1 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:05,640 OK, open up your Bible to Jonah. We're going to be in Jonah 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:07,560 chapter 3. Good morning. 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:08,960 If you're visiting, my name is Steven. 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,880 I have the privilege of unpacking a portion of one of 5 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:16,200 the themes of Jonah together. I mentioned last week while 6 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,480 you're turning me. I mentioned that I've noticed 7 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,680 this every time we've preached from Jonah. 8 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,440 We've always begun with Jonah one verse one, and we're going 9 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:24,920 to. Do that today because. 10 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,560 I don't know if you know this, but in the ancient Near East, 11 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,400 when it came to literature, they didn't have emojis. 12 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,880 They also didn't have highlighters and exclamation 13 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:35,520 mark. So when they wanted to emphasize 14 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:37,080 something, they would repeat themselves. 15 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:41,600 So we read in Isaiah, the angels see the Lord and they cry out. 16 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,720 Holy, holy, holy. Not just because he's three 17 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,320 times holy, but because. He's he's. 18 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:50,880 Holy, holy. Holy. 19 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,720 Well, we read in Genesis where the armies are busy fleeing the 20 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,680 battlefield and it says. That the soldiers fell. 21 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,360 Into. Pit pits. 22 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:01,560 Clearly, they weren't ordinary. Pits. 23 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,480 They were pits. That needed some emojis. 24 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:04,800 Maybe they would. Swallow you whole. 25 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,720 So they were called pit pits and we. 26 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:12,480 Found the same thing in Jonah. Unfortunately, it's not. 27 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:14,680 Verse after. Verse so we can sometimes miss 28 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:15,800 it. So I want to show it to you. 29 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,760 Jonah one verse one says the word of the Lord came to Jonah 30 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:25,640 son of Amitai go 3 verse one says almost exactly the same. 31 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,400 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. 32 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:33,880 Go. Underline The only difference is 33 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:37,400 once God had highlighted, it's underlined at the second time. 34 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,040 Jonah, actually. Decided to go and I. 35 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,720 Want to look at this morning what it means. 36 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,440 To be called. To go. 37 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,800 But I want to show you what happens when we go. 38 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,160 Verse 5. The Ninevites. 39 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:57,520 Believed God now. You're going to know you heard 40 00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,720 Rowan. Read it there in English. 41 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,320 It's 8 words, Jonah. Goes but he preaches 8 words. 42 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,040 He might have said more, but he only highlights 8 words in 43 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:07,840 Hebrew. It's only. 44 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:12,840 Five, it's like. Lowest possible, lowest common 45 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,000 denominator. This like subversive. 46 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,800 Reaction against God in Hebrew this. 47 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:23,200 Five is like you guys are. Going to die. 48 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,880 I don't know, but the Ninevites believed God. 49 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,880 The Ninevites. Not the priests, not the head 50 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,720 boy. The Ninevites, the terrorists 51 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:38,920 the most. Brutal. 52 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,120 Wicked. Empire known to man. 53 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:46,440 Believe God a fast. Is proclaimed, and all of them 54 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:47,840 from the. Greatest to the least. 55 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,520 Put on sackcloth and how's. This verse 6. 56 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,480 When Jonah's warning reached the king of Nineveh, he didn't. 57 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,440 Even go to the. King Yeah, it's like. 58 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,440 That was too much. But the warning when it reached 59 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,520 the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his 60 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:05,120 royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in 61 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,200 the dust. The most wicked? 62 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:09,560 Most. Debauched. 63 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,520 Nation and we found the greatest revival. 64 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:14,960 Known to man up until that point in. 65 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,480 History. Why? 66 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:19,400 Because. One person from three. 67 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,960 CI heard the word. And said. 68 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:27,520 I'll go because one. Person stepped in obedience. 69 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,120 This is the power. Of the purposes of God. 70 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,600 When we act in obedience, this. Is what God is. 71 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:41,720 Calling us. To for the O. 1/2 And what's 72 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,080 interesting is actually when you peel back some of the layers you 73 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:45,800 notice. That this is golden thread of 74 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:47,520 going. Is found throughout scripture, 75 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:50,960 not just the prophets, not just the. 76 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,920 Elders or the pastors? Not even the just the priests. 77 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:56,240 The people of God are called to go. 78 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:01,040 Ongoingly, Jesus himself at the very end of his ministry, He's 79 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:02,200 about. To go to. 80 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,840 Heaven again, and he. Leaves. 81 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,680 Us with one last command, he says. 82 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,480 All authority in heaven and earth. 83 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,040 Matthew 28. It's given to me therefore. 