1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,840 has a role to play. Now, uh 2 00:00:03,940 –> 00:00:05,940 open your Bible if you would. 3 00:00:06,000 –> 00:00:08,080 It’s the book of Jonah and 4 00:00:08,140 –> 00:00:09,020 chapter one. We’re going to 5 00:00:09,080 –> 00:00:11,220 spend the next 8 weeks. God 6 00:00:11,280 –> 00:00:12,540 willing in this most 7 00:00:12,620 –> 00:00:14,620 fascinating book of the 8 00:00:14,620 –> 00:00:16,660 Bible. Now, most of us, I 9 00:00:16,719 –> 00:00:18,020 realize know the story of 10 00:00:18,080 –> 00:00:19,360 Jonah pretty well. If you 11 00:00:19,420 –> 00:00:21,780 are not familiar with it, 12 00:00:21,860 –> 00:00:23,820 let me rehearse its outline. 13 00:00:23,900 –> 00:00:25,820 a man by the name of Jonah 14 00:00:25,900 –> 00:00:28,340 was called by god to go and 15 00:00:28,400 –> 00:00:29,860 preach in a pagan city. He 16 00:00:29,860 –> 00:00:31,559 said, I’m going to be in the 17 00:00:31,620 –> 00:00:33,320 opposite direction. The ship 18 00:00:33,400 –> 00:00:35,459 sailed into a storm and Jonah 19 00:00:35,520 –> 00:00:38,099 was thrown overboard. Then 20 00:00:38,160 –> 00:00:39,560 god rescued Jonah in a most 21 00:00:39,639 –> 00:00:42,139 Remarkable way by providing 22 00:00:42,200 –> 00:00:44,680 a saving fish. I love the 23 00:00:44,740 –> 00:00:47,099 savior. Fish that delivered 24 00:00:47,180 –> 00:00:48,939 this man’s life from certain 25 00:00:49,000 –> 00:00:50,740 death and god provided the 26 00:00:50,820 –> 00:00:52,880 savior Fish which uh when 27 00:00:52,939 –> 00:00:55,139 Jonah began to pray the fish 28 00:00:55,220 –> 00:00:56,380 conveniently spat him out on 29 00:00:56,459 –> 00:00:57,980 the beach and Jonah then 30 00:00:58,060 –> 00:00:59,320 decided that he really ought 31 00:00:59,340 –> 00:01:00,720 him to do so. He went to 32 00:01:00,779 –> 00:01:02,160 Nineveh, preached the word 33 00:01:02,220 –> 00:01:03,480 of god, the people that 34 00:01:03,560 –> 00:01:05,059 repented of their sins and 35 00:01:05,120 –> 00:01:07,620 were saved from an imminent 36 00:01:07,699 –> 00:01:10,459 judgment that was to come. 37 00:01:10,519 –> 00:01:13,120 It’s a great story and most 38 00:01:13,199 –> 00:01:14,919 of us, I think, already know 39 00:01:15,000 –> 00:01:17,660 it very well. What I hope 40 00:01:17,739 –> 00:01:18,839 that we will discover over 41 00:01:18,900 –> 00:01:20,540 these 8 weeks is that it is 42 00:01:20,599 –> 00:01:25,400 so much more than a story. 43 00:01:25,480 –> 00:01:26,199 I want to set some 44 00:01:26,279 –> 00:01:28,680 Expectations and for you to 45 00:01:29,300 –> 00:01:31,099 know what’s in in my mind as 46 00:01:31,180 –> 00:01:33,220 we come to this part of the 47 00:01:33,279 –> 00:01:34,620 Bible and for us to be 48 00:01:34,680 –> 00:01:36,419 looking for certain things 49 00:01:36,480 –> 00:01:38,820 together. Here’s the first. 50 00:01:38,879 –> 00:01:40,860 There are three number one 51 00:01:40,919 –> 00:01:42,120 as we come to this part of 52 00:01:42,180 –> 00:01:45,820 the Bible, please expect to 53 00:01:45,900 –> 00:01:49,500 see yourself in Jonah This 54 00:01:49,559 –> 00:01:50,220 is a book about the 55 00:01:50,300 –> 00:01:52,699 unraveling of a believing 56 00:01:52,760 –> 00:01:56,500 man’s inner life. It shows 57 00:01:56,559 –> 00:01:58,639 us how a man or a woman can 58 00:01:58,699 –> 00:02:01,739 love God but under the 59 00:02:01,800 –> 00:02:02,900 surface, there is a battle 60 00:02:02,980 –> 00:02:06,779 going on in your heart. Jonah 61 00:02:06,839 –> 00:02:09,339 loves God but he also 62 00:02:09,419 –> 00:02:11,559 struggles with God. And even 63 00:02:11,619 –> 00:02:13,520 just seeing that, you may 64 00:02:13,580 –> 00:02:14,320 quickly say, you know, I 65 00:02:14,380 –> 00:02:15,720 think I recognize that. I 66 00:02:15,779 –> 00:02:17,720 think I know something about 67 00:02:17,779 –> 00:02:20,860 that in my own life. This 68 00:02:20,919 –> 00:02:22,259 book then perhaps uniquely 69 00:02:22,320 –> 00:02:24,419 gives a window on the 70 00:02:24,500 –> 00:02:26,240 spiritual conflict that goes 71 00:02:26,300 –> 00:02:27,839 on inside a Christian 72 00:02:27,960 –> 00:02:28,600 heart. Now, remember, Jonah 73 00:02:28,660 –> 00:02:29,839 was a prophet. He was a man 74 00:02:29,899 –> 00:02:31,899 with a great ministry. He 75 00:02:31,960 –> 00:02:33,339 spoke the word of God. And 76 00:02:33,399 –> 00:02:34,440 God used him to change a 77 00:02:34,500 –> 00:02:36,240 whole city. This man 78 00:02:36,300 –> 00:02:38,300 experienced miracles in his 79 00:02:38,380 –> 00:02:41,000 life. You would think that a 80 00:02:41,080 –> 00:02:42,520 man perhaps with that kind 81 00:02:42,580 –> 00:02:44,179 of experience might move 82 00:02:44,240 –> 00:02:46,020 beyond the struggles that 83 00:02:46,080 –> 00:02:48,279 ordinary Christians have. 84 00:02:48,360 –> 00:02:49,520 But the book of Jonah tells 85 00:02:49,580 –> 00:02:51,979 us something different. It’s 86 00:02:52,059 –> 00:02:53,860 very fascinating. At the end 87 00:02:53,919 –> 00:02:56,600 of the book, even after the 88 00:02:56,839 –> 00:02:58,419 miracle of being saved by 89 00:02:58,479 –> 00:03:00,160 the fish, even after the 90 00:03:00,220 –> 00:03:02,259 triumph of a whole city 91 00:03:02,320 –> 00:03:03,460 turning in repentance 92 00:03:03,520 –> 00:03:05,320 towards God, even after all 93 00:03:05,399 –> 00:03:06,460 these miracles and being 94 00:03:06,539 –> 00:03:08,440 used in such a singular way 95 00:03:08,500 –> 00:03:10,160 by God, you find that this 96 00:03:10,240 –> 00:03:13,080 man Jonah is angry, he’s 97 00:03:13,139 –> 00:03:16,580 dissatisfied with his life, 98 00:03:16,639 –> 00:03:18,479 and he is out of sorts with 99 00:03:18,539 –> 00:03:21,639 God. Now, that takes us 100 00:03:21,720 –> 00:03:25,880 into a surprising truth. 101 00:03:26,160 –> 00:03:27,639 That those who threw 102 00:03:27,699 –> 00:03:29,039 themselves most fully into 103 00:03:29,100 –> 00:03:31,139 the service of Jesus Christ 104 00:03:31,199 –> 00:03:32,820 often experience inner 105 00:03:32,880 –> 00:03:35,539 conflict more intensely 106 00:03:35,619 –> 00:03:40,320 than others. When you get 107 00:03:40,380 –> 00:03:42,580 into the heart of spiritual 108 00:03:42,660 –> 00:03:44,259 conflict in ministry, like 109 00:03:44,320 –> 00:03:47,259 Jonah was, you will find 110 00:03:47,320 –> 00:03:49,080 more inner struggle, not 111 00:03:49,160 –> 00:03:52,500 less. Read the lives of 112 00:03:52,559 –> 00:03:54,360 any of the great saints of 113 00:03:54,759 –> 00:03:56,259 ancient Christian history, 114 00:03:56,320 –> 00:03:57,720 any of the great Christian 115 00:03:57,779 –> 00:03:59,199 leaders. Read the life of a 116 00:03:59,259 –> 00:04:01,619 man like Augustine or 117 00:04:01,699 –> 00:04:05,399 Martin Luther, and you will 118 00:04:05,460 –> 00:04:07,440 find, as you read the lives 119 00:04:07,500 –> 00:04:10,339 of great Christians, that 120 00:04:10,399 –> 00:04:12,240 they experienced intense 121 00:04:12,300 –> 00:04:13,899 struggle in their inner 122 00:04:13,979 –> 00:04:15,839 lives, more intense than 123 00:04:15,899 –> 00:04:19,799 many others. So this is a 124 00:04:19,880 –> 00:04:20,820 great book for missionaries, 125 00:04:21,380 –> 00:04:22,339 for missionaries, for 126 00:04:22,420 –> 00:04:25,880 Christian leaders, for 127 00:04:25,940 –> 00:04:28,279 anyone who is surprised at 128 00:04:28,359 –> 00:04:30,160 the intensity of your own 129 00:04:30,220 –> 00:04:32,059 inner struggle as you are 130 00:04:32,119 –> 00:04:37,619 serving Jesus Christ. And 131 00:04:37,700 –> 00:04:40,059 by the way, let’s get this 132 00:04:40,140 –> 00:04:41,600 clearly in our minds that 133 00:04:41,660 –> 00:04:43,260 if in these coming weeks 134 00:04:43,339 –> 00:04:44,399 you become more deeply 