WEBVTT

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 Three pastors were having lunch together at a restaurant.

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 One of them said he wanted to let them know that he had found the most effective way to pray.

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 He said, what you do is you sit, you fold your hands together, your fingers pointing toward heaven.

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 That, he said, is just the best way for me to pray.

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 The second pastor said, well, it's not for me.

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 The most effective way that I have found to pray is to get on your knees.

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 That's what most people do in the Bible, he said.

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 It's just the most, best sign of humility.

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 Well, the third pastor said, you're both wrong.

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 The real way to pray for God to hear your prayer is to stretch out, lay flat on the floor with your face down.

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 Well, there was a telephone repairman sitting at the table next to them and he had overheard what they said.

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 And so he came up to them and said, excuse me, but I couldn't help but hearing your discussion.

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 I discovered the most effective way to pray when I was hanging upside down by my feet from a power pole 50 feet in the air.

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 He said, that's when I prayed desperately.

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 Now, the telephone repairman was right, wasn't he?

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 The most effective way to pray has nothing to do with your posture.

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 Now, I know most people don't worry about it, but there's been some people who've been hung up on that.

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 Should I kneel?

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 Should I stand?

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 Should I really just lie flat on my face?

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 Whatever works for you.

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 Whatever way you can be still before the Lord, you do it.

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 He's not really concerned about your posture.

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 He's concerned more about your heart.

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 It's all about our attitude.

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 It's all about what's going on in our mind, in our heart, in our conscience.

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 What's really important when we approach God in prayer, or what's really important when we approach God, period,

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 is to know that we are on a daily basis.

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 We're desperate for Him.

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 We're in desperate need of His grace.

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 We're in desperate need of His help every day, every day of our lives.

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 The most desperate prayer Jonah ever prayed was from the belly of the great fish,

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 as we've been looking at in Jonah chapter 2.

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 I want you to think with me.

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 Why is it that God has to put us in a difficult situation to remind us how much we need Him?

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 You know, when things are going well, I mean, when life's good, everybody's treating us well.

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 You know, there's just peace at home, work's going well, school's not stressful, or school's not in session.

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 When all's going well, we think we don't need God, at least in the sense of,

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 maybe we don't talk to Him as much.

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 Maybe we're not as conscious or conscious of His, you know, aware of His presence.

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 But when something happens,

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 one of the first things that we as Christians do

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 is to look to God.

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 Why is it we have to have such issues, crises, problems

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 to cause us to be more focused on Him

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 and our need for Him,

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 to be close to Him?

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 This morning,

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 we're going to look at good news.

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 We're going to focus on how God

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 is always ready

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 and able to meet our needs

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 when we call on Him

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 with sincere faith,

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 with a wholehearted commitment

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 from a realization that we desperately need Him.

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 We're going to look at it in the life of Jonah.

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 Look with me, if you would.

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 Jonah 2,

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 and I want us to look at verse 5 today.

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 We're going to sort of

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 be reminded of Jonah

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 sinking into the ocean,

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 about to drown

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 when the great fish

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 picked Him up and saved Him.

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 That was God's way

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 of rescuing Him.

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 Let's read in verse 5.

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 The waters closed in over me

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 to take my life.

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 The deep surrounded me.

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 That's when He's sinking into the ocean.

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 Weeds were wrapped around my head.

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 At the roots of the mountains,

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 I went down to the land

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 whose bars closed upon me forever.

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 Yet,

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 you brought up my life

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 from the pit,

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 O Lord my God.

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 When my life was fainting away,

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 I remembered the Lord

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 and my prayer came to you

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 and to your holy temple.

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 Those who pay regard to vain idols

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 forsake their hope

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 of steadfast love.

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 But I,

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 with the voice of thanksgiving,

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 will sacrifice to you.

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 What I have vowed,

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 I will pay.

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 Salvation belongs to the Lord.

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 And when Jonah

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 came to the Lord

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 like he did,

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 cried out to God

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 for help,

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 verse 10,

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 and the Lord spoke to the fish

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 and it vomited Jonah out

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 upon the dry land.

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 I want us to look first

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 at how God rescues us

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 from a motivation of grace.

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 I want us to understand

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 we're talking about

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 being desperate for God.

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 We're talking about looking to Him,

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 crying out for Him.

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 But I want you to understand,

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 when God comes to us

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 in our times of need,

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 He's coming

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 because within Him

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 there is love for us,

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 there is His undeserved favor,

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 His grace

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 that motivates Him

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 to come to us.

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 God answers our desperate prayers

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 even while we are still suffering

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 the consequences

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 of our disobedience.

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 Why did Jonah pray

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 from the belly of the fish?

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 Because he'd been thrown overboard

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 from the ship.

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 The ship that he was on

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 to deliberately try

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 to get away from God

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 and get away from doing God's will.

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 God sent the fish

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 to graciously intervene

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 in Jonah's life,

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 to swallow Jonah,

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 to keep him from drowning.

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 The way God

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 graciously rescued Jonah

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 was not something

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 out of the ordinary for God.

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 This is just how God works.

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 We see it over and over again

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 in the Bible.

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 If you're familiar

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 with the people of Israel,

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 they were constantly

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 as God's chosen people,

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 seeing God work in their life

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 in miraculous ways,

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 work in their country

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 for hundreds of years.

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 They were constantly, though,

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 rebelling against him,

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 ignoring him,

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 disobeying him,

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 turning to idols,

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 false gods.

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 And when they did these things,

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 God intervened

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 to convict them,

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 break them,

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 discipline them.

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 And sooner or later,

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 they got the message

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 and they came back to him

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 in confession and repentance

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 over and over and over again.

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 I want you to look at an example

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 of God,

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 just His graciousness.

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 It's in Psalm 106,

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 beginning in verse 43.

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 Again and again,

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 He rescued them,

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 but they chose

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 to rebel against Him,

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 and they were finally destroyed

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 by their sin.

