Lent 2017:Week 4

Theme: Renewal

“Renewal speaks of the adjustment of our moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God. Romans 12:2 stresses the willing response on the part of the believer to the transformation work of Christ. The renewing of the Holy Spirit is not a fresh bestowment of the Spirit, but a revival of His power, developing the Christian life.” Vine’s expository Dictionary.

i.e. We need the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and we need to be willing to engage with anything God asks of us.

Dictionary Definition:

“An instance of resuming an activity or state after an interruption.

The replacing or repair of something that is worn out, run-down, or broken.”

Thoughts from Jonah

Jonah’s point of renewal was to return to Nineveh to take up what God had given him to do. He had to preach repentance to the oppressors of his people. This implies that it was more than resuming a physical activity. It required a renewal of his heart.

Jonah’s Renewal

“But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving;

I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” Jonah 2:9

I doubt that gratitude would have been part of Jonah’s response if he was simply going along with God’s call to get out of the belly of the fish. His words reveal a renewal of the heart. He had to renew his commitment to God’s call in his life. He had to renew his commitment to the promises he had made to God.

What is the last thing God asked you to do?

What promises have you made to Him?

Nineveh’s Renewal

Jonah declared a 40 day period of opportunity for Nineveh. In 40 days God would pour out His judgment on them as a people because of their callous disregard for Him. And as the message spread people began to pay attention. We are told “they believed God.” Through the process of 40 days, the people came into an adjustment in their moral and spiritual vision. They adjusted their ways to the ways of God:

“Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” Jonah 3:10

Our Renewal

Just like Jonah and the people of Nineveh, we frequently need re-direction. Small course adjustments lead to huge payoffs.

God takes our prayers seriously!

When we promise God something He holds us to it.

What is the last thing God asked you to do?

What promises have you made to Him?

Prayer

“Holy Spirit renew your work in me and through me

Holy Spirit make me willing to do all of God’s delight

Holy Spirit come.”

Verse

“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;

For He has no pleasure in fools.

Pay what you have vowed—

Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.” Ecclesiastes 5:4,5

Intention

To see people as Jesus sees them,

To respond to every person who crosses my path

As Jesus would.

WWJD.