Entering a New Season
Wade E Taylor

I am satisfied with all that our Lord has accomplished within and through my life, but I am also dissatisfied, as I feel that I am not progressing spiritually as rapidly as I desire.

For those of us who are experiencing a measure of being dissatisfied with ourselves, and also with the ministries to which we relate, there is a present word of encouragement.  The Lord often removes the old to make room for the new, as we are about to enter into a new season.

Therefore, we should hold this sense of being “dissatisfied” before the Lord, rather than complaining about it.  When we do this, these feelings will become a prayer that will release the Lord to meet us in a fresh new way, beyond anything we experienced in the past.

The new season is before us if we will look up in faith, believing that the Lord will visit us. 

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.”

Song of Solomon 2:11-12

The dry season is past and the rain is beginning to energize the soil.  It is saying, “Wake up, wake up, this is the time!”  As the warmth of the latter rain (the manifest presence of our Lord) touches the seed (the spiritual potential within us), a new expression of life will spring forth from deep within us, giving expression to its true identity - the image and likeness of Jesus being expressed through us as the “flowers appearing on the earth” (spiritual maturity).

The “Son” is beginning to shine as never before, as we are coming closer to the time of His appearing.  There is a fresh stirring of His desire for us to become all that He would have us to be.  We are hearing a new message, beyond anything that we have heard in the past.  Our part is to be spiritually open and receptive.

“He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.”  Revelation 3:22, 4:1

Especially at this present time, an open heaven is becoming increasingly available to us, through which the “Son” can shine brightly to release the potential that is buried within us, so the glory of the Lord can become manifest in our midst.  We must respond with anticipation, expectancy, and patience.

In the past, there were places in which there was a substantial moving of the Spirit, and many came to respond to the presence of the Lord.  However, as soon as His presence lifted, they left as their interest was in being blessed, rather than in being changed.

Each time of visitation will be tested with what appears to be a drought, after the time of rain.  If we will stay and press through, seeking the Lord for Himself, He will come to take us beyond anything that we have previously experienced.  If we leave His presence prematurely, the Lord will also go home.

“The time of the singing of birds is come.”  This “singing” speaks of the melody of heaven.  As this early morning singing of birds, true worship flows in prophetic harmony.  As we harmonize together as being one, the heavens will open and we will be lifted into the realms of glory.  There is something in the harmony of pure worship (our voices united as being one) that not only satisfies the Lord, but also edifies us in the inner depth of our spirit.

This is beyond praise where all are shouting.  Rather, it is a harmony in which divine adoration flows up to the Lord.  This will cause the heavens to open and we will pass out of time into eternity.  Once we have experienced this, we will never be satisfied with less, as we will have found the satisfaction that we longed for.

Many have experienced touches of this higher realm of worship and desire more, but it cannot happen in the atmosphere of rock-like music within the present day church, as this limits us to praise, but cannot lift us into the higher realms of worship in the Spirit.

“The voice of the turtle is heard in our land.”  The Lord is beginning to unfold before us new levels of revelation as a “foretaste” of the age-to-come.  We are being taken beyond hearing only messages that relate to the past, into the higher realm of prophetic revelation in which we are receiving a present living word.

This “voice of the turtle” speaks of our being given prophetic understanding that is beyond all that is presently known and accepted.  During the 1950’s, some deeper-life Bible teachers were criticized and judged because as forerunners, they saw and understood that which was beyond what most were seeing or understanding.

As there were forerunners in that day, there are those today who are reaching into the unknown, who also must pay the price of not being understood.  A “forerunner” is one who has a present experience in that which is yet to become available.

“The fig tree puts forth her green figs” (Song of Solomon 2:13a).  This speaks of Israel .  All that is presently happening concerning Israel is an indication that we are living in the end-time.

“And the vines with the tender grape give a good smell” (Song of Solomon 2:13b).  This speaks of the present increase in the manifested presence and glory in the Body of Christ.

“Arise, shine; for your light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you.  And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.  Lift up your eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to you... .”  Isaiah 60:1-4a

This refers to “glory” abiding upon us, so it can be visibly seen (an open heaven).  At the same time, there is an increasing darkness that is covering both the earth and the people.  Many only see this darkness, but there is another side of the coin - “the Lord shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you.”

May we be ready for that day “When He shall come to be glorified in His saints… .” (II Thessalonians 1:10).

Before He comes to appear “outwardly,” He must first come “within” us, so His glory can radiate out from us to affect the nations.  Just as Jesus impacted the world in his first coming, there will be a powerful manifestation of His glory through a corporate body as a part of His second coming.

There is a present need to present ourselves as being “a place of habitation” for the presence and glory of the Lord, beyond anything that has previously been seen - a witness of His glory that will impact the nations.

May each 0f us pray:

“Lord, we consecrate ourselves to be a part of Your corporate body for the expression of Your presence and glory to the nations.  Lord, let us become that beautiful flower, a people birthed forth to reveal your glory to this dark world.”