00;00;02;17 - 00;00;25;17
Brenton
This is further a weekly show for the people of Harmony Bible Church, where we seek to revisit and expand on Sunday sermons with the goal of growing deeper in biblical truth that transforms our lives. Welcome back to further Britten Grimm. And today we have Andrew Weiss with us to discuss his sermon from Jonah four. How's it going?

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Andrew
Andrew Good. Brenton Thanks for having me back and absolutely.

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Brenton
Also back with us after a long time, some might say too long. That to me is Chris Carr. Welcome back.

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Chris
Well, thank you. It's good to be missed and looking forward to being back on here today. Also looking forward to getting back to preaching here very soon.

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Brenton
Yeah, great. Yeah. You took you took some time off and did some kind of long term planning for a while. So how was how was your how was your time?

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Chris
Well, it didn't end up being exactly as I had planned, given what happened with my mom and how that all came out. But God was really good in the midst of all that. And then I've had some really good time away. In fact, I still have a few more days this week where you spending time praying and thinking about where God would have us as a church to pursue in the days ahead.

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Chris
And lots of opportunities and lots of needs in our community and our world. And God's given us a lot of resources and he's opening a lot of doors for us. So really excited about that. And so I've been working on that individually, but also talking quite a bit with our elders and some of our staff members. And so I'm I'm looking forward to kind of unfolding that more and more for the church in the days ahead as we seek what God has for us.

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Brenton
Yeah. Awesome. Well, we're happy to have you back. All right. So I want to start with actually the end of the book here. The last line has always been a little puzzling for me. God is talking to Jonah and he says, and should I not pity Nineveh, that great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left and also much cattle.

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Brenton
And I've always looked at that as a little confused that that's that's the way that that, that the book ends. But in fact, it's not the first time that animals are talked about in this book. Back in chapter three, part of the Nineveh, it's repentance actually included references to beasts as well. They actually put sackcloth on cows. So why do you guys think that animals are referenced so much in this book?

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Andrew
Yeah, I it is kind of an odd little like tag on like it seems like God's being intentional and including that. And I think it probably is in part a callback to chapter three and then invites inclusion of of their beasts and in their acts of repentance. But I think ultimately it helps to make his point to Jonah that Jonah cares about this plant and God cares about so much more.

00;03;26;14 - 00;03;46;19
Andrew
He's he cares about all this creation. He cares about certainly the souls of these hundred 20,000 persons, and he even cares about their cattle, the cattle that are important to them, and they're important to him and and and all of them are important to God.

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Brenton
Okay.

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Chris
Yeah. I think partly it's because of the culture in which, you know, Jonas is living and ministering in and God is speaking into. So cattle were much more a day to day part of Jonah's life and times than they are for us, even though it's certainly still very important to us. And but it is fascinating. You know, the book ends with the word cattle, which is not exactly what you would expect at all.

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Chris
But I do think probably that God is trying to drive home to Jonah like, you know, he look at how important people are. I mean, you should care about cattle, but you should care about people even way, way more than that. And just like he's so worried about this plant and his comfort and all that kind of stuff, and yet the the these people who are perishing and he, he it's worse than he doesn't care about them.

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Chris
He literally wants them to be destroyed.

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Brenton
Yeah, right, right. Okay, fair enough. Andrew, on Sunday, you said Jonah thinks he deserves God's grace, but the Nineveh don't. And I think that can be a fairly common kind of subconscious thought for Christians. Why do you think that is? Why do you think that we get so accustomed to to the grace of God, that that we fool ourselves into thinking that we deserve it?

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Andrew
Yeah, And I think that's a complicated question and answer. I think some of it is we forget, we forget who we were before Christ. And we we do just kind of get into the flow of things. We understand the seriousness of sin, and we don't just apply that to ourselves. We start applying that to other people. And I think in some ways we apply it unfairly to the lost and it becomes an us versus them.

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Andrew
Because I again, I just think our natural human tendency is to think of ourselves and and if we're not, if we're not reminding ourselves of the gospel, then then we're going to start to think, Oh, I did that. I've I've made that happen or I've, I've, I've achieved something here. I was smart enough to figure it out. And and the more we go along that line of thinking and the less we remind ourselves that that Christ did this in our lives, then the easier it is to forget where we were and where others are.

