Category: ARTICLE OF THE MONTH

Wade E Taylor

There will be a full restoration of the Apostolic with the power and authority that the early Church experienced.

“Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”  II Corinthians 12:12

This power and authority was totally lost during the Dark Ages.  Toward the end of this time of religious darkness, Martin Luther rose up against the selling of indulgences and proclaimed that salvation cannot be purchased or earned, but is given by the Lord as a free gift.  As a result, a true “pastoral” ministry was restored to the Body of Christ.

The understanding of salvation gradually began to unfold.  Then came the belief that because we are saved by grace and become a “new creation,” there should be visible evidence of this.  John Wesley began to teach the process of sanctification, and the Methodist (method) movement was born.  As a result, a “teaching” ministry was restored to the Body of Christ.

Many began to be stirred, being convinced that this salvation, which had changed their lives, should be shared with others.  Whitfield and others began to proclaim the Gospel of grace and as a result, the “evangelist” was restored to the Church.

Wade E Taylor

The Word tells us that Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).  Thus, the transgression of Adam did not take God by surprise, as the Lord had a purpose in mind when He created man.

“In the beginning, God...” (Genesis 1:1).  Before anything was created, God already existed.  It is difficult for us to comprehend that God is without a beginning.  Also, the vastness of the universe is incomprehensible.

I have wondered why such a vast universe was brought into being, and I have sought understanding concerning this.  When I ask, the Lord always responds with the following understanding – Because God is a social being (we are created in His likeness), He desires fellowship and communion, in which there is satisfaction and fulfillment.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6

Wade E Taylor

Each of us has varying amounts of information about Jesus, and many are satisfied with this.  But some are being stirred to seek a higher level of spirituality in which they experience not only His presence or power, but have an active personal relationship with Him.

“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

Jesus desires to make Himself personally known to us.  Therefore, it is essential that we respond to this inner stirring of the Spirit, especially at this present time, as we are approaching the Kingdom Age.  Jesus said that we cannot enter the Kingdom, except we first become as little children.

Wade E Taylor

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us….”  John 1:14

The eternal, living Word became the greatest revelation that God could ever give to man – the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin and dwelt among us in condescension as “Jesus of Nazareth,” which at that time was considered as being a place of reproach.  As He walked the dusty roads of His day, the world saw a visible demonstration of the power and truth of the eternal Word.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life… that which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that you also may have fellowship with us….”  I John 1:1; 3

Each aspect of our life should be of such purity and quality that the “Word,” which we receive into our spirit, can find its full expression and fulfillment through us.  The “written” Word is to become the “experiential” Word – a personal reality in our life experience, to be “seen” and “handled” by those who surround us.

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

“Deep calls to deep.”  Our Lord is a seeking God who is constantly searching for those who will respond to His desire for communion and fellowship (“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock….” Revelation 3:20).

Therefore, by “divine intent,” we were created with the capacity to hear and respond to this desire of the Lord for fellowship and communion.  As we respond in anticipation, we will be lifted into the realm in which we will be able to say with David:

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.”  Psalm 27:4

Wade E Taylor

“And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, and the Father by Him.”  Colossians 3:17

Each spiritual consecration or decision that we make has an eternal purpose and reward that transcends its present purpose and effect.  It is very important for us to understand this spiritual principal.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10

We remember most of our important spiritual consecrations because they have a recognizable purpose and directly affect our spiritual life in some way.  We value these and hold them as being important spiritual experiences.

Along with these, there are the many seemingly unrelated choices that we make each day of our lives, that do not appear to have any lasting purpose.  We tolerate these, but think concerning them, “If I can just get past all of these mundane things, then I will be able to seek that which is of spiritual value.”

