Resurrection and Mission

Because of this, his heart was not shaped by the gospel and he flees when he is told to go to Nineveh because he did not want God to spare this great wicked nation.

Last week we say that Jonah was saved by God through a great fish. Does not matter what kind of fish but rather that the fish was used by God for a time and season.

While Jonah was in the fish, he was able to see the grace and mercy of God and repents. He lifts up prayer and praise to God.

This is when we see Jonah’s heart truly being transformed by the gospel.

That brings us to week three. Let’s dive into Jonah 3.

Slide Scripture

Jonah 3:1–10 ESV

1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against 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, three days’ journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Living Missional

Costly Missions

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Costly Missions

The HH-3F settled on its pad like a mighty bird returning from an exhausting flight. Though noisy, the landing was beautiful.

The giant helicopter, weighing approximately sixteen thousand pounds, carrying four thousand additional pounds of fuel, had safely borne her crew back from a hazardous, attempted-rescue mission at sea. For three hours, six courageous and highly skilled men had penetrated the fog, searching for a fishing vessel. Its captain had contacted the Coast Guard station at Saint Petersburg, Florida, reporting that a member of his crew had sustained a broken leg and needed medical attention.

Back on the ground, occupants of the aircraft gracefully and carefully disembarked. There were brief comments and admiring gestures between air and ground crews. The last man to leave the craft was the flight surgeon, dressed in fire-resistant gear topped off with an extraordinary white helmet.

At the first opportunity, I asked, “How did it go, Son?”

“Not too well,” he replied. “The fog was too dense.… They would not allow us to approach, let alone make a rescue.”

Memory of this dramatic and daring adventure brings into focus the incalculable, persistent love of God, who sent His Son on the greatest of all search and rescue missions.

From the beginning of recorded history, good people in the context of time and in proportion to their abilities have endeavored to save one another from despair and destruction.

Why should we live on mission

Point Slide

Why we are called to live on mission

In today’s study, I want look at the effects of living on mission. We get a clear picture of what can happen when we live on mission for God.

Jonah is a great example. This is because he is, still believe it or not, bitter and not excited about fulfilling God’s call to him right now in going to Nineveh and preaching to them.

How our mission affects others

Through Jonah, we will see how his mission or completing it shapes not only a city but a nation. For at least a time.

There are times when we to do not want to do as God commands us but we often to not think about who could possibly be missing out on the gospel of Christ.

Let us pick up in Jonah 3:1.

Slide Scripture

Jonah 3:1–2 ESV

1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.”

Jonah

God renews Jonah’s mission

God calls upon Jonah a second time

God chooses to still use Jonah and again calls him to “Arise and go to Nineveh.”

Jonah finally obeys God’s command and we get to witness the greatest miracle in the entire book take place, the repentance or turning of an entire nation.

God repeats his command as he said in .

This text should bring thanksgiving to the heart of every believer who has been given another opportunity to do what God requires.

Now we get to see Jonah go and preach or call out the message of God.

Almost like God just gave him marching orders.

Notice, God does not say what to preach but rather to remind Jonah that now that he has been saved by the mercy and grace of God, he is to continue on his original mission.

Pick up in Verse 3.

Slide Scripture

JOnah 3:3-

Jonah 3:3–4 ESV

3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

Short Sermon

Journey to Nineveh

Now the journey for Jonah would have been about 500 miles. This would have possibly taken around 1 month if he traveled by camel or donkey.

If Jonah walked on foot, the journey would have taken longer.

Arrival in Nineveh

Once Jonah arrived in Nineveh, it was a 3 day event of preaching throughout the entire city.

Nineveh was a huge city. It was upwards of 60miles in size. That is a massive plot of land.

The walls were 3 stories tall. They were so wide that you could drive 3 chariots side by side around the entire wall.

The towers were around 12 stories tall. They could see for miles.

It took about 1.2 million people for 8 years to complete the city walls and everything else inside or around it.

God’s message through Jonah

Jonah’s arrival was probably a dramatic one. His clothing was no doubt different or foreign to the Ninevites.

Jonah, although his message was short and brief, was preached many times.

Jonah, having experienced the grace and mercy of God, has gone to Nineveh and mostly likely delivered this message difficult.

Remember, Jonah does not wish the city to repent. He probably does not elaborate on the message. He just says it and moves on.

Jonah delivers this message in a graceless manner even though he himself is living in the shadow of an experience of grace.

Now before we see the response of the people, I want to bring up a verse that I found interesting.

I find this verse interesting because it is actually bing put to the test in the next couple of verses.

