[0:00] Oh, good morning. It's good to come together to worship God this morning. You've seen the intimations. I'm scrolling. I just want to highlight the Gaelic service this evening taken by the Reverend Kenny Ferguson and the fellowship that will take place after that led by Amman and Lucy and Richard and Emma.
[0:24] I understand that there's going to be some learning around the Scottish Prison Fellowship, so if anyone's got any interest in that, I'm sure it'll be very good. Amman assures me that he doesn't have first-hand experience.
[0:37] Amen. We're going to worship God this morning. We're going to start by singing in Sing Psalms, Sing Psalms 96, version A of the psalm. I'm now trying to remember that I actually give a number of verses that we're going to sing.
[0:57] 13. Well, we won't sing as far as that. We'll sing down as far as verse 10. Tell every land the Lord is King.
[1:13] So we'll sing a new song to the Lord. Sing praises to his name and his salvation day by day let all the earth proclaim. His glory and his mighty deeds to every land declare. How great and awesome is the Lord. With him no gods compare.
[1:30] For other gods are wood and stone. The Lord made heaven's height. While power and majesty are his. He dwells in glorious light. If you're able, please stand and sing. O sing a new song to the Lord. Sing praises to his name and his salvation day by day.
[2:09] Let all the earth proclaim.
[2:39] The Lord is the Lord. With him no gods compare.
[3:09] The Lord. He dwells in glorious light. The Lord. He dwells in glorious light.
[3:23] All nations to the Lord. Glorious light. Glorious light. Glorious light.
[3:34] Glorious light. Glorious light. Glorious light. Glorious light. Glorious light. Scorched with joy and brain, an offering with you.
[4:12] Worship the Lord in holy fear, all earth before him bow.
[4:29] Tell them beyond the Lord is King, his sound which shes the earth.
[4:45] And that all it is true, the Lord will judge the peoples in his truth.
[5:02] Amen. Let us bow before God in prayer. Let us pray. Amen. Our gracious and our ever-blessed Lord, we do indeed thank you that we can come into your presence this morning.
[5:21] And we can sing a new song that you have placed within our hearts. A new song to magnify your name. And we pray that each one of us that gathers here this morning may indeed know that new song upon our lips.
[5:36] And that new song within our hearts. That we would not turn to man-made gods. But that we would indeed turn to the God that is above all gods.
[5:49] The God that is high and lifted up. That the angels do indeed cry, holy, holy, holy is the Lord. So as we come into your presence this morning, may we indeed be still and know that you are God.
[6:06] And that we would indeed know what it is to trust in you this morning. We thank you that we can come freely to worship you this morning. We recognize that there are many across the world this morning that are in fear as they come and open your scriptures.
[6:24] Some that are unable to gather for fear of being caught. But still of that hunger and thirst to come and worship you. We pray that we would never take for granted the privilege that we have to come, to gather together, to sing your praise, and to return unto you all glory, honour and praise.
[6:47] For you are indeed worthy. Worthy, worthy, worthy. And we pray, Heavenly Father, that as we come this morning, that we would indeed seek to acknowledge you.
[6:59] And thank you for every good and perfect gift that you have given us. Even on this day. The health and strength that we are able to enjoy to be able to gather together here.
[7:10] But we also remember that there are those that would desire to be here. That due to sickness, due to ill health, are unable to gather. We thank you for the provision of the live stream that allows them to be able to join us this morning.
[7:28] And while they are not here physically with us, we pray, Heavenly Father, that as they gather in the twos and threes in their own homes, that they would indeed know your blessing upon them.
[7:38] As they are able to sing your praise, read your word, and see the scriptures open and proclaim this day. And we also remember those, Heavenly Father, that mourn at this time.
[7:54] As a community, we recognise that so often in these past months and in these past days, that we have been reminded that here we have no continuing city.
[8:04] And we pray for those that are feeling bereft this morning, following the passing of loved ones. We pray, Heavenly Father, that your hand would be stayed upon them.
[8:17] That they would indeed know that although the earth has been moved, that, Heavenly Father, that you are a God of comfort, that you are a God of refuge, you are a God of strength.
