"Going Beyond Our Present Experience" - Wade Taylor

"Going Beyond Our Present Experience"

Wade E. Taylor, formerly Nanjemoy, MD

The Elijah List

Those who have experienced Jesus as being their personal "Savior" openly acknowledge that He shed His Blood upon Calvary's Cross in atonement for their sin, and in some measure, they live a committed Christian life. The name "Jesus" has become precious to them.

Among these are many who also know Jesus as "Christ." The word "Christ" speaks primarily of the anointing, especially the "One who is anointed (Jesus)," and in a lesser sense, of our being "anointed" as a member of His Body. These have received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and have developed a sensitivity to His presence. In some measure, they are being used in Holy Spirit gift ministries.

There are fewer, however, who also know Jesus as being their personal "Lord." These have crucified their self-life by giving up the right to do as they please, and have unconditionally submitted themselves to the governmental rule of His Kingdom. To know Jesus in this way is to personally experience Him in the fullness of His Name, in which He has become, with meaning, "The Lord Jesus Christ." Each aspect of His Name has become a personal reality within their spiritual life experience.

There is More! Our Redemption and Inheritance

Heaven is not intended to be the "goal" of our Christian experience. Rather, it is included in our redemption as being our inheritance.

For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house made without hands, eternal, in the heavens. II Corinthians 5:1 Peoples NT

There is more that we can experience, which is beyond our being saved, healed, and filled with the Holy Spirit. This has to do with our having an active, personal relationship with Jesus, and as an overcomer, being among those who will be called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

...Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb... Revelation 19:9

This "more" is something of great value that can be added to all that has been freely provided for us, but requires an action on our part. Having a salvation experience is essential for us to enter Heaven (you must be born again). However, our submission to His Kingdom rule is conditional, in which Jesus becomes "Lord" of our spiritual life experience.

And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23

Since our ways are contrary to, and "cross" His will for us, we must die to our own ways, if we are to fully follow Jesus. We ourselves must take up this cross. We do this by dying to our "self-life" upon a cross which Jesus will form for us (He was a carpenter).

This "if" tells us that there is a choice that we are free to either make or avoid, without affecting the fact of our salvation. However, it will greatly affect what we have "become" (our position and function) throughout all eternity. If we choose to make Jesus our Lord, we must totally submit ourselves unconditionally, body, soul, and spirit, to He who totally gave Himself for us.

To do this, we are to take the totality of our being – all that we are and have – including the "gift" benefits that were freely provided for us through His atonement, and give all this to Jesus. In dying to our own ways and choosing His way for us, we are taking up our cross and making Jesus the personal "Lord" of our lives.

To experience "salvation" means that I have repented and have been cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. 

I have received Him as my Savior and being saved, can testify, "I have Jesus." To experience the "Kingdom" means that I have taken all that Jesus has freely given to me, plus the right to my own life, and have given all this unconditionally to Him. Now, "Jesus has me" and I can relate to the Lord experientially as being my "Lord Jesus Christ."

As I merge my life into His life, I become one with Him in the outworking of His purposes, both in the here and now, and also, in eternity. Once I have done this, I will gradually come to know that I am far ahead of where I would have been, if I had tried to make my own way through life apart from the Lord. The requirement for entering His Kingdom is not beyond the ability of any one of us.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:3

Being "poor in spirit" means that I have set aside all of my own ways, and have unconditionally submitted myself to the Kingdom – the governmental rule of my life experience. 

Now, whatever He may choose to do with me, will produce that which is of far greater value than anything that I could ever attain to, apart from Him.

Make Him Lord of Your Life

To specifically make Jesus the Lord of your life, you must:

First, find a quiet place in which to be alone with Jesus.

Then, "wait upon the Lord" until you become inwardly quiet before Him. While maintaining an attitude of worship, thank the Lord for His presence and tell Him that you deeply appreciate His desire to commune and fellowship with you.

