Wednesday Night Bible Study
by Billy McCool
First Apostolic Church of Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
Kind: Bible study
Scripture: Jonah 1, Romans 7:13, John 6:66-68, Matthew 26:15-16, Jonah 2:1-10, Psalm 139:8-10, Jonah 3:1-5, Deuteronomy 9:14, Exodus 32:30-32

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/billy-mccool--wednesday-night-bible-study-64
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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the Lord everyone let's try that again if we were voting on who was to be praised that would be a very weak vote praise the Lord everyone praise the Lord the Bible said in that day they shall say praise the Lord and that's a common greeting we have and if we meet somebody in the middle of Walmart from an Apostolic church we usually say praise the the Lord and that's something the world may not understand but we understand well and it's great to see each one of you here tonight from uh right to left left to right it's so great we've been through a an exciting snow storm and ice storm and all that good stuff but it's good to be able to be back in the house of the Lord tonight and have uh dry streets to drive home have a great lesson tonight actually we're going way back to January the 14th uh we've had a lot of special events and special things and we're behind when it comes to the chronological titles of our lesson but um I couldn't help but thank brother eel Lewis the old preacher that baptized sister mul in Jesus name years ago they had a custom that almost every preacher would have somebody to read for them and they instead of just reading a scripture and called it a text or a thought or or a topic uh they would have someone to read and the preacher would repeat after them and brother elel Lewis had his wife to read for him and one night he gave her a scripture to read and and then he got to talk and and and uh said told her to read it she had forgot where he said and she said I forgot said where did you say he said just read anywhere it's all got to be preached anyway so uh and and indeed that is the truth it's all got to be preached anyway but we have a great lesson and this is a series called series two and the overall topic is God is faithful and we indeed know that is the truth and to tonight's lesson is lesson 2.2 and uh they that that's a new way of counting U when I was growing up we didn't have 2.2 and one we had one two three and we didn't go into that point business we just knew there's just one 2 3 four five six and on but uh it's 2 point two and uh tonight's lesson is three days in the Deep three days in the deep and I have subtitled it pardon the language and don't misunderstand but I've given it a subtitle Three Days in Hell three days in hell and I have scripture to prove that and we will read that to you in a few minutes father we thank you for the privilege of being in the house of God we're thankful for the privilege of being able to study the word of God together with the saints of God anoint the lips of clay father with the Holy Ghost give what you would have spoken in this service tonight in Jesus name we pray and our lesson is taken from the book of Jonah and we're going to start at verse one of chapter 1 now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amah Amah saying arise go to Nineveh the great City and cry against it for their wickedness is come up before me now between these two verses we can establish the call of God was upon Jonah and the call was to do what a very unattractive call the call was to cry against a great sinning city um the popular preaching today is the is the um preaching of the good things of God and that indeed is good and that indeed is true that indeed is appropriate but it isn't appropriate to neglect the warnings that God gives to people that lives in sin in the Book of Romans it use this term that sin may become exceedingly sinful uh we have a way of of of sanitizing sin and we've got uh medical terms and scientific terms uh that that that dresses it down and makes it look uh quite attractive adultery it's a uh having an affair uh or or in a in an affair with someone uh stealing they've got uh good names for that they've got good names for lying and lies are pink instead of black and we've got all kind of uh modifying terms for sin but the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amah saying arise go to Nineveh the great City now they're all right right to there we yes Lord I I'm ready to go let's go yes God I'd like to go to a great City and I'd like to have a campaign but the next line said and cry against it for their wickedness is come up before me now this is not an easy message to preach from the heart to advise people against their sinning ways and it's important that we be able now you've heard me say time and again the preacher sought acceptable words and uh I I I don't back away from that a minute and We Don't Preach prach against sin for the joy of lashing people and the old SAT goes shelling down the corn and and uh really and a lot of folks will preach will Amen to that kind of preaching and that's all right there there's a time for that but it must be preached the Bible said and preaching the truth in love all right the next verse says arise go to n the great City for the great their wickedness has come up before me now let's look at Jonah's response but Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarsus Jonah rose up to run uh Jonah rose up to flee the Bible said unto Tarsus from the presence of the Lord Denny Livingston wrote a song years ago it says where do you go when you leave the Lord let me ask you something tonight the devil will give you all kind of excuses to to leave the Lord a and he will he he has a way of painting a cloudy picture toward the work of God the church and and living right but now just where do you go when you leave the Lord uh in John 6 66-68 from that time many of his disciples now listen to this now we're talking about his disciples now listen his disciples from that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him now the next time