God's Heart
Jonah 3:1-10
1Then the word of the Lordcame to Jonah a second time: 2“Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 3Jonah obeyed the word of the Lordand went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” 10When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
The people of Nineveh, just like the sailors, took the words of imminent divine judgement seriously.
“They believed in God”
Called a fast and put on sackcloths and ashes
a sign of repentance
a sign of surrender
a sign of acknowledgement
4. Is the need information or motivation?
What will move us or our time to call out to God?
“Sometimes It Takes A Mountain”
I faced a mountain,
That I never faced before
That's why I'm calling on the Lord
I know it's been awhile,
But Lord please hear my prayer
I need you like I never have before.
Chorus:
Sometimes it takes a mountain
Sometimes a troubled sea
Sometimes it takes a desert
To get a hold of me
Your Love is so much stronger
Then whatever troubles me
Sometimes it takes a mountain
To trust you and believe
Forgive me, Jesus
I thought I could control
Whatever life would throw my way
But this I will admit
Has brought me to my knees
I need you Lord and I'm not ashamed to say
(Repeat chorus)
*Used by permission CCLI#640050
TODAY'S PREACHER
Randy Reese is Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC