How to Change a City

How To Change a City?

Jonah 3:5-10

Introduction:

1. The book of Jonah is a story about a man, a city, and a God these three main lessons are often overshadowed by the great fish.

2. The characters could be described in the following ways:

a. Jonah — The reluctant prophet.

b. Nineveh — The wicked city.

c. God — The loving Father.

3. The book of Jonah is not spectacular simply because of the great fish, but by something even greater — the change of heart of an entire city!

4. How did this city change, and how can we change our city for the better?

Jonah 3

New International Version

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

I. Don’t Run from Hard Duty

A. Jonah Flees the Lord

(Jonah 1:1-3). Jonah 1:1- New International Version

Jonah Flees From the Lord

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

B. It is not always easy to be the messenger of God’s word.

C. It could not have been easy for Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and cry out against its wicked practices.

II. Be Confident with The Sign God Provides

A. (Matthew 12:38-41). Matthew 12:38-41 NIV

The Sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.

B. The sign of Jonah was his experience with the fish...it was enough. Critical Crisis

C. (John 20:30-31).

John 20:30-31

New International Version

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

D. We have the sign of the resurrection today...it too is enough.

III. Preach the Word of God

A. (Jonah 3:2).

Jonah 3

New International Version

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

B. The power to transform lives from sinners into saints is in the gospel.

C. (Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:1-4).

Don’t Be Ashamed

Romans 1:16

New International Version

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

It’s All About Jesus

1 Peter 4:11

New International Version

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Salvation comes from the

2 Timothy 4:1-4

New International Version

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

IV. Don’t Be Afraid Of A Confrontational Message

A. (Jonah 3:4, 9).

B. There is a place for reproving and rebuking as well as exhorting (2 Timothy 4:2).

C. Wisdom needs to be used with our words (Colossians 4:5-6; Jude 22-23).

V. Feel the Urgency Of The Task

A. (Jonah 3:2-4 Jonah 3

New International Version

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”).

B. Souls are dying...too much time has been wasted already (Colossians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:34).

Colossians 4:5

New International Version

5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

1 Corinthians 15:34

New International Version

34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

C. Compel them to listen (Luke 14:23).

Luke 14:23

New International Version

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

Conclusion: 1. The responsibility of Nineveh was to repent; the responsibility of judgment belonged to God; the responsibility of Jonah (like our responsibility today) is to obey, go and do what God commands us to do.