12 views Streamed live on Jan 1, 2023
Text: Jonah 3:1-5
Opening Statement:
Have you ever noticed in scripture how many times the Lord called or came "the second time?" Sometimes, it brought stern warning, while other times it extended profound grace and abundant blessing. But, in every case it implied the Lord was not through yet!
In each of our lives there have been moments when our spiritual obituary was written, and our tombstone engraved. The world had given up on us, and friends could scarcely be found. Were you not deeply humbled and speechless when the Lord called or came "the second time?"
Today being New Year’s I thought it was a good day to pick up where we left off in Jonah. New Year’s always reminds me of a second chance in that an old year has passed, and a new one is beginning.
Today Jonah reminds us that we are Serving a God of Second Chances.
I) A Fresh Start Jonah 3:1
. . . the second time . . .
Wow, what a phrase! What grace and forgiveness are bound up in these three words – the second time.
"The second time" of the Lord signifies a fresh start.
The world may be limited in its love and chances, but the love of the Lord gives more than a second chance. He gives us a second wind!
Imagine the thrill of Jonah the prophet as he heard the word of the Lord coming to him again – the second time.
II) A Faithful Summons Jonah 3:2
It is interesting to me that this is the same commission Jonah first received in chapter 1. However, the first time, Jonah is told of the wickedness of the people of Nineveh, but in this second commission, Jonah is not reminded of their wickedness. Instead, he is challenged by God with the sacred task to, “deliver to them My word”.
Jonah is given a second chance and now, he is given a faithful summons. This charge is nothing less than to preach the word. It is the same charge given by Paul to Timothy, and to every pastor since, [Timothy], preach the word... (II Timothy 4:2a)
"The second time" of the Lord submits a faithful summons. What is the Lord saying “the second time” to you?
III) A Fruitful Season Jonah 3:4-5
"The second time" of the Lord suggests a fruitful season.
The word “overthrow” means literally, “turn upside down”. The tense of the verb indicates thoroughness, so this would be a complete destruction or overturning of the city’s foundations, walls and gates.
This is the same verb that is used to describe the total destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Is it really surprising then, to read in the very next phrase in verse 5, Then the people of Nineveh believed in God... Imagine this – they believed in God. By the way, it does not say they believed in Jonah.
The people of Nineveh may not have been all that swept away by Jonah. However, they were swept away by the warning of this Sovereign; they were swept into the mercy of Jonah’s God.
God not Jonah brought about a fruitful season.
In Closing:
How thankful I am that the Lord has never given up on you or me.
Watch us on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page
https://www.youtube.com/@midwaybaptistnc1670
https://midwaybaptistnc.org
https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc
