Podcasts about ninevites

Pastor Matt continued our series on the Minor Prophets today with an further look at the book of Jonah. This time, we focused on chapters 2 and 3, delving into the qualities of Jonah's prayer to God, the nature of what was missing in that prayer, and the Ninevites' response to his message.

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent. Father Dave focuses on today's reading from Jonah and the dramatic conversion of the Ninevites. Rather than just one moment, we are called to have an ongoing conversion in our faith life and continually humble ourselves. Preached at St. Paul the Apostle Church, New York City, NY on 3-12-25

In Jonah 3, we see the Ninevites turn from their evil ways and repent, but what led them to that point? What leads us to repent from our evil ways? Only God's love, shown through His grace and His mercy and sometimes even His wrath, can truly change a heart and turn a life around.Support the show

This week in our "Miracles Vol.1" series we dive into the life of Jonah, and into the miracles that happen in his life. Most of us are familiar with the story of Jonah, but do we see the true miracle that is often overlooked by the miracle of the Big Fish? Pastor Brandon teaches us through Jonah's story that running from God never makes things any better; Jonah ran away from God but learned quickly that there is nowhere we can go that is away from Him. Then, after being swallowed by the Big Fish, Jonah teaches us by example that even in our lowest moments we can cry out to God and be heard. God can get us where He wants us to go, even if we take a detour along the way. But the biggest miracle Pastor Brandon shows us from the scriptures is that God still had mercy and compassion for the Ninevites after they repented! Jonah missed it though, showing that sometimes we can feel so right that God's grace feels wrong. But Pastor Brandon encourages us, that you shouldn't limit God's love, because if you do it will then limit your life. - Key Verses // Jonah 1-4 - For Sermon Notes, the Connect Card, and our other online resources: https://linktr.ee/Celebrationchurchlive

After Jonah preaches to the Ninevites, they repented including the king.  This makes Jonah mad when God shows them grace.  Jonah leaves the city and pouts from afar.

This week in our "Miracles Vol.1" series we dive into the life of Jonah, and into the miracles that happen in his life. Most of us are familiar with the story of Jonah, but do we see the true miracle that is often overlooked by the miracle of the Big Fish? Pastor Brandon teaches us through Jonah's story that running from God never makes things any better; Jonah ran away from God but learned quickly that there is nowhere we can go that is away from Him. Then, after being swallowed by the Big Fish, Jonah teaches us by example that even in our lowest moments we can cry out to God and be heard. God can get us where He wants us to go, even if we take a detour along the way. But the biggest miracle Pastor Brandon shows us from the scriptures is that God still had mercy and compassion for the Ninevites after they repented! Jonah missed it though, showing that sometimes we can feel so right that God's grace feels wrong. But Pastor Brandon encourages us, that you shouldn't limit God's love, because if you do it will then limit your life. - Key Verses // Jonah 1-4 - For Sermon Notes, the Connect Card, and our other online resources: https://linktr.ee/Celebrationchurchlive

Jonah 4. Jessica unpacks Jonah's indignation at God for forgiving the Ninevites...and asks where that sentiment might reside in us.

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Luke 11:29-32 - While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Scott Smith on his book: Near-Death Experiences https://sophiainstitute.com/product/near-death-experiences/

Gospel Luke 11:29-32 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here." Reflection Jesus talks about the kingdom of God and what it means to believe in it. What is this sign that we're looking for? It's so interesting that Jesus, when he looks at the generation around him that's always asking for signs, he points out what the core sign truly is, the sign of Jonah. And what does that mean? It means that Jonah was swallowed by a whale, three days he was in the stomach of the whale, and then he was released. He lived. That image is the image of what Jesus has come into the world to establish. The end of evil's power, to destroy. And basically, what we see in Jesus is his own death, he gives in to evil. Everyone thinks there again, evil has done something awful and destroyed the good it was in Jesus. And what we need to realize, no he rose three days later. He destroys the death that evil could cause before our redemption. Closing Prayer It's so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that things are going in the wrong direction. That is evil is winning. Nothing is further from the truth. Evil, when it's exposed, is vulnerable. And the vulnerability that is there is the realization, in the believer's, that they know that evil has been destroyed and there is no fear of evil. Only hope and trust in the mystery of the sign of Jonah. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends of the Rosary,The prophet Jonah walked through the large city of Nineveh — a New York of that time —preaching repentance for three days, as we read today (Luke 11:29-32).At Jonah's preaching, the Ninevites turned back to God. They repented and believed, detaching from worldly pleasures and preoccupations.Christ himself — who is greater than Jonah — is the source of our repentance and conversion. He was born to die in the Cross, offering himself for our redemption and salvation.Today, we invoke his mercy so His goodness and compassion wipe out our offenses.As Bishop Barron encourages us, “Go beyond the mind that you have. Repent. Live as though nothing in this world finally matters. And you will be living in the kingdom of God.”Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!+ Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠March 12, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,"This generation is an evil generation;it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,except the sign of Jonah.Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,so will the Son of Man be to this generation.At the judgmentthe queen of the south will rise with the men of this generationand she will condemn them,because she came from the ends of the earthto hear the wisdom of Solomon,and there is something greater than Solomon here.At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generationand condemn it,because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,and there is something greater than Jonah here."

