WEBVTT 00:00:01.633 --> 00:00:04.633 Well, good morning, Valley View. 00:00:04.732 --> 00:00:05.500 Thank you Isaac. 00:00:05.500 --> 00:00:07.932 Thank you, Worship team for leading us. 00:00:07.932 --> 00:00:09.300 It's a great way to start the New Year. 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:12.000 It's great to gather together as we go into a new year. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:15.066 And I don't know about you, but I just always look forward to the start of a new year. 00:00:15.066 --> 00:00:25.565 There's something about it that creates excitement, you know, it's just another day, but there's something about it that creates excitement, vision, hope, anticipation. 00:00:25.699 --> 00:00:29.332 I'm looking forward to what God might do in the coming year in my life. 00:00:29.332 --> 00:00:36.133 For some reason, the start of the year creates that, and I think that happens in the church broadly as well. 00:00:36.133 --> 00:00:40.332 I think if you're a Christian, you came today hoping to hear from God. 00:00:41.432 --> 00:00:45.332 You came hoping that he would speak to you this year. 00:00:45.332 --> 00:00:49.700 You came hoping that he would do something radical in your life today. 00:00:49.832 --> 00:00:52.832 I hope, I hope that's what's stirring. 00:00:53.832 --> 00:00:59.133 I hope you're longing to hear from him, that he will speak to you this year in a fresh, new way every year. 00:00:59.133 --> 00:01:02.133 That excitement should be there. 00:01:02.700 --> 00:01:09.599 Now, the question is, though, I think that many of us face-- God will speak. 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:12.599 What will we do when he speaks? 00:01:13.266 --> 00:01:16.433 How will we react when his voice shows up? 00:01:16.433 --> 00:01:18.400 When His Word shows up in our life? 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:26.332 We're going to look at the book of Jonah for the next four weeks, and look at how one man reacted to God's voice in his life. 00:01:26.332 --> 00:01:28.533 Learn some principles for that. 00:01:28.533 --> 00:01:34.033 And I think, especially in this first chapter, which we're going to look at today, I think we'll see four aspects of the gospel. 00:01:34.965 --> 00:01:39.266 You know, the Old Testament, obviously, Jesus isn't in the Old Testament. 00:01:39.266 --> 00:01:43.766 He comes in the New Testament, but the Old Testament points forward to Jesus coming. 00:01:43.766 --> 00:01:45.165 There are hints of the gospel. 00:01:45.165 --> 00:01:47.965 There are pictures of the gospel that we get over and over again. 00:01:47.965 --> 00:01:53.533 And this first chapter of Jonah gives us some of those elements of the gospel, aspects of the gospel. 00:01:53.533 --> 00:01:59.200 We're going to draw on those today, and then we're going to provide some application points for what that means for us today. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:02.233 So if you have a Bible, turn to Jonah, chapter one. 00:02:02.233 --> 00:02:05.066 If you have a church Bible, I don't know the page for that. 00:02:05.066 --> 00:02:05.665 Look around. 00:02:05.665 --> 00:02:08.532 Have others ask you for help to find it. 00:02:08.532 --> 00:02:14.432 Jonah's somewhere near the latter half of the Old Testament in the Minor Prophets section. 00:02:14.432 --> 00:02:19.966 They're called the Minor Prophets because the books are shorter, basically not because they're less of a person or anything. 00:02:19.966 --> 00:02:20.932 They're just shorter books. 00:02:20.932 --> 00:02:22.566 There's 12 minor prophets. 00:02:22.566 --> 00:02:25.265 Jonah falls kind of in the middle of those. 00:02:26.233 --> 00:02:26.665 And what do we read? 00:02:26.665 --> 00:02:33.165 The first three verses of chapter one to get our bearings as we dive into these four elements of the gospel in chapter one. 00:02:33.165 --> 00:02:37.966 So Jonah one verse one. 00:02:37.966 --> 00:02:51.800 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. 00:02:52.066 --> 00:02:58.366 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 00:02:58.366 --> 00:03:01.332 He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish. 00:03:01.332 --> 00:03:11.032 So he paid the fare, went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. 00:03:11.165 --> 00:03:15.032 Jonah begins by introducing us to the person. 00:03:15.032 --> 00:03:21.432 The book is named after Jonah, but notice he's called son of Amittai. 00:03:22.765 --> 00:03:33.000 That same phrasing of that same name of him shows up in Second Kings, and we can't be exactly sure it's the exact same person, but good chance there is. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:43.165 He would have been prophesying back in Second Kings during the time of Jeroboam, and Jeroboam was one of the kings that was listed as an evil king. 00:03:43.366 --> 00:03:48.400 Now, all this sets the context for who Jonah is and what his message was and what he's about. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:51.633 He's a prophet during the reign of an evil king. 00:03:51.633 --> 00:03:56.832 The other thing about Jonah that's interesting, Jewish legend holds. 00:03:56.832 --> 00:04:04.066 And there's, you know, there's a number of extra books of the Bible that aren't in the Bible that were written sometimes after the Bible, but that sum up different legends. 00:04:04.066 --> 00:04:05.699 We can't know if they're fully true. 00:04:05.699 --> 00:04:12.432 Jewish legends hold, though, that Jonah would have been the son of the widow of Zarephath. 00:04:12.432 --> 00:04:19.199 I don't know if you remember that story or not, but she was the widow that Elijah came to, and he asked her to feed him, and she says, I'm out of bread and oil. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:25.065 And he said, as long until it rains, whenever you go to get some bread and oil, you will have plenty. 00:04:26.065 --> 00:04:31.333 And while Elijah was in her home, and until it rains over and over again, God provided. 00:04:31.333 --> 00:04:34.966 Her son dies. The widow’s son dies. 00:04:34.966 --> 00:04:39.365 And Elijah heals him, raises him back to life. 00:04:39.632 --> 00:04:44.833 Jewish legends hold that that was Jonah. Again, we can't be exactly sure that that's the case. 00:04:44.833 --> 00:04:55.665 Either way, Jonah lived in a time where the nation has strayed from God, and Jonah would have seen many miraculous things even if he wasn't actually the widow's son. 00:04:55.665 --> 00:05:01.632 He would have known about the ministry of Elijah and Elisha and all the miracles that were done through them. 00:05:01.632 --> 00:05:05.333 He would have seen God at work in amazing ways. 00:05:05.665 --> 00:05:08.399 So that gives us some of the context of who Jonah was. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:12.500 But here's the interesting thing about his name that also helps us understand the whole book of Jonah. 