84 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:15,560 Go, go. Make disciples of all nations, 85 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,040 baptizing them into the name of the Father and the Son of the 86 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,240 Holy Spirit, and behold, I will be with you. 87 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,960 Always to the very. End as you go. 88 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:26,960 Not just the people, not just Jesus, but even the Holy. 89 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,960 Spirit, as Rory was saying, full package, Jesus says. 90 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,560 Wait in Jerusalem until you receive. 91 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:34,600 The Holy Spirit. Why? 92 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,760 Because you will receive. Tower in your. 93 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,720 Witnessing in your going. Power to go. 94 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,240 It's in the very. Heart of God, actually. 95 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,240 Some very name of. God, I don't know. 96 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,280 If you've realized this, 2/3. Of the name of. 97 00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:52,640 God spells GO go. A good one. 98 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:57,560 Brilliant. OK, the Pretoria. 99 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,040 Boys, hi guys are. Getting it all right? 100 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,160 Yeah, it's actually. It's just it's. 101 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:03,040 Helpful for me. Sometimes God needs. 102 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,840 To draw pictures, go. Actually, I do want to draw a 103 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:08,200 picture. To you, for you. 104 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:16,480 From Ezekiel 22 and in looking at this and chewing on this. 105 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:20,040 Call to go. If you know my personality, I'm 106 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,120 just like Jonah. I'm an introvert. 107 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:25,240 Let me hide. Rather go oh so. 108 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:26,800 Hard. And then God reminded me of 109 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,320 Ezekiel chapter 22. And in Ezekiel, the prophet 110 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,360 Ezekiel was talking to Jerusalem, Jonah was talking to 111 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,200 Nineveh. But I believe the both of them 112 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:36,200 are talking. To. 113 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:40,320 Pretoria to you and I and it begins it says it talks about 114 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,560 Jerusalem as being in verse five it says you infamous city full 115 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,880 of turmoil. It says in you there is 116 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:52,200 corruption and bribery and murder and crime and it just. 117 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,440 Lists all these. Sins and it goes from the very 118 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,600 top, from your MPs and your politicians all the way down to 119 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,800 the priests and everyone in between and then he says. 120 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,800 This says but I've. Searched for someone among them 121 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:08,360 who would. Build up the wall. 122 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,360 Stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land, so I would 123 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,120 not have to. Destroy it but. 124 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:18,760 I found no one. Now I want you to get this. 125 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,000 So we're going to. I want to put this verse up on 126 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:21,920 the screen. I want to show you. 127 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,880 Bear with me. This is my vivid imagination. 128 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,720 It begins, it says. I searched I. 129 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,560 Searched for someone among them. It doesn't say God puts out his 130 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:34,800 tender hey, if there's anyone who's got some space in their 131 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,880 diary, it would be wonderful. No, no, no, I searched to me. 132 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:41,240 That's like. When you came through that 133 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:43,960 parking lot, he was. Hey, hey, listen. 134 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:45,960 Dennis, can I talk to you about the city? 135 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,040 Dennis, not Dennis, was going for coffee. 136 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,360 Let me go grab maybe one of the staff searching for someone. 137 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,000 Can I just get through? Hey. 138 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:55,280 How's it? Can can I talk? 139 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:57,200 To you about Pretoria. Sorry, I just want to I. 140 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,960 Searched. I searched. 141 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,800 I searched for pastors. No, I searched for. 142 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:10,280 Someone we are talking about the lowest possible qualification 143 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:12,240 has. Pulse. 144 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:16,320 We'll go. Someone. 145 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:21,680 Can I just find someone among us? 146 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,960 Someone in the O 1-2, someone in Pretoria, someone in three CR. 147 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,640 Who would build? Up the wall and stand before me 148 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:33,440 in the gap. The ESV. 149 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:37,040 Says in the breach. Because the. 150 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:41,320 City has been breached and God. Is looking for someone. 151 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:49,800 But I found no one in my mind's eye. 152 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:51,960 It's like Jesus. Walking into this building 153 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:56,920 looking for someone and all he finds is 2 1/2 thousand Jonas. 154 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,920 I mentioned this in prepping with the staff and someone said 155 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:04,360 2 1/2 thousand Jonas. God's going. 156 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:12,360 To need a bigger fish. To which Damien said, what if 157 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:16,640 this building? Is our fish because the. 158 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:20,240 Word of the Lord came to three CR a second time. 159 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:26,200 The call comes a second time this time. 160 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,440 Would we go so I want. To look at what does it mean? 161 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,320 To be called to go. And I need to. 162 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,640 Take a step or two back before we actually get to the SO. 163 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,080 That we're talking the same language. 164 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,679 I remember the one stage when Nelson Mandela came to power. 