100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:11,400When it comes to storms, when it comes to disasters, when it comes to tragedies200:00:11,400 –> 00:00:19,620in life, you have two choices as to what to believe. Either you will believe that300:00:19,620 –> 00:00:25,959God is in control even of these things, or you will end up concluding that he is400:00:26,240 –> 00:00:31,660somehow a helpless, or at least passive, observer.500:00:31,660 –> 00:00:34,880Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick600:00:35,060 –> 00:00:39,459I’m glad you could join us today. Colin, we’re in a series about Jonah700:00:39,459 –> 00:00:45,160talking about storms today. There’s an idea around I think, that God will send800:00:45,160 –> 00:00:49,500you a blessing when you deserve it, and he sends storms if we have sin in our900:00:49,500 –> 00:00:53,580life, or if we’re running away from him. Is there ever a time, do you think, when1000:00:53,820 –> 00:00:57,680God might send a storm, when we’re actually walking closely with him?1100:00:57,900 –> 00:01:01,220Oh yeah, well there’s an example of that in the Gospels. The disciples are in the1200:01:01,220 –> 00:01:05,580boat with Jesus and they’re acting in obedience, because he told them to go1300:01:05,580 –> 00:01:09,480the other side of the lake, and a storm comes. So, storms come in the middle of1400:01:09,480 –> 00:01:15,320obedience. In this story, in Jonah, this is a storm that comes in the setting of1500:01:15,320 –> 00:01:19,879Jonah’s disobedience, but you know, the thing that strikes me about it is that1600:01:20,040 –> 00:01:26,320even here, the storm is an expression of God’s grace. It’s God not letting Jonah1700:01:26,320 –> 00:01:33,360go and no storm, calm seas for Jonah, and he just drifts off out of the will and1800:01:33,360 –> 00:01:37,940purpose of God, but God sends a storm because he loves Jonah more than that.1900:01:37,940 –> 00:01:42,180And as we face storms in our life, that can be a real comfort, that God can be2000:01:42,180 –> 00:01:45,779using that storm to draw us back into his presence.2100:01:45,779 –> 00:01:46,559Well, I think it’s2200:01:47,000 –> 00:01:51,599important to say there is no event in life in which God is not working for our2300:01:51,599 –> 00:01:56,260good. God works in all things for the good of those who love him. That’s the2400:01:56,260 –> 00:01:57,839great assurance that we have as Christians.2500:01:57,839 –> 00:01:59,720So join us if you can today in2600:01:59,720 –> 00:02:04,599Jonah chapter 1 and verses 4 to 16, as we begin a message,2700:02:04,599 –> 00:02:09,080Refuse God’s Provision through Someone Else. Here is Colin.2800:02:09,080 –> 00:02:12,699Now I want to take up the story at verse 3, where we’re told2900:02:12,820 –> 00:02:18,500that Jonah ran away from the Lord and he headed for Tarshish.3000:02:18,500 –> 00:02:19,899Someone asked me the question3100:02:19,899 –> 00:02:22,500this week, you know, why did he bother going to Tarshish if he3200:02:22,500 –> 00:02:24,440didn’t want to go to Nineveh, why didn’t he just stay3300:02:24,440 –> 00:02:27,979where he was? Well I think the answer to that3400:02:27,979 –> 00:02:30,820is that Jonah was a prophet. And that3500:02:30,820 –> 00:02:34,220meant that Jonah received special revelation from God.3600:02:34,500 –> 00:02:40,559God spoke to Jonah directly in a way rather like the way he spoke to Moses.3700:02:40,660 –> 00:02:44,119So when Jonah refused God’s call and disobeyed God’s3800:02:44,119 –> 00:02:46,240command, he would have known that that would have3900:02:46,240 –> 00:02:52,059shut off any further direct revelation from God into Jonah’s life.4000:02:52,059 –> 00:02:55,059That meant that he could not continue as a prophet.4100:02:55,960 –> 00:02:58,520If he made up his own prophecies without receiving4200:02:58,520 –> 00:03:01,800revelation from the Lord he would be a false prophet.4300:03:01,800 –> 00:03:04,660If he stopped prophesying in 잘 개포, everyone would know that4400:03:04,660 –> 00:03:07,360there was something wrong in Jonah’s relationship with the Lord,4500:03:07,360 –> 00:03:10,539why had his ministry suddenly been turned off?4600:03:10,619 –> 00:03:13,520So the choice that this man faced, I think, was either4700:03:13,520 –> 00:03:17,779he should obey God and go to Nineveh, which he did not want to do,4800:03:17,779 –> 00:03:21,960or that he quit being a prophet, start over a new life in some4900:03:21,960 –> 00:03:25,440other kind of work in a new place and with a new identity.5000:03:25,440 –> 00:03:29,139It seems that that’s what Jonah decided he wanted to do.5100:03:29,139 –> 00:03:33,460He ran away from the Lord and he headed for Tarshish.5200:03:33,460 –> 00:03:36,740Notice verse 3 tells us that he went down to Joppa5300:03:36,740 –> 00:03:39,660and when he got there, here’s an amazing thing.5400:03:39,720 –> 00:03:42,380He found a ship just sitting in the dock there5500:03:42,380 –> 00:03:46,179that was ready to sail for that very port.5600:03:46,179 –> 00:03:47,779Now here’s an interesting thing.5700:03:48,800 –> 00:03:50,520If you decide to go to Tarshish5800:03:50,520 –> 00:03:52,860there will always be a boat to get you there.5900:03:53,979 –> 00:03:54,960Isn’t that amazing?6000:03:55,940 –> 00:03:58,660When a person decides to move away from the Lord6100:03:58,660 –> 00:04:02,339there will always be opportunities to pursue that desire.6200:04:04,160 –> 00:04:07,899C.H. Spurgeon told a wonderful story, I love this one,6300:04:07,940 –> 00:04:11,320it’s about a man who had a violent temper.6400:04:11,320 –> 00:04:13,520And Spurgeon said there was a pattern6500:04:13,520 –> 00:04:15,720with this man’s behavior.6600:04:15,720 –> 00:04:18,600When he got angry, he would lose his temper.6700:04:18,600 –> 00:04:20,299And when he lost his temper,6800:04:20,299 –> 00:04:23,359he would pick up something and he would throw it.6900:04:23,359 –> 00:04:24,600And Spurgeon said,7000:04:24,600 –> 00:04:28,079what really surprised me about this man7100:04:28,079 –> 00:04:31,839was not that he got angry and lost his temper,7200:04:31,839 –> 00:04:36,220not even that when he lost his temper he would throw things.7300:04:36,279 –> 00:04:38,940What really surprised me, said Spurgeon,7400:04:38,940 –> 00:04:41,940was that whenever he was angry,7500:04:41,940 –> 00:04:44,040there was always something there at hand7600:04:44,040 –> 00:04:45,899just waiting to be thrown.7700:04:47,500 –> 00:04:50,739Now, Jonah was running from the Lord7800:04:51,640 –> 00:04:56,660and there was the very opportunity waiting for him.7900:04:56,660 –> 00:04:59,179The boat was there in the port.8000:05:00,100 –> 00:05:03,760Never trust circumstances8100:05:03,799 –> 00:05:07,440when you are refusing the Word of God.8200:05:08,579 –> 00:05:10,000For if you are running from God,8300:05:10,000 –> 00:05:12,220there will always be opportunities8400:05:12,220 –> 00:05:16,160for your sin and your rebellion to become worse.8500:05:16,160 –> 00:05:18,640Now thank God that’s not the end of the story.8600:05:18,640 –> 00:05:22,119Jonah’s sinful heart is taking him away from the Lord8700:05:22,119 –> 00:05:24,239but God, wonderfully in his mercy,8800:05:24,239 –> 00:05:28,540is set and determined on bringing Jonah back.8900:05:28,540 –> 00:05:30,579And at this point in the story9000:05:30,579 –> 00:05:32,279I want you to notice that it’s almost9100:05:32,279 –> 00:05:33,640as if the focus moves9200:05:33,640 –> 00:05:35,859because Jonah now wants to tell us9300:05:35,859 –> 00:05:39,440the remarkable story of the ship’s crew9400:05:39,440 –> 00:05:42,339and how these men who at the beginning9500:05:42,339 –> 00:05:45,640when they launched out on the journey to Tarsus9600:05:45,640 –> 00:05:48,940they knew absolutely nothing about the God of the Bible.9700:05:50,079 –> 00:05:52,140But in the course of this journey9800:05:52,140 –> 00:05:56,079they were wonderfully converted to faith9900:05:56,079 –> 00:05:57,739in the God of the Bible10000:05:57,739 –> 00:06:02,660and they became truly God-centered believers.10100:06:02,660 –> 00:06:04,619A wonderful conversion.10200:06:04,619 –> 00:06:07,239And I once suggested in the story10300:06:07,239 –> 00:06:08,380that we’re going to look at today10400:06:08,380 –> 00:06:11,160of the conversion of the ship’s crew10500:06:11,160 –> 00:06:14,779we have one of the clearest pictures of the gospel10600:06:14,779 –> 00:06:16,339in all of the Bible.10700:06:16,339 –> 00:06:18,079If you want to know simply10800:06:18,079 –> 00:06:19,279and if you’re the kind of person10900:06:19,279 –> 00:06:20,799who thinks in pictures11000:06:20,799 –> 00:06:22,679what is the gospel all about11100:06:22,679 –> 00:06:24,299you’ll never get it clearer I think11200:06:24,299 –> 00:06:26,299than right here.11300:06:26,299 –> 00:06:27,899Because the gospel at its heart11400:06:27,899 –> 00:06:29,000is about two