(Music) BREATH
OF LIFE THEME MUSIC
00:00:07.54\00:00:19.71
Pastor Byrd:  Jonah, Chapter
2, verse 1 and 2.  All right.
00:00:19.75\00:00:21.98
Let's try it again.  If you have
it, let me hear you say Amen.
00:00:22.02\00:00:24.25
The Word says, “Then Jonah
prayed unto the Lord his God
00:00:24.29\00:00:27.92
out of the fish's” what? 
Come on, out of the fish's what,
00:00:27.96\00:00:31.43
everybody? Aud.:  Belly.    PB:
 “And said, I cried by reason of
00:00:31.46\00:00:35.83
mine affliction unto the Lord,
and he heard me; out of the
00:00:35.86\00:00:39.37
belly of hell cried I, and thou
heardest my” what, everybody?
00:00:39.40\00:00:46.61
“Thou heardest my what,”
everybody?  He said, “Out of the
00:00:46.64\00:00:49.14
belly of hell cried I
and thou heardest my voice.”
00:00:49.18\00:00:56.15
Do me a favor and read out
to me and say, don't go to hell.
00:00:56.18\00:00:59.22
Father, in the name of Jesus,
thank you so much for what we
00:00:59.25\00:01:03.99
have already experienced in
the worship today.  Now, God,
00:01:04.03\00:01:06.59
make your Word become flame
in our lives.  And we'll be
00:01:06.63\00:01:09.40
careful to give You the praise
and the honor and the glory.
00:01:09.43\00:01:11.40
Move at the appeal times
specifically we pray, in Jesus'
00:01:11.43\00:01:16.30
name.  Amen. Don't go to hell.
 The Book of Jonah is a small
00:01:16.34\00:01:21.08
book. In fact, the Book of
Jonah only has four chapters,
00:01:21.11\00:01:25.15
but the lessons in Jonah are
so numerous that I could preach
00:01:25.18\00:01:28.45
multiple sermons on these
four chapters, but that would
00:01:28.48\00:01:34.19
keep us all day.  So,
since this is one sermon and not
00:01:34.22\00:01:36.66
a week of prayer, do I
have a witness in this place?
00:01:36.69\00:01:39.43
I'm only going to preach
on Chapters 1 and 2 and I will
00:01:39.46\00:01:42.93
save 3 and 4 for
another time. Is that all right?
00:01:42.96\00:01:45.87
Somebody's
saying thank you, Jesus.
00:01:45.90\00:01:49.10
Most of us know the story
of Jonah.  In Jonah, Chapter 1,
00:01:49.14\00:01:53.81
God told Jonah to go to
Nineveh. What city, everybody?
00:01:53.84\00:01:57.05
Nineveh, and preach the
Word. But we know the story.
00:01:57.08\00:02:00.95
Jonah doesn't want to go to
Nineveh.  Jonah doesn't want
00:02:00.98\00:02:04.45
to go to Nineveh because,
remember, Nineveh was the place
00:02:04.49\00:02:06.82
where they sent preachers
to punish them.  Nineveh was
00:02:06.86\00:02:11.16
the district nobody wanted
to go to.  Nineveh was the place
00:02:11.19\00:02:16.70
where preachers went to
die. Praise God we don't have
00:02:16.73\00:02:20.47
any Ninevehs today,
what do you say?  (laughs)
00:02:20.50\00:02:23.44
Why?  According to the
historical record, Nineveh was
00:02:23.47\00:02:28.68
the most despicable, wicked,
cruel, idolatrous city in the
00:02:28.71\00:02:33.68
world. Ninevites would cut the
hands off of enemy soldiers and
00:02:33.72\00:02:37.29
stack them up outside the city.
Nineveh would then mutilate
00:02:37.32\00:02:42.86
the bodies and stack them
in piles.  Nineveh would skin
00:02:42.89\00:02:46.39
their enemies and then
hang their skin on city walls.
00:02:46.43\00:02:53.07
Ninevites would torture
their prisoners of war by
00:02:53.10\00:02:57.11
cutting off their hands,
yanking out their organs,
00:02:57.14\00:03:00.31
and gutting them.  Ninevites
would burn their infants
00:03:00.34\00:03:05.11
and woman alive.  It was
to this place, this city,
00:03:05.15\00:03:11.42
this church, that God
said to Brother Jonah,
00:03:11.45\00:03:16.32
go to Nineveh, go to that
great city and preach the Word.
00:03:16.36\00:03:24.47
That's all He told Jonah.
 Go to Nineveh and preach.
00:03:24.50\00:03:29.54
When God sends a preacher
to a city, God doesn't tell
00:03:29.57\00:03:35.21
the preacher exactly what's
going to happen in the city,
00:03:35.24\00:03:38.45
but God just tells the preacher
what to say in the city.
00:03:38.48\00:03:41.95
Are you hearing what I'm
saying? You see, I've learned
00:03:41.98\00:03:44.52
in my life that sometimes
God just leads us one step at
00:03:44.55\00:03:48.39
a time without telling
us what the next steps are.
00:03:48.42\00:03:52.69
And He doesn't tell us
what's going to happen until
00:03:52.73\00:03:54.83
we get to our destination
because if He told you now,
00:03:54.83\00:03:57.27
you might abandon the journey
because you don't want to
00:03:57.30\00:04:00.40
go through any trouble. 
But I wish I had a witness
00:04:00.44\00:04:02.57
in this place, that knew
when you're on God's path,
00:04:02.60\00:04:05.37
whatever that path might bring
you, when you're on God's path,
00:04:05.41\00:04:08.84
God will protect you.  Because
God never sends you anywhere
00:04:08.88\00:04:13.75
where God can't keep you,
because God wouldn't take you to
00:04:13.78\00:04:17.65
it if God couldn't
bring you through it.
00:04:17.69\00:04:20.36
So you've got to have faith. You
must believe what you can't see.
00:04:20.39\00:04:25.56
God told Jonah, go to
Nineveh and preach the Word.
00:04:25.59\00:04:31.63
What does Jonah do? 
Jonah disobeys God and goes to
00:04:31.67\00:04:35.87
a city called Tarshish. 
And when you disobey God,
00:04:35.90\00:04:41.04
you're headed for hell. 
It may be an earthly hell,
00:04:41.08\00:04:44.35
it may be an eternal
hell, but when you disobey God,
00:04:44.38\00:04:54.02
you're going to hell. 
 Now, look at the text.
00:04:54.06\00:04:59.49
Look at Jonah 1,
quickly.  Look at Jonah 1 and
00:04:59.53\00:05:03.60
look at verse 3.  The
Word of God says in Jonah 1:3,
00:05:03.63\00:05:08.14
if you have it let me
hear you say Amen.  All right.
00:05:08.17\00:05:10.57
The Word of God says, “But
Jonah rose up to flee unto”
00:05:10.61\00:05:14.74
what city?  Come on,
what city? Aud.:  Tarshish.
00:05:14.78\00:05:17.81
PB:  “From the
presence of” whom?
00:05:17.85\00:05:19.91
“From the presence of the Lord.”
00:05:19.95\00:05:21.28
Then the Bible
says, and he went where?
00:05:21.32\00:05:23.18
Come on, the Bible
says what? He did what?
00:05:23.22\00:05:25.95
He went, now,
don't go--he went what?
00:05:25.99\00:05:29.62
Aud.:  Joppa.    PB: 
Stop there, don't say to Joppa,
00:05:29.66\00:05:33.93
I don't want
you to go there yet.
00:05:33.96\00:05:35.70
The Bible says he
went where? Aud.:  Joppa.
00:05:35.73\00:05:37.37
PB:  Now, remember,
I'm preaching on chapters 1
00:05:37.40\00:05:39.93
and 2 and there are
quick lessons four in Chapter 1
00:05:39.97\00:05:42.60
I'm going to share and
there are three in Chapter 2
00:05:42.64\00:05:44.11
I'm going to share. 
Now, lesson number one is,
00:05:44.14\00:05:46.84
whenever you run from
God, you're going down.
00:05:46.88\00:05:50.95
Let me try that
again.  I said, whenever you
00:05:50.98\00:05:55.52
run from God, you will always
be on a trip where, everybody?
00:05:55.55\00:05:59.02
Aud.:  Down   PB:  You wonder
what's wrong in your life.
00:05:59.05\00:06:01.42
You wonder why
is nothing going up?
00:06:01.46\00:06:03.02
Why is nothing
going right in my life?
00:06:03.06\00:06:04.39
Why do you have
trouble after trouble?
00:06:04.43\00:06:05.79
It's because
you're running from God.
00:06:05.83\00:06:07.40
Because any time you run
from God, it's a trip where?
00:06:07.46\00:06:10.10
The Bible continues. 
Go back to verse number 3.
00:06:10.13\00:06:13.13
The Bible continues. 
The Bible says, “and he went
00:06:13.17\00:06:15.97
down to” what city, everybody?
He went down to where?
00:06:16.00\00:06:18.34
PB:  And he found a
what?  He found a what?
00:06:18.37\00:06:22.11
All right, stop
there.  Lesson number two.
00:06:22.14\00:06:25.85
Any time you run from
God you're going where?
00:06:25.88\00:06:28.35
Aud.:  Down.   PB:  And
not only are you going down,
00:06:28.38\00:06:30.55
but you will always find a
ship. All right, let's be clear.
00:06:30.59\00:06:34.99
That's lesson number
one. Number one is when you
00:06:35.02\00:06:37.73
run from God you're
going where? Aud.:  Down.
00:06:37.76\00:06:40.16
PB:  And when you run
from God and you go down,
00:06:40.20\00:06:42.30
you will always
find a what? Aud.:  Ship.
00:06:42.33\00:06:44.40
PB:  Now, what do you
mean Pastor Byrd, a ship?
00:06:44.43\00:06:46.23
Well, there's
always a willing vessel.
00:06:46.27\00:06:48.44
Always a willing
ship that's trying to move
00:06:48.47\00:06:52.67
you from the presence of God.
00:06:52.71\00:06:54.84
When you're running from God,
00:06:54.88\00:06:57.31
isn't it amazing how quick
you can get in a relation--ship.
00:06:57.35\00:07:01.75
[Aud. Reaction]  PB: 
Isn't it easy how you can get
00:07:01.78\00:07:07.72
into certain friend--ships.
Certain fellow--ships.
00:07:07.76\00:07:13.56
Now, come on,
if I flew 24 hours,
00:07:13.60\00:07:14.93
I had to come with something
today.  Come on, say Amen.
