2023-02-12 – Jonah & the Church – Pastor Chuck

Pastor Chuck encourages you to read this fascinating book of Jonah in the next 4 days!!  There is so much that we can learn from Jonah as a church.  Some examples:

In Jonah 1: “The Word of the Lord came to Jonah…” and he ran the other way!   In running, he boarded a ship headed in the opposite direction.  But fear marked these sailors – there was great fear on board, because they were hit by a supernatural storm.   They tried to lighten the load, but the “heaviest cargo” on board the ship was a disobedient heart!

In Jonah 2 –  Jonah found himself in the belly of a great fish – for 3 days!  From inside this creature, Jonah cried out “In my distress I cried out to the Lord…” and God rescued him!
A cry of thanks rises up from the Church to the Lord – He has not abandoned us!

In Jonah 3 – God commanded Jonah again, “Go to Nineveh…”  Jonah got a second chance!  When he got to Nineveh – it took 3 days to cross through the city!  Jonah prophesied across the whole city.  His prophesy was just 5 Hebrew words – but, these words released something wonderful, because God had already been preparing them!  Jonah saw a massive revival – of 120,000 people of Nineveh in repentance!

Some additional thoughts – The Church will be spewed into significance, by being spewed in the right direction by God.
God has called the church, but the church said “no”.
Now, He is calling us again – a second chance to obey.   This is the mercy of God.   As God gave Jonah a second chance, He is now giving us a second chance!

DO Not say “No” this time!

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Matthew 28:19-20a

The video that Pastor Chuck shared: Asbury Revival 2023 Testimony