Something Greater than Jonah, Part 2

Jonah ran from his assignment.

Jesus ran toward Jonah came only because he had to Jesus again because you wanted to. Jonah was thrown overboard into the sea because of his sin. Jesus was cast of the sea of God's wrath for our sin. Jonah was taken down into the depths of darkness for three days because of his disobedience.

Jesus was taken into the darkness of death for three days per hour Raleigh-Durham smelling the best way to compare two things is by looking at how their friends rather than being contrast helps highlight versus the better as Pastor Jenny concludes our message and the castaway series. Today he's revealing how Jonah's message to the Nephites appears to Jesus's message to a lost and dying world. Thankfully, there are some pretty differences that bring hope to us today not waste any time and jumped right into the message Pastor JD titled something greater than Jonah chapter 12 is where were going to get your message up 12 verse 38 and some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Jesus saying teacher we wish to see a sign from you.Jesus will see some proof that you are. You say you are right regarding odd but he answer them an evil and adulterous generation seeks after aside, but no sign will be given to accept the side of the prophet Jonah. Just 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. Verse 41 the men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented the Ninevites repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here three questions I think come out of this tax number one.

How was Jesus message similar to Jonas suddenly how was Jesus message greater than Jonas not to lead us to 1/3 question and that is the people of Nineveh going to condemn you on the day of judgment. Okay, let's get right to a questionable one that we are going to deal with here we go. How is Jesus message similar to Jonas how is Jesus message similar to Jonah.

Jonah's message. Jonah's message again was just five words in Hebrew Yoda by Ian Benton in a volume… Translated in English as eight words yet 40 days and none of us shall be overthrown knowledge beyond us is not much in there to look at and to analyze. But there are two words that stand out to me. The first is 40 days and then the second is overthrown 40 days in the Bible. 40 is the number of judgment 40s a number judgment overthrown overthrown as a war term to Jonah's message was one of appointed judgment, which means that there is an appointed time of judgment for you. It might be this afternoon. It might be this week. It might be next year. It might be 10 years from now here for now. I don't know but I know that there is an appointed time of judgment for you. Do you ever think about that day because ultimately let Martin Luther use a sale with today's matter this day and that day. This day what I'm doing on this day, for God and then that day when I stand before him a given account. Do you seriously think about that question.

I okay that's all it was similar to GU to Jonas we give you now how the message is greater than Jonas how Jesus message is greater than Jonas three ways.

One, the surety of it. The surety of Nineveh got ripped off the truncated message was a good message member of the King outing responded chapter 3 verse nine knows God may turn and relent so that we may not perish know what Jonah didn't tell them they repented they didn't know if they repented God would not have been perish. You know John 316 God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. You got promises all the New Testament give you a promise of surety that the people of Nineveh never got it. They repented, here's the second weight was greater the richness of it. Nineveh had only the hope that God would relent from the destruction he promised the gospel is that Jesus gives us his righteousness in his privileging is standing before God, so that not only does God relive from the disaster. He also makes the sons and daughters of God is what we referred to herein, the summer church is gift righteousness God's righteousness given as a gift. We said that you could summarize the gospel in four words Jesus in my place. Jesus taking my place on the cross so I could take his position before the throne of God and I would have his record credited to mine.

I thought about as I was praying here for services. Something about this frequently. I say submit a God like the psychodrama God, let me tell you why I think you should hear my prayers for that on praying about this people's life because this week. This week I fasted for 40 days and resisted Satan to his face so much faith that I walked on water and fed 5000 went to Chris about me this week, I was being crucified, I didn't give anger about everybody I said father forgive them because I don't know what they're doing all court.

I think Jesus did those things with his record became mine so that in him I become the righteousness of God. That's the richness of what Jesus offers to meet Jesus in my place gift righteousness shall rest Richard ideas than the message that Jonah gave to those people until just a version of this before, but I'll flush about a little bit more submerged about 12 years. When we got married.

