WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.939 Well, a few months ago, as I was taking one of my children a little bit further north for a 00:00:10.939 --> 00:00:17.839 running club that she's a part of, I saw a sign for a local church broadly announcing 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:20.980 and proclaiming, your story's important. 00:00:23.320 --> 00:00:29.100 And while it is certainly true that God loves us, that he cares deeply about us, 00:00:29.100 --> 00:00:37.800 that he knows us intimately, the sign pointed to an age-old universal temptation 00:00:37.800 --> 00:00:43.140 that faces human beings in all places and all times. 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:53.140 It's that temptation, that desire to make the story all about me. 00:00:53.140 --> 00:01:02.280 To steal the plot line from our Creator and to garner the glory for ourselves. 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:06.120 It's what Adam and Eve did in the garden. 00:01:07.900 --> 00:01:17.040 Taking and eating the fruit so that they could establish their own standard of what was right and what was wrong. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:23.840 It's the same temptation that we read about today in Jonah chapter 1. 00:01:25.740 --> 00:01:33.740 And if we're honest with ourselves, it's the same temptation we face every morning we wake up. 00:01:33.739 --> 00:01:44.159 In Colossians 1, 15 through 20, the Apostle Paul clearly presents God's plot. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:46.780 In summary, he states, 00:01:46.780 --> 00:02:11.819 Let us keep this in mind as we consider the first chapter of Jonah as a cautionary tale. 00:02:11.819 --> 00:02:17.400 A cautionary tale for those of us tempted to steal the plot. 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:26.479 Tempted to steal the plot by making the story about us instead of making it about God's sovereign grace. 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:36.639 But rest assured, even when we attempt to steal the story from our Creator, 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.239 we discover, like we do in Jonah, 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:45.000 that God sovereignly weaves both good and evil, 00:02:45.459 --> 00:02:46.859 obedience and rebellion, 00:02:47.359 --> 00:02:49.939 the mighty and the lowly of this world, 00:02:50.359 --> 00:02:53.159 and the entire pageantry of his creation 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:57.339 into the plot of his enduring grace. 00:02:57.340 --> 00:03:04.480 And so when we read through Jonah 1, 1 through 16, 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:08.719 I'd ask for you to be on the lookout for three warnings 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:11.099 that we will consider 00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:14.800 about elevating our story 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:16.259 and stealing the plot. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:17.939 But before we do that, 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:19.439 if you would join me in prayer, 00:03:20.060 --> 00:03:22.599 and then we will turn our attention to reading Jonah 1. 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:23.240 Let us pray. 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:23.300 Amen. 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:28.780 God, we are thankful for your word. 00:03:30.020 --> 00:03:32.219 God, for it is a bedrock of truth 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:36.240 in a world that doesn't know what truth is. 00:03:38.760 --> 00:03:42.080 And God, we are thankful for your son, Jesus Christ. 00:03:43.860 --> 00:03:46.060 God, we are thankful for your Holy Spirit, 00:03:46.180 --> 00:03:48.860 and we ask that your Holy Spirit might even now 00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:52.500 prepare our hearts for the reading and the teaching of your word. 00:03:53.300 --> 00:03:58.680 And all of this might be done for our good and your glory. 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:00.140 In Christ's name we pray. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:00.680 Amen. 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:02.980 All right. 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:06.160 So if you would join with me in turning to Jonah 1, 00:04:07.020 --> 00:04:09.820 we're going to read all the way up to the point 00:04:09.820 --> 00:04:11.640 where everybody thinks that Jonah is about, 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:12.640 which is the big fish. 00:04:12.860 --> 00:04:15.260 We're not even going to touch the big fish today. 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:19.699 And so let's start with Jonah 1, verse 1. 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:25.159 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:31.219 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:34.620 for their evil has come up before me. 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:42.199 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 00:04:42.459 --> 00:04:45.779 He went down to Joppa and found the ship going to Tarshish. 00:04:45.779 --> 00:04:50.839 So he paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish, 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:54.259 away from the presence of the Lord. 00:04:55.379 --> 00:04:58.799 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:01.359 and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, 00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:04.799 so that the ship threatened to break up. 00:05:06.179 --> 00:05:10.319 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his God. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:15.139 And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. 00:05:16.099 --> 00:05:19.800 But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:24.740 and had lain down and was fast asleep. 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:28.519 So the captain came and said to him, 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:30.500 What do you mean, you sleeper? 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:33.639 Arise, call out to your God. 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:38.399 Perhaps the God will give a thought to us that we may not perish. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:42.000 And they said to one another, 00:05:42.539 --> 00:05:47.979 Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:05:49.039 --> 00:05:54.239 So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:57.099 Then they said to him, 00:05:57.419 --> 00:06:00.139 Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:06:00.379 --> 00:06:03.079 What is your occupation, and where do you come from? 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.579 What is your country, and of what people are you? 00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:08.680 And he said to them, 00:06:09.539 --> 00:06:12.680 I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, 00:06:12.779 --> 00:06:14.859 who made the sea and the dry land. 00:06:16.779 --> 00:06:19.680 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:21.219 and said to him, 00:06:21.539 --> 00:06:23.979 What is this that you have done? 00:06:25.259 --> 00:06:28.759 For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, 00:06:29.099 --> 00:06:30.439 because he had told them. 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:34.040 Then they said to him, 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:37.439 What shall we do to you that the sea may quiet down for us? 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:42.279 For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:44.980 He said to them, 00:06:45.720 --> 00:06:50.019 Pick me up and hurl me into the sea. 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:53.240 Then the sea will quiet down for you, 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:59.980 for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you. 