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 Even so,

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 He pitied them

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 in their distress

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 and listened

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 to their cries.

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 He remembered His covenant

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 with them

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 and relented

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 because of His

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 unfailing love.

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 God puts up

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 the light,

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 doesn't He?

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 He sure is gracious.

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 I want you to understand,

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 if you're in trouble

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 right now

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 because of your disobedience,

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 understand that you can turn

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 to God

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 in desperate prayer

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 and He will hear you.

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 It may be

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 that what's going on

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 in your,

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 it may be

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 that your way

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 of disobeying God

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 has affected

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 your family life.

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 It may be

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 it's affected

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 what's going on

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 where you work.

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 Your sin

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 has gotten you

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 into trouble.

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 Your sin

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 has caused

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 a rift,

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 actually a severance

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 of a relationship.

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 It may be

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 that your sin

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 is,

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 in terms of other people,

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 is secret.

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 Nobody knows.

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 The trouble

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 you are experiencing,

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 maybe it's depression,

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 maybe it's anger.

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 You're doing this.

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 You're being disciplined

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 by God.

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 I want you

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 to understand

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 that if you'll

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 just wake up,

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 own up,

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 confess that sin,

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 God will hear.

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 He doesn't have to,

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 but God will.

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 Even if it's the

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 10th

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 or the 100th

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 time

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 you've come

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 to Him

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 this way,

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 if you are

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 truly

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 serious,

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 sincere,

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 wholehearted,

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 repentant,

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 wanting to be

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 forgiven

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 and made right

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 with God,

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 He will

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 graciously

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 receive you,

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 forgive you.

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 And what I want

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 you to understand

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 is,

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 you don't have

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 to clean up

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 your own act

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 before you do that.

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 Some people

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 have the idea,

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 before I can

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 ever come to God,

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 I've got to

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 clean up the mess

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 I've made

00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:42.020
 in my family.

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 I've got to

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 work on,

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 make myself

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 presentable to God.

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 No,

00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:48.180
 you don't.

00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:50.680
 In order for you

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 to clean up

00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:52.200
 the mess,

00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:53.000
 in order for you

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 to become

00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:53.980
 presentable,

00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:55.360
 you need God's

00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:56.039
 intervention.

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 You need His

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 spiritual,

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 moral

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 cleansing.

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 You do need

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 to admit

00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:05.299
 your sin.

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 You need to

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 turn from your sin.

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 You need to

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 repent.

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 But our

00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:10.440
 gracious Heavenly

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 Father wants you

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 to come back to Him

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 now as you are,

00:11:15.220 --> 00:11:16.399
 where you are,

00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:17.840
 just like

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 rebellious and

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 disobedient Jonah

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 desperately called

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 out to God

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 when he was stuck

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 in the belly

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 of the great fish.

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 Some of you,

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 and nobody's

00:11:30.459 --> 00:11:31.079
 told me anything,

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 but some of you

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 are stuck

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 in some kind

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 of morally

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 wrong situation.

00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:42.240
 some of you

00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:42.980
 are stuck

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 right now

00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:45.879
 in the consequence

00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:46.920
 of your

00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:48.240
 stubborn

00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.279
 rebellion

00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:50.180
 against God,

00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.040
 against the

00:11:51.040 --> 00:11:51.600
 teaching of His

00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:52.060
 Word.

00:11:53.019 --> 00:11:53.560
 Some of you

00:11:53.560 --> 00:11:54.220
 are stuck

00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:55.220
 and people

00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:55.879
 around you

00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:56.279
 are paying

00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:57.120
 the price,

00:11:58.120 --> 00:11:59.360
 just like people

00:11:59.360 --> 00:11:59.920
 around Jonah

00:11:59.920 --> 00:12:00.879
 suffered from

00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:01.399
 his sin.

00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.759
 That can end.

00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:07.600
 You don't have

00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:07.899
 to live

00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:08.700
 in frustration.

00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.159
 You don't have

00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:10.559
 to live

00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:11.360
 with that guilt.

00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:12.980
 You don't have

00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:13.939
 to be angry

00:12:13.939 --> 00:12:14.860
 at everyone

00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:15.480
 and everything

00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:16.600
 around you.

00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:19.319
 But you do

00:12:19.319 --> 00:12:20.519
 have to stop,

00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:21.379
 admit it,

00:12:22.819 --> 00:12:25.159
 change your mind,

00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.779
 look to God,

00:12:28.059 --> 00:12:29.220
 admit you are

00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:30.600
 desperate for Him.

00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:31.960
 And I want

00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:32.340
 to encourage

00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:32.600
 you,

00:12:33.340 --> 00:12:34.779
 do it now.

00:12:36.300 --> 00:12:37.279
 This moment.

00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:39.420
 Tune me out

00:12:39.420 --> 00:12:40.740
 and you just

00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:41.340
 go to the Lord

00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:41.860
 in prayer.

00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:42.980
 Do what needs

00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:43.580
 to be done.

00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:45.860
 Jonah helps

00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:46.460
 us to see

00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:48.259
 that God

00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:49.100
 rescues us

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.440
 because He's

00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:50.820
 a gracious

00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:51.279
 God.

00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.659
 He's merciful.

00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:55.600
 He didn't

00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:56.580
 want to give

00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:56.920
 us what we

00:12:56.920 --> 00:12:57.259
 deserve.

00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:58.320
 He wants

00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:58.779
 to show us

00:12:58.779 --> 00:12:59.279
 grace.

00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:00.879
 But also,

00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:02.240
 Jonah lets

00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:02.480
 us see

00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:02.759
 that there

00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:03.120
 are no

00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:03.539
 hopeless

00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.220
 situations

00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:05.399
 for God's

00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:05.720
 people.

00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:06.379
 Number two,

00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:07.480
 God rescues

00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:07.939
 us from

00:13:07.939 --> 00:13:08.539
 situations

00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:09.459
 that seem

00:13:09.459 --> 00:13:10.019
 hopeless.

