From the desk of Steve Shultz:
There are two great words in this article—one by Paul Keith Davis and a personal testimony by Wade Taylor, who happens to be one of my spiritual fathers. These are awesome now, prophetic words that the Body needs to hear. Both of these men are filled with great wisdom, life experience, and heavenly encounters that we can glean from.
Most everyone feels the big shift that took place at the start of the New Year and we know big things are coming...there's a heightened level of expectancy among the saints. This should compel us to prepare and get ready for what's ahead. These two great men give us much needed insight for this hour, which we all need to hear.
First, here are a couple of great teachings to go along with this word:
Paul Keith Davis with Wade Taylor:
Exponential Increase in 2010 Plus Having a "Hearing Ear" for the "Present Word"
Greetings friends,
We trust this New Year is already starting off on a higher level than the previous year. This December's prophetic tour that we did across Alabama with Chuck Pierce, Pastor Kyle Searcy and Kent Mattox created for us a certain momentum that has carried over into 2010. It was an incredible time of insight and release. We will now shift our emphasis to the prophetic implications of Arizona with our Tucson conference entitled "Possessing Bridal Inheritance" this February.
We will have Chuck Pierce and Steven Shelly as our guest speakers along with JoAnn McFatter and Steve Swanson leading worship. I believe it would be an incredible time as we tap into the rich heritage of the prophetic events that transpired outside of Tucson in the mid-to-late 60s.
This past New Year's, our ministry co-hosted a conference in Smiths Station, Alabama with the hope and expectation of touching God's heart for direction and insight for this year and the coming decade. We were not disappointed! Considerable revelation was granted involving one of the most meaningful seasons in modern times.
Last year the Lord spoke to me and indicated that I was entering the most important seven-year span of my life. It was as though everything I have been through in life was preparation for this season. If that is true for me, then I suspect it is also true for many of you as well. Clearly, a simple examination of the political, economic and spiritual climate would support this position.
Furthermore, the Lord also made it apparent that circumstances are going to dictate the emergence of God's people in maturity, power and authority. The escalation in spiritual darkness will reach such a pinnacle during this season that the only remedy or resolution will come from the Lord's people. We must become what we are destined to be and activate our calling as both "priests and kings" to our God. This admonition is given from Revelation 5:9-10, saying:
And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your Blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."
This passage highlights multiple spiritual dynamics that will be unfolding in the coming days:
1. It is a new thing.
2. It is the revealing of what has been concealed.
3. It is to the nations.
4. It involves the purchase of His Blood and harvest.
5. It facilitates the activation of His people as kings and priests.
Mysteries and Secrets
Foremost among these mandates is the Lord's unleashing of mysteries and secrets of His Kingdom that have been reserved for the end-of-time generation. This paradigm is made clear in the book of Daniel. This notable prophet received one of the most profound revelations ever given to mankind. However, the angel that delivered the insight admonished Daniel to seal the book and conceal the revelation until the last days. (See Daniel 12.)
This is a clear reference to the generation that will be on Earth immediately prior to the Lord's return. It would require very little effort to prove that we are that generation. That being the case, we are to then expect considerable revelation to be granted involving God's plans, purposes, and the unveiling of His Word in greater measures as the mysteries of those things previously concealed are now revealed.
The sealed book was unsealed by the Lord Jesus and its contents are to be conveyed to a Body of people called the Bride of Christ. Once this revelation has been consumed by this company they will then appropriate their calling as priests and kings and facilitate the harvest. This Biblical admonition is one of the primary mandates we as a ministry carry.
Exponential Increase in 2010
As a result, the Lord spoke to me this past New Year's concerning the imminent fulfillment of this Biblical promise that I believe will be exponentially increased in 2010. Interestingly, the Lord also highlighted two prevailing enemy spirits that will be dispatched this year and the years to follow, with the given assignment of hindering this call. They are fanaticism and criticism!
