The Effectiveness of Jonah

Intro:

3b- We see some recurring themes now coming into view. Tarshish would be a large city as well. Nineveh is extremely large- great (1:2;,4,12,17) | 3 days walk = 3 days in a fish.

If we were to give a poll on who everyone thought was the best preacher in the Bible, we would probably come up with names like Peter who on the Day of Pentecost saved 3,000 souls. Or Paul, who in is described as having preached to all the residents of Asia in 2 years. Or possibly going to the Old Testament, we would think about Abraham or Moses or Elisha. But if we are looking at just the sheer number and the rate of conversion, the answer I think surprises us.

4-5- And we begin to see the effectiveness of the gospel proclamation. It We have another man when we think of a boat and much water, Noah. And yet Noah preaches for 100 years and no one repents. Jonah preaches 1 day and the men of Nineveh believe....God, not Jonah. We see further a contrasting made between Jonah and everyone else around him. They immediately fast and dress themselves in sack cloth. Yet not once do we even see this being the case with Jonah. He is forced to fast in the fish.

6- Even the king, who has authority and power, repents. What irony! And we are made clear in our minds that this story is not just a happy one, nor a sad one. It is one full of irony. Prophets would preach, accepting God’s call, and no one repented. They were stubborn and resisted (, , ) But here is almost a universal repentance… and done immediately.

Throughout this story, we have seen only two characters. Jonah and God. And we see that Jonah is pretty much failing everywhere and in every occasion. But God’s work is getting done So, who is ultimately to credit for this mass revival? God!

<And this would be a good place to end the story. This is where we would want it to conclude. We had the intro, a plot, a fairly good conclusion. But there is more to the story. We know that because there still remains a fourth chapter for us. And we are left wondering again where is Jonah. As we forget Jonah in the revival on the boat of the seamen, we need to go check up on him. And where is he? Is he praising. Still, it is a no. But that is for next time >

Intro:

If we were to give a poll on who everyone thought was the best preacher in the Bible, we would probably come up with names like Peter who on the Day of Pentecost saved 3,000 souls. Or Paul, who in is described as having preached to all the residents of Asia in 2 years. Or possibly going to the Old Testament, we would think about Abraham or Moses or Elisha. But if we are looking at just the sheer number and the rate of conversion, the answer I think surprises us.

Especially since we have been walking through Jonah and looking at his disobedience, we would be shocked to find out that Jonah is in fact one of the greatest preachers. In one day, his preaching is spread throughout an entire nation and they all immediately repent. Just to get an idea of the number of people, “Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left.” Now some have estimated that the actual population would be around 300,000 since many of the people did not live in the city, but most lived outside of the city walls. Another estimate I read was of this was referring to children who cannot distinguish between their right and left. So the number would be much much greater.

And Jonah, the constant disappoint that makes us SOH at him…shake OUR heads, he is the one that God uses. When you think about that I think a lot of our excuses for not witnessing sort of melt away. And the truth is that, since God is our Lord, we ought to obey his command which does include evangelism. God can use anyone. We just need to be obedient and preach the Gospel. And as we will look at Jonah’s effectiveness this morning, you will want to note his message. He does not water it down. He doesn’t try and form friendships. He preaches a very tough word. he calls them to repentance and faith.

Theme: Evangelism. God can use anyone. We just need to be obedient and preach the Gospel. It will be tough for people to hear though as we call them to repentance and faith.

Body:

Although we are not sure how much time passes, we can almost imagine that with how quickly things in this story are moving, it had to have been fairly soon after him being vomited from the mouth of the great fish, Jonah is recommissioned. And the words echo what God had commanded Jonah to do. To get up and go to Nineveh. To preach the message that God tells him.

And we may be at the edge of our seats, thinking will Jonah respond now. Or will he go back to his running from God. Maybe he could be thinking, well that was foolish for me to try to run from God by sea, I should’ve chosen by land. But Jonah, is a quick read. So we are not left holding our breath, we read of Jonah “getting up and going to Nineveh according to the Lord’s command.”

He goes and we have to be excited. Jonah is doing the right thing. This reluctant, disobedient, stubborn, unfaithful missionary is finally doing the right thing.