+ Holy Gospel according to St. Luke 11: 29 – 32 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here. The Gospel of the Lord

Lk 11:29-32While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,"This generation is an evil generation;it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,except the sign of Jonah.Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,so will the Son of Man be to this generation.At the judgmentthe queen of the south will rise with the men of this generationand she will condemn them,because she came from the ends of the earthto hear the wisdom of Solomon,and there is something greater than Solomon here.At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generationand condemn it,because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,and there is something greater than Jonah here."

Jonah and Jesus Today, Pastor Michael is continuing the story of Jonah and his continual running from God, notably because he did not agree with a decision made by the Lord to warn the city of Nineveh's citizens of immenent destruction.  Jonah did not like God showing mercy to the Ninevites, so he was trying to get as far away from the situation as he could! Big problem, though.  You cannot run away from the creator of the universe! At this point in the story, Jonah is in the belly of a whale (fish in those days) due to him being cast into the sea by sailors who wanted to appease God for Jonah running from Him.  So Jonah is praying fervently to God from the belly of the whale, obviously knowing God called the storm and the fish, as part of a plan to show Jonah, you can't run from God.  And Jonah heartily repented in prayer and the Lord made the whale spit Jonah out to dry land.  Today's take away is, “Swallowed by sin, set free by the Savior.” Today's verses can be found in Jonah 1: 17 - 2: 10. Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. 

The author of the book is Jonah. His name (הָונֹי Yonah) means “dove.” Yahshua Messiah mentions Jonah, and the account of this book, as true history (Mat 12:39-41)Jonah had strong national pride and hated the Assyrians, and his attitude reflected that of Israel. Though Yahweh hated the evil of the Assyrians, He loved them and desired their salvation. For this reason, Yahweh called Jonah to preach to them (Jon 1:1-2), but His prophet declined and ran away (Jon 1:3). Yahweh began a series of judgments upon His disobedient prophet which included a storm (Jon 1:4), the pressure of Gentile sailors (Jon 1:5-16), and a great fish that swallowed him (Jon 1:17). From the belly of the great fish Jonah was humbled and cried out to the Lord, who saved him (Jon 2:1-10). The humbled prophet then obeyed the Lord and preached to the Ninevites (Jon 3:1-4), and the people of the city believed in Yahweh and the Lord changed His mind about the judgment He was going to bring on them (Jon 3:5-10). Yahweh's mercy and grace greatly upset Jonah to the point where he wanted to die (Jon 4:1-3), but the grace Yahweh showed to Nineveh was shown to Jonah, which grace reflects the Lord's sovereignty (Jon 4:4-11). The overall purpose of the book of Jonah is to reveal that Yahweh's grace, compassion, and mercy extends to evil and hostile nations just as it does to His peopleIn this study we will finish Chapter 3In our last study we read about Jonah getting a second chance from Yahweh to go Nineveh and preach to them. This time Jonah didn't try to run and hide but listen to the words of Yahweh! We read in verse 5 that the people of Nineveh “believed” in the divine message from Yahweh through Jonah. Even though we may not see the word “repent” we are lead to believe that the people of Nineveh did “repent”7    The King made it a law that all should participate in the offering to The One True Yahweh. So serious did the Ninevites take this vow that even their animals were ordered to participate in it. Yahweh surely touched the hearts of the people of Nineveh in a very strong way. For just a few days prior, Nineveh was worshiping fish gods and participating in all forms of wickedness and idolatry9              turn and repent = Change His mind, turn away from destroying them. They are holding faith that if the repent and change their evil ways, that Yahweh will spare them. This no doubt impressed Yahweh, for Nineveh as you remember, was a Heathen Pagan evil city. I'm sure that Yahweh was impressed at the heartfelt change and sacrifice that the Ninevites had made10           their works = Not their words only, but Yahweh recognized the sincere change that they had made. Nineveh had been saved by the grace and mercy of the Lord because they effected a real change. Don't read over the fact that Yahweh expects something from you                Elohim saw their works…and Elohim repented = Yahweh honored Nineveh's repentance, even though their past sin was reason enough for an outpouring of judgment. The state would never forgive a cold-blooded murderer who vowed to never do it again, but Yahweh mercifully repented from judgment against the people of NinevehWe do not obligate Yahweh to forgive us when we repent. Instead, repentance appeals to Yahweh's mercy, not His justice Yahweh repented from the evil that He had said He would do unto them, and He did it not = Did Yahweh's repenting make Jonah a false prophet, when he prophesied Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown? Not at all, for two good reasonsJoin me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com 

Pastor David shows us, Jonah is the messenger of Grace to the Ninevites, but he himself is the undeserving recipent in dire need of it.

Luke 11:14-36New King James Version:A House Divided Cannot Stand14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by [a]Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”16 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. 17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his [b]spoils. 23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.An Unclean Spirit Returns24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.' 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”Keeping the Word27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”28 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”Seeking a Sign29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah [c]the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.The Lamp of the Body33 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is [d]good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is [e]bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