[8:30] And your loving arms seek to be around them. If we would reach out and call upon you at this time. We pray for those that are waiting results of treatment that they may have had.
[8:45] We pray, Heavenly Father, that your hand would be upon them also. That they would know, Heavenly Father, in the waiting. That you are with them. You have promised each one of us, if we put our trust in you, that you will never leave us.
[9:02] That you will never forsake us. That even through the valley of the shadow of death, you comfort us, you guide us. And we pray, Heavenly Father, that that blessing would be known this day.
[9:15] That you, as the Great Shepherd, are with each and every one of us. We pray for our young ones gathered here this morning. We thank you for them, Heavenly Father.
[9:28] We thank you for the parents and the grandparents that bring them faithfully along. And, Heavenly Father, desiring to see these young ones rooted and grounded in your word.
[9:42] That they may grow to know and to love you. Our desire would be to see them coming to know you. And to thrive in you. As they walk with you each and every day of their lives.
[9:56] We pray, Heavenly Father, for our own minister away from us at this time. We pray for him as he takes the services in Tornagrain at the Communions there. As they gather together.
[10:09] As they break the bread and as they pour out the wine. As they remember your death until you come. We pray, Heavenly Father, that each one of them that gathers there.
[10:21] Maybe some that may be at the table for the first time. Maybe others that sit behind the table and wonder why they have not taken that step. We pray that each one would know your blessing.
[10:35] Remember, Innes and the team there in Tornagrain. We ask that your hand would be upon them. As they work within that community. That they would know your blessing.
[10:46] And that they would indeed see in due time fruit for their labours. We pray for Anthony as he preaches over in Sculpey. We pray for Scott and Shawbust.
[10:57] That as your word is proclaimed, Heavenly Father, that you would be with each one of them. That they would know your blessing. Your guidance. Your direction. And that your word would indeed go forth in spirit and in truth.
[11:12] That everywhere your word is preached. That hearts would indeed be open and receptive to your word. That ears would be unstopped. That those that have ears may indeed hear.
[11:25] Oh, Heavenly Father, we bring all these things before you at this time. As we commit the fellowship to you this night. We do indeed remember the work of the Scottish Prison Fellowship.
[11:38] Our minds go back to the first fellowship that we read of in a prison. As Paul and Silas sang praises and prayed to you while they were locked in chains. And how even through that lives were changed.
[11:51] So we pray for those, Heavenly Father, that are involved in Scottish Prison Fellowship work. That they would indeed know your blessing. That as they are able to go into the prisons.
[12:04] And work with those that have more needs than many of us can even recognise. That, Heavenly Father, we all have the same need to know and to love you.
[12:15] As our Lord and as our Saviour. So we do indeed commit that work to you. Asking that while doors may be bolted. We recognise, Heavenly Father, that the Spirit moves.
[12:27] And we pray for those, Heavenly Father, that through circumstances that each one of us could have faced. Find themselves unable to be free this morning.
[12:39] But we pray, Heavenly Father, that they would be free in you. Free knowing. That, Heavenly Father, that you have paid the price for each and every one of us.
[12:49] And of a calling upon you, as the Jailer was told. Believe and you will be saved. And we pray that prayer for each and every one gathered here this morning as well.
[13:01] That does not know you as Lord and as Saviour. That, Heavenly Father, as your word is read. As your praise is sung. That they would indeed come to know and to understand the amazing grace of God.
[13:16] That the scales would fall from their eyes. And the blindness would indeed be gone. And that they would receive a sight that calls them to fix their eyes upon Jesus.
[13:31] And look full in his wonderful grace. So we commit ourselves to you this morning. That as we pray and as we read your word. That we would seek to know you better.
[13:43] Know you deeper. And know you each and every day. That we would walk with you. In Jesus' precious name. We ask all this as we ask forgiveness of our sins.
[13:55] Amen. Boys and girls. If there are any of you here this morning. How are you all this morning?
[14:11] Come on round, boys. You're good. Good. It's good to see you all here this morning. It's only a couple of more weeks before I'm sure you must be getting another holiday from school.
[14:27] Yeah? Four weeks to go? There or thereabouts? Okay. This morning we're going to sing a hymn. And the hymn points us to the grace of God.
