In the Belly of the Beast | Numb and Number | Menlo Church Live Service

everything.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

[Music] [Music] Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

[Music]

Happy [Music]

travel.

[Music] I want you.

[Music]

Well, good morning and welcome to Menllo Church. Would you stand with me?

Church. Would you stand with me?

We're going to start by singing and worshiping our awesome God. A big

welcome to you if you're new this morning. Would you sing and worship with

morning. Would you sing and worship with us?

I've seen your fire light move in the wildest ways. I've seen your glory

wildest ways. I've seen your glory fallen. So come and fill this place. I

fallen. So come and fill this place. I

know you're always working time and time again.

Would you sing along with us? God's

impossible.

God of impossible, all power is in your hands. You're doing

miracles. No matter the circumstance, I know you're always working time and time again.

>> We sing together. Oh Lord my God.

>> Oh Lord my God, you are my rock, my strength.

You are my hope, my joy, my rightousness.

And I can't stop singing of your neverending goodness.

No, I won't forget.

No, I will say your name forever.

I've seen you by your light. Even the

darkest days, healing the broken heart.

Building your church with faith. You

show where you want. We want you in this place.

We sing.

Oh Lord my God.

You are my [Music] heat.

[Music] I can't stop singing [Music] never ending.

Oh, I won't forget.

Oh, I will praise your name forever.

We're going to lift our voices together and see who God is and what he's done.

Would you sing with me?

So when I look to the cross, I remember what you've done. What a shor.

What a savior.

And when I think of your son, everything you gave to us, I remember I remember.

And when I look to the cross, I remember what you say.

Heat. Heat. Heat.

Heat.

Heat.

Everything.

[Music] Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

[Music] Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat. Heat.

Heat.

[Music] Heat.

[Music] There's peace that last

hope that's in the blood.

There's future grace that's mine today that Jesus Christ.

So I can face tomorrow.

Tomorrow's in your hands.

All I need you will provide just like you always have.

I'm fighting a battle.

[Music] You've already won.

No matter what comes my way, I will overcome.

I don't know what you're doing, but I know what you've done.

I'm fighting the battle.

You already won.

[Music] Mercy in the waiting

man for today.

And when it's gone, I know you're not.

You are my hope and stay.

When the sea is raging, your spirit is my help.

You'll fix my eyes on Jesus Christ. I'll

see that way.

[Music] Heat.

[Music] [Music] Heat.

you've already won.

There's more than a song today. It's a

prayer from our hearts. So in faith, gather together and sing with me.

I know how the story ends.

We will be with you again.

We trust you Lord.

You're my savior, mighty death.

No more fear in my heart.

Let's sing to God together.

I know how the story ends.

I know how it ends.

We will be with you again.

Savior my savior mighty mighty [Music] in my

heart.

[Music] Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

[Music] All the feeling.

I know how the story end right now.

[Music] Heat.

[Music] Heat.

[Music] I already [Music] [Music]

Amen. Amen.

Amen. Amen.

So good to worship with you this morning. Go ahead and have a seat.

morning. Go ahead and have a seat.

>> Well, welcome to Melo Church. My name is Mark. I'm one of the pastors here if we

Mark. I'm one of the pastors here if we haven't met before. And uh especially if you're here for the first time, maybe somebody invited you or you found your way to church somehow. Uh we're just

really glad you're here. No matter what questions you have, doubts, uh we're just glad you're in this space with us.

You know, that song as we're singing just reminded me so much that, you know, we all have struggles.

Sometimes we're we're fighting battles that are just outside of us, the situations we're in. A lot of times there's struggles that we're dealing with deep inside that maybe other people can't see, but we're never alone in

those. That's part of the hope that we

those. That's part of the hope that we uh we believe and and proclaim at Menllo Church. Now, if this is your first time

Church. Now, if this is your first time or somebody invited you, we would just love to uh let you know that you are so welcome here. We invite you to learn

welcome here. We invite you to learn more about Menllo Church. Uh we would love to be a community for you of hope and encouragement and growth in your

life. And the easiest way to learn more

life. And the easiest way to learn more is to go to menlo.urch/connect.

You can bookmark that. It's the easiest way to learn about opportunities and resources and events. Um, and it's a way to let us know you're here and any questions you have as well. Um, now this

holiday season that's coming up because it's already almost November. Hard to

believe. Uh, we have an opportunity for you to make a real difference, a tangible difference in the lives of children and families right here in the Bay Area. through our help one child

