Introduction and Commission of the Prophet

In this part of the sermon: The sermon transitions to Jonah 1:1, introducing the prophet Jonah and noting the unusual lack of introductory information compared to other prophetic books, necessitating a look…

Jonah's abrupt introduction in the Bible is compared to Elijah's, who is 'thrown before us' without much background, highlighting the unusual nature of Jonah's introduction.

Now who was this man, Jonah? Where did he live? Out of what historical situation did he think and minister? Well, very much like Elijah, who is, as it were, thrown before us in the record.

8:17 - 8:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon transitions to Jonah 1:1, introducing the prophet Jonah and noting the unusual lack of introductory information compared to other prophetic books, necessitating a look…

Martin advises using a concordance to read about the reigns of kings mentioned in prophetic book introductions (like Micah or Isaiah) to understand the historical situation and clarify the prophet's message.

Now when you read that, don't just glance over that. You don't need anything other than a concordance, or if you have, a 1901 edition, your center column reference, and you'll find the places in Kings and Chronicles where you can read about the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and as you read what happened in those days, then you turn to the prophet, and it's amazing how his message will often break open with tremendous clarity as you read it in the historical situation. For you must never forget, prophets did not simply appear willy-nilly upon the scene of Israel's history.

10:44 - 11:27 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon transitions to Jonah 1:1, introducing the prophet Jonah and noting the unusual lack of introductory information compared to other prophetic books, necessitating a look…

The presence of every prophet is described as a 'continual monument of the loving kindness of Jehovah,' emphasizing God's consistent care for Israel.

The presence of the prophet was the continual monument of the loving kindness of Jehovah, God of Israel. He is watching over...

11:28 - 11:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin provides a 'thumbnail sketch' of Israel's history, focusing on the divided kingdom and Jeroboam II's wicked reign, during which God, through Jonah, prophesied and brought…

Martin provides a brief overview of Israel's history from Saul and David through Solomon's idolatry and the division of the kingdom, setting the stage for Jonah's era.

you must have an awareness of a little bit of the history of Israel. Now I'm going to give you a thumbnail sketch in about 65 seconds. Most of you remember and know enough of the Bible to recall that under King Saul and King David, the nation of Israel grew to tremendous influence in the land of Canaan. God was with the armies of Israel and they dispossessed the enemies and drove out the Canaanites and possessed the land.

14:10 - 14:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Don't grow comfortable thinking you must be right with God because God uses you to extend His kingdom; usefulness in kingdom work is no proof of grace in the heart.

The example of God using wicked King Jeroboam II to extend Israel's borders is used to warn pastors and aspiring ministers that usefulness in God's work is not proof of personal grace.

that God will restore the borders of Israel back to those tremendous dimensions that were known under the reign of Solomon. And to magnify his grace, God does it in the days of a wicked king. Now, I want to say by way of passing, it has nothing to do with the message, but I cannot, I cannot pass it over without mentioning this. Don't any of you ever grow comfortable that you must be right with God because God uses you to extend his kingdom.

20:14 - 20:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin details Nineveh's greatness in geographical size, population, structure (walls and towers), and influence as the capital of Assyria, emphasizing the imposing nature of the…

To help the audience visualize Nineveh's 100-foot walls, Martin compares their height to three times the height of the church ceiling (30-35 feet), making the scale more tangible.

They were that wide. This ceiling is probably about thirty, about thirty-five feet high. Imagine a wall three times the height of this ceiling. Now you get something of the meaning of these words.

31:26 - 31:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin details Nineveh's greatness in geographical size, population, structure (walls and towers), and influence as the capital of Assyria, emphasizing the imposing nature of the…

Nineveh's influence as a capital city is compared to modern cities like Moscow, Peking, New York, Chicago, Buenos Aires, and Delhi, to convey its significance.

This city Nineveh was the seat of government and the dwelling place of its kings. In a way that is not even true of modern cities that are considered to be, as it were, the center of the life of any given country or nation. It was in some way what Moscow is to Russia, and Peking to China, and New York and Chicago to our own country, and Buenos Aires to Brazil, and Delhi to India. Well, you get something of the feeling then when God says to Jonah, Arise, go to that great city.