00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:12.919
 That's what

00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:13.779
 Jonah's

00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:14.639
 situation was.

00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:17.279
 Jonah was

00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.039
 sinking to

00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:18.659
 the bottom

00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:19.779
 of the ocean

00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:20.740
 and he

00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:21.419
 describes it

00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:21.740
 in this

00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:22.279
 psalm.

00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:23.139
 Look at it.

00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:24.100
 The waters

00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:25.120
 closed in

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.740
 over me

00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:26.079
 to take

00:13:26.079 --> 00:13:26.639
 my life.

00:13:27.079 --> 00:13:27.779
 The deep

00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:28.699
 surrounded

00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:29.120
 me.

00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.039
 Weeds

00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:30.459
 were wrapped

00:13:30.459 --> 00:13:31.039
 around my

00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:31.899
 head at

00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:32.379
 the roots

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:32.919
 of the

00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:33.360
 mountains.

00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:34.039
 I went

00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:34.579
 down to

00:13:34.579 --> 00:13:35.179
 the land

00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:36.379
 whose bars

00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:37.399
 closed upon

00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:38.199
 me forever.

00:13:40.459 --> 00:13:41.120
 Jonah was

00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.039
 going to

00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:42.379
 die.

00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:43.579
 There was

00:13:43.579 --> 00:13:44.399
 no way to

00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:46.559
 escape if

00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:47.079
 God had not

00:13:47.079 --> 00:13:47.740
 intervened.

00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:49.779
 Sometimes

00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:51.899
 we find

00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:52.559
 ourselves in

00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:53.379
 some situations

00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:54.639
 where we

00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:55.679
 can't really

00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:57.879
 see how

00:13:57.879 --> 00:14:00.720
 we can't

00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:01.259
 see any

00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:03.360
 light at

00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:03.620
 the end

00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:03.820
 of a

00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:04.120
 tunnel.

00:14:05.939 --> 00:14:06.620
 All of

00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:07.200
 us are

00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:08.159
 capable of

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:08.659
 doing or

00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:09.379
 saying things

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:09.679
 that can

00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:10.600
 cause a

00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:10.919
 lot of

00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:11.340
 pain.

00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.299
 The people

00:14:13.299 --> 00:14:13.639
 that we

00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.059
 love and

00:14:14.059 --> 00:14:14.419
 really don't

00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:14.580
 want to

00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:14.860
 hurt.

00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:16.439
 Sometimes we

00:14:16.439 --> 00:14:17.019
 can cause

00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:17.919
 problems,

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:18.539
 pain for

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:18.899
 people we

00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:19.240
 don't even

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:19.580
 know.

00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:20.279
 Jonah did

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:20.620
 that.

00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:23.159
 and we

00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:23.440
 can hurt

00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:23.879
 ourselves.

00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:24.720
 We know

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.120
 that.

00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:27.759
 It may

00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:28.360
 be that in

00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:29.200
 your situation

00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:31.299
 you have

00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:31.980
 so hurt

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:32.539
 some people,

00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:34.220
 so wounded

00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:34.860
 some people

00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:37.019
 that you

00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:37.460
 don't know

00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:39.379
 that you

00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:39.860
 can ever be

00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:40.779
 reconciled,

00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:42.139
 that they

00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:42.440
 can ever

00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:43.100
 forgive you.

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:45.440
 I'm not

00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:45.620
 going to

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:47.039
 promise what

00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:47.720
 someone else

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.919
 is going to

00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:49.179
 do.

00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:50.779
 But we'll

00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.099
 tell you

00:14:51.099 --> 00:14:51.559
 this,

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.159
 even though

00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:54.679
 there's times

00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:54.919
 when we

00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:55.360
 think we

00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:55.799
 have gone

00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:56.500
 too far,

00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:58.039
 sunk too

00:14:58.039 --> 00:14:58.719
 low for

00:14:58.719 --> 00:14:59.319
 God to

00:14:59.319 --> 00:15:00.000
 do anything,

00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:02.259
 we haven't.

00:15:03.459 --> 00:15:04.179
 Jonah shows

00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:04.659
 us that it's

00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:05.039
 never too

00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:05.979
 late for

00:15:05.979 --> 00:15:08.079
 us to

00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:08.799
 wake up

00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:10.479
 and call

00:15:10.479 --> 00:15:10.919
 out to

00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.120
 him.

00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:11.559
 Look what

00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:11.959
 he says,

00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:12.860
 yet you

00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:13.899
 brought up

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:14.779
 my life

00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:15.419
 from the

00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:15.839
 pit,

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:17.339
 O Lord

00:15:17.339 --> 00:15:17.839
 my God.

00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:20.419
 Whenever our

00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:21.439
 sinful actions

00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:22.860
 put us in

00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.399
 what appears

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:23.819
 to be a

00:15:23.819 --> 00:15:24.159
 hopeless

00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:24.899
 situation,

00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.899
 we can

00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:27.539
 never give

00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:27.899
 up.

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:29.899
 We can

00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:31.099
 never give

00:15:31.099 --> 00:15:31.479
 up.

00:15:31.719 --> 00:15:32.319
 As long

00:15:32.319 --> 00:15:32.599
 as you

00:15:32.599 --> 00:15:33.500
 have breath,

00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:35.459
 you do

00:15:35.459 --> 00:15:36.559
 have hope.

00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:38.179
 You know,

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:38.620
 we need to

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.459
 encourage people

00:15:39.459 --> 00:15:40.079
 around about

00:15:40.079 --> 00:15:40.839
 us that

00:15:40.839 --> 00:15:42.539
 same idea,

00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:42.939
 that same

00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:43.319
 thought.

00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:44.539
 You may

00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:44.860
 know some

00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.360
 people right

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:45.659
 now,

00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:48.000
 they're as low

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:48.480
 as low can

00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:48.740
 be.