00:07:14.93\00:07:17.37
When you run from God, you're
always going where?  Down.
00:07:17.40\00:07:21.27
And then you will find
yourself in a what?  Ship.
00:07:21.30\00:07:24.07
There's always a ship
trying to move you from the
00:07:24.11\00:07:26.94
presence of God.  And
I don't know about you,
00:07:26.98\00:07:28.38
but I don't want any ship, any
relation-ship, any friend-ship,
00:07:28.41\00:07:35.95
any fellow-ship that's
going to take me away from the
00:07:35.98\00:07:39.19
presence of God.  Because
not only will you find a ship,
00:07:39.22\00:07:42.96
but number three lesson
is, you have to pay a fare.
00:07:42.99\00:07:46.53
[Aud. Reaction]   PB: 
Any time you run from God,
00:07:46.56\00:07:52.43
it costs you something. 
Fine, let's try it again.
00:07:52.47\00:07:55.90
When you run from God,
you're going where?  Down.
00:07:55.94\00:07:58.37
And then there is
always a what? Ship.
00:07:58.41\00:08:01.11
Trying to pull you from
God. And then you always
00:08:01.14\00:08:03.65
have to pay a what?  Fare.
 Any time you run from God,
00:08:03.68\00:08:07.88
young people, it's expensive.
There's a price you have to pay.
00:08:07.92\00:08:13.32
I don't care how good
that relation-ship is,
00:08:13.36\00:08:17.16
how good that friend-ship is,
how good that fellow-ship is,
00:08:17.19\00:08:22.30
if you run from God, it's
going to cost you something.
00:08:22.33\00:08:27.64
Somebody knows what I'm
talking about because you've
00:08:27.67\00:08:29.77
been in some relationships
that cost you something.
00:08:29.80\00:08:31.31
Somebody in this place knows
you've been in a relationship
00:08:31.34\00:08:33.64
that was expensive. 
Jonah went down in a ship and
00:08:33.68\00:08:36.21
it cost him something. 
Now, why are you going to get
00:08:36.24\00:08:40.78
in a ship to make your life
go down?  Can I get practical?
00:08:40.82\00:08:45.75
Here you are, good
credit, good job, good mind,
00:08:45.79\00:08:52.73
and then you're going to
get in some relation-ship
00:08:52.76\00:08:56.06
that's going to pull
you down. Here you are,
00:08:56.10\00:09:00.57
can I be real today?  You've got
a house with your name on it.
00:09:00.60\00:09:04.97
A car with your name on it.
00:09:05.01\00:09:07.78
Bills that come
with your name on it.
00:09:07.81\00:09:10.65
And you sacrifice all of
that and get with somebody
00:09:10.68\00:09:13.82
that doesn't have a name,
anything with their name on it.
00:09:13.85\00:09:18.65
You're going down.  Anybody
will tell you, young people,
00:09:18.69\00:09:23.19
that any positive relationship
has to have reciprocity.
00:09:23.22\00:09:27.13
Reciprocity means exchanging
things with each other
00:09:27.13\00:09:31.87
for mutual
benefit.  In other words,
00:09:31.90\00:09:34.00
reciprocity means
give and what? That means,
00:09:34.04\00:09:37.61
if I bring the ice cream,
you've got to bring the cake.
00:09:37.64\00:09:42.88
But I'm not bringing
the ice cream and the cake.
00:09:42.91\00:09:47.02
Are you hearing what
I'm saying? It means that if
00:09:47.05\00:09:49.38
I bring the peanut butter,
you've got to bring the what,
00:09:49.42\00:09:52.59
everybody?  But I'm
not going to bring the
00:09:52.62\00:09:54.72
peanut butter and the
what? Reciprocity means,
00:09:54.76\00:09:58.36
listen to me, young
people, you have to love her
00:09:58.39\00:10:01.33
and she has to love
you. Reciprocity means,
00:10:01.36\00:10:06.23
you have to love him
and he has to love you.
00:10:06.27\00:10:10.21
There's something wrong
when he calls you and he
00:10:10.24\00:10:14.31
gets off the phone, he
says, I love you, and she says,
00:10:14.34\00:10:16.78
me, too.  Can't even
say the words.  Do I have a
00:10:16.81\00:10:22.98
witness in this place?  I see
somebody looking around like,
00:10:23.02\00:10:26.32
ahhh. There's something
wrong when you're always the one
00:10:26.35\00:10:30.86
calling. I mean, they got your
home number, your cell number,
00:10:30.89\00:10:35.26
your work number, but
you're always the one calling.
00:10:35.30\00:10:38.43
There's something wrong
with that.  You're always the
00:10:38.47\00:10:40.97
one giving and they
never give anything.
00:10:41.00\00:10:42.70
You're always the one
supporting and they never
00:10:42.74\00:10:44.41
support you with
anything. You're always running
00:10:44.44\00:10:46.27
behind them and they
never run behind you.
00:10:46.31\00:10:47.91
You ought to make your
mind up. I'm coming out
00:10:47.94\00:10:49.88
of these
one-sided relationships.
00:10:49.91\00:10:52.48
Where I've always
got to give something and
00:10:52.51\00:10:54.75
I never get anything in return.
00:10:54.78\00:10:56.32
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:10:56.35\00:10:58.22
Young people, you better
tell them.  If I can call you,
00:10:58.25\00:11:01.39
you can call me.  If I can email
you, then you can email me.
