1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: Let us pray. He that believeth on him is not condemned, 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: but he that believeth not is condemned already because he 3 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,479 Speaker 1: hath not believed in the name of the only begotten 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: Son of God. John three eighteen. Dear God, thank you 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 1: for your love and mercies. Thank you for watching over 6 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: me and providing protection in your arms. Please help me 7 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: to seek you in times of trouble. Please remind me 8 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: of your unconditional love during times of doubt. I know 9 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: that I cannot do things on my own, so stand 10 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,840 Speaker 1: by my side as I face the challenges of to day. 11 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: Free my thoughts of negativity, guilt, and shame, and allow 12 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: my faith to grow with each new day. Amen. Thank 13 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: you for listening to to day's daily prayer for more 14 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: inspiration and an incredible message from our feature pastor. Stay 15 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: tuned to Pray Dot COB's Sunday service. 16 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 2: Amen, we're gludg you in God's house today. Give God 17 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 2: a hand. Laymen, I want to invite you to reach 18 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: and grab your coffee of God's word and go back 19 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 2: to the book of Jonah. We are in Jonah chapter 20 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 2: four today going to look those first four verses, and 21 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,839 Speaker 2: we started if you're new with us, both in person 22 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 2: or online. We started a new series all the way 23 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 2: back in Easter. We're talking about running with purpose, and 24 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 2: we looked at the idea that we don't ever want 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 2: to run from God. We don't ever want to run 26 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 2: from our calling, and even if we do, then we 27 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: want to turn around run back to God in prayer, 28 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: crying out for God's mercy, crying out for God's love. 29 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: And Jonah did all of those things. And today we're 30 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 2: going to talk about the idea that we need to 31 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 2: run sometimes from our anger with the world and with God. 32 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 2: How many of you, from time to time you're angry. 33 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 2: How many of you are never angering? If you're never angry, 34 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 2: I want to be your friend right now. I definitely 35 00:01:58,280 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: want to ride in a car with you, because it's 36 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: he's like, man, it's his road. Rage is crazy. But Jonah, 37 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 2: if you're new, he's a unique prophet, and it's not 38 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 2: in a good way. He is the only prophet that 39 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: is known more by what he did than what he said, 40 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 2: the messages he preached. He's the only prophet that ran 41 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 2: from God, literally physically ran from God. He is the 42 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 2: only prophet. And we're going to see this as we 43 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 2: continue looking at this book, he never truly repents and 44 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: gains God's heart for other people. Jonah literally led a 45 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 2: whole city, a great city, to the Lord. God showed 46 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 2: them his grace, and Jonah responds by getting angry. Say, 47 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: it's kind of interesting. We see Jonah here in chapter 48 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: three as we looked at last week. Jonah responds finally 49 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 2: in obedience, and he does what God wants him to do, 50 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,079 Speaker 2: but he doesn't do it with the heart that God 51 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: would want us to have. And you know, I think 52 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 2: there are times and many, many of you may know 53 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: Christians that are like this, that they walk in obedience, 54 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 2: but there's no joy. Anybody just point at them. 55 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 3: Now. 56 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 2: In the New Testament, those were called the Pharisees, right. 57 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 2: They were all about fulfilling God's law, living by the law, 58 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 2: living by the ceremony, living by the ritual. But there 59 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: was no joy in their heart, and there was no 60 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: smile on their face. And so today I want to 61 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 2: talk to us about how we can run from our anger. 62 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: I ran across the study. We'll put it up there 63 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 2: a careran across the study. Released December twentieth of twenty 64 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 2: twenty three, just a couple of months ago as a 65 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 2: survey of Americans, and here's what they found. We'll put 66 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 2: this up. Sixty percent of Americans feel angry or irritable 67 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 2: at any given time. Sixty percent that irritates me. I 68 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: don't know about you. Just right now, how many of 69 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 2: you are angry? Like right now? How many of you 70 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 2: are irritated? Now? You better not lie you're in God's house? 71 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: And if you drove kids to church? How many of 72 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 2: you are lay irritated right now? Right? Sixty percent of 73 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 2: Americans feel angry or irritated. So when you think about 74 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 2: running from anger, eighty four percent of Americans feel angrier 75 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 2: this year or at the end of last year than 76 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: they were the year before. How many of you would 77 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 2: fit in that category? You just feel a little more angry? 78 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 3: All right? 79 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 2: Good? Good? We know who to watch out for. If 80 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: people are raising their hand next to you, just keep 81 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: an eye on them for us, all right? Nine percent? 