00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:51.459
 they feel,

00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.259
 and maybe

00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:52.799
 they've expressed

00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:53.479
 to you why

00:15:53.479 --> 00:15:54.099
 they are

00:15:54.099 --> 00:15:54.740
 hopeless.

00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:56.199
 I want to

00:15:56.199 --> 00:15:56.819
 encourage you,

00:15:56.959 --> 00:15:57.399
 don't let

00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:58.000
 someone give

00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:58.819
 up on life

00:15:58.819 --> 00:16:00.439
 if you can

00:16:00.439 --> 00:16:00.879
 help it.

00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:02.659
 Don't let

00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.500
 anyone think

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.339
 that they are

00:16:04.339 --> 00:16:05.259
 beyond the

00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:05.899
 reach of

00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:07.319
 God's grace,

00:16:07.719 --> 00:16:08.059
 of His

00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:08.479
 help,

00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:09.219
 of His

00:16:09.219 --> 00:16:09.839
 forgiveness,

00:16:09.839 --> 00:16:12.479
 of what He

00:16:12.479 --> 00:16:12.959
 can do in

00:16:12.959 --> 00:16:13.500
 their life.

00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:16.199
 Reach out to

00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:16.759
 that person,

00:16:17.459 --> 00:16:18.379
 encourage that

00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:18.860
 person,

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.120
 listen to

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.840
 that person,

00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:23.980
 and let

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.519
 that person

00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:26.279
 know that

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:27.220
 it may be

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:28.220
 that their

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.779
 only hope

00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:31.679
 is to be

00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:32.299
 found in

00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:32.740
 God,

00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:34.139
 and His

00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:34.720
 grace,

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:35.919
 His mercy,

00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:37.200
 His

00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:38.860
 involvement in

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.480
 their life,

00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:40.159
 in the people's

00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.340
 life they've

00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:41.799
 affected,

00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:42.700
 in the whole

00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.340
 situation.

00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:45.820
 we need to

00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:46.300
 learn from

00:16:46.300 --> 00:16:46.680
 Jonah,

00:16:46.780 --> 00:16:47.300
 we saw

00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:48.680
 last time in

00:16:48.680 --> 00:16:49.259
 verse 2,

00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.399
 to never

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.120
 hesitate to

00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:51.600
 call out to

00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.540
 God in our

00:16:52.540 --> 00:16:53.000
 desperate

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:53.620
 situations.

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.160
 Look at what

00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:54.460
 He did.

00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:55.519
 He says,

00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.519
 I called out

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.180
 to the Lord

00:16:57.180 --> 00:16:58.200
 out of my

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:58.600
 distress,

00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:00.040
 and He

00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:01.160
 answered me.

00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:01.820
 Out of the

00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:02.920
 belly of Sheol,

00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:03.740
 I cried,

00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.360
 the place of

00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:04.799
 death,

00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.700
 and you

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:08.319
 heard my

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.000
 voice.

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.599
 I want to

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.119
 be clear.

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.000
 If there are

00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:13.819
 situations that

00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:14.460
 seem hopeless

00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:16.680
 because of what

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.680
 someone else

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:19.420
 is or is not

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.079
 doing or

00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.500
 saying,

00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.519
 you have no

00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:22.160
 control over

00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:22.480
 that.

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.180
 And I don't

00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:24.599
 want for any

00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:25.160
 moment to

00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:26.119
 promise you

00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:27.220
 what God's

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.599
 going to do

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.119
 in somebody

00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:29.039
 else's life.

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.500
 But God

00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.460
 will work in

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.200
 your life

00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:36.440
 if you come

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.400
 to Him as

00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:38.180
 Jonah did.

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.980
 He may not

00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.839
 make everything

00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:41.480
 the way you

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.000
 want it,

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.240
 but if you're

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:44.059
 His child,

00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:45.279
 He will be

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.000
 with you.

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:46.700
 And let's

00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:47.319
 look on

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:49.759
 next at how

00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.500
 God does

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.480
 intervene in

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.000
 our lives,

00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:53.180
 but not always

00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:53.599
 the way that

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.119
 we might

00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:55.000
 choose.

00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:55.640
 Number three,

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:57.059
 God rescues

00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:58.920
 us in less

00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.980
 than desirable

00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.720
 ways at

00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.160
 times.

00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:05.119
 John Piper

00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:05.660
 makes a

00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.640
 helpful point

00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.660
 about the

00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:08.380
 way God

00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:09.620
 sometimes

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:11.200
 rescues us.

00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:11.660
 Look at

00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:11.920
 what He

00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.260
 says.

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:13.840
 God answers

00:18:13.840 --> 00:18:14.720
 our cries

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.440
 of distress

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.920
 in stages,

00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:18.520
 not all

00:18:18.520 --> 00:18:19.020
 of which

00:18:19.020 --> 00:18:20.020
 are comfortable.

00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:21.680
 We can be

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.460
 fairly sure

00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:22.900
 that when

00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:23.640
 Jonah cried

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.040
 out to

00:18:24.040 --> 00:18:24.440
 God,

00:18:24.580 --> 00:18:25.080
 he did

00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:25.940
 not say,

00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:26.660
 O God,

00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:27.640
 put me in

00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.100
 the belly

00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.940
 of a fish

00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.420
 for three

00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:29.900
 days.

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:30.740
 I want you

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:30.960
 to think

00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:31.340
 about it.

00:18:32.060 --> 00:18:32.440
 God

00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.020
 graciously

00:18:33.020 --> 00:18:33.560
 saved

00:18:33.560 --> 00:18:33.920
 Jonah

00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.600
 by having

00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:35.160
 a fish

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.360
 to swallow

00:18:36.360 --> 00:18:36.700
 him.

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:38.620
 That's not

00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:38.960
 what he

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.539
 prayed for.

00:18:40.340 --> 00:18:40.960
 When he

00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.519
 cried out

00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:41.960
 to God

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.539
 to save

00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:42.860
 him,

00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:44.140
 that's not

00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:44.360
 what he

00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:44.660
 had in

00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:45.080
 mind.