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:05.540 Nevertheless, the men rode hard to get back to dry land, 00:07:05.660 --> 00:07:06.800 but they could not, 00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:10.259 for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 00:07:11.819 --> 00:07:14.379 Therefore, they called out to the Lord, 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:18.120 O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:20.779 and lay not on us innocent blood, 00:07:21.159 --> 00:07:24.259 for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you. 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:29.360 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:32.920 and the sea ceased from its raging. 00:07:33.980 --> 00:07:36.259 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:40.879 and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:51.680 Well, we see the first warning here in the first three verses. 00:07:53.180 --> 00:07:58.860 And really, what we see before getting into that is, 00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:00.980 you know, in today's culture, 00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:03.420 in today's Christian culture, I would say, 00:08:03.420 --> 00:08:07.699 we make much ado about open doors. 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:12.480 And I remember, as a kid, 00:08:13.140 --> 00:08:15.020 pleading with God, 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:18.280 God, would you just open this door or close this door? 00:08:18.400 --> 00:08:20.220 That way I would know what you want me to do. 00:08:20.220 --> 00:08:30.040 So we plead with God for these open doors or the closed doors. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:33.120 Oftentimes, you know, it's more like, 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.960 God, would you open the easy doors, 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:39.060 and would you close the doors that would be hard for me to walk through? 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:44.220 We also praise God. 00:08:44.660 --> 00:08:47.019 You know, we praise God when he opens the doors, 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:50.799 especially the ones we want open in, 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:55.299 and we have this sense of peace that God is working in our lives 00:08:55.299 --> 00:08:57.639 and moving us towards this one open door. 00:08:58.019 --> 00:09:00.139 And we praise him for closing doors, 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:03.759 and we see what would have happened maybe if we'd gone through that door, 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:07.059 and we thank him for the protection that he's given to us. 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:11.919 And then when we're talking with other people about decisions that we've made, 00:09:12.019 --> 00:09:15.399 we present this concept of open and closed doors 00:09:15.399 --> 00:09:17.620 as a way of saying, 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:22.120 hey, yeah, you know, this is justification for why I'm making this decision. 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:31.720 And sometimes we fail to avail ourselves 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:34.799 of what God has presented to us 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:38.459 as a way of knowing what it is that we are to do 00:09:38.459 --> 00:09:41.059 to glorify and enjoy him forever. 00:09:41.059 --> 00:09:45.139 We may ask for open doors, 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:47.379 but do we look to Scripture 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:50.119 where God has clearly laid out 00:09:50.119 --> 00:09:53.079 what it is that he requires of us? 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:57.519 Do we pray and seek 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:59.500 the confirmation of the Holy Spirit 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:01.139 as we consider, 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:03.679 and do we ask for the wisdom 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:05.719 to make these difficult decisions? 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:11.779 Do we consult godly men and women 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:14.180 that God has placed in our midst 00:10:14.180 --> 00:10:16.340 who have life experiences 00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:17.420 that can help us 00:10:17.420 --> 00:10:20.139 to know what it is that we are to do 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:21.860 and to make a wise decision? 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:24.960 And I bring that up 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:26.920 because really this first warning 00:10:26.920 --> 00:10:29.399 is a warning against, 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:31.540 well, not nearly against, 00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:33.139 but to beware 00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:37.679 of following and pursuing open doors. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:40.980 Because when we look at Jonah's life, 00:10:41.319 --> 00:10:42.279 we can see here 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:43.699 where in many ways, 00:10:44.079 --> 00:10:46.599 Jonah followed open doors 00:10:46.599 --> 00:10:48.360 in direct opposition 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:50.159 to what God had called him to do. 00:10:52.599 --> 00:10:54.879 God called him to go preach to the Ninevites. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:57.159 Jonah said, 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:58.199 I don't want to do that. 00:10:58.200 --> 00:11:02.360 And he had open doors. 00:11:02.560 --> 00:11:04.120 He had a profession 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:06.320 that allowed him to travel. 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:08.720 Oh, open door. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.759 He had a profession 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:14.860 that provided him with at least funds 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:16.060 to make such a trip. 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:17.860 Huh, open door. 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:21.280 He had 00:11:21.280 --> 00:11:26.600 an ability 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:29.420 to go 00:11:29.420 --> 00:11:30.519 to the 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:31.259 port. 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:35.920 Open door. 00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:37.779 There's a port nearby. 00:11:38.920 --> 00:11:40.500 Not only is there a port nearby, 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:41.980 there's a ship in that port. 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:43.759 Ah, 00:11:44.040 --> 00:11:44.920 and lo and behold, 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.639 there are sailors there 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:47.980 that are getting ready 00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:49.180 to depart to Tarshish, 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:50.259 the furthest place 00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:51.540 away that I want to go 00:11:51.540 --> 00:11:52.220 from Nineveh. 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:53.279 And guess what? 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:55.480 They're going to take me on 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:56.120 as a passenger. 00:11:56.600 --> 00:11:57.940 Open door. 