SALVATION COMES FROM THE LORD
Jonah 2.1-10

Jonah 2.1-10 (NLT) Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

Jonah's story is our story. We’ve all run from God.

Romans 3.23 (ESV)For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

James 3.2 (ESV)For we all stumble in many ways.

We head toward something we think will fulfill us…
• More money (the wealth-ship)
• A relationship (the relation-ship)
• Escapism: substances, entertainment, social media, or the next thrill (the cruise-ship of distraction)

There are a lot of things God does — but He does not give up on us. And He does not pretend that our sin doesn’t matter. He confronts, He disciplines, and he does it all with redemption in mind.

Jonah realizes his only option is God. He can’t swim out. He can’t bargain his way out. He prays: “Salvation belongs to the Lord.” (v. 9)

KEY TRUTHS:
1. Reject the self-salvation project. “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” V.8
2. Trust that God can save. “Salvation comes from the Lord.” V.9
3. Trust that God has already made provision. “You brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God.” V.6

Acts 4.11-12 (NLT) Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘"The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone." There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

Acts 4.12 (NLT)There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

Maybe you feel overwhelmed today. The storm in your life is just too much. That’s the Gospel. Storms are real. But Christ is stronger.

Jonah’s prayer didn’t get him out of the fish instantly. But it aligned his heart with God.

Sometimes God changes our circumstances. Sometimes He changes us in the middle of our circumstances. Either way… He saves.

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