Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0028A recorded on March 4, 1979 teaching from Jonah 2 – Jonah Prayed.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens utilizes the biblical narrative of Jonah’s cry from the fish’s belly to illustrate how desperate circumstances are often divine instruments used to break a believer’s self-will and bigotry. He argues that Jonah’s initial flight from God was rooted in the sin of prayerlessness, a condition where one’s own heart dictates terms rather than seeking fellowship with the Creator. By examining Jonah’s eventual vow of rededication and triumphant realization that salvation is of the Lord, Stevens presents seven reasons why failing to pray is a spiritual transgression that leads to inefficiency and powerlessness in the church. The message concludes with an urgent call for Christians to move beyond mere busyness and religious activity, urging us to cultivate a disciplined life of constant intercession and humble submission to God’s authority.