WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:06.919 Today I have a question for you. Have you ever felt like you were 2 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:10.919 the wrong person for the job, Like, what did you get yourself into 3 00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:15.119 You didn't have the right experience or the right skill set? Well, I 4 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:20.039 know I have and you probably have too. This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, 5 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:24.640 the audio broadcast ministry of Pastor Rick Warren. Okay, today we're going 6 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:30.039 to continue with the series The Manifestation of Your Life Mission. Rick is showing 7 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:34.280 us that no matter how big the thing is that God is calling us to 8 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:38.159 do, we don't have to run away from it. We can actually run 9 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:41.479 toward it. This is such a good message, and I hope you'll invite 10 00:00:41.479 --> 00:00:46.200 a friend to listen along with you as we discover how to embrace God's calling 11 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:50.560 on our lives and how we can live according to the purpose and plan that 12 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:54.119 He has for us. All right, let's hear what Rick has to say 13 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:58.079 as we go into part two of a message called what to Do When You 14 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:04.000 Get a Second Chance. Circumstances may change me, but they never changed my 15 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:11.159 mission. I may go through all kinds of breaking situations where I am broken 16 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:18.040 financially, or I'm broken spiritually, or I'm broken emotionally, or my relationships 17 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:22.239 are a mess and they're all broken, or my body is broken by a 18 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:26.840 disease. I can have all kinds of circumstances, and yes they will change 19 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:33.680 me, but they never change my life mission. Everything you've gone through in 20 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:40.319 life has changed you. None of it has changed the mission that God made 21 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:42.719 you for. Before you were born, he decided that you would do. 22 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:48.480 Nothing has changed that. I said in our last session, there is no 23 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:52.760 Plan B for your life. I don't care what's happened to you. There's 24 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:56.920 no Plan B for your life. You're still on Plan A. In fact, 25 00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:00.840 before you were born, when God decided what he wanted you to do 26 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:06.079 with your life, whether you did it or not is your choice, and 27 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:09.719 that's a big mistake to not do what you're created to do. But before 28 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:15.240 you were in board, he decided that He already knew all the stupid things 29 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:17.080 you do, all the dumb decisions you'd make, all the scinnons you'd commit, 30 00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:21.759 all of the problems you'd face, all of the losses you'd have. 31 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:28.400 He factored it all in. He factored it all in. Your life. 32 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:32.719 Mission has not changed from the moment you were conceived in your mother's womb, 33 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:38.240 and so Jonah's going, Okay, I'm going to get on track, and 34 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:45.000 I'm going to make my mission my top priority. God has no plan be 35 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:49.199 remember this verse. I showed it to you last week. The Bible says 36 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:53.960 in Romans eleven twenty nine. God's gifts. God gives you gifts and his 37 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:58.240 call. God has called you to do something things with your life. God's 38 00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:04.199 gifts and his call are irrev vocable. No sin you commit can change God's 39 00:03:04.280 --> 00:03:07.360 call or God's gifts in your life. You still have the same gifts and 40 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:08.560 you still have the same call in your life. Let me show it to 41 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:13.560 you in the same verse in other translations in the Living Bible, God's gifts 42 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:19.639 and his call can never be withdrawn. He will never go back on his 43 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:23.759 promises. That's why when God had a call for Moses, yeah, Moses 44 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:28.319 went out and murdered guy, it did not change his call. Here's another 45 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:34.000 verse in Roman's eleven twenty nine and God's Word translations. God never changes his 46 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:40.199 mind when he gives someone gifts or when he calls some one. So it 47 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:46.800 is in still full force. So I live with profound gratitude, and I 48 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:51.240 know I've been given a second chance, and I get on gear, and 49 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:53.800 I start using my life for what I was supposed to use it for in 50 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:57.199 the first place. That's second thing. Here's the third thing you do that 51 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:06.000 Jonah did. Don't delay obey today. Okay, don't delay obey today. 52 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:11.159 When God gives you a second chance, this is no time for procrastination. 