00:11:01.42\00:11:03.09
Husbands, wives, you
better tell your husband,
00:11:03.12\00:11:06.80
if I rub your feet,
then you can rub my feet.
00:11:06.83\00:11:10.63
If I can buy gifts for you,
then you can buy gifts for me.
00:11:10.67\00:11:13.97
If I can do nice things for you,
you could do nice things for me.
00:11:14.00\00:11:16.67
You've got to make up in
your mind that I'm going to
00:11:16.71\00:11:19.21
stop falling in love with
people who don't even like me.
00:11:19.24\00:11:22.71
[Aud. Reaction]   PB: 
Because there's some people up
00:11:22.74\00:11:25.95
in here today and watching
who are in love with folk that
00:11:25.98\00:11:29.55
can barely stand you.  Do I
have a witness in this place?
00:11:29.58\00:11:33.29
But I'm going to go a little
deeper.  Can I go a little
00:11:33.32\00:11:37.13
deeper? You all like this.  I'm
looking, I see your face, you
00:11:37.16\00:11:41.00
like this. I'm going to go a
little deeper. Now, you all are
00:11:41.03\00:11:42.83
not going to like what I'm going
to say, but I'm going to say it
00:11:42.86\00:11:44.50
anyhow because I've got the mike
and I speak under the authority
00:11:44.53\00:11:46.33
of the Holy Ghost.  There needs
to be some reciprocity also
00:11:46.37\00:11:48.70
when it comes to your faith
system.  Your belief system.
00:11:48.74\00:11:52.94
Your value system.  Your
moral system.  Your love and
00:11:52.97\00:11:58.61
understanding for God
and the things of God.
00:11:58.65\00:12:00.85
I'm tired of seeing all
these young people with all
00:12:00.88\00:12:02.88
this Godly promise and as
soon as you meet somebody,
00:12:02.92\00:12:05.82
you're not in church.  You
don't want to hear anything
00:12:05.85\00:12:09.39
about God and you let
whomever, that relation-ship,
00:12:09.42\00:12:12.39
take you away from God and
bring you down to their level,
00:12:12.43\00:12:15.80
and so now you're too
tired to come to church.
00:12:15.83\00:12:18.20
Too busy to come to prayer
meeting.  Help me, Holy Ghost.
00:12:18.23\00:12:21.34
Now you don't have any
money to give God because you're
00:12:21.37\00:12:23.71
traveling the world hanging out
with them, eating out with them,
00:12:23.74\00:12:25.24
buying any and
everything, paying their rents,
00:12:25.27\00:12:27.88
paying their car bill.
 But God says, why don't
00:12:27.91\00:12:30.91
you bring them up to
your level? Why don't you
00:12:30.95\00:12:33.28
say to them, if you
going to be with me, you going
00:12:33.31\00:12:37.09
to have to come to
church. Because, as for me and
00:12:37.12\00:12:41.26
my house, we going to
serve the Lord.  Do I have a
00:12:41.29\00:12:43.93
witness in this place?  
It's better to be happily
00:12:43.96\00:12:47.36
unmarried than to
be unhappily married.
00:12:47.40\00:12:50.90
Are you hearing what
I'm saying? Quit doing
00:12:50.93\00:12:54.67
permanent things
with temporary people.
00:12:54.70\00:12:58.54
You better tell somebody,
I believe in salvation.
00:12:58.57\00:13:01.81
I believe in the second coming.
I believe in the Sabbath.
00:13:01.84\00:13:05.45
I believe in commitment.
 I believe in honesty.
00:13:05.48\00:13:08.65
I believe in integrity. 
I believe in good credit.
00:13:08.68\00:13:12.49
You see you think
that God is giving you to
00:13:12.52\00:13:16.79
them to change them.  God
didn't call you to social work.
00:13:16.83\00:13:20.63
You can't change anybody.
 Only Jesus can do that.
00:13:20.66\00:13:29.00
Are you hearing what
I'm saying? And you ought
00:13:29.04\00:13:31.01
to know by now if they're
not doing what Gods says do,
00:13:31.04\00:13:33.27
you should know that
they aren't going to do what
00:13:33.31\00:13:35.81
you're saying do.  Are
you hearing what I'm saying?
00:13:35.84\00:13:39.11
So, do me a favor.  Turn
to your neighbor, everybody.
00:13:39.15\00:13:40.68
Turn to your neighbor and say,
neighbor, stop playing yourself.
00:13:40.72\00:13:44.49
Hehe.  Young people,
brother, ‘cause some of you all
00:13:44.52\00:13:47.29
came here this
weekend to find somebody.
00:13:47.32\00:13:49.39
I'm trying to help yah. 
When the relationship is of God,
00:13:49.42\00:13:56.93
sisters, when the relationship
is of God, then your goals,
00:13:56.97\00:14:00.84
dreams, and desires that
God has placed within you will
00:14:00.87\00:14:03.61
be the same goals, dreams,
and desires that God will
00:14:03.64\00:14:05.84
place in your spouse
to be. There is no way you
00:14:05.87\00:14:09.38
could want good credit
and they don't.  There is
00:14:09.41\00:14:12.58
no way you could want
salvation and they don't.
