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Deep and Wide

February 25, 2023 | Uncategorized

On Sunday, February 26, Pastor Jody will begin leading us in a 5-week study of the Book of Jonah called “Deep and Wide.” In this post he shares how this Scripture relates to us today, especially as we consider the news of revival coming from Asbury, Kentucky:

Most of us by now are probably aware of what has been happening at Asbury University in Kentucky these past couple of weeks. On Wednesday, February 8th, a typical weekly chapel service sparked an ongoing worship service that went on continually (24/7) for twelve days—and will continue nightly for well into the future. Due to social media, this event has quite literally gone “global.” People are coming from all around the world to visit Asbury and take part in this revival.

These events are causing us all to ask certain questions. How do things like this happen? What causes or brings about this kind of awakening? What role does prayer play in all of these things? Are people repenting of their sin, and turning to Christ for their salvation? What will be the on-going fruit from all of this? Questions such as these don’t necessarily come from a place of skepticism. Rather, they often come from a place of genuine wondering and amazement.

These events also drive us back to Scripture, as we wonder if things such as this occurred in the pages of the Bible. We clearly see that seasons of large-scale revival did occur. My mind immediately goes to the day of Pentecost that we read about in Acts chapter 2. The Apostle Peter preached a sermon to thousands of people that were gathered in the streets of Jerusalem in the hours following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the early church. God showed up in a mighty way—and we read that about 3,000 people were baptized in one day! These new believers, many of whom were visitors in Jerusalem, returned to their homes and thus began the spread of the Gospel.

I also think of another great revival that took place in the ancient city of Nineveh that we read about in the Book of Jonah. This revival might well be the greatest and most remarkable revival of all time. We read in Jonah chapter 3 that Nineveh was a “very great city”—a city that would have taken you 3 days to go through. Certainly, a significant aspect of the book is Jonah’s rebellion (as we’ll see this coming Sunday). Eventually, though, Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh. Once there, Jonah began telling the people that “in 40 days God (Yahweh!) was going to destroy the city.” You would think the Ninevites would have laughed Jonah off as a lunatic (imagine something like this happening in New York City). But that’s not what happened. We read in Jonah 3:5 that “The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.” Let that sink in. All of them—the entire city—repented before the Lord and put their faith in God. It’s hard to imagine a more dramatic and large-scale revival ever occurring before or since.

I don’t think it mere coincidence that the Lord put it on my heart to preach a series from the Book of Jonah these upcoming five weeks. There are so many truths that we can find in these four chapters. There is no question in my mind that the events of this book are historical and factual. Yes—I believe that a “great fish” (not necessarily a whale…but it’s quite possible) actually swallowed Jonah and kept him alive for three days and nights. Yes—I believe that the entire ancient city of Nineveh repented and put their faith in Yahweh. Yes—I believe that Jonah struggled greatly with the infinite mercy of God (causing him to run the other way when God called him to preach to the Ninevites).

And yes—God still moves and renews and forgives and saves, just like He did over 2,700 years ago in Nineveh. Thank the Lord for what He is doing in Asbury. Give thanks to God for the way He is moving in so many other places and ways around the globe. But far closer to home, pray for the Lord to have freedom to work in our own hearts and minds. Might we all turn our hearts to Christ, repenting of our sin and rebellion, and inviting the Holy Spirit to have freedom to work within us. “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

Pastor Jody