Irony: When You Expect One Thing, But God Does Another

Mark’s Gospel closes with an unexpected ending: the women encounter the empty tomb, then leave afraid—and it stops there. That abrupt twist becomes a lens for three ironies that hit close to home. First, prayer can feel pointless if God already knows, yet He still invites His people to participate and come before Him. Second, Samson’s story warns how someone can assume strength will always be there while “flirting with boundaries,” until the loss is real—and unnoticed. Third, Saul shows how disobedience can look justified, even “right,” but Scripture insists: obedience is better than sacrifice—including the hard obedience of forgiveness.

Point 1 — The Irony of Prayer: God knows… but still wants you to pray

If God already knows everything, prayer feels unnecessary—but God invites participation anyway.

A. Prayer is participation, not informing God

• “He knows… but he humbly wants us to participate.”

B. Prayer is relationship (God wants your presence)

• God desires intimacy and your presence.
• Jesus modeled it: going to lonely/quiet places to focus—power flowed from prayer.

C. Prayer is priestly work (intercession)

• “We are a royal priesthood… we are priests… we bring the needs of the people before God.”
• Not just general prayer—bring specific needs of believers and the world.
• Prayer is neglected, but the speaker testifies it produces real change (“miracles happen”).

D. Prayer includes repentance and confession

• Guilt over missed prayer isn’t the end—repent and return.
• Sin makes us hide (Adam); confession brings it into the light.

Application questions

• Where have I treated prayer like a chore instead of a relationship?
• Who’s on my “priest list” (people I regularly bring before God)?

Point 2 — The Irony of the Spirit-Filled Life: Having the Spirit isn’t the same as living by the Spirit

Samson (Judges 16:18–22)

A. Samson presumed the anointing would always be there

• “The spirit was in him, but he did not always live by the spirit… flirting with boundaries… assuming the anointing will always be there.”

B. The scary line: “He did not know the Lord had left him.”

• “He thought, ‘I will go out as before’… but he did not know the Lord had left him.”

Application questions

• Where am I “flirting with boundaries” and calling it harmless?
• Am I relying on yesterday’s spiritual habits instead of today’s obedience?

Action step (this week)

• Name one boundary you’ve been “playing with,” and cut it off deliberately (with accountability).

Point 3 — The Irony of Disobedience: Disobedience often doesn’t feel wrong

Saul (1 Samuel 15:22–23)

A. God’s standard: obedience > sacrifice

• “To obey is better than sacrifice.”

B. The danger: disobedience can look justified

• Saul “didn’t see” he did anything wrong; disobedience can appear “even right.”
• Example given: unforgiveness that feels justified by pain/trauma, but God calls us to forgive.

C. Obedience is tested when nobody’s watching

• Christianity isn’t just the Sunday gathering—it’s what happens alone.
• “What are we watching… what are we viewing… what do you do when you’re alone?”

Application questions

• Is there anyone I’m holding something against?
• What private habit would expose my real obedience level?

“Make This Year Different”

• Take it to prayer: “I want this year to be different… I want to take it higher.”
• Move into communion with gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice.