100:00:00,380 –> 00:00:14,160Friends, Don’t expect coming to faith to be easy. Jonah struggled to believe. Your life200:00:14,160 –> 00:00:21,760and your eternity hang on this. So why would you be surprised if it is literally the fight300:00:21,760 –> 00:00:27,600of your life? Welcome to Open the Bible, with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick, glad you400:00:27,600 –> 00:00:32,160could join us today. And Colin, there may be some folk listening today who are thinking500:00:32,160 –> 00:00:36,700about what it means to commit to follow Jesus. Maybe they’ve listened to Open the Bible for600:00:36,700 –> 00:00:41,540a while, and they’re struggling with issues right now. What would you say to them? Oh,700:00:41,540 –> 00:00:46,560I’d say to you that as long as you look at yourself, you’re going to find yourself like800:00:46,560 –> 00:00:51,860Jonah, sinking down further and further. And the only way to overcome that is going to900:00:52,720 –> 00:00:57,840at God as He is revealed in Jesus Christ. So, if you keep looking at yourself, and your1000:00:57,840 –> 00:01:02,240failure, and how you can’t believe, and how your faith isn’t strong enough, you’ll just1100:01:02,240 –> 00:01:06,599keep going down and down. You’ve got to get off that. You’ve got to fight to get off that.1200:01:06,599 –> 00:01:12,660You’ve got to look at what God promises to you in Jesus Christ and who He is for you1300:01:12,660 –> 00:01:18,760in Jesus Christ. He’s reaching out to you in love. He’s able to change your heart. He’s1400:01:18,879 –> 00:01:23,440able to make you a new creation. He is the One in whom you can put your trust. But you1500:01:23,440 –> 00:01:28,320see, you’ve got to get your mind and your heart onto Him and off yourself, and your1600:01:28,320 –> 00:01:30,360own inadequacies, and your own failings.1700:01:30,480 –> 00:01:34,260We’ll hear about that today in the programme, including four life changing1800:01:34,260 –> 00:01:40,339steps. So, I do hope you’ll stay with us. We’re in Jonah 2 as we continue the message1900:01:40,339 –> 00:01:43,500Restrain God’s Praise. Here is Colin.2000:01:43,500 –> 00:01:47,760Now I want you to notice this. It’s very important for those who would believe in the2100:01:47,760 –> 00:01:54,559Lord Jesus Christ, today. What happens when Jonah believes?2200:01:56,639 –> 00:02:01,959The answer is, verses 5 and 6, his problems got worse.2300:02:03,820 –> 00:02:04,639Think about that.2400:02:04,639 –> 00:02:05,919It’s very important to know.2500:02:08,100 –> 00:02:15,800God allowed Jonah to go down to the bottom, before he sent the great fish.2600:02:16,740 –> 00:02:20,580I’ve never actually thought about that before until I looked at it more closely,2700:02:20,580 –> 00:02:22,619but it’s very clear.2800:02:22,619 –> 00:02:27,779Verses 5 and 6 describe Jonah’s experience going down.2900:02:27,779 –> 00:02:31,639Verse 3, remember, he’s on the surface, the waves and the breakers.3000:02:31,639 –> 00:02:37,860But look at verse 5 and 6, the engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me.3100:02:37,860 –> 00:02:39,000He’s not above the water now.3200:02:39,000 –> 00:02:40,580His strength is gone, he’s sinking.3300:02:41,899 –> 00:02:43,880Seaweed wrapped around my head.3400:02:43,880 –> 00:02:45,139Verse 5.3500:02:45,619 –> 00:02:50,399He’s gone down so deep now that he’s surrounded by weeds that would have been3600:02:50,419 –> 00:02:54,380on the ocean floor to the roots of the mountains, he says I sank down.3700:02:54,380 –> 00:02:56,380It’s clear he went all the way to the bottom.3800:02:58,419 –> 00:03:01,460Remember, that the storm had stopped.3900:03:03,800 –> 00:03:07,419If Jonah had managed to stay on the surface, perhaps he could have found a piece of wood,4000:03:07,419 –> 00:03:10,720held on, saved himself.4100:03:10,740 –> 00:03:13,179But God takes him down to the bottom of the ocean.4200:03:14,919 –> 00:03:18,240He’s beyond any hope of being saved from a piece of wood now.4300:03:19,759 –> 00:03:21,699He has no way out.4400:03:22,860 –> 00:03:25,619He is absolutely hopeless.4500:03:25,619 –> 00:03:32,440And then God