I was a full-time PhD student, which means that I didn't have what you would call a job which meant I didn't have what you call cash flow okay and so you know I'm there before. Actually, I think back I did have a job. It was here this church but you people didn't pay me Jack's what I mean, really.

I was like a really have the money to pay rent put gas in the cars on I was told I was there for you should feel bad about that but I had no job will job I had no cash flow. My wife, I just graduated before he got midnight from college not high school. I get that question a lot. She just graduated from college and she got a job in public school which you never to get wealthy doing that, but it is full-time income and so when we got married on July 28 of the year 2000. And I said those words. I do not moments I received. First of all, I received a beautiful bride, who was the love of my life and who would be my constant companion, my faithful wife, and my very best friends and in that moment.

I also received cash flow and here was the awesome thing I did not even have to go to the public school and put up with all those diagnosed kids every day seated that she did all the work money just got deposited in my tell me how good is that so much greater of the capacity.

What happens when you call me Christian is that Jesus righteousness. His work becomes yours.

What is your condemnation became his that is the offer of the gospel is so much richer than what Nineveh heard about because it is not just the relenting of punishment.

It is the righteousness of God given to you as a gift to all who would receive.

Lastly, it was greater because of the character of the one buried it was greater because of the surety of it was greater because the richness of it is greater. Lastly, because of the character, the one bearing it. Jenna hated the Ninevites healing. When Chris got up, forced into Jesus could not have been more different. Jonah ran from his assignment. Jesus ran toward it. Jonah came only because he had to. Jesus became because you wanted to Jonas outside the city and hope for Nineveh's destruction, Jesus stood outside Jerusalem and wept and pleaded for her salvation. The only reason that Jonah delivered the message to Nineveh was to preserve his life to save his life. He didn't God would tell them Jesus delivered his message even though it cost him his life. Jonah was thrown overboard into the sea because of his sin. Jesus was cast of the sea of God's wrath for our sin.

Jonah was taken down into the depths of darkness for three days because of his disobedience. Jesus was taken into the darkness of death for three days for hours. Jonah was more upset about the death of a plant giving him shade that he was the destruction of Ninevites children. Jesus Hebrews 12 to gladly endure the pain of the cross for the joy that was set before him which was the joy of making rebels into sons and daughters. Jonah showed up bearing only an announcement of condemnation yet 40 days Nineveh shall be overthrown. Jesus said, John 317, God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Jesus did not convert a message of condemnation became very message of salvation because he himself had become our condemnation so that in him we could escape condemnation and obtain the righteousness of Christ. God's mercy was extended to Nineveh, Jonah wallowed in self pity and curse God. Jesus depicted himself as a father, who yearns for the return of his son so badly that he wants to meet him and forgives him and covered him with goodness and love and give you never say I'm sorry. That's why we say Jesus is the true work and Jesus is the greater Jonah Matthew 1241. Again, the men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Can you imagine this scene at the judgment day, when the minimum minimal rise up and say this is all we had.

We repented this is what you had and you did not repent, will never rise up judgment against this generation. You have no excuse, no excuse, so I need a sign from God again for most of you.

You don't you know it's true. You just resisted. The problem is not that your head can't believe your heart and want to believe there's anything that postmodern philosophy taught us, it is that the head is informed by the heart not the heart by the head. What I mean by that is the reason we choose not to believe certain things because we don't want to believe them. The problem for most of you know, there are handful of you that are generally confusing. Again, I would tell you my arms are open this church's overview, answers questions, but safer a large part of you all those things those questions you keep bringing up nothing but a smokescreen because you don't want to believe these things and you told me to sign what you need is to repent. The reason that most of us will come to God is because of pride and idolatry numbers I gave you the core of the book of Jonah. Jonah 28. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could have been theirs. What keeps you from God is idolatry something you've convinced yourself is weightier, more important than God in a tragedy. Jonah says it makes you forfeit grace forfeit means it's yours for the taking is never dead. As I got $1 million in the bank credit to be or tell you his number shortly taken many of you forfeit your soul, not because you could be good enough to earn salvation because you turn your back and idolatry on the gift that God had given the grace the way that he had paid it all when a stranger Supreme Court cases of never heard about, read about 1833 United States versus George Wilson was manning George Wilson who committed several crimes. He robbed a bank robber train Rob Postal Service sentenced to life in prison. Andrew Jackson, the president of the time extent him a full complete pardon maybe was because he had a genuine change of heart.

