When Hidden Sin Won’t Stay Secret

St. Charles | Scott Grossenbacher
June 7, 2026

Jonah 1:6-10

““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.” 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." Jonah 1:6-10 (ESV)

* God Deals with Our Secret Sin Through…

1. RESISTANCE: He OPPOSES It.

“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.” Jonah 1:6 (ESV)

“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.” Habakkuk 1:13 (NIV)

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable…” 1 Peter 2:12 (ESV)

“Let your light shine before others…” Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

* God Deals with Our Secret Sin Through…

2. REVELATION: He EXPOSES It.

“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.” Jonah 1:7 (ESV)

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” Proverbs 16:33 (ESV)

“Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23 (ESV)

“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed…” Luke 12:2 (ESV)

* God Deals with Our Secret Sin Through…

3. RESTORATION: He USES It.

“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?”” Jonah 1:8 (ESV)

“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.”” Jonah 1:9 (ESV)

“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.” Jonah 1:10 (ESV)