Notice
three things in the book of Jonah:
I.
THERE IS THE WAITING CITY
A.
It was a city of Sinful Deeds, 1:2
Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
B.
It was a city of Social Destitution, 4:11
Jonah 4:11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
C.
It was a city of Spiritual Darkness, -No church, no preacher, etc.
D.
It was a City of Sovereign Desire, -God had his eyes on Nineveh
II.
THERE IS THE WANTING CHRIST
-l
am so amazed that God wants Nineveh that it provokes me to ask Him three
questions.
A.
God, what do you want with Nineveh?
-l
want the people saved. God did not want Nineveh for what Nineveh
could
do for Him, but for what He would do for them.
B.
God, how bad do you want Nineveh saved?
1.
Bad enough to overlook the fact that they are gentiles
2.
Bad enough to send them a preacher.
3.
Bad enough to send a storm while he is running from God
4.
Bad enough to prepare a whale
5.
Bad enough to spare Jonah
6.
Bad enough to speak the second time
7.
Bad enough to cause Nineveh to repent
8.
Bad enough to hear their prayers
9.
Bad enough to send revival
C.
How far will God go to save sinners?
1.
He went to the Garden of Eden for two people
2.
He had Noah to build an ark for one family
3.
He sent Moses into Egypt for one nation
4.
He sent HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON for the world
5.
He started the church and has kept it going
6.
He calls missionaries and sends them
7.
He causes Pastors to have Mission conferences and then causes people
to give and pray for missions
III.
THERE IS THE WAYWARD CHRISTIAN
I
knew by the time I preached this far, both the people and myself would be
tired so I asked the Lord to give me a key word from each chapter to describe
Jonah. Here is what the Lord gave me.
A.
In chapter 1, we see Jonah's selfishness
B.
In chapter 2, we see Jonah's schooling
C.
In chapter 3, we see Jonah's second chance and success
D.
In chapter 4, we see Jonah is interested in self-comfort, but God is
interested in Souls.
It
is interesting to notice that of everything that happened to Jonah in this
book, none of it happened for Jonah's sake, but for Nineveh's sake.
by
Bro. Stinnett Ballew