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Andrew
And that spiritual disconnect that the lost have and that that needs to be made made for them. And I think some of it too, is I grew up in the church. I, I didn't have a time before Christ necessarily where I had the opportunity to be a murderer and a drug dealer and things like that. I came to came to Christ at a very young age.

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Andrew
And so I think for me, growing up in the church, I'm particularly susceptible to having this idea that I deserve it or I was born into it rather than maybe appreciating the full nature of the gospel. And I think in some ways that that can become a hindrance when I when I don't again, when I don't remind myself of the gospel and it doesn't take me long if I'm really thinking about it, to think about the change that my parents went through and how that transformed my family and my life and even just thinking about the sinful thoughts and actions I have done, and if I didn't have God in my life early, training me

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Andrew
for righteousness, what life would look like for me beyond that. And that's pretty sobering to think about. If if I didn't have the spirit of God in me helping temper and control and even other believers in my life spurring me on, I'd be a pretty wretched person.

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Brenton
Yeah, for sure. Well, yeah. And I think you're the fact that you're talking about to remember the gospel. And I think the one part that we like to ignore there is our our sin in that, like our current sin is an uncomfortable thing to think about. And even I think can be ignored because we see it as so, so little sometimes so, so insignificant.

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Brenton
The sin that we do it when we compare it to to other people. And so putting our our sin where it belongs, which is it's a it's a great offense to God, I think is is important in that conversation.

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Andrew
Now I think you're right. I think you know, that comparison thing can be right That's not a good place to be is always comparing ourselves others in one hand at least covetousness like, oh, they have this and I don't and I want it. And then the other the other side of it is self-righteousness. They don't have that and I do look at me.

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Andrew
Yeah. And it's neither neither end of that is good.

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Brenton
Yeah absolutely. You posed an interesting question on Sunday. You talked about testimony and testimonies of murderers or drug dealers and and how we love to see the way God redeems those people. And your your question, though, was what if people we know and love were affected negatively by that person? What if there was sexual abuse toward someone you love or someone was was negatively affected?

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Brenton
That's close to us. What would we be okay with Christ blood atoning for their sin? Or would we feel like justice still needs to be served? And this really is the story of Jonah. The Knights were were terrible to his people. So I appreciate you kind of putting us in his shoes with this question. But but my question is, how do we get to the point where we desire to see people that may have hurt us, redeemed what what is it in us that wants to withhold grace from from some people?

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Andrew
Yeah. I mean, that the hurt is real, the pain is real. And we we we got to own that and realize that and work through that. The hurt and the pain and the suffering that we've experienced at their hands. But ultimately, we have to realize that that is what our sin even even beyond that, more than that and to an infinite measure is degrees the heart of God.

00;11;06;00 - 00;11;39;06
Andrew
And we've offended God far, far more with our sin than anyone has ever hurt or damaged us. And I think I think that's the key, is really understanding the seriousness of our sin and the depravity of our hearts and recognizing that God sees that sin in us and has every right to hate us and and wipe us out, just like Jonah wanted God to do the invites.

00;11;39;08 - 00;12;08;22
Andrew
And yet he didn't. And he had mercy on us. And so I think when we embrace that and we understand that and we receive that, it can begin to help us heal and to see people through God's eyes and to see those who've offended us and hurt us the way God sees them as as objects of mercy. And it's not easy, but but I think that's the way through through that.

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Andrew
And it reminds me of the story of the unmerciful servant where this guy is forgiven this enormous debt, and then he turns around and has no mercy on someone who owns who owes him a small debt. And that's just the picture of of what God's done for us and then how we we need to turn around and and do that in the lives of others.

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Andrew
Yeah.

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Chris
Well, I want to talk about justice for a second because I think it is right for us when wrong is done to us to want justice. I don't think that that's a wrong impulse in us especially. You mentioned, you know, someone who we love has been sexually abused. It's right to want justice. You know, that's not in fact, it would be wrong not to want justice in that that point.

00;13;06;28 - 00;13;54;26
Chris
And the thing that struck me maybe the most from from this part of the sermon Andrew was talking about is back in 911 and it was right for us to want justice for the lives that were lost and the atrocities that were carried out. And for those who were involved in that to be punished, the danger in it and this is where we get to trying to find the balance, is that we don't actually end up with hatred for an entire group of people that those, you know, perpetrators were affiliate or were a part of it and were not out for blood.

