Hijacking God’s Plans for Your Life (February 25, 2024)

Sermon Outline for Sunday, February 25, 2024

Pastor Andy Lambert

PASSAGES: Genesis 3:1–7; Jonah 1:1–6; Psalm 66:18; Jonah 1:7–11; Jonah 1:12–16

Genesis 3:1–7 ~ “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”

Notice that in Genesis, the devil could not make Eve eat the fruit. The devil only offered an alternative to God’s plans!

Let’s look at a man named Jonah. He has been a servant of the Lord for sometime as a prophet to the nation of Israel. While serving as a prophet, he even prophesied that King Jeroboam II would regain the territory that had been lost by Israel down through the years. Jonah lived and ministered during a time when Israel was strong militarily and economically, a period during which God poured out His grace upon the Northern Kingdom. God chose the rule of Jeroboam to give the people one last chance to repent. During this time, God poured out blessing after blessing upon the people all with the hope that His goodness would arouse them to turn from their wickedness back to Him. Despite all the blessings, prosperity and power given to the nation, there was no spiritual prosperity within the nation. The people’s hearts were far from God.

During this time was when God called Jonah to minister to the people of Israel. Jonah, Amos and Hosea were all called to warn the people of God’s coming judgment unless they repented. Jonah was in the Will of God for his life, until he wasn’t.

Jonah 1:1–6 “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.””

Even though Jonah had followed God and was a servant of God, he still had a SELF-WILL in his own life and decided he knew better than God. Jonah was disobedient and this caused him to leave both home and country. Jonah knew he could never escape God’s presence, but he apparently felt if he could get far enough away, then God might bypass him or even change His mind. Jonah was in open rebellion against the Lord.

Jonah’s disobedience endangered others around him as well (v.4-5). After the ship had sailed away some distance, a strong wind stirred up a fierce storm. The storm was so violent and turbulent that the ship was about to break up. Even the seasoned sailors were frightened; they even began to cry out to every god they could.

Jonah’s disobedience had a devastating effect on his spiritual life as well; he fled from God instead of seeking God in prayer. This disobedience caused Jonah to become so sick and then add to that the ship being heaved to and fro, he had to go lie down. The captain ordered Jonah to join the others in seeking divine help, however, due to being disobedient to the Lord already – holding sin within his heart – the Lord did not hear Jonah’s prayers. Likewise, if we are disobedient to the Lord – holding sin in our hearts – the Lord will not hear us.

Psalm 66:18 ~ “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

Jonah’s disobedience destroyed his testimony for the Lord.

Jonah 1:7–11 ~ “And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.”

Instead of being a strong witness to the salvation of God, Jonah was on the verge of destroying the lives of those around him, the sailors and other passengers on the ship. The storm was most unusual that the sailors came to the conclusion that some so-called god was venting his wrath against someone on the ship. They cast lots to determine who had aroused the wrath of the gods. when the lots were cast, they fell upon Jonah and immediately the sailor’s eyes focused upon Jonah. They quickly asked a barrage of questions, hoping to find out the cause of the ferocious storm. They wanted to know what Jonah had done to bring a tempest with such fury against them.

Knowing how critical the situation was—not only the situation of the terrifying storm but also of being confronted by a group of seasoned and frightened sailors—Jonah knew that he dare not attempt to deceive or lie his way out of the confrontation. In a very simple and straightforward manner, he replied that he was a Hebrew and that he worshipped the LORD who made both the sea and the land (v. 9).

When the sailors heard that Jonah’s God controlled the entire world, they were terrified (v. 10). “What have you done!” they exclaimed. This was a vigorous exclamation of horror, not a question. They already knew that he was running away from the LORD, because he had earlier told them so. It was Jonah’s God, whom he addressed as the LORD, who was controlling the sea. And it was getting far worse—rougher and rougher—all the time (v. 11a).

Jonah 1:12–16 ~ “He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.”

Finally, Jonah accepted the gravity, the seriousness of his sin (v. 12). He was also willing to accept responsibility for endangering the sailors’ lives.

However, the sailors did their best to save Jonah’s life (v. 13). They rowed as hard as they could to reach land, but they were unsuccessful. Realizing the situation was hopeless, they prayed for the LORD (the God of Jonah) to forgive them for taking the man’s life (v. 14). Note how they knew that throwing Jonah overboard would make them guilty of murder. They wanted forgiveness from this awesome God who had created and controlled everything in the world. Seeking the LORD’s forgiveness, the sailors acknowledged that the LORD had done as He willed (v. 14). In their acknowledgement, they were confessing that the LORD was the great Creator and Sovereign Majesty of the world, the Sovereign LORD who controlled all the events happening in the world. Having made this confession, they threw Jonah overboard (v. 15).

So much more could be said about the sailor and other passengers on this ship. However, we are gonna stick with Jonah.

Just because things are going bad or upside down in your life does not mean it is the devil. It could mean that you have hijacked God’s plans for your life.

Pastor Andy Lambert ~ pastorandy@cvcog.church

Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101