Speaker: Ps. Eddy Gunawan
“A Surprise Relationship”
More Than Yes
- When we pray, we are often looking for a certain answer, for a yes. However, there are four kinds of answered prayers (which are not necessarily a prayer answered)
- Yes
- No – It is not right for you
- Wait – You are not yet right for it
- More than yes – The elusive fourth answer.
- (1 Corinthians 2:9) But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”
- (Ephesians 3:20) Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
- God loves to surprise us, even to the smallest thing in life.
- In return, we can learn to love to surprise him.
- (1 Kings 3:4-12)
- Solomon surprised God with his response.
- Because of it, in turn, God gives Solomon more than what he asked for.
- When we pray for success, God is not surprised.
- God already wants that for us, He is always working on that.
They Left Their Nets and Followed Him
- Imagine a father with three sons. He returns from a business trip bearing gifts for his children.
- One is too busy to greet his father and take the gift.
- One takes the gift and ignores his father to play with it.
- One hugs his father, believing His father’s presence and return to be the greater gift.
- Which son surprises the father?
- Which son are we?
- The third son surprises the father in his plea.
- He surprises the father in the things that he demonstrates he values.
- What do we do with what God has given us?
- What do we do with the offered gift of salvation?
- Do we ignore it, take it and subsequently ignore Him, or then choose to dedicate our whole lives to Him?
- Each devoted disciple is already a pleasant surprise unto Him.
- Each time we sacrifice something of ours to please Him, we surprise Him.
- God has given us the free will to choose how much of our lives to give to Him.
- When we give up something to Him, God desires to fill the void left behind.
- (Mark 10:46-52) – the story of Bartimaeus
- Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, everything he had, in order to chase after Jesus.
- This cloak is what allowed the beggar to beg, it was his source of sustenance.
- He surprised Jesus, not because he asked for healing, but because he was willing to as give up what he had in order for God to work in Him and through Him.
Let No One Seek His Own Good, But the Good of Others
- This is how we surprise God. God is surprised when we ask for something in order to help us serve others.
- For example, when we request God to help us give something up to Him, it is because we want to better serve Him.
- Solomon’s request was that God would give him wisdom, in order to better serve others, not for himself.
Reflection: In our life, what things can we give up and/or let go as our form of love for God?
Speaker: Ps. Eddy Gunawan
“A Surprise Relationship”
More Than Yes
- When we pray, we are often looking for a certain answer, for a yes. However, there are four kinds of answered prayers (which are not necessarily a prayer answered)
- Yes
- No – It is not right for you
- Wait – You are not yet right for it
- More than yes – The elusive fourth answer.
- (1 Corinthians 2:9) But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”
- (Ephesians 3:20) Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
- God loves to surprise us, even to the smallest thing in life.
- In return, we can learn to love to surprise him.
- (1 Kings 3:4-12)
- Solomon surprised God with his response.
- Because of it, in turn, God gives Solomon more than what he asked for.
- When we pray for success, God is not surprised.
- God already wants that for us, He is always working on that.
They Left Their Nets and Followed Him
- Imagine a father with three sons. He returns from a business trip bearing gifts for his children.
- One is too busy to greet his father and take the gift.
- One takes the gift and ignores his father to play with it.
- One hugs his father, believing His father’s presence and return to be the greater gift.
- Which son surprises the father?
- Which son are we?
- The third son surprises the father in his plea.
- He surprises the father in the things that he demonstrates he values.
- What do we do with what God has given us?
- What do we do with the offered gift of salvation?
- Do we ignore it, take it and subsequently ignore Him, or then choose to dedicate our whole lives to Him?
- Each devoted disciple is already a pleasant surprise unto Him.
- Each time we sacrifice something of ours to please Him, we surprise Him.
- God has given us the free will to choose how much of our lives to give to Him.
- When we give up something to Him, God desires to fill the void left behind.
- (Mark 10:46-52) – the story of Bartimaeus
- Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, everything he had, in order to chase after Jesus.
- This cloak is what allowed the beggar to beg, it was his source of sustenance.
- He surprised Jesus, not because he asked for healing, but because he was willing to as give up what he had in order for God to work in Him and through Him.
Let No One Seek His Own Good, But the Good of Others
- This is how we surprise God. God is surprised when we ask for something in order to help us serve others.
- For example, when we request God to help us give something up to Him, it is because we want to better serve Him.
- Solomon’s request was that God would give him wisdom, in order to better serve others, not for himself.
Reflection: In our life, what things can we give up and/or let go as our form of love for God?