INTRO: A minister, boy scout, computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. Pilot came back to the cabin and said the plane was going down and there were only three parachutes and four people. Pilot: “I should take one because I have a wife and three small children” (took & jumped). Computer whiz said, “I should have one because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me” (took & jumped). Minister turned to the boy scout with a sad smile and said, “you are young and I have lived a rich life, so you take the remaining parachute and I’ll go down with the plane.” The boy scout said, “relax preacher, the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out.”
TITLE: A Lesson Hard Learned
TEXT: Jonah 2, 3
I. Jonah’s prayer (READ Chapter 2)
A. Call to God - The man of God didn’t want to even talk to God a few hours ago. Know his attitude and behavior have changed.
1. Paint picture - v. 1 - In my distress, affliction (suffering of body and mind, pain, anguish).
-Depths of the grave (He. - belly of Sheol, hell)
-v. 3 - Currents swirled about me, waves sweeping over me.
ex My drowning
a. Jonah swallowed later - Jonah just didn’t get tossed overboard and giant fish ate him. I believe he sank and was struggling and was almost out of air, tangled in seaweed (v. 6 - to the roots of the mountain).
-Shows the depths he sank.
b. Mental exhaustion - building and building. Ever since he disobeyed God (didn’t go to Ninevah, bigotry. Ran, boarded ship, opposite direction).
1. Disobey the Lord - lose peace of mind, joy, happiness (strength and security).
2. Disobedience took its toll - Jonah was so mentally beaten he was willing to take his life.
ex Accounting field, change career (delusions of grandeur).
Interesting: God didn’t pamper Jonah (nervous breakdown, take it easy, “you’ve been through enough, I’ll find someone else”). Jonah was going to obey.
c. Fish - whale, shark, grouper, the fish preserved Jonah’s life rather than let him end it. Kept him from dying in disobedience.
1. Scripture seems to judge those who seem to give up.
ex. Judas - I believe he could have repented.
Like soldier: what would happen if commanded to do something by the general and we didn’t
obey. We would be punished.
2. Fish was blessing - Instrument in God’s hands that would mold and shape Jonah (fires of judgment have softened the prophet’s iron will).
Likewise we need to thank God for our difficulties and hardships. Kiss the chains that bind us to God.
a. James 1:2-4 (READ) not just joy, but pure joy.
1. Perseverance - grit, courage, strength.
2. Maturity - complete, not lacking anything.
b. 2 Cor. 12:9b-lOb - “For my power is made perfect in weakness, for when I am weak then I am
strong.”
1. Weakness shows we can’t depend on ourselves, but only on God. When we are weak He is
strong.
2. Depends on our heart - If adverse circumstances come and our heart gets harder, we blame
God and don’t want to have anything to do with Him (worse off).
The furnace can strengthen or destroy (the fire will either melt the butter or harden the clay). Depends on the heart! Jonah’s heart was softened.
d. I called to the Lord - v. 2 (READ)
1. I remembered you, Lord - times in life when so beaten and down, you don’t have any hope (Nothing going right), family and friends don’t want to talk to you anymore.
The only thing we truly have is Jesus, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Jesus will always be with us!
a. Teach Jesus - Mom and dad, important to teach Jesus because when turbulent times come, they
can stand on Christ, The Solid Rock.
1. Prov. 22:6 - “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from
it!” Might be some rough years, but they will come back! Like Jonah who came back to the
Lord after his disobedience.
2. Holy temple - the sanctuary where God’s presence was assured.
a. Thoughts and reflections turned to God, Special place where you felt God’s presence.
ex My hardship accounting field, church was only place I felt relief.
3. Song of thanksgiving - v. 9 (READ) - Amazing how Jonah was in the pits of despair and he
sang songs to the Lord.
a. Sacrifice - think Jonah felt like praising God. (Lodging was rough the past few nights) The
Whale’s Inn didn’t have very good rooms!
1. Power and praise of worship - power in praising the Lord. Law tells in his book that
our praising breaks down strongholds of the enemy.
ex Wife dying - God taught him how to overcome pain by praising God.
a. Biblical example, besides Jonah is Acts 16:25 (READ).
1. Paul and Silas thrown in prison in Philippi for casting out demon of a girl who predicted the future (owners lost money). So they seized Paul and Silas and turned them over to the authorities.
a. Stripped and beaten, severely flogged (means Hulk Hogan did the whipping).
-Placed in stocks (feet) and placed in the inner cell (dark, dreary, smelly).
b. Singing to God - (READ 16:25-26) After all that happened to them, singing.
-Were they nuts or did they understand the power of praise!
1. Earthquake broke open the prison (freed), jailer was brought to salvation.
Why it’s so important when we come to worship the Lord. Get your mind off your problems and focus on the Lord. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel like it! Just do it and God will bless you.