00:14:12.61\00:14:15.12
There is no way you
could want the best out of life
00:14:15.15\00:14:16.75
and they don't. 
Because, when you get married,
00:14:16.79\00:14:18.62
you are now bone of my
bone, flesh of my flesh.
00:14:18.65\00:14:22.72
What hurts you, hurts
me.  What makes you happy,
00:14:22.76\00:14:25.69
makes me happy.  There
must be reciprocity in the
00:14:25.73\00:14:28.60
relation-ship or
you're going down.
00:14:28.63\00:14:32.30
Somebody right now,
you're in a ship that's broken.
00:14:32.33\00:14:35.67
Somebody going to get
mad and leave, but I'm going
00:14:35.70\00:14:38.47
to say it anyhow.  Can I
preach it like I feel it?
00:14:38.51\00:14:41.58
Now, I'm this old time preacher.
Old man in a young body.
00:14:41.61\00:14:46.58
Aud.:  (Laughter)    PB: 
When I was over in Africa,
00:14:46.61\00:14:50.75
they said, oh, you
preach like them old preachers.
00:14:50.79\00:14:52.55
Yes suh!  I'm convinced
that Christians, listen to me,
00:14:52.59\00:15:00.40
all today Christians, and I'll
keep preaching and saying this,
00:15:00.43\00:15:05.97
Christians ought
to marry Christians.
00:15:06.00\00:15:10.57
If dogs can get with
dogs, if cats can get with cats,
00:15:10.61\00:15:18.15
if fish can get with
fish, then Christians ought to
00:15:18.18\00:15:23.42
get with Christians.  Do I
have a witness in this place?
00:15:23.45\00:15:25.72
How can two walk together
less they what?  Be ye not
00:15:25.75\00:15:29.82
unequally yoked.  What I
believe.  I'm trying to help
00:15:29.86\00:15:33.86
somebody. There's got to
reciprocity. There's got to be
00:15:33.90\00:15:36.30
what, everybody? Well, let me
get back to Jonah. Look at verse
00:15:36.33\00:15:38.47
4. Jonah 1:4.  Somebody saying
he's been gone off on a tangent.
00:15:38.50\00:15:41.84
Aud.:  (Laughter)   PB: 
I'm going to preach anyhow.
00:15:41.87\00:15:44.77
That's right.  I'll get
somebody over there Amening me.
00:15:44.81\00:15:46.64
Amen.  Hallelujah.  All right.
Jonah, Chapter 1, verse 4.
00:15:46.68\00:15:52.91
You have it, let me hear you
say Amen.  Look at what it says.
00:15:52.95\00:15:55.65
“But the Lord
sent out a great” what?
00:15:55.68\00:15:58.52
Aud.:  Wind.   PB: 
Into the what?  Aud.:  Sea.
00:15:58.55\00:16:00.82
PB:  And there was a
mighty what?  Aud.:  Tempest.
00:16:00.86\00:16:02.82
PB:  In the what?   Aud.:  Sea.
00:16:02.86\00:16:04.19
PB:  “So that the ship was
like to be” what, everybody?
00:16:04.23\00:16:05.96
Aud.:  Broken.
00:16:05.99\00:16:07.10
PB:  All right.  Point
number one, when you run and
00:16:07.13\00:16:09.60
disobey God you're
going what? Aud.:  Down.
00:16:09.63\00:16:11.40
PB:  Come on, you're
going what? Aud.:  Down.
00:16:11.43\00:16:13.03
PB:  And there's
always a what? Aud.:  Ship
00:16:13.07\00:16:14.80
PB:  Trying to take you
away from whom?  Aud.:  God.
00:16:14.84\00:16:16.71
PB:  And then you always have
to pay a what?  Aud.:  Fare.
00:16:16.74\00:16:18.51
PB:  Lesson number
four.  After you go down in a
00:16:18.54\00:16:25.78
ship and pay the
fare, you face a storm.
00:16:25.81\00:16:30.79
When you run from God, a
storm will always follow you.
00:16:30.82\00:16:37.63
That's why you've got to be
careful what ship you get in.
00:16:37.66\00:16:41.20
That's why you've got to be
careful who you get involved
00:16:41.23\00:16:44.10
with, because if folk are
running from God and they're in
00:16:44.13\00:16:48.97
your ship, they're in your
circle, get ready for a storm.
00:16:49.00\00:16:53.31
Quit creating storms and
then you get mad when it rains.
00:16:53.34\00:16:59.05
I don't care how
good that relationship is,
00:16:59.08\00:17:04.19
I don't care how
good that friendship is,
00:17:04.22\00:17:07.82
I don't care how
good that fellowship is,
00:17:07.86\00:17:11.13
you will face a
storm.  I've already told you
00:17:11.16\00:17:13.29
to be careful of
your relationships when it
00:17:13.33\00:17:15.80
comes to reciprocity,
but you also need to be
00:17:15.83\00:17:17.77
careful of your
friendships and fellowships.
00:17:17.80\00:17:19.40
Young people, be
careful who your friends are.
00:17:19.43\00:17:23.17
A friend is not somebody
who walks around talking
00:17:23.20\00:17:25.37
about somebody
else.  Because guess what?
00:17:25.41\00:17:27.51
If they're talking
about somebody else,
00:17:27.54\00:17:29.01
guess what they're
doing when you're not around.
00:17:29.04\00:17:30.41
Are you hearing what I'm saying?
