Remembering who you are supposed to be.

Devotional

Day 1: Remember your vows; salvation belongs to the Lord.

When your soul faints and life feels like it's swallowing you whole, remember the promises you once made at the altar; God never forgets the midnight prayers, the tears, or the vows of thanksgiving, and when you return with a repentant heart you acknowledge that salvation belongs to the Lord and His calling still stands on your life [25:35]

Jonah 2:7-9 (ESV)
7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.
9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!

Reflection: Think of a vow or prayer you made when God first touched your life—what is one concrete step you can take this week to honor that vow (a phone call, a meeting, a service, or a specific act of obedience)?

Day 2: Stand firm by putting on God's whole armor.

When the battle presses and voices of fear or self-preservation rise, put on the whole armor of God and stand—do the spiritual work of faith, take up the shield and helmet, refuse to be moved by the schemes of the enemy, and remember that standing is both a daily discipline and a faithful response to God's call [36:05]

Ephesians 6:11-13 (ESV)
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Reflection: Identify one “piece of armor” (prayer life, Scripture, faith, salvation, Word, or fellowship) that is weak—what is one specific 15–30 minute practice you will do daily for the next seven days to strengthen that area?

Day 3: Find peace amid trials; Christ has overcome.

You will have trials in this world, but Christ calls you to take heart and find peace in Him; when burdens, bills, or health failings threaten your worship, cling to the promise that Jesus has overcome and let that overcome fear so you keep walking toward God's blessing even when you don't feel like it [35:16]

John 16:33 (ESV)
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Reflection: List the one trial that most steals your peace today—what is one short verse you will memorize and speak aloud each morning and night this week to claim Christ’s victory over that specific fear?

Day 4: Return to the daily fellowship with God.

If God’s presence no longer feels precious, return to the “cool of the day” fellowship—recreate a small, consistent time to meet God, even ten minutes, and ask Him to remind you who you are called to be so you stop drifting and start responding when He calls [37:15]

Genesis 3:8-9 (ESV)
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

Reflection: Choose a consistent ten-minute time each day (morning, lunch, or evening) for the next five days to be still before God—what will you do in that time (read a verse, pray a short prayer, listen), and when will it happen?

Day 5: God still expects bold obedience and miraculous trust.

God calls for a renewed “yes” and sometimes asks for courageous obedience that requires leaving comfort zones; remember the miracle-working God who can make the sun stand still and trust Him to move on your behalf when He calls you into something greater than your comfort [40:46]

Joshua 10:12-13 (ESV)
12 At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the people of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to go down for about a whole day.

Reflection: What is one bold step of obedience God is asking of you that you’ve been resisting? Name it specifically and commit to taking the first measurable action on it within 48 hours (call, sign up, go, pray with someone).

Sermon Summary

Tonight I called us to remember what we stand for. We are seeing God open doors—people finding us online, reaching out from across the world—and yet in a moment like this, we can’t ride momentum alone. We must be a praying people. That’s why we turned to Jonah 2: when his soul fainted, he remembered the Lord. Some seasons feel easy—family nights, good meals, laughter. But other seasons demand that we fight for clarity, protect the flock, and keep showing up when comfort and fear tell us to quit. On the far side of every battle, we’re supposed to still be who God called us to be.

Jonah forgot that “they that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.” He ran to protect himself, to avoid pain, to stay safe. Running looked reasonable; it was rebellion. I challenged us to see the same idols in ourselves: comfort, self-preservation, the story we tell ourselves that says, “I’ll catch up with God later.” God hasn’t changed, and He hasn’t forgotten our vows—those midweek altars, those conference tears, those nights we said, “Lord, You have my yes.” He remembers. And He calls that yes due in the ordinary and the inconvenient.

Salvation is of the Lord—it isn’t ours to pause and resume. God’s call doesn’t bend to mood, schedule, age, or ability. If He created the cosmos by a word, He can teach your hands what they don’t yet know and steady your heart where it shakes. Sometimes He lets a situation “swallow” us—not to destroy, but to awaken. In the belly, prayer still turns the tide. Jonah prayed and surrendered; the fish released him. What if he hadn’t prayed?

So I asked: Who are you supposed to be? Name it. Own it. Return to it. Be that man or woman again—the one God called, the one who said, “Use me.” Pay your vows with a voice of thanksgiving. In a world unraveling, God is still worthy of your yes. Remember the Lord, remember your calling, and remember what you stand for.

