OPENING SCRIPTURE:

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,  “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me. But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.” (Jonah 1:1-3 NKJ)

The call from God was so clear and yet Jonah disobeyed.

Why did Jonah disobey?
He did not want God to show grace and mercy to the Ninevites.

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 NKJ)

• The fish was not God’s judgement but His grace.
• God’s grace can be found in the most unlikely places.
• Even Jonah’s disobedience could not separate him from the grace of God.
• God used the confinement of that fish to get Jonah’s attention

God’s Discipline Inside of the Whale

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all… But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
(Hebrews 12:7-11 NLT)

• God’s discipline is divine. It comes from a place of love, a place of grace and mercy.
• Discipline is not punishment. Jesus paid for our punishment.
• Colossians 1:14 says: Jesus “purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” (Colossians 1:14 NLT)
• God’s discipline leads to freedom.
• God’s Discipline is for our good. To grow us and to mature us.
• God’s discipline leads to holiness.

Jonah Prayed Inside of the Whale

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish’s belly. (Jonah 2:1 NKJ)

He finally submits and surrenders to God.

And he said: “I CRIED out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol, I CRIED, And You heard my voice. (Jonah 2:2 NKJ)

• Sometimes our best prayers are simply this: “Help!”
• Twice Jonah used the word: “cried”. Same English word but different Hebrew words with different meaning.

The 2nd Cry: “I cried, And You heard my voice”

• Cry out with great intensity.
• Prayer is simply you crying to God.

The 1st Cry: “I CRIED out to the LORD because of my affliction, And He answered me

• Cry Out: Means to call out to God by name.

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13 NKJ)

• God Answered Jonah

So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (Jonah 2:10 NKJ)

• When you cry out to Him, He will hear you and he will answer you!

CONCLUSION:
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?