00:17:30.45\00:17:32.01
They're talking about you.
00:17:32.05\00:17:33.11
If outsiders know
all your business,
00:17:33.15\00:17:35.35
then you better
check your insiders.
00:17:35.38\00:17:36.82
I wish I had a
witness in this place.
00:17:36.85\00:17:38.95
Jonah, Chapter 1,
and I've given you the
00:17:38.99\00:17:44.96
four lessons in
Jonah 1, I've got three
00:17:44.99\00:17:46.23
lessons in Jonah 2 and
then we're going to go.
00:17:46.26\00:17:47.93
Jonah ends
Chapter 1 facing a storm.
00:17:47.96\00:17:52.13
Jonah's life is in
danger.  The men in the
00:17:52.17\00:17:55.34
ship throw Jonah
overboard. There's a
00:17:55.37\00:17:59.74
sermon in there I
preach there; Dr. Land,
00:17:59.77\00:18:01.34
you gave me an idea
for a sermon on that,
00:18:01.38\00:18:03.11
how they had to
throw him overboard.
00:18:03.14\00:18:04.75
I've got a sermon
for that. It's coming,
00:18:04.78\00:18:06.51
but not today. 
Come on, say Amen.
00:18:06.55\00:18:08.02
All right.  Jonah
is thrown overboard.
00:18:08.05\00:18:10.92
But God sends,
listen to me, God sends a
00:18:10.95\00:18:14.76
great fish to
swallow Jonah up. Jonah is
00:18:14.79\00:18:20.33
thrown overboard, but
God sends a great fish
00:18:20.36\00:18:23.13
to swallow him up. 
Jonah is in the fish's
00:18:23.16\00:18:27.10
belly for three
days and three nights.
00:18:27.14\00:18:30.27
Then we go to
Chapter 2 and we're ready for
00:18:30.31\00:18:32.14
our three lessons in
Chapter 2. And in Chapter
00:18:32.17\00:18:33.71
2 it begins by
telling us that Jonah does the
00:18:33.74\00:18:36.68
only thing then he knows
how to do.  Jonah, he prays.
00:18:36.71\00:18:42.58
In the fish's
belly, Jonah prays.
00:18:42.62\00:18:48.69
Lesson number
one from Chapter 2.
00:18:48.72\00:18:52.06
Lesson number four.
 Prayer still works.
00:18:52.09\00:18:56.16
In Jonah's prayer,
Jonah likens being in the
00:18:56.20\00:19:00.94
fish to being in hell. 
Jonah says in verse number 2,
00:19:00.97\00:19:04.81
“I cried by my reason of
mine affliction unto the Lord,
00:19:04.84\00:19:08.11
and he heard me; out of
the belly of hell cried I,
00:19:08.14\00:19:12.68
and thou heardest my
voice.” Jonah disobeys God.
00:19:12.71\00:19:17.95
Jonah goes down.  Jonah
finds himself in a ship.
00:19:17.99\00:19:22.82
Jonah pays a high fare. 
Jonah then faces a storm.
00:19:22.86\00:19:28.10
Jonah's life is in
danger. Jonah is in hell.
00:19:28.13\00:19:32.03
Butbut the Bible
says, Jonah prays.
00:19:32.07\00:19:39.91
Now somebody here
ought to know what happens
00:19:39.94\00:19:42.54
when you pray. 
Somebody here ought to know that
00:19:42.58\00:19:45.18
prayer time is high
time.  And sometimes,
00:19:45.21\00:19:48.52
I don't know about you,
but I need me to pray for me.
00:19:48.55\00:19:52.62
Nothing wrong with
you all praying for me,
00:19:52.65\00:19:54.52
but I need me to pray
for me. Do I have a witness
00:19:54.56\00:19:56.76
in this place?  Because you
can't beat me praying for me.
00:19:56.79\00:20:00.33
You can help me pray for
me, but you can't beat me
00:20:00.36\00:20:03.60
praying for me.  Because I
have a vested interest in me.
00:20:03.63\00:20:07.47
I know what's wrong with
me.  I know what God needs
00:20:07.50\00:20:11.17
to do with me.  I know
what it's going to take to
00:20:11.21\00:20:14.08
straighten me out.  I
tell me some stuff about me t
00:20:14.11\00:20:17.45
hat I'm not going to
tell you. So you can help me
00:20:17.48\00:20:20.58
pray for me, but you
can't pray for me because I've
00:20:20.62\00:20:23.69
got some stuff to tell
God that I don't trust you
00:20:23.72\00:20:26.19
enough to say to
God for me. Jonah says,
00:20:26.22\00:20:31.13
I have to pray for
me.  Now, the fact that he
00:20:31.16\00:20:36.30
prayed is significant. 
But what's more significant,
00:20:36.33\00:20:39.90
look at the text,
is where he prayed.
00:20:39.93\00:20:42.80
Out of the belly
of a fish, out of the
00:20:42.84\00:20:46.98
belly in hell, that
God, by the way, put him in.
00:20:47.01\00:20:51.91
Somebody's not
getting this. God put him in.
00:20:51.95\00:20:57.65
Aaah.  God purposely
put Jonah in this situation
00:20:57.69\00:21:03.32
in order that Jonah might
come to know God for himself.
