WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:14.620 Some of you professional football fans know the guy on the screen, and by the way, his name is not misspelled, Teddy Bruschi, former NFL player, current ESPN analyst. 00:00:15.820 --> 00:00:21.699 Today he is recovering from a stroke that he just suffered last week. 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:26.280 His family described what happened, as you read there. 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:36.579 Teddy recognized that he was experiencing the signs of a stroke, arm weakness, face drooping, and speech difficulties. 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:38.620 Do you know those signs? 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:44.620 We all need to know them as well as signs of a heart attack. 00:00:44.620 --> 00:00:56.159 If we're wise, if we want to avoid the damaging or even fatal consequences, if they appear in our lives. 00:00:56.280 --> 00:01:09.960 Well, today as we return to the book of Jonah, I want us to look at some of the signs that a person is going through, what I'm going to call a spiritual rebellion. 00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:24.579 Signs of spiritual rebellion that Jonah displays throughout chapter 1, and there's even some more later on in this study. 00:01:24.579 --> 00:01:28.140 What I want us to do is read chapter 1. 00:01:29.259 --> 00:01:33.099 Notice as we go through this, some of them are obvious. 00:01:34.759 --> 00:01:47.099 We're going to look at this and try to learn from Jonah's example how to avoid being in a state of spiritual rebellion. 00:01:47.099 --> 00:01:53.500 How to wake up from a state of spiritual rebellion, if that's the case today. 00:01:55.099 --> 00:02:03.739 Also how to avoid in the future drifting or rebelling and getting in that state. 00:02:04.399 --> 00:02:05.679 Let's read Jonah 1. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:11.319 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amtai, saying, 00:02:11.540 --> 00:02:17.540 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. 00:02:18.439 --> 00:02:22.939 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:26.640 He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:33.620 So he paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:42.580 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. 00:02:43.259 --> 00:02:46.740 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his God. 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:51.659 And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. 00:02:52.759 --> 00:03:00.879 But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:05.319 So the captain came and said to him, What do you mean, you sleeper? 00:03:06.019 --> 00:03:08.120 Arise, call out to your God. 00:03:08.900 --> 00:03:13.979 Perhaps the God will give a thought to us that we may not perish. 00:03:15.299 --> 00:03:17.819 And they said to one another, that's the sailors now, 00:03:19.019 --> 00:03:24.259 Come, let us cast lots that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:25.879 So they cast lots. 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:28.419 And the lot fell on Jonah. 00:03:28.419 --> 00:03:33.899 Then they said to him, Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:03:34.339 --> 00:03:35.459 What is your occupation? 00:03:36.099 --> 00:03:37.519 And where do you come from? 00:03:37.659 --> 00:03:38.679 What is your country? 00:03:38.799 --> 00:03:40.339 And of what people are you? 00:03:40.979 --> 00:03:42.459 And he said to them, I am a Hebrew. 00:03:42.979 --> 00:03:47.799 And I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:51.759 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, 00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:54.519 What is this that you have done? 00:03:54.520 --> 00:04:00.500 For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 00:04:01.580 --> 00:04:07.740 Then they said to him, What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us? 00:04:07.980 --> 00:04:12.200 For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:16.439 And he said to them, Pick me up and hurl me into the sea. 00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:19.379 Then the sea will quiet down for you. 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:23.860 For I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you. 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:29.180 Nevertheless, the men rode hard to get back to dry land. 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:35.199 But they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:44.899 Therefore they called out to the Lord, O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life and lay not on us innocent blood. 00:04:45.339 --> 00:04:48.079 For you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you. 00:04:48.579 --> 00:04:51.620 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea. 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:54.800 And the sea ceased from its raging. 00:04:55.379 --> 00:04:57.699 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly. 00:04:58.180 --> 00:05:02.199 And they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:10.860 There are times in life that we just sort of look around what's going on. 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:22.539 And it seems, because everything's positive, that the signs are pointing to we're doing something right. 00:05:23.480 --> 00:05:28.419 Some people even think that's a sign God's pleased with them and all is going well. 00:05:28.420 --> 00:05:38.360 What I want us to do first is to understand sometimes if we look at signs this way, some such signs are deceptive. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:40.259 They're misleading. 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:45.960 There are some deceptive signs that we see in Jonah. 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:47.020 Let's look at them. 00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:48.759 Deceptive signs. 00:05:49.400 --> 00:05:54.700 Some signs in life give the impression that all is well when it's not. 00:05:54.699 --> 00:06:01.959 The first deceptive sign we see in Jonah, everything seems to be falling into place for you. 00:06:03.099 --> 00:06:06.579 Is there ever a time when you just think life is good, all is well. 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:09.319 There's no bumps in the road for me. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:12.379 It must be that I'm doing something right. 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:19.699 Well, Jonah could have thought that at the very beginning of his rebellion against God. 00:06:19.699 --> 00:06:28.659 When he rebelled against God's call to go to Nineveh, he headed in the opposite direction toward Tarshish. 00:06:29.899 --> 00:06:34.120 That was as far from Nineveh as he could conceive of going. 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:38.719 Nineveh was east and north. 00:06:39.379 --> 00:06:42.759 Tarshish was as far as people traveled west. 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:44.879 It was on the coast of Spain. 00:06:46.180 --> 00:06:47.599 Well, look at verse 3 again. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:50.379 It looks like all is going well. 00:06:51.200 --> 00:06:53.920 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:58.320 He went down to Joppa and there was a ship going to Tarshish. 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:01.900 A ship that was sailing as far as he could get. 00:07:02.660 --> 00:07:03.980 So he paid the fare. 00:07:04.640 --> 00:07:05.620 There was a place for him. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:10.939 He went down into it to go with him to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. 00:07:11.760 --> 00:07:17.340 What I want us to see here at the beginning, Jonah's path of rebellion was smooth. 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:20.200 Everything seems to be falling into place. 00:07:20.640 --> 00:07:22.980 But that did not mean that all was right. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:28.060 That didn't mean smooth sailing at first, that God was pleased with him. 00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:29.980 So think of this. 00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:35.879 If you're in the process of running from something that you know God wants you to do, 00:07:36.320 --> 00:07:38.200 and we're not necessarily talking about something big. 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:45.339 Sometimes we know that God wants to do something in a relationship with someone like apologize. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:55.439 Sometimes we know God wants us to do something in a situation where we just do the right thing. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:58.160 It may cost us some money. 00:07:58.339 --> 00:07:59.860 It may cost us some time. 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:02.500 But we know what God wants us to do. 00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:05.959 But we just don't do it. 