A Model Prayer for Deliverance Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: A Model Prayer for Deliverance-------------------------- Date: 4/3/2001 Keyword: "desperation" "prayer" "salvation" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. For the first several days of April 2001, the eXXit studies will zero in on the experiences of the Old Testament prophet, Jonah. Hope you enjoy and find these studies helpful as you seek to stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Jonah 2:1-9* 1. Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, 2. and he said, "I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; Thou didst hear my voice. 3. "For Thou hadst cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Thy breakers and billows passed over me. 4. "So I said, 'I have been expelled from Thy sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Thy holy temple.' 5. "Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. 6. "I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But Thou hast brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. 7. "While I was fainting away, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer came to Thee, Into Thy holy temple. 8. "Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness, 9. But I will sacrifice to Thee With the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the LORD." Questions 1. Looking at the passage above, try to determine whether Jonah was in or out of the fish’s/whale’s stomach when he "cried out to the Lord."   2. What concluding promise does Jonah make to the Lord (verse 9)?   Practical help Notice two things from the second chapter of Jonah. First, Jonah got himself into a mess! He realized that the only One who could get him out of the mess in which he had placed himself was God. So, he cried out for help (verse 2) and God delivered him. Have you sunk to the point where you realize that your involvement with porn has gotten you into trouble that you can’t fix? Are you drowning? Jonah called out to God for help before the "great fish" swallowed him. Are you ready to join Jonah in praying to God for help? Second, Jonah made a promise to fulfill God’s commission and go to Nineveh. However, he made that promise only after he experienced God’s deliverance. That is always the order of God’s work in our lives. So, a question for you: Have you received God’s deliverance? Specifically, have you been rescued from the mess your sin has made of everything? Before you make any resolves to lead a pure life, you need to be rescued by Jesus Christ. He died on the cross to provide for your forgiveness. Place the treasure of your trust in Him for salvation and eternal life. (To find out more about being forgiven, click here.) Then, as a forgiven person, go ahead and make that resolve. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2001 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."