Wade E Taylor

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace… Brethren, if a man is overtaken in a trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”  Romans 8:6; Galatians 6:1 NKJ

It is difficult to express the idea of true “spirituality,” but it can be narrowed to a principle: In order to relate to and function spiritually, one must be “spiritually minded,” or be “in the Spirit.”  For us to be considered as being “spiritual” indicates that we have come into a degree of spiritual balance and maturity wherein we are living and walking in an ongoing personal relationship with our Savior, Jesus.

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine….” Ephesians 4:14

Wade E Taylor

“Zion” relates to worship that ascends in harmony with the choirs of heaven, to the One who sits upon the Throne.  Zion speaks of “a set apart place” in which the expression of pure adoration and love flows up to the Lord through spontaneous worship.

Spiritually, Zion resides within us as being “a habitation of His presence.”  As we maintain the poise of our spirit in an attitude of worship, we enter Zion.  Then, whenever we attend a meeting and blend our personal flow of worship into the flow of corporate worship, the heavens will open and release a manifestation of the presence of the Lord moving through a meeting in waves of glory.

There is an urgent need for us to understand the value of our coming into the atmosphere of Zion, to worship.

“When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.”  Psalm 102:16

Wade E Taylor

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”  Genesis 2:7

Adam was created from dust.  Because God used dust, man was created to be dependent upon his Creator, as dust is incapable of holding its form.  Had Adam been formed of clay, the image into which he was made would have been able to maintain itself.

God breathed into Adam “the breath of life” (plural).  In the Lord’s original intention, man was formed to live and function on two different levels of relationship and experience – the “earthly” realm and also, the “heavenly” realm.  The “breath” that God breathed into Adam was the sustaining power to maintain him on each of these levels of life.

Due to the high calling of man to commune and fellowship with his Creator, and to exercise dominion over the earth, man was required to be tested in order to maintain this state of dependent submission.

Wade E Taylor

I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”  Revelation 3:18

This advice is the final word of correction that is spoken by Jesus to the Church.  The “gold” that is to be purchased is not monetary provision, but our partaking of the “divine nature.”

“By which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”  II Peter 1:4 ESV

“For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.”  Ephesians 5:30

We are called to live and function in the realm of the Spirit.  To those who are coming short of this, there is a corrective word – “I counsel you to buy of Me gold… that you may be rich….”

Wade E. Taylor

In the Song of Solomon, the Lord compliments His Bride, for He sees within her a quality that He intensely desires to cultivate and use.

“Behold, you are fair, my love! behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes.”  Song of Solomon 1:15

When a dove fixes its gaze upon its mate, it is not distracted by any activities around it.  Therefore, a dove is often referred to as being a “love bird,” as it has what appears to be a “single eye” toward another dove.

Our Lord complimenting us for having this “dove’s eye” indicates that we have cultivated a spiritual sensitivity that will lift us above the pulls and distractions of the earthly, so we can respond to the Lord’s presence, in obedience to His desire and purpose.

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 a deeper walk in the Lord.  One of these words is “overcomer.”  An “overcomer” is one who “rises above” a situation, or a difficult circumstance, by dealing with it.

Our being an overcomer is not the result of something that we do; rather, it is what we have become through the experience of what we do.  It is the unconditional commitment of our life to the Lord – the “heart attitude,” or motive of our spirit and soul.

Wade E Taylor

True worship is born of and directed by the Holy Spirit.  When a group of committed Christians, who have never been together in a Gospel gathering, worship the Lord in a flow of  beautiful harmony that lifts those who are worshipping into the presence of the heavenly worshippers, a casual observer might think they had been meeting together for years.

This flow of worship is not the result of any learned ability, but rather, it is due to their response to the presence of the Lord, and the resultant lifting power of the Holy Spirit as they lift their voices in an expression of pure adoration for the Lord.

Pure worship produces the unity that releases the Holy Spirit to impart the enabling power to lift corporate worship into a flow of harmonious expression – the heavens open and the presence of the Lord is released upon the gathering.  Also, worship hinders the functioning of demons and principalities and aids deliverance, where and when needed.