God's Grace and Revival: Lessons from Jonah

Devotional

Day 1: God's Grace Through Imperfection

Jonah's story is a powerful reminder that God's grace can work through our imperfections. Despite Jonah's reluctance and minimal effort, his message led to the repentance of Nineveh. This demonstrates that our failures and reluctance do not limit God's ability to use us for His purposes. We are encouraged to step out in faith, knowing that God can work through us despite our shortcomings. This should give us confidence to share God's love and message, even when we feel inadequate or unworthy. God's plans are not thwarted by our failures; instead, He uses our weaknesses to display His strength and grace. [49:32]

Jonah 3:4-5 (ESV): "Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, 'Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!' And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them."

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt inadequate to share God's message. How can you trust God to work through your imperfections today?

Day 2: The Transformative Power of God's Word

God's word is transformative, even when it challenges us. Jonah's message, though brief and reluctant, led to the repentance of an entire city. This shows that God's word has the power to bring about profound change and transformation. It calls us to a higher purpose and leads us to a life of fulfillment and joy that surpasses our circumstances. Sharing the gospel, even when it feels daunting, can have significant impacts. We are reminded that God's word is ultimately good and transformative, and we should not shy away from sharing it with others. [53:08]

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Reflection: What is one way you can share God's word with someone this week, even if it feels challenging?

Day 3: God's Preparatory Work

God is always at work, preparing hearts and orchestrating events long before we step into the picture. This should give us confidence and encouragement as we engage with our families, communities, and even our own struggles. We are part of a larger divine plan, and our role is to be obedient and trust in God's timing. Knowing that God is already at work can help us approach our tasks with faith and assurance, knowing that we are not alone in our efforts. God's preparatory work is a testament to His sovereignty and His desire to see His plans fulfilled through us. [01:02:20]

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you saw God's preparatory work in action. How can this encourage you to trust in His timing today?

Day 4: Revival in Our Lives and Communities

We are called to believe that God can bring revival not just in our cities and churches, but also in our own lives. This belief should drive us to pray fervently and act in faith, trusting that God is capable of transforming us and those around us. Revival starts with a personal commitment to seek God and allow His Spirit to work within us. As we experience personal revival, we can then influence our communities and churches, spreading the transformative power of God's love and grace. [01:13:26]

Habakkuk 3:2 (ESV): "O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need revival? How can you seek God’s transformative power in that area today?

Day 5: Continual Forward Movement with God

Our journey with God is not about perfection but about continually moving forward with Him. When we fall, we don't start over; we get up and keep moving. This perspective helps us to see our walk with God as a progressive journey rather than a series of failures and restarts. It encourages us to persevere and remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. Our relationship with God is a continuous process of growth and transformation, and we are called to keep moving forward, trusting in His grace and guidance. [01:15:21]

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to move forward in your journey with God, despite past failures?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we reflected on the story of Jonah and the city of Nineveh, drawing parallels to our own lives and communities. Jonah, a reluctant prophet, was called by God to deliver a message to Nineveh, a city known for its wickedness. Despite Jonah's initial resistance and his less-than-enthusiastic sermon, the people of Nineveh repented, demonstrating that God's grace can work through even the most imperfect messengers. This story reminds us that God's plans are not thwarted by our failures or reluctance.

We also discussed the importance of sharing the gospel, even when it feels daunting. God's word, though it may come against us and challenge us, is ultimately good and transformative. Just as Jonah's message led to the repentance of an entire city, our efforts to share God's love can have profound impacts, even if we don't see immediate results.

Moreover, we are reminded that God is always at work, preparing hearts and orchestrating events long before we step into the picture. This should give us confidence and encouragement as we engage with our families, communities, and even our own struggles. God's grace is not limited by our mess; He loves us based on His character, not our worthiness.

Finally, we are called to believe that God can bring revival not just in our cities and churches, but also in our own lives. We must trust that God is who He says He is and that He is capable of transforming us, no matter how many times we fall. Our journey with God is not about perfection but about continually moving forward with Him.

