A Whale of a Tale - Jonah & Nahum

What Do They (We) Deserve? - Nahum 3

October 27, 2024 • Mike Burt • Nahum 3

We like to think that God is on our side but the real question is – ‘are we on God’s side?’ Our job should not be to look back and see if God is still with us but rather to look steadily ahead to see that we are following after Him with deviation! The wrath of God is real – just as real as the love of God. We have the time to warn those outside of faith about the impending doom that awaits those who reject the Gospel – though we do not know how much time. Nineveh was warned and for a time repented – but sin is relentless and the people relaxed and fell back into the ways of wickedness and sin. The destruction foretold by Jonah and withheld by the mercy of God was once again back on the schedule – without delay! Nahum was the prophet assigned to read the sentence – humiliation and devastation. Sin cannot be overlooked (Acts 17:30) so the time of judgment is at hand. Sunday I will compare the judgment of Nineveh to the judgment for us as sinners – a truly Gospel centered message! This is the week to bring someone who needs to hear the Gospel clearly – I will try to be as clear as I can. See you Sunday – Pastor Mike “God soon turns from His wrath, but he never turns from his love.” C.H. Spurgeon

What Comes Around… Nahum 2

October 20, 2024 • Mike Burt

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7 From Jonah to Nahum we can say – ‘the worm has turned!’ Jonah was afraid that the Assyrians would get away with their wickedness – yet Jonah was grateful for God overlooking his faithlessness. Now a century later we find Nahum warning the city of Nineveh that their time is up! You might describe the tone of Nahum 2 as taunting or mocking but it is truly God using prophetic language to describe the unimaginable to a people who thought themselves invincible. God is reminding the peoples of Judah and Israel that the forces that have come up against them were results of their own sinfulness – yet God in His great mercy will deliver them while judging the treachery of Nineveh. Jonah did not live to see it but God is not every wrong! Israel should not gloat nor Judah take any comfort – God is still seeking obedience from those who claim to love Him. Sunday I will take us back into the great city of Nineveh on the eve of its destruction – to the great relief of God’s people and the great surprise of the Assyrians. So many verses come to mind but none clearer than in Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” The ruins of Nineveh are a monument for all times to see that God will not be ignored or dismissed. If you think that sin can be ignored or consequences forgotten – you need to hear the words of Nahum! Join us Sunday for a trip back to Nineveh – back to the end of an empire and the beginning of God keeping His promise to the people of Israel. Pastor Mike

Your Best Friend – Your Worst Enemy! - Nahum 1

October 13, 2024 • Mike Burt • Nahum 1

GOD’S JUSTICE SEEN IN HIS JUSTIFICATION! God is a jealous God! But I thought jealousy was a sin – not in God’s case! Sunday we will meet the face of God that Nahum knew – it is wonderful and awesome and a little scary! Nineveh felt safe in their power and prosperity – little did they know that God’s clock was running and the meter was about to run out! The God of the Bible is a jealous, avenging God who will not ignore the wicked, but eventually bring destruction, in this case, on Nineveh; however, he is also slow to anger, good, a stronghold, and knows those who trust in him. It is a strange and wonderful thing that in this chapter of ‘time’s up!’ we find a verse referenced later in Romans giving hope to our salvation – “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Rom 10:15. This will also sound familiar this Christmas – “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people” Luke 2:10. Sunday will be the first of 3 messages from Nahum – you may have never heard even one but this is a rich book – with a little explanation and history it will come alive and give us both warning and celebration – invite someone who needs to know that God can truly be a best friend and need never be our worst enemy. See you Sunday! Pastor Mike

Jonah Runs AGAINST God - Jonah 4

October 6, 2024 • Mike Burt • Jonah 4

“Don’t get angry with things you cannot change or things you can change!” What would happen if true revival came – would we be thrilled? Would we be disappointed that sinners offended God so long and then He took them so easily? Why do some believers love to sing God’s graces but hesitate about God’s mercies? Jonah had prayed about going and was sure God’s love would triumph and mercy would reign – he wanted justice on the Assyrians – not mercy! God did here what He often does for us – an everyday illustration of how He cares. Jesus used parables – John received a vision – Jonah got a potted plant! It struck me that with the dockworkers strike some things may not be available for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year – what if my fruitcake gets delayed? Then I was reminded that though I may have to do without something – there will be many who will have nothing more for Christmas. So I thanked God for His blessings – filled my Operation Christmas Child box – prayed for the many who have so much less. I think I am ready to share Jonah 4 – I am praying you are ready to hear it! See you Sunday, Pastor Mike