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:04.540 Jonah using 00:12:04.540 --> 00:12:06.340 the very blessings 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:07.800 of the God 00:12:07.800 --> 00:12:09.120 he is seeking 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:10.420 to flee from 00:12:10.420 --> 00:12:13.980 just 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:15.340 to follow 00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:16.700 his own plot. 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:17.720 And what plot is that? 00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:17.920 Well, 00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:19.240 God's plot was, 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:19.680 Jonah, 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:21.080 I want you to go to Nineveh 00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:22.779 and show them grace 00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:25.779 to be the mouthpiece 00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:27.379 that calls them 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:28.039 to repentance. 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:29.600 Jonah's like, 00:12:29.659 --> 00:12:29.839 nope, 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:30.100 nope. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:31.379 God, 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:32.439 I want you to pour out 00:12:32.439 --> 00:12:33.459 your wrath and judgment 00:12:33.459 --> 00:12:33.959 on them. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.939 I don't want to offer them 00:12:35.939 --> 00:12:36.559 your grace. 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:38.819 God says, 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.100 Jonah, 00:12:39.199 --> 00:12:40.360 I want you to go tell 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:40.879 the Ninevites 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.199 how much I love them. 00:12:45.199 --> 00:12:45.559 Jonah says, 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:45.779 no, 00:12:45.819 --> 00:12:45.939 no, 00:12:45.939 --> 00:12:46.100 no, 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:46.199 no, 00:12:46.199 --> 00:12:46.319 no, 00:12:46.319 --> 00:12:46.439 no. 00:12:46.439 --> 00:12:46.500 No, 00:12:46.500 --> 00:12:46.519 no. 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:54.139 God says, 00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:54.579 Jonah, 00:12:54.699 --> 00:12:56.039 I have an internal 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:57.759 perspective here. 00:12:58.699 --> 00:12:59.600 I'm looking 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:00.960 at bringing 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:01.759 these people 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:03.699 into my kingdom. 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:04.860 And Jonah says, 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:05.240 no, 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:05.360 no, 00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:05.500 no, 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:05.600 no, 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:05.740 no, 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:05.939 God, 00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:07.799 these are the people 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:09.539 that have hurt us. 00:13:09.939 --> 00:13:11.279 These people have killed us. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.840 These people will invade 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:13.759 our land 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:14.439 if we give them 00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:14.799 the chance. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:15.000 No, 00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:15.120 no, 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:15.240 no, 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.360 I want you 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:17.039 to totally 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:18.019 obliterate them. 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:23.139 So he flees 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:25.960 using the very blessings 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:27.980 that God had given him 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:30.180 to turn his back 00:13:30.180 --> 00:13:32.019 on service to God. 00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:41.460 Jonah didn't have very much 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:43.159 compared to what we have today. 00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:46.439 Think of the resources 00:13:46.439 --> 00:13:48.860 that we have 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:50.319 because we live 00:13:50.319 --> 00:13:51.199 in this time 00:13:51.199 --> 00:13:52.379 and this place. 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.899 Then how many 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:58.240 of those conveniences 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.240 and blessings 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:02.219 can we use 00:14:02.219 --> 00:14:03.019 to justify 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:04.559 turning our back 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:06.339 on doing what God 00:14:06.339 --> 00:14:07.339 has called us to do? 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:19.300 we're there 00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:20.200 with Jonah 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:22.340 fleeing 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:23.240 from the service 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:23.820 of God 00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:25.399 and we 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:26.360 turn from that 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:27.320 to him getting 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:28.019 on board ship 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:29.200 to all of a sudden 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:30.120 we are in 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:32.100 a very chaotic scene. 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:33.600 Right? 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:35.159 We see this 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:37.060 supernatural storm 00:14:37.060 --> 00:14:37.899 that as the reader 00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:38.340 we know 00:14:38.340 --> 00:14:39.120 is God 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.659 hurling this storm 00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:41.440 at this ship 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:43.139 but all we see here 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:44.700 are these salty sailors 00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:46.340 who are scared. 00:14:47.980 --> 00:14:49.320 They have not seen 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:50.560 a storm like this. 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:52.759 And so there is 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:54.139 a flurry of activity 00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:55.399 as they are taking 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:56.620 their precious cargo. 00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:58.600 It is those things 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:00.840 that make their livelihood. 