Key Takeaways

1. Running from God rejects His mercy To flee the call is not neutral; it trades living trust for lifeless idols—comfort, fear, and self-protection. We don’t outrun responsibility; we forfeit the very mercy meant to sustain us. Obedience is costly, but disobedience is more expensive in the long run. The path back starts with naming our idols and surrendering them. [38:15]
2. Your past vows demand present action God did not forget when you said, “You have my yes.” Vows are not souvenirs from a better season; they are orders for today. Honor grows when our feet follow our words, especially when it’s inconvenient. The Spirit will meet you at obedience, not at excuses. [54:54]
3. God remembers when we forget Our memory drifts; His does not. He remembers the prayer meetings, the tears, the promises, and the worship we offered freely. His glory doesn’t dim because we grew tired; His claim on us doesn’t loosen because life got loud. Let His remembrance call you back to your first love. [49:52]
4. Prayer turns the tide in the belly When you feel swallowed by circumstances, pray—before the acids of fear and cynicism scar your soul. Jonah’s prayer did not change God’s nature; it changed Jonah’s posture, and the fish let him go. Prayer is surrender turned into speech, and surrender is what opens the exit. Don’t wait until all options die; cry out now. [58:37]
5. Salvation belongs to the Lord alone You don’t manage salvation like a calendar event; you receive it as a claim that owns you. Since salvation is God’s, His call sets the pace, not our preferences. Yield to His timing, and the power that saves will also send and sustain. Delay is often disguised disobedience—respond today. [57:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[22:33] - Community impact and prayer burden
[24:08] - Battles shape who we become
[24:59] - Turning to Jonah 2
[27:02] - Gospel reaching the nations
[28:32] - Remember the Lord when faint
[33:31] - You can’t outrun God’s call
[34:28] - Idols of comfort and fear
[35:39] - Running is rejecting God’s mercy
[46:55] - Pay the vows you made
[49:52] - God doesn’t forget your commitments
[57:10] - Salvation belongs to the Lord
[58:37] - What if Jonah hadn’t prayed?
[61:12] - When life swallows you, pray
[71:47] - Who are you supposed to be?

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Jonah 2:7 (ESV)
"When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, to your holy temple."

Observation questions

What does Jonah actually do when "his soul fainted"? How does remembering the Lord change his posture in the verse?
The sermon describes the idols Jonah ran toward as "comfort, fear, and self‑preservation." Where did the preacher explain those idols and how they show up in people’s lives? [34:04]
The speaker said, "running is rejecting God’s mercy." In Jonah 2:7 which words or ideas point to mercy being forfeited when someone runs? [38:15]
The pastor connected past altar vows to present action. What example did he use to show that a past "yes" still demands present obedience? [54:54]

Interpretation questions

How does Jonah’s act of remembering function as the turning point of his story? In other words, what changes inside him when he remembers the Lord?
The preacher labeled comfort, fear, and self‑preservation as idols. In practical terms, how would each of those idols shape a believer’s choices about ministry, time, or generosity? [34:04]
When Jonah says "I will pay that I have vowed" (and the pastor repeats this), does that primarily call for specific external actions, an inner posture of thanksgiving, or both? What would "paying a vow" look like today? [54:54]
The sermon asked "what if Jonah hadn’t prayed?" How does that question press the group to balance God’s sovereignty (He can save) with human responsibility (we must pray and respond)? [58:37]

Application questions

The pastor warned that many drift by saying "I’ll catch up with God later." When was the last time you said something like that to yourself? What single habit (Bible reading, small group, set prayer time, accountability check‑in) will you start this week to stop the drift? [31:29]
Choose one idol from the sermon (comfort, fear, or self‑preservation). Give a concrete, measurable step you will take in the next seven days to surrender that idol (for example: remove one comfort that competes with church service, say "yes" to one ministry task, or practice a short daily surrender prayer). [34:04]
Name one altar vow or "use me" promise you’ve made in the past (it can be a moment, a conference commitment, or something said at an altar). What is one specific action you can do this month to “pay that vow”? [54:54]
If you feel swallowed by a situation (work stress, illness, family crisis), the preacher urged prayer while in the belly. What will your short, honest prayer be the next time you feel swallowed, and who will you ask to pray with you this week? [58:37]
The sermon reminded the group that "salvation is of the Lord" and isn't ruled by mood or schedule. What ministry or witness opportunity have you postponed because you "didn’t feel like it"? Will you commit to either doing it now or taking one practical step toward it? (Name the step and when you’ll do it.) [57:10]
The preacher celebrated how the gospel is reaching people beyond their walls (messages from India, Korea, Africa). Who is one person in your life you can intentionally reach this week (neighbor, coworker, family)? What exactly will you do—invite them to a service/video, pray for them by name, share a short testimony—and when will you do it? [27:27]

(End of guide — use these questions to pray and discuss; no closing prayer included here.)