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Chris
We want you know, we wanted there to be punishment, but appropriately and not vengeance. So there's a there's a difference between justice and vengeance. Yeah. And it's a fine line and scary. And then to segue into like how how do we your original question is how do you desire to see people that have hurt us redeemed? I think we have to remember that on on the cross, Jesus experienced judgment for sin.

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Chris
He paid for sin, and that that includes certainly our sin. And then anyone who would place their faith in Jesus. And so our desire should be for people to experience the redemption that that we have experienced ourselves. And then we also have to keep in mind that one day, you know, Romans is going to say, Vengeance is mine, I will repay you.

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Chris
So. So we're not to take vengeance and God's vengeance ventures mine. So here's the reality is that all wrongs either will have been made right at the cross or at final judgment. And God's going to He's going to take care of it. And so we need to trust in that. And as we trust in that, that allows us to work for justice and to want to see justice play out in this this earth.

00;15;22;03 - 00;15;45;19
Chris
But to do so without feeling like we've got to be the ones to attempt to bring that about. Now, it doesn't mean that there isn't place for for, you know, for government to be involved. The government has a job and a role and responsibility to punish offenders. We see that in Romans two and we should work along with that and all that, but taking it into our own hands.

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Chris
And then also and we saw this, I think this is what you were getting at after 911, is like those in the Arab world are now our enemies. And that that that's actually, you know, from a personal standpoint, that's not actually true. And our our desire there should be for their salvation and for them to experience the grace that are the mercy, grace and mercy that we've experience.

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Chris
And that's the whole issue. And maybe I can get ahead. But there's a whole issue with with Jonah, right? Is Jonah, he wants vengeance.

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Brenton
Yeah. Well, and that's that's a I think a really important point that you brought up that either either the justice was done on the cross or it'll be done in the future that nobody is going to escape the escape the penalty for their sin either. Christ bore it on the on the cross or, or they will pay for it in the future.

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Brenton
And so I think that is a comfort to us as we look for justice for things that are happening in the world, but also just think through like the the balance between like wanting justice is good, but also like wanting redemption is better. Like wanting, wanting that to be covered by the blood of of Christ is is better than us wanting to see someone pay for it.

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Andrew
Yeah.

00;17;13;25 - 00;17;21;16
Brenton
But not that that's a bad desire right there because that is in a lot of ways the character of God. God is just.

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Chris
Yeah. So let me give another example here. You may remember the the Larry Nassar situation, the doctor who was involved in that sexual abuse scandal with gymnastics and I'm trying to remember who the the lady that one of the gymnasts who's an attorney now, Rachel Rachel Denhollander and so at his trial, she, you know, called for she calls for made a bold, you know, call for justice.

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Chris
And yet in in her testimony there, she was also pleading really for Larry to to repent and so it's a really I have a lot of respect for that lady should believer strong believer. And she so she just really threaded that needle that's that we really struggle to it's like, okay, so he needs he needs to be punished.

00;18;21;11 - 00;18;43;07
Chris
Yeah. And if I remember, she's the first one that brought that brought it to light and she was one of the ones who was abused by him. And so she brings it to light, calls for it, and then calls for justice. But then she's, she's also calling for repentance, which has to be extremely hard for for her to do.

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Chris
Yeah, it's a great example.

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Brenton
Absolutely.

00;18;47;27 - 00;19;24;05
Andrew
If I can go back to, you know, the we're talking about maybe finish finish my story. I didn't I didn't on Sunday in my sermon just with the Arab world. And I've had the opportunity now to go to the Middle East a couple of times and and interact with with Muslims and even, you know, people fleeing Syria, Syrian refugees, Muslim women and children and to interact with them and realize that they're people just like us.

00;19;24;07 - 00;19;49;15
Andrew
They have homes, they have jobs, they have lives, they have family. And, you know, in that in their situation, they're fleeing war and they're terrified and they're their sons and husbands are being conscripted to fight. And and they're just they're just normal, everyday people, you know, And and it just it just gives you a different perspective and a different compassion for them.

