"GREATER THAN JONAH"
Intro: Certain of the scribes and Pharisees had just asked Jesus for a sign, some kind of
proof. You wonder what they wanted more.
I. JESUS CONFIRMED THREE EVENTS.
A. Bible critics feel compelled to challenge the accuracy. Biblical Infidelism.
B. When Jesus speaks of an event as happening, I believe it happened. I'll take His
authority.
C. The story of Jonah and the whale.
1. Infidels had a hard time with that one.
a. Their concept of God too limited.
b. Can man prepare a great fish (so to speak. that will carry a crew
under water for many days?
c. Would it help you if it said God prepared a great submarine?
2. The reference by Jesus confirms the story as historical fact.
D. His own resurrection after three days.
1. This was the only further sign to be given.
2. It was the sign that convinced the disciples.
E. The final resurrection and judgment.
1. You cannot, you will not, escape the judgment of God.
2. Facts are not determined by your belief.
a. Facts are facts whether you believe them or not.
b. 2+2=4.
II. MEN OF NINEVEH SHALL RISE WITH THIS GENERATION AND CONDEMN IT.
A. Well might they condemn it.
1. They had only one prophet, Jonah.
a. He hated them.
b. He only preached because he was forced to.
c. He had no desire to see them saved.
2. He had only one message, judgment.
a. "Yet forty days and comes destruction."
b. No offer of grace.
c. No mention of forgiveness.
3. Yet they repented, from the greatest to the least.
a. "Who can tell?"
III. A GREATER THAN JONAH IS HERE.
A. Jesus was ministering in love.
1. How many times we read, "And Jesus had compassion on them."
2. He is touched by our weaknesses.
B. His message was of God's love.
1. Full of hope.
2. Promise of forgiveness.
C. His words were confirmed by signs and miracles.
1. He said, "Don't worry about what you are going to eat, your Father knows
what you need."
a. Then the disciples came to him worried about how to feed the
multitude.
b. He had them sit in groups of fifty.
2. He said, "Your heavenly Father cares," and He healed their sick.
D. Jonah offered to the people of Nineveh none of these things.
IV. WELL MIGHT THE MEN OF NINEVEH CONDEMN THIS GENERATION.
A. You have a wide choice of prophets.
1. They come in all sizes and shapes.
2. Don't like the way this one looks, can go down the street.
B. A message of hope.
1. We declare to you the love of God.
2. We assure you of forgiveness if you will repent and believe.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.