100:00:00,720 –> 00:00:04,640invitedyo200:00:04,640 –> 00:00:09,520How can we pacify the anger of this God that has been poured out against us?300:00:10,240 –> 00:00:14,160That is the single most important question in all of the Bible.400:00:14,160 –> 00:00:19,440Because if God is against us, we have no hope, we have no future.500:00:20,879 –> 00:00:23,600What should we do?600:00:24,480 –> 00:00:28,320Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.700:00:28,320 –> 00:00:32,080I’m glad you could join us today, and Colin, if this is such an important800:00:32,080 –> 00:00:35,599question, we should definitely answer it. What should we do?900:00:36,240 –> 00:00:42,720The single most important question in the Bible, how do I pacify the anger of God?1000:00:42,720 –> 00:00:45,840And I love the answer that we get to this in the Book of Jonah,1100:00:45,840 –> 00:00:52,000it’s one of the most beautiful pictures of the gospel in all of the Old Testament.1200:00:52,000 –> 00:00:55,439Here is the judgement of God coming in a storm,1300:00:55,439 –> 00:01:00,959and how is that to be dealt with? The answer is, a man has to be thrown overboard.1400:01:00,959 –> 00:01:06,639There has to be sacrifice, and that takes you right to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.1500:01:07,279 –> 00:01:12,879Here’s the wrath of God, and it’s being poured out, and how is it dealt with?1600:01:12,879 –> 00:01:17,440It’s through the man on the cross who becomes the sacrifice1700:01:17,440 –> 00:01:23,839for all who will put their trust in him. The whole Bible points to Jesus and to the cross,1800:01:23,839 –> 00:01:27,360and I just love the way that the Book of Jonah does it for us today.1900:01:27,360 –> 00:01:32,879So join us if you can in Jonah Chapter 1 verses 4 to 16, as we continue the2000:01:32,879 –> 00:01:37,760message Refuse God’s Provision through Someone Else. Here is Colin.2100:01:38,400 –> 00:01:42,639The storm in the story of Jonah clearly is a Judgment from God,2200:01:44,559 –> 00:01:50,160and it points us to this great, universal truth that runs all the way through the Bible.2300:01:51,120 –> 00:01:59,120That on account of our sins, God is against us. He stands opposed to us.2400:02:00,480 –> 00:02:04,320That the beginning of His judgment is poured out in this life,2500:02:04,320 –> 00:02:09,759as the beginnings of His judgment were poured out right there over the ship on the sea in the storm.2600:02:11,119 –> 00:02:15,440But though the beginning of His judgments is poured out in this world,2700:02:15,600 –> 00:02:22,960the eye of the storm of God’s judgment is in the life to come. Which is why Hebrews says it is2800:02:22,960 –> 00:02:30,479appointed for man to die once, and after we die, and we only die once after we die2900:02:31,600 –> 00:02:36,720then the judgment. That’s what Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 27 says.3000:02:37,699 –> 00:02:47,119Now, suddenly these pagan sailors, the crew of the ship, are learning who the living God really is,3100:02:48,320 –> 00:02:54,320tasting his power and realizing the immense human problem that this sovereign God who3200:02:54,320 –> 00:03:02,320made heaven and Earth is against us on account of our sins. And they see that their ship3300:03:02,639 –> 00:03:08,399about to be wrecked. It’s about to break out. They see that their lives look to have no3400:03:08,399 –> 00:03:14,080hope whatsoever. And so they ask in verse 11, perhaps the most important question that any3500:03:14,080 –> 00:03:19,919human being could ever ask. And when you come to know the God of the Bible, you will ask this3600:03:19,919 –> 00:03:28,639question, verse 11, what should we do? What should we do? Okay, Jonah, you’re telling us3700:03:28,720 –> 00:03:34,320undeniable truth. We’ve experienced the way in which God has just exposed you through the lot.3800:03:34,320 –> 00:03:39,600We’ve experiencing right now his power in the storm. We see absolutely what you’re saying3900:03:39,600 –> 00:03:43,679that. Obviously he’s against us, and he made the sea and the land. Boy, this is just all making4000:03:43,679 –> 00:03:51,679sense. What do we do? Jonah, tell us, how can we pacify the anger of this God that is being poured4100:03:51,679 –> 00:04:01,440out