DIVINE SURPRISES

DIVINE SURPRISES

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text:
Isaiah 55:8-9 – "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Supporting Texts:
Ephesians 3:20
Luke 1:26-38
2 Kings 4:1-7
Acts 12:6-11
Genesis 21:1-7

INTRODUCTION:
Divine surprises are moments when God steps into the life of a believer in unexpected ways to bring blessings, breakthroughs, and answers to prayers in ways we cannot imagine. God, in His sovereignty, often chooses to bless us beyond what we anticipate, reminding us that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. Divine surprises teach us to trust in God's timing and His ability to work beyond human expectations. This study explores how God brings divine surprises into the lives of His people and what we can learn from these experiences.

1. GOD’S WAYS ARE BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS
God often works in ways that are beyond our imagination, bringing divine surprises when we least expect them.

a) God’s Plans Surpass Human Understanding: Our plans and expectations are often limited by what we can see and understand, but God’s plans go far beyond (Isaiah 55:8-9).

b) Unexpected Answers to Prayers: God may not always answer our prayers in the way we expect, but His answers always surpass our hopes (Ephesians 3:20).

c) God’s Timing Is Perfect: While we may expect things to happen in a certain way or at a certain time, God’s surprises often come at the perfect moment (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

d) Divine Intervention in Difficult Times: When situations seem impossible, God steps in with unexpected solutions (Psalm 46:1).

e) Joy Beyond Comprehension: Divine surprises bring a joy that exceeds human understanding and makes us marvel at the goodness of God (Psalm 126:1-3).

Biblical Example:
When Sarah and Abraham were well advanced in age, beyond the natural ability to have children, God surprised them by fulfilling His promise, and Isaac was born (Genesis 21:1-7).

2. GOD DELIGHTS IN SURPRISING HIS CHILDREN
God delights in surprising His children with blessings that go beyond what they could ever expect or imagine.

a) God’s Generosity Knows No Bounds: God often blesses us with more than we ask for or think (James 1:17).

b) Divine Surprises in Answered Prayers: Just like God surprised Zechariah and Elizabeth with the birth of John after years of barrenness, God often answers prayers in unexpected ways (Luke 1:13-14).

c) Provision Beyond Expectation: God has a way of providing for His children in ways they never anticipated (Philippians 4:19).

d) God Uses Ordinary Moments to Do the Extraordinary: Many times, divine surprises happen during the most ordinary moments of life (Luke 5:4-7).

e) Blessings That Exceed Human Calculation: Divine surprises often defy logic and calculation, showing us that God is not limited by our resources or understanding (Matthew 14:17-20).

Biblical Example:
In 2 Kings 4:1-7, the widow expected little from the small jar of oil, but God surprised her by multiplying it until she had more than enough to pay her debts and live on the surplus.

3. DIVINE SURPRISES IN TIMES OF HOPELESSNESS
When we face situations that seem hopeless, God steps in with divine surprises that change everything.

a) God Brings Hope in Hopeless Situations: Even when everything seems hopeless, God has a way of turning situations around for His glory (Romans 4:18).

b) God Delivers When All Seems Lost: Divine surprises often come when we have given up hope, as in the case of Peter’s miraculous release from prison (Acts 12:6-11).

c) Unexpected Breakthroughs in Desperation: In moments of desperation, God often surprises His children with unexpected breakthroughs (Psalm 34:17-19).

d) God’s Strength in Our Weakness: When we feel weak or helpless, God surprises us by showing His strength and delivering us from trouble (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

e) Restoration Beyond Expectation: Even in situations where we feel everything is lost, God can surprise us with full restoration (Joel 2:25).

Biblical Example:
The disciples were in the middle of a storm, fearing for their lives, when Jesus surprised them by walking on water and calming the storm (Matthew 14:25-27).

4. RESPONDING TO DIVINE SURPRISES
When God surprises us with unexpected blessings or breakthroughs, it is important to respond in faith and gratitude.

a) Acknowledge God’s Hand: When we experience divine surprises, we must recognize and give glory to God for His intervention (Psalm 118:23).

b) Respond in Gratitude: Divine surprises should lead us to a place of thanksgiving and praise to God for His goodness (Colossians 3:17).

c) Trust God More: Experiencing divine surprises should strengthen our trust in God’s ability to work in our lives (Proverbs 3:5-6).

d) Testify of God’s Goodness: When God surprises us with blessings or deliverance, we should share our testimony to encourage others (Revelation 12:11).

e) Increase in Faith: Divine surprises often stretch our faith and cause us to expect even greater things from God in the future (Luke 17:5).

Biblical Example:
When Peter was miraculously released from prison, the church was filled with surprise and gratitude, and their faith was strengthened (Acts 12:13-16)

5. EXPECTING DIVINE SURPRISES
As believers, we should live in expectation that God will surprise us with His goodness, breakthroughs, and miracles.

a) Live with Expectation: God wants us to live in expectation of His surprises and blessings (Romans 8:19).

b) Faith for the Impossible: We should have faith that God can do the impossible and surprise us in ways we could never imagine (Mark 9:23).

c) Pray with Expectancy: When we pray, we should expect God to answer in ways that exceed our imagination (James 1:6).

d) Keep Hope Alive: Even in difficult seasons, we must keep hope alive, knowing that God can surprise us at any moment (Romans 12:12).

e) Prepare for More Than You Expect: When God moves, He often gives more than we are expecting, so we should prepare for an overflow (Luke 5:6-7).

Biblical Example:
When Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would give birth to the Messiah, it was an unexpected surprise that changed her life and the world forever (Luke 1:26-38).

CONCLUSION:
God delights in surprising His children with blessings, breakthroughs, and answers to prayers that go beyond what they could imagine. These divine surprises remind us that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think. As we live in faith, prayer, and obedience, we should expect God to surprise us with His goodness in every area of our lives.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, surprise me with Your divine blessings and breakthroughs in every area of my life.

2. Father, open doors of unexpected favour and provision for me.

3. Lord, intervene in my hopeless situations and turn them around for Your glory.

4. Father, help me to trust Your ways and timing, even when I don’t understand.

5. Lord, let my life be a testimony of Your divine surprises and goodness.

6. Father, release unexpected blessings that will exceed my expectations.

7. Lord, surprise me with answers to prayers I have long forgotten.

8. Father, strengthen my faith to believe You for the impossible.

9. Lord, let divine surprises bring joy and peace into my life and family.

10. Father, release supernatural breakthroughs in my finances, health, and ministry.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:
1. I declare that divine surprises are coming your way in this season.

2. God will exceed your expectations and surprise you with unexpected blessings.

3. I decree that doors of divine favour and provision will open for you suddenly.

4. Your season of waiting is turning into a season of divine surprises.

5. Every hopeless situation in your life is about to be turned around by the hand of God.

6. I declare that you will testify of God’s divine surprises and goodness in your life.

7. God will surprise you with answers to long-forgotten prayers.

8. I decree that your faith will rise to new levels as you experience divine surprises.

9. Divine surprises will bring supernatural joy and peace into your life and family.

10. You will walk in an overflow of divine surprises that will bring glory to God’s name.