8 of the most
gracious words:
Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a
second time…
Jonah 3:1 (NLT)
God speaks to us:
Long ago God spoke many times and in
many ways to our ancestors through the
prophets. And now in these final days, he
has spoken to us through his Son. God
promised everything to the Son as an
inheritance, and through the Son he
created the universe.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (NLT)
The message reissued:
Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh,
and deliver the message I have given you.
V. 2
The message the first time:
Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh.
Announce my judgment against it because
I have seen how wicked its people are.
-Jonah 1:2 (NLT)
Two major problems
1. Out of fear, we don’t “get up
and go.”
Two major problems
1. Out of fear, we don’t “get up
and go.”
2. Out of pride, we are more than
happy to.
Be careful!
Do not judge, or you too will be
judged. For in the same way you
judge others, you will be judged, and
with the measure you use, it will be
measured to you.
-Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV)
God wants us to lovingly share
His truth in our “Ninevehs”:
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: Preach the Word; be
prepared in season and out of season;
correct, rebuke and encourage--with great
patience and careful instruction.
-2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NIV)
When we get a second chance:
This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s
command and went to Nineveh, a city so
large that it took three days to see it
all. On the day Jonah entered the city, he
shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from
now Nineveh will be destroyed!”
-Jonah 3:3-4 (NLT)
An important truth:
God’s offer of salvation is for a
“limited time only!”
Get up, go, and tell!
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority
in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them
to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of
the age.”
-Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
What do we do with this
information?
Most ignore it and believe that…
a) The storm/judgment won’t really come.
What do we do with this
information?
Most ignore it and believe that…
a) The storm/judgment won’t really come.
b) That if it does, it won’t be that bad.
What do we do with this
information?
Most ignore it and believe that…
a) The storm/judgment won’t really come.
b) That if it does, it won’t be that bad.
c) We will be able to either escape it or weather
the storm and rebuild.
The people of
Nineveh believe:
The people of Nineveh believed God’s
message, and from the greatest to the
least, they declared a fast and put on
burlap to show their sorrow.
-Jonah 3:5 (NLT)
The king believes:
When the king of Nineveh heard what
Jonah was saying, he stepped down from
his throne and took off his royal robes. He
dressed himself in burlap and sat on a
heap of ashes. Then the king and his
nobles sent this decree throughout the
city…
-Jonah 3:6-7a (NLT)
Revival happens!
“Revival is nothing else than a new
beginning of obedience to God.”
-Charles Finney
Quotes:
“A revival always includes the conviction of sin on
the part of the church…
In a true revival, Christians are always brought
under such convictions, they see their sins in such
light, that often they find it impossible to
maintain a hope of their acceptance with
God…Backslidden Christians will be brought to
repentance. A revival is nothing else than a new
beginning of obedience to God.”
Quotes:
“Just as in the case of a converted sinner, the first
step is a deep repentance, a breaking down into
the dust before God, with deep humility, and
forsaking of sin…Christians will have their faith
renewed…A revival breaks the power of the world
and of sin over Christians. It brings them to such
vantage ground that they get a fresh impulse
towards heaven. They have a new foretaste of
heaven, and new desire after union with God;
and the charm of the world is broken, and the
power of sin overcome.”
Quotes:
“…When the churches are thus awakened and
reformed, the reformation and salvation of
sinners will follow, going through the same
stages of conviction, repentance, and
reformation. Their hearts will be broken down
and changed.”
Revivals of Religion – Charles Finney (1835)
pages 15-17
40 days to change…
Who knows?!
No one, not even the animals from your herds
and flocks, may eat or drink anything at
all. People and animals alike must wear garments
of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly
to God. They must turn from their evil ways and
stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps
even yet God will change his mind and hold back
his fierce anger from destroying us.
-Jonah 3:7b-9 (NLT)
A promise from
the heart of God:
“…if my people, who are called by my
name, will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their
wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven
and will forgive their sin and will heal their
land.”
-2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
God “repents”:
When God saw what they had done
and how they had put a stop to their
evil ways, he changed his mind and
did not carry out the destruction he
had threatened.
-Jonah 3:10
(NLT)
God has always
wanted to save:
The Lord is not slow in keeping his
promise, as some understand
slowness. He is patient with you, not
wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance.
-2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
Christ came to save,
not to condemn:
For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. For God
did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the
world through him.
-John 3:16-17 (NIV)
Be thankful that our God is…
“…compassionate and gracious, slow
to anger, abounding in love.”
-Psalm 103:8
Repentance is connected to action:
Each of you must put off falsehood and
speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are
all members of one body. “In your anger
do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down
while you are still angry, and do not give
the devil a foothold. He who has been
stealing must steal no longer, but must
work, doing something useful with his own
hands, that he may have something to
share with those in need.
Repentance is connected to action:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of
your mouths, but only what is helpful for building
others up according to their needs, that it may
benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the
Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption. Get rid of all
bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander,
along with every form of malice. Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each
other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:25ff
40 days, and…
“For all we know, we are on day 39
and in the 24th hour!”
…ARE YOU HEEDING THE WARNING…
…RESPONDING TO THE CALL…
…WILLING TO BOLDLY SHARE IT WITH
OTHERS?!