The Sign of the Prophet Jonah - Live with Lon!

Good morning everybody.

Welcome to live with Lon and Isaac's morning or wherever it is with you. It doesn't matter were glad to have you and we're going to be today continuing in our series in the Gospels and we have a very important topic to talk about today so I hope that you're ready and excited about being encouraged and taught from God's holy word before we do that while we commit this time to God in prayer. Let's bow our heads together and let's take a moment and quiet our heart before the Lord. Confess any sins that we haven't confessed already this week and asked the Lord to prepare our hearts for his work. Dear Lord Jesus, forgive us for our sins as we confess them to you. Thank you for the promise of first John 19 that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So do that for us Lord and now fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit and may he illuminate the word of God to our hearts and applied to our hearts this day and we pray this in Jesus name and every body said a man all okay now I don't I'm going to try to think of some little at the beginning of messages to give us hope and before we begin today I'd like to give us Hebrews chapter 6 and will put that on the screen when you read it to you beginning in verse 19.

This hope. What hope is that well up in verse 18 it says that it's impossible for God to lie, impossible for God to tell a lie. This hope. The Bible says we have as an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast, so this is what I want to say to you today.

One of the places we get our hope from is the understanding that because of who God is, is a holy being is impossible for him to live. It's not that he doesn't lie, no. It's impossible for him to live. Were he to lie, he would stop being God and so therefore, because we know that, and we have all the wonderful promises of God here in the Bible. The Bible, a applied what can I say. The Bible, this brings great hope to our lives knowing that God must be true to his promises because he is God.

So they that encourage our hearts and our souls today. All right, it's time to dig in the Bible the whole Bible. I know you are surprised you come on the Bible.

What the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible and then apply to our hearts were in the study of the Gospels and were in Luke chapter 11 filling in some things that Matthew's gospel doesn't cover as Jesus heads to Jerusalem and the cross so let's look there without any further argue to Luke, chapter 11 and remember Jesus is been speaking to a crowd and last week one of the members of the crowd for Blessed is the woman that bore you and that nurse you and he said no. Blessed are the people who know the word of God do it.

So this is still happening this, the context here is that Jesus is still speaking to this crowd and we pick up in verse 29, and while the crowds were thickly gathered together, he began to say Jesus.

This is that evil generation.

It seeks a sign and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet Jesus calls this generation here in Israel and evil generation.

I think he's talking mostly about their leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees describes the lawyers were trying killing but as a whole. It wasn't evil generation who refused to accept him as their Messiah and is not showing any more signs. No more wonders. No more miracles, except the sign of Jonah the prophet, which will talk about the second. Now this this might seem to be a very uncommon even mean thing that Jesus is is doing all okay, you won't believe in me, fine, no more miracles you know know know this is not the attitude Jesus folks. As I told you before, we only have one month of Jesus his earthly ministry recorded in the Gospels out of one month out of 36.

They could you imagine the amount of signs and miracles he did up to this point. He's done scores hundreds of miracles, and the reason he says I'm not showing anymore is because folks see it show them enough miracles that if they really wanted to believe they would've believed already. When they kept coming to him and saying show us a fine show was assigned.

This was just a red herring. This is just an excuse for them not believing they had seen plenty assigned in order to believe and so Jesus said all right that's that's it. If you haven't believed I'm not showing anymore except for the sign of Jonah the prophet now look he says in verse 34 as Jonah was assigned to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. I was now to go to Matthew chapter 12 and hereinafter chapter 12 we see the Lord Jesus saying the same thing, only he expands it a little bit and this is helpful for us. Let's look Matthew chapter 12 verse 38 and some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, teacher, we want to see assignment from you now remember what we just said they had seen umpteen signs before this but he answered and said to them, and evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign and no sign will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. And now Jesus tells us exactly what he means by that look in verse 44 as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Okay, so what sign is he talking about. Well of course he's talking about the resurrection where as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish on three days and three nights going to be buried and then on the rise again despite Jonah was spit out by the fish under the come back from the dead and have life.

This is the last sign you're getting and and and as he said back in Luke chapter 11. Let's go back there for a minute.