82 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: This estimated by psychologists. Nine percent of Americans have an 83 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: impulsive anger issue that they can't control, all right. Twenty 84 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 2: five percent of Americans frequently feel angry at home. It's 85 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 2: not uncommon for people that feel angry on seventy five 86 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 2: or the toll road or any other roads. But they 87 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: admitted twenty five percent feel angry at home. That's probably 88 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: the percentage with teenagers. Right. Thirty eight percent of Christians 89 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 2: are angered by the state of America right now. How 90 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 2: many of your Yeah, that's one hundred percent. We don't know. 91 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 2: So the whole thirty eight percent are in our church. 92 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 2: I can just tell you right there, it's all of us. 93 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 2: There are other churches out there that they're not angry. 94 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 2: I mean, we're just angry to look around and go, man, 95 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 2: how is this going on? So I would invite us 96 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 2: to look at Jonah chapter four. Let's look at Jonah 97 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 2: here today. But let's rebuild the story and set it up. 98 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: Let's go back to Jonah chapter one, verse one. Let's 99 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 2: look at this prophet. It said, the word of Lord 100 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 2: came to Jonah, son of Amati. It says, go to 101 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 2: the great city of Ninevah and preach against it. That 102 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 2: was the call, because it's wickedness has come up before me. 103 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 2: But Jonah did what Instead of going to Ninevah, it says, 104 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 2: But Jonah ran away from the Lord and toward Tarsis. 105 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 2: He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship 106 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 2: bound for that port, and after paying the full fare, 107 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: no discount of tickets all the way paying the fair, 108 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 2: he got on board sell for Tarsihes to flee from 109 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 2: the Lord. Now you remember what happened. We talked about 110 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:17,559 Speaker 2: this a couple of weeks ago. God sent a storm 111 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 2: to shake them up. The sailors begin to cry out 112 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 2: and pray to their God. Jonah went to sleep. They 113 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 2: cast lots. Sure enough it was Jonah. Jonah said, he's 114 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 2: got a death wish. He says, throw me over. More. 115 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: They go, we don't want to do that. We're going 116 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 2: to roll harder. No one sends in isolation. Others are 117 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 2: going to have to cover for you. We looked at that. 118 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 2: If you miss those, go find those online. They finally 119 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,359 Speaker 2: throw him over. He is sinking to the deep. God 120 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: provides a fish. The fish was not judgment, it was 121 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 2: help God. And from the belly of the fish, Jonah 122 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,559 Speaker 2: cries out to God, forgive me and give me grace. 123 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 2: God does. The fish spits him up, vomits him up 124 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 2: on dry ground, and Jonah thanks God. And we said 125 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: that although there have already been a lot of mirrors, 126 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 2: the greatest miracle of the Book of Jonah is that 127 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 2: there was a chapter two at all, because Jonah did 128 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 2: absolutely nothing in chapter one to earn a chapter two. 129 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: He was disobedient, he was running from God. He hated 130 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: the idea. He literally paid the fare, He paid the 131 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: fair to go in the wrong direction. He was willing 132 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 2: to die before, he was willing to obey God's kind 133 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 2: of crazy. But God stepped in and literally saved him 134 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: from himself. How many times, if I'm honest, has God 135 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 2: done that for me? How many times has God saved 136 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 2: me from who me? Right? And so here we is. 137 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 2: Here it is so look at Jonah Chapter three, verse one. 138 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 2: We'll put it on the screen. So now Jonah has 139 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 2: thanked God for a second chance. It says the word 140 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 2: of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. Everybody 141 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 2: say a second time. So here's the key. How many 142 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 2: of you celebrate the fact that we survey God of 143 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 2: the second chance? All right? And we do? But can 144 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 2: I tell you this, When God gives you a second chance, 145 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:15,119 Speaker 2: it's so you can still do the stuff he wants 146 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: you to do. All right? A lot of us say, man, 147 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 2: I'm just so glad for God's grace and his love 148 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 2: and his compassion. God's given me a second chance. You 149 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 2: know what. The second chance was to do what God 150 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 2: told you to do the first time. And so, child 151 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 2: of God, if you're sitting here and you're celebrating God's 152 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 2: second chance, and I will tell you're looking at a 153 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 2: pastor who is grateful that I serve a God that 154 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 2: doesn't just give second and third, and fourth and fifth, 155 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 2: but an infant number of chances. But it's always a 156 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 2: chance to then do what God wanted you to do 157 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,559 Speaker 2: the first time. And so pick it up. This is 158 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 2: what it says, says, Then the word of the Lord 159 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 2: came to Jonah a second time. That's a great miracle. 160 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 2: And notice what God says, Now do what I told 161 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 2: you to do the first time. Go to the great 162 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 2: city of Ninebah, and do what claim to it the 163 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 2: message I give you. So remember, God gives you a 164 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 2: second chance to do what he told you to do. 165 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 2: The first time. All right, jump down, let's see what happens. 