135 00:04:44,459 –> 00:04:45,859 committed to Jesus Christ, 136 00:04:45,940 –> 00:04:46,799 expect that your inner 137 00:04:46,859 –> 00:04:48,299 struggles will increase, 138 00:04:49,279 –> 00:04:50,500 the more you are will 139 00:04:50,559 –> 00:04:51,799 decrease. The more useful 140 00:04:51,859 –> 00:04:53,600 you are to our Lord, the 141 00:04:53,660 –> 00:04:55,059 more you will experience 142 00:04:55,140 –> 00:04:56,660 intense struggles in your 143 00:04:56,739 –> 00:04:59,100 inner life. And that is 144 00:04:59,160 –> 00:05:00,339 just one reason why we 145 00:05:00,399 –> 00:05:02,279 need to pray in a special 146 00:05:02,339 –> 00:05:05,579 way for missionaries, for 147 00:05:05,640 –> 00:05:08,380 pastors, and for all who 148 00:05:08,440 –> 00:05:10,279 are on the front line of 149 00:05:10,339 –> 00:05:13,820 the work of evangelism. So 150 00:05:13,880 –> 00:05:15,519 this is a fascinating book 151 00:05:15,579 –> 00:05:17,619 because Jonah explores the 152 00:05:17,619 –> 00:05:19,820 inner life of a mature 153 00:05:19,880 –> 00:05:21,480 Christian believer at the 154 00:05:21,540 –> 00:05:23,380 center of extraordinary 155 00:05:23,440 –> 00:05:26,260 ministry. I have to tell 156 00:05:26,320 –> 00:05:28,820 you that as I have looked 157 00:05:28,880 –> 00:05:30,299 into the book of Jonah and 158 00:05:30,359 –> 00:05:32,619 pondered it preparing this 159 00:05:32,700 –> 00:05:35,519 series as I look at Jonah I 160 00:05:35,600 –> 00:05:39,799 see myself. And I think as 161 00:05:39,859 –> 00:05:41,000 we move into the book you 162 00:05:41,059 –> 00:05:42,160 are going to see yourself 163 00:05:42,239 –> 00:05:43,260 too. So that is the first 164 00:05:43,339 –> 00:05:45,399 thing. Expect to see 165 00:05:45,500 –> 00:05:50,760 yourself in this man and 166 00:05:50,820 –> 00:05:53,619 in this remarkable book of 167 00:05:53,700 –> 00:05:56,000 the Bible. Here’s the 168 00:05:56,059 –> 00:05:57,760 second thing. Expect to be 169 00:05:57,839 –> 00:06:01,440 disturbed by God’s passion 170 00:06:01,500 –> 00:06:03,239 for the world. That’s 171 00:06:03,299 –> 00:06:04,239 really what happened to 172 00:06:04,299 –> 00:06:06,179 Jonah. You are going to 173 00:06:06,239 –> 00:06:07,380 see that this man 174 00:06:07,440 –> 00:06:08,779 actually had a very 175 00:06:08,839 –> 00:06:10,940 successful comfortable 176 00:06:11,019 –> 00:06:12,239 life. Worshipping and 177 00:06:12,320 –> 00:06:14,119 serving God. He had a 178 00:06:14,679 –> 00:06:16,839 life and a well established 179 00:06:16,920 –> 00:06:18,040 recognized and much 180 00:06:18,119 –> 00:06:19,420 appreciated ministry 181 00:06:19,480 –> 00:06:21,440 among the people of God 182 00:06:21,519 –> 00:06:22,480 and then at one point in 183 00:06:22,559 –> 00:06:24,480 his life, God came to him 184 00:06:24,559 –> 00:06:25,920 and said, Jona, I want you 185 00:06:25,980 –> 00:06:27,220 to go and minister to 186 00:06:27,279 –> 00:06:29,200 people of another race, 187 00:06:29,260 –> 00:06:30,299 people who speak another 188 00:06:30,359 –> 00:06:32,160 language, people who live 189 00:06:32,220 –> 00:06:33,839 in another country, and I 190 00:06:33,899 –> 00:06:34,839 want you to go because 191 00:06:34,899 –> 00:06:36,200 they matter to me as much 192 00:06:36,260 –> 00:06:39,100 as you do. and at that 193 00:06:39,160 –> 00:06:41,839 point, Jonah’s life was 194 00:06:42,160 –> 00:06:43,600 and he discovered just 195 00:06:43,660 –> 00:06:45,459 how selfish he really was 196 00:06:45,540 –> 00:06:47,100 even while he was engaged 197 00:06:47,160 –> 00:06:49,000 in a ministry of God’s 198 00:06:49,059 –> 00:06:52,660 word. Many Christians and 199 00:06:52,739 –> 00:06:54,600 many churches can exist 200 00:06:54,679 –> 00:06:56,540 comfortably for a long 201 00:06:56,600 –> 00:06:58,700 time with an inward 202 00:06:58,779 –> 00:07:00,779 looking faith. You know, 203 00:07:00,839 –> 00:07:02,940 God is there for me. God 204 00:07:03,019 –> 00:07:06,019 is here for us. And 205 00:07:06,079 –> 00:07:07,119 nothing is more 206 00:07:07,179 –> 00:07:08,660 disturbing to a 207 00:07:08,720 –> 00:07:10,079 comfortable faith or a 208 00:07:10,200 –> 00:07:12,160 comfortable church than 209 00:07:12,239 –> 00:07:13,859 God’s passion for the 210 00:07:13,940 –> 00:07:17,500 world. God called Jonah 211 00:07:17,559 –> 00:07:19,380 to leave the people and 212 00:07:19,440 –> 00:07:20,920 the life that he loved 213 00:07:20,980 –> 00:07:22,880 in order to reach the 214 00:07:22,940 –> 00:07:24,679 people with the life of 215 00:07:24,739 –> 00:07:26,239 God because God loved 216 00:07:26,320 –> 00:07:27,459 these other people in 217 00:07:27,519 –> 00:07:29,679 Nineveh also. And 218 00:07:29,760 –> 00:07:30,920 God’s call to something 219 00:07:31,000 –> 00:07:33,119 new really revealed the 220 00:07:33,200 –> 00:07:35,119 degree to which Jonah 221 00:07:35,200 –> 00:07:35,980 was ruled by 222 00:07:36,059 –> 00:07:37,700 selfishness in his own 223 00:07:37,760 –> 00:07:39,260 heart. So, this book is 224 00:07:39,299 –> 00:07:40,540 deeply disturbing. 225 00:07:40,600 –> 00:07:42,640 Expect to discover some 226 00:07:42,720 –> 00:07:43,619 things that are 227 00:07:43,679 –> 00:07:44,799 uncomfortable about 228 00:07:44,859 –> 00:07:47,119 yourself in this book 229 00:07:47,179 –> 00:07:48,959 because God’s passion 230 00:07:49,019 –> 00:07:50,540 for lost people can turn 231 00:07:50,600 –> 00:07:51,500 a Christian believer 232 00:07:51,579 –> 00:07:53,920 upside down. And 233 00:07:53,980 –> 00:07:55,160 God’s passion for lost 234 00:07:55,220 –> 00:07:57,739 people can turn a church, 235 00:07:57,799 –> 00:07:59,260 even a church like this, 236 00:07:59,320 –> 00:08:01,660 upside down. Here’s the 237 00:08:01,720 –> 00:08:03,299 third expectation. 238 00:08:03,359 –> 00:08:04,980 Expect to be surprised 239 00:08:05,040 –> 00:08:06,100 by just how much God 240 00:08:06,160 –> 00:08:07,160 cares for his own 241 00:08:07,239 –> 00:08:08,600 servants. It’s a 242 00:08:08,739 –> 00:08:11,839 temple theme in Jonah. 243 00:08:11,920 –> 00:08:13,420 Think about it this way. 244 00:08:13,480 –> 00:08:15,339 Of all the prophets, 245 00:08:15,420 –> 00:08:15,920 Isaiah, 246 00:08:15,980 –> 00:08:17,720 Jeremiah, 247 00:08:17,779 –> 00:08:18,500 Ezekiel, 248 00:08:18,559 –> 00:08:19,619 Daniel, 249 00:08:19,700 –> 00:08:22,119 all the minor prophets, 250 00:08:22,200 –> 00:08:24,059 the prophets are all 251 00:08:24,119 –> 00:08:28,299 about God’s message. 252 00:08:28,359 –> 00:08:30,059 But this book uniquely 253 00:08:30,140 –> 00:08:33,460 is about God’s man. 254 00:08:33,539 –> 00:08:34,159 Now that tells us 255 00:08:34,239 –> 00:08:35,099 something very 256 00:08:35,179 –> 00:08:37,380 important which is that 257 00:08:37,440 –> 00:08:38,340 God cares not only 258 00:08:38,619 –> 00:08:39,479 about his work but also 259 00:08:39,539 –> 00:08:41,840 about his workers. 260 00:08:41,919 –> 00:08:43,520 God cares not only 261 00:08:43,580 –> 00:08:44,919 about his mission but 262 00:08:44,979 –> 00:08:45,739 also about his 263 00:08:45,820 –> 00:08:48,619 missionaries. 264 00:08:48,679 –> 00:08:49,919 If God cared only about 265 00:08:49,979 –> 00:08:50,580 his work, 266 00:08:50,659 –> 00:08:51,419 he could’ve ditched 267 00:08:51,479 –> 00:08:52,380 Jonah and got someone 268 00:08:52,460 –> 00:08:54,299 else to do the work for 269 00:08:54,359 –> 00:08:55,799 him. 270 00:08:55,859 –> 00:08:57,099 But God cares about 271 00:08:57,159 –> 00:08:57,960 Jonah. 