Fall 1978
Kingdom Vision
Wade Taylor
President of Pinecrest Bible Training Center

In one of the most penetrating and directive prayers of Scripture, the apostle Paul prayed: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18). Our Lord is seeking a people who will lay hold of this prayer and come to a place of apprehending His purposes for the day.

We have not exhausted the revelation of the Word of God. John in the book of Revelation speaks of “hidden manna”—truth not yet revealed, but reserved for those who have certain overcoming qualities in their lives. Isaiah 1:19, in prophetic vision tells us, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” There are those in our day who are willing to pay the price of pressing on into His full inheritance for the saints and are praying that the eyes of their understanding will be opened that they might enter in.

Many theorize about the program of God for the end time but few walk with Him in present revelation of the Word. Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the written Word will become a vibrant, living word for our day and time. This is the real miracle of the Bible, written thousands of years ago, but having revelation for the very situation we are in today.

To bring a greater understanding of Himself and of the unfolding of His purposes, the Lord has progressively brought forth greater revelation of His Word to His servants. This involves leaving old forms and methods and coming into greater spiritual reality and substance. Yet many are not willing to set aside the old in order to embrace the new.

In Luke 22:14-16, Jesus spoke of a certain hour that was to come: “And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” He projected the vision to a future day. In Acts 1:6 His disciples asked; “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?” Not understanding His word of a greater fulfillment of the kingdom of God in the future, they looked back to the kingdom of natural Israel. After His crucifixion, two disciples were walking along the road toward Emmaus. Despite all He had told them, their vision was set upon the past. Note Luke 24:14: “And they talked together of all these things which had happened.” They did not consider or have faith to believe all that He had shown them of a new age that was to be ushered in. In this frame of mind, they could not recognize Him nor discern His presence as He walked with them. They heard the anointed Word of God from the Lord Himself, (Luke 24:27) but did not understand. It was only when He passed through the gate (representing the age to come) and broke bread, that they remembered the promise He had given them: “I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:16). Immediately, their vision turned from the past toward the kingdom, and they recognized and saw the King.

Many Christians today are as these disciples were –looking back at the past and not able to go on with the Lord. Until our perspective and vision is right, we will not discern His presence as Lord in our midst nor His presentation of the age to come. Let us again pray with the apostle Paul: “The eyes of our understanding being enlightened; that we may now what is the hope of His calling.”

And once we know, let us ask for the grace to go beyond the old that we may enter the new day which is at hand.