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Andrew
And, you know, that that can extend. And in many ways, culturally, it's a lot of things, whether it's refugees crossing our border legally or illegally, they're they're just people and some of them know truth and know the right hand from their left and others don't. And it's it's up to us to love on them regardless.

00;20;15;14 - 00;20;19;13
Brenton
Yeah. Yeah. I thought you were going to plug short term mission trips there.

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Andrew
Yeah, well, actually that's that's one thing that you bring that up. That's one thing I'm excited about. A lot of our trips are an opportunity to, to really expose us to people from different backgrounds. And this, this trip that our team is going to go on to Dallas is is going to do just that. They're going to be working with refugees, many of them from from Afghanistan.

00;20;43;27 - 00;21;07;28
Andrew
And they're going to be able to sit at a table much like we are and just have conversations about life and about what's going on and hear their stories and and just see that, yeah, these are these are human beings made in God's image that just have a very, very different upbringing than we do and praise the Lord that God has spared their life so far and brought them here.

00;21;07;28 - 00;21;42;10
Andrew
And they're connected to a need organization that's helping them get assimilated here, but also being introduced to the gospel. And so I'm just I'm really excited for our trips that we've we've had going on. And and really our goal is to broaden our heart and our understanding of of God's people, not just in the sense that the saved, but those created in the image of God, every human being and the differences aren't bad.

00;21;42;13 - 00;21;50;05
Andrew
They're good. They should be celebrated, but they are obstacles. Sometimes to them coming to faith.

00;21;50;08 - 00;22;10;23
Brenton
Yeah, for sure. Geography is a is really something that has really separated us from countries like that, that are kind of war torn, that they're just going to be completely different than than where we're at. And, you know, yeah, I think that's a that's a really good way to get firsthand experience with those places. Yeah.

00;22;10;25 - 00;22;45;18
Chris
Yeah. Well, this will be a great place to wade into something here. But let's talk about the immigration situation just for a second. And we're going to get into the political a little bit here. Be the interesting what the response to this is. But I we again, when we're talking about justice and then we're talking about mercy, I think it is right and good for us to question immigration policy and this issue of illegal immigration.

00;22;45;18 - 00;23;40;11
Chris
We should be concerned about it. Simply the word illegal means absolutely we should be a concern about it. And it's not wrong or un-Christian to want our country to enforce the laws of the land. And our government has a responsibility to protect its citizens. But then at the same time, we need to recognize that that that doesn't mean that our attitude towards either legal or illegal immigrants is is justified for us to have a negative attitude and in a negative really position to them is that our desire and our heart should be for their care, for their good, for their benefit, and ultimately that they would come to know Christ is as our savior.

00;23;40;11 - 00;24;14;22
Chris
And our our concern, first of all, should be more for their physical and spiritual well-being than it should be necessarily for our comfort. And that may be a hard worker, but I think it's faithful description. Again, it's a balance. It's a it's the balance here. And sometimes we can go on one side or the other and and in both things are true is that we can desire for for for justice and for laws to be enforced and carried out.

00;24;14;24 - 00;24;42;23
Chris
And then at the same time care for people who most of the time are just caught up in the politics of either the country they're coming from or or our country. And and and yes, there are some bad actors for sure. And and yes, there are some dangers for sure. But most of the people who are coming to our country are for fleeing from terrible situations.

00;24;42;25 - 00;24;51;22
Chris
And a lot of them are children. And so and we let's not be Jonah in regards to them. So.

00;24;51;24 - 00;24;55;12
Brenton
Yeah, it's a good word. Yeah. For sure. Um.

00;24;55;15 - 00;24;58;22
Chris
I know you weren't planning to go there, but I'm back.

00;24;58;24 - 00;25;35;20
Brenton
I mean, yeah, exactly. In, in some ways, I mean, we're talking about sending people overseas, but immigration in these situations kind of brings the nations to us, like it gives us a unique, um, kind of ability to, to meet those people, to, to teach those people, to evangelize those people. And so to some extent, yeah, I totally agree that we, that we should have smart policy on immigration and we should use our heads in that and we should enforce laws.

00;25;35;20 - 00;25;45;05
Brenton
But at the same time, like if we have people kind of on our doorstep, let's let's take advantage of that opportunity we have, you know, and not blame them for it. Yeah.

