Survival

O. T. #2164 "Survival"

April 6, 2021

Jonah 2-Part 3

But I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of thanksgiving: I will pay that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. (verse 9)

LET IT GLOW

Friend, do you need a survival kit today? Has live swallowed you up and you feel like you are sinking? There is a way prepared for you to not only survive, but have an abundant life while here. Read on.

Jonah admitted that salvation is of the LORD. It is  not  from us, not our works, nor who we are. Jesus Christ is our only salvation for our sin-sick soul.

Salvation means liberty, deliverance, safety.

In John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

So dear one, Jesus is the only way to heaven, to live with God forever. He loves you so much that He left heaven in order to pay for your and my sins. It was so we did not have to pay for them eternally in hell, separated from the Holy Father. Sin must be paid for with a blood sacrifice that is perfect.  We could never meet that qualification since we sin.

It is by faith that we are save. Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent for this purpose?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26)

Romans 10:9 says, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Friend, will you take a moment and think about this? It can mean the difference of living in heaven or hell forever.

 

LET IT GROW

Jonah was swallowed up by a whale as he sunk in the deep sea. It was because of his rebellion running away from God's will of preaching repentance to the horrible Ninevehites. Jonah realized that God allowed this to happen to him in order to bring Jonah to repentance of his sins. He experienced the grace and mercy that God wanted to extend to the pagan idol worshipers. God put the prophet in the place where he would finally seek God's face and submit himself to the LORD.

When all else failed, Jonah prayed to the Lord God. When his soul fainted, he remembered the LORD in prayer:

• In his terrible time of trouble Jonah cried out to the Lord and He answered. (verse 2)
• He acknowledged that God put him in the sea and in the whale's belly. (verse 3)
• The waters, floods, waves resulted in a hopeless situation for Jonah, and he looked toward God's holy temple in faith. (verses 3,4)
• The waters surrounded Jonah every time the whale opened its mouth to take in fish for food, I think.
• Weeds wrapped about Jonah's head. (verse 5) What a horrible place to be-in a stomach of a fish.
• Jonah sank low, but God lifted him up from his life of corruption. (verse 6) Corruption means a pit, grave, destruction.
• Jonah's prayer went into the holy temple of the Lord God in heaven where Jehovah is King. (verse 7)
• Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies. (verse 8)
• Then Jonah offered the sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord as he substituted his will and desires for those of God's. (verse 9)

Verse 10 says, And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

That fish obeyed God its Creator. Probably, it was near the place that rebellious Jonah departed from the presence of the LORD, so he thought. He didn't need a ship to return, either.

LET IT GO

Beloved, don't make it take a whale to swallow you before you pray to God through Jesus.

I pray that you will find salvation in the loving Savior, Jesus, today.

I pray that if you have left the will of God, you will ask forgiveness of the Forgiving Heavenly Father.

Know that He loves you!