Wed. 7/18/12 Fish Stories 3

Jonah 1:12 - "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will calm down.  I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you."  13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land.  But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.  14 Then they cried to the Lord, "O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man's life.  Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O Lord, have done as you pleased."  15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.  16 At this time the men greatly feared the Lord and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to Him.  (NIV)

Good Salvation Wednesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters.  Wow, Salvation Wednesday today, and please, please read the message today.  Today is the day we pray for Salvation for those who are not "Born Again".  Keep praying for Betty Deardorff, she is now in the hospital and seems to have had a stroke. Betty is the mother of prayer warrior Bobbie Tucker, on this line.  Pray for Art Shope who is in the hospital ... for an 8 year old who has gone into a coma.  Details will come in today, I am sure.  Pray for our neighbors, seems one went missing and foul play is suspected.  This is on the local news, out of Silver Spring Twp., Mechanicsburg, Pa. if you get the local news.

PRAISE REPORT.  As hot a it was, ministry partner, Grant Crockett and I went to a football camp where food donations were brought in.  We received a LOT of food, and tonight we go back for more.  Grant will be out singing for the Lord, but I have helped line up to help.  Pray for a lot of food to come in, our stock has been very, very low.  BUT GOD ALWAYS COMES THROUGH!!  AMEN ...

My closing question yesterday ... how many of each kind of animal did Jonah take with him?  None was the answer, it was Noah that took the animals with him ... Hey, if you got it wrong, you are one of the 50% ... Got ya!!  Thanks to all who read!

Let's get to the message ...

Fish Stories (Day 3).  As we left Jonah yesterday he was on board a ship, the seas were raging, and he was being blamed for the storm.  So let's get to the scriptures.

Jonah 1:12 - "Pick me up and throw me into the sea,"

This was Jonah saying this and why would he tell these sailors to throw him into the raging water?  Brothers and sisters, he is taking personal responsibility for his actions!  Remember, he ran way from the Lord and took a ship to try and hide.  So what happened next?  Wow, this is great!

Jonah 1:13 - Instead, the men did their best to row back to land.  But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.  14 Then they cried to the Lord, "O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man's life.  Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O Lord, have done as you pleased."

Do you remember last week, on my last day on the subject of the fourth man in the fire, it was not just the protection for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were in the fire, or God in the fire with them saving them from the fire.  It was the fact that through this, King Nebuchadnezzar got saved, came to God?  Now here we have it again.  Look at this, how the sailors first prayed to their "own gods", but when things got bad and they saw the faith of Jonah, telling all the sailors to just toss him overboard and God will calm the seas.  However, before they tossed him to the raging sea they prayed to God, our Lord God, folks.  They prayed to be saved, from the raging sea, and asked the Lord to not hold them accountable for the death of Jonah.  I am sure they thought He would be killed.  But after praying, they tossed Jonah over into the raging sea.

Amazing how God lined this up about me writing about the sailors coming to the Lord on a day we call Salvation Wednesday.  God never stops amazing me, day after day after day, He does this, Truly Amazing Grace.  So overboard Jonah went, and they said, How long can you tread water!!  Oh, be quiet, Dan, they didn't say that.  After the sailors tossed Jonah overboard, God calmed the seas.  Then the sailors offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.  And what happened to Jonah?  Well, you just need to wait until tomorrow to see, and you will be amazed ...

Dear Father in heaven, Thank You for saving me from my sins and thanks for all you do and all the food we collected yesterday.  Thanks for this line ... Please look over all of our prayer requests and please, Lord, Thy will be done ... In Jesus' name, we pray.  Amen.

Now go forth and share those blessings ... Love ya, Pastor Dan.

PS.  Tomorrow, an announcement you will not want to miss ...