sends the fish.4600:03:34,259 –> 00:03:37,740Verse 6, to the roots of the mountain I sank down,4700:03:37,740 –> 00:03:40,139The earth beneath barred me in forever,4800:03:40,139 –> 00:03:43,600But you brought my life up from the pit.4900:03:43,600 –> 00:03:47,919Oh Lord, my God!5000:03:47,919 –> 00:03:50,720I wonder, did Jonah see the fish coming?5100:03:50,720 –> 00:03:52,699I mean, he says, my life was ebbing away.5200:03:52,699 –> 00:03:56,360Clearly he had in his mind cried out to God5300:03:56,360 –> 00:03:58,940when he was in this most desperate situation5400:03:58,940 –> 00:04:01,880and feeling that perhaps it was gonna slide5500:04:01,880 –> 00:04:03,339away from him after all.5600:04:05,199 –> 00:04:06,380It was very clear,5700:04:06,440 –> 00:04:09,320well, did he even know what was happening5800:04:09,320 –> 00:04:11,039when the fish swallowed him?5900:04:11,039 –> 00:04:11,860I wonder!6000:04:13,860 –> 00:04:16,760But then inside the fish he breathes.6100:04:18,600 –> 00:04:21,019Like a man spluttering back6200:04:22,019 –> 00:04:25,859from the very brink of death itself.6300:04:27,779 –> 00:04:29,880Now, what this is telling us is something very important6400:04:29,880 –> 00:04:32,660that God saves people who cannot save themselves,6500:04:32,660 –> 00:04:34,220that is us.6600:04:37,019 –> 00:04:39,320See, there are thousands of people6700:04:40,559 –> 00:04:44,279who have the idea that salvation is basically6800:04:44,279 –> 00:04:46,739get your act together6900:04:46,739 –> 00:04:49,119and do it by some model effort, good works,7000:04:49,119 –> 00:04:50,839family values, The Ten Commandments,7100:04:50,839 –> 00:04:52,320come to church and know, by the way of course7200:04:52,320 –> 00:04:54,260you’ve got to believe in Jesus as well.7300:04:55,920 –> 00:05:00,920My friend, if you could save yourself7400:05:01,000 –> 00:05:02,920basically by getting your act together7500:05:02,920 –> 00:05:05,160and believing the right things,7600:05:05,160 –> 00:05:07,399why would Jesus have to die on the cross?7700:05:10,119 –> 00:05:12,320Jesus Christ came into the world because you and I,7800:05:12,320 –> 00:05:14,100we need someone to save us.7900:05:14,100 –> 00:05:16,119We can’t save ourselves.8000:05:18,619 –> 00:05:22,019God sent the fish because Jonah couldn’t save himself.8100:05:22,019 –> 00:05:23,279He’s right at the bottom.8200:05:24,839 –> 00:05:29,019And that’s why God sent Jesus for you and for me.8300:05:31,420 –> 00:05:33,480One evidence, by the way, of true faith8400:05:33,480 –> 00:05:38,320is that you know that apart from Jesus Christ,8500:05:38,320 –> 00:05:39,399what He did on the cross,8600:05:39,399 –> 00:05:41,519and what He still does for you right now8700:05:41,519 –> 00:05:44,440as your risen Lord interceding for you in heaven,8800:05:44,440 –> 00:05:46,160apart from the Lord Jesus Christ,8900:05:46,160 –> 00:05:48,880you know you would be completely, utterly,9000:05:48,880 –> 00:05:51,279and hopelessly lost.9100:05:51,279 –> 00:05:52,320Do you see that?9200:05:53,200 –> 00:05:54,619Do you feel that?9300:05:56,640 –> 00:05:58,040Is it clear to you?9400:05:59,299 –> 00:06:01,420Because if it is, your heart will be full9500:06:01,459 –> 00:06:04,480of praise and thanks and worship to Him.9600:06:06,920 –> 00:06:11,839God saves desperate sinners.9700:06:13,540 –> 00:06:15,880And what Jonah teaches us here is that9800:06:15,880 –> 00:06:17,700as someone who believes,9900:06:19,019 –> 00:06:22,179God may allow you to go right to the bottom10000:06:22,179 –> 00:06:24,220in some circumstance of life,10100:06:25,339 –> 00:06:28,279and you may think does God really care about me at all?10200:06:29,260 –> 00:06:31,600And he’s calling you to trust him,10300:06:31,600 –> 00:06:34,359and to hang on to the grace that is10400:06:34,359 –> 00:06:37,079in the Lord Jesus Christ right there10500:06:37,079 –> 00:06:42,040at the lowest point of your believing life.10600:06:43,839 –> 00:06:45,760You’re not ready for that in Christian experience.10700:06:45,760 –> 00:06:48,160You’ll never understand what’s happening to you.10800:06:49,440 –> 00:06:54,440God