Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• What is the most discouraging thing we face as Christians?
• When people are indifference or apathetic to God
• It is the hardest thing for a preacher to see in church
• When people are not concerned for God and His word
• Maybe society is changing
• Example of Archbishop
• Example of open air preacher
• Not so much indifference but a growing hostility to God
• What was it like for Jonah?
• Being called to a great city totally opposed to God
• God had done a great work in Jonah
• We assume he went alone
• He was called to a violent and wicked people
• A genuine but not perfect repentance in Jonah
• Was he expecting them to be utterly opposed or was he expecting God to do a great work in them (4:2)
• We are to expect great things from God - Rom 11
• Is not God able to turn the tide today
• Overview
• Divinely inspired: it affected every strata of society

Divinely Inspired

• It affected every strata of society
• The people believed God (v5)
• They proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth
• They were gripped by the message
• Were they seeking the true and living God - no, they had many other gods
• There is power and authority in the message
• The king believed God (v6)
• He covered himself in sackcloth and proclaimed a decree
• These people are crying out to God because of the wickedness of their lives
• People are not to despise the poor - God has chosen them
• God does not choose the wise and the prudent, but babes, the poor and the foolish
• The king's decree - no force (he was a despot king)
• How do we explain these things?
• Jonah's talent?
• The power of God
• Acts 11:18

Some Unusual Occurrences

The King Wearing Sackcloth

• Can you imagine the Queen taking off her royal clothes and sitting in sackcloth?
• This king was serious
• He was setting an example to the people
• Sometimes God does work in high places
• Example of King Darius
• God is not bound to do this every time
• We should pray for those in authority over us that they would come to know Jesus

A Fast Among the Animals

• It seems very strange
• Is it not an acknowledgment that when judgement comes - it comes upon all (both the innocent and guilty)
• The same is true of blessing
• God was concerned for the animals (4:11)
• We should not expect God to work in the way we expect

A Genuine Work of God

• Was this real?
• Have you been at a rally?
• This religious revival did not last - 100 years later Assyria came and attacked God's people
• God saw their works and that they had turned away from evil - 3:10
• Jesus said the men of Nineveh would rise up - they repented at the preaching of Jonah
• There was no assumption of forgiveness (v9)
• A dread realisation of all they have done (v8)
• 'We are totally out of sorts, we have totally messed up'
• There was so much violence (amongst themselves as well as their enemies)
• Their physical appearance did not change
• But God saw their deeds and the change in their lives
• What did they say at day 41?
• People today put the gospel off till another day
• The Ninevites did not
• Some people think the message applies to others (and not themselves)
• Not every single person repented but they did repent en masse
• John the Baptist preached repentance
• A sign of repentance is generosity and kindness
• A sign of repentance is honesty and integrity
• A sign of repentance is no further intimidation or abuse of your power but contentment
• A sign of repentance is a change of life and heart
• A change in behaviour because of repentance
• What about today?
• A change in peoples lives with real repentance
• Some changes may take time
• There will be no desires to worship God
• There must be belief and faith in Jesus Christ and there must be repentance from sin
• God had said He would judge Nineveh
• Conditional statements
• If the people will turn to me, I will bless them
• 'If you repent and turn back to Me, I will forgive you'
• The message of the gospel in good news
• If you repent - He will abundantly pardon you

Closing Remarks

• If you are back-slidden Christian - repent and come back to God
• If you do not know God - turn to Him
• God's mercy triumphs over judgement
• God will forgive (if we turn from our wicked ways)
• Where do you stand before God today?
• Let us repent from any sins in our lives
• Come to God today