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  JONAH 2:7
  by Chuck Smith
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Summary: Chuck Smith teaches that God's sovereignty and love are
revealed in our darkest moments, and that prayer is a manifestation of
His patience and mercy.

Topics: "God's Grace", "Prayer"
Scripture References: Psalm 34:18, Isaiah 55:6, Jonah 2:7, Ephesians 2:8

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DESCRIPTION
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Chuck Smith emphasizes the transformative power of prayer in times of
despair, as illustrated in Jonah 2:7. He discusses how Jonah, despite
initially fleeing from God, ultimately remembered the Lord and turned to
Him in prayer when all other options failed. Smith highlights that God
allows us to reach our lowest points to refine us and reflect His image,
and that even desperate prayers are a sign of His grace. The sermon
underscores the futility of running from God and the importance of
renewing our commitment to Him, recognizing that salvation is a gift
from God, not a result of our own efforts.

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CONTENT
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I. WHEN MY SOUL FAINTED WITHIN ME. A. I remembered the Lord. 1. Up to
this time he purposely: a. Drove Him from mind. b. Hiked 40 miles. c.
Slept in storm. d. Disregarded sailors' prayers. B. My prayer came unto
Thee. 1. Many people wait until no other avenues of escape to pray. a.
God in love lets them get there. b. He does not deliver beforehand. 1.
Refining Silver. 2. Deliverance any sooner would be too soon. He will
keep you under discipline until He sees His image reflected in your
life. 2. Prayer as a last resort is better than no prayer at all. a.
Manifestation of God's grace is His patience. C. He received true
prospective. 1. "They that observe lying vanities." a. Deceitful. b. Sin
is a lying vanity. 1. He thought to escape God. 2.

He thought to better his lot. 3.

He thought to live independently of God. 2. Forsake their own mercy. a.
To run from God is to run from your own good. b. To forsake God is to
forsake your own well-being. D. He renewed his vows. 1. Offered
sacrifice of praise. a. Even before deliverance. 2. I will pay that
which I have vowed. E. He received the revelation. 1. Salvation is of
the Lord. a. Not of works. b. Not of our own doing. 2. A gift of God. a.
God is aggressor. b. We have not sought Him, but He, us. 1. Planned the
way. (predeterminate counsel. 2. Provided the way. sent His Son. 3.
Reveals the way... by the Spirit and the Word.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/chuck-smith/jonah-27/
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