GOD'S SURPRISE INTERVENTION

Title: GOD'S SURPRISE INTERVENTION

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: 1 Kings 17:8-16
Supporting Texts: Psalm 34:19, Isaiah 55:8-9, Luke 1:37

INTRODUCTION:
In our walk with God, there are times when we find ourselves facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. At such moments, we may feel abandoned or overwhelmed. However, it is in these times that God often steps in, surprising us with His divine intervention. This sermon explores how God's interventions often come unexpectedly, but always with purpose, power, and provision.

1. THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE IN GOD’S INTERVENTIONS

a) God’s Ways Are Beyond Our Understanding
God's actions often come in ways we cannot anticipate, challenging our human understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9).

b) Divine Timing Is Perfect
God’s intervention always happens at the right time, though it may appear late to us (1 Kings 17:9-10).

c) God Uses Ordinary People and Situations
God often chooses the unexpected—a widow, a small meal, or a barren situation—to show His glory and power (1 Kings 17:10-12).

d) Surprising Provision in the Most Unlikely Circumstances
When we are in need, God’s provision comes in the most surprising forms—just like the widow’s provision of food from her last resources (1 Kings 17:13-16).

e) Biblical Example: The widow of Zarephath’s encounter with Elijah, where God miraculously provided food during a time of drought and famine (1 Kings 17:8-16).

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD'S SURPRISE INTERVENTIONS

a) They Are Always In Line with God’s Will
Despite how unexpected the intervention may be, it is always in line with God's perfect will and plan for our lives (Romans 8:28).

b) They Reveal God's Faithfulness
God's interventions remind us that He is faithful to fulfill His promises, even when we cannot see the way forward (Psalm 34:19).

c) They Bring Glory to God Alone
When God intervenes unexpectedly, the glory is always His, as His power is made manifest in ways beyond human comprehension (John 11:40).

d) They Transform Our Situations Instantly
God’s interventions often lead to swift and dramatic changes, changing hopeless situations into testimonies of His power (Luke 1:37).

e) Biblical Example: The miraculous provision of food to Elijah through ravens at the brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:4-6).

3. WHY GOD’S INTERVENTIONS COME AS A SURPRISE

a) To Strengthen Our Faith
God surprises us with His intervention to help us grow in faith, teaching us to trust in His ability to provide and deliver (Hebrews 11:1).

b) To Show His Sovereignty
The surprise element highlights that God is sovereign, and nothing is beyond His control or ability (Psalm 115:3).

c) To Demonstrate His Creativity in Solving Problems
God often chooses unconventional methods to meet our needs, showing His creative power (Exodus 14:21-22).

d) To Shift Our Perspective
When God surprises us, He often changes our perspective on our problems, showing us that we should rely on His strength and not our own (2 Corinthians 12:9).

e) Biblical Example: God’s surprising intervention in the parting of the Red Sea to deliver the Israelites from Pharaoh’s army (Exodus 14:21-22).

4. HOW TO POSITION YOURSELF FOR GOD’S SURPRISE INTERVENTIONS

a) Trust in God’s Promises
Stand firm in God's promises, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill what He has spoken (2 Corinthians 1:20).

b) Be Willing to Step Out in Faith
Just like the widow who gave her last meal to Elijah, we must be willing to act in faith, even when it seems unreasonable (1 Kings 17:12-13).

c) Pray and Wait Expectantly
God often moves in response to prayer, and we should wait on Him with expectation (Jeremiah 33:3).

d) Be Open to the Unexpected
Do not limit God to conventional methods or your expectations. Be open to His creative and surprising ways of working (Isaiah 55:8-9).

e) Biblical Example: Elijah praying earnestly for rain after a long drought, and God sending a mighty downpour in response (1 Kings 18:41-45).

5. THE RESULTS OF GOD’S SURPRISE INTERVENTIONS

a) Increased Faith in God's Provision
As we experience God’s surprising intervention, our faith in His ability to provide for us in all circumstances grows stronger (Matthew 6:25-33).

b) A Testimony of God's Power
Every surprise intervention becomes a testimony of God's miraculous power, which can encourage others in their faith journey (Psalm 107:1-2).

c) Transformation of Life and Circumstances
God’s surprise intervention often leads to complete transformation in our lives, both spiritually and materially (Romans 12:2).

d) An Open Door to Greater Blessings
As we witness God’s miraculous interventions, they often lead to greater blessings and opportunities (Ephesians 3:20).

e) Biblical Example: The miraculous provision of food to Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, which led to an ongoing supply during the famine (1 Kings 17:15-16).

CONCLUSION:
God’s surprise interventions are a testament to His sovereignty, faithfulness, and creativity. When we trust in Him and position ourselves in faith, we open ourselves up to experience His power in unexpected ways. It is not our place to predict how or when He will act, but rather to trust in His perfect timing. Let us hold onto our faith and trust in God, knowing that His interventions will always come at the right time, in the right way, and for His glory.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father, I trust in Your perfect timing, and I believe that You will surprise me with Your divine intervention.

2. Lord, help me to step out in faith, even when the situation looks impossible.

3. Father, I surrender all my worries to You and expect Your miraculous provision in my life.

4. Lord, open my eyes to see Your hand at work, even in the most unexpected situations.

5. Father, I pray for strength to wait on You patiently, knowing that You are faithful.

6. Lord, I ask for divine creativity in my life, that You would solve my problems in supernatural ways.

7. Father, surprise me with Your intervention today, and let my testimony bring glory to Your name.

8. Lord, let Your provision come to me in ways that only You can provide.

9. Father, I declare that I will experience Your supernatural intervention and the transformation it brings.

10. Lord, thank You for being the God of surprises. I give You all the praise and glory for Your miraculous acts.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:
1. God will surprise you with provision that you did not expect.

2. You will witness a sudden turn of events, as God steps in at the perfect moment.

3. The impossible will become possible in your life, as God works in unexpected ways.

4. Your faith will be strengthened as you experience God's surprising interventions.

5. God will open doors for you that you never thought possible.

6. Your situation will be transformed by the hand of God, and your testimony will bring glory to Him.

7. God will provide for you in ways that will leave you in awe of His power.

8. You will experience breakthroughs in your life that you never anticipated.

9. God will use the unexpected to bring about His will in your life.

10. You will stand in amazement at the mighty ways God surprises you with His intervention.