This is the third outline in the Jonah series.
Message Three
LIVING DEDICATEDLY ch.3
In Chapter one we find “THE TRUANT AND TROUBLED PROPHET” living defiantly
In Chapter two we find “THE TRUSTING AND TESTIFYING PROPHET” living dependently.
In chapter three we find the “THE SERVING AND SUCCESSFUL PROPHET” Living dedicatedly
I. The Renewed Commission,
A. It was Divine = Jonah 3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Again Jonah’s orders came from God.
B. It was Directive = Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. God left no doubt about His purpose in Jonah going to Nineveh. God had not changed His mind. After Jonah had repented God came a second time with the same command. The second command does not change until we have accomplished the first. Jonah would be commanded to preach nowhere else until he had preached in Nineveh.
II. The Ready Compliance, Jonah 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. 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.
A. Unhesitatingly = vs. 3 Jonah immediately arose and without question began his journey to Nineveh.
B. Undaunted = vs. 3 Jonah was not suppressed by any fear.
C. Uncompromising = vs.4 Jonah gave the message of judgment just as God had gave it to him.
D. Unflinching = vs. 4 Jonah boldly proclaimed God’s word.
III. The Repentant City, vs.5-9
A. National, v.5 = So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast,
B. Visible v.5 = and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
C Personal, v.6 = For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
D Vital, v.7 = And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
E Real, v.8; But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
F. Practical, v.9a Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger
G. Effectual, v.9b that we perish not?
IV. The Riches of God's Grace, vs.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. Experienced = Because of their repentance all the city of Nineveh experienced God’s grace.
B. Enjoyed = I cannot think of anything more enjoyable than
God’s grace bestowed upon us.