by Wade E Taylor
Jesus was about to appear, and the Church of that day needed a “prophetic voice” to announce the incarnation of Jesus in human form and give direction and purpose to all that would follow.
“Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” Luke 3:2
This prophetic “voice” should have come from within the Church, but they were not seeking a “present word,” nor were they cultivating the voice of the Lord. Rather, they were concerned with the activities and well being of the religious system. Whenever they were challenged, they referred back to Moses, rather than to the present purpose and working of the Lord in their midst.
Therefore, the Lord separated to Himself John, the son of a priest. He was called apart into a place (wilderness) where he could personally meet the Lord and come to know His voice.
“Then said they to him, Who are you… He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness….” John 1:22-23
When Jesus appeared, John spoke words that had never been expressed before, which contradicted the expectation of Israel concerning the coming of the Messiah.
“The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, After me comes a Man which is preferred before me: for He was before me. And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.”
“And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him.” John 1:29-32
The Lord is again about to appear, as we live in a time of transition – the closing out of the Church Age and the birthing of the Millennial Kingdom Age. Therefore, there is a need for the “voice” of a present day John the Baptist.
Many in the Church of our day are not listening for a “present word,” but are busy with various programs and activities to build up the Church. Therefore, the Lord is calling apart those who, as John the Baptist, are being prepared to become prophetic so they can hear a “present word.”
We are living in the time when the Lord will begin to appear to those who are being prepared to have a part in the progressive outworking of His second coming.
At this present time, those who are no longer satisfied with their present spiritual experience and attainments and are seeking to go further, are searching for others of like spirit so they can meet together.
This is not necessarily a call to leave our Churches, but rather to “come apart” into the presence of the Lord to be trained, or made ready to recognize and rightly respond to the voice of the Lord. These are being prepared to speak the “present word” that the Lord is placing within them.
If you are among those who are hearing and desire to respond to this call, first settle the issue that you will be given a message to speak that will not accord with the popular messages of our day. This calling cost John his head.
For us to become a part of this “end-time prophetic voice,” we must abide in the presence of the Lord and intently listen for, and respond to His voice. This requires a separation from other voices, many of which are loud and demanding.
Especially at this present time, there is an acceleration of religious activity that affects us in every aspect of our spiritual life and experience. The words of Jesus telling us that we are to go into our “closets” and shut the door so we can pray in secret, has purpose and meaning today, as never before (Matthew 6:6).
John the Baptist was called apart, into a time of preparation. Here in the wilderness, he became “prophetic.” When asked who he was:
“He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah.” John 1:23
In effect, John said, “I am the voice of another, crying.” He was saying, “I have become so at-one with the Lord, that I can express not only His words, but also His emotional feelings.”
The need for such a voice in our day is urgent. We can be encouraged by the fact that the Lord is calling apart many to become a part of this “corporate voice.” This time of preparation requires that we establish a “set apart place,” where we can meet with the Lord. It is very important that we seek to maintain a spiritual “atmosphere,” in which we can quickly respond to His voice to come up higher, to sup with Him, and He with us.
The preparation of this atmosphere of our Lord’s abiding presence cannot be accomplished instantly, nor spoken into being. This spiritual sensitivity can only be developed through a continual seeking of the Lord’s presence.
Much value should be placed on the cultivation of an “abiding, anointed atmosphere” in which the impartation of a present word can take place. Most of us remember little of the messages we have heard, but if it was anointed, and the spirit of impartation was present, our lives were greatly impacted.
The value is not in the words spoken, but in the level of anointing and the spirit of impartation that was present.
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” I Corinthians 1:21
This relates to the anointing and the spirit of impartation. It is considered by many to be “foolishness” because the value is not evident. Each word can be compared to a dump truck, which carries a cargo of “Spirit and Life.” The “anointing” is the fuel that moves the “cargo” into us. The “spirit of impartation” causes it to become a vital part of our prophetic enabling.
The Lord is searching today for those who, as John the Baptist, are willing to come apart into His presence, and begin to receive this present word. If you are seeking more than is presently available to you, you are one of these.
“Who is this that comes out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?” Song of Solomon 3:6
You cannot lose by spending quality time in the presence of the Lord. This was the “secret” of the ministry of Jesus.
“The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakens morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah 50:4
Jesus was in the right place, at the right time, with the right word. He said that this happened because God had awakened His ear to hear, morning by morning.
If each morning, we will begin to diligently spend time in the presence of the Lord, we also will be in the right place, with the right word, at the right time.
In the first coming of Jesus, John said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” In His second coming there will be those who have been prepared to say, “Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah.”
If we have received the prophetic enabling/anointing that has been made available to us, we will have a part in this end-time introduction of Jesus.