What is a surprise?
An unexpected, unusual, or astonishing event; a completely unexpected occurrence, appearance, or statement; or a feeling of mild astonishment or shock caused by something unexpected.
What is a turnaround?
Turn around is a phrasal verb, it means ‘to successfully deal with a problem or difficulty; to succeed in doing something; to become changed for the better; to starts to being successful; to start developing something in the way you want’; etc.
So, if you are listening to me now, I may say many things in this sermon, in summary, what God is asking me to tell you today is that:
– You will start experiencing unexpected and astonishing successes from now;
– Things will start changing for the better for you in an amazing way;
– Events in your life will start developing in the trend you desire from now, even so in a surprising manner.
In Esther 9: 18-19, we see how God granted the Jews in Shushan and in all over the provinces of King Ahasuerus kingdom a surprise turnaround when Haman planned their execution for the 13th of the 12th month. When that day passed, and they were miraculously preserved, they set the following two days, the 14th and 15th aside for feasting and celebration.
Esther 9:18-19 King James Version (KJV) – 18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.
Can I congratulate someone listening to me this morning, I today welcome you to your season of rest; a season of feasting; and season of gladness. You are entering into a time of great joy in Jesus name. If you are one of such people, say ‘I receive it in Jesus name’.
To someone listening to me now, every date set by the wicked concerning your life will fail. The pre-planned calendar and agenda of the enemy regarding your life is now aborted in Jesus name.
Psalm 37:12-15 King James Version (KJV) 12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Haman set a gallow to hang Mordecai’s head; unfortunately for him, it was his head that was hung on it. Those who have set ‘gallows’ for your head, if they failed to repent, they shall be hung on it in Jesus name.
The 13th of the 12th month was the date set aside to kill all the Jews by Hama. The number 13th is superstitiously considered odd by certain customs. It symbolises bad luck to them. In the US for example, about 10% considered the 13th day of the month an unlucky day; especially if it falls on Friday. They will not travel, marry or even go to work; but to me, the day 13th is actually a surprise turnaround; it is not just my lucky day, it is a day of great joy, that is when my wife was born, 13th of the 8th month.
To someone listening to me now; a seemingly odd day shall be turn around to a day of joyous memorial for you in Jesus name. The odd date was planned to be noted as a horrific memorial for you; God says it shall now be a jubilatory memorial for you; you shall have beauty instead of ashes; the oil of joy instead of mourning; the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness.
Prayer: I decree that every date and calendar set for me by the evil ones are hereby cancelled in Jesus name. I turn such dates and calendars into times of feasting and gladness for me in Jesus name.
In 2 Kings 7: 1-20, God again turned what could have been a day of death for four lepers and a day of destruction for the people of Samaria into a day of feasting, celebration and surprise wealth acquisition, following the prophecy of Prophet Elisha.
The four lepers decided to approach the camp of the Syrian soldiers who had besieged Samaria to beg them for food; not ruling out the fact that they could be slain. But on getting to the camp of the Syrian soldiers, they found out that all the soldiers have fled in haste, leaving their tents, weapons, food, clothes, spoils of war, etc behind!
The lepers took lots of food and gold as much as they could; they then announced to the city of their findings. What a great joy in Samaria that day! Food became free! Riches became plenty!
There is someone listening to me now; there is a negative thought plaguing your mind. God will, however, amaze you positively. Instead of that negative thing to happen, a surprise turnaround will now take place for you in Jesus name.
Prayer: Father, overturn my anxiousness and replace it with fulfilling joy in Jesus name.
In Gen. 32:9-10, the bible tells us that Jacob ran away empty from home because of his brother’s threat to kill him at the demise of their father. He ran to his uncle Laban in Syria with only the dress on his back and the staff in his hand. When Isaac their father died; all the inheritance that Isaac received from Abraham and those he was able to work for by himself were all passed unto Esau (Gen. 32: 13-15; 33: 8-11) 200 she-goats, 20 male goats, 200 female sheep, 20 male sheep, 30 female camels, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys – the reason why he rejected the huge gifts from Jacob, at his return.