When we come to Luke 11:28-32, it appears that Jesus has finishedHis lessons on the subject of prayer and a crowd of both curious people and contentiousreligious leaders have “thickly gathered together” around Him and His disciples. It appears at the point thecrowd really begins to press in upon Jesus on every side and then He gives thema message of condemnation and judgement (vv. 29-36). Jesus was not impressed by the big crowds, but most likely,the disciples were. And because Jesus knew what was in their hearts of thereligious leaders and the crowd, in order to keep the Twelve from being swayedby "success," Jesus gave them some insights into what was reallyhappening as they ministered the Word to the large crowds of people thatsurrounded them. He reveals the unbelief of their hearts despite the signs thatHe had already given them over the past three years of His ministry in Galilee. Like so many people today who say, “Show me a miracle and Iwill believe”, the Jewish leaders kept asking Jesus for a sign to prove that Hewas the Messiah. The only sign He promised was "the sign of Jonah theprophet." What was the sign of Jonah? What was his story? Remember he disobeyGod's command to go to Nineveh and went the opposite direction to Tarshish. Godpunished him by putting him the belly of whale for three days and three nights.He repented and went to Nineveh with a message of coming judgement, and theyrepented. How interesting that Jonah was as displeased by the repentance ofNineveh as the religious leaders of the Lord's generation were at therepentance of people in all parts of the country!  Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites. He had been three daysand nights in what he called "the belly of hell." When he marchedthrough their streets, it was with a face livid and terrifying from the fierceaction of the gastric juices of the great fish. The man himself was as much themessage as the words that he proclaimed; he was a sign. "God will punishsin!" It was written all over the disobedient prophet. But there he was,alive from the dead, a living epistle. They could infer from that the fact that"God will pardon sinners." But Jonah was also a sign of the coming death, burial andresurrection of Jesus Christ! This is the greatest sign given by “a greaterthan Jonah”, Jesus Christ! It is the resurrection of our Lord that proves He isthe Messiah, the Son of God (Rom. 1:4), and this is what Peter preached toIsrael on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:22ff). The witness of the early churchwas centered on Christ's resurrection (Acts 1:22; 3:15; 5:30-32; 13:32-33).Jonah was a living miracle and so is our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus also reminded them of Solomon and the “Queen of theSouth”. The emphasis here is on the wisdom of a king, not the works of aprophet. The Queen of Sheba traveled many miles to hear the wisdom of Solomon(1 Kings 10), but here was the very Son of God in their midst, and the Jewswould not believe His words! Even if Jesus had performed a sign, it would nothave changed their hearts. They needed the living wisdom of God, but they werecontent with their stale religious tradition. When Jonah preached to theGentiles in Nineveh, they repented and were spared. When a Gentile queen heardSolomon's wisdom, she marveled and believed. If, with all their privileges, theJews did not repent, then the people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba wouldbear witness against them in the last judgment. The Lord gave Israel so manyopportunities, yet they would not believe (Luke 13:34-35; John 12:35-41). Today, we have the complete Bible, and the historical factsof the resurrection of Jesus Christ, yet still so many chose their sins andreligion over believing and putting their faith in Jesus Christ. How great willtheir condemnation and judgment be?

JONAH was the most ancient of all the prophets whose writings have come down to us. He is supposed to have prophesied in the latter end of Jehu's or the beginning of Jehoahaz's reignThe author of the book is Jonah. His name (הָונֹי Yonah) means “dove.” Yahshua Messiah mentions Jonah, and the account of this book, as true history (Mat 12:39-41).The book of Jonah was written to Israel to show that Yahweh's grace and mercy extends to Gentiles, even those whom Israel regards as their evil enemies.In this study we will begin in Chapter 3. In the last chapter we saw Jonah being spit or vomited up onto dry land by the great fish. In this Chapter 3 we are going to see that the people of Nineveh instantly accept Jonah. This would certainly seem odd for a heathen Pagan city, if we did not understand that the Ninevites worshiped a fish-headed god name 'Dagon'. Side note if you look and the headdress of the Catholic Pope and bishops you will notice the Dagon fish like hat that they wear! So to the Ninevites this man Jonah, who claimed to speak for Yahweh, and whom was delivered unto them by an immense fish, must be a Divine sign. The Ninevites took to Jonah and his message like a fish takes to water. But seriously, if they worshiped a fish god, and this man was delivered (sent) to them by a fish, they would almost worship him, and would most certainly heed any warning he delivered. Perhaps this was Almighty Yahweh's plan all along.2    great city = Not good, but this word 'great' in the Hebrew is 'gadowl'; Hebrew word #1419, and it means: massive, proud, disrespectful, and of old.3   great city of three days' journey = Not three days from where Jonah was, but this was a form of measure in those days. What this is saying is that the city was so large that it was three days walk to go around its outer walls. Three day's journey was approximately sixty miles around. Quite a large city for those days and in [4:11] we see that Nineveh had six score thousand inhabitants (120,000).4   began to enter into the city a day's journey = Jonah walked 20 miles into the heart of the city. cried = Proclaimed (same word used for 'preach' in verse 2).  forty = In Biblical numeric's, the number forty represents probation, and Nineveh had just about exhausted Yahweh's patience, their probation from destruction was ending in forty days. overthrown = Destroyed. This is Hebrew word #2015: 'haphak', and it is the identical word used of Yahweh's destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah [Gen 19:24-25]. The Ninevites may have been aware of the 'legend' of Yahweh's judgment and destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah5    believed = Believed the proclamation of their impending doom, and sought to atone to Yahweh wherein they might be spared.  proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth = A sign of mourning and repentance from the greatest. . . = Everyone in Nineveh heeded Yahweh's words through Jonah, and they all participated in the offering of repentance to the Lord.Jonah's message had an extraordinary effect upon the people in Nineveh. They understood that Yahweh had sent Jonah to declare this message on Yahweh's behalf. So they gave careful attention to what Jonah was saying. They believed that Yahweh had made his judgment against them. They had just 40 days until the time when they, and their great city, would suffer a terrible punishment. In that punishment, they would lose their lives and everything that they possessed.Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com 

Dr. David Swanson | Jonah 1:1-12Jonah is famous for his disobedience, but more than that, we see that he did not love the Ninevites and remains angry even at the end. We are all works in progress - sometimes, God leaves the end of the story up in the air.

