Pastor's Sermon Blog

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Suffering of a Righteous Man

Job 1

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, November 28, 2010

Today we're going to consider the first chapter of Job together. Job is the first book in what is known as "The Wisdom Literature," or the Poetic Books of the Bible. This group includes Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. There is a common theme that runs through all of those books except Song of Solomon, and we understand his healthy distraction there. That theme is this: The fear the LORD is wisdom. When one fears the LORD, he or she will turn from evil. Here are a few examples from these books.

Job 28:28 And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.

Ps 90:11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?

Ps 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Ecc 12:13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

You will see this theme right away in the book of Job. Let's read chapter one and get right to it.

Job 1:1-22

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.

4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

7 The LORD said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it."

8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"

9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason?

10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face."

12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,

15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.

21 And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Let's pray. I think we see up front that Job is righteous, and that Job is suffering. We also see what Job cannot see - what goes on in heaven, and why he is suffering. Now here's what I hope you can take away from this story today: Righteous people suffer under the hand of our sovereign and good God; but our suffering here is limited and brief, for but God grants eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is a fascinating story in the Bible; it is a very, very helpful story as well. It's long and it's difficult to read (unless you appreciate poetry). Here's why it's helpful, church; it's because we are often perplexed when the righteous suffer; especially when we think we are the righteous ones and we are suffering! Part of the reason we're perplexed is that we are prone to believe like many, that all suffering is a result of either 1) consequences of our choices/actions, or 2) punishment from God. Job's friends believed this, and they were wrong here. Certainly people do suffer for those reasons, but it is NOT always the reason. There are at least two other reasons righteous people suffer: 1) sin in this world in general (sins of others), and 2) God allows it for a purpose. It gets hard because of what we DON'T know, or because of what we CAN'T see. But we can know some things about suffering, two specifically that will help us as we undergo such misery:

- God uses suffering to purify our faith and to humble us for usefulness. Rom 1:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

- Our suffering is light in view of the weight of God's blessings and glory. 2 Cor 4:7 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

It doesn't feel light, does it? But it will when we consider the depth of our sin and the weight of God's glory. I think this story is extreme so that any of us can relate: it's the standard of suffering! We'll say, 'I'm having a Job day', or something similar.

What we need to know about Job from the book of Job:

He is rich. He is righteous. He is wise. His wealth is clearly laid out: it is extravagant in any culture, but in his day it was Bill Gates kind of rich. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. He was blessed by God, is what the adversary said. Job was rich.

His righteousness is testified of by God – twice in this chapter! 8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" Of whom has it ever been said by God, "This man is righteous!" Didn't David in the Psalms 14 and 53 (and Paul in Rom 3) contradict that in Romans when he wrote 'there is none who is righteous, no not one'? But God calls Job righteous. Since the Scriptures do not contradict, I believe we can take that description into context and into account with other Scriptures that teach that a man is only declared righteous by faith in God.

Now I said he is wise as well. Let me explain that statement:

His wisdom – and his righteousness – is demonstrated in his life: his deeds make known his faith and character. It's simple, really: Job feared God and turned away from evil.

So we're back to that theme in the Wisdom Books, right in the beginning…

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: it leads us to turn away from evil. Job feared God, and turned away from evil. And still, he suffered greatly; for a while.

What we need to know about God from this book: He is Sovereign, and He is good.

His Sovereignty is demonstrated by His power over all creatures, including the adversary here. He is over all nature as well, and anything that happens to anyone or anything on earth must be approved by our sovereign God. That's the beauty of us being able to see what happened in heaven – we learn good things! But when God in His sovereign power allows righteous people to suffer and to suffer greatly, we are prone to question His goodness. His goodness is proven in this book; but way, way at the very end is where we see it; chapter 42. Let me summarize it with verse 10: And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. God always works for what is best for those who are loved and called according to His purpose – but sometimes only at the end. We might, as Job did during the course of this book, ponder the reasons or the methods of God, but let's hold on to the goodness of God.