Jonah Runs WITH God - Jonah 3

September 29, 2024 • Mike Burt • Jonah 3

In fact – not just a God of 2nd chances but a loving God of ‘another’ chance! The life of David, Peter, Saul (Paul) and so many others were not the recipient of just a second chance but often of many chances! These are just a few of God’s trophies of grace – like Jonah. This week Jonah gets another chance – vomited on the shore he immediately heads east toward Nineveh. When God gives another chance it shows at least two of his attributes – mercy as He did not hold our failure against us forever and then grace as He recommissions us to His will. Psalm 86:15 says it well: "But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." Micah 7:18 clarifies, "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love." Sunday we will go back to the simple truth of Jonah – God’s infinite grace seen in God’s individual grace! Jonah becomes a walking Gospel of forgiveness and hope! Whatever Jonah’s attitude toward the Assyrians might have been – the forgiveness in his testimony was shining bright! Our question should not be ‘will God forgive me?’ Rather we should be asking what will we do with God’s second chance? I am praying for you – see you Sunday! Pastor Mike Just a thought – the cheerleaders for Sunday’s sermon of second chances will be Rahab, Bathsheba, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel & Leah, Jochebed, and Abigail. Every one of them with a redeeming story to share!

Jonah Running TO God - Jonah 2

September 22, 2024 • Mike Burt • Jonah 2

“Prayers are deathless. They outlive the lives of those who uttered them.” E.M. Bounds Jonah is where he never imagined he would be to lift a prayer! Where have you bowed your head in prayer? By a sick child – in despair of a job loss – in desperation of family crisis – in fear of death? Jonah was not praying for a second chance – he was repenting of wasting his first chance. He had only the hope of resurrection on his mind. Jonah expected to drown on his next breath – he had a few seconds to ponder his failure and God's great mercy. Sunday I will take us into the dry places of prayer and the wet ones too! I will remind us of God's many promises of prayer and His goodness. As much as we enjoy a good Bible Study or Sunday School or Small Group – we are reminded of what is most important - "No learning can make up for the failure to pray. No earnestness, no diligence, no study, no gifts will supply its lack." E.M. Bounds Remember – on Jonah's worst day of disobedience he still believed God would hear him – as He will certainly hear us! Be praying now – I will see you Sunday – I will be praying for you! Pastor Mike

Jonah Running From God – Jonah 1

September 15, 2024 • Mike Burt • Jonah 1

God calls a man to speak into the wickedness rising from the Assyrian Empire – right into the Capital City! Jonah was not done being mad at his conquerors – he hated the Assyrians. His selfish desire for punishment and revenge clouded his understanding of God’s true love. This is the same love we see from the Cross when Jesus prays ‘Father forgive them – they do not know what they are doing.’ Jonah made some quick sinful decisions – first if God called him there would be nobody else to do this job. Second if God called him and he went the other way then the Ninevites would get what is coming to them! Jonah was wrong on both – God can do His will without us and God can accomplish His will in spite of us. Sunday we will follow the reluctant prophet as he flees the calling of God. We follow him down from the hills of Galilee – down to the seaport city of Joppa – down into the hold of his cruise away from God and finally down into the belly of the fish! Do you see a pattern here? Join me Sunday as we begin the journey of a running prophet. Pastor Mike

A Whale of a Tale – Jonah

September 8, 2024 • Mike Burt • Jonah

Sunday I begin 8 weeks of Jonah and Nahum – prophets that warned Nineveh of judgement to come. So many Gospel illustrations in this short book like Jonah and Jesus ‘buried’ for three days. Jonah is warning unworthy sinners of judgment to come – just like God warns us! Jonah was frustrated at God’s great mercy and disappointed with God’s patience – so are we sometimes. Jonah is too often us and we are living in the midst of our Nineveh – so what do we do? Our assignment is to share the Gospel – giving the Word of God to the people around us. Jonah is a book about a great Revival and a great Fish and a great City but the really great lesson is God’s great Mercy to folks just like us. Join me on this Single Service Sunday as we kick off the short series on Jonah. I will do an overview of the whole book this week and then a chapter a week until I move into Nineveh Part #2 in Nahum. Please invite someone to be your guest for time in the Word and the fellowship that follows the Worship Service – see you Sunday! Pastor Mike

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