Bay Area. through our help one child giving tree. Uh we partner with an

giving tree. Uh we partner with an organization that uh comes alongside kids in the foster care system, the families that care for them and we want to provide support for them because kids

who are in foster care face tremendous challenges. Every study out there uh

challenges. Every study out there uh just reveals that kids in the foster care system face inordinate challenges uh and throughout their life and we want

to help change their trajectory in a great way. Now, the giving tree is a way

great way. Now, the giving tree is a way to help show God's love in practical ways. And the way that works is we get a

ways. And the way that works is we get a list of possible gifts and we're all able to go out, buy those, bring those back to the church in November. And then

at our different Menllo campuses, we host a Christmas store where uh fam foster care families can come, the parents can come and choose gifts for their kids and bless them as a sign of

uh of God's love, that there are communities that care for them, that are invested in their lives. And so you can learn more at menllo.urch/connect. It

all starts November 9th coming up pretty soon. And then another way to serve as

soon. And then another way to serve as our hotel to zinc overnight shelter which begins November 1st for years every night in November. We provide

overnight housing for a small number of uh our neighbors in our community who are unhoused, who are clients of Life Moves, who are on the path towards sustainable permanent housing solutions.

and we come alongside. We provide

dinners every night and companionship and meals and conversation and some sack lunches for them to take the next day.

And it's a great way to bless those uh who are in need uh right around us every day. And you can sign up. There's still

day. And you can sign up. There's still

a few spots left. Many of you have already volunteering for that. Um and

those are just a couple of the ways that we seek to uh bring hope to all kinds of people in the Bay Area. Just yesterday,

we partnered with the city of Menllo Park for the Halloween hoopla downtown.

There's a few pictures there on the screen. We opened up our spaces, our

screen. We opened up our spaces, our lawn, our patio. We had volunteers working with the city up and down Santa Cruz Avenue. There was a giant

Cruz Avenue. There was a giant Frankenstein that's attacking the roof of the church um in that picture, but we scared him away, so it's safe now. You

don't have to worry. Uh but it was just a lot of fun just seeing families from all around the community and providing that hospitality. And every time we open

that hospitality. And every time we open our doors or host an event or step out into our neighborhoods is made possible by the generosity of people who call

Menllo Church home. If you're a guest, don't feel any obligation at all to give. We're not asking for that. But for

give. We're not asking for that. But for

those of us who call Menllo home, the way we give, whether it's online or using the offering boxes by the door, uh it's supporting weekend services. It's

creating spaces where people can feel welcomed, find hope, find healing every single day. So, thanks for your

single day. So, thanks for your generosity. Now, Javon Washington, one

generosity. Now, Javon Washington, one of our pastors, is preaching today from the book of Jonah. And let me pray for us as we get into that time. God, thank

you for each person here. No matter

where we are in our faith journey or whether we aren't sure we're on a faith journey, we're just asking questions or curious. God, thank you that you love us

curious. God, thank you that you love us no matter what. Um God, that you welcome us to take steps of faith and learning about who you are and who Jesus is and

all that he has done for us and the hope that you give. So God, in the midst of a a troubled, turbulent world where so much can feel uncertain,

God, help us in these moments to just feel your presence, your still small voice.

For you are our rock. You're our

foundation. and you bring us hope no matter what's going on. So, help us to listen for what you want us to hear and learn today. We pray this in Jesus'

learn today. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

name. Amen.

>> Amen. We're going to continue in worship for a little bit before we head into our sermon. Um, and I wanted to take a

sermon. Um, and I wanted to take a minute, especially if you're new here, or just to remind us if we call this place home, why we worship, why we sing, and why we would gather and lift up the

name of Jesus. Um, and it goes back to this word worship to ascribe worth to something. And there's this great quote

something. And there's this great quote um from David Foster Wallace and he says we all worship. The only choice we get in the matter is what we worship. And so

here at Menllo, we believe that we believe that we're kind of made to worship. It's just natural for us. And

worship. It's just natural for us. And

often times we can fall into a trap of putting the wrong things and worshiping the wrong things and putting the wrong things at the center of our lives. And

it might be good things, things like our careers or our finances or our relationships. Um but when at they're at

relationships. Um but when at they're at the center of our lives and we give them our ultimate worship and affection um they fail us. And so we believe that the only person, the only thing that can handle that place in our lives to be the

center of our life, the center of our worship is Jesus. And that's what this next song is about. So would you stand with me and we're going to sing together um this song.

Always

[Music] from the beginning,

you've been unchanging.

[Music] age to age you stay constant you remain

every mystery the questions I carried are safe within your

so I'll trust you even still I believe you are who You say you are.

You'll do what you say I'll do.

You'll come through. You are always able. I believe.

able. I believe.

You've already made a way.

So I'm running through partying away straight to you.

You are always faithful, [Music] Jesus. You're Lord,

Jesus. You're Lord, holding me steady.

Every word you say is a promise that you found not be shame.

Oh my god. Yeah.

my god. Yeah.

Heat.

Heat. Heat.

[Music] Heat. Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat. Heat.

Yeah.

Heat.

[Music] I believe that on the cross your blood was spilled

and by your stripes I have been healed and every promise you fulfilled. I

believe I believe that you rose again in victory

and that same power lives in me. I'm

born again. I've been made free. I

believe.

