100:00:00,800 –> 00:00:02,920The Billionaire’s Drive200:00:03,000 –> 00:00:07,160A lady came up to me after the service just a couple of weeks ago300:00:07,240 –> 00:00:10,880and she was somewhat distressed. She is a New Christian.400:00:10,960 –> 00:00:13,840And she has been praying for her husband.500:00:13,920 –> 00:00:15,260And she says,600:00:15,340 –> 00:00:21,959I’ve shared the Gospel with him and he doesn’t believe yet.700:00:22,040 –> 00:00:25,620And she said, Am I doing something wrong?800:00:25,719 –> 00:00:28,420Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.900:00:28,420 –> 00:00:30,959I am David Pick, glad you could join us today.1000:00:31,040 –> 00:00:34,080And Colin, how do you answer a question like that?1100:00:34,160 –> 00:00:36,200Well, I certainly am trying to assure her,1200:00:36,279 –> 00:00:37,959no, you’re not doing anything wrong.1300:00:38,040 –> 00:00:40,700I loved her faith, though, she had this expectancy1400:00:40,779 –> 00:00:42,160that she spoke the truth,1500:00:42,259 –> 00:00:44,080that the change was going to come immediately.1600:00:44,160 –> 00:00:45,540And what she had not grasped,1700:00:45,619 –> 00:00:48,040was that God’s word is like living seed1800:00:48,119 –> 00:00:50,240and sometimes we put it into the ground.1900:00:50,320 –> 00:00:52,240And though occasionally we find it comes2000:00:52,340 –> 00:00:53,580and it gives an immediate harvest,2100:00:53,660 –> 00:00:55,959sometimes, sometime passes2200:00:56,040 –> 00:00:58,380and we have to be very patient.2300:00:58,459 –> 00:01:00,840Well, the great thing is because it’s not dependent2400:01:00,919 –> 00:01:03,500on us to bring someone to salvation,2500:01:03,580 –> 00:01:04,839that can give us hope2600:01:04,919 –> 00:01:07,040that we wouldn’t necessarily have otherwise.2700:01:07,120 –> 00:01:08,660Yeah, that’s right. I love the verse that says2800:01:08,739 –> 00:01:10,580Paul planted, Apollos watered,2900:01:10,660 –> 00:01:13,040but it is God who makes things grow.3000:01:13,120 –> 00:01:15,540So our job is to communicate the truth.3100:01:15,620 –> 00:01:17,660It’s not to fret over the result.3200:01:17,739 –> 00:01:20,080We’ve got to be faithful in what we say3300:01:20,160 –> 00:01:21,660and then we have to be very prayerful3400:01:21,739 –> 00:01:24,379in looking to God to do what he alone is able to do.3500:01:24,459 –> 00:01:27,339So, join us if you can in Jonah 33600:01:27,500 –> 00:01:29,080as we continue the message,3700:01:29,160 –> 00:01:30,660Resign God’s work.3800:01:30,739 –> 00:01:32,040Here is Colin.3900:01:32,540 –> 00:01:35,160Our Lord Jesus Christ referred several times4000:01:35,239 –> 00:01:36,540to the story of Jonah4100:01:36,620 –> 00:01:39,239and to the ministry of Jonah in the New Testament.4200:01:39,339 –> 00:01:40,919Of course, anytime the New Testament4300:01:41,000 –> 00:01:42,699speaks about an Old Testament story,4400:01:42,800 –> 00:01:45,419it’s very important for understanding it.4500:01:45,500 –> 00:01:47,459And I want to put together two references4600:01:47,540 –> 00:01:49,540that the Lord Jesus made to Jonah.4700:01:49,620 –> 00:01:53,660The first is in Luke 11 and verse 29 and 30,4800:01:54,459 –> 00:01:55,620you’ll this verse perhaps.4900:01:55,620 –> 00:01:58,239Jesus said, this is a wicked generation.5000:01:58,279 –> 00:02:00,480It asks for a miraculous sign,5100:02:00,580 –> 00:02:02,860but none will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.5200:02:02,940 –> 00:02:06,699For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites,5300:02:06,779 –> 00:02:08,740Jesus said, so also the son of man5400:02:08,820 –> 00:02:10,580will be a sign to this generation.5500:02:10,660 –> 00:02:12,320I want you to hear these words of Jesus.5600:02:12,399 –> 00:02:15,940Jesus said, Jonah was a sign.5700:02:16,039 –> 00:02:19,699The man was a sign to the Ninevites.5800:02:20,660 –> 00:02:22,080You say, okay, well, in what sense5900:02:22,160 –> 00:02:25,160was the man a sign to the Ninevites?6000:02:25,320 –> 00:02:27,820Some people say simply the fact that he went there6100:02:27,899 –> 00:02:30,279and that he preached the Word was a sign.6200:02:30,360 –> 00:02:32,860Well, no, I think from the words of Jesus6300:02:32,940 –> 00:02:34,860that there’s something more,6400:02:34,940 –> 00:02:39,160because if you look at Matthew 12 verses 39 and 40,6500:02:39,240 –> 00:02:42,080again, Jesus is speaking about Jonah,6600:02:42,160 –> 00:02:44,820and he says, a wicked