A SECOND CHANCE
October 13, 2002 PM
Sermon Outline
Jonah 3:1-3a
INTRO: Please, give me another chance. I wonder if there is anyone who has not - at some time, in some situation - asked for another chance. Prisons are full of people who wish they could have another chance. Children about to be punished are quick to ask for just one more chance, Dad. Then, there are the missed opportunitiesin life. Days, months - even years later we may still be saying, If I just had another chance at that, Id take it. And the truth is that in some respects life is full of second chances. Until we die, each of us has the time to do things differently. We have read - in our text - of Jonahs second chance.
I. WE SEE A SINNER PARDONED
A. Jonah had chosen to sin, to disobey God
1. he plainly knew Gods will
2. he very deliberately chose to do otherwise
3. he knew he had sinned (1:12)
B. Penitent Jonah is forgiven of his disobedience
1. chapter 2 is a remarkable prayer of penitence (2:9b)
2. God would not have restored, nor used an impenitent Jonah
3. Mt 11:20-24 because they repented not
C. Restored prophet is still of great use to God
1. here is one of the great messages of grace when God pardons, it is complete! 1 Tim 1:14-17 ... Jonah has great work to do
2. how could someone who has done and been what I have, possibly be of use to God? what a terrible mistake
3. Ps 51:10-13 though his life would never quite be the same, perhaps Davids greatest work was now to be done!
II. WE SEE GODS INTENTIONS FOR NINEVAH NOT SIDE TRACKED
A. Human stubbornness will not thwart Gods plans
1. God had a plan in mind - Jonah was His messenger
2. Jonahs failures, stubbornness could not keep Gods plan from being accomplished
3. just think of Israels stubbornness ... but from Israel Jesus did come - Gal 4:4,5
B. Not even Satan could keep the church from becoming reality
1. Mt 16:18 Satan could, would try
2. but Gods purposes are kept by His incomparable might
3. oh, we may choose against God but He will find a way, a faithful voice to launch His plea
C. And God still wanted His word preached in Ninevah (3:2)
1. Jonah was to be careful to speak only Gods message
2. how carefully we must teach, preach how loyal and faithful we must be to His word (1 Cor 11:23a)
3. only his word accomplishes His purposes
III. WE SEE THE ONLY WAY TO OBEY
A. According to the word of the Lord (3:3a)
1. before, Jonah had behaved according to Jonahs will
2. now, however, we see the only proper response of faith
3. now, we see the supremacy of Gods word in Jonahs life
B. We cannot substitute our way
1. Mt 7:21-23 sincerity was obvious in these religious professions but Gods command had not been kept
2. Mt 15:3,6b-9 religious they were, carefully so but Gods commandment had not been kept ...their worship is vain
3. Ps 40:8 supremacy of Gods word in heart and life
C. The wise and foolish builders Mt 7:24-27
1. we have taught little narrative, the sone, object lesson
2. but have we effectively communicated, instilled the truth?
3. there is only one way to obey God!
D. In the case of Jonah ...
1. before He obeyed there was trauma, hurt, damage, waste
2. and all of that was so needless Jonah didnt have to butt his head against a brick wall ... nor do we
3. why wait longer to say to God, None of self and all of thee?
CLOSE:Our second chance may be this very moment in time. And because of the vast uncertainties of the future, this may be the very last second chance we have! Hopefully, our inclination will be to take this renewed opportunity to make Gods purpose and word supreme in our own lives!
Cecil A. Hutson
13 October 2002