[14:40] And it's written by a man called John Newton. Now John Newton was a man that had gone far away from God. He had been brought up to know God.
[14:52] He had gone far away from God. But he had gone far away from God. And this night he was in the middle of the sea. He was on a boat. Now when you go off to Sunday school, we're going to be learning.
[15:03] And I don't mean to put any fear into the people who came in the door and said their boat was in the harbor. We're going to learn about men that were out in a boat.
[15:15] Not the men that were out in the boat as disciples of Jesus. But the men that were out in the boat with a man called Jonah. Can anyone remember what happened to Jonah on the boat?
[15:29] Yes, Michael. There was a storm. And what happened to make the storm go calm? Can anyone remember what happened to Jonah? Yes, Finlay.
[15:45] He got swallowed by a fish. He got swallowed by a big fish. So he got thrown overboard. The men on the boat threw him over the side of the boat. And what happened?
[15:57] Does anyone know what happened when Jonah was thrown over? He was swallowed by a fish. But what happened to the storm that they were in? Does anyone know? Sorry? It vanished.
[16:08] That's right. The sea became calm. And the men that were on the boat, we sang in a psalm earlier on, that all other gods are not gods. They're made of wood. These men had been crying out to their own gods.
[16:22] What do you think they did when the storm became calm after they'd seen Jonah going over the side of the boat? Who do you think they called on? They called on God.
[16:33] These men knew about God, but they didn't follow God. But then when they saw the power of God happening on the sea, their eyes were opened.
[16:48] And that's what happened to John Newton. He was on a boat. He was far away from God. He was actually involved in the slave trade. But this night, there was a wicked storm on the sea, and John Newton thought he was going to die.
[17:03] And you know what he did for the first time that he hadn't done in a long time? Can anyone think what John Newton might have done? Yes, Michael? He prayed. And what happened when he prayed?
[17:15] Well, I'll tell you. God answered his prayer. And the storm was made calm. And John Newton, what do you think John Newton did?
[17:27] Do you think he just carried on the way he was before? No. He followed God. And he wrote to him that we're going to sing very shortly about the amazing grace of God.
[17:39] And John Newton talks about how he was blind, how he couldn't see properly. It wasn't that his eyes were impaired, but he couldn't see with his heart. He couldn't see God.
[17:51] But through praying to God and God answering his prayer, he followed God. They reckon that this hymn is sung about 10 million times a year in America alone.
[18:08] God is an amazing God. And when you go off to Sunday school, you're going to learn about just how amazing God is. We're going through, in the Sunday school, the children of Israel leaving Egypt.
[18:25] And they're in the wilderness. And they cry out to God for food. And God provides food for them in the most amazing way. And the people then thank God for that.
[18:38] And you're going to learn more about that when you go off to Sunday school. And when you go off to Sunday school, we are going to be looking at just how amazing God is. How amazing God is in that he can control the wind and the waves.
[18:55] He can control the fish of the sea. And how God can draw men to him. And our prayer for each and every one of you as children is that God will draw you as you learn more about him that you will see God clearly and that you won't wander away from him but that you'll stay close to him all the days of your life.
[19:18] Because we have an amazing God and his grace for each and every one of us is indeed amazing. Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we do indeed thank you that you are an amazing God.
[19:34] you have an amazing love for each and every one of us. That you sent your son Jesus into this world to die to take away our sins.
[19:46] And we pray, Heavenly Father, that as the young ones go off to Sunday school that we would indeed pray for them. That they would know the amazing grace of God.
[19:57] The provision that God makes for each and every one of us. Sometimes when we don't even realize it. that we would indeed be thankful each and every day for your mercies to us that are new every morning.
[20:13] And we pray, Heavenly Father, that if we are wandering lost this morning that we would look to Jesus. If we cannot see him that we would indeed seek him.
[20:25] For your word teaches us those that seek will find. And if we know, Heavenly Father, that we must call upon you we pray indeed that we would ask for again that you teach us through your word that those that ask will receive.
[20:43] And we pray that each one of us would seek to receive the amazing grace of God and walk with you each and every day of our lives. And we ask all this in Jesus' precious name.
