#304 In London For London Series# 1, This Great City

#304 In London For London Series# 1, This Great City
By: Pastor D. Karl Thomas

“Transforming lives to IMPACT their world.”

Acts 1:6-11  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   

Witnesses:— “Martus” Testify in a trial; Those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death.
It is where we get the word martyr from.
Live for Jesus everyday!

Acts 2:9-10 “Parthians, Medes, Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews, proselytes, Cretans, Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

HERE — THERE 

IN LONDON FOR LONDON

Jonah 3:10-4:11
“When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.   

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.

7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.

9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”

“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”

10 Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness,[a] not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”

Pity (Chuwc):— to pity, have compassion, spare, look upon with compassion
City that took three days to walk through.
City that had 120,000 people who were in crisis.

God loves this City!  Godʼs priority is lost people.

Luke 15:1-3
“Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story: …”    Lost Sheep — Lost Coin — Lost Son

Godʼs Call
1. “Go to Nineveh, that great city…”
Head Reason — It is and important and strategic place.
Heart Reason — There are a lot of people there.
Come out of your safe – everyone thinks and looks like me – place and get uncomfortable.

2 Godʼs Perspective
Jonah 1:2 “and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
Jonah 4:2  “I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.”

3. Godʼs Remedy
Jonah 4:5 “So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city … till he might see what would become of the city.”
Jonah left the city to condemn the city.

Hebrews 13:12 “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.”
Jesus was dragged, weeping, out of the city that he might save it.

Secular morality will not save the city, it needs a miracle of Godʼs Saving Grace!!!
London is saved because someone suffered in its place.

This is not a story about Godʼs dealings with a violent, evil city.
This is the story of God transforming the heart of a religious, heartless, bigoted prophet.
This is Godʼs invitation to you to invade your city with His gracious, merciful, lovingkindness.

304 In London For London Series# 1, This Great City, PowerPoint Slides

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