00;25;45;05 - 00;26;15;11
Chris
And let's also consider, you know, what we might at least be tempted to do if we lived in a country like Venezuela. Mm hmm. Where the political I mean, our political climate is a mess, but it's nothing compared to Venezuela and where you you can't feed your family. You can't have a hard time finding housing. You're in danger day and night.

00;26;15;12 - 00;26;36;10
Chris
I mean, you you probably seriously think about how do I make it to the United States legally or illegally. I must say, I'm not saying it's right. Yeah, I'm just saying it. It's easy on this side of the border and from where we sit to say what, what, what other people would do or should do.

00;26;36;10 - 00;26;59;06
Brenton
Yeah, but it's. I mean, yeah, it's not right, but it's also a fact. It's, it's where we're at and how do we as Christians deal with it. Not that, you know, Danville, Iowa is getting a ton of immigrants, but like, I think that even just our rhetoric and how we talk about these policy things needs to be with the the goal of redemption in these people instead of just political.

00;26;59;08 - 00;27;00;05
Chris
Yeah but there.

00;27;00;05 - 00;27;01;25
Brenton
Are it's there are.

00;27;01;28 - 00;27;09;19
Chris
Illegal and legal immigrants here in south so I'm sure, you know, we're not the hotspot for sure.

00;27;09;21 - 00;27;10;18
Brenton
Not Martha's Vineyard.

00;27;10;21 - 00;27;47;01
Chris
No, but. But what when when, when we do come in contact and interact with these people, what what is our heart there? And that is a lot going to be shaped honestly by the kind of things where we're viewing and who are listening to and, you know, social media people, you know, who are following on social media and in and is that response a biblical response or not?

00;27;47;01 - 00;27;55;21
Chris
Is it a Jonah response or is it the response that God is trying to get from Jonah and from us, from the book of Jonah? Yeah.

00;27;55;23 - 00;28;28;23
Brenton
Yeah. Well, that that kind of brings us back to the heart. So along with that kind of whole conversation of justice and mercy and, you know, wanting redemption in those hard situations, what effect does harboring unforgiveness have on on us, on our hearts or on people around us? Like what? What are the negatives if we're just going to say, no, I'm I'm not not going to forgive that person.

00;28;28;27 - 00;28;30;16
Brenton
Right. Well, what does that do to us?

00;28;30;16 - 00;28;53;11
Andrew
So personally, what it does, you know, it just internally, what it does to us is it's going to destroy us if we if we harbor that bitterness and that unforgiveness and we're going to be miserable and we're going to end up in a place like Jonah, where God's going to have to use very creative means to get our attention and bring us back.

00;28;53;13 - 00;29;24;06
Andrew
But what it means for other people and you know us toward other people is if we're if we're always looking at other people's faults and holding things against other people and bitter toward other people, then we're not going to be sharing the gospel with them. We're not going to be showing them mercy. We're not going to be the fragrance of Christ in their lives and in even if we begrudgingly do it, it's going to take a miracle for them to hear the gospel.

00;29;24;09 - 00;29;42;07
Andrew
Yeah, if all they see is a bitter, angry, self-absorbed Christian communicating a beautiful message, it's just going to come to distorted and and come across wrong and it's not going to be received well.

00;29;42;09 - 00;29;58;23
Brenton
Yeah. Yeah. Speaking of the that it it kind of destroys ourselves. I mean, we see that firsthand with Jonah as as God asks him, do you do well to be angry? And this response is, yeah, angry enough to die. Like that's not a position we want to be.

00;29;58;23 - 00;30;26;05
Andrew
And he reminds it like it reminds me of he reminds me of a child, you know, like my my kids, especially like toddlers. I got a you know, I've had four kids go through that stage now and just how they respond when they don't get their way or when they're upset or and it's very, very much like, yeah, of course, I have every right to be angry about this thing you took away from me.

00;30;26;07 - 00;30;49;16
Andrew
The sucker that I can't have or like, like glass. Last night were we were celebrating my my niece going off to college and and my, my daughter, you know, snuck a second brownie and heard, you know, dessert bar, whatever. And it's like, oh, that's cute. Okay. You know, like no more. And then she grabbed a third one and took a bite and it's like, no, like, you can't have that.