00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.320
 He probably

00:18:46.320 --> 00:18:46.660
 said,

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.340
 God save

00:18:47.340 --> 00:18:47.539
 me,

00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:48.140
 have mercy,

00:18:48.340 --> 00:18:48.600
 or something

00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:49.140
 like that.

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.019
 Piper goes

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.259
 on,

00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:51.220
 God's

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:51.539
 answer

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.000
 came in

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.500
 stages.

00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.400
 The belly

00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.059
 of a fish

00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:54.440
 hardly

00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:55.559
 seems like

00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:56.220
 salvation,

00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:57.640
 but it

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:58.240
 was.

00:18:59.039 --> 00:18:59.359
 Jonah

00:18:59.359 --> 00:18:59.980
 is granted

00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.480
 enough

00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.359
 consciousness

00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.759
 to realize

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.579
 he's been

00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.500
 spared from

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.079
 drowning

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.200
 and that

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:06.579
 there is

00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:06.940
 hope.

00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:07.980
 He does

00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:08.720
 not complain

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.180
 about his

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.700
 surroundings.

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.299
 He accepts

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.420
 God's first

00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:13.140
 stage of

00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:13.720
 salvation

00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:15.019
 as a guarantee

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.579
 of dry

00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:16.759
 land and

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.539
 concludes

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.379
 his prayer

00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:18.799
 in the

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.599
 fish's belly

00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.839
 with the

00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.240
 great

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.199
 affirmation

00:19:22.199 --> 00:19:23.319
 deliverance

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:24.119
 belongs to

00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:24.500
 the Lord.

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.359
 I want us

00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.119
 to understand

00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:27.639
 and see in

00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:27.939
 this.

00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.059
 God

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:31.339
 graciously

00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:32.559
 invites us

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.659
 to call

00:19:33.659 --> 00:19:34.199
 out to him

00:19:34.199 --> 00:19:34.799
 in prayer

00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.819
 during our

00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:36.379
 times of

00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:36.879
 need.

00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:39.099
 And when

00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:40.039
 he answers

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.639
 our prayer,

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.759
 however he

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.399
 answers our

00:19:43.399 --> 00:19:43.719
 prayer,

00:19:44.439 --> 00:19:45.240
 we need to

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.459
 be thankful

00:19:46.459 --> 00:19:48.199
 and we need

00:19:48.199 --> 00:19:48.919
 to accept

00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:49.579
 that answer

00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:51.259
 that partial

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:51.879
 answer,

00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:53.679
 even that

00:19:53.679 --> 00:19:54.819
 no answer

00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:56.799
 and not

00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.399
 complain.

00:19:59.179 --> 00:20:00.119
 I'm sure

00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:00.659
 some of you

00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:01.339
 read this

00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.059
 past week

00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:02.839
 the story

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:04.519
 about the

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.000
 young man

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.679
 in India

00:20:05.679 --> 00:20:06.939
 who received

00:20:06.939 --> 00:20:07.599
 a new

00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.819
 BMW from

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.639
 his parents

00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:10.559
 for his

00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.639
 22nd birthday.

00:20:12.339 --> 00:20:12.599
 You know

00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.119
 what he did?

00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:15.039
 He pushed

00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.119
 it into a

00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:17.179
 river because

00:20:17.179 --> 00:20:18.079
 it wasn't

00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.359
 the Jaguar

00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:21.000
 he wanted.

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.379
 You talk

00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:23.899
 about a

00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:24.679
 moron

00:20:24.679 --> 00:20:28.859
 to be

00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:29.599
 given

00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:31.059
 a BMW

00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:31.919
 brand new.

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:33.939
 And you can

00:20:33.939 --> 00:20:34.559
 look it up

00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:34.939
 when you go

00:20:34.939 --> 00:20:35.259
 home, look

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:35.839
 it up online.

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.579
 There's a

00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.399
 YouTube video

00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:37.899
 of the

00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:38.720
 moron

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.859
 who puts

00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:41.579
 his BMW

00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.539
 in the

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.059
 water

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:45.019
 because he's

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:46.859
 mad that

00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.219
 didn't get

00:20:47.219 --> 00:20:48.019
 a Jaguar.

00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:51.179
 Can you

00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:51.919
 imagine someone

00:20:51.919 --> 00:20:53.599
 being so

00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.259
 arrogant,

00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:57.740
 so ungrateful,

00:20:58.539 --> 00:21:01.439
 so spoiled?

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:06.519
 Now think,

00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:07.840
 how do you

00:21:07.840 --> 00:21:08.779
 respond to

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.299
 the gracious

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.120
 gifts that

00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:10.779
 God's given

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.120
 you?

00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:15.059
 How have

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:15.720
 you responded,

00:21:15.860 --> 00:21:16.600
 how do you

00:21:16.600 --> 00:21:17.920
 respond to

00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:18.700
 the gift

00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:20.519
 of your

00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.600
 spouse?

00:21:24.860 --> 00:21:25.559
 Now there's

00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.180
 some smart

00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:26.720
 aleck women

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.220
 in here.

00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:29.759
 You're saying

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.279
 he's God's

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.400
 gag gift

00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:32.900
 to me.

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.619
 I read

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.000
 that

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.579
 somewhere.

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.180
 Men are

00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:38.740
 God's

00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:39.519
 gag gifts

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.059
 to women.

00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:42.720
 And some

00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.319
 of you guys

00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:43.900
 may be,

00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:44.240
 I don't

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.500
 know,

00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.220
 but all

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.559
 of us

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.000
 are not,

00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.039
 are we?

00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.259
 Lisa's in the

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:48.759
 other service,

00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:49.059
 thankfully.

00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:49.500
 I didn't do

00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:49.859
 this in the

00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:50.319
 first service.