saves, thank God, desperate sinners.10900:06:55,019 –> 00:06:55,859Sinners.11000:06:57,279 –> 00:06:58,359And here’s the fourth.11100:06:59,760 –> 00:07:03,040God saves repentant sinners.11200:07:03,040 –> 00:07:05,679And let’s look at verses eight and nine.11300:07:05,679 –> 00:07:08,239And notice, by the way, that when we get to verse eight,11400:07:08,239 –> 00:07:11,040he moves from the past tense to the present tense.11500:07:11,040 –> 00:07:15,720So now this is what Jonah is saying directly11600:07:15,720 –> 00:07:17,440in the belly of the fish,11700:07:17,440 –> 00:07:20,380now that he has been taken out of the place of death,11800:07:20,380 –> 00:07:22,200and he’s now been brought into11900:07:22,220 –> 00:07:27,220a place in which God is sustaining his life.12000:07:27,420 –> 00:07:28,420Now, I want you to notice12100:07:28,420 –> 00:07:30,619how clearly in this chapter we see12200:07:30,619 –> 00:07:35,619that salvation from sin involves both faith and repentance.12300:07:37,940 –> 00:07:40,519In other words, when God saves Jonah12400:07:40,519 –> 00:07:43,260from what looked like certain death,12500:07:44,100 –> 00:07:47,760and when the fish brings him to the dry land12600:07:47,760 –> 00:07:50,619and vomits him out on the sand.12700:07:52,480 –> 00:07:55,600Jonah does not go back to the port in Joppa12800:07:55,600 –> 00:07:57,899and get the next ship to Tarshish.12900:07:59,820 –> 00:08:01,119He does not, in other words,13000:08:01,119 –> 00:08:02,760continue in the disobedience13100:08:02,760 –> 00:08:05,739that got him into this situation in the first place.13200:08:05,739 –> 00:08:06,679What does he do?13300:08:06,679 –> 00:08:08,440He moves in a whole new direction,13400:08:08,440 –> 00:08:09,700obeying the commandment of God,13500:08:09,700 –> 00:08:11,519and he goes, as we saw, to Nineveh.13600:08:12,839 –> 00:08:14,519In other words, God’s salvation,13700:08:14,519 –> 00:08:15,640if you’re really saved,13800:08:15,640 –> 00:08:17,179it involves a complete change13900:08:17,179 –> 00:08:19,100in the direction of your life.14000:08:19,100 –> 00:08:21,119That’s the point of verse eight.14100:08:21,140 –> 00:08:23,959Those who are clinging to worthless idols,14200:08:23,959 –> 00:08:27,980they forfeit the grace that could be theirs.14300:08:27,980 –> 00:08:29,519You’ll hold on to something else14400:08:29,519 –> 00:08:31,720that you put in the place of God,14500:08:31,720 –> 00:08:34,340you forfeit, notice that word,14600:08:34,340 –> 00:08:36,580you loose out on the grace14700:08:36,580 –> 00:08:38,979that God could be giving to you.14800:08:38,979 –> 00:08:41,159You cannot receive grace from the hand of God14900:08:41,159 –> 00:08:42,919and hold on to an idol15000:08:42,919 –> 00:08:45,719that is in his place at the same time.15100:08:47,020 –> 00:08:49,619Now this total change in direction,15200:08:49,619 –> 00:08:52,340this is true even if you lived15300:08:52,340 –> 00:08:53,919a very good and moral life15400:08:53,919 –> 00:08:56,559before you came to Jesus Christ.15500:08:57,599 –> 00:09:00,580See, when he says about the idols15600:09:00,580 –> 00:09:02,179what that’s saying is this,15700:09:03,299 –> 00:09:05,500what you live for changes.15800:09:06,859 –> 00:09:08,580Or to put it more accurately,15900:09:08,580 –> 00:09:12,280who you live for changes.16000:09:13,619 –> 00:09:15,020You’re listening to Open The Bible16100:09:15,020 –> 00:09:16,400with Pastor Cullen Smith16200:09:16,400 –> 00:09:19,760and a message called Restrain God’s Praise,16300:09:19,760 –> 00:09:23,119part of the series How to Avoid a God-Centred Life16400:09:23,119 –> 00:09:24,760and if you have to leave early16500:09:24,760 –> 00:09:26,599or you miss the start of the programme16600:09:26,599 –> 00:09:29,260you can easily catch up or go back and listen again16700:09:29,260 –> 00:09:30,619by coming to our website16800:09:30,619 –> 00:09:34,479that’s at openthebible.org.uk.16900:09:34,479 –> 00:09:36,799Open The Bible is supported by our listeners,17000:09:36,799 –> 00:09:38,280that’s people just like you17100:09:38,280 –> 00:09:41,039and if you already give to support the