against us? What can we do to placate your God, Jonah? Now, I want to suggest that is the4200:04:01,440 –> 00:04:06,800single most important question in all of the Bible, because if God is against us,4300:04:06,800 –> 00:04:14,320we have no hope. We have no future. What should we do?4400:04:14,320 –> 00:04:21,679And that takes us to the second great theme of the story. It’s about the storm and it’s4500:04:21,679 –> 00:04:29,040about the sacrifice. Versus 11 to 16, Jonah answers the question clearly.4600:04:29,839 –> 00:04:39,760Pick me up, he says, and throw me into the sea, and it will become calm. Simple answer.4700:04:39,920 –> 00:04:46,079Isn’t that wonderful? If you want to be saved from this judgment of God that is being poured4800:04:46,079 –> 00:04:51,679out around us right now, Jonah says to them, if you want to be saved from the fierce anger of4900:04:51,679 –> 00:04:57,519God, ditch me, throw me overboard. Now here’s an interesting question.5000:04:57,519 –> 00:05:02,239How did Jonah know that the sea would become calm if he was thrown overboard?5100:05:03,279 –> 00:05:06,640I think there’s only one answer to that that makes sense, at least to me.5200:05:07,519 –> 00:05:10,799God must have revealed it to him. How else could he have known that?5300:05:12,399 –> 00:05:16,079Which means that Jonah is back in the position of having the ministry5400:05:16,079 –> 00:05:19,200of a prophet again and he speaks the prophetic word to these folks.5500:05:19,200 –> 00:05:25,119He tells them in a prophetic word how it is that they can be saved.5600:05:25,119 –> 00:05:29,440God is now revealing to these men how they can be saved.5700:05:29,440 –> 00:05:34,000It’s wonderful. I want you to notice their first response.5800:05:34,799 –> 00:05:39,519Jonah says, very simply you’re going to have to throw me over the edge of the boat?5900:05:41,760 –> 00:05:48,880In verse 13 the first instinct of the crew is to refuse the prophetic word that6000:05:50,000 –> 00:05:53,679Jonah has just brought to them. Instead, instead.6100:05:54,880 –> 00:05:57,839So immediately they’re saying, no, no, no, Jonah we’re not going to do that.6200:05:57,839 –> 00:06:01,040No, we hear what you’re saying but we’re not going to do that.6300:06:01,040 –> 00:06:04,239We’re not going to do that. Instead, what did they do?6400:06:04,239 –> 00:06:10,079The men did their best to row to the land.6500:06:11,440 –> 00:06:14,880So the crew feel they can get through the storm here.6600:06:16,399 –> 00:06:18,640They’re saying, Jonah we hear what you’re saying but6700:06:18,640 –> 00:06:24,079we think we can get by without making that kind of a sacrifice.6800:06:24,079 –> 00:06:25,200We can row harder.6900:06:25,200 –> 00:06:28,880By the way, we’re getting a picture of the7000:06:28,880 –> 00:06:32,640surest way to avoid a God centered life right here.7100:06:33,920 –> 00:06:37,200The impulse to refuse the sacrifice.7200:06:38,640 –> 00:06:44,399The impulse to say, I will not go down the line of being saved by the death of another7300:06:45,920 –> 00:06:53,279is a powerful force that comes from the pride of the human heart.7400:06:53,279 –> 00:06:57,200There’s something within the fallen human mind that says,7500:06:57,200 –> 00:07:00,160we can make it even through the judgment of God.7600:07:00,160 –> 00:07:01,279If I live a better life.7700:07:01,279 –> 00:07:02,399If I roll harder.7800:07:02,399 –> 00:07:03,839If I make a greater effort.7900:07:03,839 –> 00:07:08,160If I pour myself into being the kind of person that I want to be and I think God wants me8000:07:08,160 –> 00:07:08,640to be.8100:07:08,640 –> 00:07:11,040I think I can make it through the judgment.8200:07:11,040 –> 00:07:18,160There is an impulse within us that immediately reacts against the idea of being saved from8300:07:18,160 –> 00:07:21,359God’s judgment by the sacrifice of someone else.8400:07:22,260 –> 00:07:24,320You see that in verse 13.8500:07:24,320 –> 00:07:26,320We don’t want to go there, the crew say.8600:07:27,359 –> 00:07:28,799Just let us try harder.8700:07:31,200 –> 00:07:37,920There is a poem that many of us probably know at least a few lines of it.8800:07:37,920 –> 00:07:44,000It was written over a hundred years ago by a man who faced many, many difficulties