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:09.560 If you're in the process of running from what you know God wants you to do, 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:13.360 and everything is going well for you right now, 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:20.399 don't mistake that as a sign that God's changed his mind, 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:25.840 that he is okay with your disobedience. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:30.500 As one wise sage said, 00:08:31.099 --> 00:08:32.759 it ain't over till it's over. 00:08:35.699 --> 00:08:39.299 Yogi said a lot of crazy things. 00:08:40.299 --> 00:08:41.620 That is good. 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:45.659 If you're running from God right now, 00:08:45.699 --> 00:08:46.319 and you think, 00:08:46.839 --> 00:08:47.539 I've made it, 00:08:48.860 --> 00:08:51.500 it ain't over till it's over. 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:55.360 Remember that right now. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:58.420 A second deceptive sign is this. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:01.240 Nothing seems to bother you. 00:09:02.139 --> 00:09:03.280 You can sleep well. 00:09:04.180 --> 00:09:04.899 Look at Jonah, 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:05.759 verse five. 00:09:06.780 --> 00:09:07.680 Second part of it. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:10.120 But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship, 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:12.360 and had lain down, 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:14.300 and was fast asleep. 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:16.200 Isn't that amazing? 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.759 The storm is such that 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:21.680 veteran sailors 00:09:21.680 --> 00:09:24.720 are at their wit's end. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:28.200 crying out to their gods, 00:09:29.280 --> 00:09:31.399 throwing away their cargo, 00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:33.720 what they're getting paid to deliver. 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:37.180 How could Jonah sleep 00:09:37.180 --> 00:09:39.379 in the midst of that? 00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:39.800 Well, 00:09:40.180 --> 00:09:41.759 there's several reasons 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:43.120 why we could think of 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:44.940 people can sleep 00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:46.620 in a situation like that. 00:09:46.780 --> 00:09:47.940 He could have just been exhausted. 00:09:47.940 --> 00:09:49.260 I mean, 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:49.520 he, 00:09:50.520 --> 00:09:51.540 no doubt, 00:09:51.660 --> 00:09:52.760 he's running from God. 00:09:53.180 --> 00:09:54.220 We're talking about a man 00:09:54.220 --> 00:09:55.820 who has a relationship with God, 00:09:55.880 --> 00:09:56.900 who has served God. 00:09:57.060 --> 00:09:58.580 He knows what God's calling him to do, 00:09:58.780 --> 00:09:59.400 but he's running. 00:09:59.540 --> 00:10:01.140 He has to be emotionally 00:10:01.140 --> 00:10:02.260 and spiritually 00:10:02.260 --> 00:10:03.720 worn out, 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.540 drained. 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:08.320 He could have literally 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:10.280 run from wherever it was 00:10:10.280 --> 00:10:11.820 he heard God, 00:10:11.880 --> 00:10:12.980 where he heard God's call 00:10:12.980 --> 00:10:14.240 down to this seaport, 00:10:14.380 --> 00:10:14.740 Joppa. 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:16.419 So he may be physically 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:17.080 worn out. 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:20.240 And there's just nothing 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:21.120 within him 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.820 that responds 00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:24.560 because he's exhausted 00:10:24.560 --> 00:10:26.060 to this storm. 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:28.240 Some people could sleep 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:28.659 like this 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:29.659 because they have peace 00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:30.320 with God. 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.779 Jesus was able 00:10:32.779 --> 00:10:33.440 to sleep 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:33.980 in the midst 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:34.840 of such a storm. 00:10:35.180 --> 00:10:36.279 A small boat, 00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:38.340 the Gospels tell us, 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:39.259 Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 00:10:39.320 --> 00:10:39.980 he was asleep, 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:40.940 had his head 00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:41.560 on a cushion. 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:45.339 How could Jesus 00:10:45.339 --> 00:10:46.979 sleep 00:10:46.979 --> 00:10:48.459 in such a storm 00:10:48.459 --> 00:10:49.179 that his disciples 00:10:49.179 --> 00:10:50.219 thought they were going to die, 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:52.179 those passages tell us? 00:10:53.059 --> 00:10:54.679 Because Jesus always did 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:56.059 his Heavenly Father's will. 00:10:57.119 --> 00:10:58.539 He always maintained 00:10:58.539 --> 00:10:59.699 a close, 00:10:59.959 --> 00:11:00.559 peaceful 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:01.719 relationship 00:11:01.719 --> 00:11:02.739 with his Heavenly Father 00:11:02.739 --> 00:11:03.459 so he knew 00:11:03.459 --> 00:11:04.379 that no matter what, 00:11:05.119 --> 00:11:06.059 all was right. 00:11:06.179 --> 00:11:06.739 He was doing 00:11:06.739 --> 00:11:07.919 what he was supposed to do, 00:11:08.119 --> 00:11:08.919 where he was supposed 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:09.439 to do it. 00:11:09.439 --> 00:11:11.500 He was doing God's will. 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:13.299 He knew he was 00:11:13.299 --> 00:11:14.579 in control of everything, 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:15.619 even the storm. 00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:17.459 So he could rest. 00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:18.139 He could sleep 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.119 in the midst of a storm. 00:11:21.319 --> 00:11:22.399 That's not Jonah. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:24.779 We don't know 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.559 why he's asleep, 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:26.479 but we know definitely 00:11:26.479 --> 00:11:27.739 because it's not 00:11:27.739 --> 00:11:28.519 because he had peace 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.239 with God. 00:11:31.239 --> 00:11:32.099 There's another reason 00:11:32.099 --> 00:11:32.559 to explain 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:33.559 why some people 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:35.359 can be at peace 00:11:35.359 --> 00:11:36.039 in the midst 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:37.739 of some of life's storms. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:39.759 they've developed 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.060 a hard heart 00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:45.320 or they've just sort of 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:47.259 tuned God out. 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:50.580 That may be 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:52.480 why Jonah can sleep 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:53.240 through this storm. 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:55.820 It may be that 00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:58.960 he's just become 00:11:58.960 --> 00:11:59.639 a little bit 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:01.639 hard-hearted, 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:03.419 developed, 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:03.980 developed a 00:12:03.980 --> 00:12:05.100 calloused 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:06.299 conscience. 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:08.620 Maybe he's just 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:09.019 a little bit 00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:10.379 spiritually and 00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:12.299 emotionally numb 00:12:12.299 --> 00:12:14.699 at this point 00:12:14.699 --> 00:12:15.159 in time. 