165 00:08:40,919 --> 00:08:43,159 He empowered. People to start radio. 166 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:45,760 Stations and I remember having a long conversation with a friend 167 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,240 because the the party that we were part of managed to get one 168 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:51,960 of these radio station licenses. And we were talking about. 169 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,160 Radio for the longest. Of time before I suddenly 170 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:55,640 realized. We are talking about two. 171 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,440 Completely different things. He was talking about seven O 2. 172 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:00,160 Which is not radio. That's rubbish. 173 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,160 I was talking about 5 FM. You know. 174 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:04,800 That. That is real radio, but we were 175 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,000 talking about radio for. Probably 20 minutes before I'm 176 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:08,240 really like. No, I don't want. 177 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:12,720 To no different radio, same word and so when when we talk about. 178 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,760 Go, I also realized. Actually, I was on my knees and 179 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:20,080 I'm like, Lord, I don't think I can with integrity stand here 180 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:24,440 and talk about going according to my mindset of going. 181 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,320 Because I don't. Know if if what I think of 182 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:27,680 going. Is what you? 183 00:09:27,680 --> 00:09:30,440 Think of going in. Scripture so because what I 184 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:31,480 think of. Going has been. 185 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,720 Force fed over the years. Bubble bashed and beaten because 186 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,440 I'm a child, a grandchild of missionaries. 187 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:43,200 So going true going is losing it all, giving it all away, 188 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,160 climbing on that horse and KZN and right. 189 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,440 Into the Bush to share the gospel that's. 190 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:51,880 True going or maybe you've been in a church like I've been in 191 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,840 where you become a member and you suddenly get the letter OK 192 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:59,080 this is what it means to really count you know you've got to 193 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,440 join a life group you've. Got to participate to. 194 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,000 The point where? You evolve the obvious. 195 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,080 Choice to multiply and. Lead a life group. 196 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:06,680 Of your own, and then hopefully you'll become a. 197 00:10:06,680 --> 00:10:08,120 Deacon when you. Become a Deacon you. 198 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:10,440 Obviously insect yourself. From becoming an elder. 199 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:14,840 And the minute you are an elder, you come off that stage and the 200 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,520 first person you meet needs to ask you where you're going to 201 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,120 plant a church. True story. 202 00:10:20,560 --> 00:10:21,960 Exhibit A, that's what. Happened. 203 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:27,960 And so I'm like, Lord, I can't. I don't know if that is what 204 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,360 what's in your heart when we're. Talking about going but. 205 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,720 Also, no, it's not my little lens of introvert Stephen. 206 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:36,760 Who wants to hide? So follow what is? 207 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:38,320 What is it to? Go when? 208 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,080 When we look at Jonah, when we look at this call, when, when 209 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:42,200 God comes. To us. 210 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,680 How can I present this without my fingerprints on it? 211 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,320 Without my past on it, without the two-dimensional. 212 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:52,640 Only if you plant a church do you count on it. 213 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:54,520 And this is. What God showed me. 214 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:56,440 In. Sorry, going back to. 215 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:00,440 Jonah chapter 3 in in chapter 3 verse one it says the following. 216 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,640 It says the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second. 217 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:03,480 Time go. To the great. 218 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:04,720 City of Nineveh. But he. 219 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,840 He uses a word there that has. Completely turned the Book of 220 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:09,920 Jonah upside down. For me. 221 00:11:10,680 --> 00:11:15,560 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah in the Hebrew. 222 00:11:15,560 --> 00:11:18,120 Is the word higher? I pronounce it. 223 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:22,320 Because. Because that's exactly. 224 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,320 What the word means. You see, I've always. 225 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,360 Believed that God is. A sneaky ninja and I'll get 226 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:30,520 proof. The word of God. 227 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:33,200 With Jonah. Because. 228 00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:35,680 The the the nuances. Of this word. 229 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:38,520 Haya is when someone. Sneaks up on you. 230 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:44,280 But then abides. And when I realized that, it was 231 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,680 like. Suddenly the lights came on. 232 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:49,360 Because I suddenly realise I don't know about you. 233 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:50,440 I look at Jonah. I think like. 234 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:53,800 The word of the Lord. Came unto Jonah. 235 00:11:54,680 --> 00:11:56,760 He was levitating. He'd been. 236 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:00,680 Fasting for 90 days. And then the Lord saith unto. 237 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:05,720 Thee go. And that's not me. 238 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,080 I'm not a prophet. God doesn't talk to me like. 239 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:14,120 This, but God does haya. With me and he has. 240 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,120 Hayaard with you. You know when you were washing 241 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:18,680 dishes. You know the dishwashing. 242 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:21,480 Of of 90. Two guys at one time you were 243 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:22,880 washing dishes and while you're there. 244 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,120 You thought of that guy from? School. 245 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:30,160 You hadn't thought of him for like 15 years, but suddenly. 