and adulterous generation6700:02:44,899 –> 00:02:47,160asks for a miraculous sign,6800:02:47,240 –> 00:02:48,740but none will be given to it6900:02:48,820 –> 00:02:52,320except the sign of the prophet Jonah.7000:02:52,399 –> 00:02:53,619So, he’s not talking about7100:02:53,619 –> 00:02:55,440what the sign of the prophet Jonah is,7200:02:55,520 –> 00:02:57,500and here’s how he continues.7300:02:57,580 –> 00:02:58,460Our Lord says,7400:02:58,539 –> 00:03:02,360For as Jonah was three days and three nights7500:03:02,460 –> 00:03:04,779in the belly of the huge fish,7600:03:04,860 –> 00:03:05,860so the son of man7700:03:05,960 –> 00:03:07,360will be three days and three nights7800:03:07,460 –> 00:03:09,779in the heart of the earth.7900:03:09,860 –> 00:03:12,360So that you put Luke 11 and Matthew 12 together,8000:03:12,460 –> 00:03:16,039Jesus says, Jonah, the man himself, was a sign.8100:03:16,119 –> 00:03:18,820Matthew, he says, here’s what the sign was.8200:03:18,919 –> 00:03:20,479The sign was the Jonah was three days8300:03:21,479 –> 00:03:24,139in the belly of the great fish.8400:03:24,220 –> 00:03:25,339So if the man was a sign,8500:03:25,440 –> 00:03:27,139and if the sign was that he was three days8600:03:27,220 –> 00:03:29,020and three nights in the belly of the fish,8700:03:29,100 –> 00:03:31,440I conclude from that that he must have told them8800:03:31,520 –> 00:03:32,899that he was three days and three nights8900:03:32,979 –> 00:03:34,679in the belly of the fish9000:03:34,759 –> 00:03:38,639and therefore that they knew his story.9100:03:38,720 –> 00:03:40,139If that is indeed the case,9200:03:40,220 –> 00:03:45,100I think there are some wonderful applications for us.9300:03:45,179 –> 00:03:46,220For a start, Jonah must’ve preached9400:03:46,300 –> 00:03:49,839with great passion, must he not?9500:03:50,119 –> 00:03:55,619Forty more days and Nineveh will be destroyed,9600:03:55,699 –> 00:03:59,380and I know what I’m talking about.9700:03:59,460 –> 00:04:02,960Let me tell you what happened to me.9800:04:03,039 –> 00:04:05,080I’ve loved and served this God of the Bible.9900:04:05,160 –> 00:04:08,380I’m telling you about all my life,10000:04:08,460 –> 00:04:10,960but when he called me to come here to this city,10100:04:11,039 –> 00:04:12,119I did not want to come.10200:04:12,199 –> 00:04:15,339I thought I could disobey him and get away with it.10300:04:15,419 –> 00:04:18,200I got on a boat and I went to Tarshish10400:04:18,200 –> 00:04:21,320and God sent a storm.10500:04:21,399 –> 00:04:22,660The crew knew what they were doing.10600:04:22,760 –> 00:04:24,239They tried to row me to safety,10700:04:24,320 –> 00:04:27,820but they couldn’t hold their ship against God’s wind.10800:04:27,899 –> 00:04:29,779God’s judgment came on me,10900:04:29,859 –> 00:04:33,519and I felt sure that I was finished, gone.11000:04:33,619 –> 00:04:34,859I told the crew,11100:04:34,940 –> 00:04:36,359You got to throw me overboard.11200:04:36,440 –> 00:04:37,779They didn’t want to do it,11300:04:37,859 –> 00:04:40,059but it soon became clear that they had no choice.11400:04:40,160 –> 00:04:42,320So I cried out to God in repentance.11500:04:42,399 –> 00:04:43,279I hit the water.11600:04:43,359 –> 00:04:44,739I felt sure that moments later,11700:04:44,779 –> 00:04:50,200I would be drowned in facing the eternal judgment of God.11800:04:50,279 –> 00:04:54,899But the God whose judgment I deserved, saved me.11900:04:57,940 –> 00:04:59,279That’s why I’m here today,12000:04:59,359 –> 00:05:00,859and I now have to tell you12100:05:00,940 –> 00:05:02,940that your wickedness has come up before Him12200:05:03,019 –> 00:05:04,640as my wickedness came up before Him,12300:05:04,739 –> 00:05:07,239and forty more days, and Nineveh will be destroyed.12400:05:07,320 –> 00:05:09,399The king says,12500:05:09,480 –> 00:05:14,160Ah, but if God had mercy on Jonah,12600:05:14,200 –> 00:05:19,160maybe he’ll have compassion on me.12700:05:20,940 –> 00:05:23,000Here’s what I want to draw from that12800:05:23,079 –> 00:05:25,459by way of application for us,12900:05:25,540 –> 00:05:28,079and there’s a wonderful principle.13000:05:28,160 –> 00:05:33,279God will use whatever He has been doing in your life13100:05:33,359 –> 00:05:36,579as a means of reaching others,13200:05:36,660 –> 00:05:38,459of advancing the gospel.13300:05:38,540 –> 00:05:41,399This is an amazing truth.13400:05:42,359 –> 00:05:44,399But in His grace and in His mercy,13500:05:44,480 –> 00:05:49,140He