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:02.660 It is those possessions 00:15:02.660 --> 00:15:03.700 that they will use 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:04.560 to turn a profit 00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.280 to take care 00:15:05.280 --> 00:15:06.040 of their families 00:15:06.040 --> 00:15:07.320 and they are throwing 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:08.160 it overboard 00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:09.220 in some chance 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.519 to lighten the ship 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.240 that it might 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:12.560 break free 00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:14.019 from the storm. 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.080 The text tells us 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:17.680 that the storm 00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:18.780 is so violent 00:15:18.780 --> 00:15:20.180 that the ship 00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:21.360 threatens 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:23.160 to break apart 00:15:23.160 --> 00:15:25.980 to disintegrate. 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:31.340 Now this is 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.379 no small storm. 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:35.440 This is a storm 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:37.539 that places 00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:38.860 the lives 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:40.980 of Jonah 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.940 and not only Jonah 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:44.200 but all of the sailors 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:44.779 on board 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:45.379 in jeopardy. 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.820 But it is because of Jonah 00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.560 that they are there. 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:48.480 Right? 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:48.879 Jonah, 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:50.000 the plot stealer, 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.980 the rebellious prophet 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:55.879 who insists 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.560 upon his own story 00:15:57.560 --> 00:15:59.740 instead of following 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.659 God's story. 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.440 It's as if God 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.920 is throwing this storm 00:16:06.920 --> 00:16:07.940 at this little vessel 00:16:07.940 --> 00:16:08.360 saying, 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:08.740 Jonah, 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:10.420 you need to make 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:12.340 a plot correction. 00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.500 You're going 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.460 in the wrong direction 00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:17.320 and I need you 00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:18.480 to turn around now. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:20.980 And we see 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:22.180 this chaotic scene 00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:23.480 taking place 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.379 above deck 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.720 and where is Jonah, 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.779 the plot stealer, 00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.279 the one who God 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.019 is trying to get 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:29.600 his attention? 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:34.700 He's down 00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.060 in the hold 00:16:35.060 --> 00:16:35.560 of the ship. 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.519 Is he cowering? 00:16:38.680 --> 00:16:38.980 No. 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:40.060 He's fast asleep. 00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:42.500 Deep sleep. 00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:44.120 The word there 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.320 is for sleep 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:45.860 like you're 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.940 in surgery asleep. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:47.720 I mean, 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.620 this dude's out. 00:16:54.300 --> 00:16:55.399 And he doesn't 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:56.879 even know 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.759 what's going on. 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:58.840 Completely 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:00.320 oblivious 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.379 to the fact 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:02.420 that his rebellion 00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:05.000 has his life 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:05.460 in peril 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:07.380 and also 00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:08.680 all of the sailors 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.180 on board 00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:09.759 that ship. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.519 So the captain 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.200 comes down 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.259 and he sees Jonah 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:16.600 and he says, 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.740 wake up! 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:19.719 Wake up, 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.579 you sleeper! 00:17:21.199 --> 00:17:22.399 What are you doing? 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.699 Call out to your God. 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.439 Don't you know 00:17:25.439 --> 00:17:26.740 that we're in danger here? 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:27.659 Perhaps, 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.619 just maybe, 00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:29.719 your God 00:17:29.719 --> 00:17:30.699 will hear 00:17:30.699 --> 00:17:33.279 and he'll save us. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:39.660 the race 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.180 is the question 00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:41.480 of how could 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:41.839 Jonah 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:42.440 sleep 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:42.960 at a time 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.480 like that? 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.200 Man, 00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:47.259 I've been 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.799 on a very 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.859 small ship 00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:50.599 and in the 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:51.899 very small 00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:52.440 waves 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:53.099 comparatively 00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:53.700 and not 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.299 in the storm 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:54.740 and 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:57.000 let's just say, 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:57.720 I did not 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.480 enjoy that 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:00.359 and we weren't 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:00.839 even in the 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:01.479 open sea 00:18:01.479 --> 00:18:02.559 but we were 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.079 bouncing up 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.459 and down 00:18:04.459 --> 00:18:06.000 and the 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.500 hold is 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.299 even worse. 