246 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,240 You're thinking of Austin. Stone And you're wondering, I 247 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:36,840 wonder what's up with Austin. I wonder where he is in the 248 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:38,920 world. And it's a. 249 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:43,120 Thought that wants to be. Thought because it abides. 250 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,480 And it doesn't leave you. Or maybe you're driving past 251 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:50,040 your old school and you're. Almost like grieved something. 252 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:52,840 There was just something abiding there. 253 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:58,680 Or you hear of. Royal going to Australia and 254 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,320 something stirs. And then you hear. 255 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:03,240 Eugene's. Brothers here from Australia. 256 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:04,600 And this word is. Still. 257 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,320 Abiding. When? 258 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:11,000 That comes when that happens, the response. 259 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,120 That God is waiting. For from you. 260 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,000 Is what Jonah is talking about and what Scripture talks about 261 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:18,960 when we are. Called to go. 262 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,480 And it is something. You've probably experienced 263 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,320 before. It's something available and. 264 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:25,840 Accessible to. All of us. 265 00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:29,520 If we are listening when the word comes and abides. 266 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:34,720 Two things. For you and I if and when this 267 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:36,120 happens. The first. 268 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:39,920 Thing is to recognize the fact when the word of the Lord comes 269 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:41,640 to Stephen to. Rory to Kathy to. 270 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:45,200 Eugene, to you and I, when the word of the Lord comes the 1st. 271 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,800 Thing to remember that. God always goes before you I. 272 00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:53,480 Was looking at Jonah. I actually didn't realize. 273 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:55,840 This but they historians say that at. 274 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,040 The time of Jonah, the Assyrian Empire was. 275 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,240 Being. Shaken, it talks about. 276 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,280 Times of famine they were experiencing. 277 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,080 Plagues. Revolts. 278 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,840 Flooding and storms. They even had this. 279 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,440 Eclipse. And I mean. 280 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,880 Yeah, you see what happens in in first world cities like New 281 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:18,000 York. Imagine back in the day, you're 282 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,520 looking at something's eating the sun. 283 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,280 And they say this. They say rulers. 284 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,600 And subjects were unusually attuned to the spiritual 285 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,400 climate. It's like. 286 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:33,120 Something's going on, and here comes Jonah Yellow Owens is. 287 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:37,040 I don't know, let me not. I'm fracked. 288 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:41,560 And you're sounding like I'm listening. 289 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:43,960 Tell me more. God goes before you. 290 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:51,280 Actually read You need They say human nature needs 7 positive 291 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,880 affirmations when it comes to God. 292 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,760 Church Christians before. We'd even consider going to 293 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,400 church. So sometimes you just you're #3 294 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,160 or 4. But there will come the. 295 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:03,680 Moment where I'm going to invite that person and God's going 296 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:05,000 before me. Ready. 297 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:06,840 Like, yeah, now come. Well, maybe you just got to 298 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,280 invite seven times. But there's this lady. 299 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:11,680 Lady called. Ashley Anderson When we were in 300 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:15,080 Cape Town, I heard a. Story they church do what they. 301 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,640 Call a sending Saturday. And she said she'd been avoiding 302 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,120 this thing because, like me, introvert, it's like. 303 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,640 It's you at your. Worst random stranger? 304 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:28,720 If you were. To die tonight, you know one of 305 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,200 those. But she. 306 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:33,160 Really felt compelled to go and so she had gone and what they do 307 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,360 is they get together coffee and rusks and they pray for one 308 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,320 another and then they go out into the streets and where the. 309 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,640 Church is situated there's. Very much like Green Point, you 310 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,080 know, where you'd have lots of tourists and activities on a 311 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,360 Saturday morning and cafes. And so there's. 312 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:49,280 You have access to people. And so she walks out and, and 313 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,120 the first person that she sees, the word of the Lord comes, 314 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,440 Yeah. And there's this guy sitting on 315 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,280 a on a bench. She. 316 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,120 Knows that she knows that she knows. 317 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:00,680 That that's the person she has. To speak to. 318 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:04,680 So she goes to. Tarshish, she runs and hides in 319 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:08,680 a flower shop and she has this argument with God and which ends 320 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,720 in You can't make me do this in Jesus name, Amen. 321 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,480 And she walks up. And she says she's. 322 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:15,720 Walking but. If she takes. 