I bring this verse in to show you the character of God and how he always upholds his word.

Slide Scripture

Jeremiah 18:7–8 ESV

7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.

Scripture Slide

Let’s keep reading and see how God upholds his word that He gives in the verse we just read.

Scripture Slide

Jonah 3:5 ESV

5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

Response of the people

How would we respond today to Jonah’s message?

Point Slide

How would you have responded to Jonah’s message?

The Ninevites Response

The Ninevites respond. They respond in a way that most people would not have thought. Through their response, they do three things.

Slide Point

They believe, declare, and put on.

Believed

We would think that the people would respond with laughter and probably throw Jonah into prison. But that is not what we witness.

Instead, we see that they Believe. They are transformed. Their hearts get moved by the Holy Spirit.

shows this, it says,

Slide Scripture

Luke 11:32 ESV

32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Declared

They declare by calling for a fast. Not just the majority but everyone.

From the poorest to the richest, everyone fasted.

Slide Point

Fasting is known for having affliction of the soul or for intense mourning of the heart.

The Ninevites take what Jonah said extremely seriously.

Put on

Believed in God

They also put on sackcloth.

Slide Scripture

An uncomfortable material worn in times of grieving or to show repentance of sin.

Usually a type of garment made from goat hair.

Luke 11:32 ESV

32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

The Ninevites not only fast but wish to show their deep mourning or repentance in all aspects of their life so they wear sackcloth as clothes.

A fast is declared

Matthew 12:41 ESV

41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Their repentance actually goes a step further.

4. A fast is declared

Pick up in verse 6.

Slide Scripture

Jonah 3:6–9 ESV

6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

Jonah 3:

Response of the King

A humble King

The king rises from his throne and humbles himself with the common people. He too put on sackcloth as a sign of mourning or repentance.

He does something though that no one else has done. He sit in ashes.

This is a sign of deep humiliation. He who was the highest in the empire took the lowest position.

Some today would say this is a very Christ like thing to do.

Official Decree - Sackcloth

We then see the king take Jonah’s message and makes the response to it part of an official government policy. They wear sackcloth, plead with God, and turn from evil and violence.

I find it funny that the animals are also included in partaking in the fast and wearing of sackcloth.

The entire city is serious about repenting and hoping God will forgive them.

Wickedness made aware

We see that the wickedness that is identified inJonah 1:2 now becomes a point of self-awareness on the part of the Ninevites.

Salvation is from the Lord

Not only that but the king realized that Salvation comes from the Lord as Jonah had cried out in his prayer to God in .

The king also ends his speech with a question. It is a valid question.

Their was hope but no guarantee that God would indeed relent and turn from his fierce anger and spare Nineveh.

Pick up in verse 10 and lets read God’s response.

Scripture Slide

Jonah 3:10 ESV

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

God’s response

God’s compassionate Heart

God’s grace and mercy are shown for Nineveh. God pulls back his hand of judgment.

God’s compassionate heart is always sensitive to those who cry out for mercy.

Here, one finds evidence that God wishes not for destruction of the sinner but for redemption and reconciliation of all hi creation.

Only through God’s miraculous intervention in the person of Jesus Christ is there any hope.

The story of Jonah and Nineveh is the story of every true believer.

Application

Jonah’s mission carried out

Jonah carried out his mission that God had given him. Because of it, we witness 2 million people repenting and coming to know God.

They are saved by the grace and mercy of God.

What would have happened to the city if Jonah did not go?

Would their hearts have been moved and transformed?

Would they have been destroyed?

See, even thought Jonah was not fond of the mission pr call that God was giving him, it brought glory to God’s name by saving 2 million people.

Jonah’s actions had an amazingly huge ripple effect.

Our mission

Think about our mission.

God is always calling us to do something.

Sometimes it might be praying with a random stranger.

Sometimes it could be sharing the gospel with your friends or inviting your close friends to church.

Who knows what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do.

But are you someone who listens to the Holy Spirit or do you just shrug it off and say, “Nah, I do not feel like it right now.”

Who are we affecting by living on mission?

You are going to be affecting people wether you follow God’s call on your life or not.

No matter what you do, there will be an outcome.

But if you do choose to follow God’s call and live on mission, the outcome is for sure going to be bringing glory to God’s name.

It is going to be the possibility of someone coming to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Before you are quick to shoot down the call or mission that God has placed on your heart, first think about who it might affect and in what ways.

We saw Jonah answer the call and in turn save 2 million people.

What will you do when God calls you?

Let’s pray.

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