00:05:13.932 --> 00:05:20.533 The whole book of Jonah is about contrasts and irony, and we see it right away in his name. 00:05:20.533 --> 00:05:30.733 Okay, son of Amittai, Amittai in Hebrew would have meant something along the lines of truthful or faithful. Jonah, son of faithfulness. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:34.399 And what does Jonah do right away in the book? 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:36.500 Runs from God. 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:39.865 In fact, this is the first picture we get of the gospel. 00:05:39.865 --> 00:05:43.466 This first point in your outline, Jonah runs from God. 00:05:43.466 --> 00:05:48.500 That's not the gospel, but that's where the gospel begins, because that's what all of us have done. 00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:50.266 We've run from God. 00:05:50.266 --> 00:05:51.432 God gives us a word. 00:05:51.432 --> 00:05:52.500 God gives us a message. 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:54.165 He tells us what to do, and we say, no thanks. 00:05:54.165 --> 00:05:55.399 I don't want any part of that. 00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:56.233 Leave me alone. 00:05:58.033 --> 00:06:04.333 Jonah runs from God, son of faithfulness says, no thanks, I'm out of here. 00:06:05.132 --> 00:06:10.100 Not only that, there's not only that contradiction, but even his name. Jonah. 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:13.266 Okay, the word Jonah, the name Jonah means dove. 00:06:13.266 --> 00:06:18.966 And of course, for us as Christians, when we think of a dove, you think of the presence of the Holy Spirit. 00:06:18.966 --> 00:06:23.000 And it's warm and fuzzy and inviting and comforting and encouraging. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:27.165 But at this time, Hosea called Israel a dove. 00:06:27.165 --> 00:06:30.699 11, you can look it up later on your own. 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:45.033 But he says that the bird, the dove, the nation is flighty, running quickly to Egypt, running quickly to Assyria, where Nineveh was a capital, looking for other nations to follow, not faithful to God. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:48.766 Here's the whole point of all this. 00:06:48.766 --> 00:06:55.665 This is setting the context that the main message of the Book of Jonah is to get the attention of Israel. 00:06:56.365 --> 00:07:05.699 You who are straying, the King who is evil, the faithless one, wake up! This is the point of this book. 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:08.533 Many times the prophets are prophesying against other nations. 00:07:08.533 --> 00:07:10.733 Wake up. 00:07:10.733 --> 00:07:12.199 In fact, we're going to see. 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:17.733 He's really saying be like Nineveh, repent, turn to me. 00:07:17.733 --> 00:07:20.733 Don't continue to run from me. 00:07:21.766 --> 00:07:23.665 Jonah has run. 00:07:23.665 --> 00:07:25.132 He's running to. 00:07:25.132 --> 00:07:29.266 In this section, the city listed three times is Tarshish. 00:07:29.266 --> 00:07:30.833 We don't know exactly where that is. 00:07:30.833 --> 00:07:35.233 Most believe it was maybe at or near the western end of Spain. 00:07:35.233 --> 00:07:42.132 And basically it's a symbol of the farthest Jonah could possibly get away from God. 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:45.733 We'll just pick somewhere that's way out. 00:07:45.733 --> 00:07:48.233 So far, you can't imagine even going that far. 00:07:48.233 --> 00:07:49.833 That's where he's headed. 00:07:49.833 --> 00:07:53.199 As far from God as you can possibly get. 00:07:53.766 --> 00:07:56.766 That's where Jonah wanted to be. 00:07:56.833 --> 00:07:59.833 Jonah is running from God actively. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:03.432 He's doing all he can to get away from what God has asked him to do. 00:08:03.432 --> 00:08:08.000 Now, if you look back at what he says, he gives him a mission and a message. 00:08:08.432 --> 00:08:13.699 First he says, God says to him, rise and go to Nineveh. 00:08:14.033 --> 00:08:15.932 It's a common refrain in the Old Testament. 00:08:15.932 --> 00:08:19.699 We see that with a number of different key Old Testament figures like Abraham. 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:20.466 Rise. 00:08:20.466 --> 00:08:22.432 Go to the place that I will show you. 00:08:22.432 --> 00:08:23.865 There's this call. 00:08:23.865 --> 00:08:29.266 And I think as Christians, we know part of our call is to be mission minded, to go. 00:08:29.266 --> 00:08:30.766 That's how the book of Matthew ends. 00:08:30.766 --> 00:08:36.133 It's some of the last words Jesus gives his followers go into all the world, proclaim my name to the world. 00:08:37.566 --> 00:08:38.865 We see a picture of that here. 00:08:38.865 --> 00:08:41.200 Go, arise and go. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:44.332 He gives him a mission, but he also gives him a message. 00:08:44.332 --> 00:08:50.732 Call out against them because they are evil, because of this evil that has come upon them. 00:08:51.166 --> 00:08:56.133 Now, it's hard to imagine the challenge, and this is probably the reason why Jonah was rejecting this. 00:08:56.133 --> 00:09:07.732 It's hard to imagine what this would have been like, because none of us have probably been to Nineveh, or known anyone from Nineveh, or known their political values and desires and structures, or have been personally offended by anyone from Nineveh. 00:09:07.732 --> 00:09:14.732 It's hard to have put yourself in this, but some have said this would be somewhat like because Nineveh would have been one of their sworn enemies. 00:09:14.732 --> 00:09:30.500 This would be somewhat like sending Einstein to Berlin in 1940 and asking him to tell the whole country to turn back to God, to turn away from their wickedness, the absurdity of it, the chance of that making a difference. 00:09:30.566 --> 00:09:33.100 And of course, Einstein's going, oh, why me? 00:09:33.100 --> 00:09:35.133 Can't you pick some other dude to do that? 00:09:35.133 --> 00:09:38.365 Because I know how this is going to end up. 00:09:38.365 --> 00:09:45.732 And you can see how Jonah would think this isn't really the mission I feel called to Lord, there's other ministries I feel like maybe you have for me out there. 00:09:45.732 --> 00:09:48.232 Can we discuss some of these other options? 00:09:48.232 --> 00:09:49.166 He didn't even go there. 00:09:49.166 --> 00:09:50.832 He says, I'm out of here. 00:09:50.832 --> 00:09:52.466 I don't want any part of this mission. 00:09:52.466 --> 00:09:59.299 I'm not going to proclaim this message and look at how it's described, what he does. God says, arise and go. 00:09:59.299 --> 00:10:00.166 What does Jonah do? 00:10:00.166 --> 00:10:03.600 Verse three Jonah rose to flee. 00:10:04.299 --> 00:10:08.166 If you say, rise and go, I'll go for sure. 00:10:08.166 --> 00:10:08.932 And he flees. 00:10:08.932 --> 00:10:10.466 He does the opposite. 