Please Wake Up!

Jonah was one of the worst leaders in the Bible. Growing up, I thought Jonah was a hero of the faith. Yes, he ran away from God, but he repented and did what he was supposed to do, saving the people of Nineveh.

​When you read the Biblical story, however, it is tough to see Jonah as a hero. As a prophet, he heard directly from God, but Jonah rejected God’s commands multiple times and became furious with God because of His mercy. Despite Jonah’s failure as a hero or as a leader, there is still much for us to learn.

One writer put it this way, “The story of Jonah holds up a mirror to the one who reads it. In Jonah we see the worst parts of our own character magnified, which should generate humility and gratitude that God would love His enemies, and put up with Jonah in all of us.”

So, when God called him to go and preach to the city of Nineveh, Jonah was outraged. Instead of obeying, he makes a run for it. Do we act like that? What causes us to act like that? God wants us to obey what He asks us to do.

What we can learn from Jonah is what not to do! When God speaks, we should go. We should say yes and go for it. When we do what God asks us to do, we will see results of His power in others’ lives. For example, when Jonah preached to them, this is what happened. The people of Nineveh believed God's message, from the greatest to the least, and they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. 

When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes and dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. And everyone prayed earnestly to God. And when God saw what they had done, how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

This is a stunning turnaround. An entire city filled with thousands of people turned to God, and a revival took place, and the judgment of God was turned away. 

It just shows us that no one is beyond the reach of God. We need to be a part of God’s movement. 

Make Every Day Count!

watch sermon

Sermon notes