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<v Speaker 1>Two, rising to Life Again by God's Grace.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's look at it.

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<v Speaker 1>When I read the passage in Jonah two, chapter two if you want to follow along Verse one then Jonah prayed to the Lord, his God, from the stomach of the fish and he said I called out of my distress to the Lord and he answered me.

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<v Speaker 1>I cried for help from the depth of Sheol and you heard my voice, for you had cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas and the current, and gulfed me.

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<v Speaker 1>Your breakers and billows passed over me.

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<v Speaker 1>So I said I've been expelled from your sight.

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<v Speaker 1>Nevertheless, I will look again toward your holy temple.

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<v Speaker 1>Water encompassed me to the point of death.

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<v Speaker 1>The great sea engulfed me.

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<v Speaker 1>Weeds were wrapped around my head.

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<v Speaker 1>I descended to the roots of the mountains.

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<v Speaker 1>The earth with its bars was around me forever, but you have brought up my life from the pit.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh Lord, my God.

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<v Speaker 1>While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord and my prayer came to you into your holy temple.

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<v Speaker 1>Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs, but I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving, and that which I have vowed I will pay.

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<v Speaker 1>Salvation is from the Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>Then the Lord commanded the fish and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.

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<v Speaker 1>God's grace is the theme of chapter two, and Jonah began to understand God's grace after God rescued him from drowning and he began to pray in the belly of this great fish.

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<v Speaker 1>And as I said before, until we really understand God's grace, we're gonna get stuck spiritually.

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<v Speaker 1>Nothing's gonna seem right.

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<v Speaker 1>So we can learn a lot from Jonah when he takes us through how he learned about God's grace.

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<v Speaker 1>Today we're gonna look at the lessons of God's grace, of God's grace that Jonah learned and changed his life and that can change ours also.

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<v Speaker 1>First we're gonna look at the turning point of repentance.

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<v Speaker 1>Then we'll look at the forfeiture of God's grace and end with the God of our salvation.

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<v Speaker 1>The turning point of Jonah really understanding God's grace came as a result of his repentance.

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<v Speaker 1>He was running away from God.

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<v Speaker 1>At one point, right in the middle of this chapter, he turns around.

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<v Speaker 1>In chapter one, he's running away.

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter two, he turns around and he says in chapter one, I don't wanna be in God's presence.

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter two, he says I wanna be in God's presence.

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<v Speaker 1>Now you know what that is Repentance.

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<v Speaker 1>I was going this way.

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<v Speaker 1>That's where I wanted to go.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't wanna go that way anymore.

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<v Speaker 1>I wanna turn around.

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<v Speaker 1>Jonah turned around right at the center of the book, right in the middle of chapter two.

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<v Speaker 1>It's the center of the book, the hinge to both sides, where he's running away.

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<v Speaker 1>And then, when he starts to surrender Jonah, chapter two, three and four says for you, cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas and the current engulf me.

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<v Speaker 1>Your breakers and billows passed over me.

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<v Speaker 1>So I said I've been expelled from your sight.

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<v Speaker 1>He's kicking me out.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm done, yet Yet I will.

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<v Speaker 1>I will look again toward your holy temple.

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<v Speaker 1>He said I'm expelled, yet I will, yet I will.

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<v Speaker 1>What I'm going to?

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<v Speaker 1>Look toward your holy temple.

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<v Speaker 1>Remember, the temple in the center of Jerusalem was where God's presence dwelt in the midst of his people, israel in the Shekinah glory, in the holy of holies.

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<v Speaker 1>That's where his presence was.

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<v Speaker 1>And Jonah's saying I want to be back in your presence.

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<v Speaker 1>I was running away from you, yet I will seek you again.

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<v Speaker 1>I want to be in your presence once again.

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<v Speaker 1>The words, yet I will signal a change of heart and mind which Jonah?

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<v Speaker 1>In essence?

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<v Speaker 1>He's repenting.

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<v Speaker 1>To repent means to change your mind.

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<v Speaker 1>Once you thought this way.

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<v Speaker 1>Now you're thinking this way.

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<v Speaker 1>The change in your thinking that's where it has to happen first, with repentance leads to a change in your behavior.

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<v Speaker 1>You may have been moving this way and then you're thinking about a way of saying this isn't the way I really want to go.

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<v Speaker 1>I want to go that way and so I'm going to turn around and walk the other way.

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<v Speaker 1>Now let's get the context to see how Jonah learns God's grace.