I saw these two spirits functioning like book ends coming from two diametrically opposing directions yet with the same determination to squelch the prophetic release of God's Kingdom and hinder the harvest. The first was a dark wave of fanaticism that will sweep behind the Kingdom truths that are to be revealed with the expectation of pressing them beyond Biblical parameters and proper balance.
The Fear of Fanaticism
Fanaticism is simply defined as "wildly excessive or irrational devotion, dedication, or enthusiasm; an extreme zeal or enthusiasm as in religion or politics." Unfortunately, Church history is filled with more instances of spiritual fanaticism than we could possibly enumerate. Every revival in modern times had its fanatical element. Clearly, the prophetic movement has had its fair share of hype and fanaticism that has effectually driven many away from this vitally important aspect of our heritage. Even so, we must embrace the admonition of 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21, saying:
Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
The diabolical intent of this spirit is to drive things beyond Biblical balance and sway people away from the core truth because of the fanatical element that the more grounded Christians desire to distance themselves from.
Of course, fanaticism must be defined within a certain context. I remember as a young college student in the late 70s, that word got back to my father that I was born again and participating in an on-campus Presbyterian Fellowship. Naturally, the Presbyterian movement is not known for excessive spiritual manifestations yet my unsaved father called me into his office at that time and expressed his concern that I had become, to use his exact phrase, "a religious fanatic."
This perception primarily stemmed from the fact that I was very zealous about the salvation I had come to discover and often prayed, read my Bible and attended Bible studies with other students. You can imagine his shock when I became a Holy Ghost "Book of Acts" preacher. Fortunately, he came around and accepted the Lord Jesus as his Redeemer shortly before his death in 2005.
The point is I do not believe that I would have genuinely fallen into the definition of a fanatic as I am seeing it today. The fanatical spirit will have a tendency to cause genuine Kingdom seekers to sway away from the truth in order to distance themselves from the fanatical element. That would be tragic!
Historical Observation
History records this fascinating observation concerning Martin Luther. Although Luther made glaring mistakes involving Israel and the Jewish people, it remains a historical fact that God used him to launch a great Reformation for God's people. Many historians marveled not at the fact that he was able to survive his direct assault against the religious organizational structure of the day that possessed great political power to eradicate its enemies, but that he was able to keep his head above all the fanaticism that followed his movement.
My experience revealed the tendency of many saints to turn away from vitally important truth that is to be unveiled today because of various fanatical elements that will attempt to attach themselves to that truth. We must be like the Bereans and study the Scriptures to see if these things be so. If indeed it is supported by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit then we must embrace the balanced truth in order to become what we are called to be, despite the fanatical element.
The Spirit of Criticism
The other spirit that I saw coming from the opposite direction was criticism. Criticism is defined as "the act or instance of making an unfavorable or severe judgment, comment, analysis or interpretation of one's theory, doctrine or life." From what I saw, this season will produce even more harsh critical religious opposition to Kingdom truth with the hope of deterring the emerging army. Like fanaticism, history is littered with countless examples of unwavering criticism against spiritual outpourings and movements. This was clearly seen in the Azusa Street Revival, the Latter Rain Revival, the Charismatic Renewal and so on.
In my experience, I was personally told that the one that I must be the most cautious of is fanaticism, although I am to also be aware of the critical spirit. As an individual, I would be more prone to distance myself from the fanatical element than to give in to criticism. Even so, we must develop fortitude like the early apostles to forge this new day and present to God's people revelatory truth that has been reserved for our day.
We are literally living in the day foreseen by Jeremiah when he said:
Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand). Jeremiah 33:3 AMP
Therefore, it should be no surprise to anyone that much of this truth extends beyond traditional belief structures and into the realm of revelation. The Word of God is to be revealed in this hour on a scale never before seen in Church history. That is the prophetic directive of Daniel 12 and Revelation 10. It will expedite the emergence of God's people in great power and facilitate the harvest. This prophetic promise will be realized despite spiritual opposition including fanaticism and criticism.
Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries
Email: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org
A Personal Testimony
Wade E. Taylor: Having a "Hearing Ear" for the "Present Word"
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect... I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12, 14
A teacher (Walter Beuttler) in the Bible school I attended often spoke of having a "dissatisfied satisfaction." He was thankful for and satisfied with all that he had received from the Lord, yet he was dissatisfied as he knew there was much more that could be possessed.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
These "good works" are the things or circumstances that the Lord places in our path for the outworking of His purposes – first within us during our time of preparation, and then through us for the benefit of others. The word "should" is conditional, which means that we have a part in choosing the path that we will follow in the outworking of the Lord's purpose for us. Because the right choice is usually not the easiest or most convenient, it is extremely important that we choose rightly.
"This is My Will For You..."
After graduating from Bible school, I diligently sought the Lord as to what I was to do, but seemingly, I was not receiving direction from the Lord. I knew about a new school that was about to open. One of their goals was to train students to minister in the Italian language, and I was unable to relate to this, as I am not Italian, nor felt any calling to minister to Italians.
Therefore, I pushed aside the "drawing" that I felt toward this school, and instead, I decided to pioneer a church on Stenton Avenue in north central Philadelphia. On July 4, 1959, I started toward Philadelphia, a sixty mile trip, to rent a store front for the church, and to find a place to live. As I drove south, the feeling that I was going in the wrong direction became stronger and stronger.
I stopped the car and asked the Lord about this feeling. He responded that I was to go to this new school. I had to turn around and go in the opposite direction. I had prayed much about what I was to do after graduation from Bible School, but the Lord waited until I had taken an active step toward serving Him, then He spoke regarding the place where I was to be.
Soon after arriving and being settled in a guest room, I found a quiet place where I could pray, and repeated to the Lord that I did not want to come here, but that I wanted His best. In response, the Lord clearly spoke the following into the depth of my being: "I will allow you to go to Philadelphia, and I will give you a ministry there and I will bless it. But, this is where I want you, as this is My will for you at this present time."
The next day, I was accepted as a student and moved in. A few months later while alone praying, suddenly I was in Heaven, standing in the presence of God. I knew that He was directly in front of me, seated on His throne, but I could not see Him as I was blinded by brilliant glory. I had a sense of holiness that was beyond any ability or words to express.
As I stood there facing the throne, from my left intense wave-like streams of glory, in brilliant color, began to move slowly toward me and entered into the depths of my spirit. This could be compared to a freight train, with each box-car carrying a cargo that was deposited into my spirit. As each of these entered into me, one after another, I became aware that I was to establish a ministry on this property. It was as if every cell in my body became a sensitized voice box, and I understood the Lord's desire for a "set-apart place" in which He could both be and do as He desired.
When I returned from Heaven to the place where I had been praying, I was so deeply affected by the manifest glory I had experienced, that I had great difficulty in relating and functioning in my normal circumstances. It was two weeks later that I was able to be "normal" again.
Having a "Hearing Ear" for the "Present Word"
I gradually became aware that the purpose of the "ministry" to which I was being called would be to prepare those whom the Lord would send, to recognize and become responsive to His voice and also to have a respect for, and a sensitivity to His manifest presence. This related to those who would be "called apart" to be "made ready" for His end-time purposes.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready. Revelation 19:7
This Italian Assemblies of God school closed at the end of its third year and remained vacant for six years, when in a very unusual way, this property was given to me. While waiting during this period of time, the Lord caused me to know that I was being prepared to be used as an end-time "John the Baptist." Later, the Lord confirmed this through a Scripture that expresses the deepest irony in all the Word of God.
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. Luke 3:2
"Annas and Caiaphas" speaks of the headship and function of the established religious system, which the Lord by-passed. "John... in the wilderness" speaks of an isolated, barren environment, which the Lord used to prepare John for a critical time of ministry.
The Church system was fully in place and functioning. Yet the Lord could find no one within the religious system of that day who had a "hearing ear" to whom He could impart a "present" word. Therefore, He chose one who was not a priest, and led him into a "wilderness experience" to be trained.
