Jonah 2

1. True Salvation Begins With Prayer (Verses 1-3).​

1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,       

2. True Salvation Desires Communion With God (Verses 4 & 7).

7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.

3. True Salvation Hopes In God (Verses 5, 6, & 8).

4. True Salvation Recognizes That Salvation Belongs To God (Verses 9-10).

John 19:28-37

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” 

James 5:12

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

1. Believers should always tell the truth

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath,...

2. Believers should always keep their word

...but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no,...

3. Integrity in speech is a mark of true Christianity

...so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Romans 13:1-7

​1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Jonah 1:17

Friday Dead (17a)

17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. 

Sunday Risen (17b)

And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

James 5:7-11

1. Believers Should Patiently Endure Under Trails Because The Lord Is Coming (V7,8)

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

2. Believers Should Not Complain Under Trials Because The Lord Will Judge Righteously (V9)

9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

3. Believers Should Not Despair Under Trials Because The Lord Is Faithful (V10-11)

10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

The FIVE Views On Politics:

Jonah 1:7-16

1. Every Decision Of The Lot Is From The Lord (V7)

And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 

2. Every Decision We Make Has Consequences (V8-13)

Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

3. Every Man Who Calls On The Name Of The Lord Will Be Saved (V12-16)

Therefore they called out to the LORD, “O LORD, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.”15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

Romans 8:1

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

James 5:1-6

1. We Must Never Envy The Prosperity Of The Wicked (V1-3)

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.

Three Reasons Why We Should Never Envy The Prosperity Of The Wicked

2. God Will Right Every Wrong (V4-6)

Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of ethe Lord of hosts.5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and gin self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in ha day of slaughter.6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.