the devil points out to you so and so don't go to church anymore so and so back so and so is done well this is nothing new for from a certain time many not a few but many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him one of the saddest verses of scripture in the Bible to me it the Bible said and his Brethren did not believe on him and they even dished out certain uh sarcastic things about well if you're the son go do this this this and this even his own blood brothers are at least according to the flesh then said Jesus unto the 12 will ye also go away then Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we go thou Hast the words of eternal life where do you go who do you know that can promise you eternal life I don't care what Doctor scientist Financial wi whoever who can promise you eternal life when Jesus said will you also go away Peter said Lord to whom shall we go you've got the words of eternal life now if you ever find somebody that can promise that and can show you they can do it now the man that went to the grave and stayed there three days and came forward alive forever more he can say it because he did it he's been there he did that and he promises that to you and me Simon Peter answered Lord to whom shall we go thou Hast the words of eternal life question where do you go and what will you find here's what here's where Jonah went and he went down to japa and he went down to japa any road that leads away from the call of God is a downward Road don't you let the devil make you think that you're going to get better results by getting away from the Lord every road away from the Lord is a downward Road the Bible said there was a certain man that went down from Jerusalem to Jericho uh Jerusalem represents the church any road that leads away from the church is a downward Road don't you take that road Jonah went down to japa and he found he found something there he found a ship going to Tarsus he found a ship now if you're wanting an excuse to get away from the Lord the devil's got transportation for you he's got an excuse for you so he paid the fair thereof and went down into it to go to them unto Tarsus from the presence of the Lord when you want to get away from the Lord you can always find a ship that'll take you away from the Lord I picked up a paper I wrote an article on April the the 15th 1969 and pastor and Pro profile it's entitled opportunity to backslide Matthew 25:15 and 16 what will you give me and I'll deliver him unto you and from that time he sought opportunity to betray him Judas was had just agreed on the price for Christ betrayal 30 pieces of silver is the Value Place on the life of our lovely Lord the deal is made the Contra a son All That Remains is the for Judas to deliver the merchandise from that time he sought an opportunity to betray him he stalked his prey with the cunningness of a jungle beast lurking in the shadows laying low waiting for the opportune time when he can place the kiss of death on the face of the lovely Lamb of God Judas prepared his grievance carefully and well in advance he had a backlog of complaints he had hinted that the Lord allowed the misuse of funds and ointment was sold which could have been uh on was poured on Jesus which could have been sold and the money given to the poor also he probably thought Jesus too much of a dictator when with a whip he drove out the money changers from the house of God much money minded Judas no doubt thought this is a very wise and lucrative business to sell sacrifices in the temple when a person backslides it is usually after careful preparation when Christ has been betrayed in in one's heart they start looking for opportunity to deliver the merchandise a person whose heart is not right they'll start looking for false in others shortly before he denied Jesus Peter tried to put the Finger of Suspicion on John by saying Lord what will this man do this is a trait found early in childhood when a child has misbehaved he'll usually say but Mom Johnny did this or Susie did that this is the proverbial smoke screen which is meant to obscure the misdeeds of the offending rather than admit he has stopped praying and being close to God the backslider was slightly sit and pick false with the church and will wait for the opportunity when he can call when he can accuse someone of hurting his feelings Paul laid it on the line when he said Deus ha forsaken me having loved this present world the prodal son became restless and felt mistreated when he developed a love for the world the record states that he said father give me the portion of goods that fth to me not many days after he gathered all together and took his journey when a person starts Gathering complaints false and offenses look out it won't be long before they'll be taking a journey Demus have forsaken me having love this present world this man man of wavering impulse who surrendered The Passion of sacrifice and sank in the swirling Waters of the world as a true reflection of the thought that where our love is there we finally will be Peter's denial of Jesus backfired with such deadly Devastation has sent him reeling into the Shadows to weep bitterly the prodical son's curiosity and love for adventure stripped him of his reputation his wealth and left him wallowing in the hog pin remembering better days Judas is the saddest of all a man who had walked with the master and witnessed his message came so close and lost so much Jesus declared himself to be the door this being the case Judas kissed the door to heaven and went to hell yes if you want an opportunity to backslide you want a reason to get away from God's people the devil will give you that reason but I'm here to tell you the worst days in the house of God is better than the best days in the world yes there was a mighty storm there was a boat filled with stinking animals everything from pole cats to laughing hyenas and elephants and giraffes it was crowded and stinky but the stink on the inside was better than the storm on the outside and I'm here to tell you that the worst days in the house of God is better than the best days in the world don't