Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "A Greater Than Jonah" – Monday, 17 November 2014 - Scripture: Matthew 12:38-45

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "A Greater Than Jonah" – Monday, 17 November 2014 - Scripture: Matthew 12: Jonah-Evidence
38 Later a few religion scholars and Pharisees got on him. “Teacher, we want to see your credentials. Give us some hard evidence that God is in this. How about a miracle?”
39-40 Jesus said, “You’re looking for proof, but you’re looking for the wrong kind. All you want is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. The only proof you’re going to get is what looks like the absence of proof: Jonah-evidence. Like Jonah, three days and nights in the fish’s belly, the Son of Man will be gone three days and nights in a deep grave.
41-42 “On Judgment Day, the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about ‘proofs.’ On Judgment Day, the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that will condemn this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon’s is right in front of you, and you quibble over ‘evidence.’
43-45 “When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn’t find anyone, it says, ‘I’ll go back to my old haunt.’ On return it finds the person spotlessly clean, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse off than if he’d never gotten cleaned up in the first place.
“That’s what this generation is like: You may think you have cleaned out the junk from your lives and gotten ready for God, but you weren’t hospitable to my kingdom message, and now all the devils are moving back in.”
"A Greater Than Jonah" by J. K. Warrick
After running from his call only to be consumed by a great fish; taking a crash course in fire and brimstone preaching; and plodding through the streets of Nineveh with his message of judgment, Jonah reserved a front row seat to watch the destruction of the city. He was sorely disappointed, however, to find that the people believed his message and repented. He was angry that after all his efforts, nothing had happened.
Well, not exactly nothing. The people repented and the city was spared because of God’s great love and mercy!
The fact that they were spared does not mean that judgment is not real–it most surely will come. This world and all who live on it have been both judged (John 3:18) and redeemed through Christ (John 3:16-17).
Jonah was a great preacher. But now, a greater preacher than Jonah has come. To believe in Him is to accept His judgment and celebrate His deliverance. The “men of Nineveh” will not only stand in judgment of “this generation”–they will also stand in awe of the One who has come and is coming again!
Hymn for Today:

"My Savior's Love" by Charles H. Gabriel
1. I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
Chorus:
How marvelous! 
How wonderful! 
And my song shall ever be; 
How marvelous! 
How wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!
2. For me it was in the garden
He prayed, "Not My will, but Thine."
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.
Chorus:
How marvelous! 
How wonderful! 
And my song shall ever be; 
How marvelous! 
How wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!
3. He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own.
He bore the burden to Calv'ry,
And suffered and died alone.
Chorus:
How marvelous! 
How wonderful! 
And my song shall ever be; 
How marvelous! 
How wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!
4. When with the ransomed in glory 
His face I at last shall see,
'Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.
Chorus:
How marvelous! 
How wonderful! 
And my song shall ever be; 
How marvelous! 
How wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!

Thought for Today: 

“Jesus heard about it and spoke up, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.”"(Luke 5:31-32).
Please Pray:
For those ministering in media to communicate the Gospel in  Mesoamerica.
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