Category: ARTICLE OF THE MONTH

Wade E Taylor

“For we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10 Darby translation

The Lord seeks those who are sensitive and responsive to His presence, that they might be prepared and available to Him for whatever purpose that He might have.  Therefore, He “works” within us to accomplish His higher purposes through us.  These “good works” are the circumstances that He uses to accomplish this.

These “good works” may not appear as being “good,” but rather, may be seemingly terrible things that are being used to produce a good result.  Therefore, our part is to recognize the Lords presence and cooperate with Him in whatever He may desire to do.

We may faithfully attend Church and feel spiritually satisfied; but the Lord desires something beyond this.  Whenever He stirs us to bring about changes within us, we should respond by “focusing” our attention toward His presence, and that which He seeks to accomplish.

Wade E Taylor

“And they 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 among the trees of the garden.”  Genesis 3:8

It was not “while they were walking” that Adam and Eve heard the voice of the Lord.  Rather, they heard “the voice walking.”  This profound statement reveals two things:

First, the fact that they “heard” the voice tells us that the Lord desires to communicate with us.

“Who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  Matthew 13:9

Secondly, the fact that He is “walking” tells us that there is a progression in what the Lord desires to say, beyond all that He said yesterday, and is saying today.

“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  However when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear that will He speak: and He will show you things to come.”  John 16:12-13

Tomorrow, the Lord will speak beyond that which He has already spoken.

Wade E Taylor

“And the disciples came, and said to Him, Why speak You to them in parables? He answered and said to them, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”  Matthew 13:10-11

As we grow spiritually, we become aware that we are beginning to see and understand things that others neither see nor understand.  As a result, we may become critical of those who do not see as we see, and we may even become proud when we discover that we have spiritual understanding that others do not have.  If we are making genuine spiritual progress, we will experience in some measure or form, these reactions.

Although this is not good, it should encourage us, as it is an indication that we are making spiritual progress and entering into a higher realm of spiritual life and understanding.  However, if we are to continue to develop spiritually, our pride and critical spirit must be dealt with and overcome.  If not, we will go no further in our spiritual development, and worse, we may begin to lose ground, spiritually.

“If any man will (choose to) come after Me (continue to grow spiritually), let him deny himself and take up his (own) cross, and follow Me.”  Matthew 16:24 (comments added)

Wade E Taylor

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuge, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him….”  Philippians 3:7-9

Paul has not only given all temporal things to the Lord, but also, he has experienced the actual loss of them.  This is followed by the expression of his intense desire that now, eternal things will replace these temporal things that have been removed.

“…But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13 -14

Wade E Taylor

If we are feeling “spiritually empty,” it may be the Lord’s intention for us to feel this way.  The Lord often removes the old to make room for the new, as we are about to enter into a new season.  Thus:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:3

Rather than being discouraged or complaining about our present struggles, we should hold this sense of being “dissatisfied” (spiritually empty) before the Lord in anticipation of a new and deeper spiritual experience, which is beyond our present level of spirituality.

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.”  Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Wade E Taylor

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who  comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to  comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort  wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”  II Corinthians 1:3-4

There are many Christians who have been unintentionally hurt by a minister, or by another Christian.  These hurting Christians drawback from fellowship, refusing to again expose their need, and consequently they become spiritually crippled.

If they had the understanding that there was a higher “purpose” in the Lord allowing them to be  hurt, then the negative consequences could be avoided, and their fellowship among Christians restored and enhanced.

“But He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”  Job 23:10

Wade E Taylor

“The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying to Him, Get thee out, and depart hence; for Herod will kill You. And He said to them, You go, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day, I shall be perfected.”  Luke 13:31-32

Peter gave us the principle that a Scriptural “day” can be considered as being a “thousand year” period of time.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”  II Peter 3:8

Thus, at this present time, we are approaching the end of “today and tomorrow” – the fullness of the Church Age.

The Lord created all that was created in six days, and rested on the seventh day.  Four of these time periods relate to the Old Testament, and the other two time periods to the New Testament.  Presently, we are at the end of the sixth day, or the sixth time period.  The seventh day, as a thousand-year day, is the Millennial Day.  This relates to prophetic time, not calendar time.

