Turning Point

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This message was spoken at a mortgage burning service.

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A turning point is defined as a moment when a significant change in the course of events has taken place that will affect the future of a person or thing. Turning points are significant because they often lead to and affect a story’s final outcome. Everyone who reads a story or watches a movie is waiting for the turning point, when things start to swing in the favor of the main character! Turning points breathe new life and excitement into a story or film!
There are turning points in life, moments that disrupt our normal routine. Moments with the potential to positively (or negatively) affect our future. Israel had such a turning point. This turning point came just as they were about to take possession of the Promised Land.
Turning points
What is interesting about this turning point in Israel’s history is that it not only introduced excitement and new possibilities, but it introduced new choices! Depending on the choices we make, it will determine whether this turning point will turn out for our good or for our demise!
In Israel is at a turning point. They are on the doorstep of a new life/future. God gave them some advice (commandments) that would ensure that they make the right decision (turn) at this turning point.
God had brought them out of Egypt and out of ‘bondage’ into a good land. Similarly, God has brought this congregation out of financial bondage and has presented you with fresh opportunities. However, to ensure that this would be to their good they were commanded to do several things:
They were not to serve other gods ().
They were not to tempt the Lord their God ().
CEV brings this idea out, with “so don’t try to make the Lord prove that he can help you,” or we may say “so don’t try to make the Lord your God do a marvelous thing to prove that he cares for you.”
They were to diligently keep God’s commandments ().
In addition to these commands, Israel was also told to remember some things.
Israel was to remember why they were in this position to possess the land. They were not in this position because they were great in number. They were in this position in spite of their numbers. They were in this position because God had made a promise to their father Abraham.
I would say to you, Jackson Memorial. You are not in this position because of the size of your congregation. It wasn’t your numbers that got you to this place. Instead, it was the promises that God made to those who have come before you (Bishop Williams). Whether you will continue to enjoy the oath and the promises that were made will largely depend on how well you keep God’s commandments (). Notice that when we keep God’s commandments, He will keep His promises! Those promises include:
Multiplication and blessing () God will cause you to grow from without and within (i.e. your womb, increase your flocks)
Preserve your health ()
Again, this all depends on their ability to remember how you go to this point.
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He says to Israel, “Remember what your God did to Pharoah.” The worst thing you can do when you’re at a turning point is forget everything that brought you to this point. I know this is a big day, and it should be to help you remember it. But, what is equally important to remember is how you got here!
How did we get here? How did Israel get to their turning point?
By God’s might and power () There were miracles along the way. You didn’t just get here by blood, sweat and tears. God had to perform wonders to bring you to this place! He’ll need to keep working wonders.
Through a process () God did not defeat Israel’s enemies all at once. He did it little by little. In other words, He did it through a process! The reason He did not defeat their enemies all at once the beasts of the field would have multiplied within the land. So, He did it slowly so as not to attract predators.
The Lord has a reason for bringing us into our promises slowly—to keep from attracting the wrong kind of people into our life. If you rise too fast you are sure to attract “groupies,” or worse, “sharks” (wolves). God moves slowly to keep away the shysters and swindlers (leeches). He will wait until the only ones remaining are FAITHFUL MEN (i.e. Gideon’s army).
He didn’t want you to have to fight off the wolves. You don’t want to put a hungry hound over a flock. He will wait until the heirlings leave so that the only ones remaining are faithful men—good shepherds. You think it’s bad to be in debt or under the hand of a creditor or bank. That’s nothing compared to being under bad leadership! I don’t care how much you try you cannot housebreak or train a wolf!
So, the key is to remember how He has brought you. If we remember what God has done, we have more confidence in what He will do! This is a classic example of how to move forward we sometimes have to look back. It’s going higher. To go higher you have to first go lower!
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