work,17200:09:41,039 –> 00:09:42,820thank you so much.17300:09:42,820 –> 00:09:45,320If that’s something you’re considering doing,17400:09:45,320 –> 00:09:47,619if you’re able to begin a new direct debit17500:09:47,619 –> 00:09:49,059to the work of Open The Bible17600:09:49,059 –> 00:09:51,739in the amount of five pounds per month or more17700:09:51,739 –> 00:09:54,539or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more,17800:09:54,539 –> 00:09:56,460we’d be delighted to say thank you17900:09:56,460 –> 00:09:59,179by sending you a special gift.18000:09:59,179 –> 00:10:03,039It’s a book called Gospel Stories by Andrew Wilson.18100:10:03,039 –> 00:10:06,219The book explores real encounters with Jesus,18200:10:06,219 –> 00:10:08,619conversations and moments that revealed18300:10:08,619 –> 00:10:10,859who he is and why he came18400:10:10,859 –> 00:10:13,599and the kind of love that he offers.18500:10:13,599 –> 00:10:16,859The love that pursues, forgives and restores18600:10:16,859 –> 00:10:18,820and never let’s go.18700:10:18,820 –> 00:10:21,280That’s Gospel stories by Andrew Wilson18800:10:21,280 –> 00:10:23,179and it’s our free gift to you18900:10:23,179 –> 00:10:25,479when you begin supporting Open The Bible19000:10:25,479 –> 00:10:28,700with a direct debit or a one off gift.19100:10:28,700 –> 00:10:31,020Full terms and conditions are on our website19200:10:31,020 –> 00:10:34,260that’s at openthebible.org.uk19300:10:34,260 –> 00:10:36,539and you can give online.19400:10:36,539 –> 00:10:38,900Back to The Message now where in Jonah 2,19500:10:38,900 –> 00:10:40,820here again is Colin.19600:10:40,820 –> 00:10:42,539When Jesus Christ saves you,19700:10:42,539 –> 00:10:45,739you are no longer your own.19800:10:45,739 –> 00:10:47,460The New Testament puts it this way,19900:10:47,460 –> 00:10:52,799if you belong to Christ, you are bought with a price.20000:10:52,799 –> 00:10:54,979And what an amazing price that was.20100:10:54,979 –> 00:10:57,320You directly were purchased20200:10:57,320 –> 00:10:59,859by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.20300:10:59,859 –> 00:11:02,859So, you’re not your own, I’m not my own.20400:11:02,859 –> 00:11:07,320Can’t live for myself, I belong to Christ.20500:11:07,320 –> 00:11:10,380And if you are in Him, He by His Spirit is in you.20600:11:10,419 –> 00:11:13,840So, you are a new creation.20700:11:13,840 –> 00:11:15,099Think of this.20800:11:15,099 –> 00:11:18,479Here’s a connection with our experience.20900:11:18,479 –> 00:11:19,719When Christ saves you,21000:11:19,719 –> 00:11:23,440you can read about this in Romans chapter 6,21100:11:23,440 –> 00:11:28,739you go through a spiritual death and resurrection21200:11:28,739 –> 00:11:31,960that is symbolized in what?21300:11:32,820 –> 00:11:37,260Going, like Jonah,21400:11:37,260 –> 00:11:39,460under the water21500:11:39,460 –> 00:11:42,260and back up again into a new life.21600:11:42,260 –> 00:11:44,080Thank God that baptism doesn’t involve21700:11:44,080 –> 00:11:48,460going to the bottom of the ocean.21800:11:48,460 –> 00:11:50,080But you see what baptism is saying.21900:11:50,080 –> 00:11:53,460You’re no longer the same person.22000:11:53,460 –> 00:11:55,960Like Jonah, who went to the gates of death22100:11:55,960 –> 00:11:59,799and then came up into a new life,22200:12:00,260 –> 00:12:04,739you are a new person in Jesus Christ,22300:12:04,739 –> 00:12:07,960and through death and resurrection in Jesus Christ22400:12:07,960 –> 00:12:10,559you now rise to live a new life.22500:12:10,559 –> 00:12:14,239That’s Romans chapter six in verse four.22600:12:14,239 –> 00:12:16,059Now, this repentance has two sides.22700:12:16,059 –> 00:12:19,440It involves turning from and turning to.22800:12:19,440 –> 00:12:23,039We turn from idols and we turn to the Lord.22900:12:23,039 –> 00:12:25,299And notice that in letting go of the idols,23000:12:25,299 –> 00:12:29,239in Jonah’s case, the idol was his own comfort.23100:12:29,299 –> 00:12:32,080I’ll do whatever is comfortable, God, but nothing else.23200:12:33,320 –> 00:12:35,159And he smashes that idol.23300:12:36,219 –> 00:12:38,760He says, no, Lord, I