272 00:08:58,020 –> 00:08:58,900 That’s why he patiently 273 00:08:58,960 –> 00:08:59,940 perseveres with Jonah 274 00:09:00,000 –> 00:09:01,159 and never gives up on 275 00:09:01,239 –> 00:09:03,099 him. 276 00:09:03,159 –> 00:09:05,159 God cares about you 277 00:09:05,239 –> 00:09:07,039 even more than the work 278 00:09:07,140 –> 00:09:08,280 you’re doing for him. 279 00:09:10,080 –> 00:09:10,820 Now, some of us get the 280 00:09:10,880 –> 00:09:12,679 idea that God really is 281 00:09:12,739 –> 00:09:13,840 interested in whatever 282 00:09:13,919 –> 00:09:15,140 service we offer but 283 00:09:15,219 –> 00:09:15,820 does God really 284 00:09:15,880 –> 00:09:16,520 care about us? 285 00:09:16,580 –> 00:09:17,539 God cares about you 286 00:09:17,619 –> 00:09:18,440 more than the work 287 00:09:18,520 –> 00:09:20,820 you’re doing for him. 288 00:09:20,880 –> 00:09:21,919 It’s a great lesson from 289 00:09:21,979 –> 00:09:22,580 the book of Jonah. 290 00:09:22,659 –> 00:09:23,559 In fact, it’s 291 00:09:23,619 –> 00:09:24,460 interesting, isn’t it, 292 00:09:24,520 –> 00:09:26,299 that in God’s mercy, 293 00:09:26,359 –> 00:09:28,020 a whole city, a vast 294 00:09:28,099 –> 00:09:28,960 pagan city with 295 00:09:29,020 –> 00:09:30,359 thousands of people in 296 00:09:30,419 –> 00:09:32,340 Nineveh, was saved 297 00:09:32,400 –> 00:09:33,039 from judgment. 298 00:09:33,099 –> 00:09:33,900 These people turned in 299 00:09:33,960 –> 00:09:34,960 repentance towards God. 300 00:09:35,039 –> 00:09:35,700 There was this great 301 00:09:35,760 –> 00:09:37,000 revival and so forth. 302 00:09:37,059 –> 00:09:38,119 And yet, actually, 303 00:09:38,179 –> 00:09:39,239 what happened in 304 00:09:39,299 –> 00:09:40,280 Nineveh gets relatively 305 00:09:40,340 –> 00:09:41,580 little attention in the 306 00:09:41,640 –> 00:09:42,000 book. 307 00:09:42,080 –> 00:09:43,640 Why? 308 00:09:43,700 –> 00:09:44,340 Because the book’s 309 00:09:44,419 –> 00:09:45,419 not really about God’s 310 00:09:45,479 –> 00:09:46,320 work in Nineveh, the 311 00:09:46,380 –> 00:09:47,179 book is about God’s 312 00:09:47,239 –> 00:09:50,020 work in Jonah. 313 00:09:50,080 –> 00:09:50,919 God’s presence. 314 00:09:50,979 –> 00:09:52,280 God’s patience. 315 00:09:52,359 –> 00:09:53,359 God’s perseverance. 316 00:09:53,419 –> 00:09:56,419 God’s fatherly care 317 00:09:56,500 –> 00:09:57,719 over a troubled, 318 00:09:57,799 –> 00:10:00,619 mixed-up servant who 319 00:10:00,700 –> 00:10:01,799 experienced so many 320 00:10:01,859 –> 00:10:03,960 inner conflicts in his 321 00:10:04,039 –> 00:10:04,640 own life. 322 00:10:04,700 –> 00:10:06,340 God cares about 323 00:10:07,119 –> 00:10:08,599 Jonah, cares about you. 324 00:10:08,659 –> 00:10:10,159 We’re going to see that 325 00:10:10,239 –> 00:10:12,479 in a very wonderful way 326 00:10:12,539 –> 00:10:14,440 in this series. 327 00:10:14,500 –> 00:10:15,099 Now I’ve given the 328 00:10:15,179 –> 00:10:16,340 series at the unusual 329 00:10:16,400 –> 00:10:17,700 title, How to Avoid a 330 00:10:17,780 –> 00:10:20,219 God-Centered Life, and I 331 00:10:20,280 –> 00:10:20,940 chose that because I 332 00:10:21,020 –> 00:10:22,280 really think that is what 333 00:10:22,340 –> 00:10:23,619 Jonah was doing not just 334 00:10:23,679 –> 00:10:24,979 at one moment in his life 335 00:10:25,059 –> 00:10:25,780 when he got on the ship 336 00:10:25,859 –> 00:10:27,280 and went to Tarshish, but 337 00:10:27,359 –> 00:10:28,179 actually that he was 338 00:10:28,260 –> 00:10:29,320 avoiding God for a very 339 00:10:29,380 –> 00:10:31,900 large part of his life. 340 00:10:31,960 –> 00:10:32,799 The reason that I say 341 00:10:32,859 –> 00:10:34,320 that is that not only 342 00:10:34,400 –> 00:10:35,460 was Jonah running from 343 00:10:35,640 –> 00:10:36,619 God at the beginning of 344 00:10:36,679 –> 00:10:37,840 the story chapter 1 and 345 00:10:37,919 –> 00:10:39,580 verse 3, but when you go 346 00:10:39,659 –> 00:10:41,219 over to chapter 4 at the 347 00:10:41,280 –> 00:10:43,159 end of the story you find 348 00:10:43,219 –> 00:10:44,599 that he was arguing with 349 00:10:44,659 –> 00:10:45,320 God. 350 00:10:45,400 –> 00:10:46,020 So running from God at 351 00:10:46,099 –> 00:10:46,820 the beginning, arguing 352 00:10:46,900 –> 00:10:49,460 with God at the end. 353 00:10:49,539 –> 00:10:50,539 And even after God has 354 00:10:50,599 –> 00:10:51,900 used him to evangelize 355 00:10:51,960 –> 00:10:53,859 this pagan city with 356 00:10:53,940 –> 00:10:55,859 extraordinarily wonderful 357 00:10:55,940 –> 00:10:58,000 results, he is still out 358 00:10:58,080 –> 00:10:59,179 of sorts with God. 359 00:10:59,239 –> 00:11:01,179 Now that raises an 360 00:11:01,239 –> 00:11:02,900 interesting question, the 361 00:11:02,979 –> 00:11:05,320 book ends with Jonah still 362 00:11:05,340 –> 00:11:08,479 arguing with God. 363 00:11:08,539 –> 00:11:10,219 So when did he write this 364 00:11:10,280 –> 00:11:10,880 book? 365 00:11:10,940 –> 00:11:12,340 Because I’m working on the 366 00:11:12,419 –> 00:11:13,440 assumption that you cannot 367 00:11:13,520 –> 00:11:14,719 write under the inspiration 368 00:11:14,780 –> 00:11:15,580 of the Holy Spirit while 369 00:11:15,640 –> 00:11:16,520 you’re in the process of 370 00:11:16,580 –> 00:11:17,520 arguing with God. 371 00:11:17,580 –> 00:11:19,580 Right? 372 00:11:19,659 –> 00:11:20,419 So I’m making the 373 00:11:20,479 –> 00:11:21,859 assumption that Jonah wrote 374 00:11:21,919 –> 00:11:24,700 this book later in his life 375 00:11:24,760 –> 00:11:26,900 as an older man, 376 00:11:26,960 –> 00:11:28,719 reflecting on the course 377 00:11:28,799 –> 00:11:30,359 of his days, and the 378 00:11:30,440 –> 00:11:31,559 great patience and 379 00:11:31,640 –> 00:11:34,840 perseverance of God with 380 00:11:34,900 –> 00:11:35,739 him. 381 00:11:35,799 –> 00:11:37,239 And that what he’s saying 382 00:11:37,299 –> 00:11:38,340 to us is really this. 383 00:11:38,400 –> 00:11:39,840 Look, look at my life 384 00:11:39,900 –> 00:11:40,599 story. 385 00:11:40,659 –> 00:11:41,799 What people perhaps know 386 00:11:41,880 –> 00:11:43,200 about me was that God used 387 00:11:43,280 –> 00:11:44,640 me in a remarkable way to 388 00:11:44,700 –> 00:11:46,539 bring revival to the pagan 389 00:11:46,599 –> 00:11:47,799 city of Nineveh. 390 00:11:47,880 –> 00:11:49,080 But I want to tell you the 391 00:11:49,140 –> 00:11:51,539 real story. 392 00:11:51,619 –> 00:11:53,020 The real story of my inner 393 00:11:53,080 –> 00:11:55,280 life is that I honestly, 394 00:11:55,359 –> 00:11:56,520 even while I was serving 395 00:11:56,580 –> 00:11:57,619 God and preaching God’s 396 00:11:57,679 –> 00:11:59,320 word, I was actually 397 00:11:59,380 –> 00:12:01,419 avoiding God, the God I 398 00:12:01,479 –> 00:12:02,859 purported to serve and I 399 00:12:02,919 –> 00:12:03,760 want you to know that I 400 00:12:03,820 –> 00:12:04,919 spent a large part of my 401 00:12:04,979 –> 00:12:06,219 life doing that and I want 402 00:12:06,280 –> 00:12:07,460 to tell you this story so 403 00:12:07,520 –> 00:12:08,760 that you will not do the 404 00:12:08,820 –> 00:12:10,820 same. 405 00:12:10,880 –> 00:12:12,559 The great irony of Jonah’s 406 00:12:12,619 –> 00:12:14,219 life is that while he was 407 00:12:14,299 –> 00:12:16,460 preaching the word of God, 408 00:12:16,520 –> 00:12:18,119 he was actually avoiding 409 00:12:18,200 –> 00:12:21,539 the call of God and the 410 00:12:21,599 –> 00:12:23,159 story is written so that 411 00:12:23,239 –> 00:12:24,700 he is able to say, 412 00:12:24,760 –> 00:12:26,039 Don’t, don’t live your 413 00:12:26,099 –> 00:12:28,940 life like that because 414 00:12:29,000 –> 00:12:29,940 although God used me so 415 00:12:30,000 –> 00:12:31,039 very wonderfully, what was 416 00:12:31,159 –> 00:12:33,739 going on inside of me? 417 00:12:33,799 –> 00:12:35,859 It’s not where you want to 418 00:12:35,940 –> 00:12:36,739 be. 419 00:12:36,799 –> 00:12:38,140 So that’s the reason for 420 00:12:38,200 –> 00:12:39,440 this unusual title. 