WHEN GOD SURPRISES YOU

WHEN GOD SURPRISES YOU

Excerpt of a message preached at the Rescue Mission Chapel, 200 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond, CA 94801, USA, during Agape Bible Fellowship’s monthly ministration there on August 23, 2010, by Dr. John Ojewole.

Scripture: Psalm 126

 ¹ When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
       we were like men who dreamed.

 ² Our mouths were filled with laughter,
       our tongues with songs of joy.
       Then it was said among the nations,
       "The LORD has done great things for them."

 ³ The LORD has done great things for us,
       and we are filled with joy.

 ⁴ Restore our fortunes, ^c O LORD,
       like streams in the Negev.

 ⁵ Those who sow in tears
       will reap with songs of joy.

 ⁶ He who goes out weeping,
       carrying seed to sow,
       will return with songs of joy,
       carrying sheaves with him.

Introduction:

If you want to know the value of freedom, ask someone who is languishing in a jail. Why? Because that individual understands what it means to be free.

Many people do not appreciate their freedom until they lose it. You don't cherish your liberty until you are under stringent restriction by an external system or authority. You don’t appreciate what you have until it is unavailable. I have come in contact with people in the prison custody who did not treasure their freedom of movement until they were incarcerated and placed in a dungeon.

This sounds like the story of the Israelites, the people of God. They were a chosen people of God. God favored them. But when they erred, they were sent to the Babylonian Captivity. They were in that place for a long time. While in Babylon, far removed from their homeland, several prophesy of their release surfaced from all kinds of prophets—true and false prophets. But after a long travail, they were returned to their homeland. And it was a big surprise for them. I can’t blame them. They have a valid reason to be surprised. It is common place for humans to be incomprehensibly surprised when a long awaited breakthrough is realized. The good news is that a testimony is delayed is not a testimony denied.

From all indications, it was probable that this psalm was penned by its author with the release from Babylonian captivity in mind. It is no wonder that the psalmist expressed his shock at the way the story unfolded. What a miracle.

Everyone wants surprises, as long as they are positive ones. We like surprise birthdays, surprise baby showers, surprise proposal to marry someone, and the like. The list can be endless. I believe that someone here today needs a miracle that can only come from God. Someone here today wants to be surprised by God. Don’t give up your hope of a surprise from God. He has done it before. He will do it again. Kathryn Kuhlman wrote a book long ago titled: God Can Do It Again. It is true. God can and would do it again. Is anyone in bondage, either external or self-inflicted? God is able to turn your captivity into freedom in Jesus name.

WHEN GOD SURPRISES YOU:

1.                When God surprises you, the entire episode will be incredibly unbelievable.

Psalm 126: 1 ¹ When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
       we were like men who dreamed.

The Hebrew word translated “dreamed” in this verse is the Hebrew word: chalam.

The word has several meanings which include:

1) to dream

a) (Qal)

1) to dream (ordinary)

2) to dream (prophetic)

3) to dream (of false prophets)

b) (Hiphil) to dream

2) to be healthy, be strong

a) (Qal) to be healthy

b) (Hiphil) to restore to health

I am assuming that the writer of this psalm had the first definition in mind. Have you ever experienced some things in your life that are incomprehensible to you? Remember that God had returned the captive of Zion to their homeland in Zion. The history has been made. But when it occurred, the original recipients of the emancipation must have thought that it was unreal. Have you ever heard some news that appears to not register at all even when it was real? When God performs a miracle, it is often incredibly unbelievable due to how it marvels us. As I am writing out this message, the release of former president Nelson Mandela, came to mind.  He was a political prisoner for many years. It was probable that he might not believe the story about his freedom the first day that he was informed about it. The same might be his thoughts as he rose to the highest office in South Africa.  

When God delivered the Israelites from Israelites it sounded like a dream. It was like they were experiencing a psychological delusion. It was possible that they might have thought that the person who informed them about it was out of his or her mind. Why? It is because the reality of such event is not rationally convincing to mankind.  It was hard to believe. It just sounded like another fairy tale in town. Or sometimes it sounded like the way that we have a dream about having a bag full of millions of dollars. But we woke up to find out that the dream was untrue. We were the same person we were the previous night economically.

God’s glorious workings always marvel anyone who is attentive and sensitive to the workings of God.

2.                When God surprises you It would Evoke the Praise of God.

Psalm 126:2 ² Our mouths were filled with laughter,
       our tongues with songs of joy.
       Then it was said among the nations,
       "The LORD has done great things for them."

Every miracle should provide us an opportunity for divine praise. We should never focus on ourselves but on God because all blessings come from Him. Our restoration comes from the Lord. The launch-pad for praise is the miraculous workings of God. Every awesome deed of our Lord should inspire us to exalt and extol our God. Remember that these were the people who were not opportuned to rejoice like this few years before this time. How great and wonderful it is to be able to liberally praise God for his miraculous works and his love for mankind. It is remarkable how this story of divine deliverance of the people of God became a testimony to those who did not believe in the same God as they did. Even the non-Israelites, those who were considered pagans, attested to the fact that God had done something for the Israelites. The people of God must have praised the Lord in such a public way that their neighbors were aware of what happened to them. God will change your trials and travails into a testimony in Jesus name.

3.                When God surprises It Would Give You a Reason to Rejoice

Psalm 126: 3 The LORD has done great things for us, 
       and we are filled with joy.

The psalmists acknowledged God as the one who brought about their freedom and restoration. The same people who wept when the pagans in Babylon required of them to sing the songs of Zion (Psalm 137:1-6) now have reasons to rejoice.

4.                When God surprises you He will Enable you to Eat the Fruit of Your Labor

Psalm 126:4-6  ⁴ Restore our fortunes, O LORD, 
       like streams in the Negev.
 ⁵ Those who sow in tears 
       will reap with songs of joy.
 ⁶ He who goes out weeping, 
       carrying seed to sow, 
       will return with songs of joy, 
       carrying sheaves with him.

Please make a note of an important principle here. If you want to succeed in life, you must be willing to go through some painful times of planning, planting, pruning, and toiling. Triumph comes from rigorous toiling. A harvest does not take place overnight. There cannot be a harvest without a time of laboring. If we want a bountiful harvest, we must cooperate with God by doing our own part. The psalmist used the agricultural concept to convey an important principle. If you want to achieve in life, you must have the attitude of an achiever.

Most importantly, we hope and pray that having worked hard, we shall be able to live long to enjoy the prosperity that God has blessed us with. No matter how hard we work, we must be aware that our reward comes from the blessings that God bestows on us.

CONCLUSION:

When God does an amazing thing in your life, remember to acknowledge Him for what he has done. James 1:17 says, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.