can’t hold that idol anymore.23400:12:38,760 –> 00:12:39,780I’ve got to be yours,23500:12:39,780 –> 00:12:42,520I’ve got to be ready to do whatever you call me to do.23600:12:43,820 –> 00:12:45,479So he turns from the idol23700:12:45,479 –> 00:12:47,340and he turns to the Lord, verse nine,23800:12:47,340 –> 00:12:51,280but I, I with a song of thanksgiving23900:12:51,280 –> 00:12:54,119will sacrifice to you.24000:12:54,119 –> 00:12:58,460What I have vowed I will make good.24100:12:58,460 –> 00:13:03,299And he says, salvation comes from the Lord.24200:13:03,299 –> 00:13:06,840Now, I want you to think about how amazing this is.24300:13:09,419 –> 00:13:12,380I, with a song of thanksgiving.24400:13:14,419 –> 00:13:18,580So the man is singing in the belly of the fish,24500:13:19,539 –> 00:13:23,659he’s thanking God, he’s worshiping.24600:13:23,659 –> 00:13:26,140I mean, we know about Paul and Silas24700:13:26,140 –> 00:13:28,380worshiping in prison in the middle of the night.24800:13:28,380 –> 00:13:31,799Think about this, this is Jonah worshiping the Lord24900:13:31,799 –> 00:13:35,059in the utter darkness of the belly of the fish.25000:13:35,059 –> 00:13:38,059This is talk about worship venues.25100:13:38,059 –> 00:13:42,260This is the most unusual worship venue of all time.25200:13:42,260 –> 00:13:44,119We talk about folks worshiping at Douglas25300:13:44,119 –> 00:13:45,539and folks worshiping at the grove.25400:13:45,539 –> 00:13:48,739What about the folks worshiping in the belly of a fish?25500:13:48,739 –> 00:13:49,960That’s what Jonah was doing.25600:13:49,960 –> 00:13:53,900This is the strangest sanctuary in human history.25700:13:54,739 –> 00:13:57,820And I want you to think about it.25800:13:57,820 –> 00:13:58,820It was dark,25900:14:01,679 –> 00:14:03,840Can you imagine the smell?26000:14:07,780 –> 00:14:12,039You would think that Jonah would be saying,26100:14:12,039 –> 00:14:14,539Lord get me out of this place,26200:14:17,760 –> 00:14:19,760but he doesn’t say that.26300:14:20,719 –> 00:14:25,659Instead the highest praise comes from the darkest place26400:14:25,659 –> 00:14:26,840and why?26500:14:26,840 –> 00:14:28,099Understand this,26600:14:28,099 –> 00:14:31,859why is Jonah so full of gratitude in the fish?26700:14:35,400 –> 00:14:37,219The answer is that when he was in the water26800:14:37,219 –> 00:14:39,599he was sure he would die,26900:14:39,599 –> 00:14:40,820but when he was in the fish,27000:14:40,820 –> 00:14:43,580he was sure he would live.27100:14:43,580 –> 00:14:46,260Because if God had intervened in his life27200:14:46,539 –> 00:14:51,059so graciously and in such a miraculous way as this,27300:14:51,059 –> 00:14:52,659what could be more certain27400:14:52,659 –> 00:14:56,299that God would complete what he had begun27500:14:56,299 –> 00:14:59,880in this amazing saving work in Jonah’s life?27600:15:02,719 –> 00:15:05,859Friends, there will be times in your believing life27700:15:05,859 –> 00:15:08,039when you feel like you are in a dark,27800:15:08,039 –> 00:15:12,239stinking place and your natural impulse would be to say,27900:15:12,239 –> 00:15:14,239Lord get me out of here.28000:15:15,179 –> 00:15:18,080But I want you to think about Jonah.28100:15:18,080 –> 00:15:21,520For even there you can praise and thank him28200:15:21,520 –> 00:15:25,640for this reason, that what God begins he completes28300:15:27,280 –> 00:15:30,840and whoever dark your experience in your journey28400:15:30,840 –> 00:15:33,419through life as a saved person,28500:15:35,700 –> 00:15:39,200remember this that he who did not spare his own son28600:15:39,200 –> 00:15:41,280but gave him up freely for us all,28700:15:41,340 –> 00:15:43,400How will he not also along with him28800:15:43,400 –> 00:15:45,979graciously give you all things?28900:15:47,500 –> 00:15:49,359And Jonah worships in the belly of the fish29000:15:49,359 –> 00:15:51,239because however uncomfortable29100:15:51,239 –> 00:15:53,419his experience at that moment in time,29200:15:53,419 –> 00:15:55,940he knows that God is saving him29300:15:57,940 –> 00:16:00,760and that is all he needs to know.29400:16:01,640 –> 00:16:04,799From inside the fish he prayed29500:16:04,799 –> 00:16:07,880and if you’ll just glance over that wonderful chapter29600:16:07,880 –> 00:16:09,719with me one more time.29700:16:09,919 –> 00:16:14,099He looks back at what God did for him in the water29800:16:15,479 –> 00:16:18,140and he says, oh God when I was back there in the water,29900:16:18,140 –> 00:16:22,000I cried out to you for help and you listened to my cry.30000:16:22,000 –> 00:16:25,059You are the one who threw me into the deep.30100:16:25,059 –> 00:16:27,080Your waves, they broke over me,30200:16:27,080 –> 00:16:29,299I was on the brink of hell.30300:16:29,299 –> 00:16:31,599I thought I was gone forever30400:16:31,599 –> 00:16:35,440but in a great struggle I came to the place of saying,30500:16:35,440 –> 00:16:37,739God, I’m gonna look to you, I’m gonna ask of you,30600:16:38,140 –> 00:16:39,840I’m gonna trust in you even here,30700:16:41,059 –> 00:16:42,619and I cried to you for help.30800:16:42,619 –> 00:16:45,780Here’s what happened, I sank to rock bottom30900:16:45,780 –> 00:16:47,059and here’s what you did, oh God,31000:16:47,059 –> 00:16:48,900you brought my life up from the pit.31100:16:49,820 –> 00:16:51,919What you have done for me is so amazing31200:16:53,179 –> 00:16:55,260that with a song of thanksgiving,31300:16:55,260 –> 00:16:57,020I want to tell you right here and now31400:16:57,020 –> 00:16:59,739however stinking and terrible this place is31500:16:59,739 –> 00:17:02,119at this time in, this moment in my life,31600:17:02,119 –> 00:17:04,819I want to thank you for your amazing grace,31700:17:04,819 –> 00:17:07,260for your saving love that has brought me back31800:17:07,260 –> 00:17:09,420from eternal death.31900:17:10,619 –> 00:17:12,520And from this day, I want to say Lord,32000:17:12,520 –> 00:17:14,020my life is yours.32100:17:14,020 –> 00:17:18,239What I have vowed, I will make good.32200:17:18,239 –> 00:17:20,260God saves32300:17:20,260 –> 00:17:21,079guilty,32400:17:22,339 –> 00:17:23,280believing,32500:17:24,420 –> 00:17:25,300desperate,32600:17:26,219 –> 00:17:27,300repentant32700:17:28,619 –> 00:17:29,459sinners.32800:17:30,819 –> 00:17:33,560Now folks, here’s what that means in this last moment.32900:17:34,479 –> 00:17:39,099It means that God is ready and able33000:17:39,099 –> 00:17:40,359to save you.33100:17:42,400 –> 00:17:45,000And I’m sure that in our services this weekend,33200:17:45,000 –> 00:17:46,599there will be a number of folks,33300:17:46,599 –> 00:17:50,439you’ve been thinking about the claims of Jesus Christ,33400:17:50,439 –> 00:17:52,400but you’re kind of on the edge.33500:17:53,319 –> 00:17:56,359And I can think of no better day than today33600:17:57,439 –> 00:18:01,079for you to come to a saving response33700:18:02,079 –> 00:18:05,939to Jesus Christ who is able33800:18:06,880 –> 00:18:09,880to save guilty and believing33900:18:09,880 –> 00:18:12,459and desperate and repentant sinners.34000:18:14,160 –> 00:18:17,400So I want simply to invite you in these last moments34100:18:17,400 –> 00:18:22,400to make four steps that will be life changing34200:18:22,680 –> 00:18:26,239and eternity changing for all who make them.34300:18:27,180 –> 00:18:29,900I want to ask you will you,34400:18:29,900 –> 00:18:33,040as someone who has perhaps sat on the fringe34500:18:33,040 –> 00:18:35,160of Christian things for awhile,34600:18:35,160 –> 00:18:39,839will you today own your own sinfulness?34700:18:41,160 –> 00:18:44,900Will you confess to God today,34800:18:45,959 –> 00:18:50,520I’m a sinner, Lord, I’m a rebel by nature and by practice,34900:18:50,520 –> 00:18:53,599what I deserve is not abundant life like I tend to think,35000:18:53,599 –> 00:18:55,040but actually eternal death35100:18:56,040 –> 00:19:00,640and I own my guilt and I own my sinfulness before you.35200:19:00,640 –> 00:19:01,719Will you take that step?35300:19:01,719 –> 00:19:06,719Will you own your sinfulness before God today?35400:19:09,680 –> 00:19:14,680Second, will you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ today?35500:19:16,119 –> 00:19:21,020The son of God loved you and he gave