421 00:12:39,500 –> 00:12:40,880 Now, I’d like you to turn 422 00:12:40,940 –> 00:12:42,400 just one cross reference 423 00:12:42,479 –> 00:12:44,080 here today and that’s back 424 00:12:44,140 –> 00:12:45,400 in the second book of 425 00:12:45,479 –> 00:12:46,979 Kings. 426 00:12:47,039 –> 00:12:48,440 The second book of Kings, 427 00:12:48,520 –> 00:12:51,679 chapter 14 and it’s the one 428 00:12:51,739 –> 00:12:53,020 place, in the bible, 429 00:12:53,080 –> 00:12:54,260 outside of the book of 430 00:12:54,320 –> 00:12:55,179 Jonah, where we learn a 431 00:12:55,260 –> 00:12:58,559 little more about this man. 432 00:12:58,619 –> 00:12:59,799 Second Kings chapter 14. 433 00:13:00,380 –> 00:13:02,580 If you brought your Bible 434 00:13:02,659 –> 00:13:04,119 and you’re marking up as 435 00:13:04,179 –> 00:13:04,799 we’re going through, 436 00:13:04,859 –> 00:13:05,900 you’ve got a little touch 437 00:13:05,960 –> 00:13:07,520 in Kings here and you’re 438 00:13:07,599 –> 00:13:08,359 going to get a little 439 00:13:08,419 –> 00:13:09,099 touch. 440 00:13:09,159 –> 00:13:09,859 Are we going to get a 441 00:13:09,919 –> 00:13:10,700 little touch in Nahum in 442 00:13:10,760 –> 00:13:11,840 a few moments time as 443 00:13:11,900 –> 00:13:13,299 well. 444 00:13:13,359 –> 00:13:15,760 Second Kings 1423. 445 00:13:15,840 –> 00:13:16,599 You notice that Jonah’s 446 00:13:16,679 –> 00:13:18,299 ministry is dated in the 447 00:13:18,380 –> 00:13:20,039 time of Jeroboam the 448 00:13:20,099 –> 00:13:22,260 second who was king in 449 00:13:22,340 –> 00:13:23,479 the northern part. 450 00:13:23,539 –> 00:13:24,580 That’s the northern part 451 00:13:24,640 –> 00:13:26,219 Israel where the ten 452 00:13:26,280 –> 00:13:27,580 tribes were. 453 00:13:27,640 –> 00:13:29,580 He was around the years 454 00:13:30,020 –> 00:13:31,700 of 790 years before 455 00:13:31,760 –> 00:13:33,440 Christ, to about 750 456 00:13:33,500 –> 00:13:35,640 years before Christ and 457 00:13:35,700 –> 00:13:37,880 verse 24, he did evil in 458 00:13:37,940 –> 00:13:38,840 the eyes of the Lord, 459 00:13:38,900 –> 00:13:39,640 that king. 460 00:13:39,700 –> 00:13:41,140 But there was one good 461 00:13:41,200 –> 00:13:43,200 thing that happened 462 00:13:43,280 –> 00:13:45,679 during his reign and 463 00:13:45,739 –> 00:13:47,219 that’s in verse 25. 464 00:13:47,280 –> 00:13:48,880 He, Jeroboam the second, 465 00:13:48,940 –> 00:13:50,059 was the one who 466 00:13:50,119 –> 00:13:51,520 restored the boundaries 467 00:13:51,580 –> 00:13:52,599 of Israel from 468 00:13:52,659 –> 00:13:54,659 Lebohammoth to the sea 469 00:13:54,719 –> 00:13:56,460 of Arabba. 470 00:13:56,520 –> 00:13:57,400 So, boundaries are 471 00:13:57,460 –> 00:13:58,200 restored. 472 00:13:58,219 –> 00:14:00,000 The promised land is 473 00:14:00,059 –> 00:14:01,619 extended back to its 474 00:14:01,700 –> 00:14:03,219 full boundaries and 475 00:14:03,299 –> 00:14:04,460 this restoration 476 00:14:04,520 –> 00:14:06,099 happened, verse 25, in 477 00:14:06,159 –> 00:14:07,919 accordance with the 478 00:14:07,979 –> 00:14:09,159 word of the LORD, the 479 00:14:09,219 –> 00:14:11,719 God of Israel, spoken 480 00:14:11,780 –> 00:14:13,080 through his servant, 481 00:14:13,140 –> 00:14:14,419 Jonah, son of 482 00:14:14,500 –> 00:14:17,640 Amittai, the prophet 483 00:14:17,719 –> 00:14:20,780 from Gath Heifer. 484 00:14:20,840 –> 00:14:23,340 So, Jonah is introduced 485 00:14:23,400 –> 00:14:24,679 here in kings as one of 486 00:14:24,739 –> 00:14:26,520 the spiritual leaders of 487 00:14:26,580 –> 00:14:28,640 his day. 488 00:14:28,719 –> 00:14:29,859 He is introduced, notice 489 00:14:29,919 –> 00:14:32,020 the words, as God’s 490 00:14:32,080 –> 00:14:34,159 servant, Jonah, the 491 00:14:34,219 –> 00:14:36,739 prophet from 492 00:14:36,799 –> 00:14:38,239 Gath Heifer. 493 00:14:38,299 –> 00:14:40,239 Not just a prophet, as 494 00:14:40,299 –> 00:14:41,059 if he was one among 495 00:14:41,140 –> 00:14:42,960 many but, in his 496 00:14:43,020 –> 00:14:44,400 generation, he was the 497 00:14:44,460 –> 00:14:45,780 person who is known in 498 00:14:45,840 –> 00:14:46,900 Israel for bringing the 499 00:14:46,960 –> 00:14:49,299 Word of God and the 500 00:14:49,359 –> 00:14:50,400 prophecies that he 501 00:14:50,460 –> 00:14:51,580 brought were vindicated 502 00:14:51,659 –> 00:14:52,380 because they so 503 00:14:52,440 –> 00:14:54,039 wonderfully came true. 504 00:14:54,099 –> 00:14:55,700 In particular, everyone 505 00:14:55,780 –> 00:14:56,820 knew that Jonah was the 506 00:14:56,880 –> 00:14:58,099 guy who had publicly 507 00:14:58,159 –> 00:14:59,619 stated that God would 508 00:14:59,700 –> 00:15:01,400 restore the full borders 509 00:15:01,460 –> 00:15:02,960 of Israel during the 510 00:15:03,020 –> 00:15:04,400 time of Jeroboam. 511 00:15:04,460 –> 00:15:05,640 This came true in 512 00:15:05,700 –> 00:15:06,640 accordance with the Word 513 00:15:06,700 –> 00:15:07,840 of the Lord spoken 514 00:15:07,900 –> 00:15:10,140 through his servant, 515 00:15:10,200 –> 00:15:12,000 Jonah. 516 00:15:12,080 –> 00:15:13,580 Here is a man then, that 517 00:15:13,640 –> 00:15:16,340 is widely respected, 518 00:15:16,419 –> 00:15:18,140 recognized, the prophet 519 00:15:18,219 –> 00:15:19,080 from Gath Heifer. 520 00:15:19,140 –> 00:15:20,340 This is a man whose 521 00:15:20,419 –> 00:15:22,179 people esteem highly 522 00:15:22,239 –> 00:15:23,760 because he walks in the 523 00:15:23,820 –> 00:15:24,659 presence of God, 524 00:15:24,760 –> 00:15:26,020 ministers the Word of 525 00:15:26,080 –> 00:15:26,960 God, is filled with the 526 00:15:27,020 –> 00:15:28,179 Spirit of God. 527 00:15:28,260 –> 00:15:29,460 He is God’s servant, 528 00:15:29,520 –> 00:15:30,219 Jonah. 529 00:15:30,280 –> 00:15:31,520 He is the prophet from 530 00:15:31,580 –> 00:15:33,219 Gath Heifer. 531 00:15:33,280 –> 00:15:33,960 I want you to get the 532 00:15:34,020 –> 00:15:35,599 sense of the profile, 533 00:15:35,659 –> 00:15:37,400 of the esteem, the 534 00:15:37,460 –> 00:15:39,739 acclaim, the wonderful 535 00:15:39,799 –> 00:15:41,400 positive prophecy that 536 00:15:41,460 –> 00:15:43,460 this man brings and the 537 00:15:43,539 –> 00:15:45,000 regard in which he is 538 00:15:45,080 –> 00:15:46,940 held as a spiritual 539 00:15:47,000 –> 00:15:49,239 leader among this great 540 00:15:49,299 –> 00:15:51,179 nation of people who 541 00:15:51,239 –> 00:15:52,619 are known by the name 542 00:15:52,679 –> 00:15:53,380 of the Lord. 543 00:15:53,599 –> 00:15:54,640 Now back to Jonah and 544 00:15:54,700 –> 00:15:56,380 chapter 1. 545 00:15:56,440 –> 00:15:58,340 The word of the Lord comes 546 00:15:58,400 –> 00:16:00,080 to Jonah, the son of 547 00:16:00,140 –> 00:16:01,880 Amidai, go to the great 548 00:16:01,940 –> 00:16:02,840 city of Nineveh and 549 00:16:02,919 –> 00:16:05,380 preach against it, 550 00:16:05,440 –> 00:16:06,419 because its great 551 00:16:06,479 –> 00:16:07,820 wickedness has come up 552 00:16:07,880 –> 00:16:08,539 before me. 553 00:16:10,580 –> 00:16:11,960 Now, it really is very 554 00:16:12,020 –> 00:16:13,659 hard for us to grasp how 555 00:16:13,719 –> 00:16:16,799 shocking this must have 556 00:16:16,859 –> 00:16:18,299 been for Jonah. 557 00:16:20,359 –> 00:16:21,760 See, in Jonah’s lifetime, 558 00:16:21,780 –> 00:16:24,880 there was one world 559 00:16:24,940 –> 00:16:27,659 superpower that was the 560 00:16:27,719 –> 00:16:31,119 terror of all the nations 561 00:16:31,179 –> 00:16:32,859 around. 562 00:16:32,919 –> 00:16:33,760 That one world 563 00:16:33,820 –> 00:16:36,159 superpower was Assyria, 564 00:16:36,219 –> 00:16:38,960 as the Assyrians, 565 00:16:39,020 –> 00:16:40,320 and they were known for 566 00:16:40,400 –> 00:16:42,200 their brutality. 