I believe.

[Music] Heat.

[Music] Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Heat.

[Music] Heat.

Heat.

Heat.

[Music] [Music] [Applause] Amen. Jesus,

Amen. Jesus, go ahead and have a seat. Thanks for

worshiping with us.

Heat. Heat.

[Music] [Music]

Well, good morning, Menllo Church.

what's popping? Uh, if you don't know what that means, roughly translated, how are you doing? Uh, I I want to introduce myself. My name is Javon. I serve as

myself. My name is Javon. I serve as executive pastor of ministries and college here at Menllo. And I just want to warmly welcome everyone joining us from Menllo Park, San Monteo, Mountain

View, and Saratoga. And everyone joining us online. It is so good to have you

us online. It is so good to have you with us, and we are so glad that you are here. Today's a special day. No, it's

here. Today's a special day. No, it's

not my birthday. Thank you very much. Uh

it's called Invite Weekend. Now, today

is a very very special day. So, on

behalf of Menllo Church, I want to welcome all of you. Uh some of you uh you're like, I don't know how I got here today. I'm not sure if I understand or I

today. I'm not sure if I understand or I trust this whole Jesus thing. Uh they I heard they had popcorn uh or other food at across the campuses and I'm here. Uh

some of you uh like me, I grew up what I call a drug church. like my grandmama drugged me to church um and my mom drugged me to church. Some of y'all were like, "Wait, what's happening? It's off

the rails already." Um but regardless of how you got here, we are so thankful that you're here. Especially those of you who are also watching online and across the Bay Area, we have been

waiting for you. So whether or not uh you don't know again how you got here and you're looking for a church home or if you're looking for a place to more meaningfully connect or learn a little

bit more about what Jesus is this whole faith is about what is this mean for God to be the center of my life or you're just seeking you're not really sure how to figure out um life at this point in

this time we have something for you and it's called um an invite connect and if you are feeling like hey I would love to get more connected We have this card here. You can fill it out on the back.

here. You can fill it out on the back.

Uh if you still know how to write, um cuz I heard that cursive is elusive with the next generation. So if you just know how to type, that's completely fine. Uh

you can go to menlo.urch/connect

and there's a digital version. But if

you're here in the room uh or or around the campuses, you can go ahead and fill it out. Drop it in a place where we call

it out. Drop it in a place where we call infoenter and you can drop it off there or you can fill it out online. So when

when you want to find a a community and a family, it's really something that's really really important. And so we want to welcome and invite everybody to do anything of that such. So we're

currently in a sermon series uh in the book of Jonah. Now uh if last week Pastor Phil spoke about Jonah chapter 1.

Now when we're talking about Jonah, some of you may be like, "Okay, uh is this like real life? Did this really really happen?" Uh, and if you think that

happen?" Uh, and if you think that certain uh stories in the Bible are sound weird, uh, just to affirm from a pastor uh, and a Christian, yes, they are. So, you're not weird if you think

are. So, you're not weird if you think they're crazy. It's really weird when

they're crazy. It's really weird when you realize how true they are. And then

as we go through this, we're going to learn more about Jonah. But last week, we learned how often we can, like the prophet Jonah, become numb in caring about the things that God cares about

and the people that God cares about. And

today we're going to cover the reality that like Jonah, God is actively waiting when we are avoiding. But before we jump

in, let's pray together.

Gracious and heavenly father, thank you for an opportunity to come before you to learn more about who you are in your word and what you would have for us and

what it means to respond, what it means to live, what it means to fully be alive. you are doing that work. So God,

alive. you are doing that work. So God,

I pray for my friends here today, regardless of wherever they're at, whether they would call themselves followers of you, whe they would call themselves a seeker or maybe they call themselves a skeptic and they're just

not sure or someone who is a prodal and they're returning. I just pray that you

they're returning. I just pray that you would meet everyone in the place and space that they're at that they would feel and experience your deep love and

your care. It's in Jesus's name we pray.

your care. It's in Jesus's name we pray.

Amen.

Now in our culture there are some really really famous fish. Now some of the most famous fish are number one flounder from Little Mermaid. I mean who cannot forget

Little Mermaid. I mean who cannot forget Flounder. He might have been annoying

Flounder. He might have been annoying but he was awesome and he was a good friend. So some of you guys need to hear

friend. So some of you guys need to hear that right now. Okay. Some of you have good friends are annoying. They're a

little like Flounder but he's got you.

All right. Another one. My generation

Free Willie. And shout out to Michael Jackson who was on the soundtrack. Some

of you guys didn't know that, but you're welcome. And then also Finding Nemo. And

welcome. And then also Finding Nemo. And

who can forget Dory? I mean, Dory would forget herself.

