How many times, will we be swallowed up?"

Brethren,

Many people, who have heard the story of Jonah. Know that he got "swallowed" up by a Big fish. But few people know, that the prophet himself, got “swallowed up” not once." Not twice!" But three times!" First, Jonah was swallowed up by prejudice towards the people that GOD was sending him to. The Ninevites were a wicked and idolatrous people, who had done many evils to his people." And he knew, that a Merciful GOD, wanted him to preach repentance to them, and warn the Ninevites."

But Jonah, wanting them to experience GOD'S wrath, not HIS MERCY," boarded a ship headed towards Tarshish, opposite the direction that, GOD, had sent him to go."

"Second, Jonah was swallowed up by the sea." A fierce storm was battering the boat, so the sailors cast lots to find out who was to blame, and “the lot fell on Jonah.” He said, “Throw me into the sea.” As the raging waters swallowed him, and he sank toward death."

Jonah, was "swallowed" up for the third time." But this time, by a large fish, that GOD "HIMSELF," prepared to rescue him." Inside the fish for 3 days, Jonah confessed his sin and promised to obey what GOD, wanted him to do." And so, after he was SAVED from death," he obeyed GOD and preached judgment to Nineveh. And even though, Jonah, didn't want it to be so," the people "Believed," The WORD of The LIVING GOD, and repented of their sins.

The Ninevites, we're given GOD'S message, "repented of their sins, and obtained "The MERCY of GOD."

[Brethren,

Can you see that,

GOD, often allows us to go through frightening circumstances, trials and tribulations, in order to teach us to Trust HIM, and even to obey HIM?" Isn't it clear?"

Believe GOD, and do, according to HIS instruction."

Do according to the instruction, that’s given to everyone, who has been approved by GOD, and entrusted with The GOSPEL to speak, not as pleasing men, but GOD Who tests our hearts.

[Testing our hearts? Yes, testing our hearts, Beloved, for FAITH!"

For when we Believe, The GOSPEL of CHRIST;" Having the same SPIRIT of FAITH, that is mentioned in 2nd Corrinthians 4:13," We speak!" : And since we have the same SPIRIT of FAITH, according to what is written, "I Believed and therefore I spoke," we also Believe and therefore speak, knowing that. HE Who raised up The LORD JESUS will also raise us up with JESUS, and will present us with you.

[Beloved, anticipating that Day, when we are raised up, with JESUS."

Mathew 25:13-30 admonishes us, "watchmen," who have been called to watch over the house of Israel.

There, our LORD'S instruction, says: "Assuredly, I say to you.'

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which The Son of Man is coming.

For the KINGDOM of HEAVEN is like a Man traveling to a far country, Who called HIS Own servants and delivered HIS goods to them. And to one HE gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately HE went on a journey. Then he who had recieved the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had recieved two gained two more also. But he who had recieved one went and dug in the ground, and hid his LORD'S money. After a long time The LORD of those servants came and settled accounts with them. "So he who had recieved five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'LORD, YOU delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' His LORD said to him, 'Well done, good and FAITHFUL servant; you were FAITHFUL over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the Joy of your LORD.'

He also who had recieved two talents came and said, 'LORD, YOU delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' His LORD said to him, "Well done, good and FAITHFUL servant; you have been FAITHFUL over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the Joy of your LORD.'

"Then he who had recieved the one talent came and said, 'LORD, I knew YOU to be a hard Man, reaping where YOU have not sown, and gathering where YOU have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid YOUR talent in the ground. Look, there YOU have what is YOURS.

"But his LORD answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited MY money with the bankers, and at MY coming I would have recieved back MY own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

["Brethren,

With that WORD, as a clear admonishment,"

Wouldn't you say, that it’s best to obey The LORD right away, than to wait to get “swallowed up one day?”

1st Thessalonians 2:4 assures us, that as many as have been approved by GOD, HE has entrusted with The GOSPEL, to speak?"

So have we, Believed, The GOSPEL of CHRIST, Beloved, Who HIMSELF, is, our PEACE with GOD?"

Yes?

Then, HE has approved of us, because we Trust in the finished work of The Cross, of HIS Son."

Thus, GOD'S WORD, reads, and speaks to us, saying: But as we have been approved by GOD to be entrusted with The GOSPEL, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but GOD Who tests our hearts.

[And, Isn't it true, that our LORD, through Proverbs 11:30 teaches us, that the fruit of the RIGHTEOUS is a Tree of LIFE?'; and he who wins Soul's is wise?

Wise?" But why?"

"Well, because we know, that everyone who does so; The LORD, our GOD, speaks these WORDS over, saying: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach The GOSPEL of PEACE, who bring Good News of Good things."

And we know, HIM, Beloved,

Who gives us each, this report."

"We know, Whom we have Believed." Isn't that right, Beloved?"

JESUS

OK