567 00:16:42,260 –> 00:16:44,799 In fact, its a matter of 568 00:16:44,859 –> 00:16:45,900 history, that you can 569 00:16:45,960 –> 00:16:47,000 research for yourself, 570 00:16:47,059 –> 00:16:48,140 though I do not recommend 571 00:16:48,200 –> 00:16:49,140 that you do it, 572 00:16:49,200 –> 00:16:50,500 especially if you are 573 00:16:50,580 –> 00:16:51,239 squeamish. 574 00:16:51,260 –> 00:16:53,460 They had refined the art 575 00:16:53,520 –> 00:16:55,280 of torture 576 00:16:55,359 –> 00:16:57,859 in extraordinary ways. 577 00:16:57,919 –> 00:16:59,020 A matter of history, 578 00:16:59,080 –> 00:16:59,900 the Assyrians. 579 00:16:59,960 –> 00:17:02,919 They were the terror of 580 00:17:02,979 –> 00:17:04,319 the time, and nations 581 00:17:04,400 –> 00:17:05,599 are in Assyria 582 00:17:05,660 –> 00:17:07,839 lived in fear that 583 00:17:07,900 –> 00:17:09,099 the might of Assyria 584 00:17:09,160 –> 00:17:10,800 would occupy them or 585 00:17:10,859 –> 00:17:11,739 devastate them. 586 00:17:11,800 –> 00:17:13,979 And of course that is 587 00:17:14,040 –> 00:17:15,599 what ultimately happened 588 00:17:15,660 –> 00:17:16,920 in Israel when the ten 589 00:17:16,979 –> 00:17:18,119 tribes were evicted. 590 00:17:18,180 –> 00:17:19,979 That happens later in 591 00:17:20,040 –> 00:17:20,979 the second Book of Kings. 592 00:17:20,979 –> 00:17:22,180 But that was after Jonah’s 593 00:17:22,260 –> 00:17:23,660 lifetime, a generation or 594 00:17:23,719 –> 00:17:25,760 so later. 595 00:17:27,260 –> 00:17:29,119 Nineveh was one of the 596 00:17:29,199 –> 00:17:31,400 great Assyrian cities. 597 00:17:31,459 –> 00:17:33,160 In fact if you turn over 598 00:17:33,239 –> 00:17:34,300 just a few pages, 599 00:17:34,359 –> 00:17:36,060 get some yellow in the 600 00:17:36,140 –> 00:17:38,140 book of Nahum here. 601 00:17:38,380 –> 00:17:42,680 Nahum chapter 3 v. 1, 602 00:17:43,579 –> 00:17:44,719 notice how he describes 603 00:17:44,780 –> 00:17:45,819 Nineveh. 604 00:17:45,880 –> 00:17:46,979 This is a woe to Nineveh. 605 00:17:47,040 –> 00:17:49,459 Nahum chapter 3 v.1. 606 00:17:49,599 –> 00:17:53,500 Woe to the city of blood 607 00:17:53,579 –> 00:17:54,680 full of lies, 608 00:17:54,739 –> 00:17:55,780 full of plunder, 609 00:17:55,839 –> 00:17:57,040 and never without 610 00:17:57,099 –> 00:17:59,140 victims. 611 00:17:59,219 –> 00:18:00,079 Can you imagine you’re 612 00:18:00,140 –> 00:18:01,219 planning your vacation 613 00:18:01,280 –> 00:18:03,020 and you open your sunny 614 00:18:03,079 –> 00:18:04,819 vacation brochure and it 615 00:18:04,880 –> 00:18:07,579 says come to Nineveh. 616 00:18:07,660 –> 00:18:09,280 You know we have a flights 617 00:18:09,359 –> 00:18:10,180 every day for your 618 00:18:10,260 –> 00:18:10,920 convenience. 619 00:18:11,000 –> 00:18:12,699 Come and visit us in the 620 00:18:12,760 –> 00:18:14,520 city of blood, full of 621 00:18:14,599 –> 00:18:15,760 lies, full of plunder, 622 00:18:15,819 –> 00:18:16,500 and never without 623 00:18:16,560 –> 00:18:17,959 victims. 624 00:18:18,520 –> 00:18:19,099 I don’t think you’re 625 00:18:19,099 –> 00:18:21,119 going to go there and 626 00:18:21,180 –> 00:18:22,180 Jonah didn’t want to go 627 00:18:22,239 –> 00:18:23,819 there either. 628 00:18:23,880 –> 00:18:25,020 Can you imagine the kind 629 00:18:25,079 –> 00:18:27,079 of struggle that this man 630 00:18:27,140 –> 00:18:29,119 is thrown into as God’s 631 00:18:29,180 –> 00:18:30,260 Word comes to him, this 632 00:18:30,319 –> 00:18:31,079 man who is highly 633 00:18:31,160 –> 00:18:31,859 esteemed giving 634 00:18:31,920 –> 00:18:32,859 wonderfully positive 635 00:18:32,920 –> 00:18:34,219 prophecies to the people 636 00:18:34,300 –> 00:18:36,459 of God that come true and 637 00:18:36,520 –> 00:18:37,660 expand the borders of 638 00:18:37,719 –> 00:18:38,900 God he is settled and 639 00:18:38,959 –> 00:18:39,619 happy in what he is 640 00:18:39,699 –> 00:18:40,339 doing in dear old 641 00:18:40,400 –> 00:18:41,199 Garthheffer, lovely 642 00:18:41,260 –> 00:18:42,500 country town, and 643 00:18:42,560 –> 00:18:45,000 suddenly God says I want 644 00:18:45,060 –> 00:18:46,839 you to go to Nineveh. 645 00:18:47,280 –> 00:18:48,140 And the music stops in 646 00:18:48,219 –> 00:18:49,180 Jonah’s life. 647 00:18:49,239 –> 00:18:50,939 Lord, I am really happy 648 00:18:51,020 –> 00:18:51,839 in the ministry that 649 00:18:51,920 –> 00:18:52,819 you’ve given me here, and 650 00:18:52,880 –> 00:18:53,959 it was you that called me 651 00:18:54,020 –> 00:18:54,859 to this ministry. 652 00:18:54,920 –> 00:18:56,459 Yes, I know, but I want 653 00:18:56,520 –> 00:18:57,219 you to go somewhere 654 00:18:57,280 –> 00:18:59,060 else. 655 00:18:59,119 –> 00:18:59,900 You want me to leave the 656 00:18:59,959 –> 00:19:01,500 ministry that I love? 657 00:19:01,560 –> 00:19:02,719 That’s right. 658 00:19:02,800 –> 00:19:04,400 Where do you want me 659 00:19:04,459 –> 00:19:05,660 to go? 660 00:19:05,739 –> 00:19:07,439 Nineveh. 661 00:19:07,500 –> 00:19:09,500 Nineveh that is in 662 00:19:09,560 –> 00:19:10,199 Assyria. 663 00:19:10,260 –> 00:19:11,699 There are terrorists 664 00:19:11,760 –> 00:19:14,400 and torturers there. 665 00:19:14,479 –> 00:19:15,040 What do you want me to 666 00:19:15,420 –> 00:19:17,439 say? 667 00:19:17,520 –> 00:19:18,079 You don’t want me to 668 00:19:18,140 –> 00:19:19,339 tell them that their 669 00:19:19,420 –> 00:19:20,839 borders will be extended, 670 00:19:20,920 –> 00:19:22,020 do you? 671 00:19:22,079 –> 00:19:22,819 No, I want you to 672 00:19:22,880 –> 00:19:24,520 preach against that city. 673 00:19:24,579 –> 00:19:26,859 That’s what they’ll do 674 00:19:26,920 –> 00:19:28,060 to me if I preach against 675 00:19:28,119 –> 00:19:28,760 that city. 676 00:19:28,819 –> 00:19:31,319 Their wickedness has 677 00:19:31,400 –> 00:19:32,260 come up before me, 678 00:19:32,319 –> 00:19:34,319 God says. 679 00:19:34,400 –> 00:19:35,420 Not surprised, Lord, 680 00:19:35,500 –> 00:19:36,459 everyone knows their 681 00:19:36,540 –> 00:19:37,199 wickedness. 682 00:19:37,260 –> 00:19:39,760 I’m glad you do. 683 00:19:39,839 –> 00:19:40,699 Why don’t you judge them 684 00:19:40,760 –> 00:19:41,359 for it? 685 00:19:41,439 –> 00:19:42,260 Because if you judge them 686 00:19:42,339 –> 00:19:43,339 for it and take away the 687 00:19:43,400 –> 00:19:44,739 power from Assyria, all 688 00:19:44,800 –> 00:19:45,900 the nations around will 689 00:19:45,979 –> 00:19:48,599 be breathing a huge sigh 690 00:19:48,680 –> 00:19:50,140 of relief. 691 00:19:50,219 –> 00:19:52,219 They’re a nightmare. 692 00:19:53,780 –> 00:19:54,739 Put yourself in Jonah’s 693 00:19:54,819 –> 00:19:56,880 shoes. 694 00:19:56,959 –> 00:19:58,180 Successful ministry among 695 00:19:58,260 –> 00:19:59,180 God’s people, known for 696 00:19:59,260 –> 00:20:00,380 prophesying good things 697 00:20:00,459 –> 00:20:01,180 like extending the 698 00:20:01,260 –> 00:20:02,119 borders of Israel. 699 00:20:02,199 –> 00:20:04,160 Good life, good work, 700 00:20:04,219 –> 00:20:07,300 good place… 701 00:20:07,619 –> 00:20:08,800 And now the Word of the 702 00:20:08,859 –> 00:20:12,699 Lord disturbs this man’s 703 00:20:12,839 –> 00:20:16,560 comfortable lif. 704 00:20:16,640 –> 00:20:18,040 See, our culture says, 705 00:20:18,099 –> 00:20:20,680 live your dream. 706 00:20:20,739 –> 00:20:24,699 But our God disturbs our 707 00:20:24,780 –> 00:20:26,420 dreams. 708 00:20:26,479 –> 00:20:29,119 He really does. 709 00:20:29,180 –> 00:20:30,319 We all have our hopes and 710 00:20:30,380 –> 00:20:32,780 our dreams of what our 711 00:20:32,859 –> 00:20:33,760 lives will be. 712 00:20:33,819 –> 00:20:37,859 We plan our families, we 713 00:20:37,920 –> 00:20:42,000 plan our finances, we plan 714 00:20:42,160 –> 00:20:44,939 our futures and then God 715 00:20:45,000 –> 00:20:46,040 breaks into the plan. 716 00:20:46,099 –> 00:20:49,160 A child is born. 717 00:20:49,239 –> 00:20:52,180 A loved one dies. 718 00:20:52,239 –> 00:20:55,000 The market crashes. 