you let the devil make you thank for one minute he's got something better for you on the other side it just isn't so give the Lord a hand clap he found a ship going to Tarsus yes you can find your a ship when you want to get away from the call of God but the next line said so he hey paid the fair thereof and he paid the fair thereof and went down into it to go with them unto Tarsus from the presence of the Lord by the way have you looked at the pr T have you looked at the priz that's going to cost you when Abraham and lot was traveling together it got a little bit sticky got a little bit uncomfortable not between Abraham and lot it was their herdsman they were suffering from too much the land couldn't support the prosperity of so many animals to feed and it wasn't Abraham and lot that got into a dispute it was their herdsman it's so sad that so many the people let other folks disputes become their disputes it's sad when folks allow other folks to lead them astray and they become a part of someone else's argument if you know of some folks and and this is perhaps the greatest to the devil has come up with the internet when everybody can get online and read what so and so said about so and so by so and so and so and so the next thing you know you're up to your ears and controversy and it's one thing after another finally Abraham said lot this is not going to work you will take put your you look one way and I'll go the other you find the way you want to go and I'll go away the other way so I won't be in your way you won't be in mine and the Bible said that Lots looked at the well-watered plains of Sodom the grass was green and Lush the grass was beautiful and it had all the marks of money and success and he cast his lot towards Sodom Sin City and Abraham went in the other direction lot became very successful the equivalent of Mayor of the town but the one thing he didn't think of is that there was a god looking down and there was a penalty to pay and a price to pay when the angels of God came down to advise lot lot God's getting ready to destroy this wicked City and before the Angels could get through with their message of warning the wicked homosexual men of the city came rushing down because there was new flesh new men that they didn't know and lot had to swish them inside and they were there and they demanded lot to present those men to them that they might commit sin man with man let me tell you something when you get away from the house of God you take your wife you may take her to The Honky Tonks in the Dance Floor the next thing you're going to find her dancing around with some other man you're going to find yourself in another Circle and the next thing you know you're going to be looking back on a road that you wish you hadn't traveled when you take your children out of church they can't go to youth r they can't be to church every they can't go to a Christian School don't afford it the next thing you know if you're not careful you're going to look around and they're going to be living in Sin City and when God told lot he was going to destroy that City to get out the angels of God had to come and get him by the hand and lead him out God said don't you even look back and M lot had become so accustom and so in love with the city she just had to venture one look back and she turned to a pillar of salt lot couldn't even look back to see what happened to her he had to go home and in his faults and failures he found himself in the mountain and his two daughters got him drunk and committed adultery with her own daddy and he became the father of the god-hating amorites and the moabites let me tell you something if people could only understand when you get away from the call of God you get away from the family of God you get away from the will of God there's nothing good out there you better stick with the man of God the people of God because that's where our hope is but the Lord sent out a great storm into the sea and there was a mighty Tempest in the sea so that the ship was like to be broken you got a new pursuer on your Trail Pastor Anthony preached a great message about that you got a new pursuer you got goodness and mercy and if goodness and mercy can't get your attention God's got a storm on the he can stir up a high pressure system a low pressure system he can create a cyclone and a tornado and a hurricane all that one and he knows who's aboard that ship and you're under the call of God and God's going to get his man I said God's going to get his man point but the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea and there was a mighty Tempest in the sea so the ship the so that the ship were liken to be broken Point fleeing from God is a downward Road he found a ship if you're looking for transportation to get away from God in the church Satan has a ship waiting for you I wrote that down s a t and my spell correct turned it into sattin instead of Satan the devil would like to turn his name from Satan to Satan because he's as smooth as Satan as a ship waiting for you but remember he paid the fair thereof have you checked the price tag now a word of warning be careful who you allow board your ship you may not be the one boarding the ship the warning is be careful who you allow on your boat one running from God Is A Dangerous character you may be inviting a costly storm into your own life notice the next verses then the Mariners were afraid and cried every man to his God and cast forth the Wares that were in the ship into the sea to lighten it but Jonah was going down into the side of the ship and he lay and was F did you know the Bible speaks of one who SWS Discord among the Brethren did you know he called that without remedy he calls that way there's six things God hates the seventh is an abom mintion and it's without remedy he talks about feet that's Swift to shed blood he talks about the bad but then he talks about sewing Discord and he puts that in a category all of its own for there is without remedy there are some things there's no remedy for don't you allow folks on your uh Facebook don't you allow anybody on your telephone don't you