God's Radical Mercy

o Repeatedly throughout scripture we see how God was able to use people even after they committed "major" sins.

o Abraham tried to get his wife to commit adultery, and God used Abraham.

o Moses committed murder, and God used him.

o King David committed adultery and murder, and God used him again.

o You may try to run away from God at some point in your life---but once you stop running, God’s plan for your life goes back into effect.

o Some of you may have felt called by God when you were younger to serve him in a special way, and instead of pursuing that call you let your life take a different course, and now it’s time to pick up where you left off and pursue the plan God has for you.

o A man named Richard at the age of 16 recognized that God was calling him to a ministry in music.

o After graduating from high school he began attending a Christian University.

o After a couple of years he decided that a career in music was too speculative, so he changed his major to accounting.

1. Short and simple, he made a decision to live for himself.

o He became a CPA, and his dream of serving God faded away.

o 17 years he had created a stable life for himself economically, but he had no peace, no fulfillment.

o Through a series of events he found his way back to God, and, to his amazement, heard once again God’s call on his life to a pursue a career in music.

o So, Richard picked up where he left off. He went back to school. He’s almost 40 now, and in many ways he is starting over, but he’s God gave him a second change

o I too left the ministry at one point and declared I’d never be back behind the pulpit, but God gave me a second chance

2. Your Sin Doesn’t Change God’s Power

o Jonah went to Ninevah and did as he was supposed to do.

o He walked through the streets of Ninevah and proclaimed the word of God. As a result...

o (v. 5) The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

o Just because Jonah disobeyed God doesn’t mean God’s word lost its power.

o Once he got back into the place God wanted him to be---he began pursuing God’s plan for his life---he was able to experience God’s power.

o While Jesus was facing death on the cross, the Apostle Peter abandoned him and left him to die all alone.

o Not once, not twice, but three times he was asked if he was a disciple of Jesus, and each time Peter denied ever having known Christ.

o As Christ was being led to his death, Peter warmed himself by the light of a Roman soldier’s fire and swore to all who could hear, "I don’t know the man!"

o Jesus heard Peter’s denial; the Bible says when Peter spoke these words The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. (Luke 22:61)

o Peter went outside and wept bitterly.

o Some follower of Christ he was.

o He ran from Jesus at a time Jesus needed him most.

o Peter was supposed to be a leader; and look at the example he set.

o This was a major offense.

o It wasn’t like Peter got caught with his hand in the offering plate, or got caught coming out of an R rated movie.