719 00:20:55,079 –> 00:20:57,119 A job is lost. 720 00:20:57,180 –> 00:21:00,380 Suddenly, your life is not 721 00:21:00,439 –> 00:21:01,420 what you thought, hoped, 722 00:21:01,479 –> 00:21:03,420 or planned it would be. 723 00:21:03,479 –> 00:21:07,020 Now, when God stepped into 724 00:21:07,079 –> 00:21:10,219 Jonah’s plan, Jonah’s heart 725 00:21:10,239 –> 00:21:12,780 was revealed. 726 00:21:12,859 –> 00:21:14,619 The self-centeredness that was 727 00:21:14,680 –> 00:21:17,619 under the surface of his very 728 00:21:17,680 –> 00:21:19,719 successful ministry was 729 00:21:19,800 –> 00:21:21,660 exposed. 730 00:21:21,719 –> 00:21:23,319 And it was exposed when God 731 00:21:23,400 –> 00:21:25,160 called him to leave something 732 00:21:25,219 –> 00:21:31,500 old and start something new. 733 00:21:31,560 –> 00:21:32,599 Notice what Jonah did 734 00:21:32,660 –> 00:21:34,780 in chapter one and verse three. 735 00:21:36,939 –> 00:21:38,140 He ran away from the Lord 736 00:21:38,199 –> 00:21:39,800 and he headed for Tarshish. 737 00:21:40,660 –> 00:21:42,060 He went down to Joppa where he 738 00:21:42,119 –> 00:21:43,699 found a ship bound for that 739 00:21:43,760 –> 00:21:45,359 port and after paying the fare 740 00:21:45,420 –> 00:21:46,699 he went aboard and sailed for 741 00:21:46,760 –> 00:21:49,199 Tarshish to flee from the Lord. 742 00:21:49,260 –> 00:21:51,640 What does that mean? 743 00:21:51,699 –> 00:21:53,939 Well remember that Jonah was a 744 00:21:54,000 –> 00:21:54,979 prophet. 745 00:21:55,040 –> 00:21:57,939 He knew that God is present 746 00:21:58,000 –> 00:21:59,180 everywhere. 747 00:21:59,239 –> 00:22:00,739 His mind would have been filled 748 00:22:00,819 –> 00:22:02,819 with scriptures already written 749 00:22:02,880 –> 00:22:03,920 at that time which would have 750 00:22:03,979 –> 00:22:05,619 included the Psalms written by 751 00:22:05,680 –> 00:22:09,079 David like Psalm 139 where 752 00:22:09,560 –> 00:22:11,400 where David writes these words, 753 00:22:11,479 –> 00:22:14,140 where can I go from your spirit? 754 00:22:14,199 –> 00:22:15,479 Where can I flee from your 755 00:22:15,540 –> 00:22:18,680 presence if I settle on the far 756 00:22:18,739 –> 00:22:21,280 side of the sea? 757 00:22:21,339 –> 00:22:23,380 Even there your hand will guide 758 00:22:23,459 –> 00:22:24,660 me and your right hand will hold 759 00:22:24,719 –> 00:22:26,180 me fast. 760 00:22:26,260 –> 00:22:27,819 Now Jonah would have known that 761 00:22:27,880 –> 00:22:30,500 probably from memory. 762 00:22:30,560 –> 00:22:32,260 Jonah knows that he cannot 763 00:22:32,319 –> 00:22:34,760 escape God’s presence. 764 00:22:34,819 –> 00:22:35,819 What he’s trying to get away 765 00:22:35,900 –> 00:22:37,040 from here is God’s calling. 766 00:22:37,719 –> 00:22:39,300 When he gets in the boat, 767 00:22:39,359 –> 00:22:41,800 he is resigning the work 768 00:22:41,859 –> 00:22:44,300 that God has given him to do. 769 00:22:44,359 –> 00:22:44,739 He’s saying, 770 00:22:44,800 –> 00:22:45,479 in effect, 771 00:22:45,540 –> 00:22:46,800 there are other things to do 772 00:22:46,880 –> 00:22:48,040 besides being a missionary. 773 00:22:48,099 –> 00:22:50,180 There are other things to do 774 00:22:50,239 –> 00:22:51,599 besides giving the word 775 00:22:51,680 –> 00:22:52,979 of the Lord. 776 00:22:53,040 –> 00:22:54,339 I can go to another place, 777 00:22:54,420 –> 00:22:55,920 and I can worship the Lord in 778 00:22:55,979 –> 00:22:56,439 Tarshish, 779 00:22:56,520 –> 00:22:57,579 and I can do many good things 780 00:22:57,640 –> 00:22:58,319 that will help many, 781 00:22:58,380 –> 00:23:00,280 many people. 782 00:23:00,359 –> 00:23:01,660 He knows he can’t escape the 783 00:23:01,719 –> 00:23:02,920 presence of God. 784 00:23:02,979 –> 00:23:04,359 Where he’s running from is the 785 00:23:04,420 –> 00:23:06,959 calling of God. 786 00:23:07,780 –> 00:23:09,920 And so he avoids 787 00:23:09,979 –> 00:23:10,859 a God-centered life. 788 00:23:10,920 –> 00:23:12,959 He’s a believer. 789 00:23:13,579 –> 00:23:14,560 He’s just not ready to do what 790 00:23:14,619 –> 00:23:16,619 God’s calling him to do. 791 00:23:18,459 –> 00:23:19,599 See, he had planned where he 792 00:23:19,660 –> 00:23:21,839 wanted to live, 793 00:23:21,900 –> 00:23:23,959 the work he wanted to do, 794 00:23:24,040 –> 00:23:26,839 the life he wanted to enjoy. 795 00:23:26,900 –> 00:23:28,040 And when God disturbed that 796 00:23:28,099 –> 00:23:30,140 plan, 797 00:23:30,199 –> 00:23:30,439 he says, 798 00:23:30,500 –> 00:23:31,000 I’m off. 799 00:23:31,079 –> 00:23:32,199 I quit. 800 00:23:32,280 –> 00:23:34,180 I quit. 801 00:23:35,099 –> 00:23:36,780 If your plan becomes 802 00:23:37,260 –> 00:23:38,160 more important than 803 00:23:38,239 –> 00:23:40,380 God’s plan, 804 00:23:40,439 –> 00:23:41,300 it will stop you from 805 00:23:41,380 –> 00:23:42,339 living a God-centered 806 00:23:42,400 –> 00:23:44,400 life. 807 00:23:45,500 –> 00:23:46,640 What if God wants you in 808 00:23:46,699 –> 00:23:49,579 another place? 809 00:23:49,640 –> 00:23:50,319 Honestly, 810 00:23:50,380 –> 00:23:51,719 what if God wants you to do 811 00:23:51,780 –> 00:23:53,780 another work? 812 00:23:55,260 –> 00:23:56,520 What if God has a whole new 813 00:23:56,579 –> 00:23:59,219 chapter of your life that 814 00:23:59,280 –> 00:24:00,800 is going to be strategic 815 00:24:00,859 –> 00:24:01,819 for the advance of the 816 00:24:01,900 –> 00:24:03,260 Gospel in a very difficult 817 00:24:03,319 –> 00:24:05,319 place? 818 00:24:07,000 –> 00:24:09,219 Now, with this strange 819 00:24:09,300 –> 00:24:10,239 title, how to avoid 820 00:24:10,300 –> 00:24:11,180 a God-centered life, I’m 821 00:24:11,239 –> 00:24:12,199 going to keep turning that 822 00:24:12,260 –> 00:24:14,040 on its head, because none 823 00:24:14,099 –> 00:24:15,020 of us who knows and loves 824 00:24:15,099 –> 00:24:16,079 the Lord, wants to be like 825 00:24:16,140 –> 00:24:16,819 Jonah. 826 00:24:16,880 –> 00:24:18,760 Jonah wrote the book 827 00:24:18,819 –> 00:24:19,680 because he’s saying, 828 00:24:19,739 –> 00:24:20,920 don’t go down the path 829 00:24:20,979 –> 00:24:23,619 I did. 830 00:24:23,680 –> 00:24:24,959 I want to ask the question, 831 00:24:25,020 –> 00:24:25,859 learning from Jonah’s 832 00:24:25,920 –> 00:24:29,359 experience, how do I 833 00:24:29,420 –> 00:24:30,599 cultivate a 834 00:24:30,660 –> 00:24:31,819 God-centered life? 835 00:24:31,900 –> 00:24:34,300 How can I do that? 836 00:24:34,359 –> 00:24:35,160 I want to give three 837 00:24:35,780 –> 00:24:37,780 pointers here that 838 00:24:37,839 –> 00:24:40,020 will show us the path. 839 00:24:40,079 –> 00:24:41,520 Here’s the first. 840 00:24:41,579 –> 00:24:42,959 If you want to develop a 841 00:24:43,020 –> 00:24:44,219 God-centered life, you 842 00:24:44,280 –> 00:24:45,119 want to be different from 843 00:24:45,199 –> 00:24:47,800 Jonah, recognize that 844 00:24:47,859 –> 00:24:49,219 whatever you are doing 845 00:24:49,300 –> 00:24:53,939 now is only for a time. 846 00:24:54,000 –> 00:24:55,160 See, Jonah had held so 847 00:24:55,239 –> 00:24:57,040 tightly to the ministry 848 00:24:57,099 –> 00:24:58,160 he loved in Gethsepher, 849 00:24:58,239 –> 00:24:58,939 that when God said I’ve 850 00:24:59,000 –> 00:25:01,520 got something else, his 851 00:25:01,760 –> 00:25:05,939 inner life unraveled. 