in8900:07:44,000 –> 00:07:48,559his life and was immensely courageous, but you will see in the words that he wrote,9000:07:48,559 –> 00:07:51,600intensely resistant to God.9100:07:52,480 –> 00:07:59,760The man’s name was William Earnest Henley and he wrote a poem called Invictus.9200:08:00,480 –> 00:08:01,200Invictus.9300:08:02,320 –> 00:08:05,040Let me quote two of the four stanzas to you.9400:08:06,720 –> 00:08:07,200He says,9500:08:07,200 –> 00:08:09,839Out of the night that covers me,9600:08:11,200 –> 00:08:14,160Black as the pit from pole to pole,9700:08:15,119 –> 00:08:17,760I thank whatever gods may be,9800:08:18,880 –> 00:08:21,279for my unconquerable soul.9900:08:23,920 –> 00:08:27,519It matters not, he says, how strait the gate,10000:08:29,040 –> 00:08:32,479How charged with punishments the scroll,10100:08:33,679 –> 00:08:39,059I am the Master of my Fate, I am the Captain of my soul.10200:08:41,359 –> 00:08:43,119Now there’s a great deal of courage in that.10300:08:43,119 –> 00:08:45,200There’s also a great deal of resistance to God.10400:08:45,200 –> 00:08:46,080You see what he’s saying?10500:08:46,080 –> 00:08:47,440I’m the Lord of my life.10600:08:48,960 –> 00:08:51,440I am the Captain of my own destiny.10700:08:52,880 –> 00:08:54,640It doesn’t matter, he’s saying,10800:08:54,640 –> 00:08:58,400what judgements God pours out, I’m in charge.10900:09:00,400 –> 00:09:04,799And that is the polar opposite of a God-centred life.11000:09:05,679 –> 00:09:08,000You’ve read these words and thought them admirable,11100:09:08,000 –> 00:09:09,520well, you think about this again11200:09:09,520 –> 00:09:11,359because that is the polar opposite11300:09:11,520 –> 00:09:15,919of a God-centred life.11400:09:17,039 –> 00:09:19,280And this is exactly where the sailors were,11500:09:20,080 –> 00:09:21,359we can deal with this.11600:09:22,799 –> 00:09:22,79911700:09:22,799 –> 00:09:26,640but we can get out of this.11800:09:26,640 –> 00:09:29,679We can row through the judgement of God.11900:09:32,000 –> 00:09:34,239But I want you to see what happened, verse 13.12000:09:34,799 –> 00:09:38,320They did their best to row back to land12100:09:39,039 –> 00:09:43,200and then four words that are another turning point in the story.12200:09:43,200 –> 00:09:46,400But they could not.12300:09:48,960 –> 00:09:52,799For the sea grew even wilder than before.12400:09:54,239 –> 00:09:57,359And when the crew realised that they could not beat the storm,12500:09:58,719 –> 00:10:03,840they turned in desperation to what God had said through the Prophet Jonah.12600:10:04,479 –> 00:10:05,440And,12700:10:06,159 –> 00:10:07,359picture it like this,12800:10:08,520 –> 00:10:11,679Jonah was spent on rowing.12900:10:14,559 –> 00:10:17,559There’s only one thing else for us to do,13000:10:17,559 –> 00:10:19,520and I picture in my mind Jonah saying,13100:10:19,520 –> 00:10:20,520do it!13200:10:21,960 –> 00:10:22,960They threw him over.13300:10:25,039 –> 00:10:26,559Jonah records for us13400:10:28,559 –> 00:10:31,119that the sea became calm.13500:10:32,159 –> 00:10:33,640When you13600:10:34,799 –> 00:10:37,159come to that place of being at the end13700:10:37,159 –> 00:10:39,679of yourself, you may just be at a place13800:10:39,679 –> 00:10:41,400where your mind and heart open13900:10:42,280 –> 00:10:44,159to the saving and redeeming love14000:10:44,159 –> 00:10:46,640of the Lord Jesus Christ in a whole new way.14100:10:47,520 –> 00:10:48,880But they could not.14200:10:50,119 –> 00:10:52,200And at that moment they say to Jonah,14300:10:53,080 –> 00:10:54,440gotta go with what you say.14400:10:57,520 –> 00:11:00,179The storm of God’s judgment is stronger than14500:11:00,179 –> 00:11:01,320any of us.14600:11:01,479 –> 00:11:05,119You can’t overcome sin enough.14700:11:05,119 –> 00:11:06,679You can’t make yourself good enough14800:11:06,679 –> 00:11:08,080to survive God’s storm.14900:11:08,080 –> 00:11:09,780The storm of God’s judgment15000:11:10,739 –> 00:11:12,039will wreck you15100:11:13,219 –> 00:11:15,179unless you are saved15200:11:15,179 –> 00:11:18,340by the sacrifice of someone else.15300:11:18,340 –> 00:11:21,719That’s the principle that is being vividly taught15400:11:22,859 –> 00:11:24,859in this compelling story,15500:11:24,859 –> 00:11:28,820and that is why Jesus Christ came into the world.15600:11:28,859 –> 00:11:31,460That is why Jesus Christ went to the cross.15700:11:31,460 –> 00:11:34,940He was cast out as the sacrifice15800:11:34,940 –> 00:11:39,580to placate the wrath of God on your behalf and mine.15900:11:40,500 –> 00:11:41,900He died on the cross16000:11:41,900 –> 00:11:44,359so that we who deserve God’s judgment16100:11:44,359 –> 00:11:47,179and are under God’s judgment by nature16200:11:47,179 –> 00:11:49,340because of our sin in this life16300:11:49,340 –> 00:11:50,659and for the life to come,16400:11:50,659 –> 00:11:53,059so that we should be saved from that storm16500:11:53,059 –> 00:11:55,059by his sacrifice.16600:11:55,059 –> 00:11:58,760The gospel is about the storm and the sacrifice.16700:11:58,799 –> 00:12:01,039It is about the judgment of God16800:12:01,039 –> 00:12:04,039and salvation from and through that judgment16900:12:04,039 –> 00:12:07,179by our Lord and savior Jesus Christ17000:12:07,179 –> 00:12:09,739and it’s hinted never more clearly17100:12:09,739 –> 00:12:14,179than right here in the book of Jonah.17200:12:14,179 –> 00:12:15,559You’re listening to Open the Bible17300:12:15,559 –> 00:12:16,960with Pastor Colin Smith17400:12:16,960 –> 00:12:19,719and a message called Refuse God’s Provision17500:12:19,719 –> 00:12:21,460Through Someone Else.17600:12:21,460 –> 00:12:25,340Part of our series how to avoid a God-centered life17700:12:25,340 –> 00:12:27,280based on the book of Jonah.17800:12:27,280 –> 00:12:28,200If you ever miss one17900:12:28,400 –> 00:12:29,960of the messages in the series18000:12:29,960 –> 00:12:32,640it’s very easy to come online to catch up18100:12:32,640 –> 00:12:34,320or go back and listen again.18200:12:34,320 –> 00:12:35,559Come to our website18300:12:35,559 –> 00:12:38,960that’s at openthebible.org.uk18400:12:38,960 –> 00:12:41,080or you can find pastor Collins messages18500:12:41,080 –> 00:12:42,359also at a podcast18600:12:42,359 –> 00:12:44,760and those are on all the main podcast sites.18700:12:44,760 –> 00:12:45,960You can find them by searching18800:12:45,960 –> 00:12:47,760for Open the Bible UK18900:12:47,760 –> 00:12:50,559or by following the link from our website.19000:12:50,559 –> 00:12:51,520At Open the Bible19100:12:51,520 –> 00:12:53,760we welcome contact with our listeners.19200:12:53,760 –> 00:12:56,359You can email us by using the contact form19300:12:57,359 –> 00:13:00,200at openthebible.org.uk19400:13:00,200 –> 00:13:02,280forward slash contact.19500:13:02,280 –> 00:13:05,239You can write to us at19600:13:11,919 –> 00:13:13,799or you can phone us on19700:13:19,880 –> 00:13:22,159If we’re not 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offer21100:14:03,000 –> 00:14:07,200on our website openthebible.org.uk21200:14:07,200 –> 00:14:09,520and you can also give online21300:14:09,520 –> 00:14:11,239If you do decide to give online21400:14:11,239 –> 00:14:14,479please remember to leave your full name and address21500:14:14,479 –> 00:14:16,799so that we can send you your gift21600:14:17,640 –> 00:14:19,239Back to the message now21700:14:19,239 –> 00:14:20,479Here again is Colin21800:14:21,400 –> 00:14:23,760Now in these last moments21900:14:23,760 –> 00:14:26,119let me suggest to you22000:14:26,119 –> 00:14:27,799learning from this story22100:14:27,799 –> 00:14:31,080three ways in which we may actively cultivate22200:14:31,080 –> 00:14:34,159or pursue a God-centered life22300:14:34,159 –> 00:14:36,280We’re going to keep coming back to this through the series22400:14:36,280 –> 00:14:39,679Now how then can I, learning from this22500:14:39,679 –> 00:14:42,080pursue a God-centered life22600:14:42,080 –> 00:14:43,359Here’s the first thing22700:14:43,359 –> 00:14:45,080turn to the Lord22800:14:45,080 –> 00:14:46,840that is to the God of the Bible22900:14:46,840 –> 00:14:49,280and ask him for mercy23000:14:49,280 –> 00:14:50,960That’s verse 1423100:14:50,960 –> 00:14:53,559They cried to the Lord23200:14:53,559 –> 00:14:56,320to Yahweh, to the God of the Bible23300:14:56,320 –> 00:14:59,200They abandon all confidence23400:14:59,200 –> 00:15:00,640in all other gods23500:15:00,640 –> 00:15:02,880They turn from all other gods23600:15:02,880 –> 