Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Matthew 12:40&41 "40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." We’ve been studying God’s call to Jonah to preach repentance to the violent Assyrians. What an amazing story and how perfectly God’s plan succeeded. In Matthew 12, the scribes and Pharisees demanded a miraculous sign from Jesus. He answered that the only sign they would receive was “the sign of Jonah.” A direct prophecy of His death, burial, and resurrection. Just as Jonah spent three days and nights in the great fish, Jesus would be in “the heart of the earth.” Though not a literal 72 hours, Jewish reckoning counted any part of a day as a full day. Jesus was buried Friday evening and rose Sunday morning, fulfilling the pr...

Jonah 1:17 "Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." Jonah knew God’s mission to call wicked Assyria to repentance would succeed, so he rebelled. He fled west to Joppa and boarded a ship for Tarshish, the exact opposite direction of God’s will. Rebellion has consequences. God hurled a violent storm that terrified even seasoned sailors and threatened to break the ship apart. The storm stopped Jonah’s flight, led pagan sailors to acknowledge the true God, and prepared Jonah for repentance. Then the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, preserving his life. This was no accident; God sovereignly prepared the fish as both judgment on Jonah’s disobedience and salvation from drowning. Jonah remained inside it for three days and three nights. This miracle halted his rebellion, sparked his repentance (Jonah 2), and positioned him to fulfill God’s mission in Nineveh. How about you? Where are...

Jonah 1:4 "But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken." Jonah was a successful prophet, yet when God called him to go east to Nineveh and save the Assyrians, he rebelled. Instead, he fled west to Joppa and boarded a ship for Tarshish, the exact opposite direction of God’s will. Rebellion has consequences. The storm in this verse was not random; it was a direct, divine intervention. The Hebrew text says God “hurled” the wind, showing His sovereign control over nature. The tempest was so violent that seasoned sailors feared the ship would break apart, clear evidence of supernatural judgment on Jonah’s disobedience. This storm accomplished several purposes: it stopped Jonah’s flight, led pagan sailors to acknowledge the true God, and prepared the way for Jonah’s repentance and eventual return to his mission in Nineveh.

Jonah 1:3 "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD." Today’s verse shows Jonah’s deliberate disobedience. Instead of heading east to Nineveh as God commanded, he travels west to Joppa, finds a ship bound for Tarshish (likely modern-day Spain), pays the fare, and sails away, exactly the opposite direction of God’s will. The text repeatedly stresses that Jonah fled “from the presence of the LORD.” Though he knew God is omnipresent, he tried to distance himself from Israel’s covenant center and avoid a mission he opposed. Jonah feared the Assyrians would actually repent and be spared, which would humiliate Israel (see Jonah 4:2). His actions highlight spiritual descent: he “rose up” in rebellion, then repeatedly “went down” to Joppa and into the ship. This contrasts sharply wi...

Jonah 1:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me." Jonah was an accomplished prophet of God. His first recorded prophecy (2 Kings 14:25) foretold that King Jeroboam II would restore Israel’s borders from Hamath to the Dead Sea. The prophecy was fulfilled, bringing prosperity to the northern kingdom. In yesterday’s verse, the phrase “the word of the LORD came to Jonah” signals direct, supernatural communication. In Hebrew, dāḇar YHWH carries divine authority, God’s command, not Jonah’s opinion, likely delivered as an audible voice, vision, or compelling inner conviction. In today’s verse, God orders Jonah to leave home and travel roughly 500 miles to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Assyria was Israel’s powerful and brutal enemy. The command is urgent (“Arise”) and specific: Jonah must personally deliver a message of judgment to this pagan Gentile city. God declares that Nineveh’s extreme wickedness has...

Jonah 1:1 "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying," In our study of God’s calls, a clear theme emerges: those He calls often begin with reluctance. This week we meet one of the most famous reluctant prophets; Jonah. Yet Jonah was not always reluctant. His first recorded prophecy, found in 2 Kings 14:25, foretold that King Jeroboam II would restore Israel’s borders from Hamath to the Dead Sea. The prophecy came true, bringing prosperity to the northern kingdom. Though Jeroboam II “did evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 14:24), God used both the wicked king and His prophet to show mercy to Israel. This same mercy stands at the heart of the Book of Jonah. Jonah knew God’s character well, “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster” (Jonah 4:2; cf. Exodus 34:6). He could even quote it. But he bitterly resisted the thought that this mercy might also extend to Israel’s hated enemy, Nineveh. Spe...