852 00:25:06,000 –> 00:25:07,339 The world wants you to 853 00:25:07,400 –> 00:25:09,239 believe that everything is 854 00:25:09,300 –> 00:25:10,219 stable, everything is 855 00:25:10,280 –> 00:25:11,180 secure, and everything is 856 00:25:11,239 –> 00:25:12,479 permanent, but it is not 857 00:25:12,540 –> 00:25:16,040 so. 858 00:25:16,119 –> 00:25:19,520 The home where you live 859 00:25:19,579 –> 00:25:23,260 is yours for a time. 860 00:25:23,319 –> 00:25:24,900 The work that you do is 861 00:25:24,959 –> 00:25:28,660 yours for a time. 862 00:25:28,719 –> 00:25:30,939 The people you love are 863 00:25:31,280 –> 00:25:35,819 yours for a time. 864 00:25:35,880 –> 00:25:37,760 One day your home, the 865 00:25:37,819 –> 00:25:38,819 home that you love, will 866 00:25:38,880 –> 00:25:42,699 be lived in by others. 867 00:25:42,760 –> 00:25:45,020 One day your work will be 868 00:25:45,099 –> 00:25:48,859 continued by others. 869 00:25:48,939 –> 00:25:50,339 One day your money will 870 00:25:50,400 –> 00:25:51,400 belong to others. 871 00:25:51,459 –> 00:25:52,300 You cannot take it with 872 00:25:52,359 –> 00:25:54,380 you. 873 00:25:54,439 –> 00:25:55,500 James says, what is your 874 00:25:55,579 –> 00:25:58,280 life? 875 00:25:58,339 –> 00:25:59,180 Here’s what it’s like, he 876 00:25:59,239 –> 00:26:00,280 says. 877 00:26:00,819 –> 00:26:03,420 It’s a list that appears 878 00:26:03,479 –> 00:26:04,119 for a little while and 879 00:26:04,180 –> 00:26:05,760 then it’s gone. 880 00:26:05,819 –> 00:26:08,119 That’s your life. 881 00:26:08,180 –> 00:26:09,260 David says in the 882 00:26:09,319 –> 00:26:11,420 Psalms, teach us O God 883 00:26:11,500 –> 00:26:13,020 to number our days, to 884 00:26:13,099 –> 00:26:14,599 number our days, to know 885 00:26:14,660 –> 00:26:15,739 how short they are. 886 00:26:15,800 –> 00:26:18,540 In order that we may gain 887 00:26:18,599 –> 00:26:21,339 a heart of wisdom. 888 00:26:21,400 –> 00:26:23,280 In other words, hold 889 00:26:23,339 –> 00:26:25,900 lightly to whatever God 890 00:26:25,979 –> 00:26:27,140 has trusted into your 891 00:26:27,199 –> 00:26:27,939 hands right now. 892 00:26:28,020 –> 00:26:29,079 Hold lightly to whatever 893 00:26:29,780 –> 00:26:31,719 incide incide nscience 894 00:26:31,780 –> 00:26:32,619 right now, because it 895 00:26:32,680 –> 00:26:36,819 will not be forever. 896 00:26:36,880 –> 00:26:39,260 If you can do that, you’ll 897 00:26:39,319 –> 00:26:40,359 be in a good position if 898 00:26:40,420 –> 00:26:41,380 God calls you to 899 00:26:41,459 –> 00:26:43,560 something new. 900 00:26:43,619 –> 00:26:45,420 Second, if you want to 901 00:26:45,500 –> 00:26:46,260 cultivate a God-centered 902 00:26:46,319 –> 00:26:50,099 life, keep your dreams on 903 00:26:50,160 –> 00:26:51,540 the altar of God. 904 00:26:51,599 –> 00:26:52,760 Boys, this is so hard to 905 00:26:52,839 –> 00:26:53,739 do. 906 00:26:53,800 –> 00:26:55,000 And I’m not saying here 907 00:26:55,060 –> 00:26:56,239 even place them on the 908 00:26:56,300 –> 00:26:56,939 altar of God. 909 00:26:57,000 –> 00:26:58,439 I’m saying, keep them. 910 00:26:58,439 –> 00:27:00,900 Keep your dreams always 911 00:27:00,979 –> 00:27:05,540 on the altar of God. 912 00:27:05,599 –> 00:27:06,300 Now, I 913 00:27:06,380 –> 00:27:07,439 have hopes and dreams for 914 00:27:07,520 –> 00:27:09,680 my own life, for our 915 00:27:09,739 –> 00:27:10,479 church. 916 00:27:10,540 –> 00:27:13,719 We all have hopes and 917 00:27:13,780 –> 00:27:14,420 dreams. 918 00:27:14,479 –> 00:27:15,479 Nothing wrong with that. 919 00:27:15,560 –> 00:27:16,180 That’s a good 920 00:27:16,260 –> 00:27:17,380 thing. 921 00:27:17,459 –> 00:27:19,780 But we have no rights. 922 00:27:19,859 –> 00:27:21,119 There are no 923 00:27:21,199 –> 00:27:24,400 certainties, and God is 924 00:27:24,459 –> 00:27:26,000 free at any time to 925 00:27:26,060 –> 00:27:27,400 disturb your dream, my 926 00:27:27,459 –> 00:27:29,420 dream, our dream, and to 927 00:27:29,500 –> 00:27:31,300 give us a completely new 928 00:27:31,359 –> 00:27:33,900 and different calling. 929 00:27:33,959 –> 00:27:36,500 So, keep your dreams on 930 00:27:36,560 –> 00:27:40,739 the altar of God. 931 00:27:42,079 –> 00:27:42,800 None of us knows the 932 00:27:42,880 –> 00:27:45,640 sovereign plan of God, but 933 00:27:45,719 –> 00:27:47,040 because God is always at 934 00:27:47,119 –> 00:27:49,540 work, I think it is 935 00:27:49,619 –> 00:27:51,119 reasonable for us to 936 00:27:51,180 –> 00:27:53,959 assume that while God has 937 00:27:54,020 –> 00:27:56,020 planned for all of us to 938 00:27:56,079 –> 00:27:59,439 be here today, his plan 939 00:27:59,520 –> 00:28:02,819 will have many of us in a 940 00:28:02,880 –> 00:28:04,619 different place a year from 941 00:28:04,680 –> 00:28:06,680 today. 942 00:28:07,520 –> 00:28:08,459 Some of us will be with 943 00:28:08,520 –> 00:28:09,859 Christ a year from today. 944 00:28:09,920 –> 00:28:15,359 Some of us may be 945 00:28:15,439 –> 00:28:16,800 worshiping and serving in 946 00:28:16,859 –> 00:28:18,560 another place a year from 947 00:28:18,640 –> 00:28:20,640 today. 948 00:28:21,540 –> 00:28:23,079 A year from today, God may 949 00:28:23,140 –> 00:28:25,839 have you in another 950 00:28:26,719 –> 00:28:29,000 part of the world doing 951 00:28:29,060 –> 00:28:29,859 something that right now you 952 00:28:29,939 –> 00:28:31,540 cannot even imagine yourself 953 00:28:31,599 –> 00:28:31,959 doing. 954 00:28:32,040 –> 00:28:32,859 It hasn’t even entered your 955 00:28:32,939 –> 00:28:34,140 mind but God will call you to 956 00:28:34,199 –> 00:28:38,079 it this year. 957 00:28:38,140 –> 00:28:39,579 And if God will call you to 958 00:28:39,640 –> 00:28:43,239 something new, it will be a 959 00:28:43,319 –> 00:28:45,479 defining moment for you. 960 00:28:46,479 –> 00:28:48,959 As it was for Jonah. 961 00:28:49,020 –> 00:28:50,780 Revealed what was going on 962 00:28:50,859 –> 00:28:54,160 in his life. 963 00:28:54,819 –> 00:28:59,920 So, I think that we need to 964 00:28:59,979 –> 00:29:02,219 be praying like this. Lord, 965 00:29:02,280 –> 00:29:06,060 help me to keep all my dreams 966 00:29:06,119 –> 00:29:11,000 on your altar. Don’t let me be 967 00:29:11,060 –> 00:29:15,359 like Jonah. Don’t let me get so 968 00:29:15,439 –> 00:29:18,640 comfortable in my home, in my 969 00:29:18,699 –> 00:29:21,040 church, with my friends, in my 970 00:29:21,099 –> 00:29:23,699 ministry. Don’t let me hold 971 00:29:23,859 –> 00:29:28,199 ME, that I would be unwilling 972 00:29:28,260 –> 00:29:29,599 to do something completely 973 00:29:29,660 –> 00:29:30,920 different for the sake of 974 00:29:31,000 –> 00:29:32,599 Christ, for the sake of the 975 00:29:32,660 –> 00:29:33,520 lost, and for the sake of the 976 00:29:33,599 –> 00:29:39,000 gospel. Recognize that 977 00:29:39,060 –> 00:29:40,540 whatever you are doing is only 978 00:29:40,599 –> 00:29:43,500 for a time. And keep your 979 00:29:43,579 –> 00:29:46,479 dreams on the altar of God, 980 00:29:46,540 –> 00:29:52,319 whatever they are. And here’s 981 00:29:52,599 –> 00:29:54,020 one from Jonah’s experience. 