Matthew 12:41……..Working

Matthew 12:41……..Working

12:41 The men of Nineveh (To add insult to injury they were once Israel’s enemies)  will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah. (Either Jonah’s words or the sign of his miraculous survival after being swallowed by a whale)  and now one greater than Jonah. (Unlike Jonah, Jesus willing obeys the word of God. Unlike Jonah, Jesus goes willing into the belly of the grave. Unlike Jonah who had a near death experience, Jesus will lethally die for our sins. Unlike Jonah who was spit out of the whales mouth, Jesus will raise Himself out of the grave) (For Complete Expository See Book)

Extended Sermons

“Warns how waiting for the perfect sign or special experience can cause us to miss out on what God is doing.” → God rarely works according to the conditions we set. When we wait for the ideal moment, the dramatic confirmation, or the emotional high, we often overlook the quiet, steady, faithful ways God is already speaking. If you keep waiting for the “perfect” sign, you may never respond to the one God already gave. If you keep waiting for a dramatic experience, you may overlook the quiet conviction of the Holy Spirit. If you keep waiting for a moment that feels supernatural, you may miss the moment that is supernatural. If you keep waiting for a dramatic experience, you may overlook the quiet conviction of the Holy Spirit. If you keep waiting for a moment that feels supernatural, you may miss the moment that is supernatural — simply because it didn’t look the way you expected. In fact you can become so focused on the spectacular that you miss the simple. So focused on the emotional that you miss the spiritual. So focused on what you want God to do that you miss what He is actually doing. Often, people hesitate to respond to God’s call because they want every question answered and every uncertainty resolved before taking a step of faith. But throughout scripture, God invites us to move forward even when things aren’t clear, trusting that He will guide and provide along the way. Just as Jonah had to obey despite his reluctance and fears, we are challenged to respond to God’s invitation without waiting for ideal circumstances or undeniable signs. Choosing to delay, waiting for reassurance or perfect evidence, risks missing out on the blessings, growth, and purpose that God has prepared for us. The story of Jonah reminds us that God can use imperfect people in imperfect situations—but only when they are willing to respond. Will we let hesitation and doubt hold us back, or will we step forward in faith, accepting what God offers right now?

“Even today, people will look back on our Generation and say “You had the bible on smartphones, tablets, computers. Churches in every community.” Christian teachings on radio, television, and internet and you weren’t able to make a decision for Christ → We live in a time of unprecedented spiritual opportunity. Unlike generations before us, we have access to God’s Word the bible in countless formats, languages, and translations. We have sermons streamed live or on demand, worship music and podcasts just a click away—our generation has more access to know God than any before. We live in a country that has freedom of religion. We can own bibles and have them in our own homes and read them whenever we want without fear of being arrested or imprisoned. Still, many choose to ignore or postpone responding to the message of the Gospel and having a vibrant relationship with the Lord. What excuse will we offer? When so much truth and access are within reach, our responsibility is even greater. Will we allow distractions, convenience, or apathy to keep us from making a decision, or will we recognize the privilege we’ve been given and respond wholeheartedly to God’s invitation? The abundance of spiritual resources removes any justification for indifference. The real question remains: What will we do with what we’ve been given?

Additional Notes & Applications 

Calls for examining one’s own heart and the readiness to heed God’s voice without reservation.

Teaches if Pagan Idol worshipers listened to Jonah, how much should we listen to Jesus.

Warns greater the spiritual light, greater the responsibility and accountability.

Teaches how the word and grace of God are sufficient to transform lives without the need for miracles.

Teaches instead of comparing ourselves to others we need to own our sin.

Teaches how true faith will obey even when the outcome is uncertain or unclear.

Teaches how our  lives will be evaluated based on the opportunities we had to follow truth.

Note: Nineveh was capital city of Assyria, located on the bank of the Tigris River. We know from scripture that Nineveh were known for their cruelty and military brutality, removing the noses and ears of their prisoners to mark and maim them for life. And like most Mesopotamian civilizations, their culture was immoral and generally terrifying—temple prostitution, child sacrifice, abortion, and infanticide. Yet despite all this when Jonah proclaimed that Nineveh would be destroyed, the Ninevites—repented. They didn’t get any special sign. Jonah spoke in Hebrew five words and they repented (Eight when translated into English) “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” That’s all Jonah said and the entire city, including the king repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. They gave up their evil and violent ways .-(Jon. 3:1-10) That’s all it took for a terrible, statistic, and brutal Nivenvites to respond to the grace and the mercy of God. [Note: Some contend the reason Nineveh turned on a dime after hearing such a short sermon of five or six words was because they heard the story of Jonah and what happened to him at sea. How he was swallowed by a whale and how it spit him out. That and the fact that his appearance, being bleached white by the whales stomach acids gave proof that the story was true. Note: Despite their temporary repentance, the Ninevites later returned to their wicked ways, leading to the destruction of their city just as predicted by the prophet Nahum.-(Nahum 1:1-15) Note: One of the sad ironies of what Jesus says here is that forty years later, almost to the day, Jerusalem would be utterly and completely destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 A.D..  Note: As to why God chose the Ninevites, we could speculate a lot of things. Maybe it just a random city. Maybe Nineveh had a “Sodom and Gomorrah” reputation, making it the worst city of Babylon? Or maybe  possibly to hold back the beginning of the Babylonian Empire and the captivity to follow.]

Note: The proud Pharisees and other faithful Jews would have been stung to hear this. The reason Jonah was so reluctant to go to Nineveh was probably anger over the terrible things that culture had done to his own Jewish people. It would have been painful for an ancient Israelite to be condemned by formerly wicked, antagonistic Gentiles. The key difference between the two groups was repentance—so those who ignore Christ’s message have no excuse.

Note: Contrary to what many Christians believe that when people die they cease to exist , or Purgatory-(Roman Catholics) But here we have a judgment day when the dead are resurrected and judged. We know based on Revelations that this judgment is called the “Great white thrown   (Rev. 20:11-12)

WHAT OTHER GENERATIONS DIDN’T HAVE THAT WE HAVE

• They had no access to a Bible – you do.

• They didn’t have record of the Messiah’s birth – you do.

• They didn’t have the Gospel of Luke which revealed His deity – you do.

• They didn’t have eyewitness accounts of Christ’s work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead – you do.

• They didn’t have believers around them testifying to the truth of the God’s word – you do.

• They didn’t have churches and Sunday schools and biblical resources on every corner – you do.

• They didn’t have 2000 years of church history to evidence the work of God’s Spirit – you do.