5 Smooth Stones

going to the city of Nineveh (modern day Mosul, Iraq) the book shows God’s nature is to warn before bringing judgment in order to save rather than condemn (Ma tt hew 3:7 and 8, James 2:13). While Jonah’s actions were soulish, his gift was real and brought about the results of repentance and salvation. The fruit of his gift, even in his disobedience, was to turn all of his shipmates from their false gods to the one true God.Jonah 1:5 “Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, ...” Jonah 1:14 “Therefore they cried out to the Lord [Yehovah, the Hebrew God] and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and o ff ered a sacri fi ce to the Lord and took vows.” Even when Jonah was in the belly of the fi sh he understood God was the God of salvation. Jonah 2:7 “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. 8 Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. 9 But I will sacri fi ce to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I havevowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” And while Jonah was not motivated to use evangelistic techniques to sell salvation to the people of the city, his gift was working and brought results. Jonah 3:1 “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you. 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, ... 5 so the people of Nineveh believed God, [elohiym, the creator, not a false god].” Just as Jonah prayed from the fi sh’s belly, “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.” Jesus also preached while he was in Sheol, 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also su ff ered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the fl esh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,” The heart of an evangelist is to reach those who are lost, to bring into the kingdom those who are fatherless and under the authority of the prince of this world. The evangelist is the midwife of the Kingdom, delivering new-born souls into the family of God. While supernatural signs follow all Christians who believe (Mark 16:17, 18) they are especially 107