The revival that came after Jonah's message was unique. His preaching led to a massive outpouring of penitence and godly sorrow among those wicked people of Nineveh yet the message he preached was simple: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed".

He may not have followed homiletical rules but that simple message turned a whole nation from sin unto righteousness. If scholars analyse his message from the standpoint of preaching order Jonah may score zero but there was something more than oratory power that made his message stir revival in Nineveh- God gave him the message.

Who could have believed that humans and animals will be contrite to the point of going on a fast all because of a simple message with few words yet given by God? What changes people is not the multitude of words but the right words given by God.

Jonah simply preached or said what the Lord told him to say. There is power in receiving the right words or message from the Lord and preaching it just as one is commanded without embellishment.

Revival will not come until we start preaching the messages given by God and not our personal opinion.

Sometimes, we try to impress with words and show how much we know when preaching but no contrition or repentance in the hearts of men. While knowledge is good and I advocate getting knowledge yet there is no substitute for speaking by divine inspiration. There is no substitute for words soaked in prayer and power of the Spirit.

Oratory prowess has never stirred revival. It can only excite or appeal to reasoning but cannot touch the soul and change rebellious hearts.