THE GOD OF THE ELEVENTH HOUR

Title: THE GOD OF THE ELEVENTH HOUR

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Matthew 20:6-7
“And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’”

Supporting Texts: Genesis 21:1-7, John 11:38-44, Acts 16:25-34

INTRODUCTION:
The phrase "eleventh hour" refers to the last possible moment when a breakthrough, intervention, or fulfilment happens. The God of the eleventh hour demonstrates His sovereignty by stepping into situations that seem hopeless or too late by human standards. His timing showcases His power to reverse delays, bring restoration, and fulfil His promises. This sermon explores how the God of the eleventh hour manifests in the lives of His people.

1. THE CHARACTER OF THE ELEVENTH-HOUR GOD

a) He is Faithful to His Promises:
God never fails to fulfil His promises, regardless of how long it takes (Numbers 23:19).

b) He is Not Bound by Human Timelines:
God’s intervention often defies human schedules (2 Peter 3:8).

c) He Works Beyond Human Expectations:
His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).

d) He Restores What Was Lost:
God can restore time, opportunities, and blessings (Joel 2:25-26).

e) Biblical Example: In Genesis 21, God fulfilled His promise to Sarah and Abraham by giving them Isaac in their old age, proving He works at His appointed time.

2. WHY GOD INTERVENES AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR

a) To Demonstrate His Sovereignty:
The eleventh-hour miracle displays that God is in control of every situation (Psalm 115:3).

b) To Build and Strengthen Faith:
Waiting for the eleventh-hour miracle increases reliance on God (Romans 4:20-21).

c) To Glorify His Name:
Eleventh-hour breakthroughs glorify God and show His greatness (John 9:3).

d) To Overturn the Enemy's Plans:
God frustrates the enemy's agenda through last-moment deliverance (Isaiah 54:17).

e) Biblical Example: In John 11, Jesus raised Lazarus after four days, showing that even death could not hinder God’s timing and power.

3. HOW TO ATTRACT AN ELEVENTH-HOUR MIRACLE

a) Stay Faithful in Obedience:
Obedience positions us to receive God's intervention (Isaiah 1:19).

b) Maintain a Life of Prayer:
Prayer invites God's timely intervention (Luke 18:1-8).

c) Trust in God's Timing:
Rest in the assurance that God makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

d) Stay in Expectation and Hope:
Expectation prepares you to receive divine breakthroughs (Psalm 62:5).

e) Biblical Example: In Acts 16, Paul and Silas experienced an eleventh-hour miracle when God sent an earthquake to deliver them from prison as they prayed and praised.

4. THE IMPACT OF THE ELEVENTH-HOUR GOD

a) Restoration of Opportunities:
God restores opportunities and blessings that seem lost (Amos 9:13).

b) Testimonies That Inspire Others:
Eleventh-hour interventions become testimonies that glorify God and inspire faith (Psalm 126:1-3).

c) Breakthrough Beyond Expectations:
God's miracles often exceed what we think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

d) Deliverance from Shame and Delay:
The eleventh-hour miracle wipes away reproach and delay (Isaiah 54:4).

e) Biblical Example: In Matthew 20, the labourers hired at the eleventh hour received the same wages as those who worked all day, demonstrating God's justice and generosity.

5. LESSONS FROM THE ELEVENTH-HOUR GOD

a) God's Timing is Perfect:
Trusting in His timing yields the best outcomes (Psalm 27:14).

b) Never Give Up Hope:
Even when it seems late, God can still intervene (Lamentations 3:25-26).

c) Always Be Ready for God's Intervention:
Stay spiritually prepared for divine breakthroughs (Matthew 24:44).

d) Trust in God's Faithfulness:
God will never abandon His children (Hebrews 13:5).

e) Biblical Example: In Genesis 22, God provided a ram for Abraham at the eleventh hour, just as he was about to sacrifice Isaac, showing that God always provides on time.

CONCLUSION:
The God of the eleventh hour proves that it is never too late for Him to act. His timing brings glory to His name and demonstrates His power to transform situations. Trust in Him, stay faithful, and expect His intervention even when it seems like time is running out.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, I thank You for being the God of the eleventh hour.

2. Father, intervene in every delayed area of my life and bring restoration.

3. Lord, grant me the faith to trust in Your perfect timing.

4. Father, overturn every plan of the enemy against my destiny.

5. Lord, let my testimony glorify Your name in the eleventh hour.

6. Father, remove every reproach and delay in my life.

7. Lord, help me to stay faithful and obedient as I wait on You.

8. Father, restore every lost opportunity in my life.

9. Lord, release a last-minute miracle in my health, finances, and relationships.

10. Father, I receive the grace to keep trusting You, even when it seems late.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:
1. The God of the eleventh hour is stepping into your situation right now.

2. Every delay in your life is turning into a testimony of God's glory.

3. The doors that seemed closed are opening for you in Jesus' name.

4. Your time of divine intervention is here; you will not be ashamed.

5. The God of perfect timing is working all things together for your good.

6. Your expectations will not be cut short; God is working behind the scenes.

7. Every reproach and delay in your life is being overturned.

8. You will testify of God's faithfulness in your eleventh-hour breakthrough.

9. The impossible is becoming possible for you; nothing is too late for God.

10. Your eleventh-hour miracle will bring joy, restoration, and glory to God's name.