WHEN CHRISTIANS SINK
PREACHED ON SUNDAY AUGUST 7, 2005
SALUTATION
EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS ETC.
TITANIC STORY – THINGS PEOPLE DO TO SURVIVE (DRESS)
TRANSITION INTO THE TEXT
BRIEF BACKGROUND TO THE TEXT – FROM CHAPTER 1.
REFER TO CH. 1:2 – GOD BECAME CONCERN - CALLED – COMMISSIONED JONAH – PREACH
JONAH ROWED AND COMPLAINED –
JONAH REFUSED TO COOPERATE
JONAH RAN AND DID NOT COMPLY
IN A NUT-SHELL, HE REJECTED HIS CALL – DISOBEYED GOD BUT HE LATER SUFFERED THE CONQUENCES. THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES WHEN WE DISOBEY GOD.
JONAH ENDED UP BEING THROWN INTO A RAGING SEA, ALMOST DROWN– BUT GOD THROUGH HIS GRACE AND MERCY SPARED JONAH’S LIFE. APP. (GOD HAS SPARED US).
BUT WHAT DID JONAH LEARN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE? WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM WHAT JONAH TELLS US IN CHAPTER 2? WHEN JONAH FOUND HIMSELF SINKING, HOW DID HE HANDLE IT? WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU FIND YOUSELF SINKING? FOR WHAT EVER REASON? JONAH SANK BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE. BUT THE QUESTION FOR US TODAY IS - WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES SINKING. YOU MAY ASK, WHAT DO YOU MEAN SINKING? WELL - SOME FOLKS SINK EMOTIONALLY,
SOME FOLKS SINK FINANCIALLY
SOME SINK RELATIONALLY
AND WORST OF ALL, AS THE PROPHET IN THIS STORY – SOME OR EVEN MANY OF US SINK SPIRITUALLY. BUT, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
LET US GO TO OUR TEXT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN LEARN AS JONAH RECOUNTS HIS EXPERIENCES AND REMINESES ABOUT THIS UNFORGETABLE EXPEDITION. THERE ARE SOME LESSONS HERE FOR US. FIRST AND FOREMOST,
I DON’T BELIEVE FOR ONE MOMENT THAT IT IS ACCIDENTAL OR COINCIDENTAL THAT THE EVENTS IN THIS CHAPTER IS PLACED BETWEEN JONAH’S INITIAL CALL IN CHAPTER ONE AND HIS SECOND CALL IN CHAPTER THREE – READ V-1 BOTH PASSAGES.
B & S
WHEN WE DELAY OR REFUSE TO DO AS GOD ASKS US TO DO – STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN – DISOBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD OFTEN COMPROMISES OUR SPIRITUALITY, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE OUR SITUATION, AND SOMETIMES FOR THE WORSE. THIS IS THE CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND OF THIS STORY.
CHAPTER 2 IS NOT A PRAYER OF DELIVERANCE, BUT RATHER IT IS A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING. JONAH WAS THANKFUL THAT HE WAS STILL ALIVE AFTER HE LANDED IN THE OCEAN. TODAY, I WISH TO SHARE WITH YOU THREE WAYS WE CAN RESPOND WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES SINKING.
1. CALL FOR HELP. READ V1-2. ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU NEED HELP. IT MAKES SENSE TO CALL FOR HELP WHEN LIFE CHALLENGES BECOME UNBEARABLE –
B & S, THE BIBLE TELLS US IN JAMES CH. 4, IF ANY SICK AMONG YOU CALL FOR THE ELDERS,
JER. 33:3 ASKS US TO CALL ON HIM AND HE WILL ANSWER YOU --PSALM 34:6
ISAIAH 65:24 SAYS THAT BEFORE THEY CALL, I WILL ANSWER AND WHILE THEY ARE STILL SPEAKING I WILL HEAR
THERE IS AN INHERENT ADVANTAGE TO CALLING ON GOD
CALLING ON GOD IMPLIES A DEGREE OF EXPECTANCY
CALLING ON GOD INVOLVES A DISPLAY OF MATURITY
CALLING ON GOD INDICATES A DEGREE OF DEPENDENCY.
BUT IN THIS PASSAGE, JONAH CALLED FOR HELP BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED THREE THINGS –
A. JONAH CALLED FOR HELP BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED THE DISTRESS HE WAS FACING –
V-1 (IN MY DISTRESS…..) UNLESS WE RECOGNIZE THE DISTRESS WE ARE FACING WE WILL NEVER BE MOTIVATED TO CALL FOR HELP. IF WE DON’T THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG, THEN WHY CALL FOR HELP. THAT IS THE PROBLEM, THERE ARE THOSE OF US WHO ARE DISTRESSED, DISTURBED, DISALLUSIONED, DESTIUTED BUT REFUSE TO CALL FOR HELP. WE ARE DRIFTING, WE ARE SINKING, BUT YET, WE REFUSE TO CALL FOR HELP. JONAH SAID- IN MY DISTRESS I CALLED UNTO THE LORD AND HE ANSWERED ME. .