323 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,920 One more step. She knows she's in trouble, so 324 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:20,520 she now she doesn't know what to do. 325 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:24,200 So she decides I'm just going to sort of pass by, maybe God will 326 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,120 give me some wisdom here. And she says she's walking and 327 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,000 she's about 10 meters away from him. 328 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:32,560 He randomly turns, looks her straight in the eyes and says 329 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,280 hi. So she finds herself sitting 330 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:37,360 next to this guy. That's. 331 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,520 Awkward. And then she has a brain, right? 332 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:41,240 She said. Listen, sorry to bother. 333 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,320 You. I'm actually doing a prayer. 334 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:45,880 Walk through this neighbourhood. Is there anything that you can 335 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,360 recommend that I pray for? Maybe, you know, you look like 336 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,440 you're from around here. Anything I can? 337 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:54,080 Pray for that's obvious to you. And he says actually cannot be 338 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,520 selfish. Can you pray for me? 339 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,320 Doors just open and he says. Today is the first day of 340 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:05,920 sobriety. I said I don't know how I'm 341 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:09,520 going to do this. That's incredible. 342 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,560 But Ashley was a recovering alcoholic. 343 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:18,040 Herself 12 years. God goes before you. 344 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:20,880 So Ashley sat there, shared the gospel. 345 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:23,440 Shared her journey, she doesn't have to quote. 346 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:27,359 Scriptures or. Pray in tongues or do an 347 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:28,760 interpretive dance. She just. 348 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,000 She just tells her. Story and she's sitting there 349 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,320 and he is encountering. God, He. 350 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:39,160 Begins to sob. And so she says, is there any 351 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:40,840 reason why you shouldn't give your life to? 352 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:44,280 Jesus, he's like. Nothing I can think of right 353 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:45,920 now. Cool, pray after me. 354 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:50,480 God goes before you. It's my wife's story. 355 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,760 Too, she was. Also an alcoholic? 356 00:17:53,080 --> 00:18:06,320 No, not Yeah, that's lightning. Sorry Lord, the people at the 357 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,040 back didn't hear she's. Still an alcoholic. 358 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:13,120 Thanks Rory. So when my wife was 17. 359 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,520 I've shared before her. Father's an atheist. 360 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:21,120 There, there is no God. Story in their family's history. 361 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:27,120 And for reasons that are too lengthy to explain today, they 362 00:18:27,120 --> 00:18:31,040 end up missing the holiday home that they always stay in. 363 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:34,040 So you used to stay in a home in Carmouth, right on the beach. 364 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,440 And for certain reasons, they didn't actually get it. 365 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,960 And so they're staying in another place far away from the 366 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,760 beach. And so Calf at 17, being Calf, 367 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:46,520 takes it on herself to go let this family know. 368 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:48,440 This is. The one and only time they are 369 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:49,920 going to stand their holiday home. 370 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,680 See, God goes. Before you even makes Kathy not 371 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:58,240 like me but like Kathy I would so bad all month and not from 372 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,000 the beach. They're not, not Kathy. 373 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,080 She's going to go tell these people random strangers, I will 374 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:04,440 knock on their. Door and let. 375 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:06,560 Them know they're not staying here ever again. 376 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:12,520 But God goes before us. And so this family had been 377 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:13,800 praying Lord. Would you give us? 378 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:17,560 An inroad into the people on these beaches during our 379 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:20,560 December holiday. Bring them to our door. 380 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:21,640 Who knows? What they were praying. 381 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:28,680 So snot nosed arrogant 17 year old Kathy bangs on that door and 382 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,200 behind the door is a lady by the name of a doll who opens the 383 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,040 door and on his shirt says. Jesus loves you. 384 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:44,480 Get the ends of spending the entire December holiday in that 385 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:48,480 home anyway with that family. And gets radically saved. 386 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,320 Because God will mess. Up your holiday. 387 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,360 Plans and the place. That you book. 388 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:55,600 And you know. You'll give you a. 389 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:57,880 Character and a personality. That is a little. 390 00:19:57,880 --> 00:19:59,480 Bit slimy, dysfunctional because he. 391 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:05,760 Goes before you. And he goes, and he messes with 392 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:07,240 and he. Prepares the soil. 393 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,040 And he tills, and he waters any weeds. 394 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:14,360 So when you come and you sow that seed, the Ninevites 395 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:15,200 believe. God. 396 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,080 And for me and my personality, that is so encouraging. 397 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,280 Oh gosh. Because if there's one thing. 398 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,520 That this. Human being struggles. 399 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:30,400 With is. Talking to strangers and this 400 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:34,840 can condemn and break and disqualify, but when I realize. 401 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,320 God goes. Before me, there's power, it's a 402 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:40,680 point #1. God goes before you. 403 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:46,960 My time is on 0 so we still got half an hour point #2. 404 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:50,160 God goes before you. I figured if Jonah can repeat 405 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:54,120 himself, I can as well. Point #1. 406 00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:57,000 God goes before you. Point #2. 