166 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:15,239 Speaker 2: Verse five. The Ninavites believe. So Jonah rolls into Ninebah. 167 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 2: He rolls in kind of disappointed. He's obeying, but his 168 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 2: heart's not in it. He's obeying, but his attitude's not right. 169 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 2: But he goes in and preaches, probably with a little 170 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 2: more ventim, hoping he can just rail on them and 171 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 2: then leave and say, all right, I did it God, 172 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 2: let me alone. Notice what happens verse five, It says 173 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 2: the Ninabtes believed God, a fastrust proclaimed, and all of them, 174 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 2: from the greatest to the least, put on sycloth. Boy, 175 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 2: you would think Jonah would say, I'm sorry, God. You're 176 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 2: an awesome God. You're an amazing God. God. I don't 177 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 2: know why I doubted you. I don't know why I 178 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 2: didn't trust you. I didn't know why I headed for 179 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 2: Tarsius and not for Ninevah, God, you did a great thing. 180 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 2: Now jump down. What did God do when he saw 181 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 2: the nanobete repent says, when God saw what they did 182 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 2: and how they turned from their evil ways. That is 183 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 2: always the goal when you think about a sinner or 184 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 2: someone you want a witness to, or someone man that 185 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 2: is headed down the wrong journey or wrong path, the 186 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,079 Speaker 2: prodigal in your life, that you know you're the greatest 187 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 2: desires that they would turn from their wicked ways and 188 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 2: come back. And so notice what it says. It says, 189 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 2: when God saw He saw it what they did and 190 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 2: how they turned from their evil ways, which is the goal. 191 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 2: God relented. God relented and did not bring on them 192 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 2: the destruction that he had threatened. You say, why would 193 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 2: God do this if it was an evil city and 194 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 2: a great city. Let me put it to you simply, 195 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 2: God saw the who, not the what. See, Jonah saw 196 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 2: everything the what that the Ninobtes did evil. Right, God 197 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:10,679 Speaker 2: saw the Ninabtes. And Jonah is very much like us. 198 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 2: When we think about being angry in our country. How 199 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 2: many of you just look at the news or see 200 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 2: something on social media or read about some of them happening, 201 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 2: and you look at it and you see what they 202 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 2: do and you are angry. See, we're a lot like Jonah. 203 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 2: But here's the beauty of a God who lives in 204 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 2: a different dimension and sees from a different perspective. When 205 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 2: you and I see the what God sees the who 206 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 2: God sees the people the Ninabtes. Remember what Jesus said 207 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 2: in John chapter three of verse sixteen and seventeen. He says, 208 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 2: for God's soul loved the world, that's the who, that's 209 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 2: all of them, that he gave his one and only son, 210 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 2: that whoever noticed the who, not the what, believes in 211 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 2: him should not perish but have everlasting Why A lot 212 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:57,439 Speaker 2: of times we stop right there, but look at verse seventeen. 213 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 2: For God did not send his son into the world 214 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 2: to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. See, 215 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 2: the whole reason Jesus was sinned is because God saw 216 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 2: the who. God saw the whoever. Yes, God sees the what, 217 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 2: but he also sees the who. Why because it was 218 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 2: the who, the person, the individual, the man of the 219 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 2: woman that was created in his image, and so God 220 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 2: is always looking to save. The reason he sent his 221 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 2: son is that whoever believes in him would not perish, 222 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 2: but would have everlasting life. Then verse seventeen says, man, 223 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 2: God didn't send his son into the world to condemn 224 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 2: the world, but that the world might have life through him. 225 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 2: So what's our call, man, as we make our journey 226 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,439 Speaker 2: and work and life and wherever we're about, and every 227 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 2: relationship we're in, even if we're in a relationship somehow, 228 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 2: in a conversational relationship or working with someone, when you 229 00:12:56,080 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 2: look at their what they're a ninevite. Just remember God 230 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 2: is introducing and encouraging you to remember the who and 231 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 2: the who whoever that person is, male or female, that 232 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 2: God send his son not to condemn them, but to 233 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 2: save them if they will simply believe in him. Here's 234 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 2: the deal. If you want to you know, maybe you 235 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 2: want to bring it all down to the core here 236 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 2: it is people matter to God. Lost people matter to God. 237 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 2: Ninovites matter to God. The big question for us is 238 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,839 Speaker 2: not does God love them? Is do they matter to us? 239 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:54,680 Speaker 2: Do people matter to you? Do lost people matter to you? 240 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 2: Do the Ninovites in your life matter to you like 241 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 2: they to God? That's ultimately our call. Yes, we can 242 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 2: hate the what, but we have to understand God loves them, 243 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 2: and God has put us in their life. And we 244 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 2: all have Navites in our life. God has put us 245 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 2: in their life to introduce them to the who who 246 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 2: truly wants to save them. See, and that's ultimately our call, 247 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 2: and we want to. Yeah, we step back and we 248 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 2: look at what happens and what people do and how 249 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 2: they sin, and the commandments stay break and we remember 250 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 2: that man, we were broken, but for the grace of 251 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 2: God there go lie. We remember all of those things. 