But I think the most famous fish next to Jonah and the whale in this story would be fileto fish from McDonald's.

I mean, who can forget the fileo fish? I

mean, it's a game changer. Now, there

probably some other fish that taste better or tastier than others, but today we're in Jonah chapter 2 where we're going to learn about the fish that God

actually sw send sends to uh swallow the prophet Jonah, not to harm him, but to save his life and to save people who are

in desperate need of grace and forgiveness. The story of Jonah may seem

forgiveness. The story of Jonah may seem uh something to you like super far-fetched. And many approach the Bible

far-fetched. And many approach the Bible with skepticism. And I know there are

with skepticism. And I know there are different questions about stories, legitimacy, how is it all written? And

there's tons of information on all of those different things. But as we approach this text, I'm going to read it and then we're going to dive in. Jonah

2:es 1-10, it says this. Then Jonah

prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, "I called out to the Lord out in my distress, and he

answered me. Out of the belly of shol I

answered me. Out of the belly of shol I cried. You heard my voice. You cast me

cried. You heard my voice. You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me. All

your waves, and you and your billows passed over me." Then I said, I am driven away from your sight. Yet I shall

again look upon your holy temple.

The waters closed in over me to take my life. The deep surrounded me. Weeds were

life. The deep surrounded me. Weeds were

wrapped about my head and the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land

the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed up upon me forever.

Yet you brought my me up my life from the pit. Oh Lord my God. When life when

the pit. Oh Lord my God. When life when my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord and the prayer came into your holy temple.

Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you. What I have I have vowed that I will pay. Salvation

belongs to the Lord. And the Lord spoke to the fish and it vomited Jonah out upon dry land. Period.

That's crazy, y'all.

Now, you may be asking, Javon, I hear you talking about this, but did this actually happened? Well, the answer is

actually happened? Well, the answer is yes. Now, one of the things that you

yes. Now, one of the things that you also may not know is that Jonah was probably not the first person to get swallowed by a fish. And he actually

wasn't the last. Well, how do I know this? Well, in 2021, a Cape Cod man

this? Well, in 2021, a Cape Cod man named Michael Packard, he was a seasoned lobster diver. And so, he did this every

lobster diver. And so, he did this every day for a living. And then one morning, he slipped into the water just like he always does. and about 45 ft deep,

always does. and about 45 ft deep, scanning the ocean floor for lobster.

And then all of a sudden, everything went wrong. He said in an interview,

went wrong. He said in an interview, "All of a sudden, it got completely dark and I felt this enormous pressure. I

couldn't move and I realized I'm inside of something."

of something." He had been swallowed whole by a humpback whale.

He said that he could feel himself moving and being squeezed with no light or oxygen, just darkness and panic. He

thought, "This is it. This is how I die."

die." And then just as suddenly as it happened, the whale shot up out of the surface, opened up its mouth, and then spit him out.

You see, the whole encounter lasted about 30 seconds, but it changed his life. In Jonah chapter 2, it reads that

life. In Jonah chapter 2, it reads that from the deep, the realm of the dead, that he Jonah called for help and God

listened to his cry. See, last week, Pastor Phil talked about how Jonah was running from God. That God had called Jonah to be a prophet to a nation and

people who needed to hear about the grace and the mercy of God. But Jonah

said, "Nah, fam. I'm good." And started to run away. And it says here that Jonah goes down to a place called Japa. Jonah

goes down into a ship where we saw him in Jonah chapter 1 sleeping. And then in this text, he goes down into the sea.

You see this word to go down yared is keeps repeating because it's like a downward spiral. You see rebellion

downward spiral. You see rebellion always takes you deeper than you meant to go down down down down.

Author and pastor Timothy Keller notes that this storm it wasn't random punishment. So, some of you guys coming

punishment. So, some of you guys coming in here today, you've heard the story of Jonah and you're like, "Oh, God was this weird creeper dude who was like Michael Myers chasing somebody and capturing him." But that's not the way that God

him." But that's not the way that God operates. You see, this wasn't a storm

operates. You see, this wasn't a storm for punishment. It was actually Jonah

for punishment. It was actually Jonah suffering the natural consequences because of his rebellion. Because

whether or not you agree with it, defiance of God is not consequence-free.

You see, but at the same time, the storm is simply revealing the chaos that's already living inside of him. And God

does the same thing with us. You see,

this boat to Tarses was already on a collision course with judgment because of who was on board. So, when the storm

hits, Jonah discovers you can't outrun a God who was everywhere.

Now there is no place where God's authority where his presence is absent.

You see, but still that same God who hurled the wind is the same God who also hurled grace

directly to Jonah. You see in this story he appointed a fish not to punish Jonah but to protect him from death and

himself to save Jonah from the poison of his pride the poison of his saying to himself that he is the most important that those people do not deserve grace

those people do not deserve the love of God that I'm the captain of my own ship you see but God sought to save Jonah from death to save Jonah from the poison

of his pride and the consequences of his own choices. And if we can be honest,

own choices. And if we can be honest, friends, we all need that sometimes, don't we? We need God to even save us

don't we? We need God to even save us from our consequences.