[20:57] Amen. Amen. We're going to stand to sing that hymn written by John Newton. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
[21:11] I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see. We'll stand to sing if you're able. amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
[21:46] I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see.
[22:02] grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.
[22:18] How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.
[22:34] Through many dangers, soils and sins, I have already done.
[22:51] Disgrace that brought me saved, the spot, and grace will lead me o'er.
[23:05] When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining out the sun, we've known as days to save God's grace, than when we've first begun.
[23:35] For the young ones, go off to Sunday school. If you've got your Bibles with you, if you could turn to the Old Testament, the Old Testament, to the book of Jonah, and we're going to read Jonah chapter one.
[23:58] Some of you might remember that a number of months back, when I was taking a prayer meeting one night, we looked at the first three verses in the book of Jonah chapter one.
[24:12] We looked at what the Word of God was, and what the Word of God was to Jonah, and how Jonah responded to that Word of God, how he fled from God, tried to flee from the presence of God, the direction in which that took him.
[24:34] It took him down, down, down, down into the depths, as we'll find out as we read on. And the cost that there was to Jonah that he paid his fare, that as we read on, that cost was even greater.
[24:52] But as we see, as we read within the passage, and as we read to the end of the passage, we have a God that desires to save. And we'll read and find out what God has to say to us this morning, as we read in Jonah chapter one.
[25:11] Now the Word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. But Jonah rose to flee to Tarsus, from the presence of the Lord.
[25:27] He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarsus. So he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarsus, away from the presence of the Lord.
[25:38] But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his God.
[25:49] And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship, and had laid down, and was fast asleep.
[26:02] So the captain came and said to him, What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call on your God. Perhaps the God will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.
[26:15] And they said to one another, Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
[26:28] Then they said to him, Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation, and where do you come from? What is your country, and of what people are you?
[26:38] And he said to them, I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea, and the dry land. The men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, What is this that you have done?
[26:55] For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Then they said to him, What shall we do, that the sea may quiet down for us? For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.
[27:09] He said to them, Pick me up, and hurl me into the sea. Then the sea will quiet down for you. For I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.
[27:23] Nevertheless, the men rode hard to get back to dry land. But they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they called out to the Lord, O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.
[27:49] So they picked up Jonah, and hurled them into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
[28:03] And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Amen. And may God bless the public reading of his word.
[28:17] We're going to again sing to God's praise. This time we're going to sing in Gaelic. For those that are visiting with us, we remain seated for the singing in Gaelic.
[28:31] I'll read the verses in English. Psalm 115, the first three verses, the first two stanzas. Now unto us, Lord, not to us, but do thou glory take unto thy name, and for thy truth, for thy mercy's sake, and for thy mercy's sake.
[28:52] O whither should the heathen say, where is their God now gone? But our God in the heavens is, and what pleased him, he hath done. Amen. Jönjön fanam, et hir fanam, after benem o'so fe.
[29:16] Jönjön fanam, na hir fanam, na hir fanam, ach, CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS
[30:37] CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS Satsang with Mooji
[31:42] Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji
[32:43] Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji Satsang with Mooji that we are indeed in the presence of a holy God who desires to speak to us and direct our paths this morning.
[33:48] In Jesus' name, Amen. Now, if you've got your Bibles and you're able, if you could maybe turn back to Jonah chapter 1, and we'll see what God has to say to us through his word this morning.
[34:05] As I said at the beginning, before we read, some of us looked at this passage in a prayer meeting, and we left it where Jonah had run from the presence of God, and he had paid the fare and gone down into the boat.
[34:30] But here, when we come to find out what happens, at the next step of the journey, we find in verse 4, that the Lord had hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest, so the ship threatened to break up.
[34:52] Why is it important that we read that the Lord had hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest? Well, in normal circumstances, a sailor would check his charts, he would check the weather, and he wouldn't set sail if there was a storm coming.
[35:12] But in the situation that we have here, we see right away the sovereignty of God, that while everything looked calm on the sea, because God desired to do as he pleased, a tempest came up on the sea and took the sailors by surprise.
[35:36] Why do I say that? Well, as we read in verse 3, sorry, in verse 5, we see there the first of the great fears of the sailors.
