Sermon Notes
The story of Jonah is not a story of Jonah simply rebelling against God’s call; he was afraid, and with good reason. But Jonah didn’t realize God would use the scariest and most confusing situations to glorify Him and save many.
Key Scriptures:
Jonah: Matthew 12:41; I Samuel 5:1-5; Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:7
Key Points:
- Storms don’t catch God by surprise. God is in control even during a storm. Nothing takes Him by surprise in your life. When a storm comes into your life, you may be confused, but God is not. He is going to use it all for His glory.
- God will allow you to be consumed. When Jonah was on the boat, he was in control, but when he was in the fish, God was in control. Let the problem you’re facing cause you to get in alignment with the assignment God has for your life. God will break the hold of sin and renew your mind in the midst of everything.
- What you’ve been through is what God will use to set others free. You may not understand what you’re going through, but God can take you out of the worst of addictions or problems as a sign that anyone can come out of it. Come out of sin so people can see they can come out of it, too! The trial in your life is the bus of destiny to get you to where God is calling you. When you crawl out of the belly of sin, others are watching, and they’ll see that they can come out, too.
- God will give you peace. When you surrender to God, the rocky waves of life will turn into smooth waters of peace. When you set your mind on Him, God will give you perfect peace that surpasses all human understanding.
Final Thoughts:
You may be confused, and it may feel like you’re being consumed, but everything you’ve been through is what God will use to show others they can come out of it, too. Crawl out of the belly of what you’re going through and watch God use you to set others free.
