God’s Long-Suffering
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Background
Background
For now, we’re skipping the books of Amos and Obadiah because they are similar in their application to both Hosea and Joel. I don’t want it to get stale, so we are jumping to one of the greatest books in the Old Testament, the book of Jonah. There probably isn’t a more memorable story than the story of a man who gets eaten by a giant fish.
There are some strange encounters that we see in the Bible, but this one is up there, and it’s so relevant to our life, because, when we belong to the Lord, it’s almost like He just squeezes us into His will, whether we like it or not. We fight harder to disobey God than we’d have to fight if we just listen to Him.
Now, I know saying it like that makes it seem like God forces us to do things. I’ll just say this…God isn’t a dictator and He doesn’t force us to do anything…but just like all children experience, our dads have a way of making something that isn’t in our will or isn’t in our plans a very important part of our lives..or else…and that’s exactly what God does in this book…He just says to His rebellious son…you’re going to Nineveh, or else I’ll make your life so miserable you’ll be begging me for a second chance.
Context
Context
The focus for tonight is not on how God redirects us and moves us to accomplish His will, but the subject for tonight is God’s patience with us, even when we are living in open rebellion against Him.
You see, God could have struck Jonah dead and sent another prophet. But He didn’t want to send another prophet, He wanted to send Jonah. Not only did God have a plan for the city of Nineveh, God had a plan for Jonah, and God has a plan for you, and God is going to be long-suffering with you so that you can do His will for His glory.
We are in chapter 1 tonight, and we are going to see four ways that God’s long-suffering is at play.
I. God’s Long-Suffering for the World
I. God’s Long-Suffering for the World
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
Now, there are some observations that I want you to make here.
Jonah is a prophet.
We don’t remember that part of the story, but he is…and we know he is because it says, “the word of the Lord came to Jonah”
One blessed thing that we have today is the completed revelation of God’s word. They didn’t have that then, so they relied on prophets.
When the Father calls us or speaks to us, He always requires an actionable response.
To my knowledge, there is never a time in the Scripture where we see the Lord speak and He doesn’t require action from us. He tells Jonah, “Rise!”
There is a time when He doesn’t require an action, but that’s when Jesus is being baptized and He just says, “This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”
The reason He doesn’t require a response from Jesus, is because Jesus always has and always will be obedient to the Father.
We have a responsibility to cry out about sin.
Don’t ever submit under preaching that doesn’t address sin.
One major reason is that a preacher that won’t address sin from the pulpit will never address the sin in his own life.
Two, the Bible says that the Lord Chastises those who He loves. If there is no chastisement in your life, you aren’t loved.
God has great compassion for the world.
He says, “the wickedness of Nineveh has come up before Me.”
What does that mean exactly?
We know that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and He is always present no matter where you are.
So, when He says, “their sin has come up before Me”, it doesn’t mean that He wasn’t aware of it. What it means is that they have reached a point in their sinfulness where God is going to judge them.
Listen to this truth, God allows all things to come to completion and that include wickedness.
But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
God will not prematurely judge a nation for their sin…but that’s not even the greatest reality of v. 1.
The greatest reality is why God won’t judge a nation until their appointed time…and it’s because He is long-suffering, and doesn’t want anyone in the world to die.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
That was true in the Old Testament, and it’s true today…God doesn’t want to see people go to Hell. He wants them to repent and to trust in Him.
Let’s discuss the city of Nineveh for just a moment.
A Summary of Nineveh
A Summary of Nineveh
Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire.
When we walked through Amos and Joel, what was the imminent threat to Israel? It was the invading Assyrian army.
So, as you can imagine, there was a lot of tension between Jews and the Assyrians.
Nineveh was exclusively Gentile.
This wasn’t a Jewish nation. God is calling Jonah to go and preach to Gentiles, and not only that, but Gentiles that were going to be God’s tool of judgement against the nation of Israel.
It is a city called, “That great city” by God.
And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”
The Bible says that there are 120,000 people there.
Today, that would be the equivalent of a city of 12.3 million people, which is 4 million persons more than New York City’s population. It really was a great city.
God’s Hatred of Wickedness
God’s Hatred of Wickedness
Now, look again at v. 2.
It’s very clear that God will judge evil, and that every season of wickedness will experience judgement.
Today, the world, just like in the times of Jonah and the other prophets, is strutting to Hell, thinking that they are alright. Thinking that no matter what they do, there is never going to be any kind of punishment for their sin.
What people like to do is to deflect by pointing at the other person. They want to make themselves appear so righteous and understanding, they want to make themselves appear so virtuous and so clean, when they are nothing but filthy sinners who have made an enemy out of God.
At this present moment, in the life of those in Nineveh, and all around the world today, there are enemies of God.
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
People don’t think that about themselves…because people generally consider themselves to be good. But the Bible says that they are not good, the Bible says that men every where should repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
That is, unless you repent and have your sins washed, unless you have your sins forgiven (blotted out), there will be no refreshing in God’s presences, because His judgement will be present against wickedness.