things.11500:06:29,000 –> 00:06:31,179It is about the storm11600:06:31,220 –> 00:06:33,820and it’s about the sacrifice.11700:06:33,820 –> 00:06:37,200It is about the storm of God’s judgment11800:06:37,200 –> 00:06:40,220and it is the sacrifice11900:06:40,220 –> 00:06:42,720by which we can be saved12000:06:42,720 –> 00:06:44,299from that judgment.12100:06:44,299 –> 00:06:47,519And these two things are powerfully presented to us12200:06:47,519 –> 00:06:49,619right here in this part of the story12300:06:49,619 –> 00:06:52,140we’ve come to today.12400:06:52,140 –> 00:06:54,059So, let’s look first at the storm then12500:06:54,059 –> 00:06:55,760beginning at verse four.12600:06:56,660 –> 00:06:59,739The Lord sent a great wind12700:06:59,739 –> 00:07:00,859on the sea12800:07:01,820 –> 00:07:05,540and such a violent storm arose12900:07:05,540 –> 00:07:09,179that the ship threatened to break up.13000:07:10,100 –> 00:07:13,559Now let’s pause there for a moment and think about this.13100:07:13,559 –> 00:07:17,459God sent the storm.13200:07:19,260 –> 00:07:22,799God sent the storm.13300:07:24,500 –> 00:07:27,619Storms don’t happen by chance.13400:07:28,600 –> 00:07:31,279Now, folks talk a lot about mother nature13500:07:31,279 –> 00:07:35,940as if nature operated by its own independent power.13600:07:35,940 –> 00:07:37,820But the Bible never suggests to us13700:07:37,820 –> 00:07:41,160that nature operates by its own independent power.13800:07:41,160 –> 00:07:44,260The Bible says to us that God sustains all things13900:07:44,260 –> 00:07:48,359by His powerful word that Hebrews chapter one in verse three.14000:07:48,359 –> 00:07:50,619When the disciples were with the Lord Jesus14100:07:50,619 –> 00:07:52,700and remember, he calmed the storm,14200:07:52,700 –> 00:07:54,220the disciples said about Jesus,14300:07:54,320 –> 00:07:55,540who is this?14400:07:55,540 –> 00:07:59,420Even the wind and the waves obey him.14500:08:01,779 –> 00:08:04,239So when it comes to storms,14600:08:05,119 –> 00:08:08,200when it comes to disasters,14700:08:08,200 –> 00:08:11,299when it comes to tragedies in life,14800:08:12,260 –> 00:08:15,399you have two choices as to what to believe.14900:08:17,019 –> 00:08:20,040Either you will believe that God is in control15000:08:20,040 –> 00:08:22,399even of these things,15100:08:22,399 –> 00:08:25,459or you will end up concluding that he is somehow15200:08:25,459 –> 00:08:29,920a helpless or at least passive observer.15300:08:31,940 –> 00:08:35,539Now, Christians debate how we understand15400:08:35,539 –> 00:08:37,020the Bible on these issues,15500:08:37,020 –> 00:08:38,960and someone might well say,15600:08:38,960 –> 00:08:42,340you know, if you’re saying that God is sovereign15700:08:42,340 –> 00:08:44,299controlling all things,15800:08:44,299 –> 00:08:46,140doesn’t that give you a problem15900:08:46,140 –> 00:08:47,900if you say that God is sovereign16000:08:47,900 –> 00:08:50,299even over storms that wrecked ships?16100:08:50,299 –> 00:08:51,900Listen.16200:08:51,900 –> 00:08:55,900I would rather live with the problem16300:08:55,900 –> 00:08:59,960of a God who is sovereign over all things16400:08:59,960 –> 00:09:02,799than live with the problem of a God16500:09:02,799 –> 00:09:06,179who is a helpless or passive observer16600:09:06,179 –> 00:09:09,760of the worst things that happen in life, wouldn’t you?16700:09:12,020 –> 00:09:13,419God sends the storm.16800:09:15,580 –> 00:09:19,460The storm is God’s intervention in Jonah’s life.16900:09:20,299 –> 00:09:22,159You may want to think about this a little,17000:09:22,159 –> 00:09:26,520but I thank God that God did not leave Jonah17100:09:26,520 –> 00:09:27,739to his own free will.17200:09:29,380 –> 00:09:32,299Jonah’s will was moving right in the wrong direction17300:09:32,299 –> 00:09:34,840into a wasted life,17400:09:34,840 –> 00:09:37,219and but for the intervention of God,17500:09:37,219 –> 00:09:39,340that’s where he would have remained.17600:09:40,260 –> 00:09:44,179But God was messing with Jonah’s rebellious will17700:09:44,179 –> 00:09:47,580to save him from a life wasted in disobedience.17800:09:47,580 –> 00:09:49,140Life wasted in disobedience.17900:09:49,140 –> 00:09:51,820Don’t you thank God for the way in which his hand18000:09:51,820 –> 00:09:53,500has intervened in your life.18100:09:53,500 –> 00:09:54,859And where would you have been18200:09:54,859 –> 00:09:59,859if it was not for his gracious intervention in your