00:21:03.36\00:21:07.50
And that's what God will
do. God will put you in a
00:21:07.50\00:21:11.83
particular place, a particular
situation, a particular
00:21:11.87\00:21:16.07
strange, uncomfortable
place in order that you might
00:21:16.10\00:21:19.24
know who you are
dealing with. God will let you
00:21:19.27\00:21:22.54
get in some fire
sometimes so that you will know
00:21:22.58\00:21:25.71
He's still got His
hand on the thermostat.
00:21:25.75\00:21:27.45
I wish I had a
witness in this place.
00:21:27.48\00:21:29.12
God will let you
purposely hit rock bottom.
00:21:29.15\00:21:32.19
God will allow you to
be thrown down on your
00:21:32.22\00:21:34.89
back so all you can
do is look up and pray.
00:21:34.92\00:21:38.23
God will put you in
your situation that you
00:21:38.26\00:21:41.36
can't do anything else
but hear Him.  God says,
00:21:41.40\00:21:44.37
I'll fix it so that you
won't have anyone calling you.
00:21:44.40\00:21:48.40
I'll fix it where your best
friends walk out on your life.
00:21:48.44\00:21:51.84
I'll navigate your
situations where you can't see
00:21:51.87\00:21:54.74
anything but Me.  You
can't hear anybody but Me.
00:21:54.78\00:21:59.18
As a matter of fact,
I'll put you so deep down in
00:21:59.21\00:22:01.52
the belly of a fish
that you'll realize you can't
00:22:01.55\00:22:04.55
survive without Me.  So,
where if you're going to eat,
00:22:04.59\00:22:08.26
I've got to feed you. 
If you're going to drink,
00:22:08.29\00:22:11.63
I've got to give you
some water. If you're going
00:22:11.66\00:22:14.46
to have clothes,
I've got to clothe you.
00:22:14.46\00:22:16.80
God will put you
in a belly of a fish.
00:22:16.83\00:22:19.40
God will allow you to
go through an earthly hell
00:22:19.43\00:22:21.97
and He'll say, now
that I have your attention.
00:22:22.00\00:22:25.27
You see, I've learned in my
life, going through trouble,
00:22:25.31\00:22:30.65
that when you're lying
on your back and you have
00:22:30.68\00:22:34.62
to call on the Lord in
prayer, you'll learn something.
00:22:34.65\00:22:39.85
Growing up as a child in
a Christian Adventist home,
00:22:39.89\00:22:43.09
there were always
something that I knew, heard,
00:22:43.12\00:22:45.99
had seen about God. 
Many of you are like that.
00:22:46.03\00:22:49.10
Whether you grew up in
an Adventist home or not.
00:22:49.13\00:22:50.83
If you grew up, you
knew something about God.
00:22:50.87\00:22:53.23
But when we get older
sometimes, some of us want
00:22:53.27\00:22:56.94
to live like we want
to live. We want to have a
00:22:56.97\00:23:00.68
good time.  We
want to experience life.
00:23:00.71\00:23:04.78
But God says, I will
take you to a place in your
00:23:04.81\00:23:08.35
life where you'll have
to remember, you'll have
00:23:08.38\00:23:11.69
to remember what Mama taught
you, what Daddy taught you,
00:23:11.72\00:23:14.79
what Sabbath school
taught you. You have to remember
00:23:14.82\00:23:18.29
where your health comes
from. You can act a fool
00:23:18.33\00:23:22.10
all you want, but I'll show you
that you'll have to remember.
00:23:22.13\00:23:26.90
When we come up in this
church, when we watch on
00:23:26.94\00:23:30.44
that television screen,
some of us have forgotten
00:23:30.47\00:23:33.81
where we've come from,
but we haven't always lived
00:23:33.84\00:23:37.28
like we now live.  We
haven't always driven what
00:23:37.31\00:23:40.95
we now drive.  We
haven't been always able to shop
00:23:40.98\00:23:44.22
like we now shop.  Some of us
used to have one Sabbath suit.
00:23:44.25\00:23:49.19
Some of us had one Sabbath
dress.  Some of us had one
00:23:49.22\00:23:53.13
pair of Sabbath shoes. 
They were shiny on the top,
00:23:53.16\00:23:56.70
but they had holes on the
bottom.  Some of us remember
00:23:56.73\00:24:00.44
when we had no car and
we had to walk to church.
00:24:00.47\00:24:04.07
Some of us remember when
there was no air condition.
00:24:04.11\00:24:07.61
But I'm so glad that God
heard my cry and God opened
00:24:07.64\00:24:12.78
up the windows of heaven
and poured us out a blessing
00:24:12.81\00:24:15.72
that shall not be
room enough to receive it.
00:24:15.75\00:24:17.72
And when you
really understand prayer,
00:24:17.75\00:24:20.59
it doesn't make a
difference what situation
00:24:20.62\00:24:23.02
you find yourself in,
when you really pray to
00:24:23.06\00:24:25.69
God wherever you are,
even in the belly of a fish,
00:24:25.73\00:24:27.76
even in an earthly hell,
your prayer can reach Him.
00:24:27.83\00:24:32.40
Today, somebody ought to
thank God for that period
00:24:32.43\00:24:38.64
where you were in the
fish's belly.  Somebody today
00:24:38.67\00:24:43.38
ought to thank God for
the period when you were in
00:24:43.41\00:24:47.05
an earthly hell.  Lord,
I thank You because now I
00:24:47.08\00:24:53.32
know who You are. 