Here is what the Bible says about God’s nature and His hatred for wickedness, and then we’ll move on.
For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You.
The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity.
You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
We have too many religious people sitting under teaching that says, “you’re alright the way you are, God accepts you any way that you come, just come and it will be ok.”
But that is a lie…because unless you have been washed in the blood of His son, you will not dwell with God, but you will be destroyed.
But here’s the flip side of that
God’s Merciful Compassion
God’s Merciful Compassion
What’s the point of v. 2?
The point of v. 2 is that God is sending His word, He is sending His messenger to the wicked.
What does the Bible say about the Word of the Lord?
I’ll read on from the Old Testament and one from the New.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
That is, when the Word of God is proclaimed, it has the power to convert the soul. God is sending Jonah to convert their souls.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Do you know what God is asking Jonah to do? He is asking Him to show them Jesus. Jonah doesn’t know it, they won’t understand it, but when Jonah goes into Nineveh, and He begins to proclaim the word of the Lord, he is pointing them to Jesus for their salvation.
Now, here’s how much compassion God has for the world.
This city deserves to be judged, their wickedness is complete, they have been weighed in the Court of God, and they have been found wanting…they have been deemed enemies of God…and now God is trying to save them.
God is sending His prophet to save His enemies!
Doesn’t that bring so much meaning to the New Testament teachings of Jesus?
Let’s go through a couple
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
What makes our Heavenly Father perfect? Even when we don’t deserve it, even when we are his enemies, He loves us.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
God spoke salvation into motion because of His great love for the world, despite the wickedness of man. That is GRACE.
And you better be thankful, because even as His children, we tend to disobey.
II. Long-Suffering over Jonah’s Rebellion
II. Long-Suffering over Jonah’s Rebellion
But Jonah arose 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 down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
I mean talk about running.
Jonah goes from Israel, south of Judah to Joppa, planning to sail all the way to southern Spain, before he gets eaten by a whale and then scurries on to Nineveh.
I hear from time to time about people running from the Lord, but Jonah was trying to get outta dodge. He tried to go 2,500 miles away from where God called him.
Imagine if when God called me to Providence I turned tail and went Tijuana, Mexico instead. That’s about the distance that Jonah tried to go.
Well, he got about half way there and then got eaten…
Let me tell you how sick an twisted we get as Christian people…
think about Jonah’s reason for not going…it says so in 4:2
I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
He didn’t have the merciful compassion of our God. What he had was the self-righteous condemnation of a wicked man. He was carnally minded.
We get to this place in our minds where we think certain people just need to hurry up and die and face their judgement…but that’s not God.
God is a God who loves His enemies, and wants them to see Jesus.
And you, just like I said before, better be thankful
Because if that were not Who God is, we’d all be lost in our sins, because we are all enemies of God at some point in our lives. It’s only by God’s grace we have been saved, not of works, lest any should boast.
III. God’s Long-Suffering through Revelation
III. God’s Long-Suffering through Revelation
But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.
Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.
So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”
And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”
So 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.”
Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
Revelation in the Storm v. 4
Revelation in the Storm v. 4
It is possible, that when we go through the storms of life, that we are experiencing God’s judgement. Now, if we know that we are living in active disobedience, that should be considered an option.
If, to your knowledge, you are not in sin and not in rebellion against God, then it’s doubtful that the storm is there because of you.
But, unfortunately, we are so stubborn, that sometimes the only way for God to get our attention is to send the storm our way…but just like everything else, God doesn’t send storms for our harm, God sends them for our good.
So, even in the storms that we cause, we can know that we have a savior, that we have a God, that is long-suffering, and that is seeking to restore us in any way that He can.
God Reveals through Spiritual Weakness v. 5-6
God Reveals through Spiritual Weakness v. 5-6
All of the pagans have a faith in thier gods, and yet Jonah is down there and he is sleeping. What Jonah is displaying is spiritual weakness.
What is the fruit of this spiritual weakness?
Jonah cares more about himself than about the people who are around him.
When I come to the realization that I am blaming other people for my flaws and my attitude, I can know that I am out of fellowship with God. I can know that I have quenched the Spirit in my life.
Because, when I am walking with the Spirit of God, when I am doing what I am supposed to be doing, when I am taking on the responsibilities that God has set before me, I no longer think about other people.
All of the focus comes to my own flaws and my own failures…and suddenly I’m not blaming others, I am experiencing repentance in my own life.
And, when I get to the place of repentance in my own life, I am no longer spiritually weak, God fills me again and makes me strong.
The major indicator that you are in a time of spiritual weakness is when you don’t care about other people.
2. Jonah is physically and mentally tired
It’s amazing to me that he is just sound asleep through this storm. I mean, you have to have vacated your mental facilities to just sleep through the storms of the sea. This storm appears to be so serious, that these pagan men are praying, and there is a man who knows the God of the universe and he has vacated his responsibility.
