When God Gives You a Second Chance, Grab it!
Stop Running Away from God • Sermon • Submitted
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HOOK
HOOK
We are on our 4th week in our series: Stop Running Away from God
Before we begin, let me share to you another real life story— this time the story of Damien— the story how he grabbed the second chance that God gave him
Damien is not a part of Agape— I got his story from the 700 Club [a Christian YouTube channel]— going forward, I wish to encourage you Agape Family— to record your personal our couples’ testimonies— either your life testimonies, miracles you encountered, or stories how God worked in your lives.
Like Damien’s 6-minute story— he will tell us how he grabbed the second chance that Gave to him [PLAY VIDEO]
When God Gives You a Second Chance, Grab it!
Like Jonah— When we ran away from God, we suffer some consequences— in the life Jonah, and in my life, running away from God cost us PHYSICALLY, RELATIONALLY, FINANCIALLY and even EMOTIONALLY
But when we run to the Father, the exact opposite happens— like what happened to Jonah— my life is a living testimony to that— that when we run to the Father, life calms down… unbelievers in our lives believes… and God shows us mercy
And when Jonah received mercy from God— he prayed CONFIDENTLY— he accepted his CIRCUMSTANCES and told God about it
Jonah did not just prayed confidently— he CLAIMED and CELEBRATED the things he prayed for confidently
Inspired by his joy— he COMPLIED with the COMMITMENTS he vowed to do— he grabbed his second chance!
After Paul said that those who are in Christ are new creations— they have the ministry of reconciliation— God is reconciling the world to himself in Christ— and then he said these..
1 Since we are God’s coworkers, we urge you not to let God’s kindnessbe wasted on you.
Wasted, In vain, Ignore!
In other words, Paul was saying, don’t waste God’s kindness [mercy]
Let’s take a look at what happened— open your Bible to JONAH 3:1-10 [we will cover the entire chapter which is only composed of ten (10) verses]
While you turn the pages of your Bible to take it to Jonah 3— let me ask you again— Are you still wondering if a human being like Jonah could actually survive being inside the belly of a big fish for an extended period of time?
There are some who sees the book of Jonah as a “satire”— the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity [in this case the stupidity or stubbornness of Jonah]— But I do not share that view!
Some view this story as a metaphor or a parable [take note that while this book is all about Jonah, he was not the one who wrote it— to this day the author remains anonymous]
His story in the book of Jonah may be a metaphor— but definitely, Jonah was a real person— son of Amittai— a real prophet of God who’s career was during the reign of King Jeroboam II— take a listen!
25 He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.
Are you now on JONAH 3:1-10?— CHARACTER of God. COMMANDS. PROMISES. EXAMPLES. CONVICTIONS. CHALLENGES & ENCOURAGEMENTS. ATTITUDES. PRAYER TO PRAY. THINGS TO THANK GOD FOR.
BOOK
BOOK
1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
WHAT: Jonah’s Second Chance from God
WHERE: City of Nineveh
WHEN: 725 B.C.
WHO: God, Jonah, King of Nineveh and Ninevites
WHY: To warn them that if they do not turn away from the evil ways— in 40 days, Nineveh will be overthrown
LOOK
LOOK
THEN THE WORD OF GOD CAME TO JONAH A SECOND TIME
Our God is the God of second chances
Noah was found drunk by his sons— and yet became the father of our new generation
Abraham lied about his wife Sarah— became the father of many nations
Moses murdered an Egyptian— Led the exile of the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt
Rahab committed prostitution— Mother of Boaz, became an ancestor of Jesus
David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then killed Uriah [Bathsheba’s husband] — became the greatest king of Israel— ancestor of Jesus
Peter— after denying the Lord three times, he was given a second chance— became the founder of the church of our Lord Jesus
GO TO THE GREAT CITY OF NINEVEH AND PROCLAIM
Go and Proclaim— After Jonah got his second chance from God, he was commanded to “Go & Proclaim!”
What prevents you from proclaiming the Good News about the Lord?— maybe you’re discourage because people doesn’t seem to listen— but God said it’s not an excuse— look!
7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.
