What to Do When You Received God's Mercy

Before we begin I’d like to share with you the story of Stephanie Striley— how she found her way back to Jesus after running away from God during her growing up years [PLAY VIDEO]

Since the start of this month we’ve been talking about Jonah— The “Running Prophet”. And his story was recorded by an unknown author in the book named after him

Though his story was around 2,800 years ago— there’s a lot of biblical principles that are still true and very applicable today— if it is Biblical it not just universal, it is also eternal [timeless]

The scenario may be very different compared to our lives as modern day Christians, but the principles how God could use our circumstances remains the same

And if you are careful and diligent with your Bible reading, you will find vast wisdom that should guide you to a life and purpose the God has for you— but like everyone else, Jonah has gone astray at some point of his prophetic career

Peter quoted Isaiah 53:6 when he said in...

1 Peter 2:25 NIV

25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jonah returned to God— but before that, many things happened when he ran away from Him

Like the parable of Jesus about the prodigal son— Jonah’s running away from God cost four primary aspects of life

Running away from God could cost you physically, relationally, financially and emotionally

But, the moment he admitted his fault, and willingly told the unbelieving crews of the ship [who later on believed] to pick him up, and throw him off the ship and onto the sea,. It was the beginning of his pivot back to God

Suddenly, the sea calmed down— Your life calms down when you run to the Father

Not just that! When you run to the Father— Unbelievers will believe!

When he started swimming back to the Father— God showed him mercy — the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah— he was in there 3 days and 3 nights

What to Do When You Received God’s Mercy?

Let’s see and learn from Jonah— While he was in there 3 days and 3 nights, what did he do?

Open your Bible to the Book of Jonah 2:1-10— while doing that, let me remind you that whenever we are studying the Bible, we must pay attention to words that defines the CHARACTER of God. COMMANDS. PROMISES. EXAMPLES. CONVICTIONS. CHALLENGES & ENCOURAGEMENTS. ATTITUDES. PRAYER TO PRAY. THINGS TO THANK GOD FOR.

BOOK

Jonah 2:1–10 NCV

1 While Jonah was inside the fish, he prayed to the Lord his God and said, 2 “When I was in danger, I called to the Lord, and he answered me. I was about to die, so I cried to you, and you heard my voice. 3 You threw me into the sea, down, down into the deep sea. The water was all around me, and your powerful waves flowed over me. 4 I said, ‘I was driven out of your presence, but I hope to see your Holy Temple again.’ 5 The waters of the sea closed around my throat. The deep sea was all around me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 When I went down to where the mountains of the sea start to rise, I thought I was locked in this prison forever, but you saved me from the pit of death, Lord my God. 7 “When my life had almost gone, I remembered the Lord. I prayed to you, and you heard my prayers in your Holy Temple. 8 “People who worship useless idols give up their loyalty to you. 9 But I will praise and thank you while I give sacrifices to you, and I will keep my promises to you. Salvation comes from the Lord!” 10 Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and the fish threw up Jonah onto the dry land.

If you’re still wondering if it was truly possible for a human being to remain alive inside the belly of a big fish— well, stop wondering! Miracles defies reason!— The moment you are able to rationalize it, it will no longer be a miracle— because, miracles defies reason

Secrets belongs to God— even the time of His return is kept from us— that’s why I do not bother myself so much in prophecies and finding out when the Lord is coming back— though we now see a lot of signs leading to the day of the Lord— We just have to get ready and stay ready!

We must recognize that there are secrets that only belongs to God— even the mystery behind Jonah’s survival inside the belly of that Big fish— Listen!

Deuteronomy 29:29 NCV

29 There are some things the Lord our God has kept secret, but there are some things he has let us know. These things belong to us and our children forever so that we will do everything in these teachings.

Stop rationalizing everything!— Because there are some things that the Lord our God has kept secret.

Now, let’s go back to what Jonah did after he received mercy from God— from his prayer there are 4 things [They all start with letter C] that we can, and shall do when we recieved God’s mercy

LOOK

I CALLED TO THE LORD AND HE ANSWERED ME

Did you see the Confidence there?--- When you pray, pray with CONFIDENCE [Pammati-Talec-Kompiyansa]!

Be expectant that the Lord hears your prayers, and that he will answer you

The next thing he said in his prayers was about his circumstances

THE WATERS OF THE SEA CLOSED AROUND MY THROAT

The deep sea wall was all around me— seaweed was wrapped around my head

In his prayers, he told God his CIRCUMSTANCES [casasaad-sasaaden-pasamac-kalagayan-sitwasyon]

When you’re in His mercy & grace you should accept and tell Him your circumstances

And then the next thing he did was— he claimed his prayers

BUT YOU SAVED ME FROM THE PIT OF DEATH

I thought I was locked in this prison forever, but you saved me from the pit of death

Take note, he was still in there and yet he said— you saved me [past tense]— that’s how confident he was that he CLAIMED [tuntonen-angkinin]his prayers even before it actually happened— Jonah did not just claimed his requests— he even celebrated it!

BUT I WILL PRAISE AND THANK YOU

He CELEBRATED [rambacan-ipagdiwang] the prayers that he confidently claimed

Jonah praised God with a thankful heart— and then he made some commitment that he promised to comply

I WILL KEEP MY PROMISES TO YOU

You do not just make COMMITMENTS [italec-ipangako] to God, you must COMPLY [aramiden-tungpalen-tupadin-ganapin] with those commitments— make good to what you have vowed to do

If you do these things that Jonah did— You have better chances that God will respond to your prayers— What things?

If you could pray with CONFIDENCE. Admit and tell God your CIRCUMSTANCES.

CLAIM & CELEBRATE the prayers that you confidently claimed

COMPLY with those COMMITMENTS you vowed to do for the Lord

If you are able to these things and train yourselves to be like Jonah when you pray— then you’ll have more answered prayers from God— Look!

THEN THE LORD SPOKE TO THE FISH

And the fish thew up Jonah onto the dry land

What to Do When You Received God’s Mercy?

TOOK

BE CONFIDENT WHEN YOU PRAY

In the book of Hebrews the word “confidence” was used (7) seven times— In chapter 4 it says

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

In Hebrews 10:35 it says— your confidence will be richly rewarded

In chapter 11 it says— faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see

In chapter 13 it says— your confidence will remove your fear

ACCEPT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND TELL THEM TO GOD

When Paul a letter to the church in Philippi about their gifts to him, he said…

Philippians 4:11 NIV

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Be content whatever the circumstances

Not just be content, but be thankful— in another letter of Paul to the church in Thessalonica he said…

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

CLAIM AND CELEBRATE THE PRAYERS YOU CONFIDENTLY ASKED FOR

In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, he talked about his competence as minister of the new covenant and he said..

2 Corinthians 3:5 NIV

5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

His claims for anything for himself was not based on his own competence— rather he said, our competence comes from God

COMPLY WITH THE COMMITMENTS YOU VOWED TO DO

Psalm 37:5 NLT

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

What will happen when you commit everything to the Lord?— He will not just help you— He will help you succeed!

Proverbs 16:3 NLT

3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.

CHALLENGE

How much longer are you running away from God?

Are you ready to run back to him?

Come now— Come As you are

Tired, broken, scared, Or just in need, Ready or not, It's alright. Are you ready?

Stephanie Striley came running back to Jesus— What about you?— Are you ready?

Ready or Not— come!

There's no place like His presence. There's no time like now.

He's alright with your past. He's not mad at any one of us.

Come now. Lay your burdens down