00:15:05,200They see that what matters is finding peace23700:15:05,200 –> 00:15:07,000with this God of the Bible23800:15:07,000 –> 00:15:08,280who made the land and the sea23900:15:08,280 –> 00:15:09,679Who sends storms24000:15:09,679 –> 00:15:11,559who speaks through prophets24100:15:11,559 –> 00:15:15,760and tells them how they can be saved24200:15:15,760 –> 00:15:18,159And they cry to him, verse 1424300:15:18,320 –> 00:15:20,440O Lord, please do not let us die24400:15:20,440 –> 00:15:22,200for taking this man’s life24500:15:22,200 –> 00:15:23,679Do not hold us accountable24600:15:23,679 –> 00:15:25,640for killing an innocent man24700:15:25,640 –> 00:15:29,200For you, O Lord, have done as you pleased24800:15:30,159 –> 00:15:33,000Now, I got asked24900:15:33,000 –> 00:15:35,280three times after the Saturday night service25000:15:35,280 –> 00:15:36,799This is the benefit of coming on Sunday25100:15:36,799 –> 00:15:38,239You get the improved version25200:15:38,520 –> 00:15:40,799Three times in 20 minutes25300:15:40,799 –> 00:15:41,640after the service25400:15:41,640 –> 00:15:43,119I was asked the same question25500:15:43,919 –> 00:15:45,679Why didn’t Jonah just toss himself25600:15:45,679 –> 00:15:46,960over board?25700:15:47,719 –> 00:15:49,719And I think this is the answer25800:15:50,599 –> 00:15:53,039Remember that the Bible is given to us25900:15:53,039 –> 00:15:55,119it’s all about Jesus Christ26000:15:55,119 –> 00:15:57,200and stories in the Old Testament26100:15:57,200 –> 00:15:59,159are shaped in God’s grace26200:15:59,159 –> 00:16:00,760so that we’ll have floodlights26300:16:00,760 –> 00:16:02,479onto Jesus Christ26400:16:03,200 –> 00:16:04,960And Jesus Christ26500:16:04,960 –> 00:16:08,280did not take his own life26600:16:08,280 –> 00:16:10,599There was guilt26700:16:10,599 –> 00:16:11,760human guilt26800:16:11,760 –> 00:16:13,039that we all share26900:16:13,039 –> 00:16:15,159in the crucifixion27000:16:15,159 –> 00:16:16,559of the Lord Jesus Christ27100:16:16,559 –> 00:16:18,400We nailed him to the cross27200:16:18,400 –> 00:16:22,239and there’s guilt in that sacrifice27300:16:22,239 –> 00:16:23,840Yet He gave his life for us27400:16:23,840 –> 00:16:27,200As Jonah said throw me over27500:16:27,200 –> 00:16:28,960And for us there is salvation27600:16:28,960 –> 00:16:31,039through that sacrifice27700:16:31,039 –> 00:16:32,000And both these things27800:16:32,000 –> 00:16:33,479are made very clear here27900:16:33,479 –> 00:16:35,200These men see their own guilt28000:16:35,200 –> 00:16:36,280in the sacrifice28100:16:36,280 –> 00:16:39,520in the death of Jonah28200:16:39,520 –> 00:16:41,280And they find their own salvation28300:16:41,280 –> 00:16:42,739through the sacrifice28400:16:42,739 –> 00:16:45,320through Jonah’s voluntary28500:16:45,340 –> 00:16:47,919giving of Himself28600:16:47,919 –> 00:16:48,599And so that takes me28700:16:48,599 –> 00:16:50,640to the second way to pursue28800:16:50,640 –> 00:16:52,840a God-centered life28900:16:52,840 –> 00:16:54,919Abandon all hope in29000:16:54,919 –> 00:16:57,520self-rescue29100:16:57,520 –> 00:17:00,719And stake your life29200:17:00,719 –> 00:17:02,039on Jesus Christ29300:17:02,039 –> 00:17:04,439who was cast out as a sacrifice29400:17:04,439 –> 00:17:05,760to placate the wrath of God29500:17:05,760 –> 00:17:06,439for you29600:17:06,439 –> 00:17:07,560I’m intentionally using29700:17:07,560 –> 00:17:09,000that strong language29800:17:09,000 –> 00:17:09,339so that we’ll29900:17:09,339 –> 00:17:10,560understand it clearly30000:17:10,560 –> 00:17:11,359Because that’s what we’re30100:17:11,359 –> 00:17:12,719learning in the Book of Jonah30200:17:12,719 –> 00:17:15,199God sent the storm30300:17:15,239 –> 00:17:16,219So these men then30400:17:16,219 –> 00:17:17,479they are seeing their guilt30500:17:17,479 –> 00:17:18,760in the sacrifice30600:17:18,760 –> 00:17:20,199verse 1430700:17:20,199 –> 00:17:21,359But to their amazement30800:17:21,359 –> 00:17:22,079they are finding30900:17:22,079 –> 00:17:23,319salvation through31000:17:23,319 –> 00:17:24,239the sacrifice31100:17:24,239 –> 00:17:25,839That’s verse 1531200:17:25,839 –> 00:17:27,160And that takes us31300:17:27,160 –> 00:17:27,800to the cross31400:17:27,800 –> 00:17:30,760We crucified the Son of