JONAH OBEYED THE WORD OF THE LORD AND WENT
God said “Go & Proclaim”, Jonah “Obeyed & Went”
Nineveh was a very large city— it took Jonah three days to go through it— proclaiming, “40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown”
THE NINEVITES BELIEVED GOD
See the outcome of obedience is salvation— and not just that, listen
JONAH’S WARNING REACHED THE KING OF NINEVEH
He rose from his throne and took off his royal robes— that’s humility before God
When Jonah grabbed his second chance— his obedience resulted not just to the salvation of the Ninevites, but to the humbling of their king
There was another king, and his name was Solomon [the son of David]— when the Lord appeared to him at night He said..
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
And this is exactly what our nations needs specially at this time— for its people and leaders to humble down before God
Humble, Pray, Seek and Turn! Those are the keywords! In that order!
As a nation, if we humble ourselves to God, when we pray and seek the Lord, and if we turn away from our sinful ways— what will happen?
God will hear us, God will forgive us, God will heal us! Also in that order!
Since this pandemic started to alter our way of life— I’ve been praying and hoping that the bigger churches will take the initiative to lead a worldwide corporate prayer— churches all over he world taking turns in praying to cover a 24 hour 7 day period — non-stop! it’s always 3pm somewhere!
Rather than concerning themselves about legal battles to fight off the government in their desire to reopen their places of worship— I was hoping that they’d rather join us in seeking His will [for me, without a doubt, the Lord wants his church to go back to how it was before— Home Churches]
I agree that we shall fight for our first amendments— but I also subscribe to what Romans 13 said— Let the wheel of justice takes its course— meanwhile, let us all PLANT HOME CHURCHES!
Praying and seeking may not be enough— there should also be turning— turning away from our sinful ways
As a nation, we may not be held responsible for someone else’s wickedness— everyone will be judged individually and accordingly
“But to do nothing when you know something is equivalent to sinning!”— Look at what the Lord’s half brother said…
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
Our Lord Jesus also said something about this..
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
In our case, what is the right thing to do?— Vote conscientiously!— Read Romans 13 and be a responsible citizen of your country
Our votes may not be able to turn them from their wicked ways [abortion], but our votes can certainly contribute to which path our nation will go— Paul said these..
10 All of us must appear in front of Christ’s judgment seat. Then all people will receive what they deserve for the good or evil they have done while living in their bodies.
WHEN GOD SAW HOW THEY TURNED FROM THEIR EVIL WAYS, HE RELENTED
Our God is not just merciful, He is also forgiving
Our God is compassionate— He empathize with us and what we’re going through
When the Ninevites went fasting and praying— obviously they confessed and turned from their sins— that’s why they found mercy from God— listen!
13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
Let’s take a look at Paul. He was killing Christians because he thought they were heretics who were following a dead and disgraced leader.
But then Jesus confronted Paul on the road to Damascus—and offered him a second chance to fulfill his real mission on earth.
Paul accepted his assignment and did a 180-degree turn—and he never forgot the second chance God gave him.
Later in his ministry, Paul said:
24 I don’t care about my own life. The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.
Because Paul was so grateful God was using him, nothing else mattered to him.
Damien, just like Paul— he also grabbed his second chance— after all what he has gone through— he became a Pastor at 21 years old.
No matter how badly you’ve messed up, God hasn’t changed your mission. Maybe you’ve started to drift just a little bit.
God still hasn’t changed your mission. So get onto it. Get started today. When God gives you another chance, don’t delay—obey.
God’s second chances reflect his grace and his love for you.
When God Gives You a Second Chance, keep these three things in mind..
TOOK
TOOK
OUR GOD IS THE GOD OF SECOND CHANCES
1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:
GOD SAYS GO, I SAY WHERE?
You don’t ask him why, who, when, what— you ask Him where?
Make sure you go to where He told you to go— when He said Nineveh, do not go to Tarshish!— in verse 2 of our text today..
2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
MY OBEDIENCE COULD CHANGE PEOPLES LIVES
When God gives you a second chance, don’t delay— obey!— your obedience could change peoples lives!
5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
It could even change a nation’s future
6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.
CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE
One of the candidates running for office this November said that there will be no miracles!— That he has to lead us, and that we must do things on our own.
But our God is not just the God of second chances, our God is also the God of miracles
Believe in miracles because they are true!
Do you want to experience God’s miracles?
What to do to experience God’s miracles...
When God Gives You a Second Chance, Grab it!
Keep in mind that our God is not just the God of miracles, but also the God of second chances
Keep in mind that when God says “go”, you say “where?”
And always remember that your obedience could change peoples lives