The humanism of our culture is burning out and idle utopian delusions occupy those waiting for the end. While humanism is committing suicide, this is a time of glorious opportunity to bring the saving Gospel of Jesus.
Scripture: Jonah 2:10-3:10
Sermon Notes:
- Spat out upon the shore, Jonah received life from the dead; he was finally willing to obey God’s commission.
- This experience of God’s mercy changed Jonah forever.
- Graciously, God’s word came to Jonah a second time.
- God’s miraculous deliverance of Jonah from the sea taught God’s mercy to the peoples that heard about it.
- Jonah declared God’s righteous judgment to Nineveh.
- At the sign of Jonah, the Ninevites repented: they believed God and turned away from their evil ways.
- Nineveh was owned by God and was significant to His purposes.
- Jonah’s preaching put the fear of God into the Ninevites; they recognized God’s justice and accepted His sentence.
- The Ninevites knew enough about God to know that He might be merciful upon them (Cf. Matt. 12:38-41).
- Nineveh’s pagan political authority decreed a time of national repentance and fasting. The public square is under God’s authority and has always been His concern.
- The gospel is a declaration that Jesus is King, and that you can be part of His kingdom if you repent and believe.
- Nineveh is a contrast to Israel, which, though it was to be a witness to the nations, would not repent itself.
- When Israel was disobedient, they were failing to declaring God’s missional plan to the nations (Cf. Deut. 4:6-8).
- As a city set on a hill, we are to manifest God’s justice, righteousness and wrath to the nations.
- Jonah could not have known that his preaching would bring national repentance, but God’s grace abounded.
- We may feel that we have turned from God’s will, and that God has dealt severely with us; but in all things, we know that God is turning things to our good (Rom. 8:28).
- Out of Jonah’s typological death comes new life.
- In our own sin and rebellion we are fruitless. God can use us greatly when we are broken and filled with Christ.
- Nineveh repented truly. Yet, in a few generations the nation turned back to making war on God’s people.
- National sin brings the judgment of God upon nations.
- Wherever the sign of Jonah is preached, the resurrection power of Christ brings hope and new life.
- The Gospel is not being heard in most of our nation today.
- Humanism, in the name of “the enlightenment,” attempted to conquer Christianity.
- The humanism of our culture is burning out, as idle utopian delusions occupy those waiting for the end.
- While humanism is committing suicide, this is a time of glorious opportunity to bring the saving Gospel of Jesus.
- God can work among us again; God will work through our faithful planting and watering.
- Great awakenings are exceptional; but we must begin by teaching, preaching, and educating the next generation.
- We are to teach, preach, plant, till, and pray. The city is His and the future belongs to God.
Application Questions
- What was the evangelistic message Jonah preached?
- How would Jonah’s story affect pagan theology of God?
- Why was God so gracious to Nineveh, a pagan city?
- In what condition must we be for God to work through us?
- What is the mandate of God’s people toward the nations?
- Where do we begin the task of spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom in Canada?
- Are we ready and willing to hear God’s call?