by Wade E Taylor
We must come to the place where we recognize the importance of the manifested presence of the Lord, and that it is His desire and intent that we stand before Him in His revealed glory.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Corinthians 3:18
This especially applies to all those who desire to be available to the Lord for His present day purposes. This “open face” speaks of an open heaven in which the Son will begin to shine forth as never before.
“When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” II Thessalonians 1:10
A high level of intercession is required to push back the hindering powers of darkness before this can happen. Because of the urgent need for the manifested glory of the Lord to be seen in this present day, many are being called into the ministry of intercession.
If you are feeling a “tug” in your spirit concerning this, tell the Lord that you are available. He is at the door knocking, seeking those who are willing to be used in intercession; those who will respond and intercede, to release this end-time manifestation of the Glory of the Lord.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus set forth principles that will help to prepare us for this desperately needed, but very costly ministry.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:3
This speaks of our coming to the full end of our abilities, so that the Lord’s ability and power might become operational through us.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Because the Lord has a higher purpose for each one of us, His dealings may be intense; but, if we will maintain our trust in Him, He will bring us through the difficult (wilderness) time of our preparation. We must come to understand that His ways are very different than ours.
The pathway that leads into an active, cooperative relationship with the Lord may be much longer than we had anticipated. It may appear to be elusive or even hidden at times, and may also be filled with diverse obstacles.
There is a reason for this, as the Lord uses these things to deal with our natural abilities, and with the things that are buried within us that could hinder the outworking of His purposes through us, especially in the difficult times in which we live.
It is important for us to know that the Lord will make a way through every hindrance or obstacle, if we will submit ourselves to His governmental rule, and implicitly place our trust in Him.
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
The world has yet to see the result of this level of overcoming obedience, but they will.
Moses was a vessel that was prepared by the Lord, both in Pharaoh’s ornate palace as he grew, and also in a wilderness in which all of his natural abilities were drained from him.
“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” Exodus 3:1-2
“And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And He said, Draw not near here: put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place whereon you stand is holy ground.” Exodus 3:3-5
When Moses finally turned aside before this bush that burned with fire but was not consumed, he was told by the Lord to take off his shoes. He had gone as far as he could go in his own abilities. Now, in total dependence on the Lord, he was sent to lead the Lord’s people out from Egyptian bondage, into a land that flowed with milk and honey.
So also today, those who are seeking a kingdom relationship with the Lord are about to be set free from the methodology that they have been taught, and from all dependence on their own abilities.
The “bush” that burns with His presence is before us, waiting for us to come to the end of ourselves and turn aside into the Lord’s presence. When we do, the Lord will begin to speak His words through us.
“And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good land and a large, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.” Exodus 3:7-8
“Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come to Me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth My people, the children of Israel out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:9-10
May each one of us begin to seek a burning bush experience, that we also might be prepared to have a part with our Lord in bringing the Body of Christ out from the world’s commercial system, and from religious bondage, into a land that truly flows with milk and honey – the Millennial, Theocratic Kingdom of God.