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:18.000 If you know 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:18.699 that you're not 00:12:18.699 --> 00:12:19.559 right with God, 00:12:21.079 --> 00:12:22.279 if you know 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:23.079 you're disobedient 00:12:23.079 --> 00:12:23.539 right now 00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:24.439 in the state 00:12:24.439 --> 00:12:25.339 that you're now 00:12:25.339 --> 00:12:25.679 living, 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:27.939 but you can remain 00:12:27.939 --> 00:12:29.259 cool and calm 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:29.819 no matter what's 00:12:29.819 --> 00:12:30.860 going on around you, 00:12:31.719 --> 00:12:32.379 you need to be 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:32.779 concerned. 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:36.219 That's a problem. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:38.939 It may be a sign 00:12:38.939 --> 00:12:40.579 that you have 00:12:40.579 --> 00:12:42.240 just zoned out 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:44.339 when it comes 00:12:44.339 --> 00:12:44.899 to your relationship 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:45.399 with God. 00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:47.539 It may be that 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:49.299 you have lost 00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:50.319 your tender 00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:51.600 conscience. 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.919 It is a reason 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:56.139 to be concerned. 00:12:57.319 --> 00:12:57.980 We can see 00:12:57.980 --> 00:13:00.919 from what's 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:01.559 happening in 00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:02.319 Jonah's life, 00:13:03.079 --> 00:13:03.860 he can sleep 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.279 in the midst 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:04.819 of a storm. 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:06.679 At first, 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:07.419 everything just 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:08.000 sort of fell into 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:08.620 place for him 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:09.299 to go in the 00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:09.879 opposite direction 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.299 of where God 00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:10.939 was calling him. 00:13:13.579 --> 00:13:14.220 Sometimes, 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:17.840 when it seems 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:18.620 like all the 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.379 signs are 00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:20.620 positive in 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:21.360 our life, 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:24.279 we need to be 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:26.100 careful that 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:27.000 we're not being 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:27.779 deceived, 00:13:28.079 --> 00:13:28.559 that we're not 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:29.879 deceiving ourselves. 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:32.120 You know, 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:32.539 it's a terrible 00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:33.379 thing to deceive 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:33.939 yourself into 00:13:33.939 --> 00:13:34.659 thinking that all 00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:35.759 is right with 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.199 God, all is 00:13:37.199 --> 00:13:38.439 right with life, 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:39.340 when the truth 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:40.840 is you're a rebel 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.559 like Jonah. 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:42.659 You may be not 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.199 running from 00:13:43.199 --> 00:13:44.299 something big, 00:13:45.079 --> 00:13:45.759 but you are 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:46.599 running from 00:13:46.599 --> 00:13:47.759 what you know 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:48.839 God has called 00:13:48.839 --> 00:13:50.099 you to be, 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.879 as a man or 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:52.699 woman of God 00:13:52.699 --> 00:13:53.539 in your home, 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:55.639 as a faithful 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.699 Christian out in 00:13:56.699 --> 00:13:57.399 this community. 00:13:58.679 --> 00:13:59.699 It's a warning 00:13:59.699 --> 00:14:00.239 to us. 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:02.500 Let's move on 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:04.299 now, look at 00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:04.839 some definite 00:14:04.839 --> 00:14:06.139 signs of rebellion, 00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:07.219 and we're going 00:14:07.219 --> 00:14:08.099 to focus on one 00:14:08.099 --> 00:14:08.639 this morning. 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:10.099 Jonah was a 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:10.759 true believer. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:12.920 Don't, don't, 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:13.720 don't, if you're 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:15.019 not familiar with 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:15.519 this story, 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:15.899 you've not been 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:16.379 here before, 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:17.980 understand we're 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:18.700 not talking about 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:19.920 an unbelieving 00:14:19.920 --> 00:14:20.580 person here. 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:22.320 Jonah was a 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:23.379 true believer in 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:23.720 God. 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:26.139 Jonah had been 00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:27.540 used by God to 00:14:27.540 --> 00:14:28.899 speak his word 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:30.680 that's recorded in 00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:31.000 the book of 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:31.879 2 Kings. 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:34.060 He is God's 00:14:34.060 --> 00:14:34.779 prophet. 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:36.660 But now, 00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:39.560 he is running 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:40.319 from God, 00:14:41.219 --> 00:14:41.799 and as he 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:42.319 does so, 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.099 he is acting 00:14:43.099 --> 00:14:44.000 worse than 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:44.959 the unbelievers 00:14:44.959 --> 00:14:46.000 around him. 00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:48.759 Here's a 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.779 serious sign of 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.379 someone rebelling 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.039 against God. 00:14:51.479 --> 00:14:52.259 You have less 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:53.479 spiritual awareness 00:14:53.479 --> 00:14:54.979 than unbelievers 00:14:54.979 --> 00:14:55.719 around you. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:57.000 Look at verse 5, 00:14:57.059 --> 00:14:57.639 the first part. 00:14:58.279 --> 00:14:58.639 Then the 00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.339 mariners were 00:14:59.339 --> 00:15:00.019 afraid, and 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:01.059 each cried out 00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:02.259 to his God. 00:15:02.719 --> 00:15:03.099 Now, these 00:15:03.099 --> 00:15:03.699 sailors were 00:15:03.699 --> 00:15:04.399 pagans. 00:15:05.739 --> 00:15:06.619 They were not 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:08.500 believers in 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:10.460 God, who had 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:11.200 revealed himself 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:12.000 to the people 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:14.480 of Israel, whose 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.820 word for them 00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:18.379 was parts of the 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:18.860 Old Testament 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:19.600 that they had. 00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.360 They were 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.019 pagans. 