Pastor’s Corner: “The Return”
NATIONAL AND GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER, REPENTANCE AND REVIVAL
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26th
Please Join us at “The Cross” in Brownsville off of Parades Line Road next to the Brownsville Event Center @ 6:00 PM. This is a kick off to our time of prayer, fasting and repentance leading up to the presidential election November 3rd.
REBELLION TO REDEMPTION… A “NINEVEH MOMENT!” One of the most impactful stories in scripture regarding a city going from near destruction to redemption is found in the book of Jonah. “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” (JONAH 1:2). The great Assyrian city of Nineveh was full of wickedness, yet God chose a man, Jonah, to warn them of coming judgment and destruction. But Jonah resented what the Lord was asking him to do, and as the scripture accounts, after three days in the belly of a whale, he cried out to God and repented himself for rebelling against the calling of God and attempting to flee from Him. The Lord spared Jonah’s life, so the second time the Lord spoke, he obeyed and entered Nineveh.
Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three day’s journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going on a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (JONAH 3:2-4). Then, an amazing miracle then took place first from the people. “The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.” (JONAH 3:5). When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.” (JONAH 3:6-8) – Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish. (JONAH 3:9). The miracle began when the obedience from a reluctant prophet delivered the word of the Lord, the king and the people responded in humility, turned back to the Lord in fasting, prayer, and repentance. When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. (JONAH 3:10).
Hallelujah! Thank God for his mercy which remains today! This is a pattern in scripture that continues. Abominations occur in a land and a people. God chooses a man to deliver a warning prior to his righteous judgement. The word is accepted or rejected, depending on the choice exercised in free will, which brings about blessings or destruction.
We are in a critical time in America. We have been warned. God in His mercy has afforded us a time of reprieve to turn and repent for our land to be spared from destruction. It’s a Nineveh moment! THE RETURN is a chance for America—40 days prior to our Presidential election—to turn back to God, just like Nineveh. THE RETURN is the gathering to spark a movement to fast, pray, and repent for our Nation!
This is not a time to be complacent, comfortable or lukewarm! It is the time for “The Church” to stand up and be bold and courageous for our Lord Jesus Christ! Please join us in prayer, fasting and repentance. This is something we can all do!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton