GOD PERSEVERES WITH HIS PEOPLE – JONAH 3:1-10 August 17 & 18, 2019
THE TEXT: Jonah 3:1-10
• God comes to Jonah again with the same commission: proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you (verse 2).
What is truly amazing is the great revival that followed Jonah proclaiming what God told him to proclaim. Here, Jonah is obedient (for a change!) – Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD (verse 3).
OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE. The first time Jonah disobeys and God sends the storm, the fish, etc. The second time Jonah OBEYS and the people of Nineveh believed God. Romans 10:11-14
NOTE verse 10 – how can God relent? Our God has promised to be gracious when we are humble and obedient. Also, the people of Nineveh are repentant evidenced by the sackcloth and the other actions that indicate repentance.
GOD PERSEVERES WITH HIS PEOPLE. It is amazing to see how God persevered with Jonah. Many scriptures put forward this truth. God finishes what He starts, including our salvation. Perseverance does NOT MEAN that Christians are exempted from spiritual danger nor does it mean that Christians are kept from falling into sin. It DOES MEAN that all those genuinely born again are brought to the “finish line” by God’s grace.
• Philippians 1:3-6; I Peter 1:3-9
Our security in salvation is not based on our ability or strength, but on God’s.
• John 10:7-15, 10:24-30. The sheep that belong to Jesus are given to Him by the Father and they are the sheep for whom Christ died. He gives His sheep eternal life, His sheep will never perish, and no one can snatch these sheep from His hand or the Father’s hand – DOUBLY SECURE. • Romans 8:35-39
God persevered with Jonah by different means such as the wind, the storm, the lots cast by the sailors, the fish, and then God called Jonah a second time. Does God usually do this? Answer: YES
• God called an idol worshiper named Abram – Acts 7:2-4. Abram left Ur but stopped in Haran, hundreds of miles from Palestine. He would have stayed there but God came to him a second time.
• Moses killed an Egyptian supposing the Hebrews would realize he was to be the deliverer – oops – this may have been Moses’ way of deliverance but it was not God’s – Acts 7:22-25. Moses fled to Midian and lived there until God CALLED HIM A SECOND time at the burning bush – 40 years later. Acts 7:26-30
• Peter, the disciple, followed Jesus for 3+ years until he denied the Lord three times. What should be done with Peter now?! Answer: The resurrected Jesus called Peter AGAIN at Galilee – John 21:12-19.
• Such gracious mercy extended to Jonah, David, Peter, the thief on the cross, not to mention you and me, shows us that God’s mercies are “new” every morning, GREAT is His faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23
GOD GIVES A WARNING. Romans 11:17-24; Hebrews 2:1-4. The reason for passages like this is that we need warnings from God in order to persevere.
• John 17:6-12 – The Lord Perseveres!!
WHAT ABOUT OUR PURPOSE IN CHRIST? The commission to Jonah was the same both times (also Moses and Abraham). We tend to think our disobedience disqualifies us from serving God. But the reality is that God does not change His mind due to our foolishness. Ephesians 2:8-10
CONCLUSION:
1. There was a faithful preaching and hearing of God’s word. The people of Nineveh believed in God. Here is genuine faith and salvation. How do we know this? § Because genuine faith always has corresponding action. This truth is clear in Scripture – Hebrews 11 is one example: • Noah built the ark • Abraham obeyed and went from his home to a new land that God would show him § In each case, genuine faith/belief resulted in corresponding action by which the person’s trust in God was demonstrated.
2. Finally, their repentance was genuine as seen in their turning from their sin – verse 8. The king of Nineveh called for fasting and sackcloth after the people had already begun; indicating that the people responded to Jonah’s message/God’s instruction and not just to the king’s command. a. Once again, the question comes into view, “are you a good tree evidenced by bearing good fruit?”
HOMEWORK: two passages:
• II Peter 1:1-15 • Hebrews 11 (Look for the corresponding action to the faith of these believers.)