Lord, I thank You because
00:24:53.36\00:24:57.69
You're a healer.  I thank
You because you're a provider.
00:24:57.73\00:25:02.23
I thank You
because you're a way maker.
00:25:02.26\00:25:05.20
I thank You because
You're shelter, You're mercy,
00:25:05.23\00:25:08.80
You're loving kindness.  Lord,
I thank You for waking me up.
00:25:08.84\00:25:12.74
I think You for
starting me on my way.  Lord,
00:25:12.77\00:25:15.74
I thank You because
You are always on my side,
00:25:15.78\00:25:18.45
because if it had not
been for the Lord on my side,
00:25:18.48\00:25:21.98
where would I be?  God
put Jonah in a place where
00:25:22.02\00:25:24.65
Jonah couldn't do
anything but pray.
00:25:24.69\00:25:27.56
So, in Chapter 1,
Jonah runs from God.
00:25:27.59\00:25:32.99
In Chapter 2, he finds
himself in the fish's belly,
00:25:33.03\00:25:37.40
he prays, and then
towards the end of the chapter
00:25:37.43\00:25:40.94
he has a change of
heart.  He looks over his life
00:25:40.97\00:25:44.61
and he says, guess
what, enough is enough.
00:25:44.64\00:25:47.11
I'm tired of running. 
I'm tired of doing it my
00:25:47.14\00:25:50.01
way because my way has
only gotten me a certain place.
00:25:50.05\00:25:53.52
I'm ready now
to do it God's way.
00:25:53.55\00:25:55.98
So, look at verse
number 9 of Chapter 2.
00:25:56.02\00:25:59.02
Look at Jonah 2:9 and
this is what Jonah says
00:25:59.05\00:26:04.56
towards the end
Chapter 2. Jonah 2:9.
00:26:04.59\00:26:06.96
Look at it, everybody,
look at it.  Jonah's says,
00:26:07.00\00:26:09.20
“But I will sacrifice
unto thee with the voice of
00:26:09.23\00:26:11.20
thanksgiving; I will
pay that that I have vowed.
00:26:11.23\00:26:16.24
Salvation is of the”
whom, everybody?  Aud.:  Lord.
00:26:16.27\00:26:19.87
PB:  All right.  Jonah
says, I will pay what I
00:26:19.91\00:26:23.85
said I would pay. 
Lord, I will do what I said
00:26:23.88\00:26:28.48
I'm going to do. 
Friends, don't you know, there's
00:26:28.52\00:26:33.52
a danger of making a vow to
God and then not keeping it.
00:26:33.56\00:26:38.46
Don't play with God. 
The things that you said
00:26:38.49\00:26:43.33
you were going to
do, you better do them.
00:26:43.37\00:26:45.30
God is tired of
inconsistent Christians making
00:26:45.33\00:26:48.70
promises they can't
keep and don't want to keep.
00:26:48.74\00:26:51.37
Here we go, you know the
story. Lord, I lost my job.
00:26:51.41\00:26:52.44
I don't know what I'm
going to do, but, Lord,
00:26:52.47\00:26:55.88
You own the cattle
on a thousand hills,
00:26:55.91\00:27:01.25
so if You just give
me a job, I promise You
00:27:01.28\00:27:04.22
I'll serve You.  And just
as soon as you get a new job,
00:27:04.25\00:27:07.19
you're too busy to serve
God. Lord, I'm tired of being
00:27:07.22\00:27:11.09
in this world.  I'm
tired of all the drama.
00:27:11.13\00:27:13.56
I'm tired of
people breaking my heart.
00:27:13.60\00:27:15.16
I'm ready to give You
my life. Jesus, I need You.
00:27:15.20\00:27:17.53
And two weeks later you meet
somebody else and you're gone.
00:27:17.57\00:27:21.07
Lord, if You just
help me pass this test.
00:27:21.10\00:27:26.51
I haven't studied, but
if You just direct my pen.
00:27:26.54\00:27:33.95
Somebody prayed their
prayer, and help me circle
00:27:33.98\00:27:40.56
the right answers, I
promise You I won't miss
00:27:40.59\00:27:45.39
church anymore.  I'll go
hear Pastor Byrd every Sabbath.
00:27:45.43\00:27:49.66
And the moment you pass
the test, you're nowhere to
00:27:49.70\00:27:53.94
be found on Sabbath morning.
Lord, I've got this cancer.
00:27:53.97\00:27:58.47
PB:  Just heal my
body just one time.
00:27:58.51\00:28:02.44
I promise you I'll
serve you til I die.
00:28:02.48\00:28:06.85
But the moment your
cancer goes into remission.
00:28:06.88\00:28:10.09
Your service to God
goes into remission too.
00:28:10.12\00:28:14.89
A:  Thank you for
joining us for another exciting
00:28:14.92\00:28:17.59
Breath of Life
television broadcast.
00:28:17.63\00:28:20.03
A:  Join us next
week at the same time.
00:28:20.06\00:28:22.16
A:  Pastor Byrd will
deliver another dynamic message
00:28:22.20\00:28:24.83
from the Lord just for you.
00:28:24.87\00:28:27.04
Until next time,
may God bless you.
00:28:27.07\00:28:29.57
END
00:28:29.60\00:28:44.62