Sometimes that might be tough, right? Let me give you something that will be helpful, I think: God's goodness was demonstrated on the cross.

Job is righteous: nevertheless he suffers; yet he is restored to his blessed life. Does that sound like anyone you have read about? This portrays Christ – who is righteous: nevertheless suffers, but for our sins, and rose from the dead to receive to Himself a bride. Job intercedes for his children, and in the end, for his friends who falsely accused Him. Christ intercedes for us, and from the cross He prayed for His accusers and abusers.

Righteous people suffer under the hand of our sovereign and good God; but our suffering here is limited and brief, for but God grants eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Why did Christ suffer – because of His sin? No, because of ours.

Read Job; ponder the weight of Job's sufferings, and the weight of God' glory. And ponder the sovereignty and goodness of God; both for Job, and for us – in Christ.

Monday, November 22, 2010

And Should I Not Pity Nineveh?

Jonah 4[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church November 21^st, 2010

Have you ever gotten mad at God because of His love? Surely people have rebelled against God because of their pain, loss, or because of His wrath against sin (which they love), but – how often do we see people pitch a temper fit because of love? More than you'd think, actually. In fact, let me read you the end of a story familiar to many of you…

And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate. "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" (Luke 15:20-32)

The older brother missed mercy; He was offended that justice (punishment for the wicked) wasn't enforced and mercy (pardon for the repentant wicked) was offered. Do you have a list of people you want God to judge, find guilty, and punish? This older brother didn't want his father to love that rebellious waste – one he saw as deserving punishment.

Do we, the church, the saved of God, those who have received the mercy of God through the death of His own Son on that cross, hope He will withhold that mercy from others?

Let's read the end of this story, Jonah chapter 4, but first let's back up just a little to the end of chapter three and catch what sets the stage for the mood Jonah begins this chapter in.

Jonah 3:10-4:11 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

3 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."

4 And the LORD said, "Do you do well to be angry?"

5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.

6 Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.

7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.

8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."

9 But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die."

10 And the LORD said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.

11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"

This sermon is a prayer, a plea that you, and I might learn of God's mercy, and become more merciful ourselves.

First let me give Jonah an A+ on courage, or as the Hebrew might say it, chutzpah. Or I could just say he was crazy, talking to God this way. It is a courage that borders insanity, really. Though Jonah was a prophet and God used him to give a sign of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, that doesn't mean he was a moral model. So let's not cloud the message of the book; the message of the book is given by the sourpuss preacher in anger: God is a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. God spoke through a donkey in Judges, and here through a pouting prophet. But let's consider this word Jonah used of God here; it is translated here as 'steadfast love'.

Chesed. This word is translated in the various dependable Bible translations as steadfast love, lovingkindness, mercy, and goodness. God used the word chesed of Himself in describing His covenant love for Israel to Moses in Ex 34:6. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. It is such a rich word that it is hard for us to find just one word that works accurately to translate it. The nearest New Testament equivalent to the Hebrew chesed is charis (grace), as Luther realized when he used the same German word (Gnade) to translate both words. Perhaps if I said this: God's loving-kindness is that sure, intentional, covenant love which will not let Israel go. Not all Israel's persistent waywardness could ever destroy it. Though Israel be faithless, yet God remains faithful still. This steady, persistent refusal of God to wash his hands of wayward Israel is the essential meaning of the Hebrew word that is translated loving-kindness. Folks, Jonah did NOT want God's steadfast love aimed at Nineveh; he wanted God's wrath aimed at them. This, he says, is why I ran! Jonah 1:1-3 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

He ran away, he refused to obey, because of God's steadfast love. He did NOT want that love poured out on the nasty Ninevites. Now he says that, because Nineveh repented and God relented, he wants to die. This guy sounds like the crazy kid in that viral video who had his WOW account cut off, "The Greatest Freakout Ever[2]" when he screams, "I HATE MY LIFE!!!" Jonah is literally angry because of God's love.

