 increased
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 Jesus
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 said
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 this is
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 a wicked
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 generation
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 they
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 asked
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 for
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 signs
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 but
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 none
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 will
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 be
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 given
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 it
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 except
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 the
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 sign
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 of
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 Jonah
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 as
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 Jonah
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 was
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 a
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 sign
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 to
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 the
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 Nine
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 so
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 also
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 will
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 the
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 son
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 of
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 man
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 be
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 to
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 this
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 generation
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 Jesus
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 has
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 very
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 strong
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 word
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 for
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 the
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 religious
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 leader
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 because
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 they
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 think
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 they're
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 good
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 enough
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 to
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 be
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 accepted
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 by
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 God
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 but
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 they
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 could
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 not
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 recognize
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 who
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 Jesus
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 is
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 and
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 reject
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 the
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 one
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 only
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 true
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 son
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 of
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 God
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 when
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 they
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 question
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 Jesus
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 authority
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 and
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 demand
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 a
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 sign
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 from
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 him
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 none
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 will
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 be
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 given
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 it
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 except
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 the
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 sign
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 of
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 the
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 prophet
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 Jonah
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 Jesus
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 mentioned
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 two
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 things
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 in
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 these
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 two
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 passages
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 firstly
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 he
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 creates
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 the
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 experience
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 Jonah
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 has
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 in
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 the
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 belly
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 of
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 the
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 hills
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 fish
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 to
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 his
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 experience
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 of
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 the
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 three
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 days
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 and
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 three
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 nights
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 in
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 the
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 heart
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 of
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 the
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 earth
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 Jonah
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 will
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 not
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 to
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 be
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 thrown
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 into
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 the
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 depth
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 of
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 the
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 sea
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 to
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 save
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 the
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 sailor
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 even
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 the
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 pagan
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 sailors
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 would
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 not
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 accept
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 that
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 killing
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 the
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 innocent
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 man
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 is
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 forgivable
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 but
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 Jesus
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 who
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 is
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 innocent
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 without
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 sin
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 has
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 made
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 to
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 be
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 sin
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 offerings
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 for
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 us
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 so
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 that
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 in
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 him
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 we
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 might
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 become
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 the
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 righteousness
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 of
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 God
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 when
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 Jesus
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 went
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 to
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 the
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 cross
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 he
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 repeats
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 the
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 suffering
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 of
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 Jonah
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 but
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 in
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 an
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 infinite
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 greater
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 degree
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 when
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 he
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 cries
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 out
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 on
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 the
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 cross
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 my
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 God
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 my
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 God
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 why
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 have
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 you
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 forsaken
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 me
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 for
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 he
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 went
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 into
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 the
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 death
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 of
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 the
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 death
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 and
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 separation
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 from
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 God
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 into
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 the
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 death
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 of
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 divine
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 judgment
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 to
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 save
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 Jonah
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 and
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 us
00:18:26 --> 00:18:29 secondly
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 as
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 Jesus
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 was
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 assigned
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 as
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 Jonah
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 was
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 assigned
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 to
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 the
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 most
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 wicked
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 people
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 of
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 his
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 time
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 the
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 Ninevites
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 so
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 also
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 Jesus
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 the
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 son
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 of
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 man
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 is
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 assigned
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 to
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 this
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 generation
00:18:41 --> 00:19:04 I love
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 this line
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 from
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 John's
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 preaching
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 this is
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 I'm just
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 quoting you
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 again
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 let me
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 say it
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 again
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 if God
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 can save
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 both
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 Ninevites
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 and
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 Jonah
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 if God
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 can cause
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 them to
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 change
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 there's
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 no man
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 or woman
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 too
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 sinful
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 that God's
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 grace
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 and compassion
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 cannot
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 touch
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 or save
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 and there's
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 no man
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 or woman
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 that's so
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 good
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 that do not
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 need God's
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 grace and
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 compassion
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 groan
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 if
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 you
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 are
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 a
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 Christian
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 no
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 matter
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 how
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 you
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 only
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 recently
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 come to
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 submit
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 your
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 life
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 to
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 Jesus
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 or
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 you
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 have
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 been
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 one
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 for
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 almost
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 your
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 whole
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 life
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 when
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 you
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 hear
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 about
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 the
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 gospel
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 of
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 Jesus
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 every
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 Sunday
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 or
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 doing
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 your
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 own
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 reading
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 of
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 God's
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 word
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 has
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 it
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 driven
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 you
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 to
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 deeper
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 levels
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 of
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 humanity
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 grace
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 compassion
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 and
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 forgiveness
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 towards
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 others
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 especially
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 those who
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 have
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 groan
00:19:56 --> 00:20:06 will hurt you. Is Jesus your true joy and treasure? Don't get caught up with earthly things that
00:20:06 --> 00:20:14 spun up overnight and die overnight. Praise God when suffering and hardship comes into your life,
00:20:14 --> 00:20:23 for they are God pursuing you, like how he pursued Jonah, to make you holy and helping you become
00:20:23 --> 00:20:31 worthy of the calling you have received. Remember Jesus your Lord and the things they have done for
00:20:31 --> 00:20:39 you to be right with your Creator, your Father in heaven. We are saved not because of what any
00:20:39 --> 00:20:45 righteous things we have done, but purely because of the grace and compassion of our God, of his mercy.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:52 If our gracious and compassionate God can change the Ninevites and Jonah,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 he will save and change you too.
00:20:56 --> 00:21:02 Come, let's sing for joy to the Lord. Let's shout aloud to the rock of our salvation.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:09 Let's come before him with thanksgiving and instill him with music and song, for the Lord is the great
00:21:09 --> 00:21:15 God, the great kings above all gods. In his hands are the death of the earth, and the mountain peaks
00:21:15 --> 00:21:22 belong to him. The sea is his, for he has made it, and his hands form the dry land.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:29 Come, let's bow down in worship. Let's kneel before the Lord, our maker, for he is our God,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:37 and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:41 do not harden your heart. Repent and believe the good news.