00:10:10.466 --> 00:10:13.732 And this is one of the major themes of this book, by the way. 00:10:13.732 --> 00:10:17.566 We're going to see it over and over again all throughout here. 00:10:17.566 --> 00:10:23.332 Jonah is often going to do the opposite of what a prophet should do. 00:10:23.832 --> 00:10:25.865 You think Jonah is a prophet of God? 00:10:25.865 --> 00:10:31.265 Prophets should act in a way that honors God, and oftentimes he does the exact opposite of that. 00:10:31.265 --> 00:10:32.100 He flees. 00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:33.000 I'm going to Tarshish. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:36.432 I'm going to get as far away from all of this as I can. 00:10:37.932 --> 00:10:43.066 And by the way, I think, I think some of us can relate to that. 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:47.232 Who would say you ought to raise your hands? 00:10:47.232 --> 00:10:48.832 I've been there. 00:10:48.832 --> 00:10:53.932 I said to God, I don't want any part of what you're asking me to do. 00:10:53.932 --> 00:10:57.066 I'm going to get as far away from you as I can. 00:10:57.066 --> 00:11:04.799 I think any person who's honest about themselves can see there have been times where you have felt that way about what God, God's call on your life. 00:11:07.232 --> 00:11:11.033 Jonah says, no thanks, I'm out of here. 00:11:11.033 --> 00:11:13.066 But what does God do in response? 00:11:13.066 --> 00:11:14.732 Now let's look at the next group of verses. 00:11:14.732 --> 00:11:16.666 How does God react to that? 00:11:16.666 --> 00:11:20.533 What is his response to his prophet saying, leave me alone. 00:11:20.533 --> 00:11:23.533 Look at verse four. 00:11:23.533 --> 00:11:32.865 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 00:11:33.633 --> 00:11:35.432 Then the mariners were afraid. 00:11:35.432 --> 00:11:43.033 Each cried out to his God, and they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. 00:11:43.466 --> 00:11:51.133 But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship, and had lain down and was fast asleep. 00:11:51.133 --> 00:11:52.432 There's this progression. 00:11:52.432 --> 00:12:03.100 We'll see where Jonah keeps going down and down and down, emphasizing the reality that he is further distancing himself from God on the path to hell even many speculate. 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:06.966 He's gone down, he's laid down, he's done the opposite of rise and go up. 00:12:06.966 --> 00:12:10.232 I'm going down and laying down and going all the way to sleep. 00:12:12.466 --> 00:12:16.799 So the captain came and said to him, what do you mean, you sleeper? 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:19.799 Arise, call out to your God. 00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:26.600 Perhaps the God will give a thought to us that we may not perish. 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:32.365 Jonah's response to this is to run from God, to run away from God. 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:39.432 God's response is to run after Jonah immediately to pursue Jonah. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:41.932 You're going to run from me. 00:12:41.932 --> 00:12:43.732 I'm going to come find you. 00:12:43.732 --> 00:12:45.432 I remember how he's laughed at this. 00:12:45.432 --> 00:12:49.166 Tommy Nelson said, I told my wife, you can never leave me, because if you leave. 00:12:49.166 --> 00:12:51.765 He was a pastor in Dallas, well known Bible teacher. 00:12:51.765 --> 00:12:53.765 If you leave me, I'm coming with you. 00:12:53.765 --> 00:12:54.600 I'm going to come find you. 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:56.265 I'm coming after you. 00:12:56.265 --> 00:12:58.399 And I thought that's a little stalkerish. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:01.332 But his point being, I'm in this for the long haul. 00:13:01.332 --> 00:13:02.600 It was meant to be positive. 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:06.332 And God is saying to Jonah, I'm coming after you. 00:13:06.332 --> 00:13:07.799 You can't get away from y-. 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:10.265 me. I'm pursuing you. 00:13:10.265 --> 00:13:16.600 My love for you is so deep that even when you reject me, I'm coming after you. Now, but look how he does it. 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:19.799 This isn't how we want God to pursue us, per se. 00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:25.966 He sends a storm, and it's a storm so violent that the sailors are afraid. 00:13:25.966 --> 00:13:30.700 And they're taking extreme measures to protect themselves from death. 00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:33.500 The ship, in their minds, is about to break apart. 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:36.432 They're throwing stuff overseas to lighten the ship, to. 00:13:36.432 --> 00:13:39.432 Hopefully that'll get through it somehow. 00:13:40.332 --> 00:13:45.033 Here's where we get this picture of Jonah being the opposite of what he should be. 00:13:45.033 --> 00:13:50.066 In fact, we get this contrast between Jonah and the sailors. 00:13:50.066 --> 00:13:53.700 At every turn they act more noble than Jonah. 00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:57.133 At every turn, they do what he should have done. 00:13:57.133 --> 00:14:00.966 Jonah should have been the one going, I think God is in this trying to get my attention. 00:14:00.966 --> 00:14:02.600 Here's what we need to do, guys. 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.200 Let's all kneel and pray. 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:05.365 Let's call out to God. 00:14:05.365 --> 00:14:11.066 I hope that he rescues us, but they're all calling out to their gods and they're wondering why he's asleep. 00:14:12.765 --> 00:14:14.633 He don't want any part of it. 00:14:14.633 --> 00:14:16.700 He's completely checked out. 00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:18.033 The sailors are more noble. 00:14:18.033 --> 00:14:23.365 They care more about their life than Jonah does. 00:14:24.932 --> 00:14:27.066 But God is continuing to pursue him. 00:14:27.066 --> 00:14:27.932 And look. 00:14:27.932 --> 00:14:30.765 And we're going to talk more about this in the application. 00:14:30.765 --> 00:14:36.732 Don't assume that every challenge in your life doesn't have a greater purpose. 00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:42.432 When we are running from God, if you are his, he will send a storm to rescue you. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.932 It don't always feel that way. 00:14:44.932 --> 00:14:46.399 It doesn't feel very loving. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:49.399 He disciplines those he loves. 00:14:49.666 --> 00:14:51.200 This is what he is doing with Jonah. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:54.600 And by the way, not every storm in your life is because of your sin. 