00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.519
 I don't want

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:51.819
 to know the

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:52.200
 answer to

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.420
 that.

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.099
 But I want

00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:55.500
 you to think,

00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:57.160
 how do you

00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:57.879
 respond to

00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:58.539
 God when he

00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.359
 doesn't answer

00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.019
 your prayers

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.000
 the way that

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.740
 you wanted

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.399
 him to?

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.539
 Do you

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:07.960
 thank him?

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:09.680
 Do you

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.319
 accept that

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:10.899
 he's God,

00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.399
 he knows

00:22:11.399 --> 00:22:11.960
 best,

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:14.379
 and to

00:22:14.379 --> 00:22:14.720
 make the

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.240
 best of

00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.500
 it with

00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:16.779
 the right

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.079
 attitude?

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.480
 You know,

00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.240
 Jonah is

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.399
 not a good

00:22:21.399 --> 00:22:22.200
 example in

00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:22.639
 most of

00:22:22.639 --> 00:22:23.159
 this book.

00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:26.139
 In chapter

00:22:26.139 --> 00:22:26.879
 one, he's a

00:22:26.879 --> 00:22:27.599
 terrible example.

00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:28.940
 In chapter

00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.579
 four, he's an

00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.220
 even worse

00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:30.720
 example.

00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.259
 We'll see

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:31.740
 that later.

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:34.180
 But here in

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:34.899
 chapter two,

00:22:36.159 --> 00:22:37.899
 Jonah is a

00:22:37.899 --> 00:22:39.119
 great example,

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:41.180
 a model of

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:42.379
 gratitude to

00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:45.019
 God as he

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:46.119
 thanked God

00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:48.480
 for rescuing

00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:52.039
 him by having

00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:54.000
 a fish swallow

00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.359
 him.

00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:56.379
 Jonah had a

00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:57.159
 good perspective.

00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:57.340
 love.

00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.640
 So he

00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.140
 understood that

00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:00.880
 being alive in

00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:01.500
 a fish's belly

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.340
 was far better

00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:03.220
 than being dead

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:03.920
 on the bottom

00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.560
 of the ocean.

00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.720
 We need to

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:10.420
 learn to

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.040
 never be

00:23:11.040 --> 00:23:13.740
 ungrateful for

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:15.480
 what God gives

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.700
 us, for what

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.600
 God does in

00:23:17.600 --> 00:23:18.880
 our lives, for

00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:19.200
 the way he

00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:19.740
 answers our

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.340
 prayers.

00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.460
 Like Piper

00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:22.900
 said,

00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.400
 sometimes God

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:25.660
 answers us in

00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.279
 stages.

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:28.480
 And sometimes

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.759
 those stages are

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.380
 uncomfortable.

00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:33.440
 Sometimes they're

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.440
 God's discipline

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.960
 still, but

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.759
 remember, when

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.500
 God disciplines

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:39.120
 us, it's

00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:40.440
 because he's

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.380
 our father and

00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.500
 he loves us.

00:23:43.080 --> 00:23:43.680
 And he always

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.860
 has a redemptive

00:23:44.860 --> 00:23:45.759
 purpose.

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.180
 Let's look at one

00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:47.620
 more thing.

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.340
 Number four,

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.740
 God rescues us

00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:50.560
 for the purpose of

00:23:50.560 --> 00:23:52.380
 renewing us and

00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:53.380
 using us.

00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.920
 verses eight and

00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:57.720
 nine, some

00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.300
 people refer to

00:23:58.300 --> 00:23:58.860
 that as sort of

00:23:58.860 --> 00:23:59.760
 like a post

00:23:59.760 --> 00:24:01.640
 script to

00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:02.260
 Jonah's prayer.

00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:04.040
 It's a

00:24:04.040 --> 00:24:05.200
 concluding expression

00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:07.520
 of thanks, of

00:24:07.520 --> 00:24:08.940
 praise, and

00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.480
 commitment.

00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:10.680
 I want you to

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.120
 look at verse

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.680
 eight again.

00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:13.520
 Those who pay

00:24:13.520 --> 00:24:14.580
 regard to vain

00:24:14.580 --> 00:24:16.600
 idols forsake

00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:18.300
 their hope of

00:24:18.300 --> 00:24:19.300
 steadfast love.

00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:22.019
 We don't know

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:24.259
 why Jonah brings

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.079
 up idols here.

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:27.220
 Maybe he has

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.119
 the sailors in

00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:29.180
 mind because they

00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:30.000
 worshiped false

00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.819
 gods back in

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.779
 chapter one, back

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.159
 when he was on

00:24:32.159 --> 00:24:32.500
 the ship.

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.259
 Maybe he brings

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.500
 it up because he

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:37.539
 knows many

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.159
 people are going

00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:39.480
 to hear this being

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.680
 read in written

00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.519
 form or they're

00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.139
 going to read it.

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.619
 And Israel always

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.619
 had a problem with

00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.359
 idolatry.

00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:51.519
 So, maybe Jonah

00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:54.899
 writes this because

00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:56.500
 he knows that even

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:59.379
 God's people back

00:24:59.379 --> 00:25:01.599
 then and today have

00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:03.039
 problems with

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.719
 idols.

00:25:05.699 --> 00:25:07.039
 Peter Williams

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.119
 explains this.

00:25:08.199 --> 00:25:08.539
 I want you to look

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.139
 at what he says.

00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:10.479
 He says, the

00:25:10.479 --> 00:25:11.059
 essence of

00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:13.000
 idolatry is

00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.619
 anything that

00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:14.379
 commands the

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.279
 central place in

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.339
 our lives and

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:16.839
 to which we

00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:17.899
 give the loyalty

00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:19.660
 and devotion which

00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:20.819
 rightly belongs to

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.539
 God alone.

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.079
 That's what

00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.799
 idolatry is.

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.220
 Given to anyone

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:26.799
 or anything that

00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.859
 which should

00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.599
 belong to God.