There are two very important questions in this chapter. The first question is asked, illustrated dramatically, and then repeated. The second question is a wonderful question that God asks the prophet. In these questions we see as much of God's steadfast love, His kindness, and His patience as we see anywhere in Scriptures. Let's think through the first question. Notice that it is God who is asking these…

Do you do well to be angry? Calmly, mercifully God asks Jonah this question. He didn't answer, he just stomped off out of the city to a nearby hill where he could see, built a booth, and sat down to see what would happen. Was he hoping repentance would fail and God would still destroy the city, and he would have front row seats? Pouting, angry, like a 4-year old who didn't get candy after lunch and refuses to play because of it. God showed mercy to a great city, and Jonah grew angry. So God illustrates something for him. He appoints a plant for Jonah. It grows up, gives him shade, and makes him happy. Then God appoints a worm to destroy the plant. Notice this word appoint is the same word used for the fish, again demonstrating His sovereignty over man's affairs and nature. Jonah is left in the hot sun and the east wind, and again begs to die.

Now before we give Jonah too much grief here, we might consider this from his point of view. It was hot. Have you ever been really hot, really cold, or really hungry? Not many of us have, not for long. There is in Mosul, Iraq – just across the river from where Nineveh was built so long ago by Nimrod – a 200 ft tower, a minaret. It is all that remains of the Great Mosque built by Zangid overlord Nureddin in 1172. It is called the leaning tower because it leans from the strong, persistent east winds pushing it all these years[3]. Jonah was very discomforted (which the plant helped, 4:6), but it wasn't just physically; this word refers to the evil in his heart as well as his fainting body. His discomfort was exterior and interior; he was hot outside, and he was hot inside. God was working on both. So again…

Do you do well to be angry? First over a city you wanted me to destroy, now over a plant that you did NOT want me to destroy. Which is worth more, Jonah? And which is worth more to who? You want me to show you mercy, but you don't want me to show mercy to an entire city people created in the image of God just like you? Ah, the wickedness of man and the patience of God! It is indeed His kindness that leads us to repentance! Now the third and most significant question of the book:

Should I not pity Nineveh? Should God only punish the wicked, all wicked? Here repenting Nineveh reminds us of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, and Jonah calls to mind the pouting big brother who has always been in the steadfast love or grace of God. This city had wandered far away from it's Creator, but He still had compassion. All through the book Nineveh is called that great city, and it either had a population of 120,000 or around 600,000 depending on how you interpret the phrase, 'more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, '.Church, do we, the saved of God, those who have received the mercy of God through the death of His own Son on that cross, hope He will withhold that mercy from other? Do we pray for His mercy? This book ends with a strange statement of cattle, but God leaves the question to hang; should I not have pity on Nineveh? I ask you; should God have pity on Platteville? On Lancaster? On sinners in Belmont, Dodgeville, and Dubuque? We won't get mad because of His love, will we? This sermon is a prayer, a plea that you, and I might learn of God's mercy, and become more merciful ourselves.

[2] Reluctantly I'll link this sad, selfish display of foolish anger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YersIyzsOpc

[3] From The International Dictionary of Historic Places: Middle East and Africa, by Trudy Ring, Robert M. Salkin, Sharon La Boda, pg 525. Accessed at www.google.com/books

Monday, November 8, 2010

The Repentance of Nineveh

Jonah 3[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on November 07 2010

The Jews in Jonah's day – of which the prophet is representative, to an extent – needed to know that God loved people outside of them, people they didn't love. They needed God's message. God loves people outside of us, people we don't love; they need to hear God's message. I believe I'll do this a little differently today, so we're gonna go ahead and pray, then we'll walk through this passage a bit at a time.

3:1-4 The warning of wrath.

1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,

2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you."

3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth.