life.18300:10:00,059 –> 00:10:01,140And at the same time,18400:10:01,140 –> 00:10:03,640this God who steps in and messes18500:10:03,640 –> 00:10:06,820with all kinds of human affairs,18600:10:06,820 –> 00:10:10,280he is stepping in to redeem a ship’s crew,18700:10:10,280 –> 00:10:13,140to touch the lives of a group of men18800:10:13,140 –> 00:10:15,539who know not the first thing about him.18900:10:15,539 –> 00:10:16,979Our God is amazing.19000:10:18,179 –> 00:10:23,179Even his judgments are filled with his mercy.19100:10:23,539 –> 00:10:28,020And if he can use the crucifixion of his own son19200:10:28,020 –> 00:10:30,979to bring the redemption of the world,19300:10:30,979 –> 00:10:35,979you can trust him and his wise and loving hand19400:10:37,739 –> 00:10:39,140in the darkest storms,19500:10:39,140 –> 00:10:44,140in the greatest tragedies of your life as well.19600:10:45,260 –> 00:10:46,900Boy our minds will struggle with this,19700:10:46,900 –> 00:10:49,979but I want to encourage you to hold tightly19800:10:51,059 –> 00:10:53,700to the comfort of knowing that God is sovereign19900:10:54,820 –> 00:10:58,700and that though we live in a confusing world,20000:10:58,700 –> 00:11:02,780we do not live in a world that operates on random chance.20100:11:04,700 –> 00:11:07,539You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.20200:11:07,539 –> 00:11:09,340And we have to pause the message briefly there,20300:11:09,340 –> 00:11:11,619but we’ll be back very soon.20400:11:11,619 –> 00:11:13,219The message is called20500:11:13,219 –> 00:11:16,039Refuse God’s Provision Through Someone Else.20600:11:16,099 –> 00:11:17,700And it’s part of the series,20700:11:17,700 –> 00:11:20,299How to Avoid a God Centered Life.20800:11:20,299 –> 00:11:24,099That’s a somewhat ironic title, as you’ll imagine.20900:11:24,099 –> 00:11:26,020If you ever miss one of these series,21000:11:26,020 –> 00:11:29,020it’s very easy to catch up and go back and listen again21100:11:29,020 –> 00:11:34,020by coming online to our website, openthebible.org.uk,21200:11:34,320 –> 00:11:36,400or by going to your favorite podcast site21300:11:36,400 –> 00:11:38,599if you prefer listening to a podcast,21400:11:38,599 –> 00:11:41,359and you can find Pastor Colin Smith21500:11:41,359 –> 00:11:44,200by searching for Open The Bible UK,21600:11:44,200 –> 00:11:45,619and you can subscribe21700:11:46,500 –> 00:11:49,539if you want to receive regular podcasts in that way.21800:11:49,539 –> 00:11:51,820We have a new podcast at the moment21900:11:51,820 –> 00:11:53,659called Hike Through The Bible,22000:11:53,659 –> 00:11:56,760and it’s associated with Pastor Colin’s book22100:11:56,760 –> 00:11:58,500also called Hike Through The Bible,22200:11:58,500 –> 00:12:00,739which is a study course that takes you22300:12:00,739 –> 00:12:03,940right through the Bible in the space of a year.22400:12:03,940 –> 00:12:06,219Now, the podcast includes Pastor Colin22500:12:06,219 –> 00:12:07,979reading a chapter from his book22600:12:07,979 –> 00:12:09,979and then discussing that chapter22700:12:09,979 –> 00:12:13,039with some of his friends and colleagues.22800:12:13,039 –> 00:12:14,140It’s available now,22900:12:14,500 –> 00:12:17,359and you can find out all about it on our website,23000:12:17,359 –> 00:12:20,719openthebible.org.uk.23100:12:20,719 –> 00:12:23,280Back to the message now, we’re in Jonah chapter one,23200:12:23,280 –> 00:12:26,179starting at verse four going through to verse 16.23300:12:26,179 –> 00:12:27,700Here is Colin.23400:12:27,700 –> 00:12:29,400Remember at this point the crew23500:12:29,400 –> 00:12:32,280who become the focus of the story,23600:12:32,280 –> 00:12:34,380they do not know the God of the Bible.23700:12:35,400 –> 00:12:36,479They had their own religion,23800:12:36,479 –> 00:12:39,219as, of course, the vast majority of people in this world,23900:12:39,219 –> 00:12:42,320east and west, have some form of religion,24000:12:42,340 –> 00:12:45,260but they do not know the God of the Bible,24100:12:45,260 –> 00:12:47,419and so when they find themselves in a storm24200:12:47,419 –> 00:12:49,340we read verse five,24300:12:49,340 –> 00:12:52,739that all the sailors were afraid24400:12:52,739 –> 00:12:57,260and each cried out to his own God.24500:12:58,140 –> 00:13:00,799Now, they all had a religion,24600:13:00,799 –> 00:13:03,760and they did what human beings always do24700:13:03,760 –> 00:13:06,340in a time of crisis and trouble,24800:13:06,340 –> 00:13:08,659they instinctively invoked their religion24900:13:08,700 –> 00:13:10,539and they cried out to their God.25000:13:10,539 –> 00:13:12,719They began to pray.25100:13:12,719 –> 00:13:15,679I don’t know how many crew would be on the ship,25200:13:15,679 –> 00:13:20,280but it says each of them cried out to their own God.25300:13:20,280 –> 00:13:21,500That’s an awful lot of gods25400:13:21,500 –> 00:13:23,700are being asked to help here, right?25500:13:23,700 –> 00:13:26,979If each of them’s crying out to his own God.25600:13:26,979 –> 00:13:29,460And for all those crying out to these many gods,25700:13:29,460 –> 00:13:32,020there is nothing that is actually happening25800:13:32,020 –> 00:13:35,900to make any kind of a difference.25900:13:35,900 –> 00:13:38,099And so Jonah had gone below deck,26000:13:38,099 –> 00:13:39,520you’ll see it in verse six26100:13:39,520 –> 00:13:42,979and he had fallen into a very deep sleep26200:13:42,979 –> 00:13:45,219and the captain goes down and calls on him,26300:13:45,219 –> 00:13:48,500get up, he says to Jonah and call on your God26400:13:48,500 –> 00:13:50,580because maybe he will take note of us26500:13:50,580 –> 00:13:52,460and we will not perish.26600:13:52,460 –> 00:13:54,880You notice, Jonah, I don’t know how in the world26700:13:54,880 –> 00:13:56,859you can be asleep because all of us on the deck,26800:13:56,859 –> 00:13:58,219we’re all calling on our gods26900:13:58,219 –> 00:13:59,780and it’s not done any good so far.27000:13:59,780 –> 00:14:01,440Why don’t you get up, you call on your God.27100:14:01,440 –> 00:14:04,299See if he’ll do anything to help us.27200:14:05,380 –> 00:14:07,140And the fascinating thing here27300:14:07,140 –> 00:14:08,919is that Jonah is silent27400:14:10,260 –> 00:14:12,400because he can’t pray.27500:14:13,419 –> 00:14:17,979How can you pray to a god you are actively disobeying27600:14:17,979 –> 00:14:20,260at that very time?27700:14:20,260 –> 00:14:21,359It’s impossible.27800:14:23,299 –> 00:14:25,260Christians running from God27900:14:25,260 –> 00:14:28,539are of no use to lost people in a storm.28000:14:30,059 –> 00:14:32,780And R.T. Kendall has a wonderful comment28100:14:32,780 –> 00:14:34,580in his book on Jonah at this point,28200:14:35,580 –> 00:14:39,679and he says perhaps one of the most embarrassing things28300:14:39,679 –> 00:14:42,700that can ever happen to a back slidden Christian28400:14:43,640 –> 00:14:45,719is for an unbeliever to come to you28500:14:45,719 –> 00:14:49,280and say I need you to pray for me.28600:14:51,940 –> 00:14:54,919And you see, that’s what’s happening for Jonah right here,28700:14:54,919 –> 00:14:56,799but he’s immobilized because28800:14:56,799 –> 00:14:59,719of his unresolved conflict with God28900:14:59,719 –> 00:15:02,940and his tenacious holding on29000:15:02,960 –> 00:15:05,619to his own continuing sin.29100:15:07,299 –> 00:15:09,440Maybe you see yourself in Jonah here.29200:15:10,760 –> 00:15:12,739He couldn’t pray, because he was locked29300:15:12,739 –> 00:15:16,679into this unresolved conflict with God.29400:15:16,679 –> 00:15:21,539So Jonah’s silent and there is no witness aboard this ship.29500:15:21,539 –> 00:15:25,280Imagine it, he is the only man onboard the ship29600:15:25,280 –> 00:15:27,719who knows the living God,29700:15:27,719 –> 00:15:31,859the only man who can pray to the Almighty knowing him.29800:15:32,840 –> 00:15:35,380And he says nothing, he has nothing to offer,29900:15:36,260 –> 00:15:38,919because he’s immobilized by his own sin.30000:15:40,020 –> 00:15:42,719Thank God the story doesn’t end there.30100:15:42,719 –> 00:15:47,659Because again, the God who steps into human lives30200:15:47,659 –> 00:15:48,940takes the initiative30300:15:48,940 –> 00:15:52,219and he does this in a very unusual way.30400:15:52,219 –> 00:15:55,380God exposed Jonah’s sin30500:15:56,520 –> 00:15:59,380and he did it in this remarkable way.30600:15:59,380 –> 00:16:02,179He used tumbling dice30700:16:03,119 –> 00:16:08,119to reveal his rebellious servant’s secret.30800:16:09,340 –> 00:16:11,580Look at it there right in verse seven.30900:16:11,580 –> 00:16:12,780The sailors said to each other,31000:16:12,780 –> 00:16:15,500ome let us cast lots31100:16:15,500 –> 00:16:18,599and find out who is responsible for this calamity.31200:16:19,679 –> 00:16:21,580And they cast lots31300:16:22,580 –> 00:16:25,739and the lot fell on Jonah.31400:16:26,820 –> 00:16:28,780I