Jonah Take 2

Jonah Review

Read Jonah 3:1-10.

Peru:

What makes it even more incredible is that almost the entire village, of about fifty people, are practicing Christians. One member of this community, a man named Policarpio, had worked in one of the larger cities and had come to know the Lord through a missionary. He returned to his village to tell them of the good news and … there was an incredible revival – basically the whole village turned to Jesus.

Village in Burundi Africa:

Meshack and Jonas went and shared the story of Jesus with Paschal who was sitting under a tree.

Paschal went back and shared the story of Jesus with his tribe and over 50 people came to know the Lord and were baptized.

Papua New Guinea:

Mark Zook a Missionary to the Mouk people of Papua New Guinea in the 80’s

Tribe had never heard of Jesus, they were actively practicing witchcraft and sorcery. They were not far removed from tribal wars.

After learning the language and culture Mark Zook spent 3 mths straight two times a day explaining the Bible from Genesis to Jesus.

At the end, nearly the whole tribe came to know the Lord

Today, they have an active church and are sending out their own missionaries to other tribes.

God is still the God of the OT and revivals, and mass salvation is still happing worldwide.

Just like I mentioned last week, we need to be faithfully praying for revival, in our hearts, our church, our city, and our country.

Paris Olympics

Direct Assault on Christianity

Happing everyday on Television and media

As believers we have to take a stand for the truth and share the truth with others, just like Jonah. We may not want to see some be saved, but guess what? Christ died that all men may come to know him.

Jonah Take 2

Several years ago, I got to act in a short movie and there were times it would take several takes before getting a scene right… This is how I see the first few verses of Jonah chapter 3. The first take in Jonah chapter 1, Jonah didn’t do it the right way, so God is giving him the opportunity to get it right in Chapter 3.

Jonah 3:1–3a (NASB95)

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord.

Compare with Jonah 1:1-3

Jonah 1:1–3a (NASB95)

The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Nineveh the City

Jonah 3:3b(NASB95)

Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk.

If you will recall, from Jonah chapter 1, when I gave the history of Nineveh, the city was quite expansive, the walls towering 100ft, 45ft wide, and towers reaching 200ft.

As always there are those who say this event if false because Nineveh was not big enough for it to be a 3 day walk. However, when lookin at the area Nineveh was the main city that was surrounded by many smaller towns. Much like our larger cities today.

If I were to tell you I am going to Dallas it lets you know I am going to the main area, but Dallas is surrounded by Irving, Fort Worth, Plano, Grapevine, Arlington, Grand Prairie, etc.

So as Jonah preached the message God gave him, He didn’t just go the central district of Nineveh, he preached to Nineveh and the surrounding areas.

Why 40 Days?

Jonah 3:4 (NASB95)

Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

The number 40 has significant meaning the people of Israel, it appears 159 times in the Bible. Not only did the number have significant meaning to Israelites but it also had meaning to the people groups and cultures around them.

40 usually meant, trials and probations, trouble and hardship, and preparation.

The flood in Genesis 7:12, it says it rained for 40 days and 40 nights

The people of Israel wondered in the desert for 40 yrs. then had to do another 40 yrs.

Goliath mocked Israel for 40 days before David took him out

Jesus fasted and Satan tried to tempt Him for 40 days.

A normal pregnancy is 40 weeks long

So when Jonah preached his message of destruction in 40 days, the Ninevites knew God meant business.

What does it mean to Believe?

Jonah 3:5 (NASB95)

Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.

Unfortunately we in the English language we use the same word “believe,” for multiple meanings.

Example:

I believe I live in Natchitoches, LA. (Believe - Accept)

I believe my wife loves me. (Believe - Trust)

The first is believe/accept accepting my living condition as fact… we see an example of this in James 2:19

James 2:19 (NASB95)

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

The second believe/trust is what is written here about the Ninevites.

A couple of examples of this are found in Exodus 14:31, when the Israelites believed God would part the Red Sea and in Gen 15:6, when Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness.

Exodus 14:31 (NASB95)

When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

Genesis 15:6 (NASB95)

Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

So for the Ninevites, when it says they believed, they believed and trusted in the very character of God and who He is, He is the one who could save them or destroy them.

They had seen and experienced stories of this God of Israel. And He was now given them a chance to believe and be saved from destruction, they did not just believe in His existences.

You need to understand that if you are a believer here today, you did not believe in just the existence of God, but the character, and the power of God to change your life and to keep you from eternal death and transport you into eternal life with Him forever and ever.

Belief should bring about change…

A Changed Man

Jonah 3:6 (NASB95)

When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.

Jonah 3:7–9 (NASB95)

He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water.

“But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.

“Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.”

I love the Kings Response; oh that you and I would have the same response when God points out sin in our lives.

Action steps

1. Arose from his throne - He was willing to admit, he was not the answer and only God is. God is the one that should be on the throne and not him.

2. Laid aside his robe - A robe was a sign of authority, wealth, and prominence. He removed his robe relinquishing the authority on his life to God.

3. Covered himself with sackcloth - Unlike a robe, sackcloth is a rough material and very uncomfortable to wear, it was also a outward expression of submission. So the king was showing to others his submission to God.

4. Verbally expressed his change - Not only did he change, but he challenged others from the greatest to the smallest. He shared the news of God’s change to his heart.

The Kings decree was not only implemented by his own actions, but there was a genuine call to repentance by all people and beast.

God’s Mercy

Jonah 3:10 (NASB95)

When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

God would with hold his hand of destruction on the Ninevites for another 150yrs.

Application:

How does this passage of Scripture apply to you and me?

The Answer is in The King’s Response

What thrones are we sitting on?

Perhaps we are willing to go to church but we will not relinquish the throne of football, money, lust, work, politics, control, etc…

What throne is it that is preventing your from giving God full control of your life?

Are we willing to submit ourselves in humbleness to God’s truths?

a. God I understand you are in control of all things, please take control of my life.

b. God I don’t have the answers, but You do.

Are we willing to share what God has done in our lives with others?

Just like with Jonah and the Ninevites, God is a God of Grace and Mercy

1. God showed grace towards Jonah

2. God showed Grace and Mercy towards the Ninevites

3. He has shown his Grace and Mercy to you and I.

2 Peter 3:9 (NASB95)

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

God is willing, but He wants to be Jonah’s and to share His gospel with others. Rom 10:14

Romans 10:14 (NASB95)

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?