Well, in the well-known book series, The Chronicles of Narnia, written by CS Lewis, there's this character named Edmund. Now, Edmund in the story is

Edmund. Now, Edmund in the story is actually what they call a son of Adam because of how his greed gives into temptation of the white witch from

Narnia who represents Satan or one of her servants seeking to tempt humankind to death.

Now, in this telling scene, it actually exposes our hearts and how this character Edmmond finds himself lost in this land called Narnia, where this

white witch declares herself to be queen of Narnia. You see, there's a lot of

of Narnia. You see, there's a lot of self-proclaimed queens and kings today, and we don't have to look further than ourselves, you see. See, but in this scene, she

you see. See, but in this scene, she pulls the young boy Edmund into her sleigh. In a snowy scene of the book, CS

sleigh. In a snowy scene of the book, CS Lewis writes this. The queen let down another drop and let it fall from a

bottle onto the snow. And then instantly there appeared a round box tied with green silk ribbon, which when opened

turned out to contain several pounds of the best Turkish delight. Each piece was sweet and light and very light and fluffy to the center. And then Edmund

had never tasted anything more delicious. And at first Edmund tried to

delicious. And at first Edmund tried to remember that it is rude to speak with one's mouthful. But soon he forgot about

one's mouthful. But soon he forgot about this and threw and thought only about shoving down as much Turkish delight as

he could. And the more and more he ate,

he could. And the more and more he ate, the more and more he wanted to eat. And

then at last the Turkish delight was all finished. And Edmund was looking very

finished. And Edmund was looking very hard at this empty box, wishing that she would give him another drop, whether he

would like some more. Probably the queen quite well knew what he was thinking, for she knew, though Edmund did not,

that this was enchanted Turkish delight, and that anyone who had once tasted it would want more and more of it. And it

would even, if they were allowed, to go on eating till it killed themselves. You

see friends, we are in danger of the same thing. We are partaking of this

same thing. We are partaking of this poison of the different news channels, the different narratives, the different ways that we think if God would just get rid of those people, we would all be

good. We can't love across the aisle. We

good. We can't love across the aisle. We

can't love our neighbor. We're getting

frustrated with the people that we disagree with. And the more and more we

disagree with. And the more and more we fill our hearts and our minds with those same narratives and a lack of grace and forgiveness like Edmond in the Turkish delight, the more we eat it, it tastes

so good. The more we go down the rabbit

so good. The more we go down the rabbit hole, the more the algorithm continues to suck us deep, deep down, down, the more it happens, the more in danger we

are. It tastes good, but it's poisoning

are. It tastes good, but it's poisoning us.

You see, the danger is there, but God is seeking to save us because he loves us. Because he knows something that we don't. The more you

eat and the more you consume the poisonous Turkish delight of pride, of arrogance unforgiveness and that God's grace isn't for those

people. When you think that it's

people. When you think that it's actually poisoning you and that you are slowly dying and you are becoming number and number to the reality of the hope

and the forgiveness that is actually for everyone.

Your worst enemy, the one you don't believe deserves grace.

You're right.

They don't deserve grace.

And neither do you. and neither do I.

But that's the good news of the good news of the gospel, what we call it, that it's not about who is deserving.

It's about what God does.

Grace, forgiveness, love, and mercy is not earned. It's not given to the best.

not earned. It's not given to the best.

It's not given to the rich. It's not

given to the smartest. It is not given to those who have it all together. Grace

is given to those who are in need, the broken, the undeserving.

So, if you came here today wondering, "Can God save me? Can God forgive me?

Does God accept me?" The answer is yes, cuz we're all in need of grace. And as

Jonah has been thrown into the sea to die, God meets him and saves him. Now,

one of the crazy things about the biblical literature is that ocean and the sea is actually used as a picture of

death and chaos. The writer of the story is showing us how God shows up in the chaos in death. It shows us how God

comes to save Jonah from death. This

means that even in all of our chaos, from living life on our own terms, God comes to meet us in our chaos to save

us. Even when we are suffering from the

us. Even when we are suffering from the consequences of our choices.

What storm are you in right now? What

chaos and death are you in that you feel like, "God, I need your help. I am

suffering from the consequences of my choices and my actions."

You see, in the dark, lonely belly of the beast, Jonah finally prays. Now,

here's the thing, friends. You're

hearing me. You're sitting here in church. His prayer, it sounds holy. It

church. His prayer, it sounds holy. It

sounds religious. It sounds like it checks off all the boxes. He even quotes other scriptures. But notice there's no

other scriptures. But notice there's no confession.

