Today we conclude Jonah’s story thank you for joining us over the past few weeks. This is the question for you.. How would you answer to this proclamation, declaration, mandate from the Governing authority of your life?
“This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.
See it, will you not eat, drink and pray? Will you fast and pray on behalf of those you do not love or care for? Will you fast and pray for those situations you deem unresolvable and unredeemable? Will you deny yourself and set God as 1st?
Ooh darling child what will you do? You have a choice, like every good parent knows every choice has a consequence to it. God says ‘want to know what I want you to do, and what I will do in response?
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He RELENTED and DID NOT BRING ON THEM THE DESTRUCTION He had threatened”.
Remember Jesus told us about the 10 lepers who were outcasts, desperate for healing, and knew Jesus could heal them. They bravely and courageously asked, then believed and in response received their healing, then left, jumping, leaping and praising God!! Yes I know only one came back to give thanks, do you wonder why that is? Ask Holy Spirit and see what He says.
Now what if Jonah responded like these lepers to the TURNAROUND Miracle he’s just witnessed and been part of, the ENTIRE NATION Of NINEVAH humbling themselves, and returning to their first love, Jesus! What a party that could have been, and what about the opportunities and invitations Jonah might have missed? Because he wasn’t in the place, posture, position for God to keep using him and advance the Kingdom through him. Sobering thought…
As we know Jonah unfortunately couldn’t get over himself, he was unable to think, speak and align with Praise, Rejoicing, and Leaping (remember God said hang on are you able to do these things? Did you make the plant that grew to give you shelter? The worm to eat it? Are you able to control these things?) Asking ultimately Jonah are you God? Do you know My mind?
Ouch but good reminder God is God and we are not, He is Eternal, Everlasting, He existed before us and will do so long after us, He is Faithful, and He’s Good at being God and we are not and never will be.
Today we’ve an invitation before us to ‘get over ourselves’ and instead think, speak and align with Jesus’ prayer to His Father, in how we relate to others, and how we see situations we are in, and also the people around us have an invitation to receive the Turnaround He wants to do and ‘see Jesus’ through our accepting the invitation, and know that ‘It’s the kindness of God that leads a man to repentance” To change his heart, way, behaviour, mind, attitude, outlook, plan, to BUT GOD intervention and first love with Jesus.
The Ninevites ears heard, their eyes opened, their hearts softened to Jesus, that they surrendered to the Living One True God, they would live differently in posture, words, action and heart. That moment Revival came to Nineveh, the Ninevite people, and I believe God wants to bring revival to you, your home, your community, and your nation.
Challenge Time: Jonah didn’t want to stand in the gap, but today I believe God is saying who will you stand in the gap for, who will you rise up for, what situation will you stand for?
Remember Abraham stood in the gap between God and Sodom.
Moses stood in the gap between God and the Israelites.
Gideon stood in the gap to defend his people and free them of oppression.
Nehemiah stood in the gap for the restoration and rebuilding of his nation.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood in the furnace with God, as they would not bow down to idols.
Elisha stood in the gap for the Syrians (enemy) to be saved and delivered from death to God
Esther with Mordecai, stood in the gap to save her people.
Miriam rose up in determination to save her brother and bought freedom to God’s people.
Your name stood in the gap for or between God and ……… (let Him fill the space)
Could it be your time? Is He asking you to stand in the gap and pray?
For your best friend who experienced emotional trauma? For the fear that is rampant in your neighbours? For for your children who are struggling in their relationships? For provision of finances for those hurting in business and with bills? For someone who needs to know they are SEEN and MATTER? For unity in homes, countries, nations, of One heart, one mind, one love. For governing authority to be leading in Righteousness and Truth by Holy Spirit. For so much more, there is so much need on the Father’s heart, ask Him.
The point is let’s be available for Holy Spirit to deposit the name or situation to us, for us to seek God in Prayer for the person, or situation, and record what He says and then simply do as He says. As a starts let’s pray for them to know that God loves them and for Him to answer their needs, for His glory to be shown and seen on Earth.
Prayer
Father God, today we say yes, we are willing to be used by You to pray for people and situations as You bring them to mind. We know that You are Sovereign and Eternal, would You lead and guide us in what to pray, and how you are asking us to stand in the gap for those things on Your heart. We love You, We honour You, we repent for taking our eyes off You and say Jesus have our whole heart from this moment, be Lord of our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
Paula Blackie Editor/Author Encounter Ministries
