Sermon # 11 - Chosen For A Purpose Series

We read in Jonah 1:7-8, Then the men said to each other, "We should throw lots to find out why this is happening to us." So the men threw lots. The lots showed that the troubles came to them because of Jonah. Then the men said to Jonah, "It is your fault that this terrible thing is happening to us. Tell us, what have you done? What is your job? Where do you come from? What is your country? Who are your people?" (ERV)

To summarize what’s happened up until now, God’s word came to the prophet Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach against it. However, Jonah disobeyed God’s command, and got into a ship to flee to Tarshish. God allowed a furious storm which caused everyone on the ship to be filled with dread. As each man called out to his god, the shipmaster went to the lower part of the ship to find Jonah in deep sleep. Jonah was awakened and beckoned to call on his God. All efforts to lighten the ship and all their best efforts proved futile against the terrible tempest that confronted them. It was then that the mariners perceived that there was someone on the ship who was responsible for this unmanageable tempest that they were encountered with. They cast then lots to find out who the offender was, and they found that Jonah was responsible.

Sometimes we think we can operate against God’s will and hide, and that we will not be found out. The fact is that irrespective of what or where we are hiding, everyone who rebels against God will certainly be discovered. There are those who are doing many things secretly believing that no one will ever know what they are up to. Let us be reminded today that there is nothing hidden from the view of the Almighty God.

Nothing is hidden from God

This incident in the life of Jonah, reminds us of another event that took place in the early church.

Ananias and Sapphira were exposed

We read in Acts 5:1-2, But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. (NLT)

There was a couple named Ananias and Sapphira, who were so impressed by the life of the apostles, but sadly failed to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit inside of them. The early church believers sold their properties and willingly laid them at the apostle’s feet. I guess that when they did so, they must have been appreciated and approved by the apostles and the leaders in the church. As this became known to all, I guess the majority of the believers wanted to be part of this great move of the Holy Spirit to share their possessions with others.

Ananias and Sapphira who observed this practice also desired to do their part. Something important to take note of is the fact that there was no rule or obligation for believers to sell their property and give to the church. Everyone did so willingly, and out of no compulsion whatsoever. Ananias and Sapphira too sold some property, but deceitfully held back part of it. Ananias brought the rest, and left it at the apostle’s feet as though it was the full amount of their sales. Their thought was that this deceptive plot of theirs would remain between the two of them, and would not in any way be disclosed to others. They must have assumed that the elders in the church were mere men who would never get to know their secret.

Often we may observe ministers of God from a worldly point of view, and fail to perceive the Holy Spirit of God who is at work in and through them. There are some who will make a vow to the Lord that they would do certain things if their prayers were answered. God will give a favorable reply, but once their request is granted, they will forget their part of the deal that they made to God or be hesitant to fulfill the same.

God is all-knowing and He can discern the secret thoughts of all men. Nothing in all of creation is hidden from His sight. That’s the reason why when some people work against ministers of God, the Holy Spirit of God Himself will reveal these things to them.

We read in Acts 5:3, God revealed their secret to Peter, so he said to him, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your heart and make you think you could lie to the Holy Spirit? You only pretended to give it all, yet you hid back part of the proceeds from the sale of your property to keep for yourselves.(TPT)