TURN – by Paul M Hanssen
As the night season of the end-times draws on and the skies become darker, and as the storm clouds gather in the darkening skies preparing themselves to release catastrophic end-time events prophesied in God’s Word, more and more people, Christians, the redeemed, those whom God has called unto Himself, are becoming spiritually sluggish, lethargic, apathetic, and totally falling asleep. The church of God has lost its way influenced by popular cultural changes and the demands of a society that no longer acknowledges the existence of God. The power, presence, anointing, and fire of God’s Spirit is no longer experienced or evidenced in the worship services or other church ‘programs’ of 98% of churches across the world. As a matter of fact, the fire and breath of God’s Spirit has been rejected, has been denied access, and pushed out of mainstream Christianity whilst deemed unnecessary, un-useful, and old-fashioned. Some even go so far as to say that the Holy Ghost was for the early church but has no place in the modern church era. The personal lives and daily activity of the ‘general Christian’ is void of God and any true awareness of God. The love of many has waxed cold as we face a time in human history like none other before or will be hereafter.
However, in the midst of all the spiritual dryness, death, and confusion, a call is beginning to sound from the Throne of God in Heaven. His Spirit is blowing over the dry bones. The trumpet blast heralding an awakening is sounding. The midnight cry of warning is echoing through the heavens. God is calling! For those who have found themselves in the captivity of a spiritual Babylonian experience, the time is now to arise and return to what you know is Truth.
Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: (Jeremiah 3:14)
The word “turn” means to return to the starting point, turn back again, restore, be converted, and get oneself back. This message was given by God to His chosen people whom He loved and had betrothed to Himself in covenant. It was given to a people who had become backslidden, bound, enslaved, and distant from the Bridegroom. They were in captivity a long way off from Zion. They had become slaves and servants to another king that was not their king. Yet in the midst of it all, in the midst of the gloom, in the midst of the confusion, and in the midst of the darkness, God said “TURN”, I am married to you, I want to bring you back to the inheritance that I have promised to give you in Zion. Turn, come back to me. Turn away from false kings in your life. Turn back to that which is Truth. Turn to me and I will bring you back and will restore you to Zion’s glorious experience.
God gives the call, but we must do the ‘turning’. God does not turn us, He calls us. Only when we respond to His call by turning to Him and setting our sight back on Him will He fulfill His part and bring us to His Holy habitation in Zion.
Is anyone listening? Does anyone hear the scream of the Spirit calling? Do you? Will you respond? Or, like the majority of the church world today will you choose slumber and rather remain in the status quo? Time is short – there is no time to play, there is no time to party, there is no time for frivolous carnal endeavors, there is no time to drag your heels and halt between two opinions. Make up your mind, and should you choose to turn, run – yes, run with all of your might, run with fervor, run with zeal, run with passion, run with desire, run with vision and purpose, then God will restore to you what you have lost and will moreover cause the latter experience to be greater than the former!
The time is NOW. The call is to RETURN. The destiny is ZION.
-Paul M Hanssen