don’t know actually whether they used dice31500:16:28,780 –> 00:16:32,419or what form of casting lots they would actually have used.31600:16:32,419 –> 00:16:34,780But whatever form it was,31700:16:34,780 –> 00:16:36,380the book of Proverbs tells us that31800:16:36,380 –> 00:16:39,500God is sovereign even over the outcome of the lot,31900:16:39,500 –> 00:16:41,520that’s in Proverbs chapter 16.32000:16:41,520 –> 00:16:45,099And God sovereignly overruled the outcome of32100:16:45,099 –> 00:16:48,619the dice or whatever lot was being cast32200:16:48,619 –> 00:16:52,039so that Jonah was identified to these men32300:16:52,039 –> 00:16:55,739and exposed as the source of the problem.32400:16:55,840 –> 00:16:58,840By the way, if God exposes your sin,32500:17:02,020 –> 00:17:04,979it is because He loves you.32600:17:04,979 –> 00:17:07,979The Lord disciplines those He loves.32700:17:10,900 –> 00:17:13,239Not those He hates.32800:17:13,239 –> 00:17:15,880Disciplines His own children who He loves.32900:17:15,880 –> 00:17:19,099He will not allow your unconfessed sin33000:17:19,099 –> 00:17:21,180to remain secret forever.33100:17:22,500 –> 00:17:25,280Will not allow you to be immobilized33200:17:25,319 –> 00:17:27,239if you are really His child33300:17:27,239 –> 00:17:29,579in terms of usefulness in this world forever.33400:17:29,579 –> 00:17:33,920He steps in and what has not been confessed is now exposed.33500:17:33,920 –> 00:17:38,500I think that Jonah must have been relieved at this point.33600:17:38,500 –> 00:17:40,760At last, his secret was out.33700:17:41,780 –> 00:17:44,300Something similar happened do you remember to King David33800:17:44,300 –> 00:17:48,459where he carried secrets, sin that was unconfessed33900:17:49,479 –> 00:17:51,199in his own life for some time.34000:17:51,199 –> 00:17:53,599Then, you remember, the prophet, Nathan, came34100:17:53,900 –> 00:17:56,579By that means God exposed this unconfessed sin34200:17:56,579 –> 00:18:01,540and David wrote about the relief that it was to him34300:18:01,540 –> 00:18:05,040to finally have this weight off his back34400:18:05,040 –> 00:18:08,060and to be able to be open and authentic before God34500:18:08,060 –> 00:18:11,579and no longer to live a life of covering up.34600:18:11,579 –> 00:18:14,060You can read about it in Psalm 32.34700:18:14,060 –> 00:18:15,979Let me just quote these verses to you34800:18:15,979 –> 00:18:18,060He says, when I was silent,34900:18:19,339 –> 00:18:21,540when I was keeping the big secret,35000:18:21,859 –> 00:18:25,939here’s what it was like, my bones wasted away,35100:18:25,939 –> 00:18:27,939for he says to God day and night,35200:18:27,939 –> 00:18:31,780your hand was heavy upon me and my strength,35300:18:31,780 –> 00:18:33,119it was just drained out,35400:18:33,119 –> 00:18:37,359it was sapped as in the heat of summer.35500:18:37,359 –> 00:18:39,400I just felt exhausted.35600:18:40,800 –> 00:18:43,699Living this covered up kind of a life35700:18:43,699 –> 00:18:45,540day after day, week after week.35800:18:47,239 –> 00:18:51,359It was like being exhausted on a scorching summer day35900:18:52,199 –> 00:18:54,219and then he puts at the end of that,36000:18:54,219 –> 00:18:56,000that word that comes in the Psalms,36100:18:56,000 –> 00:18:58,500have you ever noticed that the word sila,36200:18:58,500 –> 00:19:00,060it just means think about that?36300:19:01,939 –> 00:19:04,680He says, this is what my experience of covering up36400:19:04,680 –> 00:19:09,140was like, it was exhausting, think about that.36500:19:11,979 –> 00:19:14,979And then he says, then I acknowledged my sin36600:19:14,979 –> 00:19:17,199and did not cover up my iniquity,36700:19:17,199 –> 00:19:20,380I said I will confess my transgression to the Lord36800:19:21,000 –> 00:19:26,000and you forgave the guilt of my sin, sila.36900:19:27,000 –> 00:19:28,819Think about that.37000:19:31,699 –> 00:19:36,699The release, the relief, the freedom37100:19:40,359 –> 00:19:45,319that I’m no longer living a secret life.37200:19:47,579 –> 00:19:49,739And God’s hand is on the tumbling dice37300:19:49,739 –> 00:19:51,239because he loves Jonah,37400:19:52,099 –> 00:19:56,140and he won’t allow his ministry to be compromised37500:19:57,180 –> 00:20:02,180or his life to be stunted any longer.37600:20:04,959 –> 00:20:07,060When God exposed Jonah’s sin,37700:20:07,060 –> 00:20:08,760it was the beginning of hope37800:20:08,760 –> 00:20:13,760not only for him but