will find ways to use even your past failures,13600:05:49,239 –> 00:05:53,399your traumas, your shame,13700:05:53,500 –> 00:05:55,359the desperate moments of your life,13800:05:55,440 –> 00:05:57,559the pain of your experience,13900:05:57,660 –> 00:06:01,079and in some way, God will take that14000:06:01,160 –> 00:06:04,359and He will find a way to use it14100:06:04,459 –> 00:06:06,660for reaching others14200:06:06,739 –> 00:06:09,579and for the advance of the gospel.14300:06:09,619 –> 00:06:10,799Sinclair Ferguson,14400:06:10,899 –> 00:06:13,040who wrote a wonderful book on Jonah,14500:06:13,119 –> 00:06:15,059says this, and it has been a quotation14600:06:15,160 –> 00:06:17,880that has helped me so much over the years.14700:06:17,980 –> 00:06:20,859I hope it will be a special one for you.14800:06:20,959 –> 00:06:22,540He said this,14900:06:31,779 –> 00:06:34,640The jewels of spiritual service,15000:06:34,739 –> 00:06:38,820those who are most useful to Jesus Christ,15100:06:38,959 –> 00:06:43,000those shining jewels are quarried by God15200:06:43,100 –> 00:06:46,920in the depths of spiritual experience.15300:06:47,019 –> 00:06:50,500Whatever God takes you through,15400:06:50,600 –> 00:06:51,880it will not be meaningless,15500:06:52,000 –> 00:06:54,500it will not be without purpose.15600:06:54,600 –> 00:06:58,160In his redeeming love, he will find some way15700:06:58,260 –> 00:07:02,820to use the jewel that is quarried15800:07:02,920 –> 00:07:06,359in the depths of your experience15900:07:06,380 –> 00:07:09,079for the reaching of others16000:07:09,179 –> 00:07:12,420and for the advance of his great16100:07:12,519 –> 00:07:16,920and eternal work in the lives of people.16200:07:17,019 –> 00:07:19,000So how does this great change come to a city?16300:07:19,100 –> 00:07:20,040There’s God’s word.16400:07:20,140 –> 00:07:22,640He sent his word to change the city.16500:07:22,739 –> 00:07:25,200Secondly, he used his man.16600:07:25,299 –> 00:07:28,399He can use his man, he can use his woman,16700:07:28,500 –> 00:07:29,940but he works through people16800:07:30,040 –> 00:07:33,079and he works through what he is doing in our lives16900:07:33,200 –> 00:07:36,679as a means of communicating his marvelous truth17000:07:36,779 –> 00:07:38,640into the lives of other people.17100:07:38,739 –> 00:07:42,040And here’s the third thing and it’s very important.17200:07:42,140 –> 00:07:45,940God chose his moment17300:07:46,040 –> 00:07:49,279to change the city.17400:07:49,380 –> 00:07:51,119Now I think we have to say17500:07:51,220 –> 00:07:54,660that what happened in Nineveh was unusual17600:07:54,760 –> 00:07:57,420and it was remarkable17700:07:57,519 –> 00:07:59,000and that the kind of transformation17800:07:59,100 –> 00:08:01,000with a whole wicked violent city17900:08:01,100 –> 00:08:03,000turning to God in faith and repentance18000:08:03,019 –> 00:08:05,559and in prayer and in hope,18100:08:05,660 –> 00:08:08,660this is a remarkable and an unusual thing18200:08:08,760 –> 00:08:11,640but it really did happen.18300:08:11,739 –> 00:08:19,140It was God’s time for the great city of Nineveh.18400:08:19,239 –> 00:08:21,779Now here’s a very practical application for us18500:08:21,880 –> 00:08:24,079in thinking about God’s time.18600:08:24,179 –> 00:08:25,679A lady came up to me after the service18700:08:25,779 –> 00:08:27,679just a couple of weeks ago18800:08:27,779 –> 00:08:29,179and she was somewhat distressed.18900:08:29,279 –> 00:08:30,380She was a new Christian.19000:08:30,480 –> 00:08:32,320She is a new Christian19100:08:32,679 –> 00:08:36,239and she has been praying for her husband.19200:08:36,340 –> 00:08:37,520And she says,19300:08:37,619 –> 00:08:42,219I’ve shared the Gospel with him19400:08:42,320 –> 00:08:44,659and he doesn’t believe yet.19500:08:44,760 –> 00:08:48,859And she said, am I doing something wrong?19600:08:48,960 –> 00:08:51,260Now, I wanted to encourage her.19700:08:51,359 –> 00:08:53,900I want to encourage anyone who thinks,19800:08:54,000 –> 00:08:55,260I’ve been sharing the Gospel19900:08:55,359 –> 00:08:57,299and someone I love has not yet come to Christ.20000:08:57,400 –> 00:08:58,500I much be doing something wrong.20100:08:58,599 –> 00:09:00,000No.20200:09:00,020 –> 00:09:03,359We are responsible for sharing God’s truth20300:09:03,460 –> 00:09:05,320and God wonderfully uses his people20400:09:05,419 –> 00:09:09,559but God determines his time.20500:09:09,659 –> 00:09:12,760We can pray for that20600:09:12,859 –> 00:09:17,700but we do not control God’s time.20700:09:17,799 –> 00:09:19,739There are pastors and there are missionaries20800:09:19,840 –> 00:09:21,599who labor for years among people20900:09:21,700 –> 00:09:24,640who are highly resistant to the Gospel.21000:09:24,739 –> 00:09:25,479They bring the message.21100:09:25,580 –> 00:09:27,940They extend themselves.21200:09:28,020 –> 00:09:31,260They are quarried in the depths of spiritual experience21300:09:31,359 –> 00:09:36,700but sometimes they may see very few people converted.21400:09:36,799 –> 00:09:38,979The marvelous thing about God’s moment21500:09:39,080 –> 00:09:46,340is that you never know what God is going to do next.21600:09:46,440 –> 00:09:48,340I have no idea whose life God may touch21700:09:48,440 –> 00:09:52,619in a special way in this congregation this weekend.21800:09:52,719 –> 00:09:54,119Not one of us knows which person21900:09:54,219 –> 00:09:55,919that we’ve been praying for for years22000:09:56,020 –> 00:09:57,559will be touched, changed and transformed22100:09:57,580 –> 00:10:00,780this week, this month, this year.22200:10:00,880 –> 00:10:02,919God’s moment.22300:10:03,020 –> 00:10:07,119You never know what God is going to do next.22400:10:07,219 –> 00:10:09,820You never know when he’s going to step in22500:10:09,919 –> 00:10:11,659and change a person’s life.22600:10:11,760 –> 00:10:14,859Who in all the world could have predicted22700:10:14,960 –> 00:10:18,739this kind of response from, of all places,22800:10:18,840 –> 00:10:22,039the city of Nineveh, whose particular wickedness22900:10:22,140 –> 00:10:26,400had come up before God?23000:10:26,619 –> 00:10:28,419Now, of course, some folks hearing that may say,23100:10:28,520 –> 00:10:31,000well, this is marvelous.23200:10:31,099 –> 00:10:33,419All we need to do then is just sit back and wait23300:10:33,520 –> 00:10:36,440for God to do things in his moment and in his own time.23400:10:36,539 –> 00:10:42,159No, remember this distinction, revival is God’s23500:10:42,320 –> 00:10:46,239gift, evangelism is God’s command.23600:10:48,280 –> 00:10:50,380You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin23700:10:50,479 –> 00:10:54,179Smith and a message called, Resign God’s Work.23800:10:54,460 –> 00:10:57,679It’s part of a series based on the book of Jonah called,23900:10:57,780 –> 00:11:00,159How to Avoid a God-Centered Life,24000:11:00,260 –> 00:11:03,559and if you ever miss one of the messages in the series,24100:11:03,659 –> 00:11:05,659you can catch up or go back and listen again24200:11:05,760 –> 00:11:10,380by coming online to our website, openthebible.org.uk,24300:11:10,479 –> 00:11:12,799or by searching your favorite podcast site24400:11:12,900 –> 00:11:14,820for Open the Bible UK.24500:11:14,919 –> 00:11:16,900There you’ll find all the messages which24600:11:17,000 –> 00:11:19,340have already gone out on air.24700:11:19,419 –> 00:11:22,780Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners.24800:11:22,780 –> 00:11:25,059It’s donations from people just like you24900:11:25,179 –> 00:11:29,020which keeps Open the Bible on the air and on the internet.25000:11:29,119 –> 00:11:31,219So if you already give to support the work,25100:11:31,320 –> 00:11:33,140thank you so much.25200:11:33,219 –> 00:11:35,359If that’s something 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00:12:17,200It explores real encounters with Jesus, conversations26700:12:17,440 –> 00:12:21,419and moments that reveal who he is, why he came,26800:12:21,520 –> 00:12:23,880and the kind of love that he offers.26900:12:23,979 –> 00:12:29,219A love that pursues, forgives, restores, and never lets go.27000:12:29,359 –> 00:12:31,859Gospel Stories is our free thank you gift27100:12:31,960 –> 00:12:35,900when you give a one-off donation of 50 pounds or more27200:12:36,000 –> 00:12:38,020or set up a new direct debit27300:12:38,119 –> 00:12:40,159of just five pounds a month.27400:12:40,299 –> 00:12:44,299But please do remember to include your name and address27500:12:44,400 –> 00:12:46,460so that we can send your copy to you.27600:12:46,500 –> 00:12:49,039So that offer is available all this month27700:12:49,140 –> 00:12:52,039and you can find full terms and conditions27800:12:52,140 –> 00:12:54,599and you can give online at our website27900:12:54,700 –> 00:12:57,280opentheBible.org.uk28000:12:57,380 –> 00:13:00,039And again, if you give through the website,28100:13:00,140 –> 00:13:02,780please remember to give your