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:23.879 They did not 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:25.460 believe in the 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.259 true God. 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.860 And as it says, 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.779 the plural here, 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:29.659 and the little g, 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.879 they worshipped 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.360 multiple false 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:32.879 gods. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:35.460 And at this 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.200 point in time, 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:38.240 they're crying 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:38.559 out. 00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:39.379 They have a 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:39.980 faith. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:40.700 Hey, put it 00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:41.039 this way. 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:43.639 They're sincere. 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:45.860 One of the 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:47.039 stupidest things 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:47.720 that we can 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.960 think about 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:49.620 somebody's 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:51.240 spiritual life 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:52.220 is, well, 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:52.879 they're sincere. 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:54.960 As long as 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:55.840 a person is 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:57.220 sincere, they 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:57.899 must be okay. 00:15:58.039 --> 00:15:58.639 That's crazy. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.360 That's foolish. 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:01.879 These men, 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.059 who have no 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:04.799 clue about 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:06.580 God, they 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.379 are crying 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.059 out to 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:09.439 multiple gods. 00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:10.059 The gods 00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:10.559 they've heard 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:12.799 of, they're 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:13.860 wanting help. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.320 Now, this is a 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:16.159 great illustration 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.899 of what Paul 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:19.820 described in 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.620 Romans chapter 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:22.159 one, when he 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:22.759 was talking about 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:23.439 how God has 00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:24.139 revealed himself 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.259 to all people, 00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:26.399 but people 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:28.000 reject God 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.039 as he is, 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.519 and replace 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:30.940 him with their 00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:31.480 own gods. 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.039 I want you to 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:32.399 look at what 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:32.919 he says here. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.559 In verse 19, 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.299 for what can 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:35.899 be known about 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:36.740 God is plain 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.319 to them. 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:38.179 He's talking 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:38.740 about how God 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:39.639 has revealed 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.360 himself, people 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:40.939 have rejected 00:16:40.939 --> 00:16:41.179 that. 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:41.799 For what can 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:42.360 be known about 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.059 God is plain 00:16:43.059 --> 00:16:43.939 to them, because 00:16:43.939 --> 00:16:44.819 God has shown 00:16:44.819 --> 00:16:45.279 it to them. 00:16:46.199 --> 00:16:46.600 He's talking 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.179 about people, 00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:48.259 universality of 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:49.959 sin and 00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:50.559 rejection in 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:51.139 people's lives. 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:53.299 For his, God's 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:54.419 invisible attributes, 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.059 namely his 00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:56.059 eternal power and 00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:56.740 divine nature, 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.980 have been clearly 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:59.179 perceived ever 00:16:59.179 --> 00:16:59.860 since the creation 00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.800 of the world and 00:17:00.800 --> 00:17:01.680 the things that 00:17:01.680 --> 00:17:02.759 have been made 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.659 so that they 00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:04.380 are without 00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:05.180 excuse. 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.640 God reveals 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.140 enough of 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:10.660 himself to 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:12.579 every person in 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:14.519 the world to 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.440 cause them to 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.819 be aware of the 00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:17.819 fact that God 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:20.079 is, that he's 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:21.400 real, that he's 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:23.079 the creator, that 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.039 he's the sovereign. 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:26.599 They don't know 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.279 everything that we 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.940 know by a long 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:29.279 shot. 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.440 They don't have 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:31.420 the scripture, but 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:32.359 they have enough of 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:33.700 God's revealing of 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:37.180 himself to know, but 00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:38.539 they don't believe. 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.319 Look at it. 