Jonah3:4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
Brother Jonah was one of the Prophets popularly known for disobedience but little emphasis was laid on the impact of his ministry in Nineveh. There are only few contemporary preachers in our time who achieved the kind of result Bro Jonah achieved in his ministry. He preached an 'ordinary' repetitive sermon and the whole city repented of their sins. Both old and young were penitent and they traced their way back to their maker in genuine repentance.
Not much was said about Jonah's spiritual pedigree. In those days, there were sons of prophet who went to prophetic school,2Kings 6. We can call that the modern day theological seminary. We weren't told about Jonah's education, even his family background was kept away from us except that they told us he was the son of Amittai, John1:1. Maybe if Amittai was a rich man, we may have had detailed accounts about him. Jonah was an ordinary man used by God for a great awakening. He simply delivered his message as GOD instructed. It probably made no homiletical sense but it made spiritual sense.
To preach a theologically balanced sermon is good, to dress well and have wonderful church setting is a plus but when the preaching and teaching doesn't bring about change& transformation in the lives of people, the aforementioned is useless. Jonah's repetitive warning style of preaching impacted young and old without exegesis and indescriminate use of Greek&Hebrew terms. You need to tell God to anoint your lips so that ordinary words from your mouth would bring about change in the lives of men. Stop struggling to impress on the pulpit, either in teaching, preaching& singing, God can use the ordinary to produce extraordinary result.
Father, use me for a great transformation in the lives of men in this generation In Jesus name.