407 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:01,640 God goes before you. Can I get an A? 408 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,200 Nah. God goes before. 409 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:12,280 You just come come all authority in heaven and earth and given to 410 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:16,440 me therefore. Go, go. 411 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:18,880 From the very back. To the very front. 412 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,840 The most senior Saints to the youngest. 413 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:26,040 Go, the Lord goes before you, says. 414 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:27,840 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. 415 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,640 Go to the great city of Nineveh. Proclaim to it the message. 416 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:36,800 I give you what I love. There in verse three of the ESV. 417 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:40,800 Says talks about this great city, but it says it was a great 418 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,720 city to God. I found that interesting. 419 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,240 We talk about the great. City of Nineveh, but it actually 420 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,360 says in the ESV. It was a great city to God. 421 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:55,040 Now that great. You know, if we we often think 422 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:56,800 great isn't. Big but if I say. 423 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,160 He's a great man. I'm not saying he's a rather 424 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,240 large man and he's to hold back on the pizza. 425 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,120 I'm saying he carries some significance. 426 00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:07,040 He's a great man. Right to God. 427 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:09,840 Nineveh was a significant. A great city. 428 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:14,840 God goes before you. Because when he's sending Jonah, 429 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:18,320 he's not just sending Jonah to intercede. 430 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,160 Stand in the Gap on behalf of the Ninevites. 431 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:23,040 He's. Actually doing it for. 432 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:27,200 The Israelites as well, because what we saw a few weeks ago was 433 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,680 just a few decades later, the. Assyrian army descends on Israel 434 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:35,760 and decimates them. And what Jonah doesn't realize 435 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:37,640 is. That God is going before. 436 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,560 Him before his, family before his. 437 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,000 Future and. When he calls us to the city, 438 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,360 it's not because Cyril Ramaphosa needs help, it's because 439 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,880 actually your children need the intervention of God. 440 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:53,640 For their future. And the city and the churches 441 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:57,480 and the people that. Visit here God goes before you, 442 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:02,160 your story is. Woven into this and sometimes 443 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,160 we're so self-centered we don't see the. 444 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,920 Forest for the trees. I was chatting to Amarinda 445 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:11,120 yesterday. I picked an Amarinda on 446 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:12,960 eldership. They've been with us for many, 447 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,000 many years. And she was telling. 448 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:17,880 Me the story of how the word of the. 449 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:21,120 Lord came to the Linda Keys and when their kids were in high 450 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:22,560 school at worst. School VAT the Cliff. 451 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:27,400 They felt that God said this is. Where you need to minister, this 452 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,760 is where you need to pour your life out when they play. 453 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:32,240 Cricket, you're the. First ones there with a picnic 454 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,920 blanket and chairs and a cooler. Box full of stuff. 455 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:38,120 And you get to know the parents, and you find out what's going on 456 00:23:38,120 --> 00:23:40,360 in the lives of the children, and you minister to them, and 457 00:23:40,360 --> 00:23:43,160 you pray for them, and you intercede on their behalf, He 458 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,840 said to them, Vertical watercloth, go. 459 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,600 And so they did that. But God goes before you. 460 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:54,600 And so she was saying when one of the years came to they, they 461 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:56,320 do. Sort of like the leaders. 462 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,680 Lunch or or breakfast. You know the new prefects. 463 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:00,800 The school. Board it's. 464 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,440 Sort of like. You know, the matrix leaders of 465 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,440 the next year, they have this little moment and because 466 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:10,680 Amarinda and lady friends have set up a team where they're 467 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:13,880 constantly praying, they were invited to this moment and they. 468 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:15,840 Were asked to. Pray for the different student 469 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:19,720 leaders and Amarinda just happened to pray for a young 470 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,160 girl called Robin. She was going to be the head 471 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:24,760 girl the next year, so she. Prayed for her. 472 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:27,360 But knowing that she was now that Robin was going to take 473 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:29,760 this leadership role for the next year, she just sort of came 474 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,400 alongside young Robin. And, and from time to time, we 475 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:34,800 touch base with message of praise, anything we can pray 476 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:35,840 for. What are you struggling with? 477 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:38,280 What's going on in the school? What's going on in your life? 478 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:45,400 Because God goes before you. And many years later, one of his 479 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:47,840 sons walks into the home with his new girlfriend. 480 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,680 Mom, I want to introduce you to Robin. 481 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:56,200 They're married now. They are the most remarkable 482 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,120 couple. See, but it's like. 483 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,040 Joe, you want me to spend my Saturdays on the side? 484 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,760 Of the cricket field. I mean, I'm sure Amarinda is not 485 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:09,040 that big a fan of cricket. You want me to go? 486 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,360 Early in the morning. To the school. 