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:39.879 Go on. 00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.879 For although they 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:42.639 knew God, they did 00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:43.399 not honor him as 00:17:43.399 --> 00:17:44.740 God or give thanks 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.379 to him, but they 00:17:45.379 --> 00:17:46.319 became futile in 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.119 their thinking and 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:48.000 their foolish hearts 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.159 were darkened. 00:17:49.659 --> 00:17:50.819 Claiming to be wise, 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:53.119 they became fools and 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:53.960 exchanged the 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.840 glory of the 00:17:54.840 --> 00:17:56.440 immortal God for 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.840 images resembling 00:17:57.840 --> 00:17:59.680 mortal man and 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.380 birds and animals 00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:02.759 and creeping things. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:04.920 The idea is God 00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:05.960 reveals himself in 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:07.700 nature through his 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.340 creation. 00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:09.920 And instead of 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:11.779 people acknowledging, 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:14.100 accepting this God 00:18:14.100 --> 00:18:15.140 who is above and 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:16.519 beyond them, people 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.740 try to make a God 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:20.360 in their image or in 00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:21.440 the image of part of 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.500 the creation like 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.299 birds and animals 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.299 and creeping things. 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.359 What Paul is 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:27.200 describing there is 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:27.859 what theologians 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.980 refer to as general 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.599 revelation. 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.460 God makes himself 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.180 known in a general 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:31.519 way. 00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:32.579 Miller and Erickson, 00:18:32.659 --> 00:18:33.839 the theologian, he 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.740 explains this very 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.000 well. 00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:35.539 Look at it. 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.399 General revelation 00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:38.799 serves to explain the 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:41.119 worldwide phenomenon of 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:42.480 religion and religions. 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:44.379 All persons are 00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:46.059 religious because all 00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:47.200 have a type of 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.119 knowledge of God. 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:49.719 from this revelation 00:18:49.719 --> 00:18:51.419 religions have been 00:18:51.419 --> 00:18:52.839 constructed which 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:54.339 unfortunately are 00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:55.839 distortions of the 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.819 true biblical 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:58.000 religion. 00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:01.239 What Paul says in 00:19:01.239 --> 00:19:02.199 Romans, what Erickson 00:19:02.199 --> 00:19:03.079 is saying about the 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:04.239 general revelation of 00:19:04.239 --> 00:19:06.539 God, this is why 00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.919 everybody is spiritual. 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:13.319 Everybody to some 00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:15.819 extent at some times 00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:18.220 is spiritually minded. 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:21.139 With rare exception, 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:24.119 everyone has an 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:27.000 awareness that God 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.879 exists. 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.500 Think about it this 00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:30.759 way. 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:34.019 When tragedy strikes in 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:35.879 this country, and it 00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:37.980 happens so often, and 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.980 even in countries around 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:42.919 the world, at some point 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:43.700 there will be a news 00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:44.140 conference. 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:49.400 And there will be some 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:52.700 national leader, or in 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:54.160 some local situations, a 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:55.080 local leader. 00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:59.019 They will explain what 00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.560 has happened. 00:20:00.560 --> 00:20:02.060 And at some point in 00:20:02.060 --> 00:20:03.180 their news conference, 00:20:03.380 --> 00:20:04.759 and at some point in 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.759 their explanation, 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.680 discussion of the evil 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:09.120 tragedy that's happened, 00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:11.420 they will say something 00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:12.000 like this. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.519 let's keep the 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:16.000 victims, and maybe 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.079 sometimes the first 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:19.299 responders, in our 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:20.319 thoughts and prayers. 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:26.079 Now, a lot of people 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.940 say that because it's 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.960 just the right thing to 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.200 say. 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:29.940 They don't believe a 00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:30.140 thing. 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:33.160 They don't pray. 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.460 But it's just something 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.880 that there's something 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:38.160 within all of us. 00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:40.660 In some situations, when 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:41.920 we just don't know, we 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:45.120 can't do anything, as the 00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:46.580 saying goes, all we can do 00:20:46.580 --> 00:20:47.100 is pray. 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.540 And people will say that. 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.740 Now, there are some 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:53.220 officials, national and 00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:55.880 local, they mean it because 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:58.740 they know God through faith 00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.240 in Jesus. 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:01.540 They are as sincere as they 00:21:01.540 --> 00:21:02.300 can possibly be. 00:21:03.300 --> 00:21:04.460 You have heard some 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:04.920 officials. 