Today also, there are those within the Church who have fully committed the totality of their being to the Lord, and are being called apart to receive a fresh word from the Lord. This speaks of the absolute necessity of our receiving a "present word" concerning preparation (our being an end-time corporate John the Baptist), to become a witness of the Lord's manifest presence in these last days. Therefore, we must make the right choices to bring this witness into its full expression, first within and then through us.
This religious system, which the Lord by-passed, had experienced the glory of God and had received much by direct revelation from the Lord. However, they became dependent upon past experiences for their present standing with the Lord. The fact that the Lord had moved through them in the past was not enough to equip them for the present need. They were incapable of hearing a present word concerning the soon to appear "Lamb of God."
During this present time, there are those who are being called apart concerning the soon to appear "Lion of the tribe of Judah." Therefore, there must be within each of us a present seeking of the Lord, even though we may have received much revelation from Him. Yesterday's revelation is not enough to prepare us to face today's problems and pressures.
The Real Wine of the Holy Spirit
While I was a student in Bible School (1956-1959), we experienced a major visitation from the Lord which lasted two weeks. We were daily in Chapel from early morning until late at night. In the beginning, there was a time of intense confession and cleansing, after which His "manifest glory" was poured out upon us. Along with this, a "fountain of new wine" was discovered. Anyone who "drank" therein became intensely filled with the Holy Spirit in boldness and power.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
"Being not drunk with wine, wherein is excess" speaks of a substitute for this higher spiritual impartation and enabling power. This substitute (wine) has been used by satan to wreck countless lives and families. Any seeming "benefit" that comes from it is deceptive, and carries a terrible price tag.
"...but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:18-19). This is the transforming effect of the real wine of the Holy Spirit. It will release us into a spiritual boldness and liberty beyond that of which we are capable, which will glorify God and enable us to minister in great freedom and power.
However, no matter how tremendous this experience might be, we cannot continue to depend upon the experience of "drinking at the fountain of past visitations." It is urgent that we begin seeking the Lord to bring us into a fresh new dimension of the supernatural. No longer are we to look back to where we first met the Lord. Nor, are we to tell the Lord how, when, or where the "new" is to come into our lives and ministries (I turned around and went north to a place that seemingly did not fit the calling I had received).
We must have a "dissatisfied satisfaction"—our being thankful for what we presently have, but actively seeking the Lord for "more." There are two sides to a coin. They are different, yet make a singular whole. Our past and present experiences must merge to make a way for us to enter the future.
John's testimony was that he is the "voice of one crying in the wilderness." He clearly saw the urgent need of that hour by saying, "Prepare you the way of the Lord, make His paths straight" (Mark 1:3). The very heart of my calling and ministry is the preparation of a "voice" that can speak in our day, as John spoke in his day, to be available to the Lord for His purposes during this difficult time in which we live.
All this came into being, when, on July 4, 1959, I stopped the car while driving toward Philadelphia, turned around and went in the opposite direction, in response to "a present word" from the Lord. Looking back, I can rejoice in the fact that I made the right choice.
Many years have passed since that date in 1959. There were years of glory, spiritual impartation, and transformed lives. Mistakes were also made, for which I have repented and received forgiveness from our Lord. Now, at this present time, while residing in Washington D.C., I am receiving a "present word," and I am again making another "turn" that I might move into a higher outworking of my calling and ministry, which is now coming into its intended purpose and fulfillment.
I pray that you also will look beyond your past spiritual experiences, and your present circumstances, and make the right choice during your critical moment of decision.
Wade E. Taylor
Wade Taylor Ministries
Email: wadetaylordc@aol.com
About Wade Taylor: Wade has been serving others as a teacher and spiritual father for over 50 years. He is respected and loved by many for his quality of spirit and walk with his Lord. He is an anointed author, bringing forth deep truths of the Spirit with a clarity and simplicity that draws the reader up into a closer walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.
