Turn and Burn

2 Chronicles 7:14- “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

I have heard this verse so many times in my life, and just now is it  really starting to hit home. This one verse has so much meat to it. You could really pick apart every 3 to 4 words and try to make it a lifestyle. The phrase “turn from their wicked ways,” is really what the Holy Spirit highlighted to me. More specifically, the word “TURN.”  Then after Turning, going out and Burning for Jesus.

Here are a couple definitions of the word turn:  To move or cause to move, To aim or point in a different direction, To change. Each one of these definitions is starting to resound in my spiritual ears. God is calling His people to start walking in a new direction. He is calling us to turn our spiritual cars around. This new road He is calling us to travel is going to be little more narrow than the previous road we were on. Matt. 7:13 says,”Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and may enter through it.”    

Paul is a perfect example of this “Turn and Burn” transition. Acts chapter 9 details the account of Paul’s Damascus Road experience. Talk about a turn! Total 180. Paul is actually on his way to the city of Damascus to persecute the Christians there. The Lord hits him with a bright light and in essence says, turn from your wicked ways and burn for me. The Lord said, “I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me…… I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes and TURN them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to the power of God.”(Acts 26:16-18). So not only is he called to turn, but then to burn and let his light shine as to call a whole nation to turning back to God.

This is definitely what it took for me to turn back to God. My Damascus Road experience took place in Olive’s (my 2 yr. old daughter) nursery almost exactly one year ago, Praise Jesus. I had been out of the church scene for over 6 years. I was doing nothing to let anyone know that I was a Christian. I really was somewhat uncomfortable talking about God and church. I grew up all around that stuff, but I became desensitized and numb to it all. Little did I know that this was all about to change. My life was about to do a 180!

Julia and my parents had just started going to this group called the Garage. She had been inviting me to go, but I would have none of it. Finally, one night I agreed to go with her. I hated it! The whole night the enemy was throwing thoughts in my head like, “what are you doing here, “you really don’t want to do this again do ya,”, or “you already tried this and failed.” It really was terrible. I left there and did not think much of it. I told Julia that I really did not feel like I would ever go back. That was on Friday. The following Thursday night is when the Lord blinded me with His light.

It was my night to rock Olive, and give her a bottle. We always say a prayer with her as well. Well I go to say my simple and totally un-earth shattering prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit falls in that room. It was an immediate presence of God that I was not familiar with. He told me to start interceding for Olive’s life. To start contending against the enemy on her behalf and becoming the father that she needs me to be for her. I immediately saw a picture of her on a very high rock. There was all this black and gray chaos swirling around her, but not phasing her. She was so calm and content. This was surely the power of Jesus!

I will never be the same after coming out of her room that glorious night! Just one week before that night I had told a friend,” I don’t know what it is gonna take for God to get my attention.” It was such a quick and powerful turn. I was convinced that God was the real deal. I now live my life to burn for Jesus! He is definitely still taking me through the turning process. I find that the more I give to God, the more He gives to me. What an incredible Saviour and Lord!

After all of this, one of my friends asked me, “What is going to happen when this whole church camp experience wears off? When you aren’t on fire anymore?” Haha. C’mon! I love it! I responded, “Where does it say in the Bible that the fire has to go out?”. The Holy Spirit is an ever increasing force with no plans of relenting. “For our God is a consuming fire!” (Hebrews 12:29).

So what’s the next step? Paul encountered Jesus and turned, he then was set aflame and burned with fire unto to calling the lost to Jesus. It is time to shine! Is. 60 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” It is time for the world to see the burning and shining lamps. The voice calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord”!  The more we turn, the more we will burn! Go Burn!

Jarod