53 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:15.080 Well, I think I will do what God made me to do, but 54 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:18.040 I'm gonna have a little bit more fun with my life first. I think 55 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:20.480 I'm gonna do what God wants me to do. But I've got to make 56 00:04:20.519 --> 00:04:25.560 a bunch of money first, or I've got to get married first, or 57 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:29.399 I got to get through school first. Or This is not a time to 58 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:35.879 procrastinate on your life mission. When you're giving a second chance, you go 59 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:41.959 at it immediately. You don't delay, You obey today. It's time to 60 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:45.199 get going. In verse three Jonah, Chapter three, here's the third thing 61 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:48.199 Jonah did this time. Now he gets the second message, go and do 62 00:04:48.279 --> 00:04:51.519 what I told you to do in the first place, Jonah, immediately, 63 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:59.199 immediately, don't delay. Headed to Nineveh. It's a big city. In 64 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:03.920 obedience to the word of the Lord. I bet you he ran. I 65 00:05:03.959 --> 00:05:10.160 think when that great fish spit him up on the beach. He probably hit 66 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:14.439 the ground running, and he's probably Usain Bolt. You know, he's running 67 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:18.120 all the way to Nineveh, which is five hundred and fifty miles from the 68 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:25.639 coastline of Israel. It's in inner where Iraq is today. It's up where 69 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:30.600 near where Mosel is in Iraq, and he probably land. Would you if 70 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:33.199 God had given you a second chance, like Joan, don't you think you'd 71 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.480 probably say, I'm gonna get with whatever God told me to do in the 72 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:39.680 first place. I spend enough time going the wrong direction with my life. 73 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:43.319 Now I'm going to make up for some time. I'm going to go fast 74 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:46.759 in the right direction. I want you to write this down in your outline. 75 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:55.600 Delayed obedience is disobedience. Delayed obedience is just being as any parent knows 76 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:59.759 this. If a dad tells his son son, I want you to go 77 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:01.000 take the garbage out right now, and he says, well, I will, 78 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:05.040 Dad, if I get to it next week. I want you to 79 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:08.759 go clean up your stuff in the garage. I will in a couple of 80 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:15.040 days. I need you to come help. Mom says to one of the 81 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:15.879 kids, I need you to come help wash the dishes, well, I 82 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:21.519 will in two days. Delayed obedience is disobedience. But God tells you to 83 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:27.199 do something, expects you to do it now, not later, not to 84 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:32.319 give him some excuse so you don't delay. You obey today. What has 85 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:38.959 God told you to do? And you're still dragging your feet? I mean, 86 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:42.759 you know you're supposed to be doing it, but you're still dragging your 87 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:46.519 feet. For instance, we know that God wants every one of us to 88 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:53.000 give some part of our life in sacrificial service where we're not paid to do 89 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:56.160 it. We're just helping other people out of the goodness of our heart. 90 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:01.199 We're volunteering to serve. It's called your ministry. And God says I want 91 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:08.920 everybody and you know that. But you're not volunteering anywhere. You're not You're 92 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:11.560 all. Your time is based on you, is built on you. There's 93 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:15.360 there's no place where you're doing something totally unselfish for other people. You know 94 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:17.800 that God says, I want you to be like me. I want you 95 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:19.959 to learn to be a servant. I want you to learn to serve. 96 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:24.879 You know, God says, give the first part of your income back to 97 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:29.040 me as a sign of your thanks. You don't do it. I know, 98 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:31.519 and I'm just not doing it. Some of you know, God says, 99 00:07:31.879 --> 00:07:34.839 when you like Jesus, when he's thirty years old, as an adult, 100 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:39.240 he's baptized, we're not talking about his dedication as a baby. When 101 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:42.279 Jesus is thirty years old, he goes out and public as an adult, 102 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:46.319 makes his public profession of faith. Have you done that? Have you done 103 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:47.759 that as an adult? You know, Jesus said to do it, He 104 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:53.000 commanded it be baptized like he did. He wouldn't have done it unless he 105 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:56.680 wanted you to do it. He modeled it as a thirty year old. 106 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:01.240 Some of you haven't done that yet. What is it that you're putting off 107 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:03.680 that God tells you to do? You're still dragging your feet. You know, 108 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:07.839 if you're a businessman, you really need to read the Book of Proverbs 109 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:11.959 and study it because it has all of the principles for successful business in spades. 110 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:18.879 It's an unbelievable book. You could build your business multinational corporation on the 111 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:22.800 principles in God's word in the Book of Proverbs. One of the principles in 112 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:26.800 the Book of Proverbs says, when you know something's not right. Like in 113 00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:31.160 your business, you fix it immediately. And he says, if you've gotten 114 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:35.639 into a bad financial commitment, get out of it quickly. You don't procrastinate. 