00;30;49;16 - 00;31;03;19
Andrew
We took it away. And she, like, sat down on the floor and just put her head down and pouted. And, you know, it's just that's what that's what Jonah's doing and that's we do that, too, as adults. We just do it a different way.

00;31;03;21 - 00;31;32;08
Chris
Yeah, yeah. There's an old quote that goes unforgiveness is the poison you drink hoping someone else will die. And I mean, I mean, John is the perfect example there. He's he's hurting himself more. Is hurting anybody else. He's he, he's miserable that he he wants to die because he's refusing to have God's mercy on these people. And we can look at Jonah.

00;31;32;08 - 00;32;03;28
Chris
I think he kind of brought this out like, okay, well, you know, Jonah, what a terrible guy. But we can do the same thing. And I unforgiveness. Yeah, I've just seen it as a pastor. Just it causes so much so much hurt in so much pain and unnecessary, honestly hurt in pain to relationships and to to individuals. You know, I'm getting I'm going to get back to that person by refusing to forgive them.

00;32;03;28 - 00;32;06;27
Chris
And what you're really doing is you're hurting yourself all.

00;32;06;28 - 00;32;08;06
Brenton
You think about. Yeah.

00;32;08;08 - 00;32;11;15
Chris
Yeah.

00;32;11;17 - 00;32;45;09
Brenton
Again. And in chapter four, we see God appointing certain things to come about. This time, it's the plant that gives Jonah shade and then the scorching heat. The ruins is day. One of your points on Sunday was got a point. Circumstances in our lives to expose our hearts and you gave a few examples And then and then you asked are you seeing the appointment as a means to grow and change your heart, or are you pushing back in anger when hard situations come up?

00;32;45;09 - 00;33;01;25
Brenton
I think it's easy to to just get wrapped up in the circumstance and not take a step back and ask why. So how can we recognize when God is trying to teach us or expose our hearts?

00;33;01;28 - 00;33;25;15
Andrew
Can I can I give the maybe to spiritual answer and say God's always trying to teach us and expose our hearts? Yeah. And, you know, I kind of I kind of joke at saying that, but I really do think that there there are constantly things in our lives that God uses to wake us up and to remind us and to point us to him.

00;33;25;15 - 00;33;48;27
Andrew
And I loosely alluded to this in my sermon, but even this week there are several things like a cracked windshield, and we got heavy rains in Fort Madison. It sounds like it was just just on my house and maybe the airport where they may have the rain gauge. But just it washed out this area, my lawn that I had spent a lot of time trying to kind of repair and rehabilitate.

00;33;48;27 - 00;34;09;08
Andrew
It's like starting over, you know, it's like starting from scratch. Just one more thing. The worst. And there was one other thing. I forget what it is now. It's just like, okay. And and course I'm preparing for the Jonah sermon. It's like, I just wanted to give me an illustration, but but I do. I think, you know, he's he's working on me like this.

00;34;09;10 - 00;34;50;05
Andrew
This is like, what are you going to do about this? You're going to get upset and frustrated that things are breaking and it's costing you time and energy and money. Or are you just going to trust me that I'm I'm in control and my time my time is God's time, my resources are really God's resources. And so just personally in my life, I do I say when I pause and I think about it and I reflect, I'm constantly seeing little ways or little opportunities, at least for those ways, whether whether God is intentionally appointing them in my life or whether whether they're just happening.

00;34;50;05 - 00;35;17;04
Andrew
I can I can look at what's happening in my life and use those as opportunities to correct my thinking in line it back up with Scripture and reminding myself of truths. You know, I joked about the kids that that kid and every family. And I really do. I think God gives us kids to help us mature in our faith and to show us little mirrors that show us ourselves and our hearts.

00;35;17;04 - 00;35;42;05
Andrew
And so, you know, in terms of which ones are from God and which ones are, I don't think that's the right way to approach it. I think it's just what's happening in your life And are you using that to glorify God? And if you're maybe we need to pause, step back and evaluate what is true, what's not true, What am I believing that I shouldn't be believing?

00;35;42;05 - 00;35;52;16
Andrew
And how do I need to correct my thinking and start acting, behaving in a way that that honors God?