3:1-3a- Jonah recommissioned. Not sure how much time passes, if any, but Jonah is reminded of what he is to do. And in this verse is almost the complete opposite of 1:1-3a.

We are all commissioned by God to go and to declare His word. That ought to bring us comfort. One reason I hear often from people who want to go out and do outreach is that they are unsure what to say. The beauty is that we are not to proclaim a message that is from ourselves, but we are to deliver His message.

And that message is found in His Word.

3:1-3a- Jonah recommissioned. Not sure how much time passes, if any, but Jonah is reminded of what he is to do. And in this verse is almost the complete opposite of 1:1-3a.

We are but jars of clay.

Paul wrote in

2 Corinthians 4:7–13 LEB

But we have this treasure in earthenware jars, in order that the extraordinary degree of the power may be from God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are continually being handed over to death because of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. But because we have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,

We proclaim the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation ()

Romans 1:16 LEB

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16 LEB

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

And so, that should encourage us. We have but one message to deliver. The Gospel. Christ. If you do not know what to say, don’t worry. God has told us…

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11 Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, n 12 for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. s

Romans 10:8b–13 HCSB

On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But we also should be encouraged that despite all of our failings and failures. God is merciful. God gives Jonah another opportunity. Maybe you feel like you are too far gone, that you are too big of a mess up. Maybe you think of yourself a bit like Gideon “Weakest in the clan of Manasseh and the youngest of the family.” I am going to be incredibly clear with you,

And in this verse is almost the complete opposite of 1:1-3a.

You are never too far gone. “For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“I give them eternal life, and they will ne

You are not useless in the Kingdom of God. “Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing— to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence.”

I am sure Jonah felt that way, but God, demonstrating his abundant mercy and love, recommissions this prophet. And, through our Lord and Savior, we also have been commissioned to go and preach the good news of the gospel so that they may hear and believe.

I am sure Jonah felt that way, but God, demonstrating his abundant mercy and love, recommissions this prophet.

This possibly is the

And in this verse we see the complete opposite of 1:1-3a. Instead of running away, Jonah has been humbled and obeys. He goes to Nineveh, this extremely large and great city and he preaches to the people. We almost see Jonah being reborn, so to speak. He seems to be a new man.

To these vile and evil and wicked and dangerous people. <CG: Are there a people group that we are avoiding because we are timid and scared? Co-workers, a specific family member, a certain friend?>

Now we have looked at the vileness of the Ninevites before. But I want us to get a good image of where Jonah is going. The prophet Nahum describes Nineveh as a city that is bloody, full of lies and plunder, they are killers, they heap corpses without end, they are sexually immoral people, and perform witchcraft.

We are starting to see some recurring themes now coming into view. Tarshish would be a large city as well. Nineveh is extremely large- great (1:2;,4,12,17) | 3 days walk = 3 days in a fish.

3b- We see some recurring themes now coming into view. Tarshish would be a large city as well. Nineveh is extremely large- great (1:2;,4,12,17) | 3 days walk = 3 days in a fish.

But we also know that the Assyrians are the enemies of Israel. Now, that may not shock some of you as Israel had many enemies. So who cares if they have one more, but so great is their animosity for this nation that you could say they were number one enemy. They were at the top of their hate list.

So this is what Jonah is walking into. A city that he hates, a city that likewise hates him. He is a complete stranger and nobody to them. They are a bunch of wicked and murderous people. And Jonah is going into this city, proclaiming that destruction will come upon them in 40 days.

We are starting to see some recurring themes now coming into view. Tarshish would be a large city as well. Nineveh is extremely large- great (1:2;,4,12,17) | 3 days walk = 3 days in a fish.

Now that is not the extent of his message, but it truly isn’t the most positive message now is it? He proclaims to them that unless they repent, God is going to bring destruction to this city. He goes as a stranger preaching repentance and judgment. That is not typically the message that you hear nowadays now is it?

But if you look through the writings of the prophets that is the message that they gave. In fact, that is what they were commanded by God to do for the nations around them.