-If you can only be a Christian when you feel good, you’re not going to make much impact on the works of the devil.
*** Steps forward - enemy attacks, feel lousy and low and behold lost what ground you’ve made.
-Why we need to praise the Lord especially when we don’t feel like it!
4. Vow to God - v. 9b - “What I have vowed I will make good.”
a. Jonah and God come to an agreement. Jonah is going to obey God and in return God will
open the fish’s mouth.
e. God answers - v. 2 Jonah
1. Anywhere - even the depths of the grave, God will answer His children from anywhere (even
though at times we feel He doesn’t. He does!)
a. Even in a fish’s belly at the bottom of the sea, God still heard and answered Jonah!
-God rescues him from a giant fish (vomits him on land).
*Salvation comes from the Lord.
2. Sadness to those who cling to worthless idols.
a. Jonah’s reflecting - sailors with, foolish ways (forfeit the grace that could be theirs).
ex Today, TV commercials (learn about future, call 1-976-234-1818).
-Some put their future in education, job, families.
-Need to put the Lord in charge of every part of our future. Those who depend on other things
(whatever it may be) will forfeit the grace that could be theirs!
II. Second Chance (READ 3:1-2)
A. Lord sent His word again to Jonah.
1. “Christmas Carol” - Ebenezer Scrooge, bitter old man, unhappy and makes everyone else he comes
into contact with unhappy. Angel comes and shows Ebenezer what his life is
going to be like when he dies, what his grave is going to be like, impact he had on
others (how many cared he was dead) (happy he was dead!)
a. Shows how Scrooge got a second chance - he changed his behavior (giving to the poor, Tiny Tim’s
operation).
What impact are we making around us (if we die, how would it effect others). Would others be happy we are gone (because we were so negative) or would others not care one way or the other (because we never did much). Or, would others question God, “Why did you take so and so, they were doing mighty things for the kingdom.”
B. God does give second chances.
1. Thank God He gives us many chances!
-Prov. 24:16 - “A righteous man falls seven times yet gets back up.”
Point: Keeps trying. God gives us as many chances as we honestly and sincerely try.
ex Look at OT giants who were given a second chance by God.
-Abraham - lying to Pharaoh (Sarah -sister, not wife)
-Jacob - stealing and lying about birthright (deception)
-Moses - not having enough fifth in himself to speak to Pharaoh
-David - committed adultery and murder for a woman
* God gave all these men second chances. These saints of God sinned but came back to God and the Lord
used them mightily.
I wish Christians could give other Christians a second chance or as many chances as it takes. Jesus says
we’re supposed to forgive 7 x 70, meaning as many as it takes.
C. Obedience of prophet - v. 3 (READ)
“Obedience is better than sacrifice.”
1. Compare the first and second calling.
-Jonah ran -Jonah obeyed
-Wasted time and money -Job was completed
-Jonah put himself under great pressure -Lord blessed others
-Jonah tried to kill himself -Souls were saved
-Brought problems on others (lost cargo)
D. Lord prepares the way (v. 4-9 READ)
1. Powerful message - “Forty more days and Ninevah will be overturned.”
-Eight-word message causes a whole city to change lives.
When God tells you something, do it because He prepares the way with His spirit. (Betting man would bet everything owned. Blood-thirsty Ninevites turned lives to God).
ex Jonathan Edwards preached sermon - “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” in the 1700s
that started what historians called the great awakening. (Imagine being used by God to start a
great revival, something He allows you to do).
-Interesting: Edwards, coke-bottle lenses, read manuscript (no homiletic skills).
E. Ninevites repented and spared - (READ v. 5-10)
1. All people from the greatest down to the unimportant, fasted and prayed, put on sack cloth and
sat in the dust. City-wide day of mourning (crying out for forgiveness).
2. City was spared - God’s wrath was averted.
a. Citizens were spared tremendous suffering that was about to come their way.
* That’s what happens when we tell people about Jesus. We spare them tremendous heartache!
ex Chinese man - would give whole days to the Lord. The Lord would direct him where to go.
(Lord directed him who to help, plant Word, led people to the Lord).
IN CONCLUSION: Close with a story
Telephone pole climbing is an art. In order to climb, one must have a belt that goes around the pole and wear spiked shoes. The secret is to lean back and depend on the belt so the spikes can dig into the pole. Depending on the belt is hard to learn, often a beginner slides down a splintery pole because he won’t depend on his equipment. It only takes a few such experiences to convince the beginner that it is better to depend on the belt.
In Christian life, God wants us to climb by depending on Him. When we are hurt by splinters, we should recognize that they are reminders that we need to depend on His strength and loving protection.
-Remember, God wants us to learn the lessons no matter how hard we think they are.
