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It’s Turnaround Time | Jentezen Franklin

Sunday, November 10



Scriptures 

2 Kings 9:1-24, 30-35, Jude 1:24, Ezekiel 28:14, Revelation 2:20, Matthew 12:43-45. 

 Introduction 

In Pastor Jentezen Franklin’s message "It’s Turnaround Time" he explores how the anointing of God is all we truly need to accomplish His purposes. We see this powerful truth in the story of Jehu’s anointing as king over Israel in 2 Kings 9. Jehu wasn’t wealthy, influential, or equipped with an army. Instead, he carried the oil of God—the very symbol of anointing and calling. Pastor Franklin emphasizes that with God’s anointing, we don’t need the resources the world relies on, and we don’t need to give in to the compromises the world offers us.  

  • What stands out to you about Sunday’s message? 

Breakdown of 2 Kings 9 

  • Anointing of Jehu: Elisha the prophet sends a young prophet to anoint Jehu as king over Israel. 
  • Jehu's Immediate Rise to Power: After being anointed, Jehu reveals the prophet's message to his fellow officers, who then proclaim him king. This event signifies a coup against the current king, Joram, son of Ahab & Jezebel. 
  • Death of Joram: Jehu rides to King Joram who goes out to meet Jehu, but upon meeting, Jehu accuses Joram of the idolatry and sins of his mother Jezebel. Jehu then kills Joram with an arrow.  
  • Death of Jezebel: Jezebel, hearing of Jehu's approach then taunts Jehu from a window. Jehu orders her eunuchs to throw her down, and she is trampled under Jehu’s horses. Later, when Jehu orders her burial because she was a king's daughter, only her skull, feet, and the palms of her hands are found; the rest had been eaten by dogs, fulfilling Elijah's prophecy. 

Let's journey through 2 Kings 9, pausing to pick up wisdom and insights as we go. 

Lessons from Jehu's Anointing 

This story from 2 Kings 9 begins by Elisha sending a young prophet to anoint Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, as king. Jehu is anointed in secret. 

2 Kings 9:1-3 (NASB) Now Elisha the prophet summoned one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Get ready and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. When you arrive there, then look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and have him get up from among his brothers, and bring him to an inner room. Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head, and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and flee, and do not wait.” 

Jehu was not of high importance, yet God chose him to be anointed as king to go and kill the evil King Ahab, to avenge the blood of the prophets slain by Jezebel, the wicked prophetess, and to end the evil reign over God's people. 

Jehu took extreme measures by pursuing and eliminating the kin and allies of Ahab, as noted in 2 Chronicles 22:8-9. While Jehu’s methods were severe, they were deemed necessary because Baal worship was corrupting and weakening the nation. For Israel to continue as a nation, the eradication of Baal's adherents was seen as an act of justice that Jehu executed to meet the demands of the time. 

God calls us to a fresh anointing to counteract the moral decline and deception in our society, urging us to realign our families, nation, and culture with His teachings. 

Because the devil knows his end is near and time is short, he is working overtime even deceiving the elect and church leaders. 

We cannot afford to be sleepy, complacent, or assume governmental leaders can fix our nation. Only Lord Jesus and the power of God can fix everything. As a church we must receive his fresh anointing, repent and turn around. Our present and future generations can only be saved and protected if we receive and work with that anointing.  

  • Jehu was anointed by God for a specific purpose despite not being of high importance initially. Discuss how God uses ordinary individuals for extraordinary tasks. 
  • The article mentions a call for a "fresh anointing" to combat moral decline. What does this anointing look like in modern society? How can churches and individuals actively seek and implement this anointing today? 

Jehu Confronts Joram and His Demonic Regime 

2 Kings 9:22-24 (NIV) ”When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?” Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!” Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart and he slumped down in his chariot. 

In 2 Kings 9, the closer Jehu got to the city – to the heart of the deceptive spirit of Jezebel, the more he heard to compromise. We too hear voices of compromise, but we must preach the whole counsel. Like Jehu, we are to rise and refuse to change the message. 

  • What can we learn from Jehu's example about standing firm in our convictions? 
  • The closer Jehu got to the city, the stronger the call to compromise became. Reflect on how your environment (workplace, social settings, media) influences your spiritual or ethical stance. How can you prepare yourself to remain steadfast in your principles? 

We cannot compromise the truth. Consider this: when we turn to the medical field, we need to be able to depend on doctors who will be honest with the whole truth. We need to know if we have cancer. We don’t need a physician who withholds information or a treatment plan for fear of causing us pain. We need someone willing to speak the truth and do what it takes to promote healing. 

It is also important when the surgeon removes it to have clean margins. We cannot afford to have some of the cancer removed, for it will grow back – and sometimes worse than the first state. Like Jehu aimed for the heart of Joram, the king of evil, we too must aim for the heart of sin. We must address sin for what it is and not skirt the issue. 

Remember a counterfeit gospel and a counterfeit anointing can deceive us to think we are walking correctly. When we are not sitting under sound Biblical truth, not renewing our minds, and not filling ourselves with His Word daily, we are in danger.  

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ 

  • In recent years, a number of well-known pastors and Christian artists have espoused unbiblical beliefs. What could cause you to embrace an unbiblical belief? How can you protect against that? 

Don’t Change the Message! 

Today many Christian churches have watered down and compromised their message. Some are tolerating what the world is doing, and the danger is that eventually it will be embraced. Sadly, some leaders already have embraced what God abhors! 

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” 

Don’t be deceived! We are forewarned in by Jesus that false messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will do great signs and miracles and they will try to fool God’s chosen people. (Matthew 24:24) 

We need to stand firm. We need a turnaround anointing. The boundaries of His Word make safe passage to eternity. We need a Holy Fear! 

2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NIV) “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 

  • There is nothing that a parent wouldn’t do for their child – the very thought of someone’s child NOT going to heaven is unfathomable. If your child has a rebellious heart, do you soften the Word to ‘spare them’?  What is the outcome of this thinking? How do we address it? 

Strengthened by Faith 

Sin diminishes our strength, and only through God can we remain blameless in overwhelming joy. Jude writes,  

 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,” (Jude 1:24 NKJV) 

This scripture assures us that despite the widespread and dangerous temptations and false teachings, there's no need for fear if our faith in God remains strong and we are deeply anchored in His teachings. 

Yet, this requires us not to yield to the adversary. We must humble ourselves and steadfastly resist the devil's temptations, causing him to flee. God dictates what we should not stand for. Instead of facing His wrath, we should long for His exceeding joy, now and forever. 

  • How can we practically apply the concept of not yielding to the adversary in our daily lives? Discuss personal strategies or scriptural guidance that helps in resisting temptation. 
  • The passage speaks of remaining deeply anchored in God's teachings. What does being 'anchored' mean to you? How do we maintain this anchor in a world filled with distractions? 

Counterfeit Anointing 

When we look at the sermon, we hear how critical it is to ‘stay the path’ – not to change, not to water down, not to dissipate His Word. We cannot afford to make a comfortable message – a feel-good mentality trying to appease those around us.  

Satan has a counterfeit anointing. Satan caused a third of the angels in heaven to turn against God. Beware of that counterfeit anointing that wants to deceive you.  

This is about heaven or hell! You can’t just nick sin; you must shoot its heart out and get rid of it (2 Kings 9:24). We do not want to mislead others to think they are traveling down a narrow path when we have widened the path to cover their rebellion and incorporate them into the kingdom of heaven.  

A spirit of purity must return to the Church if you want to see future generations saved and blessed. 

  • How can we distinguish between true spiritual guidance and deceptive influences in our personal lives and within our church community? What are some signs or tests we might use? 
  • The sermon calls for a return to a spirit of purity in the Church to ensure future generations are saved and blessed. What does purity look like in today's context, 

Conclusion | The Turnaround Anointing 

The story of Joram's messengers in 2 Kings 9:18-20 powerfully illustrates the theme of God’s transformative power. When King Joram sent his messengers to Jehu, each was called to join Jehu’s mission rather than return with a report. Jehu’s bold question, “What have you to do with peace? Fall in behind me,” urged them to turn away from Joram’s rule and align with God’s purposes. Pastor Franklin reminds us that God can turn around any area of our lives, even deeply rooted sins or destructive patterns. By bringing our challenges to God, we open ourselves to His redemptive power to transform us and lead us into His peace. 

  • What areas of your life do you need to turn over to God, trusting Him to “turn it around” for His glory? 

Prayer | “Change Course!” 

The Titanic was sent twelve warnings to change course prior to striking the iceberg that resulted in over 1,500 deaths. Ask God to help you “change course” in your own life and also to be the type of person that helps others change course. 

Resources 

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