Sermon Notes 08-16-09

August 16th 2009 “Jonah’s Return” “Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17

Jonah is classified as “The Reluctant Prophet!” Seems like a oxymoron! Like: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you!”
Introduction: Jonah’s story is simple. Jonah, a child of God, ran from his Father. God pursued his child on the wings of a storm. Just like a child, Jonah is forced to realize that it is better do God’s will than to run!
Like Jonah, we have a tendency to think that during times of crisis God is distant or removed.
God never forsakes His children – even when we disobey Him, just like with Jonah—even in the belly of the great fish, God was there!
Jonah’s experience illustrates the steps back to God.

Jonah’s Return Steps:
1st Jonah’s Confinement!

Jonah 1:17 “Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”Who prepared the fish? God!
There is much discussion about the nature of this fish. Was it a whale, a large shark, or a large fish?
The type of fish isn’t as important as the role of the fish.
Some see this fish simply as God’s judgment on Jonah. But God used the sea as His hand of correction.

The fish was: A protective haven from the sea –1:17 “Jonah was in the fish.”
And the fish represents God’s provision for his protection.
God had no intention of killing Jonah. If God wanted Jonah dead, He could have left him in the ocean and sent a shark!
God desired to break Jonah’s disobedient will, He wasn’t finished with Jonah yet.
God sent the fish to rescue him from dying.
Even in the throes of the consequences of his disobedience God loves and rescues Jonah.

The fish was: A personal transport to the coast!
After “three days and three nights” [1:17], “God commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah on dry land” [2:10].
The three days and nights probably has nothing to do with the speed of the fish, but with the time Jonah needed to empty his sinful heart.
When Jonah was ready to obey God, the fish was ready to release him.

The fish was: A private sanctuary with the Lord – 2:1
“Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.”
What is a “sanctuary?” It is the place where you encounter God. You can know that you have encountered God when He has your attention.

Think of what happened inside that fish:
Inside the fish, Jonah recognized his utter dependence on God.
“I cried out for help” [2:2],
“I said, ‘I have been banished’” [2:4],
and “As my life was fading away, I remembered the Lord.” [2:7].
When all hope was exhausted, God moved in.

Inside the fish, Jonah submitted to God without reservation Jonah 2:9 “I will never worship anyone but you! For how can I thank you enough for all you have done? I will surely fulfill my promises. For my deliverance comes from the Lord alone.”
Jonah got alone with God and the voice of sin, of fame, and of others became faint sounds.
If you have wandered from God--find a private place to meet with God. You don’t need a dramatic event, you just need to be alone with God.

Jonah’s Return Steps:
1st Jonah’s Confinement!
2nd Jonah’s Communion!

We need to listen to God’s voice. Jonah quoted from the Psalms.
“Your billows swept over me” [2:3] Psalm 42:7
“I have been banished” [2:4]. Psalm 31:22
“my life was fading away” [2:7]. Psalm 147:3
“Salvation is from the Lord” [2:9]. Psalm 3:8 “For salvation comes from God. What joys he gives to all his people.”
The Word of God was so critical to Jonah’s spiritual recover?

Illustration: God’s Word is God’s Compass!

Jonah’s Return Steps:
1st Jonah’s Confinement!
2nd Jonah’s Communion! We need to listen to God’s voice.
3rd Jonah’s Confession! We need to pour out our hearts to God.

Jonah’s Confessions: Jonah 2:3-4 He said, “You threw me into the depths” and “I have been banished from Your sight.” I recognize Your hand at work here.”
Jonah makes the connection between his disobedience and God’s correction.

B. Jonah 2:4 Jonah added, “yet I will look once more toward Your holy temple.” Here is a good definition of backsliding: Taking your eyes off God. Likewise, a good definition of repentance is turning your eyes back to God.

C. Jonah 2:9 He promised, “I will fulfill my vows.” Repentance without obedience results in failure. True repentance requires change.Illustration: A man in a certain church was known to rededicate his life on a regular basis. And he always prayed the same prayer, “Lord, remove the cobwebs from my life.” Upon hearing the prayer yet another time, his Pastor whispered this prayer to the man, “And Lord kill the spiders!” Conclusion: It is said that the Eastern shepherd, as he brings his sheep back to the fold each night, stands at the door and counts each one. As he does so, he puts his hand on the head of each animal. He makes a habit of touching each one of them. If he were to grow careless and neglect to habitually touch his sheep, it would soon turn its head away when it heard his voice! This, of course, could be very serious, for with such a broken habit would follow the animal's actually ignoring the warning shout from the shepherd and subsequently could be disastrous for the sheep.

If we are experiencing the Shepherd's touch daily in our lives, then we will recognize His voice when He warns of impending danger. This will mean "practicing His presence" daily. If we do not practice His presence then we have probably been practicing the presence of our enemy. Our Lord awaits the moment to "touch" our day with His presence.