2 Kings 14:25 "He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of His servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher." We’re continuing our series on God’s calling of His people. Last week we saw how God transformed the Apostle Paul—from zealous enemy to greatest champion. A clear theme is emerging: those God calls often start with reluctance. This week we meet one of the most famous reluctant prophets, Jonah. Jonah’s first recorded prophecy appears in 2 Kings 14:25. He foretold that King Jeroboam II would restore Israel’s borders from Hamath to the Dead Sea. This prophecy came true, bringing a season of prosperity to the northern kingdom. This historical note is important. It confirms Jonah was a real prophet whose words carried divine authority. By naming him “Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher,” Scripture anchors the he...

Acts 22:15&16 "15 For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." This shows that Paul’s transformation was never meant to be private. God appointed him as a witness to testify about his encounter with the risen Christ, especially to the Gentiles. The phrase “to all people” underscores the universal reach of his mission, which many Jews found scandalous. “Wash away your sins” symbolizes spiritual cleansing and public identification with Christ. Baptism came after Saul’s conversion as an outward sign of the inward change already wrought by faith. The command to call on the Lord’s name emphasizes sincere faith and prayer (see Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). Contrary to popular belief, Saul did not undergo a dramatic name change after conversion. He had carried both names from birth: Saul (his Hebrew name) and Paul (his Roman name, from Latin...

Acts 22:12-14 "12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth." These verses introduce Ananias, a devout and well-respected Jew. His credibility within the Jewish community validates Paul’s conversion as authentic, not the work of an outsider. Sent by God, Ananias stands before Paul and says, “Brother Saul, receive your sight.” At once Paul regains his vision, confirming the divine nature of his encounter with Jesus. Ananias then declares that the God of their fathers has chosen Paul to know His will, see the Righteous One, and hear His voice. This affirms Paul’s calling as an apostle, appointed by God, not by men, to witness to the risen Chr...

Acts 22:9-11 "9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of Him that spake to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus." Saul was blinded by the light! A brilliant light from heaven, brighter than the sun, knocked him to the ground. Jesus’ voice called him by name, making the divine confrontation intensely personal and urgent. The man Saul had dismissed as a dead blasphemer was alive and glorified. In persecuting Jesus’ followers, Saul had actually been persecuting Jesus Himself. Paul’s companions saw the bright light but “did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.” Some translations render it “did not understand” the voice. The Greek verb akouō can mean...

Acts 22:7&8 "7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? 8 And I answered, Who art Thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest." That will get your attention! A brilliant light from heaven, brighter than the sun, suddenly flashed around him and knocked him to the ground. The repeated use of his name underscores the personal and urgent nature of this divine confrontation. The man Saul thought was a dead blasphemer is alive and glorified. In attacking Jesus’ followers, Saul had been attacking Jesus Himself. The Lord identifies so closely with His Church that He takes persecution of His people personally (Matthew 25:40). This encounter marks Paul’s conversion, from persecutor to apostle, through a direct meeting with the risen Christ. As in other biblical callings, God gave him a new heart and spirit, now responsive and ready to love and obey. Saul had every reason to be proud: a devo...

Acts 22:5&6 "5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. 6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me." When God calls someone, He gives them a new heart and a new spirit, responsive and able to love and obey Him. We are studying God’s call of Saul of Tarsus. Standing before an angry Jewish mob in Jerusalem, the Apostle Paul defends himself by recounting his former life as a persecutor. He establishes his credentials as a devout Jew: raised and educated in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the most respected rabbis of his day. Paul explains that the high priest and the entire Sanhedrin can testify to his past zeal. He received official letters from them authorizing him to...

