Sermon Outline

1. The Lord is in control (Jonah 1:4, 17, 4:6, -8)
   1. God uses a variety of means in order to reclaim his erring children.
2. True Prayer
   1. Praying to his God (Jonah 2:1)
      1. True prayer claims YHWH as your God.
      2. True prayer is personal. (HC 120)
      3. True prayer is offered to a real, personal God.
   2. Recognition of the mess I am in (Confession)
      1. Distress is meant to drive us to God
      2. Physically
         1. Jonah is in distress.
         2. In the belly of a fish
         3. At the bottom of the sea (Jonah 2:3b, 5b-6)
         4. Death is all around (Jonah 2:2b, 5a, 7a)
            1. Sheol (1Sam 2:6, Ps 89:48)
      3. Spiritually (Jonah 2:4a)
      4. True confession recognizes (1Jn 1:9, Lev 26:40-42, Prov 28:13)
         1. that a holy God has been offended,
         2. that our actions have brought about disastrous consequences,
         3. that the holy God wants to be in relationship with you.
   3. Faith in God’s ability to answer
      1. God hears (Jonah 2:2, 7)
         1. Prayer is an act of faith that believes that God listens and answers (Ps 5:1-2, Ps 102:1, 17, 19-20, Mt 21:22)
         2. By Faith we mean a deep rooted assurance[1], a conviction that God and His word are dependable (HC 117)
      2. Rescue me from Death (Jonah 2:4, 6, Ps 68:20, 116:8, Hosea 13:14, 1Cor 15:54-55)
3. A Relationship repaired – The Result of True Prayer
   1. Renewed commitment (Jonah 2:9a)
   2. Worshipful assurance (Jonah 2:9b)

[1] Heidelberg Catechism Q21.