Introduction:     The greatest miracle in the Book of Jonah is not the whale that swallowed this Baptist Preacher, but the fact that the entire city of Nineveh was saved by the grace of God! We need a Holy Ghost revival that only God can send! Some say “revivals don’t last.” But they help (Billy Sunday, “baths don’t last, but they help.)” Revival Helps! Notice there is a limitation on the patience of God - FORTY DAYS and then the end of their world. (Gen. 6:3)  "And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man...” (1)  A word to the sinner (God is not going to wait forever for you to get saved)    (2) A word to the saint (church God is not going to give us forever to wake up and stop playing church). (Illus: I don’t know how much time America has…we can pray and we don’t; we can worship but we don’t; we can witness but we don’t; we can give but we won’t. God looks down as we play church and says “I’m going to give you a little time to get on track and if you don’t, I’ll withdraw My Spirit.”)

Two things they did that brought heaven down in a mighty revival 

I.          THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF GOD (V.5a)

            A.        They Believed God (not Jonah) “Believed” (Gen.15:6) = real faith.

Where did they get that faith to believe God? (Rom.10:17).

             B.         They Believed The Message (from God’s mouth-piece)

Revival comes when people listen, not to the preacher, but to God through His Word! The voice of God says (2 Chron.7:14). We need to hear the voice of God in these last days. (Illus: the difference between one who will receive Jesus vs. one who won’t is hearing the voice of God.) The Holy Spirit cannot work through a dirty vessel. We need revival so the Spirit can work in us to bring people to believe God and His message. The Bible says they believed God (Jonah was just the mouthpiece) – they believed the massage (they had faith).

            C.        Real Faith Leads To Action (Heb.11)

Abraham; Joshua; Rehab; Moses – person after person in the Heb. 11 that had faith and because they had faith they did something. Do you have faith in God Today? God is not going to give revival to someone who doesn’t care.

II.         THEY HEEDED THE VOICE OF GOD (VV.5b-10)

(James 2:20)  "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

Three things happened when they heeded the voice of God:

            A.        There Was A Change Of Attitude (5-6) Got down to business (fast)

You’ll get down to business if you knew that Jesus would come in 40 days. I’ve got news for you – He may come in the next 40 minuets, in fact it could be in the next 40 seconds!

            B.         There Was A Change Of Affection (7) Priority / livelihood

It was no longer business as usual. Revival comes when God is given first place!

            C.        There Was A Change Of Action (8-10) Dealing with sin

Do you know what He is saying there? If you’re gossiping – stop it! If you’re lying – stop it! If you’re committing fornication or adultery – stop it! If you holding on to bitterness – let go! If you drinking alcohol – stop it! If you’re doing drugs – stop it! (1 Peter 4:17) Judgment begins at the house of God. How can God touch a lost world when the church is so corrupted by sin and so consumed with the world? When revival comes God’s way there will be a spirit of repentance in the Church! When God saw there works He repented – what does that mean? (Illus: it’s like walking against a 50 mph wind – there will be resistance. But, if I turn around a get with that wind it will propel me along.) They were walking against the will, the way, and desire of God and God was going to judge them, but when they turned to God and He changed their direction now instead of walking against God they were walking with God and instead of judging them God could now bless them. God doesn’t need to change – we need to change!

Conclusion:       God saw their works (of repentance v.10). What did He see? He saw Prayer and fasting. He saw confession and repentance of sin. That is revival God’s way. It can start here today with one person willing to give all to God.