Luke chapter 11, for as Jonah verse 30 was assigned to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be assigned to this generation. The resurrection will be the confirming truth of my Messiah ship just like Jonah was assigned to the Ninevites. Now you say what is that me well. I believe that the reason the Ninevites believed Jonah coming out of nowhere as a prophet, and the reason they repented is because Jonah himself was assigned to them.

He was in the belly with the digestive juices of that great fish for three days and three nights and I think of as the Bible says, the fish vomited him up back onto shore that he didn't look like a normal ordinary human being. I don't know exactly how he looked.

But I think it was bizarre and and maybe just unusual and we he showed up in town and said I been in the belly of a fish. He is the way he looked was assigned to them that he was telling the truth and so Jesus said in that same way when I rise from the dead. I live in. Christ risen from the dead will be assigned to you that I'm telling you the truth. Now let's finish out the passage chapter 11 for the Queen of the South will rise up in 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 and the men of Nineveh will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Who is he talking about. Well of course he's talking about himself and this is the whole point now to come back to these couple of verses that talk about the Queen of the South, and King Solomon in a moment, but right now let me just say that this is exactly what the Bible says that the resurrection was meant to be proof of his Messiah ship and his being is deity. I want you to look at with me at Romans chapter 1 Romans chapter 1 Lenny read the first several verses, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God, which he promised the gospel beforehand by his prophets in the holy Scriptures, the gospel, verse three concerning his son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh. Now watch verse four and was declared to be the son of God, deity with power. Look by the resurrection from the dead.

This is my point is that the resurrection was meant to be a proof positive that Jesus was deity that he was the son of God, that he was the Messiah.

And this is what Jesus is saying in Luke chapter 11 to this generation. This is what the resurrection is going to be for you and Wendy believe it or not up to you. I'm going to demonstrate to you I'm been approved to you that on who I say I am by the sign of the prophet Jonah. Meaning the resurrection is Romans chapter 1 verse four says, declared to be the son of God by the resurrection okay now that's as far as they want on our passage because we want to ask our most important question you know what this is sort of really I go 12370 yes yes yes yes yes and what we say now come on, come on Ray house. We it is yeah you bet now with the so what you what differences make to me well of course it makes the difference that you do not follow cleverly devised fables as Peter says about the resurrection proves that we are following the 1 True Way to eternal life and to heaven. No other leader of any other-ism or apology has ever risen from the dead, or even claim to accept the Lord Jesus Christ, not Bhutto.

Not Confucius, not Mohammed, not Joseph Smith. Not L Ron Hubbard, none of not know Rabbi nobody okay now that's of course very important. But there's another so one here that I want us to focus on and that is the Jesus obviously believed them that Jonah really live that he was a real person and Jesus. Obviously, from what he said here in Luke 11 and Matthew 12 believe that Jonah was swallowed by a great fish. He was really swallowed and Jesus obviously believed that Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fifth and Jesus believe that Jonah was spit back out on the land by the fish and Jesus believe that he then Jonah went to the new city of Nineveh in the kingdom of Assyria preached at a great revival repentance occurred. Jesus believed all that and that because that's what he says now. This brings us to the issue at hand which is the Bible is the Bible reliable is the Bible correct in all that it says and you know what the problem is many of us many professing Christians will say well I believe the Bible I believe the 10 Commandments. I believe you know the golden rule of this I maybe even believe Jesus rose from the but do I believe in all these phantasmagoric openings in the Bible in the Old Testament like Jonah being swallowed by a fish or Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed with fire and brimstone are Noah's flood. Do I believe in all these things, probably not, but it doesn't matter doesn't matter because I do believe in Jesus and I believe he rose from I'm sorry friend that is not one of the above selections know you either believe that all or you all of it is I'm not believable that the dig is no middle ground here because he is one of the reasons why our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ believed it at all. This is the whole point that I want to make as we close out today. Jesus believed in all these phantasmagoric openings in the Old Testament that most of us struggle and say well maybe that didn't really happen the way you nobody got met. I'm sorry you can't say that unless you're willing to say Jesus was mistaken about all of these things. Okay let me show you the Jesus believe all these Old Testament stories okay first of all, we just talked about the sign of Jonah.

He believed that Jonah had been swallowed by a fierce and three days later three nights later was spit back up on land. Let's go back a little farther let's go all the way back to the creation. A lot of people will say, well, even evolution or theistic evolution.