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<v Speaker 1>You have to keep this in mind Because Jonah is a true believer in Yahweh.

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<v Speaker 1>He's not an unsaved pagan.

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<v Speaker 1>He's a believer who sinned.

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<v Speaker 1>He's disobeyed God.

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<v Speaker 1>Believers disobey God, but when he disobeys the Lord, jonah broke his fellowship with the Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>He's not listening or praying to God, he's not worshiping or serving the Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>At this point and when Jonah or we do that, our Heavenly Father we're told the Scripture disciplines us to restore us and bring us back.

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<v Speaker 1>We don't like to spend all discipline for the moment Seems hard, painful, but he does it for our good.

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<v Speaker 1>He disciplines us to correct us, to bring us to this point in Jonah's life repentance.

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<v Speaker 1>I was expelled, yet I now want to be in your presence.

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<v Speaker 1>When the Lord disciplined Jonah, he sent a huge storm and threatened all the lives of the sailors.

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<v Speaker 1>And in an act of real generosity, grace and self-sacrifice, jonah tells them to throw him overboard and they'll be saved.

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<v Speaker 1>And that's what they do.

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<v Speaker 1>And he sinks down to the bottom of the ocean, or the Mediterranean Sea, and calls out there Because he thinks he's going to drown, calls out to the Lord to save him and just when he's probably thinking this is it, a big fish comes along and swallows him up.

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<v Speaker 1>And inside the fish's belly, jonah realizes I guess God heard my prayer.

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<v Speaker 1>I cried for help.

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<v Speaker 1>He rescued me by grace.

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<v Speaker 1>I didn't deserve that.

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<v Speaker 1>I deserved to die.

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<v Speaker 1>I was disobedient.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, while he's inside the fish, I want you to circle verse 8.

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<v Speaker 1>To me is the most important lesson Jonah learned about God's grace, and it's one we need to learn, and I'll talk about it for a bit here.

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter 2, verse 8.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, what's interesting is, this verse is pretty difficult to translate into English and if you look at the number of translations there are, they're kind of saying the same thing, but they're all over the map.

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<v Speaker 1>That's because it's not easy to take that language and translate, but I do think the NIV translation's got it best and that's what I'm referring to here's verse 8.

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<v Speaker 1>Jonah says those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

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<v Speaker 1>That's the point.

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<v Speaker 1>That's what Jonah learned.

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<v Speaker 1>You remember we talked about this.

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<v Speaker 1>God's grace is favor granted to an undeserving person by an unobligated giver.

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<v Speaker 1>That's grace.

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<v Speaker 1>Jonah was out of God's presence and he wants back in.

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<v Speaker 1>But he doesn't deserve to be back in and God's not obligated to put him back in.

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<v Speaker 1>Jonah realized he let me back in.

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<v Speaker 1>He answered my prayer.

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<v Speaker 1>He heard me.

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<v Speaker 1>That's grace.

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<v Speaker 1>When Jonah prays for help and he says he's looking to the holy temple, he's asking for grace.

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<v Speaker 1>He's asking for God to let him back in.

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<v Speaker 1>He was expelled and yet I want to be with him in his presence back in the temple.

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<v Speaker 1>Notice that Jonah links the forfeit of God's grace to clinging to worthless idols.

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<v Speaker 1>You can't have both.

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<v Speaker 1>This is a very important principle.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't miss it.

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<v Speaker 1>Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

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<v Speaker 1>Jonah's learning this inside the fish.

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<v Speaker 1>Whoa, I almost forfeited God's grace.

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<v Speaker 1>It's an incredible truth.

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<v Speaker 1>Actually, jonah's sinned against God.

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<v Speaker 1>He knows that he doesn't deserve a thing from God.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's keep walking, you know.

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<v Speaker 1>Basically he's saying, if you want to see the depths of your sin that you need to repent of.

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<v Speaker 1>You don't just say I know, I'm bad, that's too general.

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<v Speaker 1>Nobody ever sins in general, ever.

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<v Speaker 1>Instead, when we sin, we need to recognize here's what Jonah's walking us through this is that verse eight.

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<v Speaker 1>We need to recognize that we have replaced our devotion to the true God with devotion to something else Romans one and in the Bible, that something else is always called an idol.

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<v Speaker 1>There is always an idol attached to our sin.

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<v Speaker 1>Why?

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<v Speaker 1>Because it's something we want more than we want to obey God, just like it was with Jonah.

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<v Speaker 1>See, whoa, attached to every single sin, is an idol we're serving.