252 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 2: But we also can look on the what they do 253 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 2: and realize that is evil. But we can understand the 254 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 2: God who created them still loves them and wants their salvation. 255 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 2: So fast forward. So Jonah finally obeys. His heart's not right, 256 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 2: his attitude's not right. Lost people Menovites matter to God, 257 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 2: but they don't matter to Jonah. He's ready for U. 258 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 2: He's ready for judgment more than anything else he preaches. 259 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 2: They repent. God relents all right. Now. Notice Jonah's response 260 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 2: in Jonah Chapter four, verse one. Here it is, but Jonah. 261 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 2: Now you've seen that a lot. There's several times as 262 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 2: you go from chapter one to chapter two, it's God 263 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 2: said this, but Jonah. Jonah said this, But God. Now 264 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 2: God has relented. Now we're back to butt Jonah. Notice 265 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 2: what it says. But to Jonah, this seemed wrong. Anybody 266 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: in here ever looked at something and thought that just 267 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 2: seems wrong. It just doesn't seem right at all, right, 268 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 2: And that's what it says to Jonah. From Jonah's perspective, 269 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 2: it seemed wrong. Why because they were evil people. They 270 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 2: were wicked in all of their ways. And he became angry. 271 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 2: There's your word, how do we run from our anger? 272 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 2: He became angry, and he prayed to the Lord isn't 273 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 2: this what I said said to the Lord when I 274 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 2: was still at home. That is why Jonah says, this 275 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 2: is exactly what I knew was happening, would happened? God? 276 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 2: Is it sure enough? I would go preach to them 277 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 2: and you would save them, and I'd be fired up 278 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 2: because I would rather them experience judgment than grace. And 279 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 2: so he says, this is exactly what I said would happened. 280 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 2: And he goes, that is why I tried to forestall 281 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 2: by fleeing to Tarsius. He goes, I knew that you are. 282 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 3: Now. 283 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 2: Notice I think these words, these Hebrew words. He's kind 284 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 2: of dripping with sarcasm. You can almost imagine God. You know, God, 285 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: here's the problem is. Yeah, when I went to before 286 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 2: I even came here, I knew that you're a gracious God. 287 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 2: You're a compassionate God. You're slow to anger and abounding 288 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 2: in love. Yeah, I knew you were a God who 289 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 2: relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord take away my life. 290 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 2: My guess is, if I was God, I would think 291 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 2: that's a great idea. You know, we're all about done here, Jonah. 292 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 2: How many of you know what I'm talking about? Right? Jonah, 293 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 2: you're exactly that is a good Why did not come 294 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 2: up with that? I'm the god of the universe? Yeah, 295 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 2: I'm done with you Jonah. Right, so it's interesting. Jonah says, 296 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 2: all right. And by the way, he's got a death wish. Right, 297 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 2: this is not the first time. This is the second 298 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 2: time he said, throw me in the deep. I want 299 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,959 Speaker 2: all this and now here he is, he preaches, they repent. 300 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 2: He wants to die. Just crazy. It doesn't make any 301 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 2: sense to me, he says. The Lord relents. Now the Lord, now, Lord, 302 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 2: he says, take my life away, for it is better 303 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 2: for me to die than to live. But the Lord replied, 304 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 2: is it right for you, Jonah, or us to be angry? 305 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 2: So that's the question. Is it right for us to 306 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 2: be angry? So if you're living in an angry space 307 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 2: and an angry life, angry world, angry emotions, angry heart, 308 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 2: angry attitude, how do we run from our anger? Even 309 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 2: when God's in the midst of it? Thought Number one, 310 00:17:52,680 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 2: stop playing God, don't play God. Just let God be God. 311 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 2: You say, where you see that verse one? But to Jonah, 312 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:08,639 Speaker 2: that's his perspective. This seemed very wrong, and he became 313 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 2: angry with God. Ran across another couple of articles about 314 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 2: people who are angry with God. This, be honest and 315 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 2: do it fast so God won't take notice. How many 316 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 2: of you, let's be honest, from time to time you've 317 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 2: been angry at God? Okay, some of you are so 318 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 2: scared beyond it. How many of you been a little 319 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 2: angry with God? A little disappointed with God? Combination of 320 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 2: just looking through some research, reading some devotions, and just 321 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 2: things I've experienced with people sitting in my office as 322 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 2: they're walking through stuff here kind of in my top 323 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 2: six things that I've seen Why people get angry with God? 324 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 2: Number one, When our lives aren't turning out like we hoped. 