allow anybody in your company that's running somebody else down criticizing gossiping backbiting long tongue trying to run somebody down they're going to seek your ship and a storm came these men were just innocent Sinners if you could call it that they didn't know the Lord they were not of the faith but they done no one any harm but that wind was so Furious and stormy and they had enough judgment the Mariners were afraid and cried every man to his God and cast forth the Wares that were in the ship here goes my happy marriage here goes my children that I was going to see graduate here goes the business I was going to be successful right here goes and when you get done throwing things Overboard you're going to see that there's a lot of things Doling out there in the sh in the sea your boat of Conrad ship be sure you're not hosting a Jonah that's running from God someone that's running from God and running from the church and run the church represents the presence of God don't you allow the devil to cause you to turn against the house of God and they cast forth the Wares that were in the ship oh my my how much you throw overboard how much you get rid of the happy home every anniversary Christmas Thanksgiving when the last shovel of dirt is pitched on your casket there's going to be repercussions if you get away from God when you go to the family reunion somebody's uneasy can't go because of the things I've allowed in my life they been untrue to my marriage I've been untrue to my children I've allowed things that I've I've had to rid myself of that I needed so badly I thought I never would and so they went down in the side of the ship and they found a man the Bible said fast asleep the problem was there but he wasn't worried he was fast asleep so the ship master came to him and said to him what meanest thou Oh Sleeper arise call upon thy God here they were ignorant of the true God but they was telling him cry out to your God if so be that God will think upon us that we perish not and they said everyone to his fellow come let us cast lots that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us so they cast lots that fell upon Jonah then said they unto him now I want you to notice the following please tell us we pray thee for whose cause this evil is upon us what is your occupation let us ask ourselves the questions tonight it's already been outlined for us you don't have to search for wording tell us what your what is your occupation where'd you come from what's thy country and of what people art thou a short statement I'm a Hebrew I'm an Apostolic you are an apost Apostolic is that the way apostolics behave is that the way apostolics live is that the true characteristics of an episod I'm an EP I'm a Hebrew Jonah said I'm a Hebrew and I fear the lord the god of Heaven you you act like you do you're looking like you you fear the lord god of Heaven which has made the sea in the dry land oh what a testimony you've got you're sure not acting much like you fear the lord then were the men exceedingly afraid innocent Sinners they were afraid and said unto him why have you done this can you answer that question when you get away from God I guess I I I guess the the deepest hurt and the deepest concern and the Heart of a Preacher especially one that's been preaching for three4 of a century it's to see men women that could have done great things for God but they threw it overboard they had such potential my heart cries out in the night their names still roll off of my tongue and my prayers oh God some way somehow don't let them be lost if they can't come back and do what they once did at least God please don't let them be lost don't let them be lost why has thou done this for the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord comma How did they know it because he told them that how did they know it they they they said you're running from God how do you know because you just told us I want to tell you something you don't have to talk very long to a backslider till they'll tell you why there is such a m when they start talking said you told us so oh God help us not to be able to to tell folks I left off prayer life I left off going to church I left off my fellowship I left off the things that kept me on fire for God that's what caused me to backslide I quit going to church I listen to fault finders I listen to the wrong crowd why did you because because you told us so because you told us then said they unto him what are we going to do with you what can we do with thee that the sea may become unto us for the sea wrought and was impetuous Jonah tell us what what what are I going to do for you do with you and he said unto them one answer I don't have a shortcut Take Me Up cast me forth into the sea oo so shall the sea become unto you for I know that for my sake this great temp is upon you you can cause somebody else an awful lot of trouble be careful you don't borrow somebody else's the storm be careful you don't borrow someone else's hurricane stay out of the weather stay in the house of God nevertheless the men rode hard to bring it to land they didn't want to throw him overboard they rode hard but they could not for the sea was wough and was impetuous against them wherefore they Cried unto the Lord and said we beseech thee Oh Lord we beseech thee let us not perish for this man's life and lay not Upon Us innocent blood for thou oh Lord has done as it pleased thee there's only one remedy gentlemen you can do whatever you want to do but there's somebody on the trail that's got someone on his Trail there someone running from the presence of God you got someone being pursued by almighty God now what you're going to do with him for the Lord has done well wherefore they cried in the Lord saying we beseech thee we beseech thee let us not perish for this man's life and they lay not Upon Us innocent blood for thou oh Lord done as it pleased thee so they took Jonah and cast him forth into the sea and the Sea ceased from her raging there was a great calm the wind stopped blowing the waves settled down everything became calm then the men feared the Lord