4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

Jonah's second commission is docilely received and obeyed; amazing what three days in a fish will do for your obedience! Some speculate that Jonah's face was bleached from the experience, and that word had spread to the city of the incredible experience of the prophet; we have no way to verify that. What we do know is that the messenger does his work for His LORD, and walk through this city. Here again we have some details about the city, enough to make us wish we could see it; it was large, and over 100,000 people lived there. Archaeology supports that Nineveh was a vastly wealthy and prominent city. Sennacherib, during his day (704-681 B.C.) built a massive palace in the southwest portion of the city. It covered 5 acre, had 71 rooms, and two great halls of massive proportions; it was said to have no equal[2]. There were other palaces, other gardens and libraries as well, but in Jonah's day, what we DO know is that it was a large, impressive city filled with godless, wicked people.

It is interesting that Jonah preached eight words (in all translations I checked). Surely he could have said more, explained things further, but we have no record of that; eight words preached throughout the city. It was a simple, unqualified warning of wrath. Matthew Henry said that God sent Jonah not to preach repentance to Nineveh, but preach Nineveh to repentance. This was done with eight words. Did he? Let's continue on.

3:5-9 The response of repentance.

5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water,

8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.

9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish."

Eight words, spoken several times throughout a great city, and the entire city turns to God in humble repentance. The key phrase is written in v 5: And the people of Nineveh believed God. This is astounding. All they heard was wrath; all they did was repent, and all they saw was mercy. The warning was of wrath, but the warning was sent out of great compassion, out of mercy! The warning is part of the gospel message that we cannot leave out, church family! Let's consider something from this passage…

What does true repentance look like? I've often simplified it by walking this way, turning, and walking that way as I teach it is turning from sin to God. But Jonah's book gives us a bit more detail and I think it's very helpful for us.

Humility. This is what fasting, sackcloth, and ashes symbolized. From the least to the greatest. This humility spread throughout the city. You know God draws near to the humble (James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."). And what else?

Prayer. They prayed to God; specifically, 'call out mightily' to God, the king commanded. Turning from evil. To go on sinning while professing to seek God for mercy is foolish, it is hypocritical, and it shows a flaw in the system – one does NOT believe. So the violence, the abuse, the drunkenness, the immorality, the stealing, lying, and general crookedness of a wicked city was stopped. I bet it became a quiet city, don't you?

Hoping in God's mercy alone. This is the hope of the king: Perhaps. No promises, no grandiose political statements, just – perhaps.

Is it possible that wicked people sometimes have better theology than godly people? Here's what this evil king of Nineveh says: "Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish". Godly people (like me) can often speak confidently of what God should and should not do; this humbled king said, 'perhaps'. He knew it was over unless God, who alone had the power to destroy or relent, showed mercy.

Folks, this is how the world knows you believe God; by your actions. It is what God looks for as well; not an empty profession, but a change of action and direction.

3:10 The LORD relents when the people of Nineveh repent.

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Ah, the good mercies of the good God! Many (even among believers) have looked at this and thought, "God repented, see He isn't all-knowing!" That is foolish; that God shows mercy is our only hope as well! We should rejoice that God did this and did NOT destroy this city full of ungodly people. We should absolutely rejoice that God relents when sinners repent. After all the message of wrath is against all sinners today as well, isn't it? Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. See, we are under the same sentence as Nineveh, just not given a 40 day warning.

Our minds need to absorb this truth, and if through repetition, then so be it…

God loves people outside of us, people we don't love; they need to hear God's message.

Question is, will we go and take it to them? Do we believe in God's wrath against sinners, enough to obey Him? Enough to warn them? Do we include warnings of wrath in the message of hope that is the gospel? God will relent of the disaster proclaimed against all who repent. The gospel is good news; and we can trust God to work through the warning as well as the promise of salvation to all who believe.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Prayer from the Belly of a Fish

