YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM GOD

PREACHER: Rev'd Fiifi Foh Arkhurst

DATE: 15th August 2010

12th Sunday after Pentecost



The theme presupposes that God is all-seeing; for his eyes move to and fro and nothing can be hidden from Him. This is because He neither sleeps nor slumbers.
Jeremiah 23:24 poses a very important question ‘can any hide himself in secret places that God shall not see him?

Then Jeremiah 49:10 provides an appropriate answer, ‘He shall not be able to hide himself’

Again Ezekiel 28: 3 reads ‘there is no secret that they can hide from God

In Jeremiah 23:23-29, we encounter both true and false prophets. The false prophets were doing their own thing. They were prophesying falsely and deceiving the people with their dreams and prophesies. However these prophets failed to realise that nothing could be hidden from God. They did not realise that their deeds, words and thought patterns were all known to God.

What happened to the prophets can easily happen to us. For most of us live as if we could hide from God. We fail to remember that God is the only one who sees whatever is done in secret.

You can hide whatever you do from Ministers, Council Members, and other church members but not from God. For God watches us from a distance. God is everywhere. He is at your workplace and so aware of the under-invoicing and over-invoicing that take place. Such practices may escape the scrutiny of auditors but not God.

The fact that you cannot hide from God should be a big lesson to you. You should thus conduct yourself in a manner that is worthy of your calling.

Psalm 131:7-8 is very instructive as far as the theme is concerned;

‘I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the depths, you are there.’

In fact those who are trying to hide from God will hear as bad news the fact that God knows where they are.

Are you trying to hide from God? It is pointless to do so.

May God give us the consciousness of a little child that everything we see, everything we hear every word we say, every place we go, everything our hands do is constantly seen by God; for it is impossible to commit any sin that is not under the searchlight of God.

THEME:” SET YOUR HEARTS ON THINGS ABOVE” 1ST AUGUST, 2010 COMMUNION SERVICE

TEXT: ECL. 2:18-23, COL 3: 1-11, LUKE 12: 13- 21                     PREACHER: REV. ISAAC ETUAH-JACKSON                          
 Last week, St. Paul reminded his converts that through baptism, they had died with Christ and had risen again with him. They were therefore new creatures. He urges us to set our heart on things above. This is to say that we strive to put heaven priorities into daily practice. Setting our minds on things means concentrating on eternal rather than temporal. We are enjoined to Put to death things of flesh because of this wrath of God is coming but rely on the power of the holy spirit as we set our hearts on things above and commit ourselves to what Christ teaches. The Christian church should have no barriers but a fellowship of all believers (Eph 2:14 & 15). Christians should build bridges than walls because Christ is all and is in all. (Col. 3:11) We need to set our priorities right.

Solomon author of ecclesiastics, who is acclaimed to be the wisest person to have lived on earth, came to the conclusion that everything is vanity. He was meticulous about getting satisfaction as though he was conducting a scientific experiment; through the process he saw that life without God is a long and fruitless search for enjoyment, pleasure, meaning and fulfilment. It’s good to work hard but it bears no lasting fruit for those who work solely to earn money and gain possessions. Not only would everything be left at death but it may be left to those who have done nothing to earn it. What would be more painful is when your wealth is squandered.

In fact Solomon’s son, Rehoboam who inherited his throne was often foolish and the kingdom of Israel got divided after him. (1 kings 12) Solomon teaches us that when we set our minds on our own abilities, wisdom and efforts, our toil will be meaningless but when we direct our hearts and minds to faith in God, there would be a lasting reward or benefit for us. (Eccl 2:22-23)                                            

 Ask this question, Do you know the real reason you are working so hard? It is with the understanding that Jesus speaks to the rich fool in the third reading. Issues of inheritance were often brought to rabbis to settle and this was one of them. Jesus knew the heart of his man. He had asked for his share of the inheritance because he coveted possessions. To covet does not only mean to desire someone else’s property. It also means to possess more than we have. Luke 12 v.15b says: a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Possessions will never give us eternal life, joy and peace instead they give us anxiety. In fact, the more we store up for ourselves if we don’t take care will derail us from trusting God and we will lose our souls as in the parable of the rich fool. (Luke 12:13-21) v. 19, 20 shows his folly.

A man/woman who does not store up eternal treasure in heaven is a full indeed. Why take the risk of losing our matrimonial inheritance just to get some earthly treasure that will last only a few years.

We need to realise that God will evaluate our lives on the Judgement day. We therefore need to learn to live wisely by learning, learning to obey his guidelines. A song for living-children says read your bible pray every day if you want to grow. It is through this that we can set our hearts on things above.              

As we set our hearts on things above he would say come to me and sit at the right hand of Christ that you won’t be like the rich fool. Amen.