In this week's sermon, Pastor John walks through Jonah 3 and how the Ninevites repented which leads to our repentance. More so, it leads to our unreserved yes to the God of all creation.

This episode is all about Ba'utha (Supplication of the Ninevites): a liturgical mini-season of the Chaldean rite that involves fasting and prayer. We discuss the origins of Ba'utha, its theological significance, and share our personal experiences of fasting and praying during this time. Learn about the story of Jonah and its connection to Ba'utha, as well as the importance of fasting in fostering spiritual growth. At the end, we enjoy a favorite snack that's commonly eaten during Ba'utha and Lent.  Featuring: Fr. Simon Esshaki, Fr. Daniel Shaba, and Fr. Ankido Sipo

In this episode of Arise+Abide, Sally and Curtis delve into Jonah Chapter 3, exploring the remarkable story of Nineveh's repentance. Following Jonah's deliverance from the belly of the great fish, God gives him a second chance to deliver His message to the people of Nineveh. The hosts reflect on Jonah's obedience, the simplicity and power of his prophecy, and the profound response of the Ninevites, from the king to the common people. They discuss themes of humility, repentance, and God's eagerness to show mercy to those who turn from their wicked ways. This episode challenges listeners to examine their own lives: Are we stepping down from the thrones we've placed ourselves on and putting God first? Tune in for an inspiring conversation about obedience, transformation, and the boundless compassion of God.   Follow-Up Questions: How might the speakers' insights on obedience and humility apply to the listeners' own lives and faith journeys? [07:08] What other examples from the Bible or personal experiences could the speakers draw upon to further illustrate the themes of God's compassion and mercy? [10:51] How can the listeners actively seek to make God's character known to those around them, as the speakers emphasize is the purpose of God's interactions with His people?

When Jonah's preaching successfully causes the Ninevites to repent, why does he react with anger?Support us on Patreon for access to our series on the Gospel of JohnApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications 

This week, Pastor Joie Miller preaches from The Book of Jonah, a biblical showcase of the consequences of pursuing what we want to do versus what we are called to do. After God instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah fled from the seaport at Joppa instead. While Jonah tried to use his feelings towards the Ninevites to justify his actions, God had called him to go because he wanted him to grow. This year, reflect on the Joppas you're justifying. Like Jonah, God will take you through to get you to.

This week, Pastor Joie Miller preaches from The Book of Jonah, a biblical showcase of the consequences of pursuing what we want to do versus what we are called to do. After God instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah fled from the seaport at Joppa instead. While Jonah tried to use his feelings towards the Ninevites to justify his actions, God had called him to go because he wanted him to grow. This year, reflect on the Joppas you're justifying. Like Jonah, God will take you through to get you to.

We are Jonah Updated: Dec 28, 2024   Jonah 1:1-3 NIV   1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.         Psalm 139:7-12 NIV   Where can I go from your Spirit?   Where can I flee from your presence?   8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.   9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,   if I settle on the far side of the sea,   10 even there your hand will guide me,   your right hand will hold me fast.   11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me   and the light become night around me,”   12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;   the night will shine like the day,   for darkness is as light to you.       Jonah 1:4-17 NIV   4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.” 7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” 9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”   10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.) 11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”   12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”   13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.   17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.       Jonah 2:1-10 NIV   2 1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:   “In my distress I called to the Lord,   and he answered me.   From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,   and you listened to my cry.   3 You hurled me into the depths,   into the very heart of the seas,   and the currents swirled about me;   all your waves and breakers   swept over me.   4 I said, ‘I have been banished   from your sight;   yet I will look again   toward your holy temple.'   5 The engulfing waters threatened me,   the deep surrounded me;   seaweed was wrapped around my head.   6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;   the earth beneath barred me in forever.   But you, Lord my God,   brought my life up from the pit.   7 “When my life was ebbing away,   I remembered you, Lord,   and my prayer rose to you,   to your holy temple.   8 “Those who cling to worthless idols   turn away from God's love for them.   9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise,   will sacrifice to you.   What I have vowed I will make good.   I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.'”   10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.       Jonah 3:1-3 NIV   3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”   3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.                                                 2 Chronicles 32:9 ESV   9 After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem       Isaiah 36:1 ESV   In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.       Isaiah 37:1 ESV   As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord.       Isaiah 37:36-37 ESV   36 And the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 37 Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home and lived at Nineveh.       Jonah 3:4-10 NIV   4 Jonah began by going a day's journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”   5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When Jonah's warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.   7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:   “By the decree of the king and his nobles:   Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”   10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.       Jonah 4:1-3 NIV   4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall (prevent) by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”       Jonah 4:4-11 NIV   4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”   5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”   9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”   “It is,” he said. “And I'm so angry I wish I were dead.”   10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”      

