Sermon Tone Analysis

What to Pray About In The Middle of a Diaster—Jonah 2:1-10

 

/11 Again I saw that under the sun the* race *is not to the swift, nor the* battle* to the strong, nor* bread *to the wise, nor* riches* to the intelligent, nor* favor* to the skillful; but* time and chance* happen to them all.

12 For no one can *anticipate the time of disaster.*

Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.

/*Ecclesiastes 9:11-12*

* *

/15 So they picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging … 17 But the Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish/ *.Jonah 1:15, 17 & 2:1*

 

1.

Pray for God’s *[HELP]*!

*Jonah said* /“I *called to the Lord out of my distress*, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.”

/*Verse 2*

/ /

/Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me./ *Psalms 50:15*

 

2.

Pray For God’s *[PRESENCE]* !

 

/3 You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. 4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet shall I look again upon your holy temple?

/*Verses 3-4*

 

/4 Seek the *Lord* and his *strength*; seek his *presence continually*.

5 Remember the* wonderful works* he has done, his *miracles*, and the *judgments he has uttered*./

*Psalms 105:4-5*

 

3.

Praise God For His *[POWER TO RAISE UP]* !

 

/5 The waters closed in over me; the deep surrounded me to my soul; weeds were wrapped around my head 6             at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; *yet you brought up my life from the Pit*, O Lord my God./ /7*As my life was ebbing away*, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.

/*Verses 5-7*

 

4.

Pray That God Will Change Your *[HEART]*!

/40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth.

41 The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they* repented *at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to* listen to the wisdom* of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!/

*Matthew 12:40-42*

 

5.

Pray To Do God’s *[WILL]* !

 

/8 Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty.

9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will *sacrifice to you*; what I have *vowed I will pay*.

Deliverance belongs to the Lord!” 10 Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land./

*Verses 8-10*