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<v Speaker 1>Jonah gets it.

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<v Speaker 1>Whoa, that was close.

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<v Speaker 1>And when we want to obey something more than God, when we want to serve something more than we do God, we obey God.

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<v Speaker 1>We obey our sinful desires so we may have what we really love.

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<v Speaker 1>See, we replaced our devotion, we've exchanged it.

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<v Speaker 1>The idol represents something we love more than God.

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<v Speaker 1>An idol can be anything too.

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<v Speaker 1>It can be anything.

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<v Speaker 1>That's why it's incumbent upon us to search ourselves repeatedly, constantly, regularly, mind, heart, will.

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<v Speaker 1>An idol can be anything money, sex, power, fame and idolism can even be a good thing that we desire but want more than God.

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<v Speaker 1>One of Jonah's idols and I think this is what he grabbed, he grasped this one of Jonah's idols in his rebellion was his pride.

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<v Speaker 1>That was an idol to him.

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<v Speaker 1>Jonah loved his pride.

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<v Speaker 1>What does that mean?

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<v Speaker 1>He loved his independence To.

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<v Speaker 1>He wanted to do what he wanted to do more than he loved God and doing what God wanted him to do Wanted to stay in this comfort zone in Israel.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't want to go to foreign pagan land.

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<v Speaker 1>Jonah recognized that when we serve our idols, we're forfeiting the grace of God that could be ours.

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<v Speaker 1>It's really an important lesson for all of us to learn and incumbent upon us to be aware of the idols we may be serving, even unknowingly.

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<v Speaker 1>At this point, notice that when Jonah recognizes his sin and the idol he's really been serving, he smashes the idol.

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<v Speaker 1>He smashes it.

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<v Speaker 1>How does he do that?

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<v Speaker 1>By humbling himself, redirects his devotion to the Lord right at the end.

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<v Speaker 1>There Do you see that Jonah 2, 8 and 9, those who cling to worthless idols Forfeit the grace it could be theirs.

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<v Speaker 1>But I I, with the shouts of grateful praise will sacrifice to you.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm smashing that idol.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm gonna do what you want no more independence Idols.

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<v Speaker 1>I have to tell you in our lives can be very subtle.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, as I was preparing for this study over the weeks, I'm like, wow, that's an idol.

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<v Speaker 1>That's an idol.

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<v Speaker 1>How do I smash that baby?

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<v Speaker 1>Attach every sin as an idol.

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<v Speaker 1>So these things can be subtle and if we're not thinking, if we're not aware, if we're not spiritually in tune with the Lord, we're going to miss it and we're going to forfeit the grace that could be ours.

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<v Speaker 1>It's very important when God allows us to recognize the sin and the idol with it, we smash it.

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<v Speaker 1>We need to repent of it, return to the Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>How do you smash it?

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<v Speaker 1>Well, here's what I've noticed about myself and I've identified the idol.

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<v Speaker 1>The first step is stop offering it your attention.

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<v Speaker 1>You're thinking about it.

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<v Speaker 1>That's serving it.

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<v Speaker 1>That's what you want.

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<v Speaker 1>Thinking about it leads to other things to embellish, to get what we want, but unfortunately it's not God.

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<v Speaker 1>First, you just don't offer it your attention and your mindset to it, because when you do that, you're serving it, you're making it stronger.

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<v Speaker 1>You knock it out of your mind.

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<v Speaker 1>You stop thinking about it and how much you love it and want it.

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<v Speaker 1>You put your mind instead on Jesus, which we're told in the Scripture and on things above Colossians 3, 1, and other passages.

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<v Speaker 1>Our mindset is extremely important in smashing the idols.

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<v Speaker 1>Jonah went from his independent spirit thinking about how he wants to just do his own thing, to know.

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<v Speaker 1>I stopped thinking like that.

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<v Speaker 1>If I don't, I'm going to forfeit the grace of God in my life.

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<v Speaker 1>Unfortunately, this is true for all of us.

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<v Speaker 1>Really, I know it is for me.

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<v Speaker 1>Once an idol gets rooted, it's very.

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<v Speaker 1>We tend to hold onto them the reason they're like a life raft for us.

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<v Speaker 1>We become dependent, we derive our sense of self from them.

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<v Speaker 1>We're addicted to what they can give us.

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<v Speaker 1>We feel maybe God hasn't given us or can't give us.

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<v Speaker 1>So the life raft of the idol you know what it does Makes us feel strong, makes us feel good, gives us meaning to live.