Sermon Clips

If God said it, let it be so. If God said it, then close your mouth. Believe in God. Receive that promise. And because he never calls upon us to do more than we can bear. Never lays more upon us than that. So we have to ask ourselves, if you're not walking in the comfort of God, if you're not walking in God, then whose voice are you listening to? Because God's voice ought to speak comfort to us. God's voice ought to speak peace to us. [00:36:24] (30 seconds) #TrustHisVoice

You have to make up your mind. I may have to go through it sometimes, but that's all right. He's still Lord of my heart. He's still the God that I serve. I may have to walk through the valley sometimes, but I'm still going to go through with Jesus. You see, many times we begin to shift a little bit and drift, and Jonah had begun to shift a lot. Someone said that when the call of God came down, he took off running in the opposite direction. But he realized he was wrong for that. [00:40:10] (29 seconds) #StillLordInTheValley

You see, we don't go to God and say, no God, you can't have my life. No God, you can't have my dedication. No God, you can't have within me all that I have. All my dreams. All my coming. They're mine, God. You can't say that. We lay ourselves at the altar and we give it all to him. He deserves our praise. He deserves my hallelujah. He deserves all the glory I can give him. He still has my yes. [00:44:59] (26 seconds) #AllForGod

If he's God today, he's God tomorrow. If he's wonderful today, he's wonderful tomorrow. If he's the king of kings and the Lord of lords today, he's the king of kings and the Lord of lords tomorrow. Can I get somebody to say amen right there? See, God's glory does not change due to our memory. Thank God his glory keeps on going. God doesn't forget the commitments that we've made. [00:49:52] (26 seconds) #GodsGloryEndures

``When Jonah began to realize something, he said, I will pay my vow. I've got to offer up the voice of thanksgiving. You see, Jonah realized that serving God wasn't optional. His past vow meant present action. His past vow meant present action. Just like the man in our illustration, he began to remember who he was supposed to be. But we've got to remember who we're supposed to be. We are the people of God. We're the ecclesia, the called out ones. We're the royal priesthood, the peculiar people. [00:54:39] (33 seconds) #RememberWhoYouAre

We are the people of God. We're the ecclesia, the called out ones. We're the royal priesthood, the peculiar people. Those that are called to do wonderful things for the kingdom of God. How many tonight can say that you're still a believer in God and that you're going to do exactly what God wants you to do? If you may have gotten off track somewhere, his purpose is still waiting for a yes from you. Just because you got off track, his purpose is still waiting for a yes. [00:55:05] (33 seconds) #PurposeStillWaiting

Our salvation belongs to God. It's not yours to put down and put aside and reschedule as you feel like it. It belongs to God and God has the right to call in at any time. If God calls us to go talk to somebody, if God calls us to pass out flyers, if God calls us to pray for somebody, we must do what God calls us to do. [00:57:03] (20 seconds) #AnswerTheCall

God's call doesn't change even if you do. He said in Jonah 2 and 9, salvation of the Lord. And then he began to say that, and the Lord spake unto the fish and vomited out Jonah. God didn't change his mind. This is the scary part. I don't want to stick here too long. But this is something that has always crossed my mind. We preach about it many times out of the prayer of Jonah. [00:57:31] (30 seconds) #UnchangingGod

God will allow us to be swallowed by the situations. Not to destroy us. But to awaken us. But just like Jonah, if we don't pray, that situation is going to swallow us whole. I pray in the name of Jesus that we always remember to be loyal to God. That we always remember to give God praise and glory. In fact, right now, somebody may be right in the middle of me, if you will, in the belly of something. In the midst of a situation. Right now, you may be going through something. [01:01:08] (31 seconds) #AwakenedNotDestroyed

Let's be what God wants us to be. Let's be who we told God that we would be. Whatever it is in your life, give it to God in prayer right now, and allow God to bless. Find a place to pray. Altar is open. Those online have been put in the comments, and we'll be praying for you. But it's time to remember what you're standing for. We're not just standing for anything. We are the children of God, and we want to serve God. [01:04:22] (21 seconds) #StandForGod

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