Maybe those extenuating circumstances we don't know but extendable full complete pardon is where the story gets interesting.

George Wilson refused is that I refuse to receive that pardon. We will know why that tell us why me may be felt sorrowfully done like you deserved a free and if you like prison, Otto, whatever the Supreme Court United States of 1833 made the statement that a pardon is not valid unless the one to whom it is issued, received, now I have no idea if they were reflected on the Bible.

In that moment or not. That is exactly what the Bible tells you about God's offer of salvation is full. It is free, but it has to be received in many of you forfeits the grace that could be yours in eternity the tragedies you die. You are to suffer eternally for your sin. Even though Jesus paid it all in life you are forfeiting a grace that could be yours as I've explained to you, God created you for himself he created you so that only his love would be that missing piece of you spent your whole life searching for that piece have, it's what you first look for from your parents is why that relationship is still so painful to you because you were looking for a lot from them, but ultimately you were supposed to find in God. They were just supposed to be the training will teach you about God. They didn't do it.

They failed you but but the love that you were looking for is not in them. That wasn't was in Christ. Many short and look for from your friends but your friends could never be good enough friends to you, they still can be good enough receive when you look for in romance. He thought I could just find that person, then my soul would finally find that thing to been looking for.

It's not in romance if not in France it's not a career it's not in your parents and the love of God, you forfeit.because of idolatry. You are still trying to invent a reason to live. It was read about people trying to make a legacy to leave a legacy to believe life is like thank Jesus that he is he is readme from this need to leave a legacy when a Y is just faithfulness. Jesus makes me a part of the greatest story ever told. I don't need you to remember me after I'm gone. Why Jesus remembers me and I'm part of the store. This will last forever, so I'm free from the silicon to leave a legacy by the purpose kind of thinking that most of us are obsessed with throughout our lives, because in him. I have a grace I have a purpose that her mind because they were his because they became mine in him. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Some of you I know was a business long enough.

Some of you is him talking about. This is what pops up in your mind right now like I wish this were true at one point my life could've been through, but I just can't believe this. It's not.

I'm just too far gone to 15 years ago I might've been able to do about the decisions I've made are two disastrous. I've heard too many people I've gone down way too far down this road and I am entirely too messed up listening.

God loved idolatrous unspeakably cruel barbaric Nineveh. That in itself ought to be assigned to you that he loves and reaches out to you God's pursuit of the Ninevites is proof that his grace stretches to you wherever you are.

I know that an audience of size in a church our size.

I'm talking to adulterers, I'm talking to people who have been imprisoned.

I'm talking to people who should have been imprisoned. I'm talking to people who have abused their children.

I'm talking to people who have committed fraud. I'm talking to people who have done things that you would pray to God, no one would ever find out about what I need to tell you is this lesson God's ability to clean things up, is infinitely greater than your ability to mess things up. Yes, your sin was great.

God's grace is greater. Yes, your corruption was devastating. God's grace is greater. That's why the symbol is so important sackcloth and ashes ought to be your symbol you have torn your life is nothing but ashes, but there is a greater symbol. Then Jennifer received that symbol is the symbol of baptism, which is behold I make all things new. I take the ashes of your destruction and are raised in new life. Romans 63 Roman 63. Those of us who were baptized.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, but just like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. So retail once you respond there many of you in this room there just forfeiting the grace it could be yours not God, what a tragedy your story out answer this way before going to your that they do so perfectly captures what I'm translating right now. I hear stories true story to member Jack barrette.