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:06.300 I hope I don't get in, I 00:21:06.300 --> 00:21:06.740 don't care. 00:21:07.320 --> 00:21:09.320 I'm going to say, Chuck 00:21:09.320 --> 00:21:11.480 Wright is the sheriff of 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.220 Spartanburg County. 00:21:12.320 --> 00:21:12.860 I don't know him 00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:14.500 personally, but I've read a 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.279 bunch of things he said. 00:21:15.360 --> 00:21:16.560 I've watched him on TV, and 00:21:16.560 --> 00:21:17.380 I really believe he has a 00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:18.100 heartfelt faith. 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:21.220 And I believe when Chuck 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:22.240 Wright holds those news 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:25.300 conferences, and a lot of 00:21:25.300 --> 00:21:27.480 times talks about Jesus and 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:30.180 faith in him, I think he 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.600 really does care. 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.560 He's really sincere. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.740 He's really encouraging 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:36.519 Christians to pray. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.779 But so many people aren't 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:42.700 like that. 00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:46.819 And they just say it because 00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.599 there's this universal 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:52.159 awareness of a God and the 00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:53.339 need for him. 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:57.179 That's what these sailors are 00:21:57.179 --> 00:21:57.519 doing. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.919 They, in the book of Jonah 00:21:59.919 --> 00:22:02.539 here, they believe that 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.299 believe in God. 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:06.920 But they don't believe in the 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:08.539 one true God who has 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:10.099 revealed himself in his word, 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:13.539 and ultimately and finally in 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:15.799 his son, Jesus. 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:20.539 They believe in God's. 00:22:21.659 --> 00:22:22.500 Take your pick. 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.200 Here's what I want us to 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:27.039 think about, make this more 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.519 personal. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:31.160 Almost everyone you know will 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:32.740 tell you that they believe in 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.759 God and they believe in 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.039 prayer. 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:37.900 Most of us in this room, we 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:39.660 don't know many atheists. 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.240 Some of us do. 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:45.400 But most of us, wherever we go, 00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:48.579 whatever occurs, in some 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:52.639 settings, everybody will in some 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:54.280 way refer to God. 00:22:56.020 --> 00:22:57.960 And maybe even talk about 00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.960 prayer. 00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:00.320 But what I want you to 00:23:00.320 --> 00:23:02.040 understand is, that does not 00:23:02.040 --> 00:23:03.300 mean that a person is a 00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:03.640 Christian. 00:23:05.320 --> 00:23:07.960 God has so created people that 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:11.740 we have an innate awareness of, 00:23:11.820 --> 00:23:14.120 belief in a supreme being. 00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:17.479 A God we will say. 00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:22.579 Some of your family members and 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:26.079 friends are quick to tell you, 00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:30.619 discuss with you, their belief in 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.000 God. 00:23:32.219 --> 00:23:35.939 But they do not believe in our 00:23:35.939 --> 00:23:38.819 heavenly Father that they know 00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:41.179 through faith in Jesus. 00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:44.640 They just talk about God in 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:46.180 really a general way. 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.500 There's no evidence in their 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:50.259 life that they are followers of 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.580 Jesus. 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:53.380 Their life bears no fruit. 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.580 We need to be aware of that. 00:23:57.860 --> 00:23:59.039 Everybody dies. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.580 People that you know and love 00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:03.160 will die. 00:24:05.320 --> 00:24:08.240 It will not give you one bit of 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:10.860 comfort when one, somebody you 00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:12.000 love dies. 00:24:12.479 --> 00:24:13.859 And all you know about their 00:24:14.719 --> 00:24:16.339 spiritual life is, is they had 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:19.679 some vague, general belief in 00:24:19.679 --> 00:24:20.139 God. 00:24:21.419 --> 00:24:22.679 That means nothing. 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:26.939 Because most people throughout 00:24:26.939 --> 00:24:31.799 the world believe in a general 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:34.019 God because God's revealed 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.879 himself in nature. 00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:37.599 People in our life that we know 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:39.519 and love, and we're concerned 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:42.339 about their eternal destiny, we're 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.099 concerned about their relationship 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:43.539 with God. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:46.139 Just because they have this 00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:49.920 general spirituality, don't let 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:52.740 that keep you from sharing the 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:55.460 gospel with them if you really are 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:57.639 concerned that they don't know 00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:58.099 Christ. 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:02.079 We need to understand that. 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:04.700 Now let's go one step closer to 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:06.080 ourselves. 00:25:06.080 --> 00:25:08.500 This is extremely personal. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:11.080 What do you believe? 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:19.700 What does your life clearly reveal 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:24.240 about the God you say you believe 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.420 in? 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:29.080 If people just watched you and 00:25:29.080 --> 00:25:31.700 listened to you, would they get 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:33.500 this idea that you believe in just 00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:35.940 the general idea of God? 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:39.700 And you just pray these general 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:44.440 mouthing words, prayers, especially 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.340 in a time of panic? 00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:48.580 Or do you have such a real 00:25:48.580 --> 00:25:50.960 relationship with God as your 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.660 heavenly Father? 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:55.279 You really are a follower of Jesus, 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:58.579 and it's obvious to people by the 00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.799 way that you live. 