Acts 22:3&4 "3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women." We are studying how God calls His followers. We began with a reluctant Moses at the burning bush, then saw Queen Esther fully surrender and risk everything to save her people. Yesterday Ezekiel showed us God’s radical intervention: giving His people a new heart and a new spirit, responsive, able to love and obey Him. Today we turn to God’s call of Saul of Tarsus. Saul once had a heart of stone, so hard, so determined to crush Jesus’ followers. In these verses, the Apostle Paul stands before an angry Jewish mob in Jerusalem and defends himself by recounting his background and former life as a persecutor. Paul establishe...

Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." Last week we studied Queen Esther, who fully surrendered to God and risked everything to save her people. From her example we learn that God has a mission for each of us. It may not be as dramatic as Esther’s, but it is no less important. Whether raising children, serving the church, or blessing your community, your obedience can make an eternal difference. This week we turn to another dramatic calling. But first, we look at God’s promise in Ezekiel of a radical, divine intervention. The “heart of stone” represents our natural, hardened, rebellious, and spiritually dead condition—resistant to God, insensitive to sin, and unable to obey Him. God promises: •A new heart: A transformed inner being with new desires and affections aligned with Him. •A new spirit: The renewal and empowerment of our hu...

Esther 8:15-17 "15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. 16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. 17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them." Mordecai had urged Queen Esther to approach King Xerxes and plead for the Jews facing annihilation under Haman’s decree. God had placed her in the palace “for such a time as this.” Aware she could be put to death for entering the king’s presence uninvited, Esther declared, “I will go to the king, though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” She fully surrendered to God and risked everything for her people. What followed was a comple...

Esther 4:15-17 "15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. 17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him." Mordecai had urged Queen Esther to approach King Xerxes and intercede for the Jews, who faced annihilation under Haman’s decree. God had positioned her “for such a time as this.” He warned that silence would not thwart God’s deliverance of the Jews, but she and her family would perish. Esther responded by calling for a three-day city-wide fast among the Jews in Susa, no food or drink, day or night. She and her maidens would join them. Then, fully aware of the death penalty for entering the king’s presence uninvited, she declared: “I will go to the king...

Esther 4:14 "For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Mordecai urged Queen Esther to approach King Xerxes and plead for the Jewish people, who faced annihilation under Haman’s decree. He reminded her that her rise to queenship was no accident: God had likely placed her in this position precisely for this crisis. Mordecai warned that if she stayed silent, God would still deliver the Jews, affirming divine sovereignty, but she and her family would perish. The verse is a powerful call to courage and responsibility. Though approaching the king unsummoned carried the risk of immediate execution, Mordecai challenged Esther to embrace her divine purpose and act in faith. Context of the Risk: Persian law decreed that anyone entering the king’s inner court ...

Esther 4:12&13 "12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews." Esther’s reply to Mordecai shows sober realism, not fear or lack of faith. Approaching the king uninvited meant certain death unless he extended his golden scepter—and she had not been summoned for thirty days. Mordecai shatters any illusion of safety. As a Jew, Esther was just as vulnerable to Haman’s genocidal decree as the rest of her people. Her royal position offered no protection. Verse 13 is the pivotal challenge: her privilege was never a shield, but a God-given opportunity for her people’s deliverance. She could not separate her fate from theirs. Inaction was not neutrality, it was complicity. A heavy responsibility indeed.

Esther 4:10&11 "10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days." Though God did not appear to Esther in dramatic fashion, His sovereign hand was clearly at work. Haman, the king’s highest official, had secured a decree to annihilate all Jews throughout the empire (Esther 3:8–10). When Mordecai learned of the genocidal plot, he mourned publicly in sackcloth and ashes outside the king’s gate. Queen Esther, seeing his distress, sent her servant Hathach to discover the cause. Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the decree and charged him to urge Esther to go before the king...

Esther 4:8&9 "8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. 9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai." Our current series explores God’s callings. Last week we saw Moses’ reluctance at the burning bush. This week we turn to Esther. God did not appear to her in dramatic fashion, yet His sovereign plan is clearly at work in her life. These events unfold in Susa, the Persian capital, during the reign of King Xerxes I (5th century BC). Haman, the king’s highest official, has secured a decree to annihilate all Jews throughout the empire (Esther 3:8–10). Upon learning of the genocidal plot, Mordecai mourns publicly in sackcloth and ashes outside the king’s gate. Because of court protocol, he cannot enter the palace in mourning c...