00:18:07.699 --> 00:18:08.279 You get down 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:08.519 in there, 00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.319 there's no air 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:09.839 moving, 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:12.479 start turning 00:18:12.479 --> 00:18:12.979 green, 00:18:13.679 --> 00:18:14.319 you wish you 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:14.679 were back 00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:15.179 up on deck 00:18:15.179 --> 00:18:15.639 but there's 00:18:15.639 --> 00:18:15.939 Jonah 00:18:15.939 --> 00:18:17.319 fast asleep 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:21.079 with a 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:21.359 hardened 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:21.839 heart 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:24.079 oblivious 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:26.639 and 00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:27.299 calloused 00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:29.039 to God's 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.539 plot. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:33.879 It's 00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:34.279 odd 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:34.819 that while 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:35.139 Jonah 00:18:35.139 --> 00:18:35.659 definitely 00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:36.359 doesn't have 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:36.839 peace with 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:37.200 God, 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:38.079 he's found 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:38.839 peace within 00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:39.319 himself. 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:42.639 He's 00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:43.059 happy, 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:43.839 he's content 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:44.240 with what 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:44.679 he's done. 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:54.419 gives me 00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:54.939 pause 00:18:54.939 --> 00:18:57.019 to think 00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.259 are there 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:57.759 times in 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.339 my life 00:18:58.339 --> 00:19:05.799 where perhaps 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.700 I've wrested 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.240 the plot 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.539 from God's 00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:08.899 hands 00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:10.899 and attempted 00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:11.439 to make it 00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:11.879 all about 00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:12.240 me 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:15.139 and in 00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:15.700 doing so 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.200 have hardened 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:16.779 my heart 00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:18.079 to what 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:18.440 God's 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:18.920 calling me 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.319 to do. 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.299 That I've 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:21.799 pursued 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:23.019 my own 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.500 story 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:25.220 instead of 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:25.639 caring 00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:27.399 about God's 00:19:27.399 --> 00:19:27.759 plot. 00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:36.019 But even 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:36.660 in the midst 00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:38.899 of Jonah's 00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:39.720 hardened 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.399 calloused 00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:40.700 heart, 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:41.759 even in the 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.359 midst of him 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.119 running away 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:43.799 from God, 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:45.799 God's 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.200 sovereign 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:46.919 grace is 00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:47.539 at work. 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.319 Even in 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:49.680 the midst 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:49.980 of his 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.419 rebellion. 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.680 You see, 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:54.960 the ship 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.700 captain didn't 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.139 have to go 00:19:56.139 --> 00:19:56.619 down into 00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.200 that hold. 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.240 The ship 00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.019 captain didn't 00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.720 have to see 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.019 Jonah. 00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:01.399 The ship 00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:02.099 captain didn't 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:02.639 have to wake 00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:03.039 him up. 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:05.639 What a 00:20:05.639 --> 00:20:06.359 grace that 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:07.099 God gave 00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:08.559 Jonah in 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.139 the form of 00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:09.779 that captain 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.779 to come 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:11.500 down and 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:11.980 to wake 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.480 him up. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.220 Otherwise, 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.079 Jonah would 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:16.000 have plunged 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.000 to a 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.400 watery 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:17.839 grave, 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.920 along with 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.259 all the 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:20.620 other 00:20:20.620 --> 00:20:21.420 sailors. 