Now, you are ready to vocally, explicitly, relinquish the "right" to your own life, and to all that pertains to it, and unconditionally turn it over to Jesus. As you do this, you are giving to the Lord full permission, and the total right to govern the totality of your being – all that you are and all that you have, as He chooses. In very direct words, say to Him:

"Jesus, I totally give up the right to my life and I pronounce You the 'Lord Jesus Christ' of all that I am, and have." And also, "Lord, I give You permission to bring me into the fullness of this commitment, whatever it may cost, or wherever it may lead."

From this moment onward, I unconditionally belong to Jesus, and He can bring me into the fullness of all the potential that He has seen to be within me.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do... I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Because I have given Jesus the right to accomplish this, He has personally become to me, "The Lord Jesus Christ" and I will receive the "prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

His Lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your Lord." Matthew 25:23

Wade Taylor
Parousia Ministries / Wade Taylor Publications

Email: nancy@wadetaylor.org or joanne@wadetaylorpublications.org
Website: wadetaylor.org | wadetaylorpublications.org

Wade Taylor graduated to Heaven on February 29, 2012. He served others as a teacher and spiritual father for over 50 years. He was respected and loved by many for his quality of spirit and walk with his Lord. He was an anointed author, bringing forth deep truths of the Spirit with a clarity and simplicity that drew the reader up into a closer walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Nancy Taylor Warner, serves as Executive Director of Parousia Ministries, carrying the vision passed on from her father, Wade Taylor.  In addition, she has established Parousia Prayer Chapel, hosts Parousia Ministries Gatherings, and travels from time to time to speak and pray with others. Her background as administrator, pastor, teacher, and missionary has prepared her for what the Lord is doing today. 

Nancy's special gift of relating to and loving people stems from her own love for Jesus and His Kingdom. Her spiritual life messages flow into the hearts and spirits of those to whom she ministers. Nancy has an expectation for visitation and carries a prophetic word that speaks into that which the Lord is doing today. For spiritual life teachings and to learn more about the vision ofParousia Prayer Chapel please visit www.wadetaylor.org.

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Let Love Win by Tiffany Ann Lewis (Identity Network)

Let Love Win 

by Tiffany Ann Lewis

"A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle." (Proverbs 18:19) 

There seems to be some difficulty in the translation of this text.  Some scholars see the text as reading, "A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities." (Douay-Rheims Bible)  The Aramaic Bible in Plain English translates it like this; "A brother is helped by his brother, like a city by its fortress, and they hold it like the bars of a fortress."  

Either way, what seems crystal clear to me is that offences such as bitterness, resentment, and un-forgiveness, can become a type of prison if left unresolved.  Oh sure, at first it feels like those bars are protecting the heart from more hurt, but the truth is, they are preventing individuals from the ultimate relational goal that God has designed.  God designed human beings for fellowship with Him and each other. "It is not good for man to be alone…" (Genesis 2:18) 

Forgiving someone may be one of the hardest choices a Christian will ever make.  With anger, hurt, and a very real sense of injustice fueling the fire of our emotions, we are faced with a very difficult decision…to forgive or not to forgive. 

The specific forgiveness that I sense the Lord speaking about is something more than turning the other cheek; more than not holding a grudge.  I believe the Lord is calling us to a forgiveness that would be willing to extend love again.  Unfortunately, depending on the level of hurt you have experienced, it may feel like a burden you simply can't bear. 

Learning Through Experience 

The heart is a funny little organ.  Responsible for sustaining life, it also has been likened as the source of our emotions too.  We learn by every experience we go through.  Pain teaches us some very powerful lessons in life.  We burn our hand and the pain teaches us how to handle the stove. We fall off our bicycle and the pain teaches us how to balance on two skinny wheels.  

Now, just because we have experienced pain does not mean that we will never use a stove or ride a bike again, oh but the heart…when it gets hurt it doesn't want to love again.  Sometimes it's just easier to build walls and hide behind them than to feel the pain of a broken heart.  The problem with that solution is that love isn't getting in nor is it getting out. 

It's time to break out of the prison of offence and let love win. 