[35:49] As we go through the passage, you'll have seen there are three occasions that we read of the sailors being afraid. Now, while this book is called the Book of Jonah, while we know that Jonah is on the boat, we just want to look and see what happens to the sailors as they're on this journey with Jonah.
[36:16] And each one of us can think of ourselves at different stages in our lives as these sailors who were on this journey. Everything looked okay, but then there was a storm and the mariners were afraid.
[36:35] But not only were they afraid, we recognise that these mariners must have at some point, or some of them, must have been religious men.
[36:48] Because what do we read next? Each one cried out to his God. Each had their own gods that they called out to. And they thought that these gods were going to be able to help them as the sea roared around them.
[37:07] a sea that was so strong that it was going to break the very ship that they were in. And they called out to the gods that they thought might be able to help them.
[37:20] Gods of wood, gods of stubble. And we pray and we see that nothing happened. What did they do next?
[37:32] they then threw the very cargo that was going to earn them a living. They threw it into the sea. The mariners had called out to their gods.
[37:47] Nothing happened. And in order to lighten the load of the ship, they hurled their cargo into the sea. How many of us when we get into trouble look around us and see what we can cast off that might free us from the difficulties that we're in.
[38:08] How many of us try and think of ways that we can do things ourselves and try and fix the problem that we've actually created. The sad thing for the sailors here if we just stop and pause it wasn't anything that the sailors had done that brought them in this situation.
[38:33] Who was it? Yes, it was God that had thrown the sea into a turmoil but who was it that had got onto that ship and got the sailors into the situation that they were in?
[38:50] Who was it? But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had laid down and was fast asleep. Jonah who was the real man of God read in verses 1 to 3 he was a prophet.
[39:11] God had spoken to him God had given him a message God had used him in times past but here was Jonah in the inner part of the ship fast asleep.
[39:22] so content was he in his sin that he felt he could even fall asleep unaware of the trouble that he caused for those round about him those that were nearest to him those in many ways that he depended on for the safe travel that he had paid his fare for.
[39:46] Jonah was that caught up and content in the sin that he sought to run away from God was fast asleep in the belly of the ship.
[40:01] And then what happens? The captain thinking that everybody maybe was safe in the same place in the boat all of a sudden realizes that Jonah is not with him.
[40:14] The captain goes searching for him and the captain says to him what do you mean you sleeper? Arise call out to your God perhaps the God will give a thought to us that we may not perish.
[40:31] Not only was Jonah awoken from his sleep but the words of the captain did what? They pointed Jonah back to where he should have been in the first place with God calling upon God and the desire of the captain was that none of them would perish.
[40:58] They were in a situation that they were all afraid of. They had tried calling out to their own gods but nothing had happened.
[41:10] But then the captain remembers what of this guy Jonah this guy that told us that he was running away from God let's get him to call on his God.
[41:23] So Jonah was awoken physically and spiritually and told to call upon his God. God but then what do we see happening in verse 7?
[41:40] Not only were they trying to work out how they could get safe passage to where they were going they wanted to find out why this had happened to them.
[41:53] And we see in verse 7 and they said to one another come let us cast lots that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us. They recognised that it was evil but they wanted to find out where it had come from.
[42:11] So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Why did they cast lots? If we look at where lots are cast at different points in the Bible the first time that we ever read of a lot being cast is back in the book of Leviticus Leviticus 16 and at verse 8 and it's the time of atonement.
[42:47] I'll just turn there you don't need to turn I'll just read it to you. I'll just read in from verse 6. Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.
[43:02] This was after the sin of Aaron's sons. Then he shall take two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting and Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats one lot for the Lord and the other for Azazel which as many of you will see in your footnotes is in relation to it being a scapegoat and Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell before the Lord and use it as a sin offering but the goat on which the lot fell for scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement.
[43:46] Jonah was now the one that the lot had been cast upon. Here he was amongst the sailors they had cast lots and the lot fell on him.
