Responsive Servants: Taking the Message of God to Heart

Thank God that He is the God of the second chance! When we mess up and blow it He does not discard us or destroy us! God is a God of grace and mercy and forgiveness. These qualities are not readily available and accessible in and from the world.

On New Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played University of California in the Rose Bowl. In that game a man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California. Somehow, he became confused and started running 65 yards in the wrong direction. One of his teammates, Benny Lom, outdistanced him and downed him just before he scored for the opposing team. When California attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety which was the ultimate margin of victory.

That strange play came in the first half, and everyone who was watching the game was asking the same question: "What will Coach Nibbs Price do with Roy Riegels in the second half?" The men filed off the field and went into the dressing room. They sat down on the benches and on the floor, all but Riegels. He put his blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby.

If you have played football, you know that a coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during half time. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels. Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time. Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, "Men the same team that played the first half will start the second." The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He did not budge. the coach looked back and called to him again; still he didn't move. Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second."

Then Roy Riegels looked up and his cheeks were wet with a strong man's tears. "Coach," he said, "I can't do it to save my life. I've ruined you, I've ruined the University of California, I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life."

Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegel's shoulder and said to him: "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." And Roy Riegels went back, and those Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.

Jonah’s repentance brought restoration in his life. God gave Jonah a second chance to do His will. Jonah repented of his disobedience and God forgave and restored him.

David Jeremiah said, “When we recognize what we have done, are remorseful over it, have repented, and have had time to reflect on the whole process, then God is ready to reassign us.”

There is a change of attitude, ambition, and action when one genuinely repents.

Jonah repented and it is seen in his following the Lord’s commands. Jonah had a change of direction. Jonah became a responsive servant. Jonah responded to the call of God in his life.

A servant of God will always respond to God’s will.

In this study I want to challenge us as God’s people to arise and go and proclaim the gospel in this world.

Have you heard God’s call? Have you responded to His will for your life?

Have you repented of your sins?

Have you experienced the God of the second chance?

This text reveals some marks of a responsive servant. A responsive servant:

Will Accept the Mission of God

Jonah 3:1–3 NKJV

1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.

God had worked on His servant to get him to the point so that he could hear from God.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Remember, God is more concerned about His workers than He is about their work, for if the workers are what they ought to be, the work will be what it ought to be.”

It was only when Jonah cried out to God from the belly of the fish that God heard His servant.

Jonah cried out in repentance, faith, and worship. The sea, the storm, the sailors, the sinners, the fish, and finally the servant heard from God.

God now recommissions Jonah. He’s brought him to the place where he’s finally ready to head God’s call.

Jonah may have started out singing, “I did it my way!” Jonah came to the point where he said, ‘I’ll do it Your way Lord.’ Jonah accepted the mission of God. Have you accepted the mission of God? What did Jonah hear?

Jonah heard when to go;

where to go;

and what to do.

Jonah’s assignment did not change, but he did. God told Jonah where to preach and He told Jonah what to preach.

God’s commission to Jonah had not changed. God’s commission to His church has not changed.

Matthew 28:18–20 says,

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Again Jesus said before His ascension to heaven in Acts 1:8,

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

God’s commission to the church is to go to the lost with the good news of Jesus Christ.

God’s mission to Jonah was to go to Nineveh and preach.

Preach (qara; kaw-raw) which means to call, to call out, or to recite.

We are to go and preach; to call and make a connection with the lost people of the world.

Notice in this passage: Nineveh didn’t come to Jonah, but Jonah went to Nineveh.

Great Biblical Principle: God has not called the lost to come to us, but for us to go to the lost.

Upon hearing from God, Jonah had to arise and remove the seaweed from his head and proceed to Nineveh.

The Bible says in verse two, ‘preach to it the message that I tell you.’

The mission to Jonah was not to preach his feelings, his opinions, his own wisdom, but he was commissioned to preach the word of God.

Message: (qriyah; ker-ee-aw) which means a proclamation or preaching.

Jonah was commissioned to preach to Nineveh the message that God preached to Jonah.

Great Biblical Truth: God speaks to His servants so that His servants can speak for Him.

Jonah 3:3 NKJV

3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent.

Jonah not only heard the word of God, but this time he heeded the word of God. Jonah did what the Lord commanded. God is pleased with our obedience.

After much wandering, waywardness, and willful disobedience Jonah accepted the mission of God.

Have we accepted the mission of God in our individual lives and as a congregation?

In verse three, it says “Jonah arose and went to Nineveh.

When we accept the mission of God we too will have to get up and go.

Great Biblical Truth: We will never accept the mission of God and be a part of the work of God until we hear and heed the Word of God.

God’s Word says that Nineveh was a great city. Jonah had the opportunity to share God’s message with multitudes.

In verses 1–3 we noticed that a responsive servant will accept the mission of God. In verse 4 we see that a responsive servant:

Will Announce the Message of God

Jonah 3:4 NKJV

4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

Jonah didn’t waste any time when he got to Nineveh. On the first day he began to proclaim God’s message.

Great Biblical Truth: We don’t have time to waste; people are dying in their sins and Jesus could return at any time. We must be busy about proclaiming the message of God.

Nineveh was not expecting Jonah.

The local chamber of commerce did not schedule three days of preaching in the Ninevite Civic Center by Jonah the prophet.

The people of Nineveh did not set up sales tables to sale Jonah’s latest sermons on CD, or MP3.

They did not sale T-shirts that had the prophet being spit out of the great fish.

They did not sell tickets or promote the revival on the radio or television. They did not know Jonah was coming.

But when Jonah showed up in Nineveh, God showed up in Nineveh.

When the word of God was preached the Spirit of God convicted the sinners of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

God always honors the proclaiming of His Word, and always uses it to work in the hearts of people.

We may not always see the immediate results, but His Word will not return unto Him without accomplishing its purpose.

God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent.

God gives people time to come to Him. He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Great Biblical Fact: If the church does not accept the mission of God and begin to announce the message of God, then people will not be able to respond to the call of God.

What kind of message are we giving the world?

People still must be born again to go to heaven!

God’s word and requirements have not changed.

Would you accept the mission of God and begin to announce the message of God?

Would you become a responsive servant?