The document summarizes the biblical story of Jonah. It describes how Jonah fled from God's command by boarding a ship to Tarshish, away from God's presence. However, God hurled a great storm at the sea, endangering the ship. Though the sailors prayed to their gods, Jonah slept, showing his disregard for God. The document uses Jonah's story to convey that one cannot escape God's presence and mercy, even through great storms, and that arrogance towards God will not go unpunished.

2. B o d y t e x t .

3. Jonah 1:3-5 (ESV)
But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He
went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid
the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from
the presence of the Lord. 4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon
the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the
ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and
each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the
ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down
into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast
asleep.

4. You can run, but you can’t hide from God.
God’s mercy for you won’t let you go.
- Even if it means sending a great storm.

5. 1. COUNT THE COST
“He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he
paid the fare and went on board”

6. 2. YOU CAN’T OUTRUN THE
PRESENCE OF GOD
“…to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.”

7. Psalms 139:7-12 (NIV)
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your
presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my
bed in the depths, You are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there Your hand will
guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the
darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12
even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like
the day, for darkness is as light to You.

8. Psalms 23:4 (NIV)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they
comfort me.
Matthew 28:20 (NIV)
…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

9. Hosea 2:6-7 (NIV)
Therefore I will block her path with thorn bushes; I will wall her in so
that she cannot find her way. 7 She will chase after her lovers but
not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she
will say, 'I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was
better off than now.'

10. 3. DE-NERF GOD

12. Proverbs 16:5 (ESV)
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be
assured, he will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 21:7 (ESV)
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they
refuse to do what is just.

13. Numbers 32:23 (ESV)
But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord,
and be sure your sin will find you out.

14. 4. GOD STORMS - a quick comment
But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and
there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the
ship threatened to break up

15. 5. God doesn’t give us a SECOND LIFE
He transforms our REAL LIFE
Jonah 1:5 (NIV)
All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own

16. Jonah 1:5 (NIV)
… But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into
a deep sleep.

17. “SECOND LIFE”
www.secondlife.com

18. 6. How does God use storms?

19. 7. ONE MORE QUESTION
“Who is your Jonah?”