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:58.399 I'm not saying that, but he pursues us. 00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:00.365 He pursues who is his. 00:15:02.299 --> 00:15:10.033 He wants to get his attention, just like he wants to get Israel's attention who is running from God. 00:15:10.133 --> 00:15:17.265 And notice what the sailors do to further show us that they are more noble than Jonah. 00:15:17.265 --> 00:15:22.365 In fact, throughout the book of Jonah, everybody is more noble than Jonah. 00:15:22.365 --> 00:15:28.633 Even the animals we'll see are more obedient than Jonah as we progress through the book. 00:15:28.633 --> 00:15:33.732 The captain comes to him and says, why don't you at least pray to your God? 00:15:33.732 --> 00:15:35.166 Here's what they do after this. 00:15:35.166 --> 00:15:37.799 Verse seven. 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:43.432 They said to one another, come, let us cast lots that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:15:43.432 --> 00:15:49.133 Maybe our version of flipping a coin to figure out who could be a part of this. 00:15:50.865 --> 00:15:53.832 So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 00:15:53.832 --> 00:15:57.832 Then they said to him, tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:15:57.832 --> 00:15:59.166 What is your occupation? 00:15:59.166 --> 00:16:00.265 Where do you come from? 00:16:00.265 --> 00:16:02.500 What is your country, and of what people are you? 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:06.666 And he said to them, I am Hebrew. 00:16:06.666 --> 00:16:12.332 I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. 00:16:12.332 --> 00:16:16.732 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, what is this that you have done? 00:16:16.732 --> 00:16:22.732 For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:27.700 So the sailors know this storm. 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:29.166 Something's not right. 00:16:29.166 --> 00:16:32.432 Look at all the ways that they act the way Jonah should have. 00:16:32.432 --> 00:16:35.232 The first thing they do is to seek divine guidance. 00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:37.633 We don't know why this has happened. 00:16:37.633 --> 00:16:40.932 Clearly, there must be some God angry at us. 00:16:40.932 --> 00:16:41.765 Let's cast lots. 00:16:41.765 --> 00:16:44.466 Let's do what we know to do in order to find out. 00:16:44.466 --> 00:16:45.799 Can we get a message from God? 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:47.533 Can we get a word from these gods? 00:16:47.533 --> 00:16:50.200 Can we find out somehow some divine intervention? 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:53.133 And Jonah sleeps. 00:16:53.133 --> 00:16:58.633 They are seeking a word from God and Jonah sleeps. 00:16:58.633 --> 00:17:02.100 Then when they find out it's Jonah, they come to him with questions. 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:03.365 A lot of questions. 00:17:03.365 --> 00:17:08.633 And really, all these questions are trying to figure out who is this God that you've ticked off. 00:17:08.633 --> 00:17:10.365 This is what we're trying to learn here. 00:17:10.365 --> 00:17:15.200 Who have you upset because we're reaching out to our gods and they're not saying anything. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.766 Who is it that you've upset? 00:17:16.766 --> 00:17:21.133 And this is what terrifies them is how he responds. 00:17:21.133 --> 00:17:22.232 Look at what he says to them again. 00:17:22.232 --> 00:17:26.566 He says, I am a Hebrew and I fear the Lord. 00:17:26.566 --> 00:17:34.732 Notice how he describes the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. 00:17:34.732 --> 00:17:50.465 This would have brought fear to them, because more than likely at this time, most people who had their own God, a nation who had their own God, they were following maybe just one aspect of that the sun God, the agriculture God, the God of the sea. 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.099 They would. 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:52.766 There's one element they would have worshiped. 00:17:52.766 --> 00:17:58.500 And now Jonah is saying, I worship the one who's over all that. 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:00.865 You put them all together. 00:18:00.865 --> 00:18:05.566 That's who I worship the God above all gods. 00:18:05.566 --> 00:18:11.465 And of course they're thinking, you idiot! It's. 00:18:11.465 --> 00:18:15.799 It's one thing to tick off one of those gods and you've offended them all. 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:18.799 What are you doing? 00:18:19.165 --> 00:18:23.099 And their fear for God increases. 00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:25.032 Again the contrast. 00:18:25.032 --> 00:18:26.333 They become more afraid. 00:18:26.333 --> 00:18:28.032 They show fear for God. 00:18:28.032 --> 00:18:30.133 He says he's afraid of God, but he's not showing it. 00:18:31.732 --> 00:18:32.532 I fear the Lord. 00:18:32.532 --> 00:18:34.099 Really? 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:36.333 Are you sure? 00:18:36.333 --> 00:18:39.333 This is who I'm supposed to serve? 00:18:41.066 --> 00:18:45.032 And in them we see those more noble than Jonah again. 00:18:45.333 --> 00:18:49.133 And ultimately, the point being more noble than Israel. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:56.266 By the way, we're not just talking about someone a long time ago. 00:18:56.266 --> 00:18:59.266 This is meant to also prick our hearts. 00:19:00.465 --> 00:19:05.900 As Christians, this is meant to wake us up. 00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:08.900 To what way am I running from God? 00:19:11.232 --> 00:19:12.833 The sailors know that's what Jonah's doing. 00:19:12.833 --> 00:19:16.365 He had told him that's what he was doing. 00:19:16.365 --> 00:19:18.532 And of course, they're wondering. 00:19:18.532 --> 00:19:21.665 Now that we know this, how do we fix this? 00:19:21.665 --> 00:19:26.133 God has sent a storm trying to get your attention. 00:19:26.766 --> 00:19:29.333 Sin is satisfied through sacrifice. 00:19:29.333 --> 00:19:32.299 Let's look at what that means here in this next group of verses. 00:19:34.165 --> 00:19:37.165 Verse 11. 00:19:37.833 --> 00:19:41.833 Then they said to him, what shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us? 00:19:41.833 --> 00:19:45.400 For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:49.833 He said to them, pick me up, hurl me into the sea. 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:58.299 Then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you. 00:19:58.299 --> 00:20:01.266 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land. 00:20:01.266 --> 00:20:05.165 They could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 00:20:05.165 --> 00:20:15.500 Therefore they called out to the Lord, oh, Lord, let us not perish for this man's life Lay not on us innocent blood, for you, Oh Lord, have done as it pleased you. 00:20:15.865 --> 00:20:17.532 So they picked up Jonah. 