115 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:37.759 He says, do it now. Let me just show it to you 116 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:41.200 here on the screen. The Bible says, in Proverbs six three and four, 117 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:46.600 get out of it as quickly as you possibly can. Swallow your pride, 118 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:52.679 go and humbly beg to cancel the deal. Don't put it off, 119 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:56.000 do it now, and don't rest until you do. That's pretty clear. 120 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:01.039 He saying, you don't procrastinate. If you made a bad financial decision, 121 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:05.159 get out of it immediately. God's not saying think about it and do it 122 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:09.679 maybe in a couple of years. He says, get out of it right 123 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:11.240 now. And he says, if you're wise, you do it. If 124 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:16.000 you don't do it, it's foolish. But a lot of times God gives 125 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:18.960 us commands and we go, well, I'll think about that for a while. 126 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:22.360 No, we need to don't delay obey today. Now here's the fourth 127 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:26.279 thing that Jonah does. This one takes a little time to explain, but 128 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:31.240 it's real important. When God gives me another chance, I'm going to live 129 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:35.559 with profound gratitude. I'm going to make my mission my number one priority. 130 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:41.799 I'm going to not delay. I'm going to obey today. Number four, 131 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:52.440 Accept my responsibility to warn others. Accept my responsibility to warn others. Now, 132 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:56.480 let me explain this. This is not your whole life mission, but 133 00:09:56.600 --> 00:10:00.799 it is part of it. It was certainly part of Jonah's life mission. 134 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:05.320 And if you are a follower of Christ, there are going to be some 135 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:09.960 times in your life when you were called on to warn some people out of 136 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:16.519 love. Jonah, chapter three, verse three. This time Jonah immediately headed 137 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:20.279 to Nineva in obedience to the word of the Lord. And then in Jonah 138 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:22.960 the rest of it says, now the city of Nineva Jonah three, three 139 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:28.200 and four. Now the city of Nineva was so big that it took three 140 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:35.639 days to walk around it. But after walking a day, Jonah warned the 141 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:37.279 people circle that word warned again. We're going to come back to that, 142 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:43.399 Jonah warned the people Ninevah. I've told you this four was the most powerful 143 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:48.440 and the biggest city in the world at this time. Assyria is the predominant 144 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:54.240 empire in the known world, and the capital of Assyria is Nineva. It's 145 00:10:54.279 --> 00:11:01.399 a huge city with big boulevards and temples and waters and parks and pools and 146 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:07.159 all kinds of wide boulevards, and it was a huge, huge city. 147 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:09.200 It's the biggest city in the world. And as a result, it's very 148 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:15.679 prideful. And he says, when Jonah gets there, it takes about three 149 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:18.960 days to walk around it. That's because there were other cities around nineveh kind 150 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:24.519 of like La is not just one city. It's a metropolitan area of a 151 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:26.720 lot of other cities, and all of those cities together would take you a 152 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:31.039 long time to walk around. And he says, I want you to go 153 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.799 and warn them, And it says after a day of walking, Jonah warned 154 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:39.440 people. Now what is a warning? Because if this is part of your 155 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:41.639 life mission, then you need to know how to do a warning. A 156 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:50.480 warning is cautionary advice about a danger, a trap, or a problem. 157 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:56.480 That's a warning when I give cautionary advice about a danger or a trap, 158 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:05.080 or a warning or a problem. Now, God built into your body warning 159 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:09.279 systems, and there are certain things that when your body is not healthy, 160 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:13.120 you get a fever, your blood pressure goes up. There are all kinds 161 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:16.960 of signs the doctors take. There are warning signs in your body that things 162 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:20.519 are out of whack, but we often don't even pay attention to our own 163 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:24.559 bodies. We don't listen to what God tells us. We don't listen to 164 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:28.759 what our bodies tell us. We push ourselves too far, too hard, 165 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:31.639 we don't get enough sleep, and on and on and on. So God 166 00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:37.519 has to bring people in our lives to warn us because we're not smart enough 167 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:41.679 many times to listen to God's warning or even to listen to the warnings of 168 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:46.480 our own body, our own conscience. So God has to bring people in 169 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:48.759 our lives to warn us. You know, as I've traveled all around the 170 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:54.440 world, I have a hobby. One of my hobbies is collecting stupid warning 171 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:58.039 signs. I thought this might be an appropriate time to show you some of 172 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:01.279 my collection, Okay, from around the world, So let me just show 173 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:05.000 you a few of these. Here's one. There's a warning sign, keep 174 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:09.120 your hands out of the machinery. Look at that. That looks that's almost 175 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:13.519 comical, like your fingers are getting smashed. I didn't, I wasn't afraid 176 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:15.879 of that. I just laughed at it. When I saw it because it 177 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:18.799 looked like you're getting all smashed up. Here's another one. If the door 178 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:26.000 does not open, do not enter. That's very good warning. Okay, 179 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:31.159 that's profound. Here's another one. Caution, be aware that the balcony is 180 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:37.279 not on the ground floor. Yeah, so if you lean over, you 181 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:41.440 might fall further than you thought because the balcony is not on the ground floor. 