God31500:17:30,760 –> 00:17:33,319That’s our guilt31600:17:33,319 –> 00:17:34,800Yet He chose to lay down31700:17:34,800 –> 00:17:36,439his life as a sacrifice31800:17:36,439 –> 00:17:36,939for us31900:17:36,939 –> 00:17:41,040That is our salvation32000:17:41,040 –> 00:17:41,959Now of course32100:17:41,959 –> 00:17:44,040there is this great difference32200:17:44,199 –> 00:17:47,040between Jonah and Jesus32300:17:47,040 –> 00:17:50,199Jonah is cast into the sea32400:17:50,199 –> 00:17:53,959on account of his own sins32500:17:53,959 –> 00:17:57,199Jesus was nailed to the cross32600:17:57,199 –> 00:17:59,780on account of your sins32700:17:59,780 –> 00:18:01,420and mine32800:18:01,420 –> 00:18:03,640He was without sin32900:18:03,640 –> 00:18:04,959but He became the sacred33000:18:04,959 –> 00:18:06,560sacrifice for sin33100:18:06,560 –> 00:18:07,739He bore our guilt33200:18:07,739 –> 00:18:09,640in His death on the cross33300:18:09,640 –> 00:18:10,640and in His death33400:18:10,640 –> 00:18:12,819He absorbed the judgment33500:18:12,819 –> 00:18:13,380of God33600:18:13,699 –> 00:18:14,920on our behalf33700:18:16,739 –> 00:18:18,920So abandon all hope33800:18:18,920 –> 00:18:20,439in self-rescue33900:18:20,439 –> 00:18:23,359all hope of self-salvation34000:18:23,359 –> 00:18:25,280and you stake your life34100:18:25,280 –> 00:18:25,920your death34200:18:25,920 –> 00:18:27,099and your eternity34300:18:27,099 –> 00:18:28,140on Jesus Christ34400:18:28,140 –> 00:18:30,239who was cast out34500:18:30,239 –> 00:18:31,900as a sacrifice34600:18:31,900 –> 00:18:33,060to placate34700:18:33,060 –> 00:18:34,640the wrath of God34800:18:34,640 –> 00:18:36,199for you34900:18:36,199 –> 00:18:37,680That is the gospel35000:18:39,579 –> 00:18:40,699And here’s the last thing35100:18:40,699 –> 00:18:46,020pledge your redeemed life35200:18:46,020 –> 00:18:48,719to Jesus Christ35300:18:48,719 –> 00:18:51,579verse 1635400:18:51,579 –> 00:18:53,880the raging sea grew calm35500:18:53,880 –> 00:18:56,140and at this the men35600:18:56,140 –> 00:18:57,540greatly feared the Lord35700:18:57,540 –> 00:18:59,079and they offered a sacrifice35800:18:59,079 –> 00:18:59,640to the Lord35900:18:59,640 –> 00:19:00,640and made vows36000:19:00,640 –> 00:19:02,400to him36100:19:02,400 –> 00:19:04,400they made vows to Him36200:19:04,400 –> 00:19:06,239That was their response36300:19:08,459 –> 00:19:10,079Surely all of us36400:19:10,579 –> 00:19:12,780have been really moved36500:19:12,780 –> 00:19:15,359by the remarkable deliverance36600:19:15,359 –> 00:19:16,839of all these folks36700:19:16,839 –> 00:19:18,400in the plane that came down36800:19:18,400 –> 00:19:19,900on the Hudson river36900:19:19,900 –> 00:19:21,000this week37000:19:21,000 –> 00:19:23,359Isn’t that an amazing story37100:19:23,359 –> 00:19:27,060and an amazing expression37200:19:27,060 –> 00:19:28,560of God’s great grace37300:19:29,060 –> 00:19:31,060into their lives37400:19:31,060 –> 00:19:32,420and giving them37500:19:32,420 –> 00:19:34,319this remarkable deliverance37600:19:34,319 –> 00:19:35,739and I find it compelling37700:19:35,739 –> 00:19:36,540just following some37800:19:36,540 –> 00:19:38,839of the reports on the media37900:19:38,839 –> 00:19:39,939that have come out of this story38000:19:39,939 –> 00:19:41,180I expect you’ve38100:19:41,180 –> 00:19:42,199picked up the same38200:19:42,199 –> 00:19:43,180how many tongues38300:19:43,180 –> 00:19:44,239there have been references38400:19:44,239 –> 00:19:46,040to people praying38500:19:46,040 –> 00:19:47,079on the plane38600:19:47,079 –> 00:19:48,739as it was going down38700:19:48,739 –> 00:19:50,959onto the Hudson river38800:19:50,959 –> 00:19:52,520and I think we would all38900:19:52,520 –> 00:19:55,140have done the same39000:19:56,339 –> 00:19:58,699but you know39100:19:58,699 –> 00:20:02,099what matters most39200:20:02,099 –> 00:20:03,819is not what you say to God39300:20:03,819 –> 00:20:07,739when the plane is going down39400:20:07,839 –> 00:20:08,839what matters most39500:20:08,839 –> 00:20:10,079is what you say to God39600:20:10,079 –> 00:20:11,660after you have survived39700:20:11,660 –> 00:20:15,180the plane going down39800:20:15,199 –> 00:20:16,680a lot of people cry out to God39900:20:16,680 –> 00:20:18,800in