The litmus test to all this is love.  Are we willing to extend our heart again?  You see, it is possible to share your time with someone but still withhold your heart from the relationship.  We can hide our heart and protect it from pain while walking around with tender mercy, kindness, and humility. However, to live this life that Christ has called us to we must extend love again. 

Above all else we are called to love.  

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." (Colossians 3:12-14) 

The Core of Forgiveness 

Forgiveness that does not extend the heart again isn't really forgiveness at all because love and restoration is at the core of forgiveness.  Let me explain what I call "the grace factor of forgiveness".  The Greek word used here in Colossians for forgiving is "charizomai" (Strong's #5483).  Charizomai is a grace word, it comes from the same root as grace, "charis" (Strong's #5485) and means: to do a favor, to show kindness unconditionally, to give freely, to grant forgiveness, and to forgive freely.   

In other words, forgiveness is an intentional act of releasing one another from the debt that the offence caused.  It is refusing to require the penalty due, literally, to let it go.  The grace factor of forgiveness is giving the offender what they don't deserve…forgiveness. 

Beloved, forgiveness is a choice.  In that moment the pain may or may not go away.  We don't have the power to heal our heart but we serve the One who does.  He has called us to forgive others as He has forgiven us.  Therefore, in His love and mercy, He will supply what we need in order to respond to His request. 

Our power is only the power of choice.  It may take years to experience the emotional freedom and healing of forgiveness but it starts with us making a choice…choosing to let love win.  Amen and Amen. 

Tiffany Ann Lewis

www.tiffanyannlewis.com

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"THE LEADERSHIP MATURITY KEY" - Morris E. Ruddick