325 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:55,199 Speaker 3: That. 326 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: There are some people, you know, there are some people 327 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 2: I've noticed this that they live a right and a 328 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:03,360 Speaker 2: righteous life. They live a good life, but it just 329 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 2: seems like bad things happened them. Anybody know anybody like that? 330 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 2: Anybody feel like you're that person? Right? They just live 331 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,400 Speaker 2: life and had so many hopes and so many dreams, 332 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 2: and life just deals them a bad hand. But it 333 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,919 Speaker 2: really wasn't their fault, and it's just not turning out. 334 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 2: And I've set with those people and I've prayed with 335 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:24,119 Speaker 2: those people, have coffee with those people, and things just 336 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,199 Speaker 2: go through them, and they get mad at God. They 337 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 2: go I just don't know why God will let this 338 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 2: happen to me. I understand that. Here's a secone. I 339 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 2: noticed a lot of people they get mad at God 340 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 2: when they go their own way and God doesn't bless it. 341 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 2: Remember we talked about this week one with Jonah when 342 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 2: he took off and he paid the fare to go 343 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 2: in the wrong direction and he said, man, God, I'm 344 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 2: going in the wrong direction, but he prayed for calm sees. 345 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 2: I've noticed a lot of people that they will go 346 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:55,479 Speaker 2: in their own way and go in their own direction, 347 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 2: and then when God says, well I'm going to send 348 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 2: a storm or I'm not going to bless that direc 349 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:06,439 Speaker 2: they get mad at God. Here's another one. When we 350 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:10,159 Speaker 2: lose someone or something that we loved greatly. How many 351 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 2: of you have lost someone you loved? How many you 352 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:16,479 Speaker 2: have lost someone you love too early? Or you go 353 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 2: through all of a sudden you get the diagnosis of 354 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 2: cancer and you lose your health or something like that. 355 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 2: And I've noticed people I prayed with people that they 356 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 2: just get mad at God. They get angry with God. 357 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 2: I think there's remember Job's wife, Job lost everything. Remember Job, 358 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 2: and she finally looked at him and said, Job, I 359 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 2: got an idea. Why don't you just curse God and die? 360 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 2: They need a marriage retreat. Bad. Right. It's been interesting 361 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,439 Speaker 2: to me and it's real clear to me and oftentimes 362 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 2: others in their life. Sometimes people get angry with God 363 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 2: when they reap what they sow. They've been sowing to 364 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 2: the flesh all their life, and all of a sudden 365 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 2: they reap to the flesh and they want to blame 366 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,239 Speaker 2: God for allowing that to happen. And if that's you, 367 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:01,920 Speaker 2: my encourage with you, sow to the spirit, don't sow 368 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 2: to the flesh, because, as it says, God is not 369 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 2: mocked mocked, you will reap what you sow in your 370 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 2: marriage and your kids and your relationships and your occupation 371 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 2: and your job and your community. When we're hurt somebody 372 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:20,159 Speaker 2: by someone who's a Christian. I've set in my office 373 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 2: and someone said, man, this person did this to me 374 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 2: and they're a Christian or they're this, or it was 375 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 2: a minister or a pastor or a deacon, And people 376 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 2: get angry and maybe there's some here that you're mad 377 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 2: at God because of what someone else who pretended to 378 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:38,159 Speaker 2: be a Christian did. And I want to encourage you. 379 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 2: Let's let's run from that. Here's the last one, and 380 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:45,640 Speaker 2: this is Jonah's problem. Known people that are mad at God. 381 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:49,479 Speaker 2: When God blesses someone, we want him to curse. Anybody 382 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 2: ever been in that situation, that perspective where you're sitting 383 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 2: here going Lord, Maybe you didn't say it exactly this way. 384 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 2: This is just the way I say it. God, I'm 385 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 2: way more righteous than they are. Okay, maybe, yeah, that's 386 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 2: exactly the way I said. Right. You know, they got 387 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 2: what they wanted. They wanted fame, they won this, and 388 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,680 Speaker 2: God I'm doing with hum humility of heart. I'm doing 389 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 2: it your way of this and that, and God, they're 390 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:21,719 Speaker 2: just scoundrels, right, I mean, just we all have scoundrels 391 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 2: in our life that it seems like everything goes well 392 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 2: for them, right am? I the only guy that had 393 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 2: I mean, have you seen our staff? You're supposed to 394 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 2: laugh right there? Now? You know what I mean? Right, 395 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 2: We've all been in those situations where you're like, God, 396 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 2: you know, why did they seem to get your blessings, 397 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 2: and I struggle for your blessings, and we can get angry. 