This was what God told Jonah. What did he do? He refused, and thought that he could run away from God. Truthfully, in his heart, Jonah didn't really WANT the city of Ninevah to be saved...after all he was a Jew and they were Gentiles. Everyone viewed the city as completely wicked, so why would he even bother. Sound familiar? This was "pre-Jesus" guys, but how applicable is this today?
It has been laid on my heart for the past week to study the city of Ninevah in the Bible. If you have accepted Jesus as Lord and you at least try to walk with the Lord...I KNOW you have to feel it too. The sin of this nation is moving by leaps and bounds. Selfishness, lying, stealing, murder, adultery, pride, sexual immorality, lack of concern for prayer....The sin of Ninevah was SO great that it was relevant in the heavens. Contrary to what America believes, Christians and non-Christians, SIN IS REAL. Right now, the majority of America, and the majority of Churches are numb to sin. It breaks my heart. They refuse to acknowledge it with fear of being labeled as judgmental. In reality, its passive and cowardly. Well...guess what? We serve a God who TELLS us in scripture to proclaim the gospel- the Great Commission. We cannot fully share the love of Christ with someone without revealing the entire nature of God. What He loves, and what He hates. And God hates sin! As Billy Graham wrote: "We are in an epic drought. We not only seeing basic misunderstanding of the Word of God, there is an absence of God's complete Word."
I'm sure God is aware of the great sins of this nation as well...and we are tempted, as Jonah was, to just turn our backs on the wickedness that surrounds us and claim we have nothing to do with it. It was one of the greatest revivals in the Bible. It wasn't someone telling Ninevah, "Oh its okay, God loves you, you can do what you feel is okay." It was a revival with a message of repentance from their sins. And the city of Ninevah believed. Everyone from the King on down repented and they were forgiven of all of their wickedness. A city that people had lost hope in....just like we are losing hope in America. But you know what the awesome thing is- we won't lose hope in our God, we know not to! A revival CAN happen in America!
I stumbled upon a link that really caught my attention. Of course it was talking about Ninevah. Did you know that the great revival pastor Reinhard Bonnke, from Africa, has now realized (from the Lord a few years ago) that AMERICA is the one in need? Over 72 million people in Africa saved, and he comes to America. He and other great theologians have joined together in an effort to bring revival to this nation.
Read more at the link:http://mobile.wnd.com/2013/08/94-year-old-billy-grahams-warning-for-america/
More than likely I'm going to start a study on this part of scripture, about Ninevah, if anyone would like to join me. Searching now for a good credible study to do. Who is ready to learn what God has in store for us as Christians within a modern-day-Ninevah? I am! We have nothing to fear...God loves and protects his children...and he has a divine purpose for each of us! If not for yourself, do it for your children and the children of others, because the America that we once lived in is fading away.
If you haven't already viewed the video by Toby Mac you can view it here-City on Our Knees It has references in it from Billy Graham about Ninevah. Powerful words to the song when you think of revival in America.
"Through the fog there is hope in the distance, from cathedrals to third world missions,
love will fall to the Earth like a crashing wave....
we could sail across the sea, to a city with one King- a city on our knees."
So the bottom line? Hit your knees. We won't be leaving that spot for a while. :)
-Kay
Scripture and other things to think on:
-“Now the Spirit [of God] expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared. … If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:1-2, 6).
-Paul's words about the Word of God- Paul wrote in connection to the Gospel: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them … so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God … but became futile in their thoughts. … Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:18-21, 24-25).
-Definition of a coward: "Someone who refuses to do the right thing for fear of consequences"
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