Tim Keller also acknowledges that in this text, Jonah prays a prayer of thankfulness. He thanks God for saving

thankfulness. He thanks God for saving him, but he never admits that he's actually in need.

You see, that's what rebellion does. It

poisons our soul while pretending to praise God. You quote scripture, you

praise God. You quote scripture, you pray the prayer, your heart is connected from what you profess in your mouth. And that's what Jonah does here. He professes all this

stuff, but his heart is disconnected from God. It's like this venom that

from God. It's like this venom that enters into your nervous system, a neurotoxin that quietly shuts down your ability to feel, your ability to care,

your ability to even empathize. You're

alive physically but paralyzed spiritually.

Now, when venom enters into the body, it starts to shut down your system. But

when rebellion enters your soul, it does the same thing. It blinds. It hardens

you. And it paralyzes you and deafens you to the things that God would say to you and call you to. Jonah's pride

numbed his compassion.

Has your compassion been numbed by pride?

You see, his theology or his understanding of who God was was correct, but his heart was contaminated with poison.

The poison of his pride, his anger, it manifested spiritually like a snake bite. And we're going to see five

bite. And we're going to see five different ways that this poison, this neurotoxin shows up or manifests in the

life of Jonah. You see, his eyes were blind. He couldn't see the people the

blind. He couldn't see the people the way God saw them. He saw them as undeserving, not worthy of God's love,

not worthy of God's time.

His heart also stopped beating for others.

His mind was confused.

He said that he feared God, that he loved God.

But then he runs from God to not give the people that he didn't like the grace of God.

And then his limbs were paralyzed.

He slept and instead of serving, he slept in that boat. He tried to run away. He said, "I don't want to serve."

away. He said, "I don't want to serve."

And all of that action cut off. Then his

ears were deaf. He heard the word of God, but he tuned it out.

Some of you today have been hearing God calling you to himself.

And for many reasons, you've tuned him out.

And this poison is deep.

One of the ways that I learned a lot more about poison was from this show that I love to watch with my kids called Bondi Vet. Now, it takes place in

Bondi Vet. Now, it takes place in Australia, which, you know, shout out to you, Carly, uh one of our uh staff members. She's from Australia, but I got

members. She's from Australia, but I got some other friends that live there and they say that in Australia almost anything can kill you. So, I'm trying to stay away from some of those animals.

Now in this show Bond that t taking place here uh in in Australia uh one of the things that I never knew but learned watching this show that when a dog or an

animal swallows poison the vet will actually uh give it a drug into its body into its system to make it vomit all of

the toxins out.

You see, in that moment, it might seem so harsh, but it's actually an act of mercy. Because the only way for that

mercy. Because the only way for that animal to potentially live is to get the poison out. You see, sometimes God does

poison out. You see, sometimes God does the same with us where he has to pump out the poison, the neurotoxins of disregard, of apathy, of hate, and

arrogance out of our systems so that we can be saved. You see, the storms or the interruptions or the moments, those things feel very severe, but they're

actually God's way of purging them from our lives. Purging what's killing us out

our lives. Purging what's killing us out of our body. Jonah's storm

shows us that God even himself sends an antidote.

Then for God to send the fish, it wasn't punishment. It was a means of grace, a

punishment. It was a means of grace, a means of kindness for some of us who have had a h a hidden secret thing that's going on in our life and it came to light. It's not God putting you into

to light. It's not God putting you into a judgment. It's even can be grace and

a judgment. It's even can be grace and mercy. It may be a difficult situation

mercy. It may be a difficult situation at the same time. It's a means of grace to help save you to save me from being captive to it. It's not a punishment.

It's a means of grace in the kindness of God that we would not die, that Jonah, he would not die, but he would be hidden

deep within the belly of the beast.

Not only does the fish swallowing Jonah save him from death, it's also a foreshadow of who Jesus was. Because in

the belly of the grave for three days, Jesus was. Jesus would say even in the

Jesus was. Jesus would say even in the book of John uh in the New Testament that he was to be called the sign of Jonah. You see, Jesus shows us how to

Jonah. You see, Jesus shows us how to die to self, how to actually surrender our life, how to surrender his life to his father, to take the place of all of

our mistakes, to take the place of all of our failures. And it says, "And then the Lord God commanded the fish and it

vomited Jonah on to dry land."

You see, Jonah doesn't climb out. He

gets thrown up.

For many of us in our life, we might think that following Jesus means or even being a good person, it means the more I do, the better I am. I can get up to

God. I can try to reach him. Maybe he

God. I can try to reach him. Maybe he

will approve of me if I can just do that. Or I just need to be a good person

that. Or I just need to be a good person and then God will accept me. You see

friends, but the reality in the good news of the gospel, there's also bad news. You cannot earn your way to God.

news. You cannot earn your way to God.

God requires perfection. He's not

grading on a curve. But the good news is God comes near so you don't have to.