full name and address28200:13:02,880 –> 00:13:04,780so we can send you your gift.28300:13:04,880 –> 00:13:07,340Back to the message now, here again is Colin.28400:13:08,020 –> 00:13:09,380Remember this distinction,28500:13:09,580 –> 00:13:12,179Revival is God’s gift.28600:13:12,280 –> 00:13:15,880Evangelism is God’s command.28700:13:15,979 –> 00:13:19,880So we do not sit back and wait for God’s moment.28800:13:19,979 –> 00:13:23,260What we do is we follow Jonah’s example.28900:13:23,359 –> 00:13:26,320We face up to our fears, our shame,29000:13:26,419 –> 00:13:28,799our self-interest, and our unbelief29100:13:28,900 –> 00:13:31,900and we bring the Word of God to the best of our ability29200:13:32,000 –> 00:13:36,000and we pray that in his mercy he will move in the hearts29300:13:36,099 –> 00:13:39,099of some who right now are very resistant to him29400:13:39,159 –> 00:13:41,700and resistant to his word.29500:13:41,799 –> 00:13:46,000Now one more thing on the moment29600:13:46,099 –> 00:13:49,400and I think it is very important for us.29700:13:49,500 –> 00:13:55,580Some people question whether there ever was29800:13:56,340 –> 00:13:59,940a true revival in Nineveh29900:14:00,140 –> 00:14:03,539and the reason that they question it30000:14:03,640 –> 00:14:08,159is that later generations returned to evil ways.30100:14:08,159 –> 00:14:11,059That’s a matter of historical record.30200:14:11,159 –> 00:14:14,359So if later generations returned to evil ways,30300:14:14,460 –> 00:14:18,559could this great turning to God that is spoken of here30400:14:18,659 –> 00:14:20,960in Jonah actually really have happened?30500:14:21,059 –> 00:14:25,159That’s the question that is raised and sometimes debated.30600:14:25,260 –> 00:14:28,760So I want us to think about this matter of the moment.30700:14:29,559 –> 00:14:34,760We know that Jonah lived in the time of Jeroboam the Second.30800:14:34,760 –> 00:14:39,059We know that from 2 Kings that we looked at a couple of weeks ago.30900:14:39,159 –> 00:14:42,159And so Jonah’s visit to Nineveh would have happened31000:14:42,260 –> 00:14:46,859somewhere between around 780 years before the Lord Jesus31100:14:46,960 –> 00:14:50,559and 755 years before the birth of Christ.31200:14:50,659 –> 00:14:55,159Somewhere between 780 and 755.31300:14:55,159 –> 00:14:57,559And what the book of Jonah tells us31400:14:57,659 –> 00:15:00,859we’re glad to accept it from the book of Jonah31500:15:00,859 –> 00:15:04,460is that God moved at that time31600:15:04,460 –> 00:15:09,260to gather thousands of Assyrian people31700:15:09,260 –> 00:15:13,359into saving faith in himself.31800:15:13,460 –> 00:15:18,659Jonah chapter 4 verse 11 speaks about 120,000 people31900:15:18,760 –> 00:15:21,359who could not tell their right hand from their left.32000:15:21,359 –> 00:15:22,559Hard to know what that means.32100:15:22,659 –> 00:15:25,859It could mean that 120,000 was the population of the city32200:15:25,859 –> 00:15:27,460and that they were morally confused.32300:15:27,460 –> 00:15:29,359Didn’t know the right hand from their left.32400:15:30,059 –> 00:15:32,460It could mean, and I think this is more likely,32500:15:32,460 –> 00:15:35,559that the city had 120,000 young children32600:15:35,559 –> 00:15:37,359who didn’t know their right from their left.32700:15:37,559 –> 00:15:40,460Young children, and that therefore the population32800:15:40,460 –> 00:15:44,059of the city was very, very much larger at that time.32900:15:45,159 –> 00:15:49,059Either way we are talking about a major significant city33000:15:49,059 –> 00:15:52,859in the time and a movement of God in a revival33100:15:52,859 –> 00:15:56,260that brought thousands of people in that generation33200:15:56,359 –> 00:15:58,859from that city known previously33300:15:59,159 –> 00:16:01,460and subsequently for its great wickedness33400:16:01,460 –> 00:16:04,960into saving faith in himself.33500:16:06,359 –> 00:16:09,960By the way, if God had compassion on a city33600:16:11,960 –> 00:16:15,059of 120,000 people or perhaps more33700:16:16,859 –> 00:16:19,159what must be the compassion of God33800:16:19,159 –> 00:16:25,659on our city of 9.5 million people33900:16:26,260 –> 00:16:30,159in the greater Chicago area,34000:16:30,159 –> 00:16:34,9609.5 million people.34100:16:37,400 –> 00:16:39,960Now, what happened after the time of Jonah,34200:16:39,960 –> 00:16:41,460well here’s the story.34300:16:41,460 –> 00:16:45,359One generation later or perhaps two34400:16:45,359 –> 