Steps To Revival

Jonah 1:1-3 Steps to Revival

1. The Revelation of A Plan - Jonah 1:1-3

1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

i. A Power Here - the word of the LORD = God is the source of Revival

ii. A Person Here - came unto Jonah the son of Amittai,

Jonah was an Imperfect Man - Disobedient to God's Call

Jonah was an Impulsive Man - 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD

Jonah was an Impatient Man - Ch 4:1 - 4

iii. A Place Here - 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city,

iv. A Proclamation Here - 2 ....and cry against it;

v. A Purpose Here - for their wickedness is come up before me.

2. The Reservation of A Prophet

3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD

Jonah was :- A Reluctant Prophet = 3 But Jonah

A Rebellious Prophet = from the presence of the LORD,

A Repentent Prophet = 2:1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,

Ex 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 2 Sam7:18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

3. The Restoration of A Penitent 2:10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Lessons learned in the fish's belly

He Learned to Pray -

2:1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,

The indication is that Jonah prayed for three days and three nights - 1: 17.

What caused Jonah to pray ?

(1) The Rod of God 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

(2) The Rescue by God 2: 6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. I prayed ... And God Answered!

(3) The Reconciliation to God 2:4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

Getting out of God's presence was not as he had expected.

(4) The Restoration through God

He Learned to Praise - 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

He Learned to Preach - 3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD.

4. The Revival of A People 3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD

A. Involved A Man -3 So Jonah arose, - Second Chance

B. Involved A Message - 3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown C. Involved A Miracle - 3: 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

D. Involved Mercy - 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

A.God’s Man Is Changed – 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. This time Jonah is not running from the Lord; he is running with the Lord!

B. God’s Message Is Communicated –

3:4 he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. C. God’s Mission Is Completed – 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.