182 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:43.879 Okay, that's kind of obvious. This is funny. I think I 183 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:48.480 took this in Australia. It was a trampoline place. Oh no, it's 184 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:52.519 in England because it's pounds. And then it says warning barbed wire in use. 185 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:56.279 I mean, who's gonna go on a trampoline that if you jump too 186 00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:00.480 high you run into the barbed wire. Somebody who hates kids, I guess. 187 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:03.480 All right here I love this one. Big scary laser. Do not 188 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:11.120 look into beam with remaining eye. Okay, all right, somebody had a 189 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:15.440 sense of humor. All right, big scary laser. This is in Houston. 190 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:18.559 No drowning. This is on a sea wall. I'm going, yeah, 191 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:22.799 okay, I'll make sure that because you told me I won't do it 192 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:26.679 now. All right, No drowning, I mean make sure. Warning these 193 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:31.720 peanuts may contain peanuts or peanut byproduct, so eat at your own risk. 194 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:39.679 Enjoy. I mean really I like this one. No tresspassing violators will be 195 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:46.200 shot. Survivors will be shot again. All right, Okay, so we're 196 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:50.679 not always really smart when we get these warning signs. Here's another one. 197 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:54.360 Oh this, you've seen this on the road to Phoenix State Prison. Next 198 00:14:54.399 --> 00:15:00.200 exit. Do not pick up hitchhikers. I passed out one hundred times when 199 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:03.240 I used to go to case parents in Phoenix, and so I shot that 200 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:05.840 picture one day. State prison, next exit. Don't pick up pitchhikers. 201 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:11.000 All right. Here's another one. This is in Australia. These toilets. 202 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:20.320 If the towel dispenser is empty, please use your clothes. What what really? 203 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:24.960 I just got and I said, thank you the management. Yeah, 204 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:28.519 well thank me, Right, I'm going to go out with well my clothes. 205 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:31.039 Oh this was a really good one. You may be at risk for 206 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:33.480 throat cancer if and it has three things. Number two is have a throat 207 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:37.200 or mouth. Okay, so if you don't have a throat or mouth, 208 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:41.919 don't worry about this. You will not have throat cancer if you don't have 209 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:48.120 a throat or a mouth. All right now, Oh, please be safe, 210 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:50.799 do not stand sid climb or lean on the fences. If you fall, 211 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.720 animals could eat you and that might make them sick. Thank you. 212 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:03.320 Right, yeah, I got this one. In England, Touching wires causes 213 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:08.320 instant death. Two hundred dollars fine. As if death is not enough, 214 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:14.320 I want to scare you with the two hundred dollars fine. Okay, Newcastlen 215 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:18.039 Oh, this is good. The dog danger. The dog has a gun 216 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:23.440 and refuses to take his medication. And then this was one of my favorite. 217 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:30.919 Unattended children will be given an energy drink and taught to swear. So 218 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:36.840 we have all these warning signs in the world because we're not really good at 219 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:41.080 paying attention to warnings. And yet God wants us to humbly accept warnings from 220 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:48.120 other people and humbly and lovingly offer them to people in love. So this 221 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:53.120 is what the fourth thing that Jonah has to do. After walking a day 222 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:59.919 into the city of Ninevah, Jonah warned the people. Now, this mission 223 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:06.640 of warning warning people is a ministry of every follower of Jesus Christ. And 224 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:14.440 you've probably never been taught this. Okay, warning shows that you love God. 225 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:18.400 When you warn other people, it also shows that you love other people. 226 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:23.400 If you knew that a bridge was out and I'm speeding down the country 227 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:27.759 road at fifty miles an hour and you don't tell me that the bridge is 228 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:33.759 out, is that loving? No? No, it's actually hateful. It 229 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:37.599 means you don't love me. If you truly love me, you're going to 230 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:41.039 tell me, Hey, Rick, the bridge is out at the end of 231 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:45.839 this road. If I walk up to the cliff and I'm about to fall 232 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:48.079 off and you go, Rick, you might want to step back a little 233 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:55.720 bit. The ground is unstable there. That's an act of love. Warning 234 00:17:55.880 --> 00:18:00.559 is an act of love, not an act of arrogance, not an act 235 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:04.119 of hypocrisy, not an act of superiority, not act of self righteous. 