Article of the Month

September

The Need for the Prophetic
Wade E Taylor

“Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.”  Luke 3:2

Jesus was about to appear, and the Church of that day needed a “prophetic  voice” to announce the incarnation of Jesus, and to give direction and purpose to all that would follow.

This prophetic “voice” should have come from within the Church, but the Church of that day was not seeking a “present word,” nor were they cultivating the voice of the Lord.  Rather, they were concerned with the activity and well-being of the religious system of that day.  Whenever challenged, they referred back to Moses, instead of looking to the present purpose and working of the Lord in their midst.

Therefore, the Lord separated to Himself, John, who was not a part of the “religious system.”  He was called apart in the “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 1:22-23a

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 … And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and It abode upon Him.”  John 1:29, 32

Today, the Lord is again about to appear, as we are living 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 seeking a present word, but rather, are trusting the doctrinal positions which they have been taught.  Therefore, the Lord is beginning to call apart those, who as John the Baptist, will hear a “present word,” and who will recognize and respond to the presence of the Lord when He begins to reveal Himself.

Many who are no longer satisfied with their present spiritual attainments and Church relationships, are seeking to go further.  This is not a call to leave our Churches, but rather to “come apart” into the presence of the Lord, to be trained to recognize the voice of the Lord.  These are being prepared to speak the “present word” that the Lord is imparting within them.

If you are responding to this call, you must first settle the issue that you will hear a message that will not be in accord with the popular messages of our day.  To become this “end-time prophetic voice,” we must abide in the presence of the Lord, and intently listen for and respond to His voice.  This calling cost John the Baptist his head.

This may require a separation from other ministries, programs, and visions.  Also, at this present time, there is an acceleration of activity that affects us in every aspect of our lives.  The words of Jesus telling us to go into our “closets” and shut the door, so we can pray in secret, has purpose and meaning 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 many to become a part of this corporate voice.  This time of preparation requires that we establish a “set apart place” (closet), where we can meet with the Lord – a place in which we can quickly respond to His voice to come up here and sup with Him, and He with us.

Much “value” should be placed on the cultivation of a “spiritual atmosphere” in which this impartation can take place.  Most of us remember little of the messages we have heard, but if 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 is 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 “preaching” may appear 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 become a vital part of our spiritual being.

The Lord is searching today for those who, as John the Baptist, are willing to come apart 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 loose 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 always in the right place at the right time with the right word.  He said this was because His Father had awakened His ear to hear - morning by morning.

Each morning, if 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, becoming an “end-time” prophetic voice.