I don't really believe the Bible's account of creation.

Well, that's a problem because Jesus did let me show you that.

Let's look at Mark chapter 10 liquid Jesus said, but from the beginning of the look at this creation, God made them male and female. For this reason he's quoting the book of Genesis Genesis 227. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. So then they are no longer to but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man divine. Jesus believe in the creation account in the book of Genesis chapter 1 he talks about from the beginning, not from the beginning of evolution of Asian say that from the beginning of creation.

Any believe that God created Adam and Eve man and woman male and female, and then blesses the marriage between a male and a female okay now mixing. How about next in line. Let's talk about no hay. Jesus believe the story of Noah. Let's look at Matthew chapter 24 verse 38, for it says, as in the days before the flood. Look at this, Jesus believed in the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and next verse, verse 39 and they did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. Jesus believed in the flood.

Jesus believed in our Jesus believe that the whole world except for Noah was destroyed and he believed that Noah existed until Theo.

Okay, let's move on about Abraham and a lot of people today say Abraham never really existed that he's just a mythical character that was made up to justify the aegis the beginning the emergence of the Jewish people and the guy never really even existed. Well, Jesus believe he generally existed book of John chapter 8 Jesus is arguing here with the religious leaders of Israel as to whose children. They are, he says your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad not of course this happened in heaven, but obviously Jesus believe that Abraham was real and not just that, a look what he says if you would in Matthew chapter 8 he says in verse 11, and I say to you that many will come from the East and the West, and sit down look with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. So Jesus believe Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all existed just the way the Bible says let's move on to Moses, Matthew chapter 8 verse four Jesus healed a leper and he says see that you tell no one but go your way, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them. This is in the Old Testament in the first five books of the Bible. The Bible commands. If you are healed. You go show yourself to the priest and Jesus and Moses was the one who wrote that many scholars today say of course mother Moses.

If he existed at all.

Didn't write the first five books of the Bible no way Jesus believe you, dear Jesus, believe me. Dear look, let's go along with Moses for a minute. Let's look at Luke 20 Luke chapter 20 verse 37 Jesus speaking. He says now even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Jesus believed not just the Moses existed, but he believed in the burning bush of the way the Bible tells us that occur and in Mark chapter 7. Let me show you this Jesus believe that the 10 Commandments came from the pan of Moses exactly the way the Bible says Mark chapter 7 verse 10 Jesus said, for Moses said.

Honor your father and your mother words that come from this. One of the 10 Commandments.

Of course, Exodus chapter 20, and he who curses his father or mother, let them be put to death. This is Moses writing the Pentateuch, exactly the way the Bible says that's going on very quickly. How about David Mark chapter 12.

Let me show you that Mark chapter 12 verse 36.

Look what Jesus says.

He says for David himself said by the Holy Spirit and is quoting Psalm 110 the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. If David therefore calls him Lord, how is he then his son will get to this passage when we get there. In our study, but David wrote by the power the Holy Spirit, he believed Jesus to the David existed. There's a great theological polemic going on today among Arab scholars of the David never existed and and and Solomon never existed and that the temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem never existed because this takes away the claim of the Israelites that that's their land.

David obviously the more Jesus existed and we rented right in Luke chapter 11… Remind ourselves of what Jesus said in Luke chapter 11.

He said the Queen of the South. The Queen of Sheila will rise up in 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 Vera greater than Solomon is here have principally Solomon existed as well as David and that he had the well and in all the wisdom that the Bible says he has and you know the Queen of Sheba, the Ethiopians, I have a an epic. I guess if you call it an epic poet that is very central to the history of their society is called the Kimbrough noncost the Kimbrough noncost and in this, they say that there Queen came in got pregnant by King Solomon came back and she had a son named Melnick Mellon at the first and he became king and had a the Solomonic and they call it the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia and they can trace it all the way down the Haile Selassie who last ruled in 1974 and so Jesus believe that the Queen of Sheba really came to see a real guy called Solomon all right now. Couple of others I have out real quick on lots wife 17. That same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

Jesus believed in the story of Lot.

He believed in the story of this destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah from heaven, from the farmers 11 and in verse 30.

