The God of Second Chances
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1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to 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, a three-day journey in extent.
Jonah’s indictment is recorded in chapter 1:3 where it says, “but Jonah arose and fled to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”
This is certainly a contrast to our text today!
If a new year brings anything, it brings the opportunity to begin afresh.
Jonah , here in chapter three, makes a new resolution.
Just as we make resolutions for everything, we need to resolve that we will serve the Lord more fervently this year than the one before!
Taking an inventory of one’s failures can be the best medicine for success.
“Failure is a part of life. If you don’t fail, you don’t learn. If you don’t learn, you’ll never change.” - Zig Ziglar
Failure is a part of life. If you don’t fail, you don’t learn. If you don’t learn, you’ll never change. - Zig Ziglar
“Without failure there is no achievement” - John Maxwell
Zig Zigglar
I. We fail because we are broken.
I. We fail because we are broken.
A. It is our nature.
A. It is our nature.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
Romans
What the apostle is expressing here is that we have been born in sin
You see, every one of us comes into this world as damaged goods!
And because of this, we, left to our own devises will fail!
If we look to the man Jonah, we see a man full of hatred for the Assyrians.
It shouldn’t surprise us then, that he fled from the presence of the Lord.
When we justify our sinful actions, we also flee from the presence of the Lord.
Oh we may not get on a boat heading to Tarshish, but we can do a pretty good job of ignoring the Lord!
B. It is our destiny.
B. It is our destiny.
We live in a culture that must blame someone else for their own troubles, or actions!
The truth is, mankind is on a collision course with failure.
Failure to meet God’s standards nor to care about it!
7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
Failure to meet God’s demands.
Failure to care.
Jonah’s actions in chapter one mirrors our own actions when it comes to God’s demands.
We flee!
Why?
Because when we choose according to our own understanding, we choose the wrong way every time.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
We live in a culture that must blame someone else for their own troubles, or actions!
3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
I know this seems so negative, and in such a positive attitude driven culture such as ours, we should take note that God has a very different philosophy.
We live in a culture that must blame someone else for their own troubles, or actions!
Not that He wants us to dwell on negative thoughts, but to be realistic about who we are according to His word.
1 Cor.
It is only then that we can see who we are in Him!
II. We overcome through His power.
II. We overcome through His power.
A. The power of His life in us.
A. The power of His life in us.
The closer we walk in Jesus, the more of Him empowers us.
Think about the twelve disciples. When they walked on this earth with Jesus, they were empowered to cast out demons, heal the sick, and even walk on water!
But when Jesus was buried they fell apart.
But when Jesus was dead and buried, they fell apart.
And it’s the same with us.
When we aren’t walking in Him, we fall apart!
John chapter 15 describes where our life comes from. It is that life that makes us fruitful in the Lord.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
When we are walking in Him, we are abiding in Him and that life that flows through us is ...
B. The power that overcomes.
B. The power that overcomes.
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Romans
What fears do you face today that His power can’t give you courage?
What pressures are wearing you out, that His power can’t strengthen you?
What things are causing you anger that His power can’t sooth?
The Apostle Paul said, “When I am weak, then I am strong”
Do you think it’s just cheap talk, or did he live that way?
Conclusion:
Jonah changed his perspective and surrendered to God’s demands because he witnessed the power God has over his physical life. i.e. swallowed by a fish!
We in the body of Christ, are motivated to surrender, not out of fear, but out of pleasure as we are empowered by Him.
God will not usually badger us, but will prod us along through His Spirit, that we would surrender to His will.
The question is, will we surrender?
Perhaps your track record isn’t good.
That’s OK!
Because our God, is a God of second chances!!