Wade E Taylor
None of us are exempt from problems. These problems are neither accidental nor coincidental, but rather, an integral part of the Lord’s program. He will have a people who choose to choose Him, not because it is easy, but because they are determined to push through life’s problems in order to apprehend Him.
Many, however, take the easier route and give up when trials come their way. Thus, the promise and reward is to those who rise above the pressures of life and overcome.
Through redemption, we have become a “new creation.”
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” I Peter 2:2 NKJ
The Lord desires to bring into spiritual maturity this new creation that we have become, so that His calling and purpose for us might be fulfilled. There are two primary steps that we must take in order to do this. First, we must place our old pattern of life (the works of the flesh) upon the cross and “reckon ourselves to be dead to sin and alive to God” (Romans 6:11). Second, we are to fully commit our lives to the Lord.
“…As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
This growth process requires that we are to set apart time to be with Jesus for fellowship and communion, and wait on Him in His presence, that His life might flow into our lives to become a personal reality within us (as being a branch that receives its life from the vine).
“If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” Isaiah 1:19
This opportunity is given to all who are saved, but not everyone is willing to adjust to a “diet” that is conducive to spiritual growth. Therefore, Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).
In other words, “Few will pay the price in order to be chosen.” This process of qualifying begins after we have received the gift of salvation, which has been freely provided for us by Jesus upon Calvary’s cross.
The outworking of this gift of salvation requires us to acknowledge that we will face problems and difficulties in our life experience, and of greater consequence, that we will view them rightly. Only then will we be able to appropriately respond to the Lord in the midst of them.
We will mature spiritually as we become actively involved with the Lord in the outworking of this process.
“Come, My beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give you My loves.” Song of Solomon 7:11-12
There are levels in our spiritual growth, and in our identification with the Lord in the outworking of His purposes. For this process to be accomplished, we must develop a sensitivity to the Lord’s presence, that we might rightly respond to Him as He seeks to guide us toward spiritual maturity.
Our problems and difficulties come from two main sources, human and satanic. Because we have embraced the cross, died to our own ways, and have submitted ourselves to His governmental Kingdom rule, each of these problem areas will be tested in some form or way, so a correction might be made. Only then can we be changed (experientially) into His image and likeness, and become compatible with His will and purpose for us.
“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
We will never be qualified to rule nations until we have first brought into subjection the “nations” that reside within us. As we overcome in our struggles with the problems created by our Adamic nature in every‑day life situations, we will be experientially seated with Jesus in heavenly places.
This will result in our being caught up (as overcomers) to the Throne (seated with Him in His Throne, Revelation 3:21) to “wrestle” in intercessory authority. As these principalities are brought down, they will vent their rage on mankind, and the end-time calamities and judgments mentioned in Revelation will begin to unfold.
While the children of Israel were in Egypt, it was easy for them to exercise positive thinking and say, “Canaan is ours, a land that flows with milk and honey.” But, upon their arrival, they encountered giants and walled cities. The walls of Jericho were brought down through obedience to a divine directive; this was a type of the spiritual warfare that results in a mighty defeat of principalities.
“To the intent that now to the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” Ephesians 3:10
This is the wisdom of the Lord – He will use the very humanity that satan defeated in the Garden of Eden to bring down satan’s kingdom. Christians often recite Ephesians 2:6:
“And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
But, the enemy is entrenched in the heavens and must be confronted through actual warfare before we will be able to “experientially” enter into our place with the Lord – to be seated with Him above all principalities and powers.
For us to wrestle against these principalities means that there is to be a present, active warfare. Just reciting that we are seated with Jesus in heavenly places will not transport us there. We must have an overcoming quality in our lives wherein we enter into a relationship with our Lord in prophetic intercessory authority – a “wrestling authority” whereby victory may be won in our present circumstances.
Today, our Lord is looking for those who will actively seek to grow into a level of spiritual maturity, which will enable them to assume this prophetic role of spiritual authority. Just as the children of Israel walked together around Jericho in obedience to the Word of the Lord, so also, we must become part of a prophetic army that will function in total harmony and unity.
Then, principalities will be brought down, and the heavens will open to the release of His glory and presence. This will result in a moving of the Spirit of God on the earth in visitation as never before.
The Lord is calling us to arise and come up into the heavenlies with Him. Only as we reject the path of least resistance, and begin to walk in