 Is our world in a hopeless condition?  The indications that it is are multiplying. The nations are too self-centred to take any effective action over global warming and the weather is getting more extreme.  The United Nations are more disunited than ever over many issues, especially over Israel. The money woes of the nations increase and move from crisis to crisis; efforts to achieve disarmament are useless, the economies of some nations depend on making and selling weapons! And above all, efforts at moral reform no longer exist, instead laws are relaxed to allow many unnatural kinds of behaviour, ways of living God deplores. We saw a lesson related to that last point as we completed reading the prophecy of Nahum against Nineveh today. It had repented at the preaching of Jonah, but the following generations had gone back to their old ways; doom is now pronounced by God, Nahum's concluding words to them are – “upon whom has not come your unceasing evil.” Through his prophet Zephaniah God said, “I will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.” [2 v.13]  And it happened. As we start reading Peter's letters we see how appropriate they are for us.  His urgent message is for believers to have a strong faith, to remain steadfast as trials increase.  He writes of “the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” [1 v.7]  The whole chapter is a powerful message, but we took special note of v.13, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”   No half measures will be adequate; as the world becomes even more hopeless,  Peter tells them, “you have been born again” [v.23] and then tells them how!  “Born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”  The seed of God's message must “abide” in our hearts if we really want to prepare “our minds for action.”   Jonah's message to Nineveh had proved to be perishable, the children did not learn the lesson as their parents had.  If we are to succeed where the Ninevites failed how vital it is for us to feed on and digest God's word every day.  

Send us a textAfter his homerun in Nineveh, Jonah went into a depression. HE preached and the whole city got saved and he became angry. Why would Jonah be so angry at such a successful ministry? That's because he hated what God loved. God loves repentance that leads to salvation. for Jonah, he hated the salvation of the Ninevites. This sent him spiraling down and again, he ran from God.Another lesson we will learn is do not repeat behavior that didn't work the first time.Wil Jonah ever learn? Let's listen and see.

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Yes, you read the sermon title right. If the Gospel was fair, and we got what we fairly deserved, then we'd be eternally separated from God. As we finish our journey through the book of Jonah, we see what happens when Jonah finds God's compassion for the Ninevites to be unfair.

Keywords: Jonah,Book of Jonah,Revival, Character Of God,Free Sermons, Video Sermons, Jesus Christ, What Is The Gospel, Sermon Index, What Is The Truth, kjv bible, Audio Bible, Bible, God, God's Love, Scriptures, Holy Bible, Prophets, Apostles, KJV, Jesus,Christ, audiobook, book, holy life, love, bible verses, king james bible audio, audio bible KJV, king james bible online audio, bible audio, online bible kjv, audio bible kjv, daily bible verse, bible verse of the day, KJV audio, Remastered, Best Version, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, The Chosen, Salvation, Saved, Christian, Suffering Servant, Arm of the Lord, Plants Roots, Despised Rejected, Sorrows, Peace War, Crucifixtion, The Cross, Violence, Judgement, Master Servant, Life Death, Old Testament, Exposed, Music, Education, Great Tribulation, Endtimes, Top Bible Verses, Bible Topic Prayer, Amazing Love Story, Epic, HOPE, FAITH, The MESSIAH, bc, biblical commentaries, bible commentaries, Evangelical commentaries, New Testament, Old Testament, Evangelicalism, bible study, Word of God, scripture, scriptures, Matthew Henry's biblical commentary, bible commentary, Matthew Henry commentary, God's Word, Matthew Henry, studying the Bible, understanding the Bible, God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Spiritual, Hope, Jesus Answers Prayer, Answers to Prayer, Prayer, Pray, God Answers Prayer ⚠️ Support our ministry: https://ko-fi.com/jesusanswersprayers ❓️ How does this chapter apply to you?

Keywords: Jonah,Book of Jonah,Revival, Character Of God,Free Sermons, Video Sermons, Jesus Christ, What Is The Gospel, Sermon Index, What Is The Truth, kjv bible, Audio Bible, Bible, God, God's Love, Scriptures, Holy Bible, Prophets, Apostles, KJV, Jesus,Christ, audiobook, book, holy life, love, bible verses, king james bible audio, audio bible KJV, king james bible online audio, bible audio, online bible kjv, audio bible kjv, daily bible verse, bible verse of the day, KJV audio, Remastered, Best Version, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, The Chosen, Salvation, Saved, Christian, Suffering Servant, Arm of the Lord, Plants Roots, Despised Rejected, Sorrows, Peace War, Crucifixtion, The Cross, Violence, Judgement, Master Servant, Life Death, Old Testament, Exposed, Music, Education, Great Tribulation, Endtimes, Top Bible Verses, Bible Topic Prayer, Amazing Love Story, Epic, HOPE, FAITH, The MESSIAH, bc, biblical commentaries, bible commentaries, Evangelical commentaries, New Testament, Old Testament, Evangelicalism, bible study, Word of God, scripture, scriptures, Matthew Henry's biblical commentary, bible commentary, Matthew Henry commentary, God's Word, Matthew Henry, studying the Bible, understanding the Bible, God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Spiritual, Hope, Jesus Answers Prayer, Answers to Prayer, Prayer, Pray, God Answers Prayer ⚠️ Support our ministry: https://ko-fi.com/jesusanswersprayers ❓️ How does this chapter apply to you?