00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.500
 He goes on to

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:31.160
 say, for some

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:32.319
 people money is

00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.299
 their God and the

00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:33.720
 pursuit of

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:35.180
 materialistic goals

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:36.160
 dominates their

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.579
 lives.

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.539
 But we can make

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.039
 an idol of

00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:39.079
 anything, sports,

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.460
 sex, drugs,

00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.639
 politics, career,

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.220
 even home and

00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.700
 family.

00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:45.240
 Now just think,

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:47.960
 anything that is

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:48.860
 at the center of

00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.500
 your life,

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:52.100
 except God,

00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:53.580
 that is your

00:25:53.580 --> 00:25:53.860
 idol.

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.600
 God should be the

00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.640
 center, the focus,

00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.600
 the hub of our

00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:58.120
 lives.

00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.960
 And if he's not,

00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:01.539
 whatever else is

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:03.500
 there, that is our

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.340
 idol.

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.299
 Williams goes on to

00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.700
 conclude, to warn

00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:09.160
 us that idols will

00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:10.880
 always let us down.

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:13.300
 They will always fail

00:26:13.300 --> 00:26:14.940
 to deliver in the

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:16.780
 long run on what

00:26:16.780 --> 00:26:17.840
 they promise.

00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:21.060
 Whatever you put

00:26:21.060 --> 00:26:23.080
 your real emphasis

00:26:23.080 --> 00:26:24.160
 on and make your

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:25.620
 idol, sooner or

00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:27.420
 later, it's going to

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.100
 disappoint you.

00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:30.860
 It's not going to

00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:32.440
 meet the need that

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:34.000
 you want it to meet.

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:36.380
 You know, many of the

00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:38.700
 things that we make

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.819
 idols are actually

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:42.359
 gifts of God's

00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:42.839
 grace.

00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:46.180
 God gives us things

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:47.200
 like a family, a

00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:49.380
 home, a career,

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:53.099
 sports, music,

00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:56.299
 sex, money, and

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.220
 material things.

00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:58.640
 God gives us all

00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.039
 these things to meet

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:03.480
 legitimate God-given

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.200
 needs.

00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:07.119
 God wants us to use

00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:08.200
 these things, to enjoy

00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.039
 these things.

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:11.379
 But he wants us to

00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:12.399
 never lose sight of the

00:27:12.399 --> 00:27:14.159
 fact that these are

00:27:14.159 --> 00:27:16.940
 gifts that come from

00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:18.859
 him, the giver.

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:21.960
 And our ultimate source

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:26.920
 of joy is the giver

00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:28.960
 who's given us

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.080
 these things.

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:33.740
 Jonah ends his

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:35.240
 prayer with an

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.840
 expression of

00:27:35.840 --> 00:27:36.759
 thanksgiving and

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.660
 commitment in verse

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:37.980
 9.

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.420
 He promises to offer

00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:40.759
 sacrifices to God.

00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:42.140
 We don't do that kind

00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:42.620
 of thing today.

00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:44.420
 We don't offer animal

00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.500
 sacrifices for an

00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:45.820
 example.

00:27:46.320 --> 00:27:48.680
 Because Jesus was the

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.960
 ultimate and the

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:52.160
 final sacrifice for

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:52.940
 our sins.

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:55.440
 And God has accepted

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.779
 his sacrifice.

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.900
 So we don't do

00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:58.080
 that.

00:27:58.320 --> 00:27:58.980
 We shouldn't do

00:27:58.980 --> 00:27:59.120
 that.

00:27:59.160 --> 00:27:59.620
 It would be wrong

00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:00.080
 to do that.

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.279
 But Paul says in

00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:04.140
 Romans chapter 12 that

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:05.900
 we are to be living

00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:07.200
 sacrifices.

00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:09.560
 We're supposed to

00:28:09.560 --> 00:28:12.440
 produce good works, he

00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.000
 tells us in other

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.360
 places, out of

00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:16.400
 gratitude for God's

00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.320
 gift of salvation.

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:21.340
 Our sacrifices, our

00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:23.860
 good works may take

00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:25.940
 the form of giving

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:28.140
 our time in serving

00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:28.519
 the Lord.

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.340
 As we give our time,

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.299
 we give our talents.

00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.360
 We give our money.

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:37.400
 We give what God has

00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:37.900
 given us.

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.820
 We give it back to

00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:39.100
 him.

00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:41.779
 To serve him, to serve

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.920
 his people, to serve

00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.100
 his purposes.

00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:46.920
 How do you express your

00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:48.200
 gratitude and love to

00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:50.759
 God for the way that he

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:54.240
 has rescued you from sin

00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:54.779
 and death?

00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.059
 How do you show your

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.299
 gratitude to God for the

00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:59.240
 way that he has blessed

00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:00.400
 you with the good gifts?

00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.799
 What kind of sacrifices

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:06.160
 or efforts do you offer

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:08.039
 back to him motivated by

00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:10.299
 love, motivated by

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:10.680
 gratitude?

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.440
 How do you show him?

00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:16.519
 You know, Jonah's vow,

00:29:16.620 --> 00:29:18.380
 he talks about next, is

00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:19.539
 most likely his promise to

00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.740
 obey God's call to go back

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.759
 to Nineveh, which we're

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.460
 going to start looking at

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.859
 next week in chapter 3.

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.480
 The final word of this

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.299
 prayer may be the most

00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:26.920
 important one.

00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.740
 Salvation belongs to the

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.099
 Lord.

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.759
 And we're going to look at

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.839
 a lot of implications of

00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:36.240
 that in chapter 3 and 4 as

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.279
 we move on through Jonah.

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:40.759
 But Jonah now realizes that

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:43.759
 God put him in the ocean and

00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:47.599
 the fish not to destroy him,

00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:51.879
 but to save him, to rescue

00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:53.639
 him, not just physically but

00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:56.379
 spiritually, to rescue him in

00:29:56.379 --> 00:29:57.740
 order to use him again.