00:20:17.532 --> 00:20:22.200 They hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 00:20:23.165 --> 00:20:31.865 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord, and made vows. 00:20:31.865 --> 00:20:32.799 Sin... 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:41.532 This is point three, the third aspect of the gospel in chapter one of Jonah, sin is satisfied through sacrifice. 00:20:41.532 --> 00:20:46.566 Jonah is offered as a sacrifice for his sin to save the sailors. 00:20:46.566 --> 00:20:51.432 Now, I've wondered when I read this because Jonah's the one who recommends this. 00:20:51.432 --> 00:20:56.833 Why does he immediately recommend throwing himself into the sea as the solution to this problem? 00:20:56.833 --> 00:20:58.099 Where did that come from? 00:20:58.099 --> 00:21:01.333 He's probably not seeking out God for that answer. 00:21:01.333 --> 00:21:02.766 We know he's been running for him. 00:21:02.766 --> 00:21:04.400 He doesn't want to hear from him. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:10.333 I've also wondered, why didn't he say, why don't you just take me back to land and I can go on to Nineveh? 00:21:10.333 --> 00:21:11.665 Let's take the easy path here. 00:21:11.665 --> 00:21:13.232 I'd really like to survive this thing. 00:21:13.232 --> 00:21:13.932 I know you know. 00:21:13.932 --> 00:21:16.266 I'm running from God and I don't want to go there. 00:21:16.266 --> 00:21:17.066 Take me back. 00:21:19.432 --> 00:21:26.732 I think what this hints at is, the reality is that Jonah still has no interest in hearing from God or going to Nineveh. 00:21:26.732 --> 00:21:28.333 He just wants out. 00:21:28.333 --> 00:21:30.365 He wants it all to be over. 00:21:30.365 --> 00:21:36.133 Even though he can't throw himself into the sea, he's got to put that on them. 00:21:37.032 --> 00:21:41.665 He still has no interest in following God's plan, God's mission for his life. 00:21:41.665 --> 00:21:48.865 I just want this all to be over and we see the sailors acting more noble. 00:21:48.865 --> 00:21:51.865 You say that's what we're supposed to do. 00:21:51.865 --> 00:21:52.865 That can't be it. 00:21:52.865 --> 00:21:54.932 We can't just throw you into the sea. 00:21:54.932 --> 00:21:56.833 We're going to try to get back to dry land. 00:21:56.833 --> 00:21:57.465 They rowed hard. 00:21:57.465 --> 00:22:00.465 They couldn't do it. 00:22:00.766 --> 00:22:03.665 And when it comes time, when they realize this is our only way out. 00:22:03.665 --> 00:22:05.700 They seek God's face. They pray. 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:07.232 They ask for forgiveness. 00:22:07.232 --> 00:22:09.432 They do all they can to get out of doing it. 00:22:12.833 --> 00:22:16.833 And then when they throw him in, look back again at how they react. 00:22:16.833 --> 00:22:19.833 They've thrown Jonah in, the sea calms. 00:22:21.066 --> 00:22:21.833 Verse 16. 00:22:21.833 --> 00:22:23.865 Then they feared the Lord exceedingly. 00:22:23.865 --> 00:22:27.400 Their fear for the Lord increased when the sea calmed down. 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:28.799 They feared him. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:31.799 They offered sacrifice and made vows. 00:22:33.266 --> 00:22:35.865 These are the very things Jonah should have been doing from the beginning. 00:22:35.865 --> 00:22:37.732 They feared. 00:22:37.732 --> 00:22:40.032 They sacrificed. 00:22:40.032 --> 00:22:41.900 They worshiped. 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:43.932 Feared, sacrificed, worshiped. 00:22:43.932 --> 00:22:48.633 Jonah should have been modeling worship from the very beginning. 00:22:49.465 --> 00:22:54.333 Sacrifice is what satisfies sins in this part of the story. 00:22:55.032 --> 00:22:57.165 And it's interesting. 00:22:57.165 --> 00:23:05.000 I say that this points forward to the gospel because obviously Jonah was a sacrifice, but he was running from God. 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:12.732 He was an unwilling sacrifice at one level, he wasn't looking to fulfill God's grand plan for human humanity or something. 00:23:14.232 --> 00:23:28.099 But we know this points forward to a day when the true Jonah came and the true Jonah died on behalf of all people, and the true Jonah died not just to rescue a few sailors, but all of humanity from their sins. 00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:31.099 And he did it willingly and perfectly. 00:23:32.266 --> 00:23:37.032 You see how Jonah is pointing forward to the greater reality. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:41.000 Sacrifice for sins. 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:48.465 And then lastly, the fourth way that Jonah chapter one points forward to the gospel is verse 17. 00:23:50.333 --> 00:23:53.865 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. 00:23:53.865 --> 00:23:56.400 And Jonah was in the belly of the fish. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:04.032 Three days and three nights Jonah is sacrificed for the sins of the sailors. 00:24:04.032 --> 00:24:14.066 But and Jonah, probably as he's sinking down, hears that imagery again down into the ship, down to Joppa, down into the ship, down into the sea. 00:24:14.066 --> 00:24:17.965 He's thinking, finally, I don't have to go to Nineveh. 00:24:17.965 --> 00:24:19.365 It's all over. 00:24:19.365 --> 00:24:20.232 This is the end. 00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:25.599 And God sends a large fish. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:28.633 We often say a whale to rescue him. 00:24:30.066 --> 00:24:32.266 This is the fourth element of the gospel we see here. 00:24:32.266 --> 00:24:35.500 The rescue rescues him from himself. 00:24:37.465 --> 00:24:40.365 I've got to tell you how many times I've needed that. 00:24:40.365 --> 00:24:46.865 And God shows up and rescues even when he didn't want it. 00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.633 And some have. 00:24:48.633 --> 00:24:57.500 Look, this story has been the premier example for liberal scholars of how absurd the Bible is. 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.200 And unreliable. 00:24:58.200 --> 00:25:01.365 You mean to tell me that some giant fish, which you think is a whale? 00:25:01.365 --> 00:25:02.965 And we know a whale is different from a fish? 00:25:02.965 --> 00:25:05.000 That already shows how backwards you are. 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:08.965 But you understand that a whale, and for many people's minds is a large fish. 00:25:08.965 --> 00:25:10.865 Whatever it is, we don't know exactly. 00:25:10.865 --> 00:25:15.732 But they say, how could someone you really think someone could be swallowed inside a fish live that way? Three days. 00:25:18.833 --> 00:25:21.599 Of what I say to the same person is so you mean to tell me though. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:29.532 But you're totally fine with the entire world being created just randomly by chance, over time, unguided by any other principle? 00:25:29.532 --> 00:25:35.865 That seems like a lot bigger miracle to me than some one person living inside a fish for three days. 00:25:35.865 --> 00:25:42.465 Like, you can believe all that, but you can't believe that this could possibly happen. 00:25:43.032 --> 00:25:48.932 If you're a Christian and you believe the first words of the Bible, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 00:25:48.932 --> 00:25:50.232 You believe those words. 00:25:50.232 --> 00:25:53.200 This is nothing. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:54.700 God can do this. 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:58.633 And we're going to see what this is really pointing forward to. 00:25:59.566 --> 00:26:02.566 God rescues Jonah. 00:26:02.833 --> 00:26:04.766 Now, what are the six application points? 00:26:04.766 --> 00:26:06.599 I've got six of them for us to talk about. 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:10.833 Six quick application points that I think we can draw from this. 00:26:12.032 --> 00:26:15.032 Here's the first. 00:26:15.566 --> 00:26:19.032 And it's especially important, it sounds like. 00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:26.900 Alarming dare I say? Know the ways you are tempted to run from the presence of God. 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:31.633 Be aware of the ways that you personally are tempted to run from the presence of God. 00:26:31.633 --> 00:26:37.665 Know the thing that if he asks you to do it, you say, I'm out. 00:26:37.665 --> 00:26:39.333 God, do not ask me to do that. 00:26:39.333 --> 00:26:42.032 I could never do that. 00:26:42.032 --> 00:26:45.032 Be aware of that tendency within your heart. 00:26:45.032 --> 00:26:47.532 We all have it, okay? 00:26:47.532 --> 00:26:53.365 Some of us feel ashamed because I have this thing that if God asks me to do that, I don't know. 00:26:53.365 --> 00:26:55.700 I'm not sure I could. 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:58.532 All of us could list something. 00:26:58.532 --> 00:27:03.732 The first step is to be aware of it, keep bringing it to him, bring it to him in faith. 00:27:03.732 --> 00:27:04.900 God, this is how I feel. 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:06.333 I'm acknowledging the reality of it. 00:27:06.333 --> 00:27:07.333 I don't ever want to do that. 00:27:07.333 --> 00:27:08.465 I can't imagining doing that. 00:27:08.465 --> 00:27:10.633 I can't imagine serving a God who would ask me to do that. 00:27:10.633 --> 00:27:18.266 And I'm asking you to give me the strength that if you do that I could. 00:27:18.266 --> 00:27:22.333 That I could walk by faith, that I could walk by your strength through it. 00:27:22.333 --> 00:27:23.932 Know what that is. 00:27:23.932 --> 00:27:27.165 Be honest about that and don't run from it. 00:27:27.165 --> 00:27:35.400 Second, listen when God speaks, listen when God speaks. 00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:37.633 Have ears that are open to hear. 00:27:37.633 --> 00:27:39.665 Jonah's supposed to be a prophet. 00:27:39.665 --> 00:27:45.133 You know, one commentator I read said, I think this is actually a manual of how not to be a prophet. 00:27:45.133 --> 00:27:53.500 These are all the ways to be the exactly opposite of a prophet, because when God speaks, Jonah runs. 00:27:54.566 --> 00:27:57.566 He doesn't want to hear it. 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:59.532 Listen for God's Word. 00:27:59.532 --> 00:28:01.032 Have ears that are open. 00:28:01.032 --> 00:28:04.766 Be praying and asking him to speak to you. 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:09.500 And what's the most powerful way to hear from him by far is to be in his word. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:18.232 In fact, the thing I want to ask everyone here today is to pray about and consider not missing a day in His Word this year. 00:28:18.266 --> 00:28:21.865 There's all kinds of great resolutions you can make going into a new year. 00:28:21.865 --> 00:28:32.200 There's no greater one than to say today I am not going to miss a day studying, reading, being in God's Word faithfully in 2026. 00:28:34.965 --> 00:28:39.799 Imagine what your life would be like if you could make that commitment in this year. 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:42.400 I promise you, if you do that, you'll hear from God. 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:43.965 He speaks to us through His word. 00:28:43.965 --> 00:28:45.965 He will. He'll speak to you. 00:28:45.965 --> 00:28:52.032 And if you're not hearing from him and you're not in his word, there may be a correlation. 00:28:52.032 --> 00:28:55.633 Commit to being in his word this year. We've got a Bible reading plan. 00:28:55.633 --> 00:28:56.732 It's not very long. 00:28:56.732 --> 00:29:00.133 It's like a chapter a day, maybe a chapter and a half, sometimes half a chapter. 00:29:00.133 --> 00:29:03.099 It's not much. It's super easy. 00:29:05.633 --> 00:29:08.432 Commit to being in his word every day this year. 00:29:08.432 --> 00:29:10.465 Find someone to keep you accountable. 00:29:10.465 --> 00:29:13.266 Text one another when you do it, encourage one another. 00:29:13.266 --> 00:29:18.700 It's not a legalistic thing, but I'm telling you, if you get in his word, you'll hear from him. 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:25.432 Number three look for God's mercy in the midst of tragedy. 00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:30.833 Look for God's mercy in the midst of the storm. 00:29:31.532 --> 00:29:33.965 Many times I've got a friend like this right now. 00:29:33.965 --> 00:29:40.066 Every time something bad happens in his life, it almost doesn't matter how trivial a flat tire. 00:29:40.066 --> 00:29:42.465 See another sign that God hates me. 00:29:42.465 --> 00:29:43.766 He's against me. 00:29:43.766 --> 00:29:44.732 Everything. 00:29:44.732 --> 00:29:47.232 All he wants is for my life to be miserable. 00:29:47.232 --> 00:29:51.665 Everything that happens goes through that filter. 00:29:51.665 --> 00:29:55.833 But what if our filter instead - This was God's mercy. 00:29:57.732 --> 00:30:02.200 What was God protecting me from by sending that flat tire? 00:30:02.932 --> 00:30:09.732 And again, by the way, not every storm is God trying to get your attention because you're sinning, right? 00:30:09.732 --> 00:30:13.532 Some of it's the result of living in a fallen world. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:22.532 But some of those tragedies that you've taken as him being against you may of him may have been his mercy in your life. 00:30:23.432 --> 00:30:25.232 You may need to go back. 00:30:25.232 --> 00:30:39.633 In fact, if there is an issue in your life that you look back to and you're still mad at God about it, you may need to go back and look at it through that lens. Again, it may not be that he was trying to get your attention because of your sin. 00:30:41.232 --> 00:30:43.965 But why continue to carry around that anger and bitterness? 