IN EXODUS 14: MOSES AND THE CHILDREN AT THE RED SEA – PHAROAH BEHIND THEM –
YOU MAY BE DOWN, BUT YOU CAN STILL LOOK UP. CALL FOR HELP. YOU MAY BE AT YOUR LOWEST NOW BUT YOU STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE ONE WHO IS IN THE HIGHEST.
B. JONAH CALLED FOR HELP BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED THE DEPTH TO WHICH HE HAD FALLEN.
AS A MAN OF GOD, JONAH HAD FALLEN FAR FROM WHERE HE USED TO BE. HE APPEARED TO HAVE LOST HIS INTEREST IN PREACHING AND THE THINGS OF GOD,
APPEARED TO HAVE HAD NO MORE DESIRE TO ENGAGE IN THE THINGS OF GOD - HE HAD FALLEN FAR FROM GOD (V- 5-6 (READ) THE MAN OF GOD HAD HIT ROCK BOTTOM AND FOUND HIMSELF BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, BUT THE AMAZING THING, HE STILL CALL FOR HELP. LET US TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON WHERE WE ARE, OR WHERE WE USE TO BE. HOW FAR HAVE WE FALLEN IN THE LAST WEEK, MONTH, YEAR.
FOR SOME OF US, WE HAVE FALLEN IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CHILDREN, OUR SPOUSES, OUR EMPLOYERS OR EMPLOYEES
AND SOME OF US HAVE FALLEN IN OUR SPIRITUALLY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
FRIENDS – LET US TAKE A MOMENT – LET US EVALUATE – RECOGNIZE WHERE YOU ARE - LISTEN HERE - MY B & S, IF WE ARE NOT GROWING – THEN WE ARE EITHER DRIFTING OR SINKING AND THE QUICKER WE RECOGNIZE OUR POSITION, THEN THE SOONER WE CAN CALL FOR HELP. SO RECOGNIZE THE DEPT TO WHICH YOU HAVE FALLEN.
C. RECOGNIZE THE DILEMA OF BEING A FUGITIVE- THE DISTANCE HE NOW FOUND HIMSELF - V-4 (READ) JONAH WAS ON THE RUN AND HE FELT FAR FROM GOD .
B & S WHEN WE RUN FROM GOD, WE RUN FROM GRACE AND MERCY. I KNOW GOD SAVED HIM, BUT LOOK WHAT HE HAD TO ENDURE. FRIENDS THREE DAYS IN THE BELLY OF A FISH IS NOT THE SAME AS THREE DAYS ON THE SEA ESCAPE TO FORT LAUDERDALE OR THREE NIGHTS IN THE CROWN PLAZA HOTEL.
DON’T YOU REALIZE THAT WHEN WE RUN FROM GOD, WE RELINQUISH OUR RIGHTS TO HIS DIVINE PROVISION AND PROTECTION
WHEN WE RUN FROM GOD – WE RENDER OURSELVES POWERLESS, AND RELEGATE EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO THE MERCY OF UNGODLY FORCES.
MY QUESTION TO ALL OF US TODAY IS - WHAT ARE WE RUNNING FROM RIGHT NOW – COULD IT JUST BE POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF US ARE RUNNING FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS GODLY HUSBANDS –
ARE WE RUNNING FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS LEADERS IN THE CHURCH
COULD IT BE THAT OTHERS OF US ARE RUNNING FROM OUR COMMITMENT AS GODLY WIFES AND MOTHERS?
WOULD YOU COME ON AGREEMENT WITH ME THAT THERE MAY EVEN BE THOSE OF US LIKE THE PROPHET WHO ARE RUNNING FROM THE CALL TO MINISTER IN A SPECIFIC AREA OF MINISTRY – TELL ME, WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FROM? WHICH AREA OF OUR LIVES WILL WE BE CONSIDERED OR LABELED AS A FUGUTIVE?
B & S, IF WE ARE RUNNING – THEN RECOGNIZE THE DELIMA – WE ARE FUGUTIVES IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, WE ARE PROBABLY SINKING AND THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO CRY FOR HELP. SO
RECOGNIZE THE DISTRESS YOU ARE FACING
RECOGNIZE THE DEPTH TO WHICH YOU HAVE FALLEN
RECOGNIZE THE DELIMA OF BEING A FUGUTIVE
SO THE PROPHET CALLED FOR HELP.