00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:24.400 We see 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:24.779 God's 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.039 sovereign 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:25.640 grace at 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:26.019 work in 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:26.480 the casting 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.079 of lots. 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.099 These sailors 00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:28.680 aren't doing 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:28.860 this, 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.019 saying, 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.880 let's see 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:31.920 what Yahweh 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.380 Jehovah 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.480 God has to 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:33.880 say about 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:34.539 this situation. 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:35.279 They're like, 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.740 hey, this is 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.180 how we figure 00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:38.440 out whose 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.519 fault this 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:39.779 is. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.059 So let's 00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.679 throw some 00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:42.019 dice. 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.079 Let's 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.599 pick some 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.139 straws. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.220 And whoever 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:45.679 has the 00:20:45.679 --> 00:20:46.319 lowest number 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:46.779 or the 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.019 shortest 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.399 straw, 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.000 yeah, I 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.460 guess that's 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:48.819 the one 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:50.720 who's causing 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.099 all this 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.419 trouble. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:57.879 God in 00:20:57.879 --> 00:20:58.419 his sovereign 00:20:58.419 --> 00:21:00.179 grace ensures 00:21:00.179 --> 00:21:01.440 that Jonah 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:03.279 pulls the 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.740 short straw. 00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.059 It could 00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:07.339 have been 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:07.859 sailor number 00:21:07.859 --> 00:21:08.519 two for all 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:08.839 we know. 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:11.779 But God 00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:13.000 sovereignly 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:14.980 oversaw it 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.939 to make 00:21:15.939 --> 00:21:16.480 sure that 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.959 Jonah was 00:21:17.959 --> 00:21:18.500 identified. 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.139 And then we 00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:22.759 see God's 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.299 sovereign grace 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:23.879 at work in 00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:24.259 Jonah's 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:24.759 confession. 00:21:26.939 --> 00:21:27.339 Now as 00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:27.799 soon as he 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.199 pulls the 00:21:28.199 --> 00:21:28.959 short straw and 00:21:28.959 --> 00:21:29.339 they start 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.939 peppering him 00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:30.480 with questions, 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:30.899 he's like, 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.919 yep, it's 00:21:32.919 --> 00:21:33.119 me. 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.539 Hi, I'm 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:35.939 the problem. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.859 Yep, it's 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:38.059 me. 00:21:40.439 --> 00:21:41.039 They say, 00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:41.939 oh, okay, so 00:21:41.939 --> 00:21:42.419 what are we 00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:42.699 to do, 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:42.959 Jonah? 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.659 You're the 00:21:44.659 --> 00:21:45.039 problem. 00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:46.579 Tell us what 00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:46.879 do we need 00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.299 to do here. 00:21:50.919 --> 00:21:51.439 And he 00:21:51.439 --> 00:21:52.740 says, just 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.119 like you've 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:53.399 done with 00:21:53.399 --> 00:21:53.839 your cargo, 00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:56.019 pick me up 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:57.399 and hurl 00:21:57.399 --> 00:21:58.319 me into 00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:58.799 the sea. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:04.359 And they'll 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:04.639 say, they're 00:22:04.639 --> 00:22:05.119 saying, no, 00:22:05.139 --> 00:22:05.460 no, no, no, 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.180 no, that 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:07.079 can't be the 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.700 answer, Jonah. 00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:09.079 That's not the 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:09.259 answer. 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:09.940 We're going to, 00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:10.759 I tell you what 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.000 we're going to 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.359 do, Jonah. 00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:13.200 We are going to 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:14.059 row our 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.599 hardest. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.000 So they take 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.720 their oars and 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.079 it says they 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:18.399 dug their oars 00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:19.460 into the sea, 00:22:19.919 --> 00:22:21.519 trying to get 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.500 themselves out 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.819 of this storm, 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:26.019 but the storm 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.720 doesn't relent. 