The Turning Point
TEXT: Psalm 126:1-3

When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 3The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

The G-20 forum ended in London early April 2009 with the world leaders pledging $1.1 Trillion as a major step to the Turning around of the on-going global economic crisis. However one of the presidents perhaps the most powerful of them all as part of his closing remarks said “there are “no guarantees” that those measures would reverse the biggest global downturn in six decades.” In other words, the turning point of the global economic crisis is not in the hands of G20 or G100. It’s in the hand of God.

Our text says “When the Lord LORD turned again the captivity of Zion….” Turn around in whatever form or shape is in the hand of God, not the devil, not man or any combinations of power but The Lord. Jesus is the unchanging changer, the immovable mover, the unstoppable stopper. He turns situations around and decides what turns and what remains static; who lives or who dies. Nothing has a future without Jesus. There is no turn around until the Lord says so.

He declared in Deuteronomy.32:39 “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.” The power to kill or to make alive is in His hands. There is no opposition or force that can stop whatever He so decides to do. Psalms 33:9 says 9For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. Nobody questions His authority. All He needed to say at creation is “Let there be light” and immediately “there was light” Times and seasons are in His hands. If he commands famine that’s it and if He declares abundance there will be no lack. If He sets up a president no power, force, blackmail or manipulations can stop Him as is the case with the last American presidential election. Daniel confirms this in Daniel2: 21 “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings… “He can do and undo. He has in His hands everything including the hearts of Kings He makes the turning as He wishes. Proverbs21: 1The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

He can turn sorrow to joy as He did for the widow of Nain in Luke 7:11-15. She has just lost the husband and now death knocked her door and took her only source of joy; her only son. What a multiple layers of sorrow! Jesus met her on the burial procession weeping and sorrowing. Jesus said to her “Weep not” and that was it. Touching the coffin He said to the dead boy “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.” And the boy arose, sat up and began to speak. He handed over the dead boy to his mother and that was the end of sorrow. I am trust God the sorrows of every reader shall turn to joy in Jesus name.

He can turn the sick to the strong as He did for the woman with the issues of blood in Mark 5:25-34. She had been menstruating for twelve years non stop and had spent all her wealth to doctors but to no avail until she met Jesus. She said to herself “...If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.” What a turn around! The sick became the strong.
He can turn the poor to the flourishing as He did for Peter in Luke 5:1-7. An experienced fisher man could not catch one single fish the night long. What a frustration! Jesus stepped and turned things around. Following the counsel of Jesus to launch the nets into the deep waters, Peter caught many fishes that his began to break and had to call his friends and neighbor to share in his sudden wealth. The poor became the flourishing.
Regardless of your situation, a turnaround is possible. If Jesus turned the dead alive then yours cannot be difficult for Him to turnaround.

May I say at this point that a turn around can be positive or negative. A king experienced the two in the space of seven years. King Nebuchadnezzar was turned from a king to an animal and in seven years was turned from an animal to a king as recorded in Daniel 4 28-30 “About twelve months later, I was walking on the flat roof of my royal palace and admiring the beautiful city of Babylon, when these things started happening to me. I was saying to myself, “Just look at this wonderful capital city that I have built by my own power and for my own glory!” 31But before I could finish speaking, a voice from heaven interrupted: King Nebuchadnezzar, this kingdom is no longer yours. 32You will be forced to live with the wild animals, away from people. For seven years [a] you will eat grass, as though you were an ox, until you learn that God Most High is in control of all earthly kingdoms and that he is the one who chooses their rulers. 33This was no sooner said than done--I was forced to live like a wild animal; I ate grass and was unprotected from the dew. As time went by, my hair grew longer than eagle feathers, and my fingernails looked like the claws of a bird.” (Contemporary English Version)

This story leads us to the key for a turnaround. The path to a negative turn around is Pride and dishonor to God. That was the undoing of Nebuchadnezzar. He was so proud, so arrogant dishonoring God at every opportunity. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”Proverbs 11:2 “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”

God has consistently turned around the blessings of the proud to curses and the fortunes to woes. Such was the case of Herod in Acts12 :( 21and a day was set for them to meet with him. Herod came dressed in his royal robes. He sat down on his throne and made a speech. 22The people shouted, "You speak more like a god than a man!" 23At once an angel from the Lord struck him down because he took the honor that belonged to God. Later, Herod was eaten by worms and died.

Are you proud? It is time to repent. “Pride goeth before destruction”. It does not matter if it’s an individual, family or a nation. Wherever pride is found there is an evil turn around from Glory to shame. Make up your mind to deal with pride in your life. Nebuchadnezzar was not only proud but also dishonored God. Whosoever dishonors God is a candidate for shame; falling from the top to the very bottom, from grace to grass, from fame to shame.

Prophet Eli committed no other sin other than honoring his children and dishonoring God and he suffered a negative turn around. The Lord commanded an evil turn around over the house of Eli forever. 1Sam2:30 “Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” Are you honoring your children to dishonor God? Learn from Eli. Are you honoring your job and dishonoring God or are you indeed honoring yourself to dishonor God? Nebuchadnezzar was turned from a king to an animal because of pride and dishonor to God.

The good news is that Nebuchadnezzar did not die an animal. He experienced a positive turning point. He was turned from an animal to a better King than he was before he became an animal.

What therefore is the path to this very desirable positive turning point; such as the Lord is realizing to His children. It’s simple! Humility and Praising God is the path way to a positive turning point. Let’s learn again from Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 4: 34”And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”

After seven years of living like a beast, he learnt his lessons. No more pride, no more arrogance now his declaration, his words and countenance is adoration, praise and the worship of the only true God. Wherever God finds worship, praise and adoration of His name; there is always a positive turnaround. Why not join the wise and live your life from today in honor of the only true God, the Lord Jesus Christ who can turn all things and all situations around for the good. Honor him first with your life by committing your life to Him and be born again. If you are already saved, then be committed to His service.

Many wondered why Apostle Paul stood amongst other disciples. He was absolutely committed. He said in Philippians 1:21 “Forr to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” In 2 Corinthians 12:15 he declared “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” That’s it! A committed life is guaranteed a continuous transformation from glory to glory.

As I conclude may I say to you that your surest path to a turning point especially during this harsh economic seasons described by some as “economic tsunami” because of it’s devastating impact on the world economy is to be planted in the house of the Lord. This revelation is in the book of Psalms 92:12-14 12The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

Your turning point is now. Be planted in the house of the Lord and you shall flourish. Serve and honor God with your life. Be totally committed to Him and you will soon celebrate and you faint not.
Shalom!