(prayer 13:55)   (message 23:45) The Book of Jonah

We are of the Wesleyan Methodist faith–one branch of the tree of Christendom. As one of our key truths, part of our DNA, we proclaim is Sanctification.  When we read the story of Jonah we read the proclamation of God’s character–He wants to save humanity. He loves the human creatures He has created. Most of us have seen that Salvation is one point in our faith life. When we say ‘yes’ to the Lord Jesus. But that is just the center of Salvation, because Salvation is a Process. What happens before the ‘yes’? What happens after the ‘yes’? What is God doing in the before and after?  It’s all about GRACE. God provides four stages to our Salvation and all of them are about His GRACE.  Prevenient, Convicting, Justifying, Sanctifying. We are in process. Sanctification is our true walk of Salvation. What does that mean? What does that look like? Are you Stalled in your salvation?

“Lord, isn’t this exactly what I thought would happen when I was still at home? That is what I tried to prevent by running away to Tarshish. I knew that you are gracious. You are tender and kind. You are slow to get angry. You are full of love. You are a God who takes pity on people. You don’t want to destroy them. ³ 

U2’s Bono shares what goes on as he knows he is in Sanctifying Grace;

I believe in the kingdom come,
all the colors bleed into one.
You broke the bonds, you loosened the chains,
Carried the cross of my shame
You know I believe it…
But I still haven’t fo