00:16:47,260depending on where the date falls34500:16:47,260 –> 00:16:49,159and how you regard a generation.34600:16:50,559 –> 00:16:53,260In the year 722 BC34700:16:53,260 –> 00:16:57,659the Northern Kingdom of Israel was invaded, overrun,34800:16:57,659 –> 00:16:59,460and the ten tribes in the Northern Kingdom34900:16:59,460 –> 00:17:03,460were scattered to the four corners of the earth.35000:17:03,460 –> 00:17:07,359And who invaded the Northern Kingdom in the year 722 BC?35100:17:07,359 –> 00:17:10,060It was the Assyrians.35200:17:11,660 –> 00:17:13,260So that tells you what was happening35300:17:13,260 –> 00:17:15,060in subsequent generations in Nineveh,35400:17:15,060 –> 00:17:16,660one of their major cities.35500:17:18,359 –> 00:17:20,160And a century later,35600:17:20,160 –> 00:17:22,760a century after the time of Jonah,35700:17:22,760 –> 00:17:26,560in the year 612 BC,35800:17:26,560 –> 00:17:29,859Nineveh itself was destroyed.35900:17:29,859 –> 00:17:32,760That is what the prophecy in Nehum, chapter three,36000:17:32,760 –> 00:17:35,160that we looked at the other week is all about.36100:17:35,160 –> 00:17:37,560God’s judgment came on the city36200:17:37,560 –> 00:17:39,359that returned to its wickedness36300:17:39,359 –> 00:17:42,660in a subsequent generation.36400:17:42,660 –> 00:17:44,560Now here’s what I conclude from that.36500:17:45,560 –> 00:17:46,660In heaven,36600:17:48,760 –> 00:17:50,760you can expect to see36700:17:50,760 –> 00:17:54,660thousands of Assyrian people36800:17:54,660 –> 00:17:56,560brought by God’s redeeming love36900:17:56,560 –> 00:17:58,260to saving faith in himself37000:17:58,260 –> 00:18:00,160through the Ministry of Jonah.37100:18:00,160 –> 00:18:04,060It was God’s moment for an ingathering37200:18:04,060 –> 00:18:06,060of a vast number of people37300:18:06,060 –> 00:18:09,060of that city at that time.37400:18:10,060 –> 00:18:12,959I suspect that you will meet37500:18:12,959 –> 00:18:16,060relatively few Assyrian people37600:18:16,060 –> 00:18:19,560who were alive 100 years later.37700:18:20,359 –> 00:18:22,560It was God’s moment.37800:18:23,359 –> 00:18:26,560An extraordinary moment in history37900:18:27,459 –> 00:18:30,859for a particular, gracious ingathering38000:18:30,859 –> 00:18:36,359of many people in that great city.38100:18:37,660 –> 00:18:41,359Now, here’s my last application this morning.38200:18:42,959 –> 00:18:45,959What will the future hold38300:18:45,959 –> 00:18:49,160for this great city of Chicago?38400:18:49,260 –> 00:18:50,959I have no idea.38500:18:51,859 –> 00:18:53,060I do not know.38600:18:53,060 –> 00:18:54,060None of us does.38700:18:56,160 –> 00:18:59,560What is the future of the Church of Jesus Christ38800:18:59,560 –> 00:19:04,060in this great country of America 50 years from now?38900:19:04,060 –> 00:19:06,160What will be the state of the church39000:19:06,160 –> 00:19:09,160in this country if Christ has not come?39100:19:09,160 –> 00:19:11,760I do not know.39200:19:11,760 –> 00:19:12,859Nobody does.39300:19:16,260 –> 00:19:18,260All we can do, folks,39400:19:19,160 –> 00:19:21,959is offer all that we are and all that we have39500:19:21,959 –> 00:19:24,359and all that we can for the advance of the gospel39600:19:24,359 –> 00:19:26,359in this generation.39700:19:27,660 –> 00:19:29,660We cannot live on the legacy39800:19:29,660 –> 00:19:32,660of what past generations have done for Christ.39900:19:32,660 –> 00:19:34,160We cannot live in the hope40000:19:34,160 –> 00:19:37,859of what future generations might do for Christ.40100:19:37,859 –> 00:19:41,160Our calling is to do all that we can do for Christ40200:19:41,160 –> 00:19:42,660in our time.40300:19:43,859 –> 00:19:45,160And remember this,40400:19:45,160 –> 00:19:47,459that the whole world needs to be evangelized40500:19:47,459 –> 00:19:48,859in every generation.40600:19:49,959 –> 00:19:52,459There is no one born into the world40700:19:52,459 –> 00:19:54,560knowing the gospel.40800:19:55,160 –> 00:19:57,859The whole world therefore needs to be evangelized.40900:19:57,859 –> 00:20:00,160Every generation needs to be done afresh41000:20:00,160 –> 00:20:02,160all over again.41100:20:03,459 –> 00:20:05,660This is the only generation41200:20:05,660 –> 00:20:08,160that we are able to reach and serve41300:20:08,160 –> 00:20:09,959with the place of Jesus Christ.41400:20:09,959 –> 00:20:13,160The generation that is living today, our time.41500:20:13,959 –> 00:20:15,459So we dare not live in the future,41600:20:15,459 –> 00:20:16,959we dare not live in the past.41700:20:16,959 –> 00:20:18,459Our stewardship of the gospel41800:20:18,459 –> 00:20:19,859is now41900:20:21,760 –> 00:20:23,160and every generation42000:20:23,160 –> 00:20:24,859will stand responsible42100:20:24,859 –> 00:20:26,760and accountable before God42200:20:26,760 –> 00:20:28,560for what we have done42300:20:28,560 –> 00:20:30,760with the sacred trust of the gospel42400:20:30,760 –> 00:20:31,959in our time42500:20:31,959 –> 00:20:33,260not what was before us42600:20:33,260 –> 00:20:36,060and not what may come after us.42700:20:38,459 –> 00:20:40,260So how did God change a city42800:20:40,260 –> 00:20:42,859in this extraordinary way42900:20:42,859 –> 00:20:44,859that happened in Nineveh?43000:20:44,859 –> 00:20:45,959Here is what we learned.43100:20:45,959 –> 00:20:48,060He sent His Word43200:20:48,560 –> 00:20:51,260He used His servant43300:20:51,959 –> 00:20:54,459and He chose His moment43400:20:54,459 –> 00:20:56,260and so, I framed this simple prayer43500:20:56,260 –> 00:20:58,260that I invite you to share with me.43600:20:58,260 –> 00:20:58,760It just says,43700:20:58,760 –> 00:21:00,560Lord, send Your Word43800:21:00,560 –> 00:21:02,160We would pray that for our city43900:21:02,160 –> 00:21:03,359Use Your people44000:21:03,359 –> 00:21:05,060We would long for that44100:21:05,060 –> 00:21:06,959And make this Your moment44200:21:06,959 –> 00:21:09,359for this city44300:21:09,359 –> 00:21:11,560Why should we not ask that of God?44400:21:11,560 –> 00:21:13,260Will you join with me in that prayer?44500:21:13,359 –> 00:21:16,959Lord, send Your Word44600:21:16,959 –> 00:21:19,660Use Your people44700:21:19,660 –> 00:21:22,060Make this Your moment44800:21:22,060 –> 00:21:24,160for this city44900:21:24,160 –> 00:21:26,560for Christ’s sakes45000:21:26,660 –> 00:21:28,459You’ve been listening to Open the Bible45100:21:28,459 –> 00:21:29,959with pastor Colin Smith45200:21:29,959 –> 00:21:31,060in a message called45300:21:31,060 –> 00:21:33,160Resign God’s Work45400:21:33,160 –> 00:21:34,459It’s part of the series45500:21:34,459 –> 00:21:36,660How to Avoid a God-Centered Life45600:21:36,660 –> 00:21:39,859and that’s all about the book of Jonah45700:21:39,859 –> 00:21:42,359If you ever miss one of the messages in the series45800:21:42,359 –> 00:21:44,660you can easily catch up or go back and listen again45900:21:44,660 –> 00:21:47,160by coming online to our website46000:21:47,160 –> 00:21:49,760OpenTheBible.org.uk46100:21:49,760 –> 00:21:51,859Or you can find us as a podcast46200:21:51,859 –> 00:21:53,459on all the main podcast sites46300:21:53,459 –> 00:21:55,459Search for Open The Bible UK46400:21:55,459 –> 00:21:58,260or follow the link from our website46500:21:58,760 –> 00:22:01,459Just a reminder that we love hearing from our listeners46600:22:01,459 –> 00:22:03,459so if you’d like to get in touch46700:22:03,459 –> 00:22:04,959this is how you can do it46800:22:04,959 –> 00:22:06,660You can write to us at46900:22:06,660 –> 00:22:07,859Open The Bible47000:22:07,859 –> 00:22:10,459PO Box 142047100:22:10,459 –> 00:22:11,459Cheltenham47200:22:11,560 –> 00:22:12,560GL5047300:22:13,260 –> 00:22:14,2609PG47400:22:14,760 –> 00:22:16,459Again, that address is47500:22:16,459 –> 00:22:17,660Open The Bible47600:22:17,660 –> 00:22:20,260PO Box 142047700:22:20,260 –> 00:22:21,020Cheltenham47800:22:21,359 –> 00:22:22,660GL5047900:22:23,060 –> 00:22:24,2609PG48000:22:25,060 –> 00:22:26,859You know, Colin, I think today’s message48100:22:26,859 –> 00:22:28,260is a message of hope48200:22:28,260 –> 00:22:30,160knowing that God can use people48300:22:30,160 –> 00:22:32,260who may not have always been obedient48400:22:32,260 –> 00:22:33,859just like Jonah48500:22:33,859 –> 00:22:35,260We’ve run in the other direction48600:22:35,260 –> 00:22:37,459we’ve had trials and we’ve had struggles48700:22:37,459 –> 00:22:38,560we’ve had failures48800:22:38,560 –> 00:22:41,459But God can still use us to win someone48900:22:41,459 –> 00:22:42,959Yeah and Jonah was useful49000:22:42,959 –> 00:22:45,459because he had the Word of God49100:22:45,459 –> 00:22:47,260and he didn’t just have it in his hand49200:22:47,260 –> 00:22:47,660as it were49300:22:47,660 –> 00:22:49,260he had it in his heart49400:22:49,260 –> 00:22:51,859God’s word had done its work in his own life49500:22:51,859 –> 00:22:54,060I mean, he had experienced the judgment of God49600:22:54,060 –> 00:22:56,260and he’d experienced