487 00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:13,360 Assembly and and pray for you want me to. 488 00:25:13,360 --> 00:25:16,080 Go to this breakfast. God goes before you because 489 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:17,760 your. Story is woven into. 490 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,760 All of this the. Problem is. 491 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:25,240 When God goes before you. Into the city, into your 492 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:28,280 department, to that school. To that. 493 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,880 Beach holiday so often. The word of the. 494 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:34,480 Lord comes to. Botox Believers. 495 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:36,120 Like you and I. You know what? 496 00:25:36,120 --> 00:25:39,400 A Botox believer is. In Sanson they put Botox in 497 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:41,240 their face in. Pretoria, we put. 498 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:44,760 Botox in our hearts. Nothing moves us. 499 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:56,200 You want me to go pray for them? Sure. 500 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,120 Shame he's dying. Must be rough. 501 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:07,040 Oh, you lost your job? Yeah, nothing moves us. 502 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:09,880 The word of the. Lord comes to. 503 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:18,320 Concrete cold Botox hearts. But we must be attentive to 504 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:22,840 this, and then we must tend to. This is what means to be. 505 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:28,600 Called to go, we had. We had an interesting experience 506 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:32,000 at Life Group this week. They. 507 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:35,040 They do know. When I go to I don't leave the 508 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:36,440 life group. We go to life group. 509 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:41,560 And they know, yeah, warning anything can be a sermon 510 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:45,040 illustration she had. Your own risk. 511 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:48,720 And we had one of the So what what we do in life group is we 512 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:52,040 we'd take a look at. What was preached on the Sunday 513 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:54,840 and we just hold on another accountable essentially, you 514 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:57,120 know, it's like, hey, I didn't understand what what was he 515 00:26:57,120 --> 00:26:58,560 meaning by? That or or how? 516 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:01,000 Are you responding in this area or you know what? 517 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,720 Did you hear What is the Holy? Spirit saying to you, and so 518 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,600 we're having laugh group and we're all Botox. 519 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:08,520 Believers because. We had this one question. 520 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,920 I'll read it to you. Jonah was called to. 521 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:14,880 Stand in the gap for Nineveh now that for me already had my 522 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,000 attention because no one who put these questions together knew 523 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:19,200 what I was going to preach and what. 524 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,800 God is already. Speaking to me out of Ezekiel 22 525 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:23,320 so when it. Says Jonah was called. 526 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:27,680 To stand in the gap for Nineveh, I'm like, hello, who are you 527 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:30,880 being asked to stand in the gap for and have you responded? 528 00:27:32,120 --> 00:27:35,040 You know what is amazing with our life group is we didn't 529 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:39,200 answer that question. We just. 530 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:41,920 We it was actually. Quite amazing to. 531 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,640 See how we sidestepped? That and just risen into the 532 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:47,720 weather and the sport and you just have to mention the 533 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,880 springwalks, OK, we've forgotten that and that and we can carry 534 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:52,160 on with our Botox. Hearts. 535 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:55,720 And the word of the Lord falls on fellow ground. 536 00:27:58,120 --> 00:28:00,600 What has God been saying to? You during the series. 537 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,520 Of Jonah, what have you done with that? 538 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:06,200 Word that is. Higher in your heart. 539 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,840 What did you? Do when you heard Kai and Sam 540 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:14,080 and Sofia stand here and share? About the affair. 541 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:18,200 And the near divorce and God's remarkable redemption. 542 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:23,000 You know, when you thought I need to come clean and then you 543 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,280 forgot about it by Monday, and then you switched on the radio 544 00:28:25,360 --> 00:28:27,720 and it just happened to be focused on the family. 545 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:32,320 Yeah, John, you know, and I had that affair and the Lord said I 546 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:34,120 need to. And those are you switching it 547 00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:36,160 off? Because the word is. 548 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:40,520 Abiding And you went to Yukaranda and you heard the song 549 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:46,160 about how much he regrets giving that away and the third wife 550 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:47,920 and. God is looking Hello. 551 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:49,560 What have you done with what you've heard? 552 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:51,640 What have you done with that word that's come to? 553 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,000 Abide for the city. For. 554 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:58,640 The politicians for your department, for your boss, for 555 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:01,840 your spouse, for your children. There is. 556 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,640 Power behind that obedience. And I want to. 557 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:09,760 Call you to that. I'll end with this now. 558 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:11,440 Whenever this is on your radio, it's almost like. 559 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:14,360 You hear it everywhere, right? And I heard a crazy story. 560 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,640 About a small church. In Tokyo a few years ago. 561 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,440 One of the guys came to church and he said listen. 562 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:23,400 God is really speaking. To me, about the prostitutes in 563 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,000 the city, apparently it was a big problem. 