Your life is not about being perfect.

It's about following the one who was perfect.

Because sometimes the way that God shows up, the storms that happen to us, we think that he has abandoned us, but he has not. He's actually calling you to

has not. He's actually calling you to himself.

You see, God wants to birth a new life in you.

Bible scholar Tim Mackey has this incredible insight that most people miss about what God is doing and communicating in the story of Jonah. You

see in in Jonah 1:1 17 the Hebrew word for fish dag which is masculine meaning male it actually switches and changes in

Jonah chapter 2 verse one it changes to the feminine word dagah which actually shifts this passage and this text into

birth imagery.

You see Jonah isn't being buried. God is trying to help him be born new.

You see, what it looked like a tomb was really a womb of new birth. The belly of the beast became a delivery room for hope for people in Nineveh who are in

need of grace. You see, God was saying, "I'm not just saving you from death. I'm

trying to birth in you forgiveness and grace and hope to a nation who needs freedom and liberation from their sins in the midst of their failure. Friends,

if we do not experience that grace of God, what will happen to our neighbors?

What will happen to our friends? What

will happen to our families? What will

happen to our nation and those other nations if we don't understand that God saves us not for ourselves but to give out his grace for free away to all who

need that is what God is doing. He wants to birth forgiveness.

Jonah experienced mercy in this encounter.

But here's what happens. He never allows it to change him. Have you ever had an experience like that? where you had an encounter with God, but nothing ever

changed. You see, God is trying to help

changed. You see, God is trying to help him to see this picture that he was rescued.

But Jonah's heart was so hardened that he was not reborn.

Centuries later, a religious leader named Nicodemus, we like to call him Nick at night because he would only come to talk to Jesus at night.

Jesus told him as he asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus says, "You must be born again."

You see, Jonah's story was a shadow that Jesus was the substance. Jonah spent

three days in the fish because of his rebellion and sin. Jesus spent three days in the grave because of our rebellion of sins. Jonah came out angry.

Jesus comes out of the grave with holes in his hands and love in his heart. You

see, new birth is not just behavior modification. It's when God actually

modification. It's when God actually works in your heart and in your life to where the things that didn't grieve you anymore grieve you. That your heart is actually a heart of stone and then all

of a sudden God gives you a new heart, a new appetite, new affections, a new way of living. And all of a sudden, that

of living. And all of a sudden, that hardened heart starts to become bump bump bump bump bump bump and actually

starts to beat and care about the things that God cares about.

See, it's God taking a poisoned heart and replacing it with a new one.

Replacing it with a beating one. Some of

us, like a venomous snake, have been bitten by our cultural passions, our anger, and our outrage and unforgiveness, and we call it strength.

If God just got rid of that political party or that person or that group on the earth, they're the problem. while

not looking in the mirror and seeing that the human heart is in need of grace and mercy and love. You see friends, but

if that venom stays in our system, the sicker we become, the more algorithms, more we keep watching the TV, the watching the channels that keeps feeding us, the same narratives that just keep

reinforcing our outrage and our anger, the sicker we become. And like Edmond with the Turkish delight, it's sweet. It

goes down nice, but it's deadly to the soul. And that's why God sometimes sends

soul. And that's why God sometimes sends a storm, not to shame you, but to save you, to make you feel again, to bring you back from the depths of your own

choices, from my own choices, and saving me from the chaos.

And I also want to take this moment to address something.

Some of you may share a story like mine where maybe you used to call yourself a follower of Jesus, but some things happened and or someone did something to you and it caused you to turn away from

Jesus or that you've been wounded by the church and you're struggling to reconcile that. I have been there and I

reconcile that. I have been there and I see you. Some of us have not walked away

see you. Some of us have not walked away because of something that happened, but that your love grew cold and it grew numb. Because of some of your choices

numb. Because of some of your choices that have led you from one thing to another, from failure, and now you're running from God. You see, but the good news is today that the fish of grace is

here. Jesus was swallowed up by death,

here. Jesus was swallowed up by death, so you and I do not have to be. And God

is here to save you and live life with you forever. He's not here to condemn

you forever. He's not here to condemn you. He's here to help you. He's here to

you. He's here to help you. He's here to give you a new, comprehensive, full life. That doesn't mean no suffering,

life. That doesn't mean no suffering, but it means that you know somebody's with you in the suffering. You see,

Jonah came out of the fish still dripping, but he was alive. For some of you guys, you're going to come out of the belly of the beast. You might be dripping, but guess what? God's mercy

has met you in your mess. You might

smell like you've been somewhere crazy, but God's grace has saved you. You see,

he Jonah went from running to returning.

And so can you.

Rock bottom is not the end. It's

actually where resurrection begins.

Grace doesn't just wait on the shore. It

dives deep because God is actively waiting where you have been avoiding.