[44:03] It says in Proverbs 16 and at verse 33 the lot is cast into the lap but its every decision is from the Lord. So while these men cast lots thinking that they were going to work out what it was that had caused this evil we read there that every decision in relation to casting lots is from the Lord which makes us wonder should we be casting lots nowadays the last time that we actually read of lots being cast is when the disciples cast lots to see he would replace Judas Iscariot and the lot fell on Matthias come before the Lord seek the Lord each and every day and he will direct our paths we don't need to cast lots God is in control and as we have sung and as we have read he will do as he is pleased so the lot fell on
[45:12] Jonah what do the sailors then do in the midst of the storm they then start an inquisition tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us what is your occupation and where do you come from what is your country and of what people are you one question after another seeking to find out more about who Jonah was why he was there he had already told them as we read later on that he sought to flee from the presence of the Lord is there anyone here this morning is seeking to flee from the presence of God God has spoken to them in times past but yet they still seek to run from him how do you feel this morning do you feel that you can sleep or do you want to call upon God this morning you may be going through difficult times you may be feeling that you are at your wits end the captain you to call upon
[46:20] God that nobody would perish are you prepared to stop and call upon God this morning I don't know the circumstances that each and every one of you are facing today I don't know how your family life is how your personal life is are you seeking to run away from God or are you caught up in sin in such a way that your heart has been hardened that you switched off to the dangers round about you I cry to you this morning is wake up and call upon God not only that you won't perish but that those round about you may not be cast out and lose their very lives as they look to you as a witness then
[47:21] Jonah having been quiet having recognised that he had been woken up both physically and spiritually the lot had been cast upon him what then happens he bears witness not witness for himself but he bears witness for God I am a Hebrew and I fear the Lord the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land some commentators don't think that at this point Jonah had awoken spiritually they reckon that Jonah was still lost and then when he speaks later on pick me up and hurl me into the sea then the sea will be quiet down for you some people recognise or say that
[48:30] Jonah still wanted to get so far away from God he was prepared to let the sailors throw him into the sea I would have to say I probably disagree with that and I'm happy to discuss it afterwards but we have Jonah standing before the men saying I am a Hebrew and I fear the Lord the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land Jonah was starting to recognise that he couldn't run away from God Jonah was starting to recognise that not only had the lot fallen upon him but as a man of God the casting of the lot the need for atonement the need for sacrifice was actually weighing upon him so much so that when the men asked him what is it that we have to do what can be done that we do not perish here at sea not only had the men inquired of
[49:37] Jonah as to who he was Jonah told them and what do we read the second fear of the men Jonah told them that he was a Hebrew he told them that he feared the Lord the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land these men would have heard of who the Lord God was these men would have heard of the situations that God had taken the children of Israel through they would have heard of the flood they would have heard of the exodus out of Egypt how the sea was parted they would have heard of the fall of the great city of Jericho no wonder these men were frightened it is said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom we don't quite see the wisdom coming through here yet because the men turn to their own strength and they seek to try and row as fast as they can and as hard as they can they've been told what they have to do that they have to throw
[50:54] Jonah over the side of the boat but the desire to try and do it in their own strength we read in verse 13 nevertheless the men rode hard to get back to dry land and then four words the men tried to do things in our own strength how many of us try and sort things out knowing that we have to turn to God and then we are left saying I cannot the men tried to do it but they could not why because the harder they tried the more tempestuous the sea became then the men called out to God they called out to God and they said O Lord let us not perish for this man's life and lay not on us innocent blood for you
[51:57] O Lord have done as you pleased or has it pleased you here we have these men in the boat men that we recognised at the start were men that thought they were religious they called on false gods but now they recognise that they are before the Lord of Lords what a contrast there is between these men in the boat as they cry out recognising that they are going to have to sacrifice Jonah in order for them to be saved at the hill of Golgotha they cried out crucify him crucify him but hear these men cry out to Lord let us not perish for this man's life and lay not on us innocent blood they recognised that they were before an awesome God and only in recognising that could they come and say these things we had looked earlier on to say that
[53:06] Jonah had paid a price he paid the fare the simple fare to get onto the boat but now we see Jonah getting picked up in verse 15 and he's hurled into the sea and the sea ceased!