00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:01.339
 If you are away from the Lord

00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:07.859
 due to your disobedience, due to

00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:13.519
 your sinful actions, I want you

00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:15.000
 to know that you can come back

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:17.380
 to him right now.

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.779
 And I want to encourage you to

00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:22.039
 come back now because you want

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:24.099
 to, you're ready to, and don't

00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:26.000
 wait for God to discipline you

00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.960
 like he did Jonah.

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.500
 I've tried to emphasize

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.380
 throughout this.

00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:32.099
 I emphasize it in a big way in

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:32.799
 another message.

00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:37.299
 If you are God's person, if God

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:39.880
 has chosen you, saved you, and

00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:41.619
 is working in you for a specific

00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:45.699
 purpose, sometimes he is so

00:30:45.699 --> 00:30:47.799
 determined that you will do it

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:50.519
 that he'll do whatever it takes

00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:53.239
 to put you in a position where

00:30:53.239 --> 00:30:55.459
 you'll say, I'm ready to do it.

00:30:55.739 --> 00:30:56.659
 And that's what he did for

00:30:56.659 --> 00:30:56.939
 Jonah.

00:30:57.799 --> 00:31:00.439
 Sometimes God lets us miss out on

00:31:00.439 --> 00:31:02.199
 blessings, but sometimes he is so

00:31:02.199 --> 00:31:04.139
 determined that he's going to use

00:31:04.139 --> 00:31:06.799
 us that he'll put us flat on our

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.179
 back.

00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:11.779
 He put Jonah in the belly of a

00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:14.519
 whale, but he will use us.

00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:18.500
 Wouldn't it be so much easier, so

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:22.160
 much easier for us to do it at

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:23.160
 God's call?

00:31:24.840 --> 00:31:26.560
 Think about how you get

00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:27.100
 disciplined.

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.519
 Some of you in this room maybe.

00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:31.360
 There probably have been times in

00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:33.980
 this room where you sitting with

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:36.980
 your parents or grandparents, you've

00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.680
 cut up some.

00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:40.160
 Maybe your parent or

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:42.140
 grandparent, at first they put

00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:43.380
 their hand on your leg.

00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:47.559
 But you don't get it.

00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:51.059
 And so they pinch you on the

00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:52.559
 flabby part of your arm.

00:31:53.620 --> 00:31:54.779
 But you're hard-headed.

00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:59.480
 So they get this place in your

00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.819
 neck where you just go to your

00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.339
 knees.

00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:04.400
 And then you get it.

00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:08.620
 Or they just wait till you get

00:32:08.620 --> 00:32:10.200
 home and just wear your rear end

00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:10.560
 out.

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:15.480
 In some ways, God's discipline is

00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.000
 like that.

00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:19.780
 I think a lot of times God starts

00:32:19.780 --> 00:32:21.180
 out just putting his hand on our

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:24.140
 leg just to let us know,

00:32:25.040 --> 00:32:25.720
 straighten up.

00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:27.880
 Obey me.

00:32:28.840 --> 00:32:29.759
 Do what's right.

00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:32.680
 Sometimes he has to pinch us.

00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:36.000
 Sometimes he has to grab us and put

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.839
 us on our knees.

00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:41.160
 But sometimes we can be very, very

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:42.460
 bull-headed and hard-headed.

00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:44.319
 And sometimes God will just whip us.

00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:46.240
 And that's what he did to Jonah.

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.980
 It's taken me most of my life.

00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:52.859
 I still don't always.

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:54.359
 But it's better to do things the easy

00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:54.639
 way.

00:32:56.419 --> 00:32:57.859
 And I want you,

00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:01.459
 if there's something going on,

00:33:01.959 --> 00:33:03.779
 you're just not close to God the way

00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:05.399
 you know you should be.

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.799
 You have been maybe.

00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:11.219
 And God's trying to call you back.

00:33:12.159 --> 00:33:13.619
 Do it the easy way.

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:17.299
 Call out to him right now and let him

00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:22.759
 know that you are confessing your sin.

00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:24.900
 You're turning from that disobedient

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:25.379
 attitude.

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:28.480
 And you're going to do things his way.

00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:30.359
 Because you love him.

00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:32.039
 You trust him.

00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:35.599
 And you know his way is the best way.

00:33:36.099 --> 00:33:37.019
 Let's pray together.

00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:41.180
 Father, show us now how we should

00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:42.259
 respond to you.

00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:45.279
 To your pursuit.

00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:47.539
 To your conviction.

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:51.839
 To your encouragement maybe.

00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:58.000
 And help us to do it.

00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:01.980
 Help us to respond to you,

00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:04.299
 our gracious Father.

00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.660
 And Lord, if there are people in this room

00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:07.500
 who are not Christians,

00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:10.599
 help them to see that

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:13.519
 right now they need

00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.900
 to understand

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:16.739
 they are far from you,

00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:19.019
 separated from you by their sin.

00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:20.500
 And their only hope

00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:21.920
 is to admit it.

00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:23.440
 Turn from that

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.679
 way of life,

00:34:24.780 --> 00:34:25.380
 that attitude.

00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:27.759
 Trust Jesus as their Savior.

00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:30.619
 Help them to call upon him

00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:31.239
 right now.

00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:33.699
 Let's just all listen to the Lord

00:34:33.699 --> 00:34:35.139
 and obey him during this time.

00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:38.219
 And if I could pray with you,

00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.219
 I'd be honored

00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:40.980
 to do that right here at the front

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:42.099
 in these next few minutes.

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.920
 knowledge of the someday.

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:46.159
 My family of mine is

00:34:47.319 --> 00:34:47.480
 a POWER

00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.099
 and a EVER

00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:49.900
 master.

00:34:49.900 --> 00:34:51.139
вер

00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:53.059
 A

00:34:53.159 --> 00:35:01.559
 He

00:35:01.819 --> 00:35:04.339
 начинает be