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<v Speaker 1>Otherwise life would be boring and not as exciting.

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<v Speaker 1>Some idols one theologian has called quote our darling sins.

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<v Speaker 1>I like that.

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<v Speaker 1>These are sins.

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<v Speaker 1>God actually calls them our lovers, our darling sins, and it can be anything Pride, money, pleasure, things we love so much.

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<v Speaker 1>We refuse to give them up Because hanging on to them gives us some meaning and we feel good and we feel strong.

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<v Speaker 1>We have some idols and I want you to listen.

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<v Speaker 1>In Jeremiah and Ezekiel, god refers to Israel's idols as their lovers, who cannot help them and will ultimately disappoint them.

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<v Speaker 1>Listen to Jeremiah, chapter 2, verse 28, where the Lord says but where are your gods, which you made for yourself?

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<v Speaker 1>Let them arise, let them save you from in the time of your trouble.

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<v Speaker 1>For according to the number of your cities, are your gods, o Judah.

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<v Speaker 1>Then Ezekiel 16, 36.

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<v Speaker 1>Thus says the Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>God, because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your harlotries with your lovers, in all your detestable idols, you love them.

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<v Speaker 1>They're your darlings.

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<v Speaker 1>Whatever you believe gives your life meaning, ultimate meaning.

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<v Speaker 1>That is your God, and if it isn't the true God, it's an idol.

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<v Speaker 1>We don't want to give up our idols because, like I said, they make us feel strong, they make us have a reason to live, they make us feel good.

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<v Speaker 1>After all, isn't that what we should be doing?

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<v Speaker 1>Should be about myself and making sure I'm happy.

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<v Speaker 1>We know deep down that our pride is sin and that God wants to humble us instead, but we hang on to our pride, as Jonah did, because we want to feel strong.

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<v Speaker 1>We humble ourselves.

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<v Speaker 1>We'll appear weak If we ask somebody to forgive us for a friend that's going to appear weak.

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<v Speaker 1>I want to be strong.

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<v Speaker 1>I didn't do anything.

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<v Speaker 1>It's on them Right.

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<v Speaker 1>And when we don't smash that idol, pride or whatever it is, we forfeit the grace that could be ours.

00:20:26.769 --> 00:20:29.915
<v Speaker 1>First, peter 5.5,.

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<v Speaker 1>Peter says likewise you who are younger, be subject to the elders.

00:20:34.645 --> 00:20:39.383
<v Speaker 1>Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another.

00:20:39.383 --> 00:20:39.784
<v Speaker 1>You know why?

00:20:39.784 --> 00:20:49.528
<v Speaker 1>Because God opposes the proud and he gives grace to the humble Idols are false guards that will let you down.

00:20:49.528 --> 00:20:57.482
<v Speaker 1>Smash them, and idol may give you some meaning today, but no idol can guarantee tomorrow.

00:20:57.482 --> 00:20:58.304
<v Speaker 1>None.

00:20:58.304 --> 00:21:00.548
<v Speaker 1>And idol can give you.

00:21:00.548 --> 00:21:10.789
<v Speaker 1>No idol can give you what the Heavenly Father can give you, which is absolute certainty about tomorrow.

00:21:10.789 --> 00:21:17.789
<v Speaker 1>So we must smash the idols or we will forfeit the grace that could be ours.

00:21:17.789 --> 00:21:27.829
<v Speaker 1>You know, the period of the judges in Israel was a very, very low, spiritually corrupt time in Israel's history.

00:21:27.829 --> 00:21:36.422
<v Speaker 1>Idolatry was rampant throughout the land and one point in judges.

00:21:36.422 --> 00:21:39.829
<v Speaker 1>I find this instance very, very interesting because you see what I'm talking about here.

00:21:44.595 --> 00:21:46.676
<v Speaker 1>Judges, chapter 10, 13 and 14,.

00:21:46.676 --> 00:21:53.183
<v Speaker 1>God says to them yet you have forsaken me and served other gods.

00:21:53.183 --> 00:21:56.346
<v Speaker 1>Therefore, I will no longer deliver you.

00:21:56.346 --> 00:22:00.789
<v Speaker 1>You know what that is Grace.

00:22:00.789 --> 00:22:06.421
<v Speaker 1>Just cut yourself off from grace that could be yours.

00:22:06.421 --> 00:22:13.117
<v Speaker 1>So go and cry out to the gods you've chosen.

00:22:13.117 --> 00:22:20.396
<v Speaker 1>Let them deliver you in the time of your distress, and what God's doing is he's going to show them.

00:22:20.396 --> 00:22:22.061
<v Speaker 1>They're not going to help you.

00:22:22.061 --> 00:22:23.826
<v Speaker 1>Only I can help you.

00:22:23.826 --> 00:22:30.384
<v Speaker 1>Try changing your thinking and turning around.

00:22:30.384 --> 00:22:34.782
<v Speaker 1>Now, few verses later I love this.

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<v Speaker 1>When you smash your idol, like Israel and Jonah, did you receive God's abundant, amazing grace.

00:22:42.719 --> 00:22:43.749
<v Speaker 1>Judges chapter 10, 15 and 16.

00:22:43.749 --> 00:22:50.019
<v Speaker 1>Well, the sons of Israel said to the Lord we've sinned.

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:51.402
<v Speaker 1>Due to us.

00:22:51.402 --> 00:22:56.809
<v Speaker 1>Whatever seems good to you, only please deliver us this day.

00:22:56.809 --> 00:23:03.894
<v Speaker 1>So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord Guess what?

00:23:03.894 --> 00:23:06.829
<v Speaker 1>And the Lord could bear the misery of Israel no longer.

00:23:06.829 --> 00:23:10.959
<v Speaker 1>Oh man, thank you, I'm stepping in.

00:23:10.959 --> 00:23:12.623
<v Speaker 1>You've got all kinds of grace coming.

00:23:12.623 --> 00:23:15.029
<v Speaker 1>He couldn't bear it.

00:23:15.029 --> 00:23:16.990
<v Speaker 1>That's what he's looking for.

00:23:16.990 --> 00:23:25.625
<v Speaker 1>When they destroyed their idols, he couldn't hold back his grace, his favor towards them.

00:23:25.625 --> 00:23:26.789
<v Speaker 1>He couldn't.

00:23:29.689 --> 00:23:40.896
<v Speaker 1>Jonah repents of his sin, turns back from his idols of pride and self-righteousness and experiences the grace of God, and then God provides for his rescue and saves him.

00:23:40.896 --> 00:23:46.140
<v Speaker 1>That brings us to the end of chapter 2, where he confesses.

00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:46.605
<v Speaker 1>At the end.

00:23:46.605 --> 00:23:48.570
<v Speaker 1>Salvation is from the Lord.

00:23:48.570 --> 00:23:51.329
<v Speaker 1>The idols are all worthless.

00:23:51.329 --> 00:23:53.095
<v Speaker 1>Clinging to them as futile.

00:23:53.095 --> 00:23:56.693
<v Speaker 1>Clinging to them only results in disappointment and trouble.

00:23:56.693 --> 00:24:05.977
<v Speaker 1>As the psalmist said in Psalm 34-4, those who run after other gods will multiply their sorrows.

00:24:06.806 --> 00:24:13.615
<v Speaker 1>Keep in mind that, inside the belly of the fish, jonah's rescue is only partial.

00:24:13.615 --> 00:24:18.258
<v Speaker 1>There's one more, one more important step.

00:24:18.258 --> 00:24:31.134
<v Speaker 1>He follows his repentance, receiving God's grace, humbling himself, smashing that idol of pride.

00:24:31.134 --> 00:24:34.644
<v Speaker 1>His rescue is only partial inside the fish.

00:24:34.644 --> 00:24:44.698
<v Speaker 1>He's still inside the fish and God lets him think and pray inside that fish for three days and three nights.

00:24:44.698 --> 00:24:52.115
<v Speaker 1>There's still one more thing Jonah must do to really be free.

00:24:52.115 --> 00:25:01.565
<v Speaker 1>One more look those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

00:25:01.565 --> 00:25:09.573
<v Speaker 1>But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you what I've found.

00:25:09.573 --> 00:25:10.315
<v Speaker 1>I'll make good.

00:25:10.315 --> 00:25:18.778
<v Speaker 1>I will say salvation comes from the Lord, and the Lord commanded the fish and vomited Jonah into the dry land.

00:25:19.906 --> 00:25:32.335
<v Speaker 1>Jonah, the believer in Yahweh, repents, remembers and finally we dedicate surrenders his life to the Lord, which is what God had been waiting for all along.

00:25:32.335 --> 00:25:39.634
<v Speaker 1>When Jonah repents and rededicates, he surrenders his life to the Lord.

00:25:39.634 --> 00:25:52.584
<v Speaker 1>Only then does the fish release him, only then is he really free, only then are we really free.