00:30:43.965 --> 00:30:48.500 Go back, look at it and see how was God's mercy at work in the midst of this? 00:30:50.066 --> 00:30:53.066 And then number four. 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:57.432 Remember, he is always present. 00:30:57.732 --> 00:30:59.200 He's always there with you. 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.799 He's always nearby. 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:03.365 He says in Hebrews, I'll never leave you or forsake you. 00:31:03.365 --> 00:31:10.066 He says in Psalms 139, how far can anyone run from the presence of God? 00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:14.099 The answer being, you can't. 00:31:14.633 --> 00:31:20.400 Trying to run from the presence of God is like a kid who closes their eyes so that you can't see them. 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:21.432 And you've seen that, right? 00:31:21.432 --> 00:31:25.266 They're hiding from you by closing their eyes. 00:31:25.432 --> 00:31:26.932 You can't run from the presence of God. 00:31:26.932 --> 00:31:28.932 Adam and Eve tried that. 00:31:28.932 --> 00:31:30.032 They were hiding in the garden. 00:31:30.032 --> 00:31:31.532 He's like, you're hiding in my house. 00:31:31.532 --> 00:31:34.032 My garden, I made this, I know exactly where you are. 00:31:34.032 --> 00:31:36.133 Open your eyes. I'm right. I can see you. 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:38.232 But. 00:31:38.232 --> 00:31:41.232 But we still do it. 00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:44.799 He is there with you. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:48.432 Look for him instead of running. 00:31:48.432 --> 00:31:50.965 Acknowledge your error. 00:31:50.965 --> 00:31:52.432 God, I know you're here. 00:31:52.432 --> 00:31:55.432 Show up in my life. 00:31:56.232 --> 00:31:58.700 Thank you for being here. 00:31:58.700 --> 00:32:01.700 Thank you for being in my life. 00:32:01.965 --> 00:32:04.965 Look for his presence in your life. 00:32:05.833 --> 00:32:17.400 I think the powerful one of the powerful parts of the story in Jonah chapter one in particular, you know, if you've read the New Testament, you may have seen similar stories to this. 00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:20.700 Remember Jesus in the boat with the disciples? 00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:23.032 It's in Luke chapter eight. 00:32:23.032 --> 00:32:28.799 Jesus is in the boat with the disciples, and he takes them out onto the lake. 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:33.432 And he, like Jonah, falls asleep in the boat. 00:32:33.432 --> 00:32:36.432 And they, like the sailors, are afraid. 00:32:36.833 --> 00:32:39.400 And they are wondering, why aren't you helping us? 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:40.400 And they're mad at him. 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:46.965 And Jonah, God stills the storm through Jonah. 00:32:47.133 --> 00:32:52.299 But in the story with Jesus, Jesus wakes up and he calms the storm with a word. 00:32:53.633 --> 00:32:59.066 And just like with the sailors, the disciples are more afraid of Jesus than before. 00:32:59.066 --> 00:33:00.432 Who is this? 00:33:00.432 --> 00:33:03.266 That he has power even over the wind and the waves? 00:33:03.266 --> 00:33:03.932 Who is this? 00:33:03.932 --> 00:33:06.932 Who can do that? 00:33:08.432 --> 00:33:09.633 And here's the crazy part of that story. 00:33:09.633 --> 00:33:14.700 This is the thing that's always both baffled and comforted me about that reality. 00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:18.032 Jesus is the one who took them into the storm. 00:33:18.032 --> 00:33:24.400 He knew they were going into a storm and he will take you into storms. 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:34.400 I can guarantee it if you're a Christian, if you think life is going to be easy, and in many ways it might be harder, it might be more challenging, but he will be with you. 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.700 He took them into the storm. 00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:38.732 He was there with him the whole way. 00:33:38.732 --> 00:33:39.500 He knew. 00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:42.000 He knew that they needed to know more about who he is. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:44.200 And all of us need that as well. 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:45.232 He is with you. 00:33:45.232 --> 00:33:46.633 Remember, he is always present. 00:33:46.633 --> 00:33:49.700 Number five get on board with his mission. 00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:52.566 God still has a mission for you, even if you've run from him. 00:33:52.566 --> 00:33:58.766 Even if you've spent three days in the belly of the fish and you've said, I don't want any part of it, your mission might change. 00:33:58.766 --> 00:34:01.333 We're going to see God brings Jonah back to Nineveh. 00:34:01.333 --> 00:34:03.133 He still has a plan for you. 00:34:03.133 --> 00:34:04.833 Get on board with his mission. 00:34:04.833 --> 00:34:05.799 Be seeking it out. 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:09.865 Be asking him, God, what mission do you have for me this year? 00:34:09.865 --> 00:34:11.733 What do you want to do through me? 00:34:11.733 --> 00:34:13.132 How do you want to work through my life? 00:34:13.132 --> 00:34:14.733 I don't want to reject that any longer. 00:34:17.166 --> 00:34:24.500 And then, number six, let God be God. 00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:26.233 Let God be God. 00:34:26.233 --> 00:34:31.532 And of course, that's ridiculous to say, because God is God, whether I let him be or not. 00:34:31.532 --> 00:34:37.266 But in my mind, I might have shaped my own image of who God should be. 00:34:37.632 --> 00:34:38.400 Jonah did that. 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:41.400 I can't serve a God who would show mercy to Nineveh. 00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:43.400 There's no way I could be a part of that. 00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:44.099 How would you? 00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:45.132 You know who they are. 00:34:45.132 --> 00:34:46.400 You know where there are sworn enemies. 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:48.733 You know what they've done to my loved ones. 00:34:48.733 --> 00:34:50.365 And you would show mercy to them. 00:34:50.365 --> 00:34:53.365 I can't believe in a God like that. 00:34:54.965 --> 00:34:56.266 All of us have done that. 00:34:56.266 --> 00:35:01.833 All of us have said, if your God would do this, I can't believe in that. 00:35:01.833 --> 00:35:04.032 I can't believe in that kind of God. 00:35:04.032 --> 00:35:05.865 Let God be God. 00:35:07.465 --> 00:35:10.465 He knows better who he is than we do. 00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:13.833 Stop trying to make him into your own image. 