2. IN V-4 (READ) CONTINUE TO HOPE.
THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FOR A CHRISTIAN WHO FINDS HIM OR HER SELF SINKING IS TO CONTINUE TO HOPE – YOU MAY BE IN THE WRONG, BUT WHEN YOU WOULD HAVE CRIED OUT TO GOD – CONTINUE TO HOPE. A SIMPLE DEFINITION FOR HOPE IS “FAITH IN THE FUTURE” IF NO FAITH IN THE FUTURE, THEN THERE IS NO POWER IN THE PRESENT. LIKE JONAH, YOU MAY BE SINKING AND YOUR LIFE MAY BE EBBING AWAY, BUT JUST A LITTLE FAITH IN THE FUTURE IS GOOD ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU AFLOAT. YOU MAY BE GOING UNDER, BUT PUT YOUR FAITH IN THE ONE ABOVE. MY B & S, THIS FAITH AND HOPE COME ONLY OUT OF OUR EXPERIENCES. LET ME PROPOSE THREE WAYS THIS HAPPENS.
1. JONAH HAD HOPE BECAUSE HE HAD EXPERIENCED GOD’S FAVOUR. JUST WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE, GOD MOUNTED AN UNUSUAL RESCUE OPERATION. (V-5 – READ) THE LIVING BIBLE SAYS – (V-5) I SANK BENEATH THE WAVES, AND DEATH WAS VERY NEAR. – V-7 SAYS WHEN I HAD LOST ALL HOPE, I TURNED MY THOUGHTS AGAIN TO THE LORD. THIS WAS A CLOSE CALL. (Ill. SURVIVE A BAD AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT –
STANDING AFTER A DEVASTATING ILLNESS –
2. WE CAN CONTINUE TO HOPE BECAUE WE HAVE EXPERIENCE GOD’S FORGIVENESS. MY B& S THERE WAS A TIME WHEN ALL OF US WERE WITHOUT HOPE, BUT GOD RESCUED US FROM THE CLAWS OF SATAN. I BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SING THE SONG “ I WAS DRIFTING DEEP IN SIN FAR FROM THE PEACEFUL SHORE ……..BUT THE MASTER OF THE SEA HEARD MY DESPARING CRY…. BECAUSE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED HIS FORGIVENESS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE HOPE – FEEL AS THOUGH YOU ARE SINKING, CONTINUE TO HOPE – HE IS READY TO DO IT AGAIN.
3. ANOTHER REASON WE CAN CONTINUE TO HOPE IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED GOD’S FAITHFULNESS.
NOT ONLY His FAVOR
NOT ONLY His FORGIVENESS – BUT ALSO HIS FAITHFULNESS. DO YOU REALIZE WHAT IT MEANS WHEN WE SING THE HYMN,” GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, OUR LORD OUR FATHER, WHEN WE SING THE LINE - THOU CHANGEST NOT – THY COMPASSSION THEY FAIL NOT – I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE FAITHLESS, YET GOD IS FAITHFUL,
EVEN THOUGH WE DON’T ALWAYS LOVE HIM THE WAY WE OUGHT TO, HE STILL LOVES US WITH AN UNCHANGING LOVE,
WE HAVE STRONG FAITH TODAY BUT A WEAK FAITH TOMORROW , BUT HIS FAITHFULNESS IS STILL RENEWED TOWARD US EVERYDAY - AND THIS IS WHY WE CAN CONTINUE TO HOPE. READ (V- 6 – READ) JONAH SAID THAT “I WENT DOWN” - BUT THE LAST PART OF THE VERSE SAYS “ BUT YOU O LORD BROUGHT ME UP. EVEN THOUGH WE MESS UP, YET GOD RESCUES US AND RESTORES BACK TO A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, AND THAT IS WHY WE CAN CONTINUE TO HOPE. – WE CAN HOPE BECAUSE ----
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED HIS FAVOR
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED HIS FORGIVENESS
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED HIS FAITHFULNESS
SO CONTINUE TO HOPE
THE FINAL THING I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY ON THE SUBJECT OF WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND YOUSELVE SINKING IS FOUND IN V-9-10 (READ). IF YOU WANT TO SEE RESULTS, THEN YOU MUST HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART
3. A CHANGE OF HEART IS WHAT IS REQUIRED WHEN WE FIND YOUR SELVES SINKING. THIS CHANGE OF HEART COMES BY DEMONSTATION IN THREE WAYS:-
B & S
1. WE MUST DEMONSTRATE OUR READINESS TO SURRENDER
WE MUST SURRENDER OUR AGENDA TO GOD’S AGENDA
WE MUST SURENDER OUR WILL AND DESIRES TO GOD’S DESIRE
WE MUST SURRENDER OUR GIFTS AND ABILITIES TO HIM –
TIME AND OUR MONEY - HOW EASY IT IS TO SING THE SONG, “ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER” AND WE KNOW FULL WELL THAT IS NOT THE CASE . I DON’T KNOW WHAT ALL IT ENTAILS, BUT IT HAS TO BE MORE THAN WHAT WE USUALLY GIVE TO GOD. THE QUESTION ON THE FLOOR IS, WE MAY BE SAVED, BUT HAVE WE SURRENDERED OUR HEARTS, MINDS, OUR RESOURSES TO THE GOD OF OUR SALVATION AND ARE WILLING TO OBEY WHAT HE COMMANDS. (V-9 READ) JONAH SAID THAT FROM HERE ON IN HE IS READY TO SACRIFICE AND COMMIT HIS FULL ALLEGIANCE TO THE ONE TRUE GOD – WHAT ABOUT US?
