The God of Second Chances

Preached 02/26/2017 at Rocky Creek
 
Jonah: God’s Relentless Pursuit
Series Overview: Jonah was a prophet on the run but discovered quickly that he could not outrun God.  No matter how hard we may try to avoid God’s call on our own lives, we will soon realize that we cannot escape God’s relentless pursuit.
 
The God of Second Chances [Jonah 3] – Despite our sin, God provides second chances.  Not only does he show grace to us, but he can show grace through us.
 
CONFESSION
  • Rerouting – GPS trip from Greenwood to Greenville
  • No matter how many times I veer off course, God always has a plan for me to arrive at my destination.
 
QUESTION
  • Do you believe that God could give a second chance to someone undeserving?
  • On Feb. 18, 2017, Norma McCorvey died.  She went by the pseudonym Jane Roe as in Roe v. Wade.  In 1971, she was a young woman who was addicted to substance abuse who became pregnant and sought an abortion in the state of Texas.
  • It was ruled unconstitutional, and some pro-abortion forces who were searching for the right plaintiff used her story to advance their agenda.
  • It went to the Supreme Court and ruled in her favor in 1973 but after she had to give the child up for adoption.
  • Since 1973, there have been over 50 million abortions in America.
 
CONNECTION
  • Jonah’s Second Chance
  • Instead of reproofing the messenger, God simply repeats the message.
  • God doesn’t rub our noses in our mistakes.
  • Getting ready to go to Japan, overwhelmed with past mistakes.
  • Rom. 8:1; Jer. 31:34
  • As ambassadors, we herald a message that we did not compose.
  • I don’t write the mail – I deliver it.
  • MFuge – first sermon
  • The serious warning of God’s judgment is a mericful call to repentance.
  • Great City – it was a three day event, many people in this city and so God cared about it.  God cares about people and cities.
  • Jonah’s arrival was probably dramatic – different ethnicity, lone exhausted traveler, possible bleached skin, looking like the walking dead
  • Only five word sermon – “Yet forty days Nineveh overthrown”
  • What kind of sermon?
    • Was this all God told him to say?
    • Is this the cliff notes version of it?
    • Was this a graceless sermon from a prophet who had just received grace?
  • Nineveh’s Second Chance
  • The people believed God and were fearful of God’s impending wrath.  The countdown was on and they were terrified.
  • When will we take God at his Word and realize how serious he takes our sin?
  • Matt 12:39-41 – Ninevites will judge the Israelites at time of Jesus because they missed something greater than Jonah right before their eyes.  The Ninevites repented after one prophet’s one message.  What about God’s people who have heard it over and over?
  • Revivals often start at the bottom and move their way up.
    • Revivals begin with the commoners more than they do the royalty.
  • When we encounter God, all perceived dignity is discarded.
    • The ruling authority of the province rises from his throne – the seat of royal power – and humbles himself to join in with the commoners.
    • He rose to sit down.
    • He took off royal robes to cover himself with sackcloth.
    • The inclusion of animals reveals how desperate they were.
  • God is more interested with the proof than the promise.
    • While the people promised fasting, sackcloth, prayers, and ethical repentance, the latter is all God cites in the end (“how they turned from their evil way” 3:10).
    • Our lives should match our lips.
    • Our deeds should match our words.
    • Our practices should match our promises.
    • They relented from violent practices.  They were cruel people who infringed on human rights.
  • The fact that God relented his plan doesn’t mean that he changed his mind.
    • Same word is ra’ah meaning “disaster” or “evil.”
    • The divine disaster coming would continue the sinful disaster they were experiencing.
    • God will bring divine disaster on people who are unrepentant of their sinful disaster.
    •  C.S. LewisThe Great Divorce: “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.” 
    • Jer. 18:7-8: If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.
    • We make threats that sound like promises: “If you aren’t in your bed by the time I get upstairs, I am going to stuff you in the hamper.”  “If you are late one more time, you will be fired.”  “If you forget our anniversary, you will sleep on the couch.”
 
SUGGESTION
  • Do you believe that God could give a second chance to someone undeserving?
  • Jane Roe
    • On Feb. 18, 2017, Norma McCorvey died.  She went by the pseudonym Jane Roe as in Roe v. Wade.  In 1971, she was a young woman who was addicted to substance abuse who became pregnant and sought an abortion in the state of Texas.  
    • It was ruled unconstitutional, and some pro-abortion forces who were searching for the right plaintiff used her story to advance their agenda.  
    • It went to the Supreme Court and ruled in her favor in 1973 but after she had to give the child up for adoption.
    • Since 1973, there have been over 50 million abortions in America.
    • In the 1990s, she was befriended by some neighbors at the abortion clinic that she worked for.  An evangelical ministry started working next to the clinic and reached out to her.  She converted to Christianity.
    • In 2003, she made legal efforts to reverse Roe v. Wade.
Despite our sin, God provides second chances.  Not only does he show grace to us, but he can show grace through us.
  • Left black jacket at home for NGU Presidential announcement.  Had to borrow another jacket.  The only way I was presentable is if I was clothed by another.
  • Isa. 61:10: I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in the my God; for he has clothed me with garments of salvation, he has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness.
  • Zech. 3:4: He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.”  Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”