exceedingly that made them even more afraid because they realized that indeed was the problem they had encountered a man running from from God and that is a dangerous situation to be in you be careful who you run with be careful who you allow in your boat now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow of Jonah and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights Jonah 21 then Jonah prayed un the Lord God out of the fish's belly and said I cried by reason of my Affliction sometimes God has to give us a reason to cry and to Humble ourselves then Jonah prayed to the Lord God out of the Fisher and said I cried by reason what's your reason he said my affliction unto the Lord and he heard me he heard me from where out of the belly of Hell cried I and thou htest me David said if I make my bed in hell Thou Art there if I take the wings of the morning and fly to the depths of the sea Thou Art there let me tell you something you can make life a living hell you can make your marriage a continual happy honeymoon or can be a continual unhappy hell the way you live he said from the belly of Hell cried I unto the Lord for thou cast me into the deep in the midst of the Seas and the floods Compass me about all the Billows and thy waves pass over me then I said I'm cast out of thy sight yet I will look toward the toward the Holy Temple the waters Compass me about even to the soul the depth Clos me round about the weeds were wrapped about my head I went down I went down down down I went down to the bottom of the mountains the Earth with her bars was about me forever yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption oh Lord my God let me tell you something down down have you gone as deep as you thought think you need to go I know we've got almost all Christians here tonight but there's not a one of us here the devil's not going to try to show you a way to wreck your life there are men and women has gone about as low as they can go and Jonah said I went down to the bottom of the mountains there was a seaweed wrapped around my head you brought up my life from corruption when my soul fainted within me I remembered something oh I remembered something the pricate son said as he smell the stench of the hog pin heard the grunts of the pigs he said I remember something how many hard Servants of my father have bread enough and to spare and I perish with Hunger I will arise I've got to talk to myself I will arise and I'm going to go back and I'm going to say Daddy I've sinned against heaven and I've sinned against you and I'm no more worthy to be called yourself would you just make me make me a hired servant oh I've gone as deep as I want to go I want to get back to where I once was when my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord and my prayers came in unto thee into thy Holy Temple he pictures his prayer as being a a bearer of his news his prayer walks in to the throne room of God and his prayer says God you've got a man down there that's living in the belly of hell and the belly of a fish somehow God you have miraculously given him oxygen and you've allowed him to live but he's wallowing in seaweeds and slime and the the stat of a of a whales he's calling it the belly of Hell God he's calling on you now can you do something for him and then Jonah says they that observe well let me finish that I remember the Lord and my prayers came in unto thee into thy Holy Temple they that observe lying vanities forsake their own Mercy if you think you can listen to the devil telling you he's got anything good for you he is a liar the Bible says he can't tell the truth the Bible says he can't tell the truth he's a liar and the father of it and the thing he's trying to tell you about your home your marriage your children your job your church your fellow Saints and all the he's telling you something to get you away from God and notice if You observe lying those are all vages and lies they that observe lying vanities forsake their own Mercy you're you're you're crucifying the greatest thing you've ever had the mercies of God you're walking away from that which is the most needed in your life but then it says but I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of Thanksgiving I will pray that I have vow I will pay that that I have vowed salvation of the Lord God I promise you ever do this I promise I promise I promise now then chapter 3 verse one and the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time saying hallelujah and the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time saying now here we've got a man arise go to Nineveh that great City now verse 10 and the Lord spake un the fish and it vomited Jonah upon the dry land washed up and spit out that's a bad shape washed up and spit out and the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time saying go to Nineveh the great City and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee so Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days journey let me stop CU my mind goes back to something uh uh an unusual old friend of mine and he was a friend of mine though I had some experiences with him his brother Jay Basel mul and there we certainly had our differences and he I'll leave that leave that leave that be but he he told something on the radio that I have not forgotten he said that this man had a son and he told him one day to him go out to had a big fireplace and said uh get a backlog if anybody's ever lived in a house you got a uh if you if if you go to Cracker Barrel they've got a fireplace in the winter time and and the back of the they have a great great old big log that that they put small kindling around and they get the big log going and it it burns and burns and burns and when the other wood burns up it's still got that and they can put other uh wood in there and the fire from that backlog lights the others and it's what keeps the Heat going and and uh preacher M told this man told his son to go get and the son refused and the son the dad saidou not come under this roof you not live in this house if you don't obey your daddy and the boy left and he was