Wade E Taylor

“Yes, I long to come to know Him; that is, the power of His resurrection, and so to share with Him His sufferings as to be continuously transformed by His death, in the hope of attaining, in some measure, the resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead.”  Philippians 3:10-11 Williams

We must guard our spirit concerning attitudes and things that can hinder the “quality” of our spiritual life.  When we neglect to value and maintain His presence in our daily life experience, we will gradually lose our interest in daily communing with the Lord.  Our understanding of spiritual principles will become clouded and deteriorate, and we will be robbed of His best for us.

Wade E Taylor

To be “anointed” and to have the ability to “impart” are different, but they relate and work together.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor….”  Luke 4:18

For us to be anointed means that a “divine enabling” rests upon us.  Whatever we do or say, we will do it better, according to the level of anointing to which we have attained.

“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established.”  Romans 1:11

The ability to “impart” includes, but goes beyond our being anointed.  If we have this God given ability of impartation, then whatever we say or do, under an anointing, will deeply affect those who are hearing.  Also, the very “substance” of His being (Jesus) will be imparted into the spirit of those who are responsive.

“I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me. That I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.”  Proverbs 8:17, 21

Wade E Taylor

Prayer should be a natural function of our everyday life and at the very heart of our relationship with our Lord.  The heart of our prayers should always be the expression of our love for the Lord, and of our desire to personally know Him.

“I love them that love Me, and those who seek Me early shall find Me.”  Proverbs 8:17

Our need is not to be better informed about the methods and principles of prayer, but rather, to be stirred to spend quality time in prayer.

Wade E Taylor

“Deep calls to deep. At the noise of Your waterspouts, all Your waves and Your billows are gone over me.”  Psalm 42:7

The first “Deep” relates to the heart desire of our Lord for communion and fellowship with us.  The second “deep” relates to the spiritual capacity within us, which the Lord created to satisfy His desire.  The fact that the first “Deep” is calling to the second “deep” tells us that our Lord actively seeks and desires our fellowship with Him.

“Behold, I stand at the door (of your spirit), 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. 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 3:20-21 (comment added)

In search for the fulfillment of His desire for fellowship, God created the expanse of the universe, but still could not find that which He desired.  Therefore, He returned and formed man from dust (Adam was created to be dependent), and created within him a “depth” in his spirit that is inversely commensurate with the vastness of the universe.  This “deep” within man is capable of unlimited communion with God, through which the Lord receives a measure of satisfaction.

Wade E Taylor

A “word” that is being quickened at this present time is, “Rise Up,” or, “Come Higher.”  Wherever we are in our spiritual life experience, the Lord is challenging us to come higher.

“After these things I saw a door standing open in heaven.  The first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”  Revelation 4:1 International Standard Version

There are several terms that relate to our having a “higher” (deeper) walk with the Lord.  One of these words is “overcomer.”

Wade E Taylor

“And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”  Revelation 5:9-10

This “new song” is not one that we learn.  Rather, it is the result of our submission to the dealings of the Lord, and it is a testimony of what we have become – “kings and priests.” 

The “twenty four elders” represent the Old Testament overcomers.  The “four living creatures” represent the four sides of spiritual maturity, the New Testament overcomer. They are singing – “and has made us.”  This song is the result of the “processing” that takes place during our life time, which leads to our being chosen as an overcomer.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:14

A better way to say this is, “Many are called, but few will pay the price in order to be chosen.”

Wade E Taylor

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night….”  John 3:1-2

Nicodemus waited until it was dark so he would not be recognized.  However, there is a deeper meaning as to why he “came by night.”  The Old Covenant, the Law, began in manifest glory, but had degenerated into a religious ritual which resulted in spiritual darkness.  Nicodemus walked out of this religious darkness toward the One he now recognized as being the “light” that he sought, but being a Pharisee, had not previously found.

“Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.”  John 8:12  Douay-Rheims Bible

As Nicodemus approached Jesus, he said, “Good Master.”  He was saying, “Jesus, You have something that I do not have. I have come to see what it is, and receive.”

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  John 3:3 NASB