[53:22] from its raging! The storm had turned into a calm had God's command and will and then we see this final fear of the men it wasn't just a fear like they had had in the past as we see there in verse 16 the men feared the Lord exceedingly and what do we learn we spoke of the sacrifice the lot being cast and it falling on Jonah and Jonah had been thrown into the sea and the storm had become calm but now the men come and they offer a sacrifice a sacrifice to the Lord it doesn't tell us what the sacrifice was we do read that they had thrown their cargo into the sea but whatever they had they came and sacrificed it before the
[54:28] Lord and they made vows vows to God to follow him vows to God recognising that he was indeed the Lord of heaven and of earth the Lord of the land and of the sea just look down and I appreciate that you won't possibly have this on the screen but if we look down for those of us that are Bibles to the situation with Jonah Jonah had been hurled into the sea and God had provided a great fish to rescue Jonah Jonah's prayer in Jonah chapter 2 and at verse 9 but I with voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you what I have vowed I will pay salvation belongs to the Lord while
[55:31] Jonah prayed that prayer in the depths of the sea the fishermen were sacrificing and giving vows unto the Lord and the calm of the boat the storm had been around them the turmoil that they had been in they thought that their lives were lost but a sacrifice was paid and the storm became calm and they turned and they looked to the God the God that they had heard of but the God that they didn't really know and they came before him and sacrificed and made vows to him as I said I don't know what storms or trials any one of you is going through this morning but my prayer for each and every one of you is that you recognise that the sacrifice has been paid there's no need to be going through the turmoil on your own each one of us has a responsibility and as a duty to call upon
[56:48] God and make a sacrifice now that sacrifice may be to give up something that sacrifice may be to go for God somewhere but I would ask that you make a vow to follow him not to keep running from him but a vow to follow him each and every day recognising that salvation does indeed belong to the Lord and the Lord will do as he is pleased let us pray dear Heavenly Father we recognise that your word has been given to us to direct us on how we may glorify and enjoy you forever and we pray for each and every person sitting here this morning that if they know you that they would indeed know what it is to walk with you and to enjoy you each and every day of their lives and if as yet they have not called upon you and
[58:00] Heavenly Father that they would not wait until the storm is all around them that they are feeling tossed as a boat on the sea that they would indeed call upon you early seek the Lord while he may be found and Heavenly Father you are here this morning and are only a prayer away that each one of us would indeed know what it is to believe and be saved and we ask all this in Jesus precious name Amen Amen I bring our service to a close singing in Mission Praise 770 Will your anchor hold in the storms of life and may you indeed know the prayer of the refrain that we have here that we have an anchor that keeps our soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll fastened to the rock which cannot move grounded firm and deep in the
[59:03] Saviour's love will stand to sing song and the storm of life when the clouds unfold their wings of strife when the strong tides lift and the cables stray will your anchor drift or firm remain we have a girl that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll fastened to the rock which cannot move rather firm and deep in the Saviour's love when your anger hold in the straits of fear when the breakers roll and the reef is near while the surges rage and the wild winds blow shall the angry waves in your bark or flow we have a girl that keeps storm steadfast and sure while the billows roll fastened to the rock which cannot move through forever and deep in the
[60:47] Saviour's love will your anger hold in the blood of death when the waters cold chill your latest breath on the rising tide you can never fail while your anchor holds within the veil we have a cure that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll fastened to the rock which cannot move ground and warm and deep in the Saviour's love your eyes be home through the morning light the city of gold and the harbour bright will your anchor stay by the heavenly shore when like storms are past forever more we am a girl that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll pass into the rock which cannot move ground in firm and deep in the
[62:18] Saviour's love dear heavenly father as we bring this service to a close as we seek your blessing upon each and every one gathered here this morning we do indeed heavenly father commit to you those that will travel tomorrow to Romania think of Kenny for Taffy for Peggy for David and for Ian and heavenly father that they would know journeying mercies as they go to work at Casa Harry that they would know blessing upon their journeys that they would know blessing upon their time of fellowship and all that they seek to do heavenly father would be honouring to you and for the work there that they do for children in Christ in Romania we pray heavenly father for the many camps that will take place this year and we pray your blessing upon them as we pray your blessing upon us now as we part in your name until we meet again in your name and at your time in Jesus precious name
[63:18] Amen