236 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:11.359 Warning is an act of love. And God doesn't tell Jonah. He doesn't 237 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:14.680 say, I want you to go move into the city of Nineveh and be 238 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:19.680 a good example. We'd all like that one. I want you to move 239 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:22.519 to this wicked city and just be a good example. You don't say anything, 240 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:26.519 just be a good example. He doesn't tell him that part of Jonah's 241 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:30.759 life mission is you're gonna go to the city, and you're gonna warn him. 242 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:36.480 You're gonna warn them. It's part of your Christian responsibility. I actually 243 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:44.160 looked this up and the New Testament has over one hundred examples and verses on 244 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:48.799 the ministry or the responsibility of you and me warning other people that we love. 245 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:55.200 Has anybody ever told you that that that's part of your job of following 246 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:59.599 Christ is to warn other people, just like Jonah was told by God to 247 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:04.559 warn Paul in Acts, chapter twenty, verse thirty one says this, for 248 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:12.240 three years, I never stopped warning each of you night and day. Notice 249 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:15.680 with tears. Now, why would he warn you with tears? Because he 250 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:19.920 cares about him. You warn because you care. You warned because you love. 251 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:27.319 You warn people because you care about them. Now and Jonah chapter three, 252 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:30.480 verse four, second half, it says this, So Jonah warned the 253 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:34.720 people. Here's the warning. In forty days, nineve will be destroyed. 254 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:40.359 Oh that's a great positive message. In forty days, the world the Jenavi 255 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.759 will be destroyed. Is this going to be a welcome message? No? 256 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:49.200 Is this gonna make Jonah popular? No? Is this how you attract social 257 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:55.519 media friends? No? Now I want you to notice Jonah gets this all 258 00:19:55.519 --> 00:20:02.319 wrong. Jonah shows no compassion at all. He doesn't have any care for 259 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:04.160 the people of Ninevah. In fact, he doesn't want to be there. 260 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:08.519 We already know that he hates these people. He's racially prejudiced against them. 261 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:12.519 They are the enemy. He's politically on the opposite side of them. And 262 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:18.279 he's being told to go to his political opponents and tell them and warn them 263 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:22.359 about God, and he doesn't want to warn them. And when he goes 264 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:27.799 to the city of Ninevah, he announces that he does the minimum possible. 265 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:33.319 I mean he announces it in a matter of fact tone. He's as brief 266 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:37.680 as possible. In fact, a sermon is only seven words. Some of 267 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:41.720 you would like a seven words sermon, but he only has seven words. 268 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:48.839 In forty days, Nineveh will be destroyed. That's it. There's no compassion, 269 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:56.319 there's no love. It's just that's about the minim minimum you can do. 270 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:02.279 And yet God still used it. He had the wrong motivation. He 271 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:08.599 had no love Jonah. This is very, very different from the most prophets, 272 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:15.960 because most prophets when they warned people, they give these passionate speeches and 273 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:21.599 they're long and they're impassioned, and they're warning and they're pleading, and Jodah 274 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:25.440 just walks in and say, He goes, you guys are gonna die bye. 275 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:30.319 That's all he says. He doesn't care two bits about this nation. 276 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:34.039 Are these people? You guys are gonna die bye? While I go to 277 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:40.119 the sky. You're gonna fry, you know? And this is very, 278 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:44.160 very different. Now what is Jonah doing me? Well, it's as if 279 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:47.279 he's saying to God. There, God, I did it. Okay, 280 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:49.920 are you happy now? Okay? I didn't want to do this. I 281 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:52.599 didn't want to go to these people. I don't like these people. But 282 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:56.920 I told him what you said. He said the minimum, He said it 283 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:59.400 with no love. He goes, there, are you happy? Now? 284 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:04.880 He gets it all wrong, and yet still God used him. Now, 285 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:14.480 why was Jonah so short and so passionless and so unloving in sharing his warning? 286 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:18.559 Because he knew something that you need to know. I want you to 287 00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:22.519 write this down. When God gives a warning, write this down. When 288 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:27.559 God gives a warning, it's a good sign. When God gives a warning, 289 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:32.880 it's not a negative sign. It's a good sign because it means he 290 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:37.119 wants to give you another chance. If God doesn't want to give you another 291 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:42.160 chance, he doesn't give you a warning. If God gives you a warning, 292 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:48.279 it means he's going to cut you some slack and give you another chance. 