himself for you35600:19:21,020 –> 00:19:23,400when he died on the cross for your sins,35700:19:23,540 –> 00:19:26,300he rose from the dead and he is ready and willing35800:19:27,500 –> 00:19:30,699to save all who will put their trust in him.35900:19:32,520 –> 00:19:34,239So I’m asking you today,36000:19:34,239 –> 00:19:37,920will you ask Jesus Christ to save you?36100:19:40,119 –> 00:19:42,020Can come to him as simply as this36200:19:42,020 –> 00:19:43,520and you may find it’s a great struggle36300:19:43,520 –> 00:19:45,400and a great battle to get to this place,36400:19:45,400 –> 00:19:49,180that’s because of the intensity of the spiritual dynamic36500:19:49,180 –> 00:19:51,060that is going on right now.36600:19:51,859 –> 00:19:53,599But you can say Lord Jesus Christ,36700:19:53,599 –> 00:19:56,160deliver me from sin, deliver me from death36800:19:56,160 –> 00:19:58,000and deliver me from hell36900:19:58,000 –> 00:20:00,140through your shed blood on the cross.37000:20:00,140 –> 00:20:01,800You can ask him that today.37100:20:01,800 –> 00:20:04,479Will you ask the Lord Jesus Christ to save you?37200:20:07,020 –> 00:20:08,660Will you own your own sinfulness?37300:20:10,479 –> 00:20:12,040You believe in the Lord Jesus Christ37400:20:12,040 –> 00:20:13,359and ask him to save you?37500:20:16,040 –> 00:20:17,699Third, third step,37600:20:17,760 –> 00:20:18,599third step,37700:20:19,800 –> 00:20:23,119will you trust Jesus Christ37800:20:24,380 –> 00:20:27,319whatever happens in your life?37900:20:28,939 –> 00:20:31,319Jonah trusted God at the bottom of the ocean38000:20:33,260 –> 00:20:34,959and in the belly of the fish.38100:20:36,979 –> 00:20:38,939Now I’m inviting all who believe,38200:20:38,939 –> 00:20:40,680those who believe for the first time today38300:20:40,680 –> 00:20:42,739and those who have believed for a long time today,38400:20:42,739 –> 00:20:45,020will you trust Jesus Christ38500:20:45,119 –> 00:20:49,680whatever happens in your life?38600:20:51,859 –> 00:20:52,819He has said,38700:20:53,959 –> 00:20:56,579if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord38800:20:56,579 –> 00:20:58,280and believe in your heart that God raised him38900:20:58,280 –> 00:21:01,339from the dead, you will be saved, trust him in that.39000:21:03,020 –> 00:21:05,300He has said, I will never leave you,39100:21:05,300 –> 00:21:07,560I will never forsake you.39200:21:08,459 –> 00:21:09,859Lean on that.39300:21:10,699 –> 00:21:15,699He has said, my strength is made perfect in weakness,39400:21:17,459 –> 00:21:20,920my grace is sufficient for you.39500:21:21,500 –> 00:21:24,099Hang on to that.39600:21:26,920 –> 00:21:31,060Trust him whatever happens.39700:21:31,060 –> 00:21:32,619That’s what a life of faith is.39800:21:35,300 –> 00:21:37,260For those who trust in him, Jesus says,39900:21:37,260 –> 00:21:39,719will never be put to shame.40000:21:40,359 –> 00:21:42,859And then, fourthly, will you commit yourself40100:21:42,859 –> 00:21:44,819to a new life of obedience to Jesus40200:21:44,819 –> 00:21:48,359as your savior, master, and Lord today?40300:21:48,359 –> 00:21:50,859You turn from all that God says is wrong.40400:21:52,020 –> 00:21:56,119Will you pursue all that God says is good40500:21:56,119 –> 00:21:57,319with the help of his spirit.40600:21:57,319 –> 00:22:00,920Tell him this is what I’m going to do40700:22:00,920 –> 00:22:06,760and then ask him for the help of his spirit to do it.40800:22:07,479 –> 00:22:12,000Christ saves guilty, believing,40900:22:12,000 –> 00:22:15,060desperate repentant sinners41000:22:16,719 –> 00:22:21,560and so if you are taking these steps today,41100:22:21,560 –> 00:22:25,780he is saving you.41200:22:28,800 –> 00:22:30,339You’ve been listening to Open the Bible41300:22:30,339 –> 00:22:31,859with Pastor Colin Smith41400:22:31,859 –> 00:22:34,640and a message called Restrain God’s Praise.41500:22:34,640 –> 00:22:37,800Part of our series at to avoid a God-centered life41600:22:37,800 –> 00:22:39,400based on the Book of Jonah.41700:22:39,400 –> 00:22:42,599If you ever miss one of our messages in the series41800:22:42,599 –> 00:22:45,459or if you