00:35:13.833 --> 00:35:17.333 Instead, let our lives conform into his image. 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:21.266 All of us have this thing. 00:35:21.266 --> 00:35:23.800 All of us have something. 00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:25.632 And maybe it's in the past, maybe it's present. 00:35:25.632 --> 00:35:29.733 Maybe it's in the future that you're running from God about. 00:35:29.733 --> 00:35:31.900 Maybe you're not actively running right now. 00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:33.800 In fact, maybe you're running towards him. 00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:36.800 And I hope that's the case. 00:35:38.432 --> 00:35:43.532 I read a story this week of a man he grew up in, in a Catholic home, in a Christian home. 00:35:43.532 --> 00:35:45.833 Heard about God. 00:35:45.833 --> 00:35:55.132 But then as he got older and graduated, went off to college, he realized, I can't follow Christianity because of my same sex attraction. 00:35:55.132 --> 00:35:59.365 I feel like God has put this on me and I need to live this out. 00:35:59.365 --> 00:36:03.599 And I can't follow Christianity as a result because these obviously seem opposed. 00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:07.465 Now don't, as I tell this story, by the way, don't get derailed on that sin. 00:36:08.699 --> 00:36:10.333 That was his issue. 00:36:10.333 --> 00:36:14.065 That was his thing that said that was his Nineveh. 00:36:14.065 --> 00:36:15.632 I can't follow a God like that. 00:36:15.632 --> 00:36:17.865 I can't follow a God that would be against this. 00:36:17.865 --> 00:36:20.865 Okay, you have one too. 00:36:21.565 --> 00:36:24.099 Don't let that derail you. 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:30.965 I'm not just picking on him, but he said I could not follow a god like that. 00:36:30.965 --> 00:36:34.800 And I had to go all in in my sin, lived a lifestyle to the fullest. 00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:44.500 He moved to LA, got involved in the movie industry and went all in in his same sex relationships, in his pagan lifestyle. 00:36:44.766 --> 00:36:47.766 And he ran from God, ran. 00:36:49.400 --> 00:36:57.333 One day sitting in a coffee shop with a friend, and they see a guy come in carrying a Bible and he said, I have not seen that in years. 00:36:57.333 --> 00:37:07.465 Someone carrying a Bible who has the audacity to walk into a coffee shop in Hollywood carrying a Bible, and then he sees a whole nother group of guys come in and they sit down together. 00:37:07.465 --> 00:37:09.032 They even pray in public together. 00:37:10.800 --> 00:37:13.666 And he goes up to the guy after and he goes, what are you doing? 00:37:13.666 --> 00:37:15.400 What is this about? Who are you? 00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:17.099 What do you believe? 00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:20.500 He says, I couldn't believe I was asking him this as I came. 00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:22.632 It was like the sailors asking Jonah, who are your people? 00:37:22.632 --> 00:37:23.465 Where are you from? 00:37:23.465 --> 00:37:24.900 What is your occupation? 00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:26.532 Who are you? 00:37:26.532 --> 00:37:28.532 And the guy began to talk to him about his faith. 00:37:28.532 --> 00:37:30.733 And this was a Bible study in that he's a part of a church. 00:37:30.733 --> 00:37:31.733 And he invited him to church. 00:37:31.733 --> 00:37:34.333 He said, before I even knew what I was doing, I said, yes, I'll be there. 00:37:34.333 --> 00:37:36.432 What am I doing? 00:37:36.432 --> 00:37:40.266 The whole next, the whole rest of the week he's wondering, how can I get out of this? 00:37:40.266 --> 00:37:48.233 All you gotta do is say, no, but I gotta, how can I? And he goes, and he's in church. 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:50.465 By the way, don't ever give up on anyone. 00:37:50.465 --> 00:37:52.400 You never know what God's doing in their life. 00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:54.699 He seemed as distant from God as you can possibly be. 00:37:54.699 --> 00:37:57.333 Don't ever give up. 00:37:57.333 --> 00:38:03.132 He's in church and he just felt the Holy Spirit fall down on him. 00:38:03.733 --> 00:38:08.900 And broke in repentance and wept the entire service. 00:38:08.900 --> 00:38:12.733 From the moment the pastor started to pray, he wept. 00:38:14.166 --> 00:38:16.733 And here's what he said. 00:38:16.733 --> 00:38:17.632 I'm going to read you his quote. 00:38:17.632 --> 00:38:19.599 I clipped it out of the book. 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:28.800 God revealed his holiness to me, and I saw the utter depth of my sin in light of his holiness, in light of who he is. 00:38:29.233 --> 00:38:35.199 After my stunning encounter with God, I knew I could no longer pursue this immoral relationship. 00:38:37.766 --> 00:38:42.000 More surprisingly, I was perfectly fine with this. 00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:47.365 The complete reversal of my opinions and pursuits in this area worked like this. 00:38:47.365 --> 00:38:50.833 I had just met the King of the universe. 00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:56.432 How could I hold on to anything that didn't bring me closer to him? 00:38:59.032 --> 00:39:06.865 When you let God be God and you let his holiness overwhelm you, everything else falls away. 00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:10.532 There is nothing that you want to be kept between you and him. 00:39:10.532 --> 00:39:14.865 And as much of an obstacle as it seems now. 00:39:15.132 --> 00:39:18.132 Let God be God. 00:39:19.032 --> 00:39:22.032 Let's pray. 00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:33.166 God, I thank you for the picture of the gospel we have in Jonah, that even when we run from you, you pursue us. 00:39:33.166 --> 00:39:36.166 You offer a sacrifice on our behalf. 00:39:36.333 --> 00:39:39.032 You rescue us. 00:39:39.032 --> 00:39:43.199 Every one of us has run from you at times. Some are right now. 00:39:45.099 --> 00:39:55.565 Would you give us the courage to stop running, to sense how great you are and to follow you? 00:39:57.065 --> 00:40:03.300 Thank you for coming to this earth in the flesh and dying on our behalf. 00:40:04.800 --> 00:40:16.500 I pray that every one of us today and in this week would hear from you, and unlike Jonah, that we would obey when you say rise and go, we say, yes, Lord. 00:40:18.300 --> 00:40:21.300 Thank you Jesus, we love you. 00:40:21.365 --> 00:40:21.699 Amen.