Bible Text: Jonah 2 | Preacher: Rev. Dr. Lou Saldiveri | Series: Sunday Morning Worship | — Pastor Lou’s Notes —
Intro: Has anyone ever given you a second chance? Let me rephrase the question. Has anyone given you a second chance when you didn’t deserve it?
You and I need to remember that God is the God of the second, third, and fourth, etc. chances when we come to Him in faith and repentance.

The second chapter of Jonah gives us some valuable insights to God’s incredible grace.

1.
God Answer the Prayers of a Repentant Christ Follower

1.
There was nothing Jonah could do to save himself

1.
The Lord provided the huge fish
2.
He was suffering and fully expected to drown
3.
There is a motif of the watery deep in the Scriptures
1.
He prayed for help

1.
Prayer Illustration
2.
Jonah’s pride and prejudice had to be broken e.g. 2 Kings 14

1.
He knew he was suffering God’s discipline for his rebellion
2.
His fellowship with God was broken because of his rebellion
2.
God Honors Honesty

1.
Jonah was honest with his feelings before God
2.
Jonah looked to God’s holy temple to be rescued.
3.
Jonah remembered the Lord even though his life was ebbing away
3.
God Extends Grace, Forgiveness, and a Second Chance to the Repentant

1.
God’s Grace brings us up from the pit of sin and self-destruction
2.
Idols are dead

1.
They cannot do what God does…offer grace and mercy
2.
Idols cause people to turn away from God
4.
God Restores a Heart of Worship out of a big mess

1.
Restores a grateful heart
2.
Restores a desire to obey
3.
Restores a ministry
4.
The journey continues

Closing:
1.
When God, in His grace, gives us a second chance, you and I should learn that we shouldn’t just seek His will for our lives only when we are in trouble, but we should be seeking His will each and every day.
2.
You and I need to let God give us an increasing burden for those who need to know Christ. People without Christ are drowning in their sin. God has entrusted us with the life saving message of the gospel of Jesus Christ
3.
We need to be aware of any idols that might pull us away from our relationship with God.
4.
We need to be exercising the gift of repentance and faith and let God restore us to a healthy relationship with Him and let Him restore our purpose.