THE LEADERSHIP MATURITY KEY (c) Morris E. Ruddick "He who rules his own spirit is mightier than he who takes a city." Prov 16:32 We have entered times described by the Bible as when the "nations rage." In the midst of the mounting turmoil those known by His Name must adhere to a higher standard. Likewise, when paving new ground in this setting, much more by way of discernment and wisdom is required. The task of one of employing righteous power in corrupt settings. The issue is one of leadership, mature leadership. The bar has been raised. Biblical leadership requires a high-level of self-discipline. With it is the ability to grasp and perform well two primary tenets: 1) the accomplishment of the mission and 2) the welfare of those being led. In keeping with the military standard used in the opening scripture, a non-Marine combat reporter (Thomas Ricks, Making the Corps, Simon & Schuster, New York, 2007) made an unusual observation after an extended first-hand study of Marines operating in combat. Trained in the teamwork and discipline needed to achieve often impossible tasks, Ricks described those in the junior enlisted ranks as men who in the world would not have been given the responsibility to run a copier. Yet, in instance after instance in life and death situations, they demonstrated the maturity and presence of mind to know what to do in leading others. "Greater love has no one than this, than a man give up his life for his friend." John 15:13 This standard reflects a culture of discipline that engenders a society of trust. Yet, at a point when the Body should be operating as a society of leaders, it falls short of this standard and too often is embroiled in disorder, discord and diversions. Some Kingdom leadership issues involve maturity. Some are matters of experience. The bottom line for each is the norm of ruling your own spirit. Two friends I admire are each Kingdom leaders. One has the unique ability to see God's blueprint in a person and draw it forth. The other equally proficient as a leader has a tendency, when things don't seem to measure up, to see the devil's blueprint and then works to stamp it out. The way of the world is the survival of the fittest. However, Kingdom leadership bears a greater responsibility. Within the parameters of Truth and good stewardship is the wisdom and balance of a leadership to nurture. It is a key part of what distinguishes us from the world. The way of the Kingdom always offers Life for both the mission and the people involved. The friend whose mode is to discern God's blueprint is fearless in terms of penetrating enemy territory and of taking risks when convinced God is involved. It is the approach evidenced by Jesus during His earthly ministry. "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does also." John 5:19 In contrast, Jesus' scrutiny of the Pharisee's nit-picking approach to leadership indicated that their blindness was impeding the way for others. "Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you shut off the Kingdom of God from men. You neither go in yourselves nor do you allow those entering to go in." Matt 23:13 Beyond the Natural Jesus' response to the Pharisees punctuates the truth that leadership is not about getting people to conform. Nor is it about judgment. As soon as the judgment factor arises, Jesus urged caution and warned that we would find ourselves in danger of being judged. "Judge not, that you not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured back to you." Matt 7:1-2 Kingdom leadership contains responsibilities and requirements beyond the best our natural capabilities offer. It takes discipline and the maturity of ruling ones own spirit to wield. Kingdom leadership incorporates stewardship. It's about wisely managing risk in order to leverage opportunity and increase. It's about nurturing and enabling the gifts operating within one's community. Leadership requires a responsible trustworthiness that simultaneously inspires and guides for the common good. It sets things in order, God's order. Stewardship. Jesus' parable of the talents depicts leadership as emerging from the application of wise stewardship. Good stewardship embraces responsibility and builds from it. In this parable, the one who minimized their risks and didn't make ANY mistakes, but in so doing also minimized their increase, was deemed a "wicked servant" On the other hand, the one who brought increase was given promotion and more responsibility (Matt 25:26). So it is that the principles of stewardship are central to Kingdom leadership. Leveraging Increase. Leadership maps out, builds up and brings increase. In another instance, Jesus told the story about the merchant who discovered a pearl of great value. He risked all that he had in order to leverage opportunity to acquire the pearl of great value (Matt 13:46). Kingdom leadership adapts and manages the change needed to take and navigate the pathway into significant opportunity. Enabling Gifts. Paul wrote the Romans of his deep desire to play a role in advancing the will of God in their lives by imparting a spiritual gift to them. Paul understood biblical community with a depth that came from His Jewish heritage. Understanding ones gifts and how that fits into their role in the community is very central to being "the light on a hill" that Jesus indicated we would be to the world around us. "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established." Rom 1:11 Trustworthiness. Understanding the difference between giving people what they "want" versus nurturing their roles, while raising the bar to serve the common good is pivotal to sound leadership. When done consistently, trustworthiness will result. Trustworthy leaders are foundational to the operation of biblical community. God's Order. Jesus said that you would know them by their fruit. When God's order is operating it bears good fruit. It brings increase. It nurtures the gifts. It draws others because the fruit is evident to all. Isaac sowed in famine and yielded a harvest because God told him to do so. Everyone witnessed God's hand being on Isaac. Reckless Disregard However, there is a reckless disregard operating within leadership  circles that short-circuits the standard needed for the Body to be  properly navigating the snares and hurdles in today's world. It is a  myopia that fails to see either the process or the progress. The story of the young prophet from Judah (1 Kings 13) sent to the  King of Israel illustrates a short-sightedness, that misses the forest  for the trees, which has become almost as a plague today. In this  story the young prophet clearly wielded a prophetic gift and the  power of God, but was so blinded by his focus on his own return t hat he missed the real opportunity with the King of Israel, and due  to his personal concerns was entrapped by the very warning the  Lord had made so clear to him. This sad story illustrates the myopic blinding that needs to be guarded  