Turn Aside Into The Flame

I have been so blessed recently by the e-newsletter I receive from Ryan Wyatt, Pastor of Abiding Glory Ministries in Knoxville, TN. I wanted to share one of his older articles I read that blessed me so - I pray that it will be a blessing to you as well.

TURN ASIDE INTO THE FLAME
- By Ryan Wyatt
Feb 02, 2010

Since 2010 began, I have sensed a special stirring from God and in God's people. I am convinced that, “right now”, we are in a season of favor! I am convinced that this is a season for the church to be propelled further into destiny, in God's divine plan for this very period of time that we are living in. This is a season where God is granting manifest victory and advancement in our lives!

However, I have also sensed a condition to this victory and advancement. This past season and the last few years have been a very difficult and turbulent time for most believers, and even for the world. Let me say clearly that I do not think these difficult and turbulent times are going to cease. In fact, I believe they are only going to increase on so many fronts. However, this being said, IT IS TIME for God's people to advance. It is time for God's people to rise up out of depression, despair, disappointment, apathy and complacency. It is time for God's people to rise up in victory, with fresh hope, fresh expectation, and fresh boldness and courage. It is time for God's people to plunder the enemy of those things that have been stolen. It is time to BELIEVE again!


There is a condition for rising up in victory this year. God is saying: TURN ASIDE INTO THE FLAME. I lead a church in Knoxville, TN called The Habitation. Since the beginning of 2010, there has been a great stirring in our people and week after week the tangible presence of God and the breakthrough in the atmosphere is building! t's not just happening in Knoxville. Many of you have heard of awakenings, stirrings and outpourings of God's Spirit in places like IHOP in Kansas City and at MorningStar in Charlotte, NC and in many other places around the world. Something is happening!

During this time God has been speaking to me from the story of Moses in Exodus 3:1-5:

Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, “I must turn aside now, and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Moses was going about his business and he sensed something, he saw something. He saw a bush that was burning yet not consumed. God has highlighted to me the fact that Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight.” The scripture then says, “When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, 'Moses, Moses!” God wanted to speak to Moses. He wanted to anoint Moses. He wanted to commission Moses. But the scripture says that God did not speak to Moses out of the fire until He saw Moses make a decision to turn aside towards the bush that was burning.

There is a sound of revival in the spirit right now! There is a sound of awakening in the spirit right now! I believe God is looking for those who sense this drawing, who sense this stirring, and who will “turn aside” in this season. What is God doing? He is calling us to turn aside into His flame. So many believers have become disillusioned and disappointed in this last season. So many believers have grown cold and lost hope in this last season. So many believers have lost vision and become apathetic and complacent in this last season. God is calling us to turn aside from our regular routine. He is calling us to turn aside from our present existence. He is calling us to turn aside from those things that have hindered us. He is calling us to turn aside into HIS FLAME! As you begin to turn aside in this season, God is going to warm and thaw out your heart. As you turn aside, God is going to begin to seep into the dry soil of your heart and awaken you to a new passion and a new fiery desire for Him! This is not something that you have to muster up. All He requires is that you make an effort to “turn aside” in this season and spend some time in the flame of His presence. God's fire will do the work. God's fiery presence will be released upon your heart to awaken and to revive!

Another passage of scripture that God is highlighting to me right now is from Luke 24:13-34. Two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus and the resurrected Jesus came walking along side them. The disciples did not recognize Him in His resurrected form but as they walked with Jesus they felt their hearts begin to burn within them. They approached the city as evening was now upon them and the scripture says that Jesus acted as if He were going to keep walking farther. These two disciples strongly urged and even constrained Him to “turn aside” and abide with them for the evening. Because of their strong desire, Jesus came into their home, broke bread at their table, and the disciples eyes were opened to behold this Man, which was Jesus, in resurrection glory!

Even as I write this I feel the manifest presence of God beginning to come all over me. I feel the heart of God wooing His people to “turn aside and look” in this season. No matter how dry you may feel, just make a decision to position yourself in a place of hunger and desire in God's presence and you will find your heart beginning to come alive again! Choose to lay down all disappointment. Choose to lay down all discouragement. Choose to believe gain. Choose to hope again. Choose to expect God's goodness and fiery presence to awaken you afresh!

There are many more things that God is speaking, but for now, I leave you with this. Don't forget that God is more hungry and passionate for you than you are for Him. God is in hot pursuit of you! God wants you to burn with the fire of His presence. He wants you to be totally free from everything that has recently hindered you. Choose today to align yourself with God. Choose today to “turn aside into the flame” of God's presence and receive fresh hope, fresh encouragement, fresh vision, fresh energy, and fresh oil for this season!