the mercy of God49700:22:56,260 –> 00:22:57,060and so when he says49800:22:57,060 –> 00:22:59,76040 more days and Nineveh will be destroyed49900:22:59,760 –> 00:23:01,859he’s able to speak out of the knowledge50000:23:01,859 –> 00:23:03,260that God is merciful50100:23:03,260 –> 00:23:05,560and here, these people discovered God’s mercy50200:23:05,560 –> 00:23:06,760It’s marvelous50300:23:06,760 –> 00:23:08,160and it just reminds me50400:23:08,260 –> 00:23:11,260of the importance of using the Word of God50500:23:11,959 –> 00:23:13,959You know, my Pastor back in Scotland50600:23:13,959 –> 00:23:15,459said to me years ago50700:23:15,859 –> 00:23:17,660when someone comes to you in need50800:23:17,660 –> 00:23:19,760make sure you always read something50900:23:19,760 –> 00:23:20,660from the Bible51000:23:20,660 –> 00:23:22,160and always lead them to the Lord51100:23:22,160 –> 00:23:22,760in prayer51200:23:23,359 –> 00:23:24,660That’s been immensely helpful51300:23:24,660 –> 00:23:25,660to me over the years51400:23:25,660 –> 00:23:26,859I may not have something51500:23:26,859 –> 00:23:28,560terribly useful to say51600:23:28,560 –> 00:23:29,660but the Word of God51700:23:29,660 –> 00:23:31,660always has something useful to say51800:23:31,660 –> 00:23:35,160and you can help people51900:23:35,260 –> 00:23:38,260by bringing a really appropriate scripture52000:23:38,760 –> 00:23:40,760that speaks to their situation52100:23:40,760 –> 00:23:43,560and helps them to exercise faith52200:23:43,560 –> 00:23:45,160and to know that there’s a saviour52300:23:45,160 –> 00:23:46,260who reaches out to them52400:23:46,560 –> 00:23:47,660Never underestimate52500:23:47,660 –> 00:23:48,560what the Word of God52600:23:48,560 –> 00:23:50,260can do in a person’s life52700:23:50,359 –> 00:23:52,260It’s the best way to disciple someone52800:23:52,260 –> 00:23:53,859It’s the best way to help someone52900:23:54,160 –> 00:23:55,859Is there a marriage in trouble?53000:23:55,959 –> 00:23:57,359Let’s help a couple53100:23:57,359 –> 00:23:59,160by taking them into the Word of God53200:23:59,160 –> 00:24:00,660and let the Word of God53300:24:00,660 –> 00:24:03,060dwell richly in these folks’ lives53400:24:03,260 –> 00:24:04,560and see what it will do53500:24:04,660 –> 00:24:06,359If we really believe it brings53600:24:06,359 –> 00:24:09,160life and refreshment and joy53700:24:09,359 –> 00:24:11,060and that it transforms53800:24:11,660 –> 00:24:12,760then why not bring it53900:24:12,760 –> 00:24:13,959into the lives of people?54000:24:13,959 –> 00:24:15,359Look what it did in Nineveh54100:24:15,459 –> 00:24:16,359Absolutely54200:24:16,359 –> 00:24:17,760and we want to help people54300:24:17,760 –> 00:24:18,959get into the Word of God54400:24:18,959 –> 00:24:20,160and that’s the reason54500:24:20,459 –> 00:24:22,359we created a brand-new podcast54600:24:22,359 –> 00:24:23,859that just launched this year54700:24:24,260 –> 00:24:26,359It’s not too late to start following it54800:24:26,359 –> 00:24:28,060with Hikes Thru the Bible54900:24:28,060 –> 00:24:30,859It’s a one-year 50 episode journey55000:24:31,160 –> 00:24:32,760all the way through the Bible story55100:24:32,859 –> 00:24:34,760from Genesis to Revelation55200:24:34,959 –> 00:24:36,359and it will help you to55300:24:36,359 –> 00:24:37,959understand your Bible better55400:24:37,959 –> 00:24:39,660and love Jesus more55500:24:40,260 –> 00:24:41,359If you want to find more about55600:24:41,359 –> 00:24:42,859Hikes Thru the Bible podcast55700:24:42,859 –> 00:24:44,560you can visit our website55800:24:44,560 –> 00:24:47,359at OpenTheBible.org.uk55900:24:47,459 –> 00:24:49,060and you’ll find the podcast itself56000:24:49,060 –> 00:24:51,060on all the main podcast sites56100:24:51,060 –> 00:24:53,060including YouTube and Spotify56200:24:53,060 –> 00:24:53,859and all the others56300:24:54,359 –> 00:24:55,560So I hope you’ll take a little time56400:24:55,560 –> 00:24:56,760to check that out56500:24:57,359 –> 00:24:58,459For Open the Bible56600:24:58,459 –> 00:24:59,859and Pastor Colin Smith56700:24:59,859 –> 00:25:00,859I’m David Pick56800:25:01,160 –> 00:25:02,660and I very much hope you’ll join us again56900:25:02,660 –> 00:25:04,359in the next program57000:25:12,459 –> 00:25:14,260Why would a man who’s just seeing57100:25:14,260 –> 00:25:16,359God’s grace working in his life57200:25:16,359 –> 00:25:17,359be angry?57300:25:17,959 –> 00:25:19,359Find out next time on57400:25:19,359 –> 00:25:20,260Open the Bible