Keywords: Jonah,Book of Jonah,Revival, Character Of God,Free Sermons, Video Sermons, Jesus Christ, What Is The Gospel, Sermon Index, What Is The Truth, kjv bible, Audio Bible, Bible, God, God's Love, Scriptures, Holy Bible, Prophets, Apostles, KJV, Jesus,Christ, audiobook, book, holy life, love, bible verses, king james bible audio, audio bible KJV, king james bible online audio, bible audio, online bible kjv, audio bible kjv, daily bible verse, bible verse of the day, KJV audio, Remastered, Best Version, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, The Chosen, Salvation, Saved, Christian, Suffering Servant, Arm of the Lord, Plants Roots, Despised Rejected, Sorrows, Peace War, Crucifixtion, The Cross, Violence, Judgement, Master Servant, Life Death, Old Testament, Exposed, Music, Education, Great Tribulation, Endtimes, Top Bible Verses, Bible Topic Prayer, Amazing Love Story, Epic, HOPE, FAITH, The MESSIAH, bc, biblical commentaries, bible commentaries, Evangelical commentaries, New Testament, Old Testament, Evangelicalism, bible study, Word of God, scripture, scriptures, Matthew Henry's biblical commentary, bible commentary, Matthew Henry commentary, God's Word, Matthew Henry, studying the Bible, understanding the Bible, God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Spiritual, Hope, Jesus Answers Prayer, Answers to Prayer, Prayer, Pray, God Answers Prayer ⚠️ Support our ministry: https://ko-fi.com/jesusanswersprayers ❓️ How does this chapter apply to you?

We will continue our exploration of the Narrative Lectionary by studying the familiar story of Jonah. While Jonah is most well-known for the three days and nights he spent in the belly of a fish, few remember why Jonah found himself in such a peculiar predicament. More than simply setting up the story of Jonah's fishy lodging place, the scripture lesson will teach us a great deal about both the beautiful and brutal dimensions of God's call. As we worship, we may find ourselves relating to Jonah, the sailors, the Ninevites, or potentially, each. Regardless of where we find ourselves this morning, Jonah's story has a powerful word to speak to each of us and God's world. Sermon delivered on Jonah 1:1-17 by the Reverend David J. Powers on November 10, 2024.

In this heartfelt and inspiring devotion, we explore the profound impact of God's faithfulness and sovereignty in our lives. Reflecting on personal experiences and scripture, the speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's plan, even in moments of affliction. By drawing parallels to the stories of Jonah and the Ninevites, and the Psalmist's acknowledgment of God's intentional guidance, this message reminds us to trust in God's purpose and to find joy in His faithfulness. Join us in this spiritual journey to deepen your faith and understanding of God's unwavering commitment to our good and His glory. 00:00 Finding the Savior 00:29 God's Plan and Faithfulness 01:28 Lessons from the Psalmist 02:11 Jonah's Anger and God's Mercy 05:15 Affliction and God's Sovereignty 09:23 Conclusion and Blessings

But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left and also many animals?” ~ Jonah 4:9-11 It seems like Jonah has made his presence known often in worship over the last couple of years. He was one of the Faces of Our Faith in our summer sermon series last year and just this past summer he appeared in our Come to the Water summer sermon series. And now, here he is again in our Narrative Lectionary reading for this Sunday. Jonah, Again? This time I will focus on the end of Jonah's story, the part we probably read less often. At the end of the story Jonah is in a bad mood because God decided that the Ninevites are not so bad after all and spares their city. That makes Jonah really mad. On Sunday, I'll talk about why Jonah is mad and the lessons we can learn from God's response.

Pastor Christian Powell preaches to the Faith Church congregation on Wednesday night, October 30, 2024. This is the 7th week of his series on the minor prophets titled "God Still Speaks: Major Truth From The Minor Prophets". Week 7 deals with the book of Nahum. The Book of Nahum is God's pronouncement of judgment on the Ninevites (the Assyrians). This message comes from the text in Nahum 1:1-8.

The roles are reversed: Rick asks Svea about her message on Jonah and we get insight into what didn't make it into the message this past week.Topics discussed in this episode:00:00 Intro01:33 Believing God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love at the heart level banishes fear, heals hurts, and melts anger.04:00 How do you recognize the real ugliness and brokenness in the world that touches our lives, remember who God is and what we're like in him in such a way we are not angry people?08:12 What was left on the cutting room floor?09:17 Answer: Jonah didn't want to be seen as a fool to the Ninevites or his own people because God relented on overthrowing the Ninevites.16:25 Why do we want to whitewash certain biblical figures?18:08 We want simple - the good guys and the bad guys, but we're all good guys and bad guys.25:11 Elijah and Jonah - similarities and differences.27:26 Rebellion and religion are almost identical - they both lead to the same thing - self-reliance.29:06 Jesus is the better Jonah.

Julie and Liz kayaked off the coast of California, scouting for humpback whales. Humpbacks are known for being active near the surface, making them easy to spot. The two women got the surprise of their lives when one surfaced directly underneath them. An onlooker caught footage of their encounter that showed the large mouth of the whale dwarfing the women and their kayaks. After briefly going underwater, the women escaped unharmed. Their experience offers perspective on the biblical account of the prophet Jonah being swallowed by a “huge fish” (Jonah 1:17). God had instructed him to preach to the Ninevites but because they’d rejected God, Jonah didn’t feel they were worthy of His forgiveness. Instead of obeying, he ran away in the opposite direction and took passage on a ship. God sent a dangerous storm, and he was thrown overboard. God provided a way to preserve Jonah from certain death on the high seas, sparing him the far-worse consequences of his actions (though three days in the belly of a massive fish doesn’t appeal much either). Jonah “called to the Lord” and God listened (2:2). After Jonah admitted his wrongdoing and expressed his praise and acknowledgment of God’s goodness, he was—at His command—expelled from the fish “onto dry land” (v. 10). By God’s grace, when we acknowledge our wrongdoings and express faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, we’re spared the spiritual death we deserve and experience new life through Him.