982 00:29:54,079 –> 00:29:56,739 Practice making yourself 983 00:29:56,819 –> 00:29:59,479 available to God. Now, 984 00:29:59,540 –> 00:30:00,839 honestly, the more 985 00:30:00,920 –> 00:30:02,119 comfortable you are in your 986 00:30:02,180 –> 00:30:03,619 life, the happier you are, 987 00:30:03,680 –> 00:30:05,180 the more difficult this is to 988 00:30:05,260 –> 00:30:07,959 do. When you are happy, when 989 00:30:08,020 –> 00:30:09,800 you love what you do, when 990 00:30:09,859 –> 00:30:10,900 everything seems to be going 991 00:30:10,959 –> 00:30:12,160 wonderfully well, when God is 992 00:30:12,219 –> 00:30:13,359 obviously blessing and his 993 00:30:13,420 –> 00:30:15,420 hand is upon you, it is 994 00:30:15,500 –> 00:30:17,000 really hard…when you’re 995 00:30:17,060 –> 00:30:20,400 happy. It’s really hard 996 00:30:20,459 –> 00:30:21,599 to keep your heart in a 997 00:30:21,660 –> 00:30:23,359 place where you could 998 00:30:23,420 –> 00:30:24,719 honestly say to the Lord, 999 00:30:24,780 –> 00:30:26,520 if there is something else 1000 00:30:26,579 –> 00:30:29,119 that you want me to do, I’m 1001 00:30:29,180 –> 00:30:32,280 willing to do it. Have you 1002 00:30:32,359 –> 00:30:34,300 ever honestly asked if God 1003 00:30:34,359 –> 00:30:35,500 wants you on the mission 1004 00:30:35,560 –> 00:30:36,739 field? Have you ever asked 1005 00:30:36,800 –> 00:30:39,000 if God wants you on the 1006 00:30:39,060 –> 00:30:40,260 mission field? Ever. 1007 00:30:44,300 –> 00:30:45,439 Have you explored whether 1008 00:30:45,500 –> 00:30:47,599 there is some way that your 1009 00:30:47,680 –> 00:30:48,680 gifts could be used in 1010 00:30:48,680 –> 00:30:52,359 cross-cultural ministry? In 1011 00:30:52,420 –> 00:30:53,699 this great city or somewhere 1012 00:30:53,760 –> 00:30:57,959 else in the world? When 1013 00:30:58,040 –> 00:30:59,199 you, younger folks, when 1014 00:30:59,260 –> 00:31:00,339 you’re thinking about your 1015 00:31:00,400 –> 00:31:03,780 career, a little later on 1016 00:31:03,839 –> 00:31:04,979 for those who have children 1017 00:31:05,040 –> 00:31:07,599 when your children are at 1018 00:31:07,680 –> 00:31:09,979 school and you have time 1019 00:31:10,040 –> 00:31:11,520 perhaps free. Some parents 1020 00:31:11,579 –> 00:31:13,739 have time during the day to 1021 00:31:13,819 –> 00:31:15,439 devote to something and you 1022 00:31:15,520 –> 00:31:16,760 make decisions about what 1023 00:31:16,819 –> 00:31:18,219 you will devote your time 1024 00:31:18,300 –> 00:31:19,800 during the day to while 1025 00:31:19,859 –> 00:31:21,619 your children are at school 1026 00:31:21,699 –> 00:31:23,020 and then later on when 1027 00:31:23,099 –> 00:31:23,959 you’re thinking about 1028 00:31:24,040 –> 00:31:29,760 retirement, have you come 1029 00:31:29,839 –> 00:31:31,540 before the Lord and asked 1030 00:31:31,599 –> 00:31:34,640 him how you can be most 1031 00:31:34,699 –> 00:31:36,140 useful to him with that 1032 00:31:36,199 –> 00:31:39,680 time? Or is it just all 1033 00:31:39,739 –> 00:31:41,180 about you these decisions 1034 00:31:41,239 –> 00:31:42,479 about career and what you 1035 00:31:42,540 –> 00:31:43,479 do while the kids are at 1036 00:31:43,540 –> 00:31:45,079 school and what you will 1037 00:31:45,160 –> 00:31:46,319 do when you retire from 1038 00:31:46,459 –> 00:31:48,000 the work you are now 1039 00:31:48,060 –> 00:31:50,719 doing? See, practice 1040 00:31:50,800 –> 00:31:52,619 making yourself available 1041 00:31:52,699 –> 00:31:55,760 to God. That is proactively 1042 00:31:55,839 –> 00:31:56,699 coming before him and 1043 00:31:56,760 –> 00:31:58,099 saying, as best I am able, 1044 00:31:58,160 –> 00:31:59,400 I want to be open to 1045 00:31:59,459 –> 00:32:00,500 anything you will call me 1046 00:32:00,560 –> 00:32:01,780 to do and therefore 1047 00:32:01,839 –> 00:32:04,640 explore what it is that he 1048 00:32:04,699 –> 00:32:06,099 might be able to do with 1049 00:32:06,180 –> 00:32:07,300 the kinds of gifts and 1050 00:32:07,380 –> 00:32:08,380 opportunities that have 1051 00:32:08,439 –> 00:32:09,420 been trusted into your 1052 00:32:09,479 –> 00:32:14,119 hand. Jonah’s saying, 1053 00:32:14,160 –> 00:32:16,380 I spent much of my life 1054 00:32:16,459 –> 00:32:19,160 even as an esteemed 1055 00:32:19,219 –> 00:32:20,900 prophet among God’s people 1056 00:32:20,959 –> 00:32:23,319 avoiding a God centered 1057 00:32:23,400 –> 00:32:25,660 life and looking back as 1058 00:32:25,719 –> 00:32:26,959 an older man, he’s writing 1059 00:32:27,020 –> 00:32:27,719 this book under the 1060 00:32:27,800 –> 00:32:29,459 inspiration of the spirit 1061 00:32:29,540 –> 00:32:30,660 and he’s saying, don’t go 1062 00:32:30,739 –> 00:32:34,000 there. Remember, whatever 1063 00:32:34,060 –> 00:32:35,339 God has given to you now 1064 00:32:35,400 –> 00:32:36,339 and however much you love 1065 00:32:36,400 –> 00:32:37,199 what God’s given to you 1066 00:32:37,280 –> 00:32:40,280 now, it’s only for a time. 1067 00:32:40,339 –> 00:32:41,319 Place that dream on the 1068 00:32:41,520 –> 00:32:45,020 altar of God and practice 1069 00:32:45,079 –> 00:32:46,579 making yourself available 1070 00:32:46,660 –> 00:32:49,780 to God and do that. Do 1071 00:32:49,859 –> 00:32:51,180 that on a regular basis. 1072 00:32:54,459 –> 00:32:55,619 Now, as I’ve tried to 1073 00:32:55,699 –> 00:32:58,540 ponder the story and the 1074 00:32:58,599 –> 00:32:59,699 place that it has in the 1075 00:32:59,760 –> 00:33:02,839 Bible, it’s come home to 1076 00:33:02,900 –> 00:33:04,140 me with great force that 1077 00:33:04,199 –> 00:33:05,500 there is an extraordinary 1078 00:33:05,579 –> 00:33:08,979 contrast between Jonah 1079 00:33:08,979 –> 00:33:11,900 and Jesus. See, think 1080 00:33:11,979 –> 00:33:14,439 about Jonah. He lives in a 1081 00:33:14,520 –> 00:33:16,780 good place, he’s doing a 1082 00:33:16,839 –> 00:33:18,719 good work, and he’s 1083 00:33:18,780 –> 00:33:22,760 enjoying a good life and 1084 00:33:22,819 –> 00:33:24,420 God says to him, Jonah, I 1085 00:33:24,479 –> 00:33:25,560 want you to go to another 1086 00:33:25,619 –> 00:33:27,859 place. I want you to do 1087 00:33:27,920 –> 00:33:29,920 another work. I want you 1088 00:33:30,000 –> 00:33:32,420 to live another life for 1089 00:33:32,500 –> 00:33:34,599 the sake of people who are 1090 00:33:34,660 –> 00:33:38,239 facing judgment and Jonah 1091 00:33:38,300 –> 00:33:39,839 says, Jonah heard the call 1092 00:33:39,900 –> 00:33:42,000 of god and he said, no. 1093 00:33:44,540 –> 00:33:46,380 Now, think about the 1094 00:33:46,439 –> 00:33:48,239 experience of the son of 1095 00:33:48,300 –> 00:33:50,239 God. I’m thinking before 1096 00:33:50,300 –> 00:33:51,739 the incarnation before he 1097 00:33:51,819 –> 00:33:53,839 comes into the world, 1098 00:33:53,920 –> 00:33:55,619 taking our flesh. Think 1099 00:33:55,680 –> 00:33:56,880 about the place where he 1100 00:33:56,939 –> 00:34:00,119 was. Surrounded by the joy 1101 00:34:00,180 –> 00:34:01,520 and the life of heaven. 1102 00:34:01,579 –> 00:34:04,260 Think of the work he did 1103 00:34:04,319 –> 00:34:05,819 running the universe by the 1104 00:34:05,839 –> 00:34:07,939 power of this universe. 1105 00:34:08,020 –> 00:34:09,840 Think of the life he 1106 00:34:09,919 –> 00:34:11,439 enjoyed. Adored by angels 1107 00:34:11,520 –> 00:34:13,219 with the sphere of the 1108 00:34:13,280 –> 00:34:15,780 universe at his feet. 1109 00:34:18,560 –> 00:34:19,780 And the father says to the 1110 00:34:19,860 –> 00:34:21,360 son, I want you to go to 1111 00:34:21,419 –> 00:34:25,320 another place. Where you 1112 00:34:25,399 –> 00:34:26,939 will be utterly rejected. 1113 00:34:27,000 –> 00:34:28,239 I want you to live another 1114 00:34:28,300 –> 00:34:30,360 life that will lead to 1115 00:34:30,439 –> 00:34:32,699 torture and crucifixion 1116 00:34:32,760 –> 00:34:35,500 and death and I want you 1117 00:34:35,500 –> 00:34:38,219 to do this work to reach 1118 00:34:38,300 –> 00:34:41,760 people I love and you love 1119 00:34:41,820 –> 00:34:46,100 son who are under the 1120 00:34:46,159 –> 00:34:50,639 imminent judgement of God. 1121 00:34:50,699 –> 00:34:56,100 And Jesus said yes. 1122 00:34:56,879 –> 00:35:00,520 Now that’s caused me to 1123 00:35:00,580 –> 00:35:01,919 frame this prayer, that I 1124 00:35:01,979 –> 00:35:03,239 hope you will make yours 1125 00:35:03,320 –> 00:35:04,820 and ours during this 1126 00:35:05,439 –> 00:35:07,020 series. It’s a very simple 1127 00:35:07,080 –> 00:35:10,979 prayer. Lord, make me 1128 00:35:11,060 –> 00:35:14,459 less like Jonah 1129 00:35:14,520 –> 00:35:17,520 and more like Jesus. I 1130 00:35:17,600 –> 00:35:18,520 need to pray that 1131 00:35:18,600 –> 00:35:19,600 because I see so much 1132 00:35:19,659 –> 00:35:23,219 of Jonah and myself. 1133 00:35:23,300 –> 00:35:27,560 Lord make me less like 1134 00:35:27,639 –> 00:35:31,979 Jonah and more like