Divine Surprises | Joel Osteen
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What is the episode introduction and opening story about?
Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you enjoyed today's message, why don't you be a blessing and share it with a friend? We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. God bless you and it's great to be with you today and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services. I'd like to start with something funny, and I heard about this pastor. He was walking down the street when he came upon this group of young boys that were surrounding a small dog. He asked what they were doing.
They said they were having a contest that whoever could tell the biggest lie would get to keep the dog. The pastor launched into a 10-minute sermon, starting with, "'Don't you know lying is a sin?' and ending with, "'When I was your age, I never told a lie.'" There was complete silence. And just when he thought he'd gotten through to them, the youngest boy spoke up and said, all right, give him the dog. Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today, I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same in Jesus' name. God bless you. I want to talk to you today about divine surprises.
God has moments of favor already lined up for you that you didn't see coming. Unexpected blessings and good breaks that catch you off guard. There was no sign of it. You weren't next in line for the promotion. The medical report said you weren't gonna get well. You've been single a long time. No indication anything was going to change. Then suddenly your business takes off. Your health turns around. You meet the right person. It's not just a lucky break, just a coincidence. That's a divine surprise. The hand of God showing out in your life unexpectedly. You couldn't plan it. No reason to believe it was going to happen, but God steps in and says, surprise, does something out of the ordinary you never saw coming.
Deuteronomy 28 says, if you'll obey God's word and follow his commands, then all these blessings will overtake you. One translation of that word overtake is to catch by surprise. You may be in a situation that looks permanent. You've gone as far as you can in your career, a child that'll never get back on course, or that trouble at work will always hinder you. What you can't see is God has some surprises coming your way. Because you're honoring him, he has blessings that are going to overtake you, favor that you can't outrun, good breaks that chase you down. Now get ready for some surprises, some unexpected blessings. You look back and think, man, I didn't see that door opening. I didn't see that person showing up.
I didn't see me feeling this good. I didn't see me running my own business. One surprise and you'll go from struggling to overflow. From being lonely to being with the person of your dreams. From overcome with problems to overcome with opportunities. You wouldn't be hearing this if God didn't have surprises coming your way. He's about to do something suddenly, unexpectedly, favor that catapults you ahead, good breaks that thrust you into your destiny. You couldn't make it happen. It's not something you work for, you deserve, you had planned. It's the favor of God breathing on your life, taking you where you couldn't go on your own. All through the scripture, we see these divine surprises. Paul and Silas were in prison, in the deepest dungeon, their hands and feet in chains, no way out.
But at midnight, there was a great earthquake. The prison doors flung open, the chains fell off, they walked out as free men. What happened? God said, surprise. It looked impossible. The odds were against them, but God won't let you get in a problem that he can't bring you out of. You may not see a way, but that's okay. It's going to be unexpected.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the episode introduction and opening story about?
0:00–5:26
2
How does Joel define a “divine surprise” and what examples introduce the theme?
5:26–9:06
3
What biblical promise in Deuteronomy explains blessings that ‘overtake’ you?
9:06–16:15
4
Which Scripture stories (Paul & Silas, Abraham & Sarah) illustrate unexpected deliverance and timing?
16:15–23:10
5
How does the Pool of Bethesda story show God bringing healing when you least expect it?
23:10–31:57