English Service by Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

PEOPLE, PLANTS, ANIMALS AND PRIORITIES.

SERIES: JONAH

TEXT: JONAH 3:10-4:11

 

Love God, serve people and use things is God’s order of priority for us. People are more important to God than things. The song writer William Cowper penned the following song.

God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform,

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill

He treasures up his bright designs and wonders his Sovereign will.

The Prophet Isaiah had this to say about the mysterious ways of the Lord. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher and my thoughts than your thoughts”-Isaiah 55:8-9.

As a child of God, the sooner you reveal this, the better off you will be!

Sometimes the ways of God are hard to stomach. In the passage of the Bible we read today, Jonah watched God work His Sovereign will in the city of Nineveh and Jonah did not like God’s way at all. There are times we don’t agree with God concerning, events in our lives.

But by faith we surrender to His plan and join live in what He is doing!! God is in charge and our duty is to work with Him in all that He does.

Let me therefore preach for some minutes.

THE GREATEST REVIVAL IN HISTORY OF THE WORLD-Jonah 3:10.

  • The Book of Jonah records what may be the greatest revival in the history of the world.
  • The entire city of Nineveh repented of sin and got right with the Living God.
  • The people of Nineveh, from the king nobles, the masses, old and young, men and women, their animals turned to God in prayer and repentance.
  • This revival did not just happen by itself. A few things involved in bringing this dispensation to the people of Nineveh!

A man was involved-Jonah 1:1-3:3.

  • We are given details of Jonah’s call, his disobedience and His restoration.
  • We are told how the Lord used this prophet to bring the word of God to a lost people.
  • God can use even those who have fallen short for His glory!!
  • It is encouraging that if God can use Jonah, God can use you and me too!!

A message was involved-Jonah 3:4

  • Jonah walked into Nineveh with simple eight word message from God.
  • This short message was used by God to prick the heart of the Ninevites and revival followed.
  • The word of God will never return in void, but it will accomplish the purpose for which it is send-Isaiah 55:11.

A miracle was involved-Jonah 3:5-9.

  • The miracle was the fact that a whole town turned to God!!
  • There has been made revivals in the world but this revival in Nineveh is the greatest in the history of the world.
  • Nineveh was a great city over 600,000 people.
  • Nineveh was very wicked city, but all of them were converted and delivered from sin.
  • It is great miracle when revival comes and lives are changed, but it is always a miracle when even one soul hears the gospel and comes to faith in Jesus!-Romans 1:16, John 1:12.

The mercy of God was involved-Jonah 3:10.

  • When the people of Nineveh repented of their sins and turned to Him, God responded to their FAITH and grace.
  • God saved them by grace-Eph. 2:8-9.

THE REACTION IN JONAH TO GOD’S MERCY OVER NINEVEH-Jonah 4:1-5.

  • When God took the message of Jonah and saved the city of Nineveh, Jonah reacted very badly.

The prophet’s anger-4:1.

  • Jonah was “very angry,” he burned with anger.
  • Jonah was mad with God.
  • There are several reasons why Jonah was mad with God.
  1. One of the marks of a true prophet was that his prophecies always came true-Deut. 18:20-22.
  • Jonah had said that the Ninevites would be overthrown. This did not happen-Jonah 3:41
  • Jonah would be looked upon as a false prophet.
  1. His fellow Jews would be angry with him for preaching a message that brought salvation to their enemies. They might see him as a traitor.
  2. Jonah hated the people of Nineveh! Nothing would have pleased him more than seeing them all destroyed by God.
  • How do you react when God blesses the people you hate?-Prov. 16:9, Psa. 37:23.

The prophet’s resentment.

Jonah tells the Lord that this is what he knew would happen.

  • Jonah wanted to fight with God, but our arms are too short to box with God.
  • God does what is best for His children-Romans 8:28; 2nd 4:17.
  • Let our reaction be like that of Job-Job 1:20-22.

The prophet’s request-Jonah 4:3.

  • Jonah wanted God to kill him! He was not the first (Moses-Numbers 11:15, Elijah-1st Kings 19:4).
  • Because Jonah did not get his own way and because he was embarrassed.
  • How many people have killed their testimony and given up serving the Lord because He did not give them what they wanted?
  • Obedience to what God brings our way is better than anything else-1st 15:22; Rom. 12:1-2.

The prophet’s resolve-Jonah 4:4-5.

  • Jonah climbed a hill outside the city, folded his arms and sits down to see what God would do.
  • Many people, even in the church have folded their arms, because God did not do what they expected.
  • Never fight with God concerning His will and His ways.

THE RESPONSE FROM GOD-Jonah 4:6-11.

God responds in love tender mercy towards the prophet-4:6.

  • God extended mercy and grace to Jonah.
  • God by His grace caused a vine to grow over the prophet’s head to give him shelter and comfort.
  • Even when we walk outside the will of God, the Lord will still look after us and bless us-1st Kings 19:5-7, Elijah.
  • Peter and the disciples-John 21:6.

God responds by teaching about priorities.

  • Just as Jonah was beginning to enjoy the vine, God sent a worm to destroy the vine.
  • Jonah gets even angrier! God is teaching Jonah that hell is worse and that is the place that Jonah wishes the people of Nineveh.
  • Many people care more about their own comfort than salvation of people made in the image of God.
  • Before GOD the things that matters the most is the salvation of the souls of men and women.
  • The soul is eternal, things are temporal.
  • During Covid-19, Kenya made “Covid-millionaires. During this drought and famine, there is going to be drought-millionaires, HIV/AIDS millionaires etc. people don’t care about souls of men!!
  • People are going to hell and all we care about is vines and personal comforts-Eph. 6:6; Heb. 13:21; Jonah 2:17
  • This would care about material comforts than lives of people.

CONCLUSION

  • What was your attention this morning?
  • Jonah did not care about the eternal destiny of the people of Nineveh.
  • Jonah cared about own reputation, prejudice.
  • Jonah suffered because he did not care about the will of God.
  • Let us seek to know the will of God and do it.
  • What are your priorities, animals, plants, comfort or people?
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Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

Rev, Dr. Willy Mutiso is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Athiriver. He is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.

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