by Wade E Taylor
“And they (Adam and Eve) heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8
Adam and Eve heard the “voice” of the Lord “walking.” Voices do not walk, but we are specifically told that the “voice” of the Lord is walking.
There is a specific reason why the “voice of the Lord” was revealed to Adam and Eve as “walking.” They had been told that they would die if they ate of the tree of knowledge. Through deception, they partook and died spiritually. As a result, they are hiding from the Lord, but could still hear His voice.
The voice that told them that they would die if they partook of the tree of knowledge now has a further word for them. Thus, the voice of the Lord is walking, as now He has something to say to them that is beyond what He had previously said.
“And the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, Where are you?” Genesis 3:9
The Lord is not asking for their physical location, as He knew. Rather, He is asking for a confession concerning what they had done. As a result of this confession, they were covered with the skin of an animal, and were forgiven.
So also today, the Lord has a “present word” for us that is beyond that which He has previously spoken to us. Thus, His “voice” continues to walk. Yesterday, the Lord spoke a word to us that we could hear and understand. Today, He has a word that is beyond that which He spoke yesterday. And tomorrow, He desires to speak a “word” that is beyond the word that we heard today.
“He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.” Revelation 3:22
For us to hear this “present word,” there must be a further preparation that will enable us to hear.
“And no man puts new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.” Luke 5:37-38
We are this bottle. Jesus is telling us that we must have a capacity to hear a fresh word from Him that is beyond our present ability to understand. Therefore, we must have a spiritual ear with the capacity to hear fresh revelation and understanding, beyond that which we heard in the past.
Throughout the course of history, there have been specific times of intervention in which the Lord used an individual to change the course of history. Examples of this are Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Mary. The Holy Spirit came to Mary and told her she was to bear a Son, apart from any relationship with a man. Other than the prophetic word, there is no Scriptural reference for this.
Each of these past times of specific divine intervention lifted mankind from one level of His workings and dealings, to a higher level.
At this present time, the Lord is knocking on the door of our spirit to prepare us so He can again move in direct intervention, as we have arrived at the time in which the Church Age is closing, and we are beginning to move into the Millennial Kingdom Age.
“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.” Revelation 3:20
“To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” Revelation 3:21
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here…. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.” Revelation 4:1-2
These Scriptures begin with Jesus knocking on the door of the Church, and end with Him seated with those who are overcomers, on the Throne in His Kingdom.
In past times, these interventions related to an individual, but this present intervention will come through a corporate remnant, a body of “overcomers” prepared by the Lord for this end-time transition, whose voice will be “as the sound of many waters” (Revelation 1:15). This is a corporate voice in which all are saying the same thing.
Because the message that will bring us into the Kingdom is different from the message to the Churches, the Lord has repeatedly said, “Who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:9).
Consider the following progression:
The ministry of the Church is to “Whomsoever.”
The ministry of the Kingdom is to “He who overcomes.”
The message of the Church leads to “Heaven.”
The message of the Kingdom leads to “The Throne.”
The desire of the Church is “Jesus abiding within.”
The desire of the Kingdom is “Jesus taking His place as The Head of His body.
The testimony of the Church is “I have Jesus.”
The testimony of the Kingdom is “Jesus has me.”
The Church operates through “Grace.”
The Kingdom operates under “Government.”
To enter the Church, we need “A message of salvation.”
To enter the Kingdom, we need “A message of preparation.”
Jesus met much opposition as He sought to move Israel from the Law of Moses to the message of the Kingdom. The Law required an “outward” obedience. The Kingdom requires an “inner” heart change.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Mathew 5:3-5
Because the message of the Kingdom transcends the message to the Church, a special time of preparation is essential. Therefore, Jesus chose those who had no previous religious training.
This began with two fishermen while they were working at their trade. They were being called apart to be with Jesus, so this transition could take place. Therefore, Jesus said to them, “I will make you to become.”
“…The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand… And Jesus said to them, Come after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Mark 1:15-17
Here, the message of the Kingdom is being offered to these men through a practical application to their occupation. They had been fishers of fish. Now, Jesus is calling them to become fishers of men. Note carefully that they would continue fishing, but with a higher purpose in view.
So also today, if we are to hear and accept the present word of the Lord, we must have an “ear” to hear and a “new wineskin” to receive, as we move from “Grace” to “Government.”
The Kingdom message in its functioning is intended to lift the earthly aspect of our present vocation into a higher realm and purpose, until His Kingdom in righteousness fills the earth.
The word “Kingdom” has often been misapplied. It has been relegated to a future millennium, or to heaven. However, the claim of the Kingdom that Jesus presented must first become a present reality, which will prepare us for the future Millennial Kingdom.
It must become effective in the everyday life experience of all those who choose to submit to His Kingdom rule. Jesus did not imply that those who respond would be promoted into a place of rulership or prominence. Rather, He expressed the coming of a Kingdom authority that would reign over the lives of all those who would submit to its message – “I will make you to become.”
To accomplish this, every aspect of our present daily pattern of life will be affected.
This Kingdom that is being presented by Jesus is “at hand.” It is not intended to find its function simply as a future hope. Rather, it is presented as being presently attainable and practical. That is, it will work in the immediate circumstances of all those who respond.
For us to enter this Kingdom, we must embrace and submit ourselves to the rule of God. This means that we have made Jesus our Head, who will give direction and purpose to our lives. To do this, we must recognize the Lord Jesus Christ as our present, personal King. Then we must place ourselves, along with everything that pertains to us, in subjection to His Kingdom rule.
Jesus said, “Come you after Me.” If our lives are as they were before salvation, plus the “salt” of religion, we are falling far short of His claim upon us, and His desire for us, and we will be unable to abide or function in the place of His calling.
At this present time, Jesus is dealing deeply within the lives of all those who intently seek Him, that they might be prepared to exercise authority over the nations. But first, His authority must be established within them. Things that the Lord once winked at in the past will no longer be left unchallenged. Everything that can be shaken is shaking, until it has been reduced to the place where it submits to His Kingdom claim.
The Lord will no longer allow His people to remain in the realm of blessing and provision alone. He is causing us to acknowledge and submit to the claim of His Kingdom upon our lives. He is bringing each of us to the place where we must make a decision as to what we will do with this “Kingdom,” which He said is “at hand.”
In its present form, the outworking of it will be manifested within us as “righteousness, and peace, and joy, in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17). In “that day” it will transform the Nations.
Accept what Jesus is saying, and then begin to press into this Kingdom.