00:22:27.899 --> 00:22:28.720 They don't make 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.439 any progress. 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:33.019 In fact, the 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.759 text tells us 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.819 the storm got 00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:35.359 worse. 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.500 The harder 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.399 they fought 00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.200 against it, 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.139 the harder 00:22:40.139 --> 00:22:41.279 the storm 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.139 fought. 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.619 But we're not 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:50.139 much different 00:22:50.139 --> 00:22:50.639 than the sailors, 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.019 are we? 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:55.439 we're invited 00:22:55.439 --> 00:22:57.439 to join God's 00:22:57.439 --> 00:22:58.019 plotline 00:22:58.019 --> 00:23:01.079 through the 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:02.220 free grace 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.720 offered by 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.439 Jesus Christ. 00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:07.059 Yet there's 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.659 something that we 00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.419 can't give up, 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:08.879 is there? 00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:11.359 It's that age-old 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.759 temptation, that 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.200 idea of making 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.159 the story all 00:23:15.159 --> 00:23:16.279 about me, of 00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.619 self-reliance, 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.899 which is so 00:23:18.899 --> 00:23:20.220 strong, even 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:20.939 in our country. 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:24.700 No, no, no. 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.319 We want to be 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:25.960 like the sailors 00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.319 and say, 00:23:26.399 --> 00:23:26.759 no, God, 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:27.519 God, I got 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:27.939 this. 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:28.980 Let me just 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.779 roll a little 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.500 bit harder. 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.639 Let me know 00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:38.259 that in some 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.759 way I 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.339 contributed, 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.439 that in some 00:23:40.439 --> 00:23:40.839 way I 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.559 earned it. 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:48.740 just like the 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.919 sailors struggling 00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:50.700 to toss Jonah 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:52.139 overboard, we 00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:52.940 struggle to 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:54.119 accept God's 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.579 rescue presented 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.460 in the once and 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.559 for all sacrifice 00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:58.039 of Jesus 00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.460 Christ. 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.119 We find 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.799 ourselves 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:03.019 fighting against 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:03.579 the prophetic 00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:04.279 words of 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.819 Caiaphas in 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.679 John chapter 00:24:06.679 --> 00:24:07.859 11 when he 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.179 says, 00:24:08.179 --> 00:24:09.139 better that one 00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:10.940 man die than 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:11.340 the whole 00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.200 nation perish. 00:24:20.080 --> 00:24:20.920 But we 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.600 want to work 00:24:21.600 --> 00:24:22.120 for it. 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.580 We want to 00:24:23.580 --> 00:24:24.160 earn it. 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.980 We want to 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.820 grasp for 00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:28.799 ourselves through 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.420 our own 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:30.980 efforts the 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:32.340 rescue that 00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:33.799 is freely and 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:35.980 graciously bestowed 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:37.779 upon us through 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.559 faith in Jesus 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:38.980 Christ. 00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:42.480 after all, 00:24:42.580 --> 00:24:42.980 like our 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.620 first parents, 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.500 we love 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.200 pursuing our 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.740 own plot 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.039 line. 00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:48.600 We want to 00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:49.299 make it all 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.320 about us. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.380 In closing, 00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:55.100 we see that 00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:55.559 just like 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:55.840 Jonah, 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.039 our story is 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.640 not the main 00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:58.180 plot line. 00:24:59.420 --> 00:24:59.720 Instead, 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:00.299 the main 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.360 plot of 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.140 Jonah's life 00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:03.259 and of our 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:05.440 lives is 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.200 that of 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.200 God's 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:07.799 sovereign 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:08.759 grace 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:10.440 pursuing us. 