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:03.420 Let's go back to Jonah. 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:06.480 There's a storm raging that God has 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:11.000 hurled on this ship, and it's 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.940 Jonah's fault. 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:16.460 Jonah is on board trying to get 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:19.619 away from God, and God is not going 00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:20.220 to let him get away. 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:21.720 This is not the message this morning, 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.539 this will be later on. 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:24.740 But I want us to understand, if you're 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:26.700 a child of God, God is sovereign, 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:30.240 and if He has determined that you 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:32.259 are going to do something, you will 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:32.940 do it. 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:36.799 You may go through hell on earth. 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:40.019 You may go through a terrible storm. 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:45.339 But God will prevail in the life of 00:26:45.339 --> 00:26:48.700 His children, because He is sovereign 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:51.160 God, and His will is done. 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:57.700 So, don't think. 00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.940 I can just do what I want to do. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:02.640 If you can think that way and sleep 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:04.720 good at night, you probably are not a 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.000 Christian. 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:07.160 You may claim to be. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.920 You may have been baptized. 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:14.579 But you can't be a child of God, and 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:17.079 God has no place in your life. 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:20.199 Look at these sailors. 00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:26.279 They just got a general knowledge of God, 00:27:26.639 --> 00:27:28.939 and they've turned it into idolatry. 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:32.679 But I want you to see the sincerity. 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:35.839 That doesn't make them right, but it does 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:38.179 make them sincere. 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:42.940 They are sincerely calling out to false 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:48.080 gods that they don't even know with all 00:27:48.080 --> 00:27:48.600 their heart. 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:50.080 And look at Jonah. 00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:53.680 Jonah is a man of God. 00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:56.380 He is a prophet, but he's doing his best to 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:59.779 ignore God and this storm. 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.779 Here's what we see. 00:28:04.340 --> 00:28:07.840 Sometimes we, you and me, sometimes we as 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:11.079 God's children act more like atheists than 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.659 unbelievers. 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.039 That's right. 00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:17.459 Practically speaking, sometimes we live like 00:28:17.459 --> 00:28:22.779 an atheist in the way we relate to God, talk 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:24.179 about Him, serve Him. 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:25.679 Think about that. 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:27.079 How do you respond to a crisis? 00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:30.079 How do you respond to a crisis? 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.559 You get the phone call. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.919 Somebody close to you has been rushed to the 00:28:33.919 --> 00:28:35.059 hospital, had an accident. 00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:37.679 You get the bad news from the doctor about 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.279 yourself. 00:28:39.560 --> 00:28:41.920 How do you respond when it seems like your 00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:44.039 family is disintegrating? 00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:48.700 How do you respond to a crisis situation? 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:56.039 Do you automatically, first thing, draw close to 00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:59.320 your heavenly Father because you trust Him? 00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:03.500 You don't know what to do, but you know He does? 00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:08.339 Do you seek His wisdom in prayer? 00:29:09.939 --> 00:29:12.939 His wisdom and guidance in His Word? 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:16.840 How do you normally respond in a crisis? 00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:19.279 Do you do things like that or do you just fall to pieces? 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:23.820 Or do you just call somebody you know? 00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:27.599 Or do you just cuss and fuss? 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:30.059 Or find somebody to blame? 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:37.159 How do you normally live your life when there's not a crisis 00:29:37.159 --> 00:29:39.539 going on in relationship with God? 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:41.899 Think about it. 00:29:41.899 --> 00:29:42.220 Think about it. 00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:48.480 Do I seek to live in close fellowship with God just as a way of 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:48.779 life? 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.740 Here's the answer. 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:59.139 How much do you use God's means of grace to develop a 00:29:59.139 --> 00:29:59.879 relationship with Him? 00:30:00.059 --> 00:30:04.460 God's means of grace at the top of the list are prayer and Bible 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:04.799 reading. 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:10.079 This may sound overly simple, but this is a fact. 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:20.019 You and me, the closeness, the maturity of our relationship with 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:27.519 God, it can be measured right now, yours and mine, by those who 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:34.680 walk with us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and see how 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:39.160 much time we actually spend with God talking to Him in prayer, 00:30:39.840 --> 00:30:41.720 listening to Him as He speaks through His Word. 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:45.440 I cannot overstate that. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:50.160 I am a Christian, have been a long time, been a pastor for a long 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:50.539 time. 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:57.120 My personal fellowship, closeness with the Lord is dependent on my 00:30:57.120 --> 00:31:00.279 regular spending time with Him. 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:06.500 And if I don't, I'm going to be distant from God. 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:09.899 I'm going to have a harder heart. 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:13.500 I'm not going to be in tune with Him. 00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:17.519 I'm going to misread signs like Jonah has. 00:31:17.879 --> 00:31:18.700 We looked at it at the beginning. 00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:23.960 How do you normally live your life in a relationship with God when 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:25.200 there's no crisis going on? 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:26.680 That helps us see. 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:30.900 If you really want to know God, and if we're Christians, no one is 00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:34.559 satisfied where they are in terms of their closeness to God, their 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:37.480 knowledge of Him, His ways, and their ability to do it. 