The Greatest Revival Ever
When we last left Jonah he was praying. At the end of his prayer the Bible says:
Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land. Jonah 2:10 (NASB)
What would you do if you were Jonah at this point? His life had been spared. No longer was he in the belly of the great fish. Now he was standing on solid ground again. God had come through.
The first thing I think I would do would be to get cleaned up. After being in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights I doubt that you would look or smell very good. But the Bible doesn't go into those details does it? Instead it says:
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." Jonah 3:2 (NASB)
Go ahead and circle the words "the second time". It is good that God gave Jonah a second chance isn't it? I like it when someone gives you a second chance. I like it when you have one more try. I have heard people say that God is a God of second chances - and for the most part that is true isn't it. In the story of Jonah - he is given a second chance. In the story of the prodigal son - he is given a second chance also. Peter after he denied Jesus three times - is given a second chance too. I like it when that happens.
But let me throw a word of caution in here:
God does not always give second chances. Sure - sometimes He does - many times He does - but not always. Do you remember the warning we have in the Bible which says:
"Remember Lot's wife." Luke 17:32 (NASB)
Do you recall that Lot and his family were told to leave Sodom because God was going to destroy that place? Lot was told, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away."
As they were fleeing Lot's wife looked back and she was turned into a pillar of salt. There was no second chance in that situation. You see God's has mercy on who He chooses to have mercy on. And He will give second chances to those He chooses to give second chances. That is why God is God. But I always like it when God grants a second chance. And here is a truth:
Jonah's Disobedience Hasn't Canceled God's Call
Nineveh still needs a messenger. The word of God still needs to be preached there. So Jonah is offered a second chance - what does he do?
"So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD." Jonah 3:3a (NASB)
At this point there is no debate. There is no argument. There is no heading in the wrong direction. There is no disobedience. At this point Jonah obeys God. Today I want to talk about obedience. Point one:
1. Obedience To God Is ALWAYS IMPORTANT
The Bible tells us:
"Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22 (NASB)
The Contemporary English Version says it this way:
"Does the LORD really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn't want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him."
1 Samuel 15:22 (CEV)
You know - most of the problems in our lives would be gone if we simply obeyed God's word. We would not be aboard the ship of despair if we were obedient. We would not be tossed by the wind and the waves of this world if we simply followed God's leading. We would not find ourselves in a whale of problem if we simply did what God wants us to do. But we are a lot like Jonah in the fact that sometimes we would rather disobey.
I want you to note here though - this is the first and only time in the book of Jonah where he obeys the Lord. He got off up off the beach, cleaned himself off, and headed for Nineveh. Good for him. Before and after this episode, Jonah has a stinky attitude, but at this point he obeys God’s call. God gives Jonah a second chance to do what he should have done the first time and this time Jonah is successful.
We should always try to obey God. He is looking out for our good. The Bible says:
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'
Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB)
He wants us to succeed. God has a plan and purpose for this for world and us. In obeying God we are working with Him and not against Him. It is always important to follow God's will for our lives and to obey Him.
Point two:
2. Obedience To God Is NOT ALWAYS EASY
So Jonah sets out for Nineveh. Each step that he takes toward Nineveh sets him on a collision course between his prejudice and the unlimited love of God. Jonah does not like the people of Nineveh. He does not think that God should be involved with Nineveh - and for good reason. Nineveh was a city given over to greed, immorality, and bloodthirsty violence. They were known for their cruelty. They didn’t believe in God. They didn’t know God. They didn't worship God. They worshiped idols. Jonah thought they were not worthy of salvation. They are not worthy of redemption. They are not worthy of God's attention at all.
But God has called him to go and nowhere did God ask Jonah his opinion. God asks Jonah for his obedience not his opinion. For Jonah his obedience in this matter was not easy. You see his attitude stunk. He did not want to go to Nineveh - yet he would.
But here is another reason that it was not easy for Jonah to obey God:
Nineveh was a big city, very big--it took three days to walk across it.
Jonah 3:3b (MSG)
I can almost hear Jonah cry out, "Three days! You want me to walk across the city for three days? Lord, I've got other things to do with my time. I need to plan my garden. I need to watch the Super Bowl. I need to go fishing. I don't think I can give You three days."
I can almost hear God say, "Speaking of fishing - Jonah how long were you in the belly of the fish?"
Jonah: "Uh, three days and three nights."
God: "Jonah - what would you rather be doing, walking across Nineveh for three days - or spend some more time in a fish?'
This leads to an important point doesn't it. You don’t have to always like what you are called to do - but you need to do it anyway. You don’t have love Nineveh, but you do need to obey God. Following God is not always easy - but it is important.
