Author: Tim

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Sermon Audio: Jonah: Merciful God
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Jonah
Duration: 22:34
Size: 11.0 MB

The Minor Prophets
Jonah: Merciful God
Jonah

God is eager to forgive. He is glad that people are given second chances.

Whether the prophet comprehends God’s mercy is left unknown.

God is the God of the second chances. In fact, God creates the second chances.

God is relentless in giving His people warnings and opportunities to repent.

The fact that the people of Nineveh are alive, that sinners are alive and well today, is because God is holding off His judgement through mercy.

Jesus came showing mercy and lives were changed.

We pray that our hearts will be filled with His love, so that His mercy and grace can flow, unhindered by our pride and prejudice.

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Sermon Audio: Obadiah: The Pride of Your Heart
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Obadiah
Duration: 21:26
Size: 10.2 MB

The Minor Prophets
Obadiah: The Pride of Your Heart
Obadiah

Obadiah reveals God’s stern words to Edom, a nation South of Judah.

The trouble with Esau and his descendants was pride. Obadiah states, “The pride of your heart has deceived you”.

We are self-sufficient when we think or feel that we’re in charge, and that our future is in our hands.

It is sometimes good for us to experience this sense of helplessness, because then we will know that we need God.

Their pride blinds them to the needs of their fellow brothers in Jerusalem.

We are taught by Jesus not to rejoice over the downfall of our enemies, but to love them and pray for those who persecute us.

It is clear from this passage that being apathetic is an issue to God.

Man is called to humble himself before Almighty God. There is hope for those who keep their trust in God.

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Sermon Audio: Amos: Enduring Grace
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Amos
Duration: 22:20
Size: 10.9 MB

The Minor Prophets
Amos: Enduring Grace
Amos

Amos saw a vision–God standing by a wall that has been built true and straight.

So, Amos came and lifted up, in a sense, a mirror for them to look at themselves and judge for themselves.

God was telling them, if they continue to go down this road, they would face dire consequences.

God will not punish without warning.

God never condemns anyone. John 3:17 tells us very clearly. Jesus came in our world to save us, not to condemn us.

God does that in our lives, giving us His messages through friends, sermons, experiences we had, to remind us of our need to return to Him.

The book of Amos is the call of God for man to return to Him and His ways.

The Bible is the revelation of God–His being and His doings, His will and His ways.

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Sermon Audio: Joel: Rend Your Heart
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Joel
Duration: 22:37
Size: 11.0 MB

The Minor Prophets
Joel: Rend Your Heart
Joel

You have this picture of a realization (or revelation), a turn around (repentance), and a restoration (a returning to God).

This realization can only come through the fresh revelation of God’s will.

The Israelites will never, ever, experience again, the true blessings of God, for their lives, until they realized their mistake and turn around.

His goal is repentance, not destruction. That’s why God is relentless in proclaiming the same message over and over again, through His prophets.

We see the INTENT of God’s judgement. God desires our repentance.

It really doesn’t matter what you do, if there is no change of heart, there is no repentance.

True repentance takes place because there is a turning to God–a revelation of God’s glory, His holiness.

That’s why daily time with God is important. Our worship of God is crucial. Close encounters with God bring repentance.