God Sees: Faithful Service and the Lessons of Jonah
May 29, 2022 · 2:14:29 · Watch on YouTube ↗
These notes - summary, key points, and highlighted thoughts - were generated by AI from the recording and are not the preacher’s exact words.
Summary
The service opened with a call to enter God's house with thanksgiving, recalling how the boy Jesus stayed behind in the temple because He had to be about His Father's business - a reminder that on the Lord's Day believers belong in His house. The first message, "God sees," drew on the life of Job, the widow's two small coins in Mark 12, and Proverbs 15:3 to show that the Lord watches everything and weighs it very differently than people do.
Like Job, who served carefully because he knew God was watching, and like David who refused to offer the Lord what cost him nothing, we are called to do everything for God alone - not for human approval, and not even merely for reward. Leaning on Galatians 6, the preacher urged the church not to grow weary or discouraged in doing good, because the harvest comes in its season and God sees what is done in secret, even in the prayer closet.
The second message gathered lessons from Jonah: do not run from God's will, for His Spirit sees everywhere, even in the dark; do not sleep through prayer while others cry out to heaven; stop blaming others and take responsibility yourself; and trust that God hears fervent prayer even from the belly of the fish. As Nineveh repented and was spared, the service closed with an encouragement to keep serving, to pray, and to carry the gospel to those still far off.
Key Points
- On the Lord's Day a believer's place is in God's house, entering His gates with thanksgiving.
- God sees everything and values it differently than people do - the widow's two coins outweighed the rich gifts.
- Do everything for the Lord alone, not to be seen by others and not only to gain a reward.
- Like David, refuse to offer God what costs you nothing.
- Do not grow weary or discouraged in doing good, for the harvest comes in its time.
- You cannot run from God's will - His Spirit sees you everywhere, even in darkness.
- Stop blaming others, take responsibility yourself, and God will hear your fervent prayer.
Devotional
Much of what you do for the Lord may go unnoticed by everyone around you, and at times it can feel as if even God has overlooked your faithfulness. But His eyes are everywhere, weighing the quiet offering, the secret prayer, and the small obedience that no one else sees. Do not measure your life by the crowd or grow weary when no one applauds. Serve for His sake alone, trusting that the One who sees in secret will reward you in His own time.
In your eyes she gave only a little; in My eyes she gave more than them all.
I will not offer the Lord what has cost me nothing.
Do not grow weary in doing good, for God sees even what is done in secret.