564 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:28,920 I say. Apparently I was going to do 565 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:30,120 some research. But I thought like. 566 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,680 I don't know what's going to come up on my screen if I Google 567 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,760 how many prostitutes are there in Tokyo. 568 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:38,560 So I'm I'm just right, I'm shooting from the hippie. 569 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:41,840 But from what I could tell, it seemed like there was quite a 570 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,680 problem there also, not just because of the prostitution, but 571 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:47,080 because it came with a. Whole sex trade. 572 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:52,600 Industry and women that were held captive against the wills 573 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:54,840 or whatever the case might be. And this guy comes to church and 574 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:56,280 says. God has laid this. 575 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:00,080 On my heart. And so the leaders ask him. 576 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,720 But I've been asking you. OK, what? 577 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:05,280 What does God said for you to do? 578 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:08,440 Because it's abiding in you, not in US. 579 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:12,520 He's spoken to you. And so he said, OK, I'll go and. 580 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,520 Deal with. Do some homework. 581 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:18,400 I'll wrestle with God. I want to find out what God is 582 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:19,640 saying. And he came back with a plan. 583 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:22,480 He said this is my plan. We're going to notify the media. 584 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:24,640 Then we're going to go to the nearest brothel. 585 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:26,600 We're going to go and then we're going to ask, are there any 586 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,480 girls who want to come out and whoever wants to leave can 587 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:31,360 leave. See, because they were often 588 00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:33,760 their passports were taken and they couldn't leave and they 589 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:36,880 were held under Juris. So they did this. 590 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,280 They contacted the media. They had a premium meeting for a 591 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:41,960 few days and then Saturday arrived and they went to the 592 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:45,520 brothel and this guy's like, OK, Johnny, your turn. 593 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:49,040 I said at reception. Are there any ladies? 594 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:50,400 Here who want? To leave who want to give up on 595 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:51,440 prostitution? We'll look. 596 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:53,440 After you, we'll finance you, we'll get you back to your 597 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:55,640 families. And seven ladies came out and 598 00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:57,760 when the owners heard about this. 599 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:00,840 They've grabbed stuffs. The one guy apparently grabbed a 600 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,040 pole. Another guy had a wrench and 601 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:05,840 they started beating the Christians they because they had 602 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:09,360 to encircle these girls as they took and they were pulverizing 603 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:10,600 these Christians dragged them out. 604 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,400 And of course the media were there to watch and document and 605 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:16,600 and report back on it. And they did this over the 606 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:19,480 course of three months and 57 ladies. 607 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:23,000 Were rescued over three. Months because of one word that 608 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:26,160 had come to the sky. But then they started getting 609 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:27,040 death. Threats. 610 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:28,720 The Church, the. Threatened they were going to 611 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:31,920 burn to the ground and all of a sudden this thing became very, 612 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:37,360 very real until it went viral in the media and the government 613 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:39,880 heard about it and they passed an imperial. 614 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:42,240 Decree that basically said. From this. 615 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:43,920 State to this state. If you want to leave 616 00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:46,600 prostitution, if you don't have paperwork, if you don't have 617 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:52,240 finances, you come to us and we will set you free and 12,000. 618 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:55,280 Prostitutes were set free 12,000. 619 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:01,520 And I want to leave you with some numbers, 12,000, for 620 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:11,320 example, 12,000, That's this. This is one one prostitute held 621 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:15,880 against her will. Abused day after day. 622 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:19,640 Night after night, that's one, Two. 623 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:23,640 Another one hasn't seen their family in years. 624 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:30,480 Three had to have. Three or four abortions against 625 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:37,680 the will, held on three 12,000. That's what happens when one 626 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:40,440 person. Says Lord, I'll go. 627 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:48,240 Here's another #120,000. That's how many Ninevites there 628 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:53,120 were in Nineveh when one guy Jonah. 629 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:58,240 Heard the word and decided to go last number. 630 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:04,720 O 1/2. What if you? 631 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:07,760 Are the one that. God is looking. 632 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:08,600 For. What if? 633 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:13,000 You are that someone who will stand in the gap and revival 634 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,400 will break out in the city like it did in Nineveh. 635 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:23,920 What if you're? The one would you go the word of 636 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:25,560 the Lord came to Jonah a second time. 637 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:28,200 If the word of the. Lord is coming to you a second 638 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:30,840 time. Could I ask you, would you go? 639 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:34,280 Would you respond? Knowing God goes. 640 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:37,400 Before you. God goes before you, but it's 641 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:38,600 you. He's calling to God. 642 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:40,120 Thanks, City.