want to listen to any of the earlier messages41900:22:45,459 –> 00:22:47,540or indeed any of the earlier series42000:22:47,540 –> 00:22:49,739you can find them all on our website42100:22:49,739 –> 00:22:52,660openthebible.org.uk42200:22:52,660 –> 00:22:55,560also as a podcast on all the main podcast sites42300:22:55,560 –> 00:22:57,939by searching for open the Bible UK42400:22:57,939 –> 00:23:00,560or by following the link from our website.42500:23:00,859 –> 00:23:05,479website address again is open the bile. org.U.K42600:23:05,479 –> 00:23:07,920In my family we enjoy hiking42700:23:07,920 –> 00:23:11,319and it would be great to go on a hike with you Collin42800:23:11,319 –> 00:23:13,359listeners have an opportunity to do that42900:23:13,359 –> 00:23:15,719with the hike through the Bible podcast.43000:23:15,719 –> 00:23:19,880Yes. I am inviting you to join me on a hike through the Bible43100:23:19,880 –> 00:23:24,359and it is going to be a gentle easy piece of a hike.43200:23:24,359 –> 00:23:27,160Each week you’ll read a chapter of the Bible43300:23:27,160 –> 00:23:30,280and a chapter of my book, hike through the Bible.43400:23:31,280 –> 00:23:36,000And in one year you’ll have read 50 chapters of the Bible43500:23:36,000 –> 00:23:38,800you’ll have grasped the big picture of the Bible story43600:23:38,800 –> 00:23:41,079and most of all you’ll have grown43700:23:41,079 –> 00:23:43,560in your love for Jesus Christ.43800:23:43,560 –> 00:23:46,439Now there’s a hike through the Bible podcast43900:23:46,439 –> 00:23:48,280to help you on this journey.44000:23:48,280 –> 00:23:49,640In each episode.44100:23:49,640 –> 00:23:52,479I read a chapter of the book and then I discuss it44200:23:52,479 –> 00:23:53,439with some friends.44300:23:53,439 –> 00:23:55,400So get started now.44400:23:55,400 –> 00:23:58,319You can subscribe to hike through the Bible podcast44500:23:58,319 –> 00:24:00,239wherever you get your podcasts.44600:24:00,359 –> 00:24:02,199And you can find out more information44700:24:02,199 –> 00:24:05,079on openthebible.org.uk44800:24:05,359 –> 00:24:07,479Colin, I’m sure many people listening today44900:24:07,479 –> 00:24:11,000will appreciate you telling them that God is saving45000:24:11,000 –> 00:24:12,880desperate repentant sinners45100:24:12,880 –> 00:24:15,520people who feel they’re at the end of their tether.45200:24:16,479 –> 00:24:18,839And we’re going to go on and talk about45300:24:18,839 –> 00:24:21,560how salvation comes from the Lord.45400:24:21,560 –> 00:24:24,479This is the most marvellous truth to me in the Bible.45500:24:24,800 –> 00:24:28,479God has done more for us than make salvation possible.45600:24:28,560 –> 00:24:30,719He’s done more than kind of open away45700:24:30,719 –> 00:24:32,839and say well now let’s wait and see45800:24:32,839 –> 00:24:35,119if there’s anyone who chooses to believe in Jesus,45900:24:35,119 –> 00:24:37,239anyone who becomes a real Christian.46000:24:37,239 –> 00:24:40,680He’s actually in the business of saving people.46100:24:40,680 –> 00:24:42,760And maybe you have a loved one,46200:24:43,119 –> 00:24:46,160maybe you have a friend and they’re far from God right now46300:24:46,160 –> 00:24:48,800and you wonder what hope is there for them.46400:24:49,400 –> 00:24:50,719Well here’s where there’s hope46500:24:50,719 –> 00:24:52,000and we’re going to look at this tomorrow.46600:24:52,199 –> 00:24:55,079Salvation comes not from an individual themselves.46700:24:55,079 –> 00:24:56,239It comes from the Lord,46800:24:56,239 –> 00:24:58,640and that’s what Jonah wants to put at the very centre of the story.46900:24:59,439 –> 00:25:03,839So I hope you’ll join us next time for the next message in our series.47000:25:04,280 –> 00:25:07,079You’ve been listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.47100:25:07,079 –> 00:25:10,359I’m David Pick, and I hope you’ll join us again next time.47200:25:18,000 –> 00:25:19,359It’s great to know that God47300:25:19,359 –> 00:25:23,280is love but it’s even better if you know that God loves you.47400:25:23,280 –> 00:25:28,239Discover how to deepen your worship next time on open the Bible.