the middle of a storm40000:20:19,780 –> 00:20:21,079but the real test of where40100:20:21,079 –> 00:20:21,839your heart is40200:20:21,839 –> 00:20:23,079and where my heart is40300:20:23,079 –> 00:20:24,479is what we are saying to God40400:20:24,479 –> 00:20:25,300when He’s brought us40500:20:25,300 –> 00:20:28,400out of the storm40600:20:28,400 –> 00:20:29,260I think for40700:20:29,260 –> 00:20:32,199the crew to make vows to God40800:20:32,199 –> 00:20:33,479in the middle of the storm40900:20:33,479 –> 00:20:36,160would have been much less impressive41000:20:36,160 –> 00:20:36,680easy to say41100:20:36,680 –> 00:20:38,719oh lord if you just get me out of this41200:20:38,800 –> 00:20:39,239you know41300:20:39,239 –> 00:20:41,800I’ll be yours forever41400:20:41,800 –> 00:20:43,180What’s really impressive41500:20:43,180 –> 00:20:45,280is that after God has brought41600:20:45,280 –> 00:20:46,420them out of the storm41700:20:46,420 –> 00:20:48,199after the sea is calm41800:20:48,199 –> 00:20:50,400then they bow and they say41900:20:50,400 –> 00:20:52,900we want to make our vos to you42000:20:52,900 –> 00:20:54,959oh lord42100:20:54,959 –> 00:20:55,839that’s the evidence I think42200:20:55,839 –> 00:20:57,859of real conversion42300:20:57,859 –> 00:21:01,380of a genuine change of heart42400:21:01,380 –> 00:21:03,199these men feel that their life42500:21:03,199 –> 00:21:04,579has come back from the dead42600:21:04,579 –> 00:21:06,060they feel that they have now42700:21:06,060 –> 00:21:07,760is like a kind of resurrection42800:21:07,979 –> 00:21:08,959they have a new life42900:21:08,959 –> 00:21:09,939that has been bought with43000:21:09,939 –> 00:21:11,339a price and given back to43100:21:11,339 –> 00:21:12,800them by God’s grace43200:21:12,800 –> 00:21:13,680so what else can they do43300:21:13,680 –> 00:21:15,260but say lord this life43400:21:15,260 –> 00:21:17,040must now be yours now43500:21:17,040 –> 00:21:18,599and forever43600:21:18,599 –> 00:21:20,020they made their vows43700:21:20,020 –> 00:21:23,540to the Lord43800:21:23,540 –> 00:21:25,939Here’s the very last thing43900:21:25,939 –> 00:21:27,479I was checking out on the web44000:21:27,479 –> 00:21:28,920the words for44100:21:28,920 –> 00:21:31,400William Henley’s44200:21:31,400 –> 00:21:34,199self assured poem44300:21:34,199 –> 00:21:37,560I’m the captain of my soul44400:21:38,020 –> 00:21:39,619when I got on the website44500:21:39,619 –> 00:21:40,260where I found that44600:21:40,260 –> 00:21:41,839there was a discussion page44700:21:41,839 –> 00:21:43,560underneath44800:21:43,560 –> 00:21:44,619I clicked onto that44900:21:44,619 –> 00:21:45,400and found that people45000:21:45,400 –> 00:21:46,579had made various contributions45100:21:46,579 –> 00:21:47,640and one person45200:21:47,640 –> 00:21:49,520who was evidently a Christian45300:21:49,520 –> 00:21:51,660had put an alternative45400:21:51,660 –> 00:21:53,979version of the poem45500:21:53,979 –> 00:21:55,079I just want to read it to you45600:21:55,079 –> 00:21:56,520and then we’re done45700:21:56,520 –> 00:21:57,180I don’t know the name45800:21:57,180 –> 00:21:57,880of this person45900:21:57,880 –> 00:21:58,780it was anonymously46000:21:58,780 –> 00:22:01,140said on the website46100:22:01,140 –> 00:22:03,380but these were the words46200:22:03,380 –> 00:22:05,260out of the night46300:22:05,260 –> 00:22:07,459that dazzles me46400:22:07,760 –> 00:22:09,000Bright as the sun46500:22:09,000 –> 00:22:11,000From Pole to Pole46600:22:11,000 –> 00:22:14,219I thank the God I know to be46700:22:14,219 –> 00:22:18,459For Christ the Conqueror of my soul46800:22:18,459 –> 00:22:20,959I have no fear46900:22:20,959 –> 00:22:23,300Though straights the gate47000:22:23,300 –> 00:22:28,160He cleared from punishment the scroll47100:22:28,160 –> 00:22:30,839Christ is the master of my fate47200:22:30,839 –> 00:22:35,500And Christ is the captain of my soul47300:22:35,839 –> 00:22:38,719You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith47400:22:38,719 –> 00:22:39,719on Open The Bible47500:22:39,719 –> 00:22:41,380and a message called47600:22:41,380 –> 00:22:44,219Refuse God’s Provision Through Someone Else47700:22:44,219 –> 00:22:45,839part of our series47800:22:45,839 –> 00:22:47,800How to Avoid A God