against among those deemed most gifted. It represents an  irresponsible, reckless disregard for God's priorities due to  overriding soulish obsessions. James admonishes the  double-minded to purify their hearts. God's standard for leadership carries an awe necessitating  an ongoing poise of the spirit before Him. It cannot emulate the  world nor reflect a blended approach. It is a standard that roots  out the precepts of men and the cleverness of the clever. It gives no place to deceit or the lust for power. It is the standard that  eliminates the need for striving and ambition, because of being  immersed in the flow of the Spirit. This standard applied opens the gates for a safe place where the  gifts flow naturally, in unison and harmony to the benefit of all. When  this norm is met, it offers the potential described by the Church at  Philadelphia in Revelations: keys to open doors that no one can  shut and shuts doors that no one can open. Operating with this standard requires an understanding of what  distinguishes the function of leading from the gift of leadership.  A lack of understanding and misapplication of the gifts creates  confusion and dissatisfaction; with disorder and discord following.  The requirements of leadership vary according to the uniqueness  of the gifts of its leaders. Similarly, managing resources and projects is very different from  leading people. The Romans 12 leadership gift flows with both  influence and authority, without the need of position. On the other  hand, the gift of administration in 1 Cor 12:28 specializes in the  management of resources. Joseph the Patriarch operated in both.  Within the function of leading are diversities of applications, again  based on the gifts of those serving as the leaders. The bottom line is the issue between soul and spirit. This is the  cause of much confusion within the ranks of believers. Those  who try to employ the spirit to nurture their soul-longings are out  of God's order. The priorities are upside down. The standard for  leadership requires raising the bar. "The Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister,  and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:28 A Culture of Discipline and Trust In his riveting "Trust: Social Virtues and Creation of Prosperity,"  an analysis of social economics, Francis Fukuyama notes that  economic life cannot be divorced from cultural life. He contends  that in an era when social capital may be as important as physical  capital, only those societies with a high degree of social trust will  have what is needed to compete in the new global economy.  High levels of trust based on cooperative behavior and shared  norms are foundational to maximizing the economic potential of a society. Fukuyama's views make a case for the reason the Jewish people have  survived the civilizations that have come and gone over the millennia.  As a culture within a culture, their foundation is a model of biblical  community and a culture of discipline that engenders a society of trust. Spiritual Maintenance Jesus cautioned of days in which the very elect would be subject to  being deceived. Peter warned those who indulge in corrupt desires  and despise the authority over them. The gravity of the times calls  deep to deep and shouts for the need to spiritually overcompensate. Spiritual maintenance for leaders cannot be confined to devotional  readings or corporate devotions. The defilements of the day must  be compensated for and refreshed by a regular washing in the  Word of Truth and interactive prayer vigils. Proactive personal time  with the Lord must be carved out of the busiest schedules.  David Wilkerson had a mature local ministry that went viral,  when he obeyed the promptings of the Spirit and began spending  an extra hour in prayer each night at midnight. The Apostle Paul frequently in his letters makes a case for the  importance of discipline needed as believers. Again and again  he uses the analogy of running a race. There's no coasting for  those at the forefront of the spiritual drama unfolding in this day.  Peter admonishes leaders to clothe themselves with humility.  The calling of leadership demands vigilance and diligence.  Likewise, the book of Hebrews indicates the need to check  our priorities and maintain the attentiveness needed to rule your  own spirit in maturity. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of  witnesses, let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance  (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily  (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run  with patient endurance and steady and active persistence  the appointed course of the race that is set before us." Heb 12:1 Amp It is a time for true leaders to redirect their attention from issues  of soul and position and into the realm of service. It is a time  when ruling ones own spirit will yield not only the power to serve  as Jesus admonished in Matt 20:28, with the valor and capacity  of those willing to give up their lives as a ransom for many;  but with it, embracing the joy and contentment of truly being in  the flow of His business. "Then the fool will no longer be called generous, nor the miser  said to be bountiful. The schemes of the schemer are evil; devising  wicked plans to destroy the poor with lying words, despite the needy  speaking justice. The generous man devises generous plans, and  by generosity he shall stand." Isaiah 32: 5-8 ___________________________________________________ Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the  call of God in the marketplace since the mid-90s. As founder of  Global Initiatives Foundation and designer of the God's Economy  Entrepreneurial Equippers Program, Mr. Ruddick imparts hope  and equips economic community builders where God's light is  dim in both the Western and non-Western world. He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling;" "Gods Economy, I srael and the Nations;" "The Heart of a King;" "Something More;"  and "Righteous Power in a Corrupt World," which address  the mobilization of business and governmental leaders  called to impact their communities with God's blessings.  They are available in print and e-versions from Amazon.com,  BarnesandNoble.com and other popular outlets. Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts are enabled by the generosity of a remnant of faithful friends and contributors whose vision aligns with God's heart to mobilize the least of these our brethren. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or email us at sign@strategicintercession.org for access information on our secure web-site. 2013 Copyright Morris Ruddick - sign@strategicintercession.org Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor. Since 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For previous posts or more information on SIGN, check: http://www.strategicintercession.org Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org