The Choice Often in life we are given many choice, what to wear, where to work, who to marry. But none of these choices carry the eternal consequence of the choice who will you serve. In our study this week, we see the book starting to come to a close as there is a comparison to the Old Covenant that was given to Moses while the children of Israel listened and the New Testament that was declared at the death of the Testator. Hebrews 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. The New Testament carries with it grace, redemption, mercy and much more. The Old Covenant carries with it judgement, wrath, and unattainable rules. While the choice may be clear to us, there are many that hold out on the vain faith that they do not need to trust in Christ, but rather will be excused because of a few carnal good deeds. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Our responsibility to God is shown as we conclude this chapter, fear God with a godly fear. Church Memory Verse Hebrews 12:28-29 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Memories of getting into trouble as a young person always led to "prayer meetings" with Dad, where plenty of repentance and sorrow would follow. Encouraging times, when I would leave felicitous with joy because I could "feel" the love my parents had for me (pun intended). Obviously, I am being facetious as no one in their right mind would desire to be punished, but one fact always remained faithful, I knew my parents wanted me to learn from my mistakes. This learning was not an evil desire to see me hurting, but rather a godly desire to see me grow. Often we go through times of chastening and blame God for the punishment we are having to endure. Bitterness can creep in, and unfortunately, some “leave the faith” (for lack of better terminology). But Scripture reminds us in Hebrews that we should not respond to punishment as a negative, but rather as an exhorting truth. Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: Lessons are to be indeed learned from this chastening we experience, but ultimately we may be encouraged by the fact that God loves us enough to teach us in the areas of our life we have failed. Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. This week, we will look at just how we should respond to correction from our Heavenly Father. Church Memory Verse Proverbs 3:11-12 (11) My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: (12) For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Nahum was written approximately 150 years after the events recorded in Jonah. But here we see a different climate toward this nation that God at one point “repented of the evil” He had planned for their depravity. What prompted Nineveh to now be at the end of the judgment of God? What caused reversal from inheriting God’s mercy to having God’s wrath required? Nahum is very telling of the rationale for their absolute cessation in that they pursued after idols that eventually led them back to the bloodthirsty cruelty they committed upon the people of God, Israel. When God shows mercy it would do us well to use it for His glory and not self-promotion. This impractical endeavor of the people of Nineveh would be what led to their utter destruction. Let us comprehend to exercise the mercy that God bestows upon us for His glory and honor. We should direct our endeavors to promote Christ and not self. Paul teaches we are to die to self so that we may live for Christ. It has been accurately ascertained that only when one dies to self can we truly experience life in Christ. Church Memory Verse Philippians 1:21 KJV [21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Carnality or Compassion? Jonah is a great picture of the modern Christian. We have no desire to see the lost saved but when God does chasten us for disobedience we respond "Okay God, I'll go." Jonah 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh... Our readiness to go is wondrous and powerful, but then something happens... God forgives the wicked sinner we wanted to see get what they deserved! In chapter four of our study we see a prophet that was not concerned with the salvation of the wicked, but rather their ultimate demise. Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. Angry at God for being so merciful, Jonah decides to sit back and watch what happens to the city (most likely to prove they didn't really mean it when they repented). Jonah 4:5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. Isn't it amazing how we are so ready to issue judgement toward wicked ungodly people, but not as ready to show mercy and compassions. Jonah had more compassion for a silly plant than for the people of Nineveh. Jonah 4:10 Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: God ends the book of Jonah with two key points: He saves and He saves sinners of different varieties! Jonah 4:11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and [also] much cattle? Church Memory Verse Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Priority, Power, Penitence Another chance was given to Jonah to obey the will of God. Jonah 3:1 (1) And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, The prophet has now surrendered to the will of the Father (although in the next chapter we will see he has not done so fully). The will of God will not change simply because Jonah was not in favor with it prior. The plan stayed the same, but God showed mercy toward Jonah. Jonah 3:2 (2) Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. Interestingly the focus of chapter three is founded on three specific areas, the message, the people, and the response. When God’s message is proclaimed in God’s way, His word will yield the proper results. Pastor Dolton Robertson said, "What does better preaching involve? We are commanded to “ Preach the word ” ( 2 Tim. 4:2 ) because it is “ able to make thee wise unto salvation ” ( 2 Tim. 3:15 ), it is “ profitable for doctrine ” ( 2 Tim. 3:16 ), and it is, to state the distinctive principle of the Baptists, the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. It appears; consequently, the first necessity for better preaching is: Routine remobilization of the axioms of biblical authority. " Too often, the people of God season the message of God with political agenda’s, philosophical meanderings, and regurgitated opinions. We need not show the world our moral superiority or opinionated religiosity. They need to know what God says! When we refocus on the power of the Word for the lost and dying world, we will begin to see God do mighty things! Church Memory Verse Proverbs 15:3 [3] The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Pedagogy, Prosperity, Proficiency, Paganism These four areas can be said about this place called Nineveh. The people were well educated, had an opportunity for wealth in finances and knowledge, but they were extremely pagan in practice. Following the “god” of this world, their land was filled with violence and destruction. Jonah 3:8 b "The violence that is in their hands." Only when the preacher of God presented the message of God was repentance available. Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. We, like Jonah, have been commissioned by God to go into the "Nineveh" that surrounds us and take the message of pending judgement to those who do not believe. Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Change will not be found in a political office, prosperity scheme, or self-help seminars. Only when the God of Heaven is believed will there be an actual change in our communities. But the question remains, “how shall they hear without a preacher?” Church Memory Verse: Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?