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.359 God's 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:13.660 sovereign grace 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:15.200 pulling us 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:16.640 into his 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.160 story. 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:21.180 His story 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:22.339 of reconciling 00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:23.319 all things 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:24.779 unto himself 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:26.039 by making 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:26.759 peace with 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.940 us through 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:29.039 Christ's life, 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:29.900 death, 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.539 and resurrection. 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:34.319 So when 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:34.759 you're at the 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.139 end of the 00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:35.539 rope in 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.079 your story, 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:38.819 when you 00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:39.279 dug the 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:39.920 oars in 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.480 deep and 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:40.899 you're not 00:25:40.899 --> 00:25:41.159 getting 00:25:41.159 --> 00:25:41.779 anywhere and 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.500 the stormed 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.079 waves keep 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:43.819 crashing against 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.079 you, 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:47.240 when you 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.899 are hopeless, 00:25:49.159 --> 00:25:49.500 helpless, 00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:51.920 and even 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.659 numb to 00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:53.079 God's 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:53.379 plot, 00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:55.440 the heavenly 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.159 father is 00:25:56.159 --> 00:25:57.379 poised and 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.639 ready to 00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.319 rescue you. 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:03.399 he is 00:26:03.399 --> 00:26:03.960 there to 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.819 pull you 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:06.139 into his 00:26:06.139 --> 00:26:07.059 gloriously 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.920 grand plot. 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:10.899 You don't 00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:11.180 need to 00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:11.659 hold on, 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.440 you don't 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:13.759 need to 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.299 row hard, 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:17.299 because the 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:17.700 work is 00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.059 done. 00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:19.899 Christ, 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.879 the son 00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:21.460 of God, 00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.759 has made 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.859 peace with 00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:25.420 God for 00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:25.819 you. 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.440 In other 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:28.759 words, 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:29.759 your story 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.259 is important. 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.539 God, 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:34.099 it is 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:34.700 never more 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:36.460 important than 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.000 when it is 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.319 woven into 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.879 God's grand 00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:41.240 plot of 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.940 making all 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.700 things right. 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.099 Let us 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.339 pray. 00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:51.200 Oh God, 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:51.680 we thank you 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:51.980 for your 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.399 word, we 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.139 thank you for 00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:54.519 the life of 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.460 Jonah, we 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:55.940 thank you for 00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.619 his struggles, 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.799 for in them we 00:26:57.799 --> 00:26:58.740 see our own. 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:00.799 God, more 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.519 importantly than 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.279 seeing our 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.920 struggles, God, 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:05.420 we see your 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.400 sovereign grace, 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:08.960 your grace at 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:11.299 work, and 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.960 even the most 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.140 mundane things, 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.039 in the storms, 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.180 in the casting 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:17.759 of lots, and 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.880 people waking up 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:19.200 Jonah. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.700 God, we ask 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.420 this morning that 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:23.839 you might allow 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.660 us through the 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:25.339 power and presence 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:25.980 of your Holy 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.699 Spirit to see 00:27:27.699 --> 00:27:28.819 your grace at 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.419 work in our 00:27:29.419 --> 00:27:31.139 lives, that we 00:27:31.139 --> 00:27:32.279 might trust you 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:34.259 and not 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:34.799 ourselves. 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.539 In Christ's name 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.399 we pray, amen. 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:37.540 Amen.