00:25:52.584 --> 00:25:58.682
<v Speaker 1>Someone has said that the Christian life is comprised of one long series of repentances.

00:25:58.682 --> 00:25:59.644
<v Speaker 1>I agree.

00:25:59.644 --> 00:26:07.585
<v Speaker 1>Every believer in Yahweh, every believer in Jesus, and every age, is confronted with their failure to obey God as he would want.

00:26:07.585 --> 00:26:09.644
<v Speaker 1>Every one of us.

00:26:09.644 --> 00:26:14.436
<v Speaker 1>No believer in Jesus is exempt from the need to repent Never.

00:26:14.436 --> 00:26:22.113
<v Speaker 1>Not repentance for eternal salvation, but repentance for our present sanctification.

00:26:22.113 --> 00:26:27.834
<v Speaker 1>When we sin against the Lord and we don't do we know we're going the opposite way.

00:26:28.744 --> 00:26:36.625
<v Speaker 1>So I challenge you what sin or what idol has come between you and the Lord, even at this moment that he might bring something to mind?

00:26:36.625 --> 00:26:37.508
<v Speaker 1>What is it?

00:26:37.508 --> 00:26:40.873
<v Speaker 1>It's time to turn around.

00:26:40.873 --> 00:26:45.493
<v Speaker 1>Repent, turn back, confess the sin, smash the idol.

00:26:45.493 --> 00:26:48.452
<v Speaker 1>God's amazing grace is waiting to lift you up.

00:26:48.452 --> 00:26:50.709
<v Speaker 1>It really is.

00:26:50.709 --> 00:26:56.096
<v Speaker 1>But if you really want to be free, surrender yourself completely.

00:26:56.096 --> 00:27:01.233
<v Speaker 1>That's where real freedom lies.

00:27:01.684 --> 00:27:03.625
<v Speaker 1>Listen to 2 Chronicles 16-9.

00:27:03.625 --> 00:27:15.213
<v Speaker 1>For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the entire earth so that he may strongly support those whose heart is completely his.

00:27:15.213 --> 00:27:18.259
<v Speaker 1>That's it.

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:23.932
<v Speaker 1>But perhaps you've never known the true God or through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:27:23.932 --> 00:27:42.075
<v Speaker 1>Well, you need to know that Jesus died on the cross for our sins in order to bring us to God, as Peter says in chapter 3 of his letter, for Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God.

00:27:42.075 --> 00:27:46.222
<v Speaker 1>He gave his life sinless.

00:27:46.222 --> 00:27:56.694
<v Speaker 1>Jesus gave his life to satisfy the righteous judgment of God for the sins we committed, so that we, when we believe in him, could receive eternal life.

00:27:56.694 --> 00:28:08.317
<v Speaker 1>And to do that you must humble yourself and, like Jonah, call on the Lord to save you.

00:28:08.317 --> 00:28:12.644
<v Speaker 1>Only then can you truly be free.

00:28:14.230 --> 00:28:18.625
<v Speaker 1>Paul says in Romans 10, there's no difference between Jew and Gentile.

00:28:18.625 --> 00:28:20.633
<v Speaker 1>Note everybody's the same.

00:28:20.633 --> 00:28:29.625
<v Speaker 1>The same Lord is the Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.

00:28:29.625 --> 00:28:33.605
<v Speaker 1>Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

00:28:33.605 --> 00:28:35.644
<v Speaker 1>I hope that's you.

00:28:35.644 --> 00:28:38.644
<v Speaker 1>If you've never done that, open your heart.

00:28:38.644 --> 00:28:47.134
<v Speaker 1>Even as I close in prayer, just call out to the Lord in your heart, say I welcome you, jesus, into my life.

00:28:47.134 --> 00:28:53.644
<v Speaker 1>Let's pray, father, thank you that Jesus died to bring us into a right relationship with you.

00:28:53.644 --> 00:29:04.153
<v Speaker 1>Forgive us for when we do things that harm that relationship and fellowship with you, for loving other things more than you.

00:29:04.153 --> 00:29:14.113
<v Speaker 1>We repent, lord, of the times we've looked to, devoted ourselves to what you call idols, we thought could give us what we needed.

00:29:14.113 --> 00:29:27.952
<v Speaker 1>Would you please help us by your Holy Spirit and the power of Jesus in us to be completely devoted to you and love you with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, for it is only by your grace that we can do that.

00:29:27.952 --> 00:29:31.786
<v Speaker 1>I pray all this today in Jesus' name, amen.