398 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 2: Let me just encourage you. Don't play God. I love 399 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 2: what Isaiah said the prophet. He says, for my thoughts 400 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 2: are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, 401 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 2: declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, 402 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 2: so are my ways higher than your ways, and my 403 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 2: thoughts higher than your thoughts. So step back. The next 404 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 2: time you want to play God and you want to 405 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 2: be like Jonah and say, Hey, from my perspective, this 406 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 2: looks wrong. Step back and say God, here's what I know. 407 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,679 Speaker 2: I see from an earthly perspective, you see from an 408 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,679 Speaker 2: eternal perspective. God, I'm simply going to trust that you 409 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,120 Speaker 2: know better than I do, and you're going to work 410 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 2: it all out. So I thought Number one, running from God, 411 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,640 Speaker 2: stop running from your anger, Stop playing God. Just step back. 412 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 2: When things don't make sense to you, or you're struggling, 413 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,120 Speaker 2: or someone who just seems to be living the wrong 414 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 2: way seems to get all the blessing, just step back 415 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 2: and say God, I don't get it, but I'm gonna 416 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 2: leave that one with you, all right. Here's number two, 417 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 2: don't ever estimate God's goodness. Don't ever estimate God's because 418 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:53,920 Speaker 2: that's exactly what Jonah did. Jonah underestimated God's goodness. Here 419 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 2: it is in verse two, says he prayed to the Lord. 420 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,080 Speaker 2: This is after they've repented. Isn't this exactly what I 421 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 2: said was gonna happen when I was still at home, 422 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 2: That is when I tried to force all all this 423 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 2: and flee to Tarsius, dripping with sort because and he 424 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:10,640 Speaker 2: quotes exod Is thirty four year he basically he says, 425 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 2: I know that you are gracious and a compassionate God, 426 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,480 Speaker 2: that you are slow to anger and abounding in love. 427 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 2: You are a god who relents. That word relents. It 428 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 2: has the idea of burning, It has the idea of 429 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 2: flared nostrils. How many of you know what I mean? 430 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 2: That when someone you've ever just seen someone that all 431 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:30,719 Speaker 2: of a sudden they get a little fired up. They 432 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 2: haven't said anything, but you just look at the nostrils 433 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 2: and you can just seal me they're ready to hit somebody. 434 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 2: That's exactly the Hebrew word says man, God, I know 435 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 2: you're one that instead of flaring your nostrils, you show 436 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 2: your grace you show your love, and so he says, 437 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 2: I know that you are a God that is compassionate 438 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 2: and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, a God 439 00:24:52,800 --> 00:24:59,479 Speaker 2: who relents from sending calamity. And this is indictment from Jonah. 440 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 2: Remember just brief outline. Remember what happened. Joanah was disobedient. 441 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 2: He went into the fish, He ended up on dry ground. 442 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 2: He thanked God for salvation, He preached it, and anemtes 443 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 2: God gave them salvation. Jonah gets mad. You're like Jonah, 444 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 2: you are completely You're the poster child for being the 445 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 2: recipient of God's grace and compassionate love. But you don't 446 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:30,360 Speaker 2: want God to give it to anybody else. So let 447 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 2: me give you a couple of thoughts. When you think 448 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 2: about it. You can read that Exodus thirty four passages. 449 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 2: Let me give you a couple of thoughts from right 450 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 2: here when you think about don't ever understand and underestimate 451 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 2: God's goodness. Number one, don't ever forget that we serber 452 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:49,120 Speaker 2: God that is completely gracious and compassionate, and we've all 453 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 2: experienced it. How many of you know for sure you've 454 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 2: experienced God's grace in your life? How many of you 455 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 2: can look back on your life when you've been more 456 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 2: like Jonah than you would like to admit, and you've 457 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 2: experienced God's compassion. We've all been there. And Man, as 458 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 2: I think about how many times God has been gracious 459 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 2: and compassionate to me, how I should also want God 460 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:15,159 Speaker 2: to do the same thing for us. I love what 461 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 2: Issama said in someone Will three verse eight and following 462 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,760 Speaker 2: He says, the Lord is compassionate and gracious. God is 463 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 2: slow to anger and abounding with love. He's a relenting God. 464 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 2: He's a loving God. He will not always accuse, nor 465 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,439 Speaker 2: will he harbor his anger forever. He does not listen 466 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 2: to this, listen to how many times us our and 467 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:40,159 Speaker 2: we are in here. He does not treat us as 468 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:45,159 Speaker 2: our sins deserve, or repay us as our iniquities deserve. 