| Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0966A recorded on January 13, 1985 teaching from Jonah 2:1-2 – I Cried Unto the Lord. |
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens interprets Jonah’s experience in the whale’s belly and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, arguing that both narratives illustrate the necessity of spiritual death and repentance before experiencing resurrection and salvation. Stevens emphasizes the personal nature of one’s experience with God, contrasting a literal interpretation of Jonah’s three days in the fish’s belly with a symbolic understanding of Sheol (hell) as a state of separation from God, rather than solely a physical location. Ultimately, Pastor Stevens urges listeners to embrace genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, contrasting the agony of the unrepentant in Sheol with the comfort found in God’s presence, thereby emphasizing the urgency of choosing salvation.