Jacob served Laban for 20 years; 14 to marry his two daughters, and 6 years to own some livestock. At the end of those 20 years though, Laban still wanted to send Jacob away empty, without his wives; without his eleven sons; without his agreed livestock.
Gen. 31: 41-43 – 41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. 42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight. 43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
Laban’s sons were also very angry that God had prospered Jacob while serving their father in those 6 years, and they were planning to do him harm.
Genesis 31: 1-3 (KJV) 31 And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory. 2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. 3 And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
God, however, warned Laban to be very careful how he treats Jacob. He won’t say more than that.
Genesis 31: 22-29 (KJV) 22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. 23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. 24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. – having a conversation with him is sufficient to get me angry. 25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? 27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? 28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
There is someone listening to me now, every power that wants you to return empty shall be judged by God. I decree that you will not return empty in Jesus name.
Those who are envious and grieved by your blessings will receive strong warnings from God.
You will enjoy your Canaan with your spouse, with your children and with your possessions in good health in Jesus name.
There is someone listening to me now, you were supposed to have a share in the inheritance with your relations, but the way it was shared did not favour you. I am asked to tell you that you will soon have more than what you would have received in shared portion.
May God prosper you in the land of your sojourn and in the land of your fathers in Jesus name.
Prayer: Father, let all that have cheated me pay me back what they have wrongfully taken in Jesus name. Bless me beyond what they have taken in Jesus name.
David enjoyed surprise turnaround from God many times. A particular instance comes to mind in I Sam. 25:1-42, when David heard that Nabal was shearing wool from his sheep. David sent to Nabal to give them some meat to eat; mentioning to him that they have deliberately not touched his belongings before whenever Nabal’s men took his animals out for grazing.
Nabal, however, spoke very bad to David’s men, which prompted David to consider wiping off all the male in Nabal’s household; but for the intervention of Abigail – Nabal’ wife.
David pardoned Nabal because of Abigail. Sadly, for Nabal though, he had a heart attack 7 days later. Abigail got married to David afterwards, such that David that was begging for portions of meat to eat with his men from Nabal before would suddenly have become the owner of the 1,000 goats and 3,000 sheep Nabal left behind!
There is someone listening to me now, you are going through a particularly trying situation that makes you to beg for certain enjoyment, God will turn the situation around for you, you shall become a custodian of those enjoyments you have begged for. You will not need to beg for them anymore.
There is someone listening to me now, those who have snubbed you at your lowest ebb have no idea where God is taking you. Your days of low levels are now numbered. You are in for a surprise turnaround soon. You are destined for the top. You will get there in Jesus name.
Prayer: Father, shut the mouth of my mockers by turning me into an amazing testimony for Your glory in Jesus name.
Time will not permit me to talk of Jabez in I Chro. 4: 9-10, whose life was full of difficulties because his mother named him sorrow, due to painful childbirth. God, however, turned his life around, and he became more honourable than his fellows.
Neither do I have enough time to talk more about Jephtar in Judges Chapters 11 and 12, who was a tough warrior; but because his mother was a harlot, he was chased out of his father’s compound by his half-brothers when their father died. He completely left town in shame; God, however, turned his life around to become the leader of not just his father’s house; but the whole tribes of Israel!
Can I say to someone listening to me now, this is not the end of you; neither is this the best of you. You are greater than this. You are better than this. God will effect a surprise turnaround for your life in Jesus name.
Someone listening to me now, I hear that your life will not only surprise many, it will also surprise your very self.
Where you have been called barren, you shall now be called flourished.
Where they have called you God-forsaken; they shall call you the favoured of the Lord.
Where they have said you are not desirable for them, they will now say you are too appealing.
Weeping may have endured for a night for someone listening to me now; the daylight of tomorrow the 13th, however, commences your days of great joy.
The One who raised Lazarus from the dead will resurrect and bring new life into any vital areas of your life that have died or are dying in Jesus name.
I decree that a surprise turnaround for better begins for you now in Jesus name.
Prayers
Father, make all things work together for my good in Jesus name.
Father, make my life to surprise the world for good.
Father, amaze me with my own life.
Father, let it be said about me that “how does he do it” in Jesus name.
This sermon was delivered on the 19th of July, 2020.