Jonah 2[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church 31 Oct 2010

Last week we saw Jonah sent to warn Nineveh of God's wrath; to preach repentance to that great city, east of Jerusalem. Jonah promptly headed down to Joppa and took a ship west, toward Tarshish on the coast of Spain, about as far west as one could go in the known world in his day. He rose to 'flee from the presence of the LORD' (1:3). For a prophet of God this was remarkable; mostly we see people who are getting ready to go to hell forever who are averse to God's presence. They don't love, enjoy, or desire to be with God; they don't love, enjoy, or desire the things God loves. People who are genuinely converted, well you see them love, enjoy, or desire to be with God; they don't flee His presence. They are preparing to be with God forever. Jonah is, I'm afraid, a poor example of a man of faith in God. When we consider chapter one of this book, let me ask you, church-goers – what do you love, enjoy, and desire? Is it God, and being with Him? Or is it things God warns us away from? Are you preparing for eternity in His presence, or eternity away from His presence[2]? You see heaven is about God, about Jesus Christ; He is the central figure; it's not just about being away from sin, loss, and death; it is about God.

Do you love God?

Jonah certainly didn't love the work God called him to, so he hit the road. But of course, with God having sovereign control, being all seeing, and all-powerful, it makes Him hard to run from. Jonah got caught, tossed into the ocean. You can run, but you cannot hide. We'll pick up in the last verse of chapter one then read all of chapter two today.

Jonah 1:17-2:10

1:17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish,

2 saying, "I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.

4 Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.'

5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head

6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.

7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.

8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.

9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!"

10 And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

Church, this is what we do when we hit the hard spots (though we've never been in a fish). We cry out to God for life!

Let's pray, shall we?

Jonah saw God's sovereignty over His life and death. He had heard God speak, and He intentionally disobeyed. God said go east and speak; Jonah went west to not speak. Of course, that was not the end of the story; he knew. You don't run and hide from those who have no power over you; you ignore, or you disdain; but from power? You run and hide. From sovereign power and knowledge, that's futile. But this is the same person you call out to when you need such power! Though he had run, this is who he turned to when facing death.

V 3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.

V 5-6 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head

6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.

He was acutely aware of who gives life and who takes it at this point in his story. He is in the ocean in a mad storm; there is no hope for a man against such power. Johnny Weissmuller and Mark Spitz both would have been afraid had they been with Jonah that day. Only one person could really send Him to death, and only One person could save him from certain death in that ocean.

Jonah saw God's sovereignty over His salvation. This isn't a stretch of my imagination; this is Jonah's own words from v 9: Salvation belongs to the LORD! Seeing darkness and death helps us appreciate light and life; salvation is God's to give. He faced darkness and death and he knew it would be stupid, and useless to cry out to some man-made idol now! "Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love". When things got ugly Jonah went straight to the top, to the only One who could make something happen here and now – God. So Jonah cried out to God in His despair. And he regained hope, peace, and joy even in the belly of a fish, church!

…'yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.'

… But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!"

Church, this is the message we must hold fast to: Cry out to God for life! In your darkest hour, cry out to God. Have done with pride, false religions, rebellions, and idolatries – cry out to God! He is certainly sovereign over salvation, but He won't turn away any who cry out to Him for life!

Ps 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Ps 130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!

Ps 142:1 With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.

Matt 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

God hears the desperate prayer. As Jonah was beyond games, when we get that way and cry out desperately to God, he hears us. But not just desperate…

God hears the sincere prayer. One man said, "Before my conversion, when I prayed in the presence of others, I prayed to them; when I prayed in secret, I prayed to myself: but now I pray to God." Another man, who was in his late 70s, testified, this: "I am a man who said his prayers for seventy years, and yet all that time had never prayed at all[3]."

God hears the repentant prayer. He turns away no one who seeks salvation in Him! The sinner who prayed after the self-righteous Pharisee in Luke 18:13 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

Why? Why does God listen to our prayers?

Because just as Jonah was in the belly of that fish for three days, our Lord was in the grave for three days. He was there because He had chosen to absorb, on that nasty cross, the wrath of God aimed at us. He took our punishment in His own body. We have broken God's laws, and the Righteous One suffered for it. And He brought us from far away to the throne-room of God.

Heb 10: 19-22a Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…

He shows us mercy because of Jesus Christ.