2. DEMONSTRATE A READINESS TO REPENT OF OUR SINS. NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL WE REPENT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DRIFT AND TO SINK UNTIL WE REPENT. LOOK AT WHAT JONAH SAID IN (V-8-9 READ) THIS STATEMENT SOUNDS LIKE A WILLINGINNESS TO REPENT AND DO RIGHT. B&S DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE NEED IN YOUR LIFE TO FORSAKE SOMETHINGS AND TO REPENT AND MAKE GOOD ON THE PROMISES YOU HAVE MADE WITH GOD. ARE YOU READY FOR THAT TODAY? IF YOU SINKING, THERE WILL BE NO PROGRESS OR TURNING AROUND UNTIL YOU REPENT AND THERE IS A CHANGE OF HEART. IF YOU RUNNING, THEN REPENT
IF YOU ARE DISOBEDIENT REPENT
IF YOU ARE REBELLIOUS REPENT
IF YOU ARE LIVING IN SIN - REPENT
JONAH SAID FROM THE DEPTS OF HELL I CRIED AND YOU HEARD ME – IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW DEEP YOU ARE, GOD WILL RESPOND IF WE REPENT. REPENT EVERYONE OF US AND LETS DO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO DO.
3. DEMONSTRATE A READINESS TO RESPOND TO GOD’S SALVATION.
READ V-9 - SALVATION IS FROM THE LORD. A CHANGE OF HEART IS DEMONSTRATED BY A RESPOINSE TO GOD’S SALVATION – HIS SAVING POWER. GOD’S SALVATION IS AVAILABLE TO ALL, BUT WE MUST RESPOND. B & S, WHEN WE RESPOND, RESULTS FOLLOW. LOOK AT TEXT. WITH A CHANGE OF HEART WHICH WAS DEMONSTRATED BY JONAH’S READINESS TO SURENDER
REPENTANCE OF SIN
RESPONSE TO GOD’S SALVATION
THE FISH DID NOT HAVE INTERGESTION - V-10 SAYS THAT GOD COMMANDED THE FISH AND IT VOMITTED JONAH UP ON DRY LAND. JONAH DELIVERANCE CAME AS RESULT OF HIS ACTIONS AND ATTITUDE – GOD ACTED AFTER JONAH HAD A CHANGE OF HEART, REPENTED AND RESPONDED TO HIS SALVATION.
I COULD IMAGINE JONAH ON THE BEACH SINGING – I WAS DRIFTING DEEP IN SIN, FAR FROM THE PEACEFUL SHORE…….
WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEANS FOR US AS CHRISTIANS. HOW ARE WE TO RESPOND TO WHAT WE HAVE JUST HEARD.
1. FIRST WE MUST EVALUATE OUR SITUATION TO SEE WHERE WE ARE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
2. GOD ANSWERS OUR CALL OF DISTRESS EVEN THOUGH WE ARE GUILTY – JONAH WAS NOT ON HIS WAY TO NINIVEH WHEN HE WAS SWALLOWED BY THAT FISH – HE WAS RUNNING FROM GOD.
3. GOD, EVEN THOUGH HE MAY APPEAR LATE AT TIMES, HE ALWAYS ANSWERS US RIGHT ON TIME.
4. GOD ANSWERS US WHEREVER WE ARE AND HE DELIVERS US FROM ALL KIND OF SITUATIONS.
GOD IS READY TO DELIVER AND RESCUE SOME SINKING SOUL TODAY. YOUR RESCUE MAY NOT COME BY A GIANT FISH BUT MAY COME THROUGH THE INVOLVEMENT OF A GOOD FRIEND.
YOUR RESCUE MAY NOT COME THROUGH SOME PAGAN SAILORS, RATHER YOUR RESCUE MAY VERY WELL COME THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF SOME PRAYING SISTERS. BUT NO MATTER WHAT -
YOU MUST CALL FOR HELP
CONTINUE TO HOPE
CHANGE OF HEART
INVITATION.
GOD BLESS YOU.