It might in the Internet which means it has to be true and story of a doctor by the name of Leo Winters who lived in Chicago.

He was famous surgeon in Chicago who had this reputation be able to say people who were on the verge of death. You can about your EMT type of doctor that he worked in the emergency room and just what he gets called his house at 230 in the morning one morning and in the nursing of the lots you got a command because as a little girl that's here that's been a terrible accident and and and and what she's going to die and you're the only doctor that is capable and able to save her life and that one said okay I'll be right in.

He decided because of time to cut through a couple neighborhoods in downtown Chicago that you normally wouldn't drive through the pull up to a stop sign in one of these neighborhoods and all of a sudden the door of his BMW was jerked open and a man reached in and grabbed him and drawing him out of the car.

Dr. Winters begin to plead with the sky do you say Lord no menu as I please just try and try to explain his on his way to the hospital guy would listen. He hopped in the car took off.when her cell phone was in the car so he could make a call you to go find a payphone you got a payphone got a hold of the hospital.

They sent somebody to get him. He gets there an hour and 1/2 after he received the first goal he walks in.

The nurse greets him at the door. The nurse looks at him and shakes her head. She says she died about 25 minutes ago exhibits relented to talk to the girls dad because he is in the chapel. He can't understand why you didn't come recording store. Dr. Winters walked down two or three floors goes in the chapel and walked in the chapel and to his horror, they are in that chapel is the man who had pulled him out of that car stolen the car and thereby sealed the fate of his daughter, but taking out of the picture.

The only one who could actually save her when I read a story like something about that I think about this moment right here are some of you continue to resist you understand release. I hope you will understand what you're doing is you're forfeiting a God who is only God who can save you is the missing PCA is what you were created for Georgia been looking for. Realize that but that's what you have been searching for and you continue with pride and idolatry to keep your life the only one who can save you eternity, and the only one who could save your life, why, why do you continue to forfeit the grace and could be yours line as I respond. You need Jesus not right with God never seen him as your Savior.

Relational know for sure that you have and you need to do that today or maybe you're wandering far from Jesus to come back to him.

It is time to stop running time. God brought you here to this moment and this time you will meet your lighting and you are not today. You're listening to Senate life.

The Bible teaching ministry pastor, author and theologian Jeannie Greer if you put your trust in Jesus today have questions about what it means to follow him. Please give us a call at 866-335-5220.

We love the opportunity to pray with you pastor Ginny wrapped up our series and Jonah called castaway.

But he missed any of the messages in this series, you can find all free of charge@jeanniegreer.com pastor Ginny. We know that the Bible is our foundation and the most important way that we hear from God to be able to recall Scripture easily bent him a little rest and some of the memory verses that I learned his head, and I certainly always have the desire to know more Scriptures hardball.

That's one of the reasons were offering these verse cards or small the prodigal way. Sometimes we have big dreams best around the turn of the year rely, memorize Scripture. Remember, as a whole book of the Bible, but you dislike the tools to do it on the summerlike memory verse cards make it easy for you to memorize Scripture.

There are actually very attractive there very well designed.

They have a magnet so that you can put them on the refrigerator switch out. Look at it I never want the first big passages of Scripture memorized John one and I memorize so I was working on.loading a Food Lion distribution you take in food outside the different stores as I put John one up on the edge of the dock so that every time a robot which is probably 40 times an hour. Take missile forklift back and forth. I would see the next verse and John one and I would say it and it was a more than a week or two, though I had century the whole chapter memorized.

These are 50 verses that have been very impacting in my own life that we think will be a blessing. Yours also. We would love to get you this tool. Jeannie Greer.com we can start that conversation.

Bible will help you dive deeper into your walk with God every day all things new memory verse cards and matching magnet with our thanks for your generous financial $25, right now to make your journey never and 858-335-5224 go online when you visit at your.Molly inviting you to join us again next series.serve them will be a first. Which is it for you. Be sure to tune in Monday to Senate life