also for the entire crew of the ship.37900:20:14,060 –> 00:20:15,099You notice in the story38000:20:15,099 –> 00:20:17,780that they begin to pepper Jonah with questions.38100:20:17,780 –> 00:20:18,619What do you do?38200:20:18,619 –> 00:20:19,560Where do you come from?38300:20:20,099 –> 00:20:22,359So forth, and Jonah tells them verse 1038400:20:22,359 –> 00:20:25,099that he is running from the Lord.38500:20:25,099 –> 00:20:26,880The crew obviously then want to know38600:20:26,880 –> 00:20:29,500well, tell us about the God you are running from38700:20:29,500 –> 00:20:31,739because this is obviously significant.38800:20:31,739 –> 00:20:33,099And Jonah says, verse nine,38900:20:33,099 –> 00:20:36,520I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord,39000:20:36,520 –> 00:20:41,280the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.39100:20:41,280 –> 00:20:44,760And so notice how now Jonah is free.39200:20:44,760 –> 00:20:46,599Now that the sin is confessed39300:20:46,599 –> 00:20:48,560and it’s all been brought out into the open,39400:20:48,560 –> 00:20:51,380Jonah is now in a position where he can be some use39500:20:51,380 –> 00:20:54,359and now tells them about the God of the Bible39600:20:54,359 –> 00:20:56,800who is unlike any other Gods.39700:20:56,800 –> 00:20:58,319He is the God of heaven,39800:20:58,319 –> 00:21:00,439he is the God who created the earth,39900:21:00,439 –> 00:21:03,439he’s the God who rules over the winds and the waves40000:21:03,439 –> 00:21:08,439and even uses tumbling dice to expose his rebellious servants.40100:21:08,680 –> 00:21:10,719He is the God who sends storms,40200:21:10,719 –> 00:21:12,540He is the God who wrecked ships40300:21:12,540 –> 00:21:14,739and He is the God who saves them too.40400:21:16,119 –> 00:21:18,079Well, we have to pause the message briefly there40500:21:18,439 –> 00:21:21,199but we’ll be back again in our next program.40600:21:21,199 –> 00:21:22,500The message is called40700:21:22,500 –> 00:21:26,079Refuse God’s Provision Through Someone Else40800:21:26,079 –> 00:21:29,599and it’s part of the interestingly titled series40900:21:29,599 –> 00:21:31,859How to Avoid a God Centered Life41000:21:31,859 –> 00:21:33,339based on the book of Jonah.41100:21:33,339 –> 00:21:35,180Sometimes we find ourselves41200:21:35,180 –> 00:21:37,680running away from the God who loves us41300:21:37,680 –> 00:21:39,560but the good news is that God41400:21:39,560 –> 00:21:42,079searches us out and brings us back41500:21:42,079 –> 00:21:44,359and that’s what this series is all about.41600:21:44,359 –> 00:21:46,160So I hope you’ll join us again next time41700:21:46,160 –> 00:21:48,000for the next part of the series.41800:21:48,000 –> 00:21:49,800If you ever miss one of the series41900:21:49,800 –> 00:21:51,520or if you want to go back and listen again42000:21:51,520 –> 00:21:52,939you can do that by coming online42100:21:52,939 –> 00:21:57,119to our website openthebible.org.uk42200:21:57,119 –> 00:21:59,119or you can find us as a podcast42300:21:59,119 –> 00:22:01,000on all the main podcast sites42400:22:01,000 –> 00:22:03,619search for OpenTheBibleUK42500:22:03,619 –> 00:22:05,939or follow the link from our website.42600:22:05,939 –> 00:22:08,599Open the Bible is supported by our listeners.42700:22:08,599 –> 00:22:10,319It’s you who keep us on the air42800:22:10,319 –> 00:22:11,880and on the Internet.42900:22:11,880 –> 00:22:14,339But it’s not just Open the Bible programming43000:22:14,339 –> 00:22:15,359you’re supporting.43100:22:15,439 –> 00:22:16,640Here is Open the Bible’s43200:22:16,640 –> 00:22:18,660Executive Director John Martin43300:22:18,660 –> 00:22:20,880with a new open the Bible initiative43400:22:20,880 –> 00:22:23,140taking the good news of Jesus Christ43500:22:23,140 –> 00:22:25,160to prisoners in UK prisons,43600:22:25,160 –> 00:22:26,800Listening might be interested to know43700:22:26,800 –> 00:22:28,239where some of the donations43800:22:28,239 –> 00:22:29,439to open the Bible go.43900:22:29,439 –> 00:22:30,760So through a mutual friend44000:22:30,760 –> 00:22:32,719I got to know Gaius Fillingham44100:22:32,719 –> 00:22:36,160who is the CEO of Daylight Christian Prison Trust44200:22:36,160 –> 00:22:38,160or Daylight for short.44300:22:38,160 –> 00:22:40,000Gaius and I were talking about44400:22:40,000 –> 00:22:42,339some of the resources that Open the Bible has.44500:22:42,339 –> 00:22:44,959I mentioned Colin has this44600:22:45,060 –> 00:22:46,800first-person account of the story44700:22:46,800 –> 00:22:47,900of the thief on the cross,44800:22:47,900 –> 00:22:49,439Heaven How I Got Here,44900:22:49,439 –> 00:22:50,900that was a story that was relevant45000:22:50,900 –> 00:22:53,020to prisoners obviously.45100:22:53,020 –> 00:22:54,339I mentioned that the book45200:22:54,339 –> 00:22:55,819had actually been produced45300:22:55,819 –> 00:22:59,239as a one hour, one actor filmed performance45400:22:59,239 –> 00:23:00,699and that was available45500:23:00,699 –> 00:23:02,760and would that be of use in prisons.45600:23:02,760 –> 00:23:06,079So we produced a prison edition45700:23:06,079 –> 00:23:07,260of Heaven How I Got Here,45800:23:07,260 –> 00:23:09,359the story of the thief on the cross,45900:23:09,359 –> 00:23:12,160150 DVDs were produced.46000:23:12,160 –> 00:23:13,540We did it as a prison edition46100:23:13,619 –> 00:23:14,619whereby we had open46200:23:14,619 –> 00:23:15,839the Bible and daylights,46300:23:15,839 –> 00:23:17,400logos on there46400:23:17,400 –> 00:23:21,020and Colin recorded a bespoke little epilogue46500:23:21,020 –> 00:23:22,739to address the prisoners,46600:23:22,739 –> 00:23:24,739point them to the prison chaplain,46700:23:24,739 –> 00:23:26,760encourage them to speak to their chaplains46800:23:26,760 –> 00:23:28,339to get more literature.46900:23:28,339 –> 00:23:30,560We’ve heard from prison chaplains47000:23:30,560 –> 00:23:31,979who said the video,47100:23:31,979 –> 00:23:34,079the film has been well received.47200:23:34,079 –> 00:23:35,900We printed a whole lot47300:23:35,900 –> 00:23:36,939of little booklets47400:23:36,939 –> 00:23:39,479about how to get into heaven,47500:23:39,479 –> 00:23:41,500how they can respond themselves47600:23:41,500 –> 00:23:42,819and those, again,47700:23:42,819 –> 00:23:44,859were distributed with the DVDs47800:23:44,859 –> 00:23:45,900and there’s a whole lot more47900:23:45,900 –> 00:23:47,680that can be requested for free,48000:23:47,680 –> 00:23:48,900so donations towards48100:23:48,900 –> 00:23:51,540Open the Bible can be sent directly48200:23:51,540 –> 00:23:53,060into that ministry.48300:23:53,060 –> 00:23:54,319If you’d like to support48400:23:54,319 –> 00:23:56,040the work of Open the Bible generally48500:23:56,040 –> 00:23:57,199or our work in prison48600:23:57,199 –> 00:23:59,900in association with daylight specifically48700:23:59,900 –> 00:24:01,160you can do that online48800:24:01,160 –> 00:24:02,119at our website,48900:24:02,119 –> 00:24:05,060openthebible.org.uk.49000:24:05,060 –> 00:24:06,939Use the donate button49100:24:06,939 –> 00:24:08,619and enter your email address.49200:24:08,619 –> 00:24:09,619On the next page,49300:24:09,619 –> 00:24:11,979select between the General Fund,49400:24:11,979 –> 00:24:14,099our monthly free offer for new givers49500:24:14,099 –> 00:24:15,359or Prison Ministry49600:24:15,359 –> 00:24:17,640in association with Daylight.49700:24:17,640 –> 00:24:18,859Thanks so much in advance49800:24:18,859 –> 00:24:19,859for your support49900:24:19,859 –> 00:24:22,060of the work of Open the Bible.50000:24:22,060 –> 00:24:23,719And every month we have a special offer50100:24:23,719 –> 00:24:25,199for anyone who is beginning50200:24:25,199 –> 00:24:27,699to support Open the Bible financially.50300:24:27,699 –> 00:24:28,699This month if you are able50400:24:28,699 –> 00:24:30,219to begin a new direct debit50500:24:30,219 –> 00:24:32,680of five pounds per month or more50600:24:32,680 –> 00:24:35,260or a one-off gift of fifty pounds or more50700:24:35,260 –> 00:24:36,680we’d love to say thank you50800:24:36,680 –> 00:24:38,160by sending you a copy50900:24:38,900 –> 00:24:41,739of Andrew Wilson’s book, Gospel Stories,51000:24:41,739 –> 00:24:42,900full terms and conditions51100:24:42,900 –> 00:24:44,300and to give online51200:24:44,300 –> 00:24:45,660come to our website51300:24:45,660 –> 00:24:47,339openthebible.org.uk51400:24:48,920 –> 00:24:49,859For Open the Bible51500:24:49,859 –> 00:24:51,339and Pastor Colin Smith51600:24:51,339 –> 00:24:52,439I’m David Pick51700:24:52,439 –> 00:24:54,939and I hope you’ll join us again next time.51800:25:03,859 –> 00:25:04,900God is against you51900:25:04,900 –> 00:25:06,439and you have no hope52000:25:06,599 –> 00:25:08,160and no future.52100:25:08,160 –> 00:25:09,920What should you do?52200:25:09,920 –> 00:25:11,319Find out next time on52300:25:11,319 –> 00:25:12,359Open the Bible.