For Jonah obedience to God is not easy - but....
3. Obedience To God Is SIMPLE
All Jonah has to do is do what God asked him to do. That's pretty simple - isn't it? What did God ask Jonah to do? Go to Nineveh - preach to them the message God tells him to preach. Jonah did not even have to prepare a sermon. He didn't have to spend long hours in his study preparing his homily. He did not have to look through concordances and Bible dictionaries. He didn't have to come up any sermon structure or outline. God was going to give him a message.
What was the message? Look at verse four.
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."
Jonah 3:4 (NASB)
The Message Bible puts it this way:
"In forty days Nineveh will be smashed." Jonah 3:4 (MSG)
Folks that was the complete message God gave Jonah. "In forty days Nineveh will be smashed."
To be honest to you - I’ve never preached a sermon that short in my life. How simple can it be?
“Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown. In forty days destruction will overtake Nineveh. Forty more days and Nineveh will be demolished! In forty days Nineveh will be smashed. Forty days from now, Nineveh watch out - destruction!"
That is a pretty depressing message if you ask me. There was none of this “God loves Nineveh” stuff at all. It was a message of impending judgment and nothing more - sent by God through one man - Jonah.
Can you imagine how it must have been?
Jonah was crying out: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” (He’s not from around here, you know.) "Forty more days and Nineveh will be demolished!" (He’s got a strange accent.)
In forty days Nineveh will be smashed. (He smells kind of fishy - don't you think?) But they listened. But they hear him. But they pay attention. You wouldn’t think it would have much chance of success. But it did! It works. God sends Jonah - they listen - how simple could it be?
For you see:
4. Obedience To God PRODUCES FANTASTIC RESULTS
Look at the results of Jonah' preaching:
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." 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. 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. 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." Jonah 3:4-9 (NASB)
Notice what happened when Jonah preached to the Ninevites:
A. They believed God
B. They called for a fast
C. They put on sackcloth
Notice that the scripture doesn’t say "they believed Jonah". It says they believed GOD. Jonah was just the messenger - but it was God's message.
When did all this happen? On the first day of the three day journey. It seems that as soon as Jonah started preaching - people started responding. WOW! There has never been anything like this in history. Billy Sunday never saw anything like this. D. L. Moody never saw anything like this. Billy Graham never saw anything like this. This truly was the work of God. The minute Jonah opens his mouth - people start to respond. But notice what happens when the message reaches the king of Nineveh.
A. The king stood up - a sign of his serious intent
B. The king removed his royal robes - a sign of humility
C. The king covered himself with sackcloth - a sign of mourning
D. The king and sat in the ashes - a sign of repentance
The king of Nineveh gets it. He knows they are guilty. He knows they should be punished. He knows that Almighty God has every right to destroy them. But he hopes that the mercy of God will spare them. He says:
"Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish." Jonah 3:9 (NASB)
At this point the king's only hope is in the mercy of God. Nowhere in the Bible can we find that the king of Nineveh knew any of the Hebrew scripture - but Isaiah chapter fifty-five verses six and seven seem to fit the situation perfectly.
Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7 (NASB)
The whole city repented. They all believed in God. Think about that. A whole pagan city believed in God. The whole city believed God - everyone believed God. Every blue collar worker as well as every white collar worker. Everyone believed God. We’ve never seen or heard of anything like that.
It’s like saying . . .
Everyone in Topeka believed in God.
Everyone in Chicago repented.
Everyone in L.A. became a Christian.
It's hard to believe - yet it's true.
The greatest revival in history happened because of a one-sentence sermon preached by a prophet who didn’t even want to be there. He was a massager who was hoping that Nineveh would be destroyed. He was a massager who hated the people he was preaching to. Yet God was able to use him because of his obedience. You see obedience to God brings fantastic results.
But also:
5. Obedience To God MAKES GOD SMILE
Look at what happens in verse ten:
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. Jonah 3:10 (NASB)
Folks here is a fact:
You never know what God will do.
God saves people we would never save.
You never know who God will touch next. Nineveh was ripe for revival. They just didn’t know it. But God did.
Three days before Jonah showed up - it was business as usual in Nineveh. Two days before - the same thing. One day before - no one had an inkling what was about to happen. And on that very day of revival no-one knew what was about to happen. That is - except God.
You see God always intendeds to show mercy when people turn toward Him and away from their evil ways. God is always one who will accept you if you truly repent and seek Him. That is why the Bible says:
Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7 (NASB)
How about you? Are you ready to turn to God? Are you ready to obey Him?