Centred Life47900:22:47,800 –> 00:22:51,380and if you’ve ever missed one of the messages in the series48000:22:51,380 –> 00:22:54,260it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again48100:22:54,260 –> 00:22:56,339by coming online to our website48200:22:56,339 –> 00:22:58,900openthebible.org.uk48300:22:58,900 –> 00:23:01,219or you can find us as a podcast48400:23:01,219 –> 00:23:03,439go to your favourite podcast site48500:23:03,479 –> 00:23:06,040and search for Open the Bible UK48600:23:06,040 –> 00:23:08,500or follow the link from our website48700:23:08,500 –> 00:23:12,939Colin many of us can identify with those sailors on the boat48800:23:12,939 –> 00:23:14,979facing storms and trials48900:23:14,979 –> 00:23:16,020we tend to say49000:23:16,020 –> 00:23:18,380okay, I just need to try a bit harder49100:23:18,380 –> 00:23:19,979I need to focus more49200:23:19,979 –> 00:23:21,699pull on my big boots49300:23:21,699 –> 00:23:24,339I don’t want to admit I can’t handle it on my own49400:23:24,339 –> 00:23:25,339Well yeah that’s it49500:23:25,339 –> 00:23:26,459that’s the really hard thing49600:23:26,459 –> 00:23:28,420and when it comes49700:23:28,420 –> 00:23:31,219to our salvation in Jesus Christ49800:23:31,219 –> 00:23:32,180to come to that place49900:23:32,180 –> 00:23:33,219just what you’ve said50000:23:33,380 –> 00:23:35,900to admit I can’t handle this on my own50100:23:35,900 –> 00:23:38,140it took a long time for these sailors to get there50200:23:38,140 –> 00:23:40,260hey, we don’t need to throw Jonah overboard50300:23:40,260 –> 00:23:42,579we don’t need to make the sacrifice of this life50400:23:42,579 –> 00:23:46,099we can roll our way out of this trouble50500:23:46,099 –> 00:23:48,939we can beat even God’s storm50600:23:48,939 –> 00:23:50,540nothing will overwhelm me50700:23:50,540 –> 00:23:53,140and ultimately they have to come to the place of saying50800:23:53,140 –> 00:23:54,979we need to go by what God says50900:23:54,979 –> 00:23:57,900it’s only through the sacrifice of one man’s life51000:23:57,900 –> 00:23:59,979that we are ever going to get out51100:24:00,380 –> 00:24:03,180of this awful expression of the judgment of God51200:24:03,180 –> 00:24:05,579and that points us right to Jesus51300:24:05,579 –> 00:24:09,020I can’t work my way out of this problem51400:24:09,020 –> 00:24:12,500I have to embrace the Son of God51500:24:12,500 –> 00:24:13,660who loved me51600:24:13,660 –> 00:24:15,819and who gave himself for me51700:24:15,819 –> 00:24:17,939So Jonah does eventually submit51800:24:17,939 –> 00:24:20,660and go where God wants him to go51900:24:20,660 –> 00:24:22,459and change does happen52000:24:22,459 –> 00:24:24,459We’re going to get to Nineveh next time52100:24:24,459 –> 00:24:27,140and God gets his man to the right place52200:24:27,140 –> 00:24:29,459and amazing things happen52300:24:29,459 –> 00:24:30,699through the word of God52400:24:30,699 –> 00:24:32,300You know we talk about our culture52500:24:32,300 –> 00:24:34,300and all the darkness in our culture52600:24:34,300 –> 00:24:36,900I tell you Nineveh was something else52700:24:36,900 –> 00:24:38,140in terms of darkness52800:24:38,140 –> 00:24:39,260It really was52900:24:39,260 –> 00:24:40,819and here’s one man53000:24:40,819 –> 00:24:43,459and he’s got a word from God53100:24:43,459 –> 00:24:44,900One man with the word of God53200:24:44,900 –> 00:24:47,900and a miracle of grace that brings transformation53300:24:47,900 –> 00:24:49,420This is going to really encourage us53400:24:49,420 –> 00:24:51,339about what God can do through his word53500:24:51,339 –> 00:24:54,380So join us if you can in our next program53600:24:54,380 –> 00:24:56,140as we hear what happened next53700:24:56,140 –> 00:24:57,819in the story of Jonah53800:24:57,859 –> 00:24:59,300You’ve been listening to Open the Bible53900:24:59,300 –> 00:25:00,739with Pastor Colin Smith54000:25:00,739 –> 00:25:01,819I’m David Pick54100:25:01,819 –> 00:25:04,579and I hope you’ll join us again next time54200:25:15,339 –> 00:25:18,180There are all sort of strategies out there54300:25:18,180 –> 00:25:20,859to change the culture around us54400:25:20,859 –> 00:25:23,739Find out what God does to change a city54500:25:23,739 –> 00:25:25,939Next time on, Open the Bible