Even so it'll be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. And then he says in verse 31 whoever is say Lenny not look back.

Verse 32 remember lots wife member. The Bible says lots wife was turned into a pillar of salt. Jesus believe that. Remember Jesus.

It so we could talk more about this about Elijah and about Isaiah and about Daniel, all of whom Jesus believed in, but I think the point is clear. My friends, Jesus believe the Bible the holy Bible and everything in the Bible in the Old Testament, even the most as I said, fantastical things that happened that you and I might go now. Maybe not Jesus believe them all and so the question is if we say were followers of Christ not being willing to say we know more than Jesus knew. So maybe he was mistaken.

I don't think so. No, no, Jesus is not mistaken, let me read you a quote from Ed Hinson will put it on the screen for periods if says no one defended the inerrancy of the Scriptures more than Jesus. He quoted biblical passages in responding to his disciples. Matthew 16 his critics.

Matthew 22 and the devil himself.

Matthew chapter 4, he referred look at this to almost every controversy all story in the Old Testament including Nola Jonah Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Daniel, and then he concludes we are ultimately left with one of two choices for Dom Jesus or poor, scholars, allosteric with Jesus every time." Friends for Dom Jesus.

Are you serious living son of God.

He he wasn't Gordon Jesus. He was God in the flesh, and he validated everyone as Ed Hinson said everyone of these phantasmagoric old stories that we tend some time schedule Nono the Bible is telling us the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth and I want to encourage your faith, my friends Jonah really got swallowed by a fish.

Enola really did build an ark, and there really was a flood, not Adam and Eve really were created male and female by the direct hand of Almighty God. Abraham existed. Isaac existed. Jacob existed, and David existed Solomon existed the Queen of Sheba existed. Moses existed the burning bush really did happen. All of this that we read about in the Bible Jesus sanctions Jesus approves and says yes those things are true. I believe in, so I just want to encourage your faith, my friends, don't be afraid to believe these things are. You don't have to understand how they happen.

I don't understand how it happened but differences at me with the God who is as omnipotent as the Bible says our God is my answer is very simple. It happened because God wanted it to happen because the power of God made it happen and asked in the story. And that's good enough for me and you know what that was good enough for Jesus and therefore ought to be good enough.

You if you say you follow Jesus when they close the quote by Harold Linville wonderful book. If you have it ready. You need to read this book is called battle for the Bible, the battle for the Bible was written back in the 70s and when you read it you'll see that so many of the things he was predicting were gonna happen when we departed from the Bible have happened. Mr. Lindell is with the Lord now.

A former editor of Christianity today, but an amazing book you have to read that book.

The battle for the Bible you get it on Amazon but here's what he said and I quote once the infallibility of the Bible is abandoned, it always and ever opens the door to further departures from the faith, embracing the doctrine of the Scripture with Errol Morris will always lead to disaster down the road." This is happened to the evangelical church in America.

It's tragic.

What is happened in the last 50 years, since he wrote this and how many churches have abandoned inerrancy in the infallibility of the Scriptures, even in its most fantastical parts and the disaster that has come theologically and practically friends. Jesus knew the truth. Jesus affirmed the truth in the Bible to us of all these events in the Old Testament and you and I need to believe them to. If we say we follow him. Inerrancy is the linchpin upon which all of our faith is built. We abandoned it in the faith is going to go out the door with our stand firm.

We may not understand how these things happen. We believe as our Savior believed that's good enough for us (for Jesus, thank you so much for an inerrancy Scripture. Thank you for Scripture that Jesus has verified in what he said when he was here on earth and does the God of the second person of the Godhead in the flesh, Lord, help us not to believe that we know more than he does, for goodness sake. Help us to believe what he believed in a firm was here for an stand on what he stood for knowing, Lord Jesus, that heaven and earth will pass away, but as Jesus said, my word will never pass away. And if our lives are built on his word.

We will pass away either, but will join him in heaven at the end of our earthly life Lord Jesus, thank you for an inerrant Scripture and help us to believe it, and to base our life upon it, and we pray this in Jesus name and every body said a man that was preaching, you betcha that was preaching and if you like the comprehension you join us next week and I'll try. Lord willing to bless you base your life on the Bible's friends trust