Gather the people – men, women, and children, as well as the resident foreigners in your villages – so they may hear and thus learn about and fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the words of this law. 13 Then their children, who have not known this law, will also hear about and learn to fear the Lord your God for as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess” ().

1 “Arise! Shine! For your light arrives! The splendor of the Lord shines on you! 2 For, look, darkness covers the earth and deep darkness covers the nations, but the Lord shines on you; his splendor appears over you. 3 Nations come to your light, kings to your bright light ().

When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions (, NIV).

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 16

23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Proclaim His salvation from day to day.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Psalm 96

3 Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonderful works among all peoples.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 43

21 The people I formed for Myself

will declare My praise.

And we have a similar call.

John MacArthur Sermon Archive The Worst Missionary

They were to be uniquely a witness nation. In fact, in 1 Chronicles 16–23, we read, “Sing unto the Lord all the earth; show forth from day-to-day His salvation. Declare His glory among the heathen; His wonders among all peoples.” And really that was directed at Israel; they were to be the declaring nation. They were to be the witness people.

In 18 Psalm 49, the Scripture says, “Therefore, I will give thanks unto thee O Lord among the heathen and sing praises under Thy name.” And here the psalmist is saying, “I take the responsibility to speak of you among the pagans who know you not.”

96 Psalm 3 reiterates, “Declare His glory among the heathen. Say among the heathen the Lord reigns. Preach the true God; proclaim His sovereignty, His saving power.”

And in 43 Isaiah 21, God says of Israel, “This people have I formed for Myself, they will show forth My praise, that is their purpose.” They were to be a witness nation.

John MacArthur Sermon Archive The Worst Missionary

4 John 35 that wonderful text, “Look on the fields. They are white, already to harvest.” Or, you think about 9 Matthew 37, 38, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest.”

Or maybe you think about 24 Matthew 14 which says, “The Gospel will be preached to the end of the earth, and then the end will come.” Or 28 Matthew 19, 20, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.”

Or perhaps even 24 Luke 47, “Repentance is to be preached among all nations,” or, 1 Acts 8, “You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses,” or maybe 1 Romans 16, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God and the salvation of everyone that believes.”

And so there goes Jonah, walking this great and enormous city. Three days and, Nineveh is extremely large- great (1:2;,4,12,17).

We are starting to see some recurring themes now coming into view. Tarshish would be a large city as well. Nineveh is extremely large- great (1:2;,4,12,17) | 3 days walk = 3 days in a fish.

4-5- And we begin to see the effectiveness of the gospel proclamation. It is not the same, like i mentioned in the morning as other preachers. We even have another man when we think of a boat and much water, Noah. And yet Noah preaches for 100 years and no one repents. Jonah preaches 1 day and the men of Nineveh believe....God, not Jonah. We see further a contrasting made between Jonah and everyone else around him. They immediately fast and dress themselves in sack cloth and ashes and they repent. Yet not once do we even see this being the case with Jonah. Aside from the forced fast in the fish.

6- Even the king, who has authority and power, repents. What irony! And we are made clear in our minds that this story is not just a happy one, nor a sad one. It is one full of irony. Prophets would preach, accepting God’s call, and no one repented. The people were stubborn and resisted (, , ) But here is almost a universal repentance… and done immediately.

And again, we have think about the only two characters we know of. Because with this much effectiveness, who is the one who should get the credit? We see that Jonah is pretty much failing everywhere and in every occasion. But God’s work is getting done So, who is ultimately to credit for this mass revival? God!

And so

Conclusion:

You see the point is being driven home here.

God’s will will be done. It cannot be thwarted.

God’s will is good and perfect. Even though it may be hard for us to understand it.

God is the one who is doing the work in the person’s lives.

And likewise, we see some truths that speak directly to us.

Our will is limited.

Our plans much of the time are selfish

God does the work and receives the glory, and we are called to obedience. God can use the unlikeliest persons to bring about the salvation of a person.

Last point, if you did not get anything out of the sermon, please get this: God can use the unlikeliest persons to bring about the salvation of a person.

In the end, it is not really about us. We will fade. Like the flowers of the field, here one day and then gone, but God is eternal. As creation proclaims, His glory. so we ought to as well.