My notes from Richard Coekin’s talk in the eleventh session at EMA (Evangelical Ministry Assembly)…
God is the Evangelist (Jonah 3-4)
Put sovereignty and mercy together and you get an evangelist. God is the evangelist and employ a preacher in the supreme mercy ministry of evangelism.
God and his nations is what Jonah is about. It shows how wonderful our Lord God is. God patiently uses Jonah to bring the greatest revival in the Bible. Jonah’s sermon is motivation to pray and preach.
1. God called Nineveh to his mercy – through his gospel of wrath! (chapter 3)
How did God do this? Three stages of God’s mercy ministry to the lost:
a) The messenger of wrath (v1-4)
Wonderful to read of the Lord coming to Jonah a second time – second chance for us to obey the great commission.
From the first day Jonah announces this message of destruction. Seriousness of impending judgment. Only when God’s judgment revealed is His mercy welcomed. Gospel we’ve been given contains message of judgment. Resurrection to rule means Jesus will return to judge. Paul speaks plainly of this in Romans 2:16.
Does the gospel we declare contain Jesus returning to judge? Wrath of God is coming and hell is appalling.
Jonathan Edwards: “…consider what it is to suffer extreme torment forever and ever: to suffer it day and night from one year to another, from one age to another, and from one thousand ages to another (and so adding age to age, and thousands to thousands), in pain, in wailing and lamenting, groaning and shrieking, and gnashing your teeth – with your souls full of dreadful grief and amazement, [and] with your bodies and every member full of racking torture; without any possibility of getting ease; without any possibility of moving God to pity by your cries; without any possibility of hiding yourselves from him; without any possibility of diverting your thoughts from your pain; without any possibility of obtaining any manner of mitigation, or help, or change for the better.”
We’ve got to tell unbelievers about wrath to come at some point. How we do this?
- Audience must feel that when we talk about judgment we are motivated by love.
- We must explain sin in Gentile relational terms.
- Hell must be explained as a legitimate consequence.
- Talk about ‘we’ not ‘you’.
b) The repentance of faith (v5-9)
Like the Thessalonians later the Ninevites heard message from Jonah but heard God speaking. God spoke to them. Expression of their faith is repentance. Faith and repentance are two sides of the same goal. As you turn from sin and you turn to God. Every time you hear the Bible you are called to repentance and faith.
Real repentance is humbling self, recognition of your wickedness, and deserving of wrath. Recognising that I am helpless and hopeless. Grace to the humble is a theme in Scripture. Humble condition of someone God is willing to save.
Real repentance is turning. Behavioural aspect. Giving up sinful behaviour. Can’t promise perfection but we can promise to try; genuinely attempting to live way God wants us to. Genuine commitment to try to stop sinning.
Real repentance is pleading. Mercy comes to those who call on the Lord in prayer. God is not obliged to forgive although He wonderfully does through Christ.
These three things are personal. Directed to God as person. Sin is relational therefore salvation is relational.
c) The mercy of God (v10)
Isn’t this good news? All hinges on God’s response. When God saw their will extend to actions He relents in His mercy. He could this because His Son bled to death on the cross. That’s how people will be saved.
Are we willing to go to the nations with this message? To call for repentance. To plead for God’s mercy.
How can we do this? Personally as a missionary to another country. As a church we could run an international cafe, employ someone from a different country. We can partner with those abroad, with mission agencies in prayer and financial support.
2. God taught Jonah to care – about people of all nations! (chapter 4)
Why did God bother? Conversation between Jonah and the Lord reveals the clash of perspective.
a) God’s character was offensive to Jonah (v1-4)
Covenant privileges of Israel were being extended to Gentiles and this displeased Jonah who empties the poison of his soul to God. By doing so reveals why God is the evangelist.
God is the evangelist because:
- He’s gracious.
- He’s merciful.
- He’s slow to anger.
- He’s abounding in steadfast love – never ending torrent of God’s loyal love faithful to His promises.
- He relents.
Verses are a challenge to our prejudices and envy. Reminder of the older son resentful that the younger son found mercy. God looks at crowds, like the ones at Glastonbury and thinks will anyone go to them. We at them as crowds of wickedness (people doing drugs etc).
b) God’s priority was saving people (v5-11)
Jonah was concerned about his shelter. Pastors concerned about raising funds for the building project rather than reaching the lost.
God’s concern is people (v11). He’s care for them every day of their life and still passionately cares for them. The book ends with God’s great compassion for people – wonderful message.
Are we willing to learn to do the work of the evangelist? For pastors, only need for someone to ask about our job. We can grow into the gift of being an evangelist. Make every effort as a church to reach those not being reached.
Jesus is the sign of Jonah – He is the light to the Gentiles, prophet to the nations. As we proclaim His message He reaches the nations.
God is the evangelist – reason why God will save people.
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