32:22 - 33:00 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon highlights the abrupt, authoritative, and unprecedented nature of God's sovereign command to Jonah to go to Nineveh, contrasting it with the preparations given to…

Isaiah's commission to judicially harden hearts is contrasted with Jonah's, noting Isaiah's special vision of God's majesty that prepared him for his difficult task.

Here is God exercising His royal prerogatives. Now notice the contrast. When God was preparing Isaiah, for his strange mission, He prepared him with an unusual vision. Remember what his mission was going to be.

34:12 - 34:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He's saying, Jonah, I'm God and I maintain the rights to exercise my Godhead as I will. Get up! Go to Nineveh! That's your task.

Jeremiah's commission is contrasted with Jonah's, highlighting Jeremiah's intimate dialogue with God and encouraging visions that prepared him for his difficult mission.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord high and lifted up, sitting upon a throne, and He has this shattering vision of God in His enthroned majesty and holiness, so that His Spirit is prepared for the difficult commission. Then when God says, Go, He is able to say, Here am I, Lord, send me. He is prepared. You read in Jeremiah 1, Jeremiah is to have a difficult mission, but God prepares him, not by this lofty vision, but by an intimate dialogue Jeremiah says, I am just a kid.

34:48 - 35:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Ours is but to obey God's commands, whether spoken in ordinary scriptural statements or spectacular revelation, without questioning or seeking precedent.

The analogy of looking over one's shoulder to find precedent for a command is used to illustrate Jonah's unique situation and God's right to make new precedents.

And in the language of Mary to the servants at the wedding feast, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And if you look over your shoulder and say, but I don't know anyone else who has ever, that's not the issue. Jonah could look over his shoulder and say, but God, this is unheard of. The prophet goes from Israel to a heathen nation.

38:49 - 39:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Reflect the largeness of God's heart by being willing to leave friends, loved ones, and comfortable associations to preach to 'this Nineveh and that Nineveh' when God calls.

Martin shares his personal reluctance and 'trauma of soul' regarding an upcoming two-week missionary trip, illustrating the personal cost of obedience to God's call, even when it's difficult.

If any of you thinks I look forward, any of you think that I look forward to spending two weeks halfway around the world in the month of May among strange people an eight or nine hour time change, preaching three times a day and counseling all the waking hours in between, away from my dear wife, away from my children, away from my fellow elders, away from the flock of God in which I feel comfortable, in which I can take my coat off and not wonder if I'm going to offend anyone, and a thousand other precious little intimacies. If anyone thinks that that's a delightful mission, he has no idea of ...

42:24 - 43:08 Read in full sermon

The point: As proclaimers of the Word, call the 'Nineveh of our own nation,' neighbors, friends, and associates to repentance, warning that their sins are known to God and will precipitate judgment.

While on an operating table two weeks prior, Martin reflected that murder had been committed on that very table in the name of women's liberation, illustrating the national sin of abortion crying out to God for judgment.

I preach tonight, unborn babies are being slain in the clean, staff-operating rooms of the metropolitan area. As I lay upon that operating table two weeks ago, I thought on this very table, murder has been committed in the name of women's liberation. And I'm not a woman. I'm a Christian. And I said, oh God, how long? How long? And all the goodness

54:00 - 54:31 Read in full sermon

The point: If you love a man, tell him he's a hair's breadth from feeling the wrath of the Almighty, rather than telling him 'all is well' when he is in danger of hell.

Pastor Fisher's sermon on Paul in Athens is referenced to show that Paul's compassionate evangelism 'bristled with negatives' and judgment, demonstrating that true love sometimes requires proclaiming hard truths.

And who knows but what God will own the pronouncement of judgment to humble hearts and bring them to the feet of a God whose heart is also large with designs of mercy. I thought Pastor Fisher opened that up so clearly to us this morning. When Paul impelled with compassion and longing to see men become true worshippers goes to Athens, his sermon bristled with negatives. It bristled with judgment.

55:34 - 56:05 Read in full sermon