“And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said; “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk.
Jonah had but one prediction. He proclaimed that message on every street corner. He did not decorate the message; he did not apologize for it. It did not seem possible that he would make a dent in this city known for its savagery, cruelty, and hatred for Jews, but he preached anyway. Under God’s power, this preaching produced the greatest harvest of souls anywhere in the Bible. This was one man, no PA system, without any television or radio program.
PRINCIPLE:
One man or woman plus God can do a mighty work.
APPLICATION:
One man plus God can turn a whole city to God. God will use an unknown, unheard of, unsung person if he or she yields to God.
It is interesting to note that though Ninveh was a great city of three days’ journey,the people responded to the message(the city will be overthrown in 40 days) of Jonah delivered on his first day’s journey itself.Jonah himself didn’t expect such a marvelous & total response.
He did only what God has asked him to do.God worked in the hearts of the people who heard the message & they believed on God.The entire city has repented.It is very exciting & encouraging.Will God do such things in our cities today?
After stating that God worked in the hearts of the people who heard the message & they believed on God, Alexander asks “will God do such in our cities today?”
The is no better way for the Church to demonstrate their love for their neighbors, than through a sincere desire for the truth of God to be revealed to our neighbors, and passionate obedience to the Lord’s commandment to Love your neighbor as yourself.
When the Church becomes consumed with this commission then God will grant us the desires of our heart, and other people of the world, as at this time in the city of Nineveh, will be inspired to seek this truth, and be saved and transform into children of God.
READ THIS MODIFICATION OF MY EARLIER COMMENTARY ABOVE
After stating that God worked in the hearts of the people who heard the message & they believed on God, Alexander asks “will God do such in our cities today?”
I feel convinced that He will, but we His people are to play a role. The Church needs to demonstrate their love for their neighbors, through a sincere desire for the truth of God, to be revealed to our them, and through an attitude of passionate obedience to our Lord’s commandment to Love your neighbor as yourself. i believe if we are not so inclined then we need to seek the Lord for our own transformation and a renewed mind (read Romans 12), remember this is a part of the greatest commandment as our Lord declared in Matt 22: 36 – 40.
When the Church becomes consumed with this commission then the lost, will be inspired to seek this truth, and God will sanctify them too fulfilling the desires of the Lords heart expressed with us His Church to the joy of our neighbors as they are saved and are transformed into children of God.