Will you repent and believe in Jesus Christ, allowing Him to bring you near to God for forgiveness, restored relationship with the Father, and eternal life? Will you today turn from your unbelief and trust Jesus?

Beleiver, is your life one aimed at the presence of God, or away from it? Are you preparing for eternity in His presence, or eternity away from His presence?

God is sovereign over our life and death.

God is sovereign over our salvation.

God hears our prayers that are desperate, sincere, and repentant.

He hears us because of Christ.

Salvation belongs to the LORD!"

This is what we do when we hit the hard spots; we cry out to God for life.

Monday, October 25, 2010

You Can Run...

Jonah 1[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on 24 Oct 2010

Today's message is named, "You can Run… and you can finish the rest, I'm sure. We're beginning a study through the book of Jonah, pages 774-775 in your pew Bibles (ESV).

Jonah 1

1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me."

3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

4 But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.

6 So the captain came and said to him, "What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish."

7 And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

8 Then they said to him, "Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?"

9 And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."

10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, "What is this that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

11 Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?" For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.

12 He said to them, "Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you."

13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

14 Therefore they called out to the LORD, "O LORD, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you."

15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.

16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Prayer.

About Jonah. We aren't told very much about this man. His name means dove, and Amittai means my truth. He lived and prophesied during the reign of the Jeroboam II (782-753 B.C.). It was in 722 B.C. that Assyria attacked and over-ran Israel, the nation that was at that time the ten northern tribes of Israel. So this is roughly 50 years before Assyria became the deadly destroyer of the northern tribes. Some key things we need to hold on to about this book and this person…

He is not a fictional character. He was a real prophet referred to both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, in 2 Kings 14:25, and by our Lord Jesus in Matt 12:38-41.

This is not an allegory or a parable. Certainly there are truths we could learn from Jonah as from an allegory. It is not a parable either; it is far too complex and detailed to be a parable written to teach a single point.

This is a true story. It rather is a true and phenomenal story, one that is beautifully written. (I'm not going to preach through this outline; I'm going to preach through by chapters). Jonah demonstrates God's grace; being a disobedient, bipolar prophet who was nevertheless used by God, and who enjoyed God's good patience and kindness.

About Nineveh. (Map, location). If you were Jonah, how would you have felt about Nineveh? After all, it was a great city that happened to be the capital of the (at this particular time) threatening, antagonistic nation of Assyria to the east of Israel. It was an ancient city even then; it was built back in Genesis by Nimrod (Gen 10:11), and it was condemned to destruction by Nahum in his book; that came true, as Nineveh fell to a coalition of Medes and Babylonians in 612 B.C. It is an important city in the Old Testament, but it is desolate now. So there's a bit about Jonah and Nineveh; but this book is really…

About God (for He is the central figure of this book). Here is what the central story of the book is:

He is a gracious God, abounding in steadfast love. God is compassionate: He relents of His wrath when people repent of their sin. (Jonah 4:2).

He is sovereign: over the affairs of men, nature, and over all events on earth. He called Jonah, chased his disobedient self, and then used him. He displayed His sovereignty in His work with the wind on the sea, the fish, the worm, the plant, and the hot east wind. He sent a messenger from His own people to Gentiles, those not of the covenant neither of Abraham nor of Moses, out of compassion for them.

He is persistent and patient with His servants: this was also displayed with the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was evident with David, Samson, and Elijah and Elisha. God's patience was confirmed with this bipolar prophet, and it is evident with you, and with me.

A Good Outline of Jonah. If you wanted a good outline for the book, the best I've seen is in The ESV Study Bible[2].