469 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 2: For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 470 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 2: that's the way his thoughts were. So great is his 471 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,879 Speaker 2: love for those who fear him. As far as the 472 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:57,639 Speaker 2: east is from the west, so far he has removed 473 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:02,120 Speaker 2: our transgressions from us. Man, how many of you take 474 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 2: great comfort in those words? Right? That God doesn't treat 475 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 2: me as my sins deserve, as my transgressions deserve. But 476 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 2: instead God is a gracious God. And as far as 477 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,360 Speaker 2: the yeast is from the west, so far God has 478 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 2: removed our transgressions and sinned from us. Don't ever forget 479 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 2: that God is a gracious and loving and a compassionate God. 480 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 2: Here's number two. Don't ever forget. Not only is God 481 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 2: gracious with us those who love him, but God is 482 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 2: also patient with sinners. That's where God was with the Navites. 483 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:40,120 Speaker 2: That's what Peter says over in the Book of Peter 484 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 2: says that God is not slow. God wants everybody to 485 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,120 Speaker 2: come to repentance. And so that's what Jonah didn't understand 486 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 2: that God, why are you so patient with sinners? Why? 487 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 2: Because God prefers repentance over judgment. Remember what it said 488 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:58,120 Speaker 2: verse seventeen, John three. God did not send his son 489 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:00,080 Speaker 2: into the world to condemn the world, but that the 490 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 2: world would be saved through him. That's God's desire. So 491 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 2: if you ever look around and say, God, why do 492 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,440 Speaker 2: you put up with that? Well, I can't tell you why, 493 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:13,400 Speaker 2: because he is a patient God. He is a loving God. 494 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 2: And then step back and do what I want to do. 495 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:18,880 Speaker 2: And what we should always do is remember the times 496 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:22,120 Speaker 2: that God was patient with us. Look what Isaiah said 497 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:25,919 Speaker 2: in Isaiah forty three, verse twenty five. He says, I 498 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 2: even I, this is God speaking. I'm the one who 499 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 2: blots out your transgressions. Now I want you to read 500 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 2: this little phrase, this next phrase. God blots out your transgressions. 501 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 2: Not for your sake, But notice what he says for 502 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 2: my own sake and remembers your sin no more. See, 503 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 2: God wants to forgive you and show you his grace 504 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:57,040 Speaker 2: and love. Why for his sake he created you in 505 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 2: the image of God. God doesn't want anybody to spend 506 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 2: eternity in hell. He wants all of us to come 507 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:06,200 Speaker 2: to repentance. God doesn't want us to reap what we 508 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 2: sow if we sow to the flesh wine, because at 509 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 2: the end of that road, at the end of that folly, 510 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 2: at the end of that are the consequences and the 511 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 2: results of the sin we committed. So what does God do. 512 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 2: He wants to be patient, so instead of us continuing 513 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 2: down that path, we would turn away. So here's the 514 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 2: third thing we always have to remember about God. Not 515 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 2: only is he compassionate and gracious and loving, he's patient 516 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 2: with sinners, but don't ever doubt this. God is adjust God. 517 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 2: There will come a day when grace is no more. 518 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 2: There will come a day when it is judgment day 519 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 2: until he comes the right of the Hebrews said it 520 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:45,920 Speaker 2: is appointed for a man or a woman, a person 521 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 2: wants to die, and then judgment. See, you better make 522 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 2: a good decision here about what you're going to do 523 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 2: with Jesus, because there is going to come a day 524 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 2: when we're going to look in God's eyes and He's 525 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 2: going to say, what did you do with my son? 526 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 2: If you said I reject it would not be loving 527 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 2: for God to say, all right, I'm going to make 528 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 2: you spend eternity with you. Instead, God is going to say, listen, 529 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 2: you rejected my son on earth. Man, go live where 530 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 2: you want it to, an eternity apart from me. But 531 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:18,239 Speaker 2: God doesn't want that. But don't ever doubt in the 532 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 2: midst of the fact that we serve a gracious, compassionate 533 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 2: and loving God who is patient with sinners. Don't ever 534 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 2: forget the fact God's just. 535 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 3: So. 536 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:34,480 Speaker 2: Wherever you are in this room or online, you better 537 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 2: make a decision for or against Jesus Christ, and understand 538 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 2: that determines where you spend eternity with God. Are apart 539 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 2: from God? Why? Because God is gracious, compassionate, loving patient, 540 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:58,360 Speaker 2: But he's also adjust God, He's also adjusted God. Here's 541 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:00,160 Speaker 2: the next thought as we just continue to read down, 542 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:02,719 Speaker 2: look at versus at number three, going to verse three, 543 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 2: it says, don't let your darkest, darkest thoughts ever control you. 544 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 2: I don't know where you are in your mind space 545 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 2: or mental space. Don't ever ever let your darkest thoughts 546 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 2: control you. So where do you see that? Look at 547 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:21,920 Speaker 2: verse three. Now Jonah says, Lord take my life away, 548 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 2: for it is better for me to die than to live. 549 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 2: That's a dark thought. That's a bad thought. Can I 550 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 2: tell you this? That is a wrong thought. And maybe 551 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 2: there's someone here that you've not been called to be 552 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 2: a prophet, you've not been called to preach in ene It, 553 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 2: but you have those dark thoughts that maybe it be 554 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 2: better for me to die than to live. Can I 555 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 2: just tell you this, that's a bad thought, that's a 556 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 2: wrong thought. Because here's what I know. When a look 557 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 2: at God's word and a look at God's character, and 558 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 2: when I look at God's nature, I want to look 559 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 2: at God's call. I want to look at God's purpose 560 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 2: for every person in this room or online. Let me 561 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 2: tell you what It is not better that you would 562 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:09,760 Speaker 2: be dead than whether you'd be alive, because God wants 563 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 2: to take the life that you have, the breadth that 564 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 2: you have, the ability that you have, the talents that 565 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:16,240 Speaker 2: you have, the skills you have, and He wants to 566 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:20,680 Speaker 2: bless you through you and bless others through you. So 567 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:26,480 Speaker 2: don't ever, ever, ever let your darkest thoughts control you. Man, 568 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 2: something was going on in Jonah that in chapter one 569 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:31,560 Speaker 2: he said, I'd rather go the wrong way, and so 570 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 2: the right way. There's something going wrong with Jonah where 571 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 2: he said I'd rather go in the deep, then just 572 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:39,560 Speaker 2: repent and go back and do what God called me. 573 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 2: And here we are again in chapter four. He's allowing 574 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:47,719 Speaker 2: these dark thoughts, his darkest thoughts, to control him. So 575 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:49,760 Speaker 2: my encouragement to you, if there's someone here that you 576 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 2: were walking in this space, that man, would it be 577 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:57,400 Speaker 2: better for me to die than to live? Can I 578 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:04,960 Speaker 2: just tell you these are God's worst No, No, It's 579 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 2: better that you live and be used by God to 580 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:12,440 Speaker 2: your fullest potential and let God determine when your last 581 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:15,240 Speaker 2: breath is. How many of us understand that. Here's the 582 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:17,719 Speaker 2: last thought you're ready remember before we pick it up 583 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:23,120 Speaker 2: in verse four, don't let your emotions run you. Last point, 584 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:26,120 Speaker 2: don't let your darkest thoughts control you. Don't let your 585 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:28,920 Speaker 2: emotions run you. His emotion was anger. Notice what it says. 586 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 2: But the word of the Lord came and it says, 587 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:38,160 Speaker 2: is it right for you to be angry? Is it right? 588 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:41,840 Speaker 2: So let me just kind of stop this sermon where 589 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:45,760 Speaker 2: we started. We live in an age of anger where 590 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:50,960 Speaker 2: people are bitter and mad, and so here's how we end. 591 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 2: Are you one of those people? Are you someone that 592 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 2: if you think about where you're living, truly in your space, 593 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:00,840 Speaker 2: that you're living in such a way that you're angry 594 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:05,600 Speaker 2: with God? Can I invite you just to pause, step 595 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:09,719 Speaker 2: back from that, confess that, and ask God to help 596 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:13,520 Speaker 2: you deal with that. Maybe there's someone here that man, 597 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:18,080 Speaker 2: you've experienced a loss and you're angry with God. Maybe 598 00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 2: you've lived a good life and hard things have come 599 00:34:21,160 --> 00:34:23,359 Speaker 2: and you're angry with God. Can I just tell you 600 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:30,200 Speaker 2: that as long as you let your emotions control you, 601 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 2: you will never be able to fulfill God's ultimate call 602 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:36,680 Speaker 2: in your life. That's why we want to run from anger. 603 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:39,440 Speaker 2: Because in spite of this, and we're going to see 604 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:42,520 Speaker 2: it next week. In the next week, in spite of 605 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:49,319 Speaker 2: all of God's blessings, Jonah missed it all. And I 606 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:53,919 Speaker 2: don't want that to be your story. Let's pray, God, 607 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:56,719 Speaker 2: thank you so much for an opportunity to look at 608 00:34:56,719 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 2: a prophet that you just describe so clearly who runs 609 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:04,320 Speaker 2: from you. Never truly repents, he obeys, but he doesn't 610 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 2: have a harder attitude of love. Instead, he lets his 611 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:14,200 Speaker 2: darkest thoughts control him. He lets his emotions get the 612 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:18,640 Speaker 2: best of it. The saddest thing of all is he 613 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:23,000 Speaker 2: missed your blessings. God. Don't ever let that be us. 614 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:26,440 Speaker 2: Don't let ever let that be the people in the 615 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 2: room or the people online. Let us be a people 616 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:33,919 Speaker 2: that run from our darkest thoughts, that run from our emotions, 617 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:38,879 Speaker 2: run from our anger, and run to your grace and Jesus' name. 618 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:40,240 Speaker 2: We pray Amen. 619 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:44,520 Speaker 3: The podcast The Bible in a Year with Jack Graham 620 00:35:44,719 --> 00:35:48,080 Speaker 3: is a moving and inspiring biblical audio experience that will 621 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 3: help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In 622 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:55,280 Speaker 3: each episode, you'll learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. 623 00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:58,879 Speaker 2: Each cinematic episode is a journey through the Bible's most 624 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:02,359 Speaker 2: profound stories that will strengthen your appreciation of the word 625 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:05,320 Speaker 2: and inspire you to keep learning. 626 00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:08,160 Speaker 3: Listen to the Bible in a Year with Jack Graham 627 00:36:08,239 --> 00:36:11,839 Speaker 3: on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.