Timely Insights into God's Word from Khandielese Reyes

“And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah a second time saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.   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.  And Jonah began to enter into the  city a days journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.  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.  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.  And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king of his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything: let them not feed, nor drink water:  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.  Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?  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.”  (Jon 3:1-10) 

The story of Jonah is a most powerful one.  Oftentimes when Jonah is thought of, he is most remembered for his unfortunate adventure in the belly of a great fish.  But there is so much more to the story than Jonah being swallowed up by a great fish.   There are many lessons to learn in this book and much is spoken of beginning with God’s calling upon Jonah’s life, his rebellion and disobedience and the result of such, God’s compassion and mercy on a wicked city, their repentance, and God’s blessings. 

The Lord called Jonah to go into the city of Nineveh and preach the words HE would give him, to the people there.  Although the city was filled with all manner of wickedness, God in his mercy wanted to offer the people a chance to repent.  However, Jonah, having no compassion on the people and judging them worthy to receive the punishment due them, chose to rebel against the Lord’s calling and sought to flee from His presence.  His attempt to flee from the Lord, landed him in the belly of a great fish.  However, the Lord in His mercy delivers Jonah from the belly of the fish after Jonah cries out in prayer to the Lord, and the Lord commands him yet a second time to go to the city of Nineveh and preach his message there.  This time, Jonah heeded the voice of the Lord and surrendered to his command. 

After Jonah entered the city and spoke the word of the Lord only ONCE, the people immediately repented, taking the warning of the Lord seriously.  They could have mocked and scoffed at the word of the Lord delivered through his prophet Jonah as many do today, but instead from the least to the greatest in that city, they BELIEVED the word spoken through the prophet and thus repented of their sins.  They cast aside all manner of wickedness, and the Lord saw their works and genuine repentance and thus removed the disaster which would have come upon them had they refuse to listen to the warning of His prophet Jonah. 

As spoken earlier, there are many lessons to learn from the book of Jonah, however we will look at the 3 very important ones.  The first being, a call to OBEDIENCE. 

When the Lord calls us, He expects us to be obedient.  There is no place where we could run to and hide from the presence of Almighty God.  Seeing Jonah’s obvious reluctance to surrender to His calling, the Lord could of turned away from him and sought a more willing candidate.  However, it’s obvious that Jonah was the best vessel for this job, for in fulfilling the Lord’s will, Jonah would be taught of God’s great compassion and mercy.   Oftentimes the Lord may call us to do something which may seem totally outrageous or impossible, but we must remember that the Lord already knows the outcome, therefore he needn’t be given any instructions as to who would be the better choice vessel.  If he’s called you, you ARE his choice vessel, the best one for that particular duty.   Needless to say, when the Lord calls, there’s no room for debate, only room to surrender and we must surrender in obedience to what HE has asked us to do and not man.  We are not all called into the same work, but are called for the same purpose.  One may be called to preach repentance to a rebellious and sinful people, another may be called to encourage and lift up a weaker vessel, still another may be called directly to the lost sheep to preach the way of salvation, while yet another is called to shepherd his flock, to nourish them and feed them the meat of HIS word and not the meat of the doctrine of lies of man.  Thus, whatever the calling we must be obedient to that.  If the Lord has called you to prophesy, then you must prophesy, if to teach, then you must teach, etc.  The Holy Spirit will administer whatever spiritual gifts which are necessary to fulfill the call of God.   We MUST be obedient to what GOD has commanded.   If he commands “Speak thus”, then we must do despite our own reluctance, or the ridicule and persecution by the very ones he may command you to speak to.   

The second lesson is a call to COMPASSION   

Jonah had no compassion on the people of Nineveh.  His concerns were for his own.  Much like some within the church today who distant themselves from those who are lost and bound by sin, from those who may not belong to their particular denomination and concern themselves with only those who are.  Jonah believed since being a part of Israel, God should show kindness and mercy only to his “chosen ones” and not to all who were disobedient.  However, the word of God says: “For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Rom 9:15)  Oftentimes, many “professing” Christians behave as Jonah did.   In their arrogance, self-righteousness and pride, they tend to judge those “outside” of the body of Christ as though they are to sinful to receive the mercy and compassion of the Lord and often feel that some may deserve a great punishment, rather than forgiveness.  They forget that they themselves were once bound by sin, (and some still are) and the only thing which separates them from those who are still bound is REPENTANCE, GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND HIS GRACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.  The sins of those on the “outside” are no greater nor less than the sins of MANY on the inside.   Thus, within the Body of Christ, the lesson of true Mercy and Compassion must be learned and put into practice and many must put away the practice of hypocrisy.  For such are well able to go outside of the body and convict the WORLD of their sins, but overlook the fact that those very sins are being practiced throughout the members of the body of Christ.   Clean the inside first, and exercise compassion to those who are on the outside and have not the knowledge of Christ.   

Finally, the most important lesson in this message is, a call to REPENTANCE   

It took ONE prophet of God to proclaim the word of the Lord ONCE, for the ENTIRE CITY of Nineveh to repent and turn from their wickedness.  The word of God says: “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.” (Jon 3:5)  They heeded to the voice of the prophet Jonah and took the warning very seriously, so much so a fast was proclaimed.  How many prophets must the Lord send to THE CHURCH today before the church finally take notice of the seriousness of his warnings and repent?  Is the church so puffed up and full of pride that they are fooled into believing they shall not be judged by The Lord should they continue in rebellion and willful sin?   Do they truly believe that somehow they could continue in sin and bypass His wrath?  Seems the lessons being taught in the church today is we would escape, but those of the world would not.   Such are the blind leading the blind, for the word declares: “For the time is come that Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? (1^st Pet 4:17)  What parent would chastise another parent’s  child of wrong doing, and overlook his OWN child’s disobedience, rewarding him for such rather than punishing?  And, what employer goes outside of his company to reprimand another ones’ employee, without first reprimanding his own slothful worker.  Judgment begins first with the children of God.  Therefore, we MUST REPENT as The people of Nineveh did who were shamefully wicked, and yet when they heard the call to repent, they DID!  We cannot be so puffed up and arrogant as to think we could continue to hide from the face of the Lord and remain in sin.  As easy as it was to “graft” the branch in, so much more it could easily be cut off.  Remember the words of our Lord “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15-1-2)  Also, “Abide in Me, and I in you.  As he branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in ME”  (John 15:4)

Today is the day of Repentance.  Let us show our works to the Lord as the people of Nineveh did, and with a repentant heart, turn away from ALL wickedness and surrender to ALL that is of Him.

I love you all so very much. Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember: Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!

The Lord be with you this day and always!  Shalom Uvracha (Peace and Blessings)…….. 

Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh,
Adonai Elohim Tzeva-ot
Asher Hayah Va-ho-veh VaY’vo

Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come!

May the peace of the Lord be with you today and always……

Khandielese
Daughter & Servant
   of the Lord God