Jonah's commissioning and flight, 1:1-3

Jonah and the pagan sailors, 1:4-16

Jonah's grateful prayer, 1:17-2:10

The re-commissioning and compliance, 3:1-3a

Jonah and the pagan Ninevites, 3:3b-10

Jonah's angry prayer, 4:1-4

Jonah's lesson about compassion, 4:5-11

Hopefully that helps you as you read through this book; now back to chapter one. When I say, 'You Can Run...', the rest obviously is, '… but you cannot hide'. This man had no desire to go speak God's words to the Ninevites. We're not shown why in chapter one, but we learn that in chapter four; he didn't want God to save them(4:1-2). He wanted wrath on the enemies of Israel, and mercy for Israel. This is typically human; good for us, bad for the enemies. A Chinese emperor once heard of an insurrection in a distant province, and he said to his officers, "Come, follow me; and we will quickly destroy them." He marched, and as he neared them, the rebels submitted to him. Surprisingly, he treated his enemies kindly. His officers were surprised, and reminded him of his promise to destroy. "I promised", he said, "to destroy my enemies. I have fulfilled my word; for you see, they are enemies no longer; I have made friends of them[3]. God's prophet was not even as kind as a Chinese emperor; he didn't care to even offer the enemies an opportunity to repent! So Jonah flees from having to speak truth to a bunch of pagan Ninevites; and look where he winds up. He winds up having to speak truth to a bunch of pagan sailors! God displayed His sovereign power over the wind and waves, and these sailors knew something wasn't right. Casting lots showed Jonah to be guilty, and he had to tell the story. Now look at this; the heathen sailors even had more compassion than Jonah! How hard-hearted we can become, Christians! If Jonah were here, I would have to ask this question of him; how did that whole running thing work out for you? Not that good, I think he would say. He's running from his work and God gives him more work to do, because he couldn't run from His God. He also couldn't run from God. Perhaps Jonah would answer me with a question; how can one run from Almighty, All-seeing God? Exactly. Perhaps Ps 139:7-10 would come to mind… Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

If Jonah wouldn't think of it, maybe it's good for us to think of it today. There is no place you can go where God can't see you. There is no place we can go where God cannot find us. So we have to have done with this notion of, "OK, He won't find me here." Yes, He will; He sees us all, all the time. So God has him tossed over-board, and a fish swallows the prophet. And here is what I want us to see about this part of the story…

The fish is God's mercy to Jonah and to Nineveh.

Jonah is saved from drowning.

Nineveh get to hear the good news.

Doesn't seem very merciful to be swallowed by a fish and kept in digestive juices and slime for three days, does it? But does it beat death? Not only that, but we have something else here…

Jonah in the fish portrayed Christ in the grave. Matt 12:40-41

For 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. 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.

It was Jonah's suffering that led to the mercy of God being shown to lost people in Nineveh. And it was through Christ's suffering on that cross, and taking the punishment for our sins – death! – that enabled us, the lost Ninevites, to hear of God's good compassion for us. He would love for us to believe His warning of wrath and to repent of our sins; God relents when we repent of our sin. Christ in that grave was the mercy of God.

You can run… but you cannot hide. Not from God's plan nor from His mercy. But I wonder…

Are we resistant to take truth of Christ to the lost?

Maybe it's not hatred of an enemy like Jonah's motive, but – what holds us back?

Is it more about us, or about them?

And do we desire to see God save those who are far from Him?

Let's pray.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Building a Church on Truth and Relationships

From Acts[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on 17 Oct 2010

What does a church look like when it is built on truth and relationships? I think we can get a picture of that from the book of Acts. It looks like a church on mission empowered by God. Acts is a narrative of the establishment of the early church. It is Luke's continuation of His gospel; the first about the story of Christ on earth, the second – Acts – about the work of Christ through the Holy Spirit through the Church. Acts is more about God than about the church; and a healthy church is more about God than about itself, isn't it!

Acts 1:1-8

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,

2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me;

5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Prayer.

I want to make some observations from Acts that I believe stand firm in the Epistles to the church as well. When a church is built on truth and relationships…

Mission is clear and central. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

This church knew what they had to do. When a church has a mission that is clear and agreed on, so much difficult is avoided from within. It still comes from without, but at least the church is largely unified and focused on the work! Their mission – take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Our mission? It's the same. It motivates the church to see people come to faith in Christ and grow and reproduce!