Revival According to Jonah

Imagine if Jonah went to Nineveh sharing a purpose-driven or seeker-sensitive gospel message. Would the message be the same as the one recorded in Jonah Chapter 3? Would Nineveh repent of their wickedness...from the crowds to the king?

Pastor - teacher Jamey Day of Grace Fellowship unfolds God's message delivered by Jonah to the Ninevites. Inside this account of God's sovereignty and mercy, His message is delivered boldly by Jonah, only after Jonah's rebellion against God is dealt with in the belly of the great fish. Jonah goes to Ninevah with his personal experience of God's mercy, and sovereignty, bringing God's message boldly as a man sent by God. The greatest theme of this account is:

The divine will of God will be accomplished.

Pastor Day describes how Jonah's mission to Nineveh reflects the elements of true revival:

1. True revival occurs only by God's sovereignty
2. True revival occurs by God's mercy
3. God's plan for revival is God's message delivered by God's man. Not a message derived from felt needs, marketing gimmicks or demographic surveys.

Pastor Day comments as to why there is a current trend to emphasis relationship building with the community at large and tone down, soften the Gospel:

1. The Christian Community has lost it's testimony by looking too much like the world. The church feels it has to build respect that has been lost to unholy living.
2. Political correctness exerts it's influence by saying "Don't offend anyone, don't talk about sin, just smile and say God loves you."

Jonah wasn't about to alter God's message for the sake of the felt needs of the hearers in Nineveh. He knew God's willingness to judge, and he experienced God's willingness to be merciful. Jonah's experience produced bold obedience to the command of God to go and preach to Nineveh only eight words:

"Yet forty days Nineveh shall be overthrown."

Would your pastor have the boldness and courage to deliver such a message to your congregation, let alone a city of wickedness?

Listen to Pastor Day's message here, God's Recipe for True Revival.