00;35;52;18 - 00;36;39;10
Brenton
Yeah. Yeah. I think we're generally pretty open to God being sovereign over big things that happen, but maybe not as comfortable or not as, you know, quick to think about God's sovereignty over little things as well. So like that story, you over your grass, like there's there's things to be learned over that. And so if we if we can think like even in the moment the things that frustrate us that okay like I'll be grown through this, I will I will gain something through this slow down and you know, almost be you kind of thankful for these for these things that or at least in spite of the things that happen that frustrate us.

00;36;39;16 - 00;36;58;05
Brenton
Yeah I guess how how do we train ourselves to to not only recognize it, but to make sure that we're like always thinking that this is an opportunity to grow?

00;36;58;08 - 00;37;41;06
Andrew
Yeah, I, I think just a great habit to be in. It's to incorporate it into some some other things we should be doing. You know, we should be in the word, we should be reading it. We should be applying it to our lives. We should be in prayer. And I think one of those those things that we can do is to spend some of that time we have with the Lord and maybe it's in the morning, maybe it's before bed, maybe it's during the day, maybe it's all three or even more than that, just spending time reflecting on what's happening, what we're thinking, how we're feeling, something I'm growing in.

00;37;41;14 - 00;38;11;05
Andrew
And I think just pausing and taking time to do it is is part of the training process. And the more we do that becomes a habit. And the more of a habit it becomes, the more natural. And I think the more will recognize those times where God is trying to get our attention. If we're just trying to go through our day and get through it, do it our way, and we never pause to reflect.

00;38;11;05 - 00;38;38;02
Andrew
We never pause to think, we never ask God, Hey, what are you trying to teach me? Then we're going to we're going to miss it. We're going to continually miss it. We're always going to miss it. But if we're asking God that question, Hey, God, what are you trying to show me? And we just build it into those other rhythms that should be a part of our life anyway, then I'm guessing God will honor that prayer and show us those areas we need to grow.

00;38;38;04 - 00;39;07;16
Chris
Yeah, Yeah. I think that's all really good. I just may highlight learning to pause and then to try to discern what you actually are feeling, and then you can take that feeling to the Lord and you know, what is this feeling mean and what is that showing me about what's going on is a simple thing. You get angry.

00;39;07;16 - 00;39;42;23
Chris
Well, I am. Why am I angry? And that's, you know, anger a lot of times is a maybe a secondary emotion is being called it kind of sometimes can mask what's going on really underneath. So really what it is, is you're you're afraid or you're ashamed or you feel guilty. And then, okay, I do. Why do I? And when you ask that and you take that to the Lord, then you can begin to discern maybe how you can how you can grow from this.

00;39;42;23 - 00;39;57;21
Chris
We're going to see in Romans you know, here in chapter eight, we get into it, it'll be a few weeks because we're going to be in Romans eight for quite a while. But, you know, all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who called Aquinas purpose now doesn't mean all things are good. Doesn't say that.

00;39;57;21 - 00;40;18;08
Chris
But God works them for our good, but he works them for our good is we we recognize you. Take the time to pause what's going on here and how how can how I'm feeling will lead me to to the Lord and what he asks for and what he's what he's doing.

00;40;18;08 - 00;40;48;20
Brenton
And yeah, it's a good, helpful conversation. And I think I think this whole series and Jonah has been helpful. It's been a good a little pause for Romans. And next week we are we have Christian in doing just a topical sermon, one off about corporate worship. And then the next week we are back into Romans. So excited for that.

00;40;48;22 - 00;40;52;15
Brenton
I appreciate you guys coming in to do this. Chris, it's good to have you back.

00;40;52;17 - 00;40;53;25
Chris
Good to be back, Andrew.

00;40;53;25 - 00;40;54;21
Brenton
Thanks for preaching.

00;40;54;22 - 00;41;15;22
Chris
Yeah, can I just say the guys have done a great job here in my absence from the pulpit, and the Jonah series in particular has been great. I'm looking forward to Christian and the message really important when talking about corporate worship. It's obviously something we do every week in understanding what we're we're doing and why we're doing it.

00;41;15;24 - 00;41;20;11
Chris
It's is really, really important. So everybody will be here on Sunday. Yep.

00;41;20;14 - 00;41;22;05
Brenton
All right. We will talk to you guys next week.