The same God who con who commanded the fish and still commands the chaos. The

same grace that saved Jonah is here today to save all of us. God is actively waiting where we are avoiding. So today

friends, stop running and start returning.

And if you want to stop running and start returning today, I would love for you to pray with me that God would meet you, that he would

meet us, that we can be saved by mercy and grace.

And so if you feel your heart wanting to follow that God, to be saved by that God, I would invite you to pray with me.

If your heart has been cold and venom has been in your system, would you pray for me or pray with me that God would push out the toxin that he would change

your heart that he would change our hearts to receive his mercy and grace.

Heavenly Father, I must confess that I have lived a life and have been living in life that has sought to put

myself at the top.

And my heart has grown cold, but I'm in need of your grace. That I'm in need of your mercy.

Lord, would you change my heart so that it would beat for what your heart beats for? that it would be one of love and

for? that it would be one of love and mercy and kindness and grace.

God, would you even help my unbelief and doubt that you could even accept me, that you even love me, and that you forgive me. I pray that you would meet

forgive me. I pray that you would meet us here today in those moments. It's in

Jesus's good name we pray. Amen.

[Music] Who thought I'd find you at the lowest

place?

Who thought you'd see me in the crowd?

Who knew you'd make good my mistakes?

You're nothing like I thought you were.

What a God. Holy God.

You are what God

[Music] want.

Worship together.

That's my you [Applause] [Music] cuz what kind of god for the cross?

They say it's all for s.

Oh, but you say no it's not. No, it's

not.

Oh, you say no it's not. No, it's not. Heat. Heat.

[Music] God, [Music]

[Music] you [Music]

want to declare these words as your prayer with me this morning.

[Music] We sing this together. The highest place I reach.

If the highest place I reach is at your feet, then I've done it all. If the best thing that I've seen is your glory, then

I've seen it all. Your love save my life forever satisfied.

You are everything.

If the highest place I reaches at your feet, then I've done it all. If the best thing that I've seen is your glory, then

seen it all. Yeah.

Heat.

Yeah. Heat.

[Music] Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

Yeah.

Heat.

[Music] Heat.

Hey, heat. Hey, heat.

reaches at your feet. Then I've done it all. And if the best thing that I seen

all. And if the best thing that I seen is your glory, then I've seen it all.

Your love forever.

[Music] [Music] Heat.

Heat.

Heat. Heat. Heat.

[Music] You are.

You are my everything.

You are my everything. Can we sing that one more time? God, you are my

everything.

You are. God, you are my everything.

[Music] Amen.

[Music] Well, I'm glad we had an opportunity to gather together. And again, if you're

gather together. And again, if you're just experiencing some of this for the first time and you're like, I don't know those songs. I don't know those stories.

those songs. I don't know those stories.

That's okay. We just love to have you you come back and explore and continue to learn more. Uh we have members of our prayer team off to my right. If there's

anything big or small going on in your life, we believe in lifting those things to God in prayer and uh believing that he he does bring change and help and

healing uh in our lives. Now, as you go out as bringers of that good news, that hope that we're here in wherever you might feel stuck, wherever you might feel like you're in the belly of the

beast and you can't get out, God brings hope. He brings healing. He brings

hope. He brings healing. He brings

deliverance. So go in the grace of the Lord Jesus and the love of God which is more than we can ever fully comprehend and go in the presence of his Holy Spirit living in you, working in you

today and forever. If God's people said, "Amen." And go in peace.

"Amen." And go in peace.

[Music] So much for being with us. So much for being with us in the service today. If

you need any prayer or encouragement today or this week, you can text our team at 65060042.

This would be a great chance and a great opportunity for you to leverage our Menllo Midweek podcast that comes out every Wednesday where we take a deep

dive into exploring the series, exploring the sermon and the themes, but for you to take advantage of that same number to text in your questions. Could

be about burnout. it could be around how to love again, how to forgive, any of those, whether you're seeking advice or clarification on anything that was said, we'd love to hear from you. And it's

honestly one of my favorite parts of the podcast is you're going to pass along your questions for us to talk about. So,

we'd love to extend that as a resource for you. We also have a ton of things

for you. We also have a ton of things coming up if you want to head over to menlo.urch. You can hear information

menlo.urch. You can hear information about anything that might have been mentioned in the service or maybe check out some events that we have coming up in the fall. So, have a great week everybody. Text that number if you need

everybody. Text that number if you need anything and we'll see you soon.

[Music] Come on.

Hallelujah.

Thank you.

Down the What are you doing?

Good job.

Hallelujah.

Austral Hallelujah.

We test.

The best way.

Holy Spirit.

child.

Tell me.

[Music] Thank you.

Thank you.

I can't thank you.

Happy Another Okay.

Follow Christ.

Christ.

Redeemer days of glory.

[Music] My life is forever.

You want awesome?