Disobedience costs you more than just fellowship with the Holy Spirit, it costs you your physical and mental strength.
When we become children of God, we don’t thrive in the darkness like we used to. We thrive in the light. So, when we go into darkness, our bodies and our minds can’t take it. We know that we are out of place, and our spirit gets so grieved that it actually affects us in other ways.
3. Jonah cannot hear from the Lord.
I mean, this fellow has an important job…he is a prophet. He is God’s conduit to the world, and he can’t hear from God.
When you get to the place where you are no longer interested in hearing what God has to say, you can rest assured that you are in some kind of sin or rebellion that God is attempting to reveal by spiritual weakness.
So, God reveals by storms, by spiritual weakness, and through confrontation.
God Reveals through Confrontation v. 7-10
God Reveals through Confrontation v. 7-10
These sailors begin to cast lots, and all signs pointed to Jonah.
Here is a man on board this ship who is supposed to be a representative of the God of Heaven, and he is found to be a coward, a lazy bum, and an uninterested backslider.
Jonah has, up to this point, been hiding his identity…but now, because of the confrontation brought about by this storm, the truth has been revealed.
Jonah is a man who has vacated his position and has begun to serve himself, seemingly uninterested in what was going on in the lives of others, and these sailors do what anyone would do…they simply ask, “Why have you done this?”
Look there in v. 10, and I want you to see where all this has led…
it says, “the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.”
Maybe God’s greatest revelation of our sin, possibly God’s greatest expression of His long-suffering, is that He will work until we are able to vocalize our sin and understand what we did.
There’s something about trying to hide sin that makes us ashamed. When the Bible talks about forgiveness, it says that God is faithful and just to forgive our sins when we confess it, not just when we think on it.
Part of repentance is that confession between you and God, where you vocalize the wrong that you have done.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We have to confess it…and that confession only comes when we are confronted with our sin, forced to stand face to face with our decisions.
When to Confess Publicly
When to Confess Publicly
Now, there is, within the issue of confession, how it needs to be carried out.
a few quick principles.
If your sin is public, confession needs to be public.
If your sin is against a few, confession should be made to those few
If your sin is in secret and against God, then confess before God and leave it at that.
Now, it’s possible that some sins we need to seek counsel on, but that’s not called a confession, that called accountability.
When we rope in others to ensure that we don’t continue to walk in those ways, that’s no confession, that’s accountability.
As your pastor, I don’t need to hear your confession unless you have sinned against me directly…you need to confess to the Lord and to others that you have hurt.
When it comes to accountability, it needs to be someone that can invest in you, and be present with you…which is the importance of building relationships in the church.
In all cases, God’s long-suffering towards you is evidenced by His revelation of whatever sin you are experiencing.
Only people who don’t care about you let you carry on in your sin without confronting you and without trying to stop you.
So, God’s long-suffering is on display in His compassion for the world, in putting up with our sins, and in His continued revelation of our sins…now, let’s look at these finals aspects of His patience.
IV. God’s Long-Suffering
IV. God’s Long-Suffering
Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous.
And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.”
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them.
God is using Jonah’s disobedience to show others His power.
Did you know that there is power in the darkest parts of your testimony?
We tend to get in our minds that our failures define us, but only God can do that. In fact, God uses those failures for ultimate good.
These sailors are now trying their best to outrun God, just like Jonah was doing…but it says that the more they rowed, the more the storm grew.
Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.”
So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.
Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.
God could have destroyed those men on that ship and saved His prophet with that giant fish, but the Lord’s long-suffering compassion for every sinner moved Him to give them a revelation of Who He was until they looked to Him for salvation.
Because of this, they began to fear the Lord.
What was originally disobedience from Jonah, turned into a saving grace for these other sailors.
Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
This is the discipline of God in action.
First, there was a confession of sin, that Jonah admitted to witnesses and before God that he was trying to run.
Second, there is the discipline of God, as Jonah is trapped in that fish for three days.
Spurgeon says this, “God never allows His children to sin successfully.”
Even in this part of the story, Jonah may have admitted that he was running from the Lord, but he was still trying to accomplish things his way…he instructed those men to throw him overboard. What Jonah didn’t do was ask God what should happen.
God will never allow us to sin successfully, and that means when we take matters into our own hands.
It seems that Jonah may have simply wanted to die, asking to be cast into the sea…those men didn’t want to do that so they rowed harder, when they realized it was hopeless to fight, they asked God not to charge Jonah’s blood to their account. Why? Because him going overboard was a death sentence.
But God was not going to let His prophet go that easily, so He prepared a fish to swallow Jonah.
Jonah went into that fish a rebellious sinner, and would come out an obedient child…
Conclusion
Conclusion
What in your life today is requiring God to be long-suffering towards you?
Will you confess that today?
Or will God need to put you in the storm, make you spiritually weak, or send others to confront you?
