Spring 1975
The Cry of the Lord in the Midst of Plenty
Wade E. Taylor
President of Pinecrest

The Scripture declares that in the last days there will be a famine of hearing the Words of the Lord (Amos 8:11-12). Many have thought this means a lack of the Word being spoken or preached. However, Scripture says the famine is not a lack of the preaching of the Word, but rather in the hearing of the Words of the Lord. Today, as never before, the Word is being sent forth by radio, television, tapes and literature. Everywhere we find services, conventions and religious activities of all kinds. But the need is for those who can hear the cry of the Lord in the midst of plenty.

The Laodicean church of Revelation 3:14-18 thought themselves rich and increased in goods, but the Lord’s Word to them was that they were poor, miserable, blind and naked. They were still babes in Christ because they were not assimulating His Words into spiritual growth and life. HIS counsel was that they “buy gold tired in the fire.” That is, the Lord desires to perfect His nature –gold—through the dealings, through the chastenings, through the operation of God in the lives of those who are completely sold out to Him. This is “gold tried in the fire.”

Moses had received a vision from the Lord concerning his calling to deliver the children of Israel from bondage. Acts 7:22 indicates that he was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.” We are told that when he was 40 years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and smote the Egyptian. He supposed his brethren would have understood how that God, by his hand, would deliver them. But the next day, when he showed himself to his brethren, they rebuked him and said to him, “Who made thee a ruler and judge over us?” Then Moses fled into the wilderness. When 40 years were expired, there appeared to him the angel of the Lord in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. When Moses saw that the bush was not consumed, he came near and the Lord spoke to him. And from this burning WORD came the impartation of an anointing that enabled Moses to lead the children of Israel from bondage. As Moses stood before pharaoh and spoke forth the anointed Word of God, Pharaoh shook. At Pharaoh’s rejection of the Word, all Egypt trembled until the people of God were cast out from Egypt in a mighty deliverance to go forth unto the land of Promise.

In this day, the Lord is looking for those who, though they be eloquent and mighty in word and have a great understanding of the Scriptures, are willing to stand before the fire and allow everything of themselves to be consumed. The call is going forth today for those who, like Moses, are willing to present themselves at the burning bush and allow God to burn away the chaff and dross, that they might then speak forth His anointed Word of deliverance. The Body of Christ must be brought forth from bondage into the land of promise.

“For our God is a consuming fire.” Are you willing to stand before Him at the burning bush?