Journey of Jonah, Part 2: A Place to Think

Message Title:  A Place to Think        (Jonah 2:1-2) "From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry."   1.     When we cry, God listens (Jonah 2:3) "You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me." 2. God can be found in difficult circumstances (Jonah 2:4-7) "I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.' The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple." 3. God's discipline always serves a purpose (Jonah 2:8) "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." 4.  Running from God is running from His provision and protection (Jonah 2:9)  "But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.  What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." (Jonah 2:10) "And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land." (Jonah 3:1) "Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time" 5. We serve a God of second chances (Romans 5:8) "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."   For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.