293 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:53.920 It's a good sign. People think warnings are negative. They're actually an 294 00:22:55.000 --> 00:23:00.759 example or an illustration or an expression of love, because you're going I'm warning 295 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:07.000 you, and so you won't go through all this pain, you won't go 296 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:11.160 through all these problems. Now, I'm not going to ask for confession or 297 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:14.640 to raise your hand, but I wonder how many of you have been driving 298 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:17.839 down the street of the freeway one day and you saw a red light in 299 00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:23.319 the back of your window, okay, and you pull over and the officer 300 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:29.240 comes up and says, man, I see your driver's license. And you're 301 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:33.599 nervous, and then you fumble around and trying to give an explanation why you're 302 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:38.240 going ninety miles an hour or whatever. And you get this explanation, and 303 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:44.680 then you hear the sweetest words when the officer said, well, today, 304 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:48.519 I'm just going to give you a warning. When somebody says I'm going to 305 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:53.240 just give you, are you happy or sad? You're happy? Why? 306 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:57.720 Because you're not going to be judged. You're not going to jail, you're 307 00:23:57.720 --> 00:24:03.440 not paying the fine, you don't get the ticket. The warning is actually 308 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:08.319 good news. I'm just gonna let you off with a warning. And when 309 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:11.359 God says to Janah, I want you to go in and warn them that 310 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:12.960 I'm about to destroy the city, he said, I really don't want to 311 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:19.039 destroy the city. If he wanted to, he wouldn't warn him. Does 312 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:26.119 this make sense. It's a good positive thing because when I'm happy when I 313 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:30.759 get a warning, it means I'm not going to pay the fine, I'm 314 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:34.920 not gonna serve the time, I'm not gonna whatever, because it's just a 315 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:45.200 warning. Thank you for listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. You know, 316 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:49.240 I know that you would love to live a life of significance. But have 317 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:55.160 you ever wondered if you could make a contribution so unique that no one else 318 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:59.400 in all the world could do what you've accomplished. Well, you need to 319 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:03.359 stop one because God created you to make a difference in the world. He 320 00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:08.079 created you to fulfill a mission that only you can accomplish. I know you 321 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:11.599 may be thinking that God couldn't use you like that, but you know what 322 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:17.119 he can and not only can he, but he will. It really doesn't 323 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:19.880 matter what you've done or what you've failed to do. It doesn't matter how 324 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:25.319 young or how old you are. It is never too early or too late 325 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:29.440 to start on the mission that God has planned for you. And that's why 326 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:33.480 I'm so excited to let you know about a brand new Bible study from Pastor 327 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:37.799 Rick called Rising to God's Call, a Journey through Jonah. In this study, 328 00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:42.000 Rick is going to show you how God had an incredible mission for Jonah 329 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:47.519 and it went well beyond being swallowed by a big fish. Jonah's story is 330 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:52.279 really about second chances and redemption and the rescue of an entire nation. And 331 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:57.200 more importantly, it's the story of God, the one who shows grace to 332 00:25:57.400 --> 00:26:02.480 everyone he created. You know, the story of Jonah is really like a 333 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:07.400 blueprint from God. It shows all of us how He can use you to 334 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:11.400 do significant things no matter where you are in life right now. And just 335 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:15.599 like Jonah, you're going to find that pursuing God's mission for your life is 336 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:19.960 the greatest adventure that you will ever go on. And we're going to send 337 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:25.799 you Pastor Rick's brand new Bible study, Rising to God's call a journey through 338 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:30.759 Jonah to say thank you for your gift to Daily Hope because it helps us 339 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:34.720 share the life transforming Word of God with the world. Just go to Pastororick 340 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:40.680 dot com or just text the word hope to eight hundred, six hundred five 341 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:45.799 thousand and four to get this great resource. That's Pastorick dot com. Or 342 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:51.079 text the word hope to eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four and thank 343 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:55.240 you so much for your support. Your gift to Daily Hope helps us share 344 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:59.279 the hope of Christ with people all around the world. We hope you'll join 345 00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:03.000 us next time when we look into God's Word for our daily hope. This 346 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:08.400 program is sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and your generous financial support.