Where is Jonah's compassion after the repentance of the Ninevites? It's what God wants to know. God shows that he is both merciful and just in the object lessons to Jonah, and asks us the same question – where is our compassion?

Today's Topics: 1) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel - LK 11:29-32 - While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment  the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation  and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.” Memorial of Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr Saint Callistus, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Gospel Luke 11:29-32 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment  the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.” Reflection In the Old Testament, God used prophets and kings to present things to people that they would have to understand and fathom and grow into the truth of what he was teaching them. The same is now true in the New Testament. But Jesus underscores one crucial element. No one is going to be open to the signs that God has given unless they have a spirit of openness, wonder, curiosity, and a willingness to change. It's a challenge for all of us to read the signs today that are around us, and we need to be more open and receptive to whatever God is trying to show us today. Closing Prayer Father, open our heart, open our minds, open our spirit to what is out there to teach us. Help us to ponder things, wonder about things, spend times reflecting so we can find the kingdom of God that is in our midst. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,“This generation is an evil generation;it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,except the sign of Jonah.Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,so will the Son of Man be to this generation.At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generationand she will condemn them,because she came from the ends of the earthto hear the wisdom of Solomon,and there is something greater than Solomon here.At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it,because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

October 14, 2024Homily: Jonah's storyFr. BennyGospelLK 11:29-32While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,“This generation is an evil generation;it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,except the sign of Jonah.Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,so will the Son of Man be to this generation.At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generationand she will condemn them,because she came from the ends of the earthto hear the wisdom of Solomon,and there is something greater than Solomon here.At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it,because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,and there is something greater than Jonah here.”ST JOSEPH'S ONLINE:Web: https://www.stjmod.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjmod/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stjmod/Giving: https://ppay.co/yohL5SoVCT8

Read Online“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.” Luke 11:29–30Do you ever find yourself looking for signs from God? Often when we go through life, navigating through the ups and downs we all experience, we can easily find ourselves looking for signs from God about what we should do about this or that. And though God certainly communicates to us at times through special graces that are signs from Heaven, the passage above gives clarity to what sign we must be most attentive to.The simple message in this Gospel passage from our Lord is that we must discover the meaning of the most profound sign ever given and use that as the foundation of all our decisions in life. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection were not only the source of eternal life, they are also the clearest sign we need as we make all of our decisions in life.A sign is some action that reveals a deep and hidden mystery. One mystery that Jesus' life, death and resurrection reveals is that if we are to share in the new life won for us by His Cross, then we must follow the example He set by living a life of selfless sacrifice, laying down our lives for others, so that they will discover and embrace the new life of Christ's Resurrection. Practically speaking, if you find yourself looking for answers in life, seeking signs from God about what you should do at times, then turn your eyes to the life of Christ and ponder ways in which you can more fully imitate His life in every daily practical decision you make. This is true whether you are discerning some important decision in life or some small practical decision. It is common to engage in such a discernment by looking at ourselves in a more selfish way. It's difficult to move away from this line of thinking, but if we are to use the “sign” of the Son of Man, then we will discern our life decisions very differently. When we use the life, death and resurrection of our Lord as the source of our discernment and decision making in life, then we will end up making decisions that imitate His selfless sacrifice of love. So if you are faced with a decision, you will not ponder what is easier or what you prefer; rather, you will ponder what is more selfless and best for others. What is it that best imitates the sacrificial love of Jesus?Reflect, today, upon any decision you are trying to make. Then reflect upon how you are going about this decision. Do you use the witness Jesus gave to us as the foundation of your discernment? Do you reflect upon how you can lay your life down as a sacrificial gift for others? Do you look at love from the point of view of the Cross of our Lord and strive to imitate His glorious and selfless dedication to the salvation of those whom He loves? Seek to imitate our Lord, using the witness of His actions as the foundation of all of your discernment and decisions in life, and you will have discovered the only true sign you need to navigate the challenges of life.My perfect Lord, every decision You made in life was made out of love and was in accord with the perfect will of the Father. Give me the grace I need to make every decision in life in imitation of Your perfect example. May my life imitate You as You laid down Your life for others. I choose You and Your glorious sacrificial life as the sign by which I am directed in life. Jesus, I trust in You.  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay

How to Support the Rob Skinner Podcast.  If you would like to help support my mission to multiply disciples, leaders and churches, click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/robskinner     Transcript of Matthew 12:38-49   Introduction   1.     The Demand for a Sign:  12:38 38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”  39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here. Jesus makes a judgment on that generation.  They were demanding a “sign from heaven” (Luke 11:16) in addition to the miracles he had been doing.  Their request wasn't based on faith but unbelief.  If they aren't convinced by now, what miracle can persuade them?  Their motive wasn't to confirm their faith but for some other reason.  Jesus goes on to shame them with two examples of faithful responses by gentiles.  First, the Ninevites who responded to Jonah's preaching and then the Queen of the South who traveled so far to listen to Soloman's wisdom.  Jesus says that something greater than Jonah and Soloman is here.  Along with his previous reference that something greater than the temple is here, there are three things he is building his authority on.  The temple includes the priesthood, Jonah is representative of the prophets and Solomon represents the monarchy.  These were the pillars of Israel' nation and history.  Jesus is greater than the temple and priesthood, the prophets and the kings or monarchy.  Even non-Jews responded to these lesser people and now someone far greater is here and people won't respond. Some of us are waiting on God to give us a custom sign that we should follow him.  We want a “sign from heaven.”  We downplay, discount or disregard the miracles he has already done in our life: ·        Life itself ·        The blessings he has poured into our life ·        The “coincidences” and minor miracles he has already done ·        The Word of God that reveals God's will for us ·        The people God has put in our life at the right time ·        The times God has rescued us from disaster or from ourselves. We ignore all of these and ask God to do something more.  What that is, we are often not sure.  But it keeps us waiting and allows us to make no decision for God.  Jesus says this behavior is that of a wicked and adulterous generation.  Like an unfaithful wife or husband, you are always looking for something or someone else to make you happy.  What's it going to take for Jesus to persuade you?  I studied the Bible with a student at Stanford University.  He seemed to be waiting for something.  Finally, I told him I ran out of scriptures.  There was no point in still meeting together.  That shook him up and he got baptized shortly afterwards.   2.    Wandering Spirits:  12:43-45 43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” This story points out the danger of repentance without relationship.  When you drive out an evil spirit, you must replace it with a good spirit.  Repentance without Jesus leaves a vacuum.  Many in that generation had repented at the preaching of John the Baptist, but they needed to replace that old sin with the presence of Jesus and discipleship to him.  The Jews had come back from exile and had driven out idolatry.  But when Jesus came along, they didn't let him in.  They didn't fill that empty house with someone greater than their old sin and demons.  If you aren't positively for Jesus, you may end up against him.  You may have recently become a Christian.  You believed the gospel, turned away from sin and got your sins forgiven in baptism.  That's awesome!  However, you need to fill your heart and mind with Jesus and love for him.  Because if you don't, those old sins and demons will come back stronger than before. As a young Christian, I was struggling with pride and impurity.  A minister showed me this scripture and said I was focused on the wrong thing.  I was focused on “not sinning.”  I need to focus on loving Jesus.  That was great advice and when I grew in my love, it forced out the demons that were knocking on my door. I want to talk to you young Christians.  Now that you've turned from your old life, it's time to add to your repentance a growing love for Jesus.  You need to: ·        Read the Bible all the time, crave it ·        Pray ·        Fast ·        Spend time with disciples ·        Sing songs, listen to spiritual songs ·        Love the fellowship ·        Serve in the church What's the goal?  Do things that fill your heart with a greater love for Jesus.  If you are just “white knuckling” it, trying to say no to old sin, you will have a hard time staying faithful to God.  Why?  You haven't replaced the sin and demons that were in your life with good things and the fruit of the spirit, things like love, joy, peace patience, goodness and self-control (2 Peter 1).  Jacob is a good example of this.  He is engaged in the fellowship and devoted to growing. When you see people baptized and then after a short period of time they are gone, you realize that a clean and empty heart is a vacuum that attracts evil to return in even greater measure.   3.    Physical and Spiritual Family:  12:46-50 46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”  48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Jesus puts into practice his teaching  (10:37) that you need to love God more than your family.  His physical family didn't believe him until later.  They had come to take charge of him because they thought he was out of his mind.  Jesus explicitly points out what it takes to be part of his family.  It takes practical obedience.  “Whoever does the will of my father” is the same phrasing he uses back in Matthew 7:21 when he defines those who will be allowed into heaven.  Just saying “Lord, Lord” won't do it.  Obedience will.  If you want to be part of royalty, you have to be born into it.  But if you want to be part of God's family, something greater by far, you join it by practical obedience.  Your actions or deeds determine the quality of your relationship with God.  Obedience is what brings us together as a spiritual family. It was fantastic to join a Young Professionals gathering yesterday morning.  This group of guys is getting stronger and stronger.  Their bond is found in their relationship with God.  They are spiritual brothers.    Next Steps ·        Stop waiting for a “sign from heaven.”  Believe, repent and get baptized ·        Do at least one thing or habit this week that increases your love for Jesus ·        Devote yourself to your spiritual family, get connected to Jesus' family 

Do artists get exceedingly angry when their art is chosen for display at the Met? No! So why would Jonah get exceedingly angry when, in response to his preaching, the Ninevites actually turn away from violence and turn to the living God?  The answer has to do with the love of God. The incredible collapse of Jonah is because he misunderstands God's love. And the collapses in our lives may very well have the same roots. So let's look now at how God's love is a patient love.  Let's ask two questions: 1) why is God's patient love not more operative and powerful in our lives? and 2) how can God's patient love be more operative and powerful in our lives? This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on September 2, 1990. Series: Jonah. Scripture: Jonah 4:1-10. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

There's a subplot in the book Jonah: it's Jonah's impact on the sailors and their impact on him. Do you see the exquisite irony here? Jonah runs away because he hates the dirty pagan Ninevites. He doesn't think they can change and he doesn't care enough to want them to change. But then, Jonah ends up sacrificing himself for dirty pagan sailors. The very truth missing from Jonah's mind and heart is imparted even as God seeks him. Let's see what this shows us about how we should regard the world. Here is what the sailors teach us: 1) every human being has a deep, spiritual longing, but 2) in our natural state our deep, spiritual longings are distorted by fear. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on August 5, 1990. Series: Jonah. Scripture: Jonah 1:4-16. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.