gone for a number of years and he said later on the boy decided to come back home and his father came back he came back home and his father saw him coming and he jumped off of the porch and it happened to be winter time and he went to see him hugged that boy and the boy said Dad I'm glad to be home and dad said Son before you come in go out and get that backlog and put it on the fire or you can't come in for some reason I've remembered that and I think there's some things that God requires of us that you don't just come back and pick up where you left off without making right what you've done wrong now God told David David I'm going to you're a man after my heart but I'm not going to let you build me a house because you're a man of blood you've done wrong you can lay aside the provisions for the house of God but you can't build the house be careful that you don't get into a condition that you can't do what you like to do word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time saying arise go unto Nineveh the great City and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee so Jonah arose and went unto Nineveh according to the word of the Lord now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days journey and Jonah began to enter into the city a day journey and he cried and said that was so large it took three days to go through that City but he had gone a days so he a third of the way into the city but he was preaching against sin and preaching the preaching that God told him and now ninev was a seeding great City three days journey and Jonah began to enter the city a day journey and he cried and said yet had 40 days and ninev shall be overthrown so the people of n believed God and proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them them even to the least of them I'm looking for a place to stop because my self alloted time is running out well The Story Goes that everybody repented the king repented he would he got down the sackcloth and Ashes wouldn't even let the animals eat and the King proclaimed the law that everybody perform what God has said and God spared the city Jonah climbed a hill sat there and he waited for the fireworks to start and the fire didn't come and Jonah got mad at God or disagreed with God and he said I knew that would happen you're of merci well God I told you when you call me what's going to happen you spared that City and God allowed a gourd to just miraculously grow up and create a a nice shade over his head and Jonah was Sting there enjoying the shade of the gourd Vine and then God allowed God created a worm underground that cut the bottom the the vine into and immediately the gourd just withered away and Jonah was so hot he fainted and when he came to God said Jonah you wanted me to spare the gourd Vine for you but there's a city of over 200,000 of souls that have repented and you wanted me to destroy them Pastor made a statement that really stuck with me Pastor Mark M he said that was some kind of evangelist when he preached such a Revival caus God to repent and I boy that that's some statement to make when you're such a good preacher you make God repent well Jonah wanted God to destroy now I'm going to close with this because my my thought in this is the difference in the attitude of some leaders in the work of God you've heard me tell the story young girl went in to borrow money in a bank and she passed all the credit checks and the banker just uh I was a good-natured man he was a single eyed man and he was very proud of the eye that was artificial you couldn't tell it from the other one and he had jokingly told the young lady I'm going to give you this loow loan if you can tell me which one of my eyes is the real eye and which one is the artificial she quickly said your left eye is the good eye and the right eye he said how in the world did you know that she he said I've never had anybody could tell me that she said I seem to see a little sympathy in your left eye there's something God is a sympathetic God and he is a god of Mercy now I want you to notice the difference in the ministry of two different men Deuteronomy 9:14 let me alone God is talking to Moses and God said let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their names from under heaven and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they some of we preachers if we're not careful we'll will succumb to this attitude but Exodus 32 and 30 Moses said and it came to pass on the marrow that Moses said unto the people ye have sinned a great sin and now I will go up to the Lord per Adventure I shall make an atonement for your sins and Moses returned unto the Lord and said oh this people have sinned a great sin and have made them God of gold yet now if thou will forgive their sins and if not blot me I pray thee out of thy book which thou Hast written oh the difference in the two attitudes of Jonah and Moses the real man of God said God spare them or blot my name out I don't know how to justify such a statement but I want to tell you this the pastor the Evangelist the man of God the saint of God that loves Souls they're going to pray for your salvation that you will somehow be saved God don't let them be lost I'm not worried about what you you I know you're a God of mercy and a god of love and I'm going to depend on that and I'm going to thank you for saving the lost soul would you stand to your feet with us oh God we thank you tonight for the Blessed word of God God I pray for every soul that I've ever preached to oh God that one that's nearest hell tonight that one that's walked away from his or her calling that one that's allowed the devil to lead them astray and make them think that he has something for them out there in the hog pin out in the world I pray oh God that you will reach down and touch their hearts wherever they are they don't have to be under this roof and in this house but God I pray that you will reach them now God I pray that you'll let this word sink deep into our hearts bring us back at our next appointed time in Jesus name we pray amen your dismiss in the name of the Lord shake hands and be friendly