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:39.720 No one's where they ought to be, where they want to be. 00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:46.500 But if we want to grow, we just have to spend time with God and want 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:52.720 to and put forth the effort to listen, to talk, to live life with 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.620 Him and before Him. 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:56.160 How do you normally live your life in a relationship with God? 00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:59.120 Are you quick to confess your sins that God convicts you of? 00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:01.940 Or are you like Jonah and you like to run away? 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:06.980 It takes you forever to get honest with God and get right with Him. 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:13.860 If you are less spiritually aware or concerned than the people that you 00:32:13.860 --> 00:32:21.579 know who only have a general awareness of God, then I want you to look at 00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:22.860 Jonah as he sleeps. 00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:25.140 That's you. 00:32:28.120 --> 00:32:28.900 Think about it. 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.700 Let it sink in. 00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:42.460 If you are less spiritually aware, concerned, expressive than people who have, who are not 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:50.860 Christians, they have only a general awareness of God, then you're Jonah as he 00:32:50.860 --> 00:32:54.400 sleeps on this ship as he runs from God. 00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:56.400 And that's a dangerous place to be. 00:32:56.400 --> 00:33:06.280 It's a sign of spiritual rebellion or even worse, it could be a sign of being 00:33:06.280 --> 00:33:10.060 spiritually dead, which means you're not a Christian. 00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:15.519 We're going to continue looking at signs of spiritual rebellion next time, but I want 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:21.700 to conclude this message by looking at how we can experience the right kind of peace in 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:24.100 the midst of life storms. 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:26.179 See, Jonah had the wrong kind of peace. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.939 He could sleep and he shouldn't have been able to. 00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:32.679 But we can have peace, the right kind in the midst of storms. 00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:37.559 The gospel tells us of Jesus in the boat with His disciples, as I referred to a moment ago. 00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:42.299 They were crossing the Sea of Galilee when a storm suddenly struck. 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:48.799 The disciples were terrified and they woke Jesus, who was experiencing peaceful sleep. 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:50.639 They said, Lord, we're perishing. 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:56.000 Well, Jesus awoke and He calmed the storm. 00:33:56.379 --> 00:34:01.099 Scripture says, He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, peace be still. 00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:05.079 And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:12.039 Jesus calmed the storm because of His sovereign power as the Son of God. 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:21.619 He is still the sovereign Lord who can calm the storms in our lives today. 00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:29.239 Jesus can calm the storm of God's wrath on our sin. 00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:32.559 You see, Jonah's storm came up because of Jonah's rebellion. 00:34:34.779 --> 00:34:38.159 Jonah's sin caused Jonah's storm. 00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:44.739 Not always, but sometimes our sin caused our storms. 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:52.379 Well, Jesus died on the cross to take God's wrath against our sins. 00:34:53.219 --> 00:34:56.559 And when we truly admit it, repent of our sin and trust Jesus, 00:34:57.039 --> 00:35:06.420 we experience not only forgiveness, but we experience peace with God and the peace of God. 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:11.420 And if you're not a Christian and you want to experience that peace, 00:35:11.619 --> 00:35:16.559 I want to encourage you right this moment to turn from your sin, 00:35:17.200 --> 00:35:21.780 trust Christ, call upon Him to save you, commit your life to Him right now. 00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:25.340 But could it be that you're going through a storm right now 00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:28.000 and you are definitely a Christian? 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:35.079 Like Jonah, you know God, but you know you're disobeying Him right now about something. 00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:39.860 Well, you can stop running from God if you want to. 00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:46.300 You can come back to Him in confession, in repentance, in a renewed commitment to Him. 00:35:47.300 --> 00:35:50.179 And I want you to know if you'll stop running and come back to Him, 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:53.000 God will receive you with open arms. 00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:55.599 He'll forgive you. 00:35:55.820 --> 00:35:56.760 He'll cleanse you. 00:35:57.119 --> 00:36:00.920 He will restore you to close fellowship with Him and give you a fresh start. 00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:03.880 Scripture tells us if we confess our sins, 00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:07.260 He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:11.000 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:14.099 If you're away from God, 00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:18.159 if you're not enjoying close fellowship with Him, 00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:21.420 that can change now. 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:24.179 Look at the Word. 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.379 Listen to the Word. 00:36:25.659 --> 00:36:26.619 Obey the Word. 00:36:27.879 --> 00:36:32.359 And experience God's forgiveness and restoration and peace now. 00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:34.019 He offers it, 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.819 but you've got to take it. 00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:38.099 Let's pray together. 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.359 Father, 00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:42.299 show us now 00:36:42.299 --> 00:36:45.579 what we need to do, 00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:47.899 everyone individually, personally, 00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:49.539 in light of what 00:36:49.539 --> 00:36:52.119 you have said through your Word and your Spirit 00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:53.399 in this message. 00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:56.359 Father, 00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:58.059 help us to see ourselves as we are, 00:36:58.420 --> 00:37:00.460 and then help us to be honest 00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:04.339 and obey you now. 00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:07.480 And then an attitude of prayer, 00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:08.239 let's just do that. 00:37:08.859 --> 00:37:09.659 All of us. 00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.579 You pray. 00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.480 You listen to the Lord. 00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:13.279 You do what He's telling you to do. 00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:16.139 I would be happy to pray with you 00:37:16.139 --> 00:37:18.000 at this very moment. 00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:20.079 I'll be here at the front. 00:37:20.879 --> 00:37:21.759 But the next few minutes, 00:37:21.839 --> 00:37:23.099 it's just designed for everybody 00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:24.239 to be still and quiet 00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:25.239 and listen to the Lord 00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:27.059 and do what He's telling you to do. 00:37:27.420 --> 00:37:28.039 Let's do that. 00:37:28.039 --> 00:37:28.099 Let's do that. 00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:58.079 Thank you.