Jonah 2 F.R.O.G

INTRO:

Jonah was running from God, and was frustrated and angry at God? Jonah did not want to follow God’s plan. In fact what Jonah was doing without saying, was my plan is better than yours God, but in every situation that happens in this story it is clear that God, is patient, gracious, and never abandons Jonah.

Here in Chapter 2 we step into the story where Jonah just got swallowed by a big fish and prays this prayer:

Read Jonah 2

Last week we asked the question, “What do you do if you are struggling to believe in or follow God?

We saw a couple of things from the text:

Figure out the real problem. Get to the core.

Call out to God, which we are going to look at more tonight.

Take Ownership and repent, stop blaming others.

Get Accountability

Trust God to make a way.

One of the things that the sailors said to Jonah was Call out to your God. Jonah doesn’t call out to God until Chapter 2. Jonah is praying, talking to God here and tonight i want to talk about somethings that we learn about God through chapter 1&2 that I think will help us to pray and talk to Him.

And can I just remind you quickly that you can pray from anywhere. Physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The thing about prayer that we see in scripture is be humble and honest. Just side note, As i was thinking about prayer. A lot of us are upset that we can’t see God, and we can’t face to face talk to Him. A lot of people want that kind of proof today, but I honestly, don’t know if we would be totally real and honest if we could see God.

Things we learn about God that help us to pray.

God is Sovereign.

1 Timothy 6:13-16

1 Timothy 6:13–16 ESV

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

God being sovereign means He has created all things, and has all authority. He is indeed the King of all kings. There is no one that can compare or revival Him. There is probably so much more to this than we could comprehend but so far in this story we see God in control of the weather, the big fish, and sustaining Jonah’s life in the belly of the fish, and there is more you will see in this passage revealings God’s Sovereignty and His providence, how he exercises his sovereignty, but we also see in chapter two, at the end of Jonah’s prayer Salvation belongs to the Lord. In other words, God, only God has the power to save us from death/evil.

Another thing that I think we learn that is so important and will help us pray is

God is Just.

You are like Justin what do you mean. It’s like A judge that never gets anything wrong. He is not biased or show favoritism toward one group or another, He knows exactly what has been going on, because He sees exactly what is going on. He knows what to do and when to do it. This is what I am getting at. God’s way is perfect which means He is Just and acts with pure justice. God has, God will deal and defeat evil. God in this passage, says that the people of Nineveh’s evil has come up, and He was sending his follower, prophet Jonah to be a messenger to warn the people of God’s wrath towards evil. God has dealt and will deal with evil.

I think the question comes to mind for a lot of people if God is really Good and Just why does he allow evil. Their is a simple answer to that and its because God allows free will, and with freedom comes the choice to choose God, choose good, or choose evil. To be honest when it comes to God’s Sovereignty and Justice I don’t know it all. I don’t know why certain things are allowed at times, Its a struggle and battle sometimes dealing with the question why God? why did this happen? Why is this going on. But this is what I do know from God’s word.

- God can turn what the enemy meant for evil, for good. Gen. 50:20

Genesis 50:20 ESV

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

- God works out all things for the good of those who love Him. Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

- God uses His followers to bring good news in a fallen world, and instructs His followers to overcome evil with good. Jonah to Nineveh, the disciples to the nations. Romans 12:17-21

Romans 12:17–21 ESV

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

- Evil will one day be no more. Revelation 21:3-4

Revelation 21:3–4 ESV

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

I want to show you this video real quick to think about and will lead us to the last point.

VIDEO

God hates evil, and he has and will continue to deal with evil until it is no more , the only thing is that we all deal with and participate in evil at times whether we sin, or whatever so for God to deal with evil that means He needs and will deal with us, but the good news is we also see that

God is Compassionate.

You see this throughout the whole book but we see it in just these two chapters.

God wants Jonah to go preach to Nineveh this terrible, wicked, evil city so that they will repent. They will turn and change their minds and begin to follow God. Did they deserve an opportunity to turn from evil. No.

This big storm the big fish was to redirect Jonah. God was pursuing Him. Did Jonah deserved to be pursued? No. He is compassionate.

Here in this passage Jonah was in the depths of the sea from the belly of this fish, and he called to the Lord, and Jonah says, He answered me, He heard me, He raised me, He saved me. Jonah didn’t deserve that, but God had compassion.

The same is true for you and I and that video alluded to the same point. God has so much compassion for us, that He came, He suffered, He experienced and encountered the evil we have in this world just like us in Human form, and He took on the wrath of God. God’s justice was satisfied in Jesus. Because Jesus took on Himself all sin, which means He took the wrath of God that was meant for all of us, so that if we believe in Him we could be free from the wrath of God, not just free from His wrath, but made right in His eyes, made new to live free and enjoy the life that God has created. God loves you and has chosen to show compassion on you. Will you follow Him? Jonah prayed salvation belongs to the Lord. Will you believe Jesus has taken on God’s wrath for you, and has saved you sin & punishment and has provided a new life a new way to live?

1 Timothy 2:1–6 ESV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Lets go respond in group.