Fellowship In A Fish

Jonah 2:1-10 FELLOWSHIP IN A FISH I. JONAH’S CRY FOR HELP. A. The Place Of Jonah’s Cry (1-2) - "Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, v.2 out of the belly of hell cried I, This was the place of the dead – Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. B. The Purpose Of Jonah’s Cry (2) - "I cried by reason of mine affliction." Jonah saw 1. The Source Of his affliction His Sin had brought him here. 2. The Severity Of his affliction (3) - "For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me." William Booth said if he could take the students to hell for five minutes, 3. The Solution To his affliction "I cried" C. The Power Of Jonah’s Cry v.2 and thou heardest my voice. II. JONAH’S CHANGE OF HEART. A. Jonah Saw His Failure (4) - "Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. 1. He had taken God’s Patience for granted. I am cast out of thy sight Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 2. He had taken God’s Presence for granted. He had wanted to get away from Him, now he regrets that he has been cast out of God’s sight. 3. He had taken God’s Protection for granted. v.6 yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. B. Jonah Saw His Frailty (6) - "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God." Jonah knew his life on earth was ended. Jonah knew he was useless in that condition. C. Jonah Saw His Foolishness (7-8) - "When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. {8} They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy." He saw that what he had done was wrong. (8). What were the "lying vanities?" 1. I can shut God out of my life. 2. I can run from the call of God. 3. I can forget God. 4. I don't need God. III. JONAH’S COMMITMENT TO HOLINESS. A. Jonah Seemed Anxious To Praise The Lord (9) - "But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." B. Jonah Seemed Anxious To Pay His Vows - "I will pay that that I have vowed." He is now ready to do God’s will instead of his own, and be happy about it. C. Jonah Seemed Anxious To Preach The Gospel - "Salvation is of the Lord." 1. The message became very real to him. 2. The message became very rich to him. He could speak with great conviction. 3. The message became very relevent to him. We need to preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.