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Key Takeaways

1. God's Grace Through Imperfection: Jonah's reluctant and minimal sermon led to the repentance of Nineveh, showing that God's grace can work through our imperfections. Our failures and reluctance do not limit God's ability to use us for His purposes. This encourages us to step out in faith, knowing that God can work through us despite our shortcomings. [49:32]
2. The Transformative Power of God's Word: God's word, though it may come against us and challenge us, is ultimately good and transformative. It calls us to a higher purpose and leads us to a life of fulfillment and joy that surpasses our circumstances. This is a reminder that sharing the gospel, even when it feels daunting, can have profound impacts. [53:08]
3. God's Preparatory Work: God is always at work, preparing hearts and orchestrating events long before we step into the picture. This should give us confidence and encouragement as we engage with our families, communities, and even our own struggles. We are part of a larger divine plan, and our role is to be obedient and trust in God's timing. [62:20]
4. Revival in Our Lives and Communities: We are called to believe that God can bring revival not just in our cities and churches, but also in our own lives. This belief should drive us to pray fervently and act in faith, trusting that God is capable of transforming us and those around us. [73:26]
5. Continual Forward Movement with God: Our journey with God is not about perfection but about continually moving forward with Him. When we fall, we don't start over; we get up and keep moving. This perspective helps us to see our walk with God as a progressive journey rather than a series of failures and restarts. [01:15:21]
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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:36] - Worship with Your Children
[48:35] - Jonah's Call and Resistance
[49:32] - Jonah's Minimal Sermon
[50:33] - The Surprising Elements of Jonah
[51:01] - God's Second Call to Jonah
[52:06] - God's Word Against Us
[53:08] - Personal Testimony and Transformation
[54:29] - Background on Nineveh
[55:10] - We Are Nineveh
[56:12] - The Consequences of Living Without God
[57:06] - The Goodness of the Gospel
[57:58] - Nineveh's Gradual Decline
[58:53] - Colossians 1:21-22
[59:15] - Personal Reflections on Alienation
[60:39] - God Working Before We Show Up
[62:20] - Jonah's Obedience and Nineveh's Repentance
[63:02] - God's Perfect Timing
[64:29] - Personal Stories of God's Work
[70:51] - Do You Believe God Can Do That?
[73:26] - Revival in Our City and Church
[74:24] - Revival in Our Homes
[75:21] - Revival in You
[76:31] - Pray Differently
[77:30] - Prayer for New Believers
[78:17] - Prayer for Encouragement and Revival

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Jonah 3:1-5 (ESV) — > Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

2. Colossians 1:21-22 (ESV)
> And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.

Observation Questions

What was Jonah's initial reaction to God's call to go to Nineveh, and how did God respond to Jonah's reluctance? ([48:35])
How did the people of Nineveh respond to Jonah's message, and what actions did they take to show their repentance? ([01:01:40])
According to Colossians 1:21-22, what transformation occurs in those who were once alienated and hostile in mind?
What does the sermon suggest about God's ability to work through imperfect messengers like Jonah? ([49:32])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jonah's minimal and reluctant sermon was still effective in leading the people of Nineveh to repentance? ([49:32])
How does the story of Jonah illustrate the concept of God's grace working through human imperfection? ([49:32])
In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's word can be both challenging and transformative? ([52:06])
How does the sermon connect the story of Nineveh's repentance to the idea of revival in our own lives and communities? ([01:13:26])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt reluctant to follow God's call. How did you eventually respond, and what was the outcome? ([48:35])
The people of Nineveh showed their repentance through fasting and wearing sackcloth. What are some modern ways we can demonstrate genuine repentance in our lives? ([01:01:40])
God's word can be challenging but ultimately good and transformative. Can you think of a specific instance where God's word challenged you but led to positive change? ([52:06])
The sermon emphasizes that God is always at work, preparing hearts and orchestrating events. How can this belief give you confidence in sharing your faith with others? ([01:02:20])
Revival is not just for cities and churches but also for our personal lives. What steps can you take to invite God's transformative power into a specific area of your life? ([01:13:26])
The sermon suggests that our journey with God is about continual forward movement, not perfection. How can you apply this perspective to a current struggle or failure in your life? ([01:15:21])
Think of someone in your life who might be like Nineveh, far from God. How can you pray for and engage with them in a way that trusts God's preparatory work? ([01:04:29])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "My failure and my running from Him doesn't change what He wants me to do or plans to do can breathe a little easier On the stage a little bit this morning And that again He reiterates Go to Nineveh This book's not about Jonah As much as it is about this great city God wants to reach." [52:06] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "When you think about people in your life And you think about sharing the gospel with them It's hard to imagine that the gospel would come against somebody Right? You don't want to be mean about it You don't want to be rude about it I want to help us kind of get our heads around the fact That God's word Although it may seem scary Is still good The first point is that God's word is good." [53:51] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Something I always tell my students Over the years Is that you'll share the gospel When you realize that it's actually good That the people you're talking to Don't just need it in a cosmic sense But that their life would be better today And I don't mean that they would have A more comfortable living I mean that their sense of existence Would be better today." [57:06] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God's grace is not limited by your mess This is not You don't have to come here for three weeks And then have a moment with Jesus Now, today It's also not limited by Jonah's mess, is it? Jonah ran far In the opposite direction And yet God brought him there Because this was going to happen Whether he liked it or not Literally Jonah's mess did not limit the grace of God And him moving." [01:12:11] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Do you believe that God can do that in you? I was going to say your life But I want to say specifically you Do you believe God is who he says he is? That could mean That you give your life to him today That could mean that you trust him With a struggle that you have That could mean that you trust him With your progress Even though it feels like You keep falling on your face." [01:15:21] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Jonah is primarily concerned With this great city of Nineveh This book has a surprising prophet A prophet who says no A prophet who runs the other direction A prophet whose heart's not in it It's a surprising people This is the first time this has happened It is a surprising people That God's word goes to A surprising response That we'll read about today From those people A surprising God that reaches His hand in grace To Jonah who runs the opposite direction And a city who wants nothing to do with him a surprising end." [50:33] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I want to propose to you that we are Nineveh here That removed from fidelity to God That removed from walking with God Eventually it will look a lot like that That when left to our own devices People will be people People will devolve and devolve That when left to our own devices Apart from God It's hard to imagine that God would do that It's hard not to see a picture like Nineveh Hurting one another My instinct when I read this Is to separate myself from Nineveh This big, great city Where no one knows their left hand from their right Surely that's not me in the story Yes it is." [55:10] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God's going to do a lot Your ability to communicate Is not going to limit God From doing stuff Your hard heartedness At times is not Going to limit God Doing stuff It is going to limit Your participation Your And the joy you see Like God's still going to do it He wants to do it with you Hear that too I'm fairly confident That long before Jonah Shows up at the shore God was architecting Their salvation That God was at work In this place And it may not look like it Like it looked terrible But I truly believe That Jonah came At the exact right time To be able to walk Into this city." [01:02:20] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God's been working in your life Since before you were born believe God's been working In your life And bringing you here I don't believe You're here by accident God's been making a way Long before You showed up here God's been making a way Long before You invite that person You work with And talk to maybe Once a week to church God's already been Making a way And they may say no A hundred times And that's okay I still believe God's already working want to encourage you To share And invite As though God's Already been working." [01:03:53] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I used to feel like I kept failing Over and over again And every time I failed I felt like I had to start over And someone told me an analogy That really helped me They said Friend, your walk with Jesus Is not a ladder You don't fall up ten feet And when you fall It hurts Your walk with God Is like a road That when you fall down Like if I'm walking with my son August And we're walking somewhere And he falls And hurts his knee I don't say Okay, let's go back to the beginning I say let's go Let's get up We're still going somewhere Friends, there's no wasted time There's no wasted feet You're still going somewhere." [01:15:43] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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