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Captivity Turned

Posted on 02 Jun 2019, Pastor: Tolu Makinde

Title: Captivity Turned

Text: Ps. 126:1-2 [KJV]

[Psa 126:1] When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

[Psa 126:2] 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.

Introduction

When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
May all your captivities be turned in Jesus name
Captivity can be defined as a state of being imprisoned
Captivity can be defined as a way of being limited in one’s ability
Captivity can be defined as a way of cutting short someone’s destiny
Captivity can be defined as a state of lack
Captivity can be defined as a way of not allowing God’s glory to shine through
However, when the Lord turned the captivity, it will be like a dream
May the Lord turn your captivity around in Jesus name

Main Topic

Captivity Turned for Elisha – 2 Kings 6:8-18 [NKJV]

[2Ki 6:8] Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” [2Ki 6:9] And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” [2Ki 6:10] Then the king of Israel sentsomeone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. [2Ki 6:11] Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” [2Ki 6:12] And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” [2Ki 6:13] So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” [2Ki 6:14] Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. [2Ki 6:15] And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” [2Ki 6:16] So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” [2Ki 6:17] And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. [2Ki 6:18] So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the Syrian army
Because Elisha was leaking their secrets to the King of Israel
The servant thought it was over for them
Elisha knew better. He said, “Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they against us”
Elisha prayed that the eyes of the servant be opened – which eyes?
The servant saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire
[1Jn 4:4] Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
As long as you are on the Lord’s side, they that be with you are more than they that are in the world
Elisha prayed that the great army be struck with blindness
The captivity of Elisha was turned around.
The arrester became the arrested
Every attempt of the enemy to arrest you, may such attempts be turned around in Jesus name

Captivity Turned for a Widow – 1 Kings 17:8-16

[1Ki 17:8] And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, [1Ki 17:9] Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. [1Ki 17:10] So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow womanwas there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. [1Ki 17:11] And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. [1Ki 17:12] And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. [1Ki 17:13] And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. [1Ki 17:14] For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day thatthe LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. [1Ki 17:15] And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. [1Ki 17:16] And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
There was a widow in Zarephath who had a son
Somehow God chose to have mercy upon this widow.
[Rom 9:15] For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOMEVER I WILL HAVE COMPASSION.”
May the Lord choose you for His mercy
Elijah was sent to this widow
The widow was commanded to sustain Elijah
However, she was not aware of the commandment. Otherwise, she would not have told Elijah that she was preparing their last meal.
There are ways that God commands us without an audible voice.
One would just have this nudge to do something positive without identifying the source of the nudge
May you yield to every commandment of God for your life in Jesus name
Somehow the widow yielded to the request of Elijah
As a result, throughout the famine, the widow and her household were eating
The captivity of lack was turned for this widow

Captivity of demon possession was turned – Mark 5:1-20

Captivity of impotence of 38 years was turned – John 5:1-9

Captivity of imprisonment was turned for the Paul and Silas – Acts 16:16-26

Captivity of blindness was turned for the man that was born blind – John 9

Captivity of death was turned for Lazarus – John 11

Conclusion

[Psa 126:1] When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. [Psa 126:2] 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.
What all these examples have in common is that the Lord is the one that turned their captivity around
In Heb. 13:8, the Bible teaches us that the Lord does not change.
If He can turn captivity around in the past, He can turn it around today, and He can turn it around in the future, and He can turn it around for you.
The only question is, is the Lord on your side?
If you are yet to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He is yet to be on your side.
However, if you accept Him today, He will be by your side, and He will turn your captivity around
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Will you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today?

Sermon

Captivity Turned