Fall
1988
Cultivating a Spiritual Atmosphere
Wade E Taylor
Heaven, most certainly, is a place. In a larger sense, Heaven
is more than a place, it is an "atmosphere." We
may be asked, "Where is heaven?" A specific location
cannot be given, but we can say with confidence, "Heaven
is where the Lord is."
We may be asked a further question, "Where is the Lord?"
Again, we can say with confidence, "He is here, present
in our midst!" "For where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them"
Matt 18:20.
When the Lord brought forth His highest creation, Adam and
Eve, He placed them in a special "environment" which
He called "The Garden of Eden." We have an idealistic
image of the beauty that was within this garden. Yet it was
more than just a beautiful place, it was a God created "atmosphere"
that was intended to bring forth the very best from the potential
that the Lord had created within Adam and Eve.
"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in
the garden, IN THE COOL OF THE DAY," Gen 3:8a. Not only
was Adam placed within a prepared place, but the Lord chose
the very best period of time within that environment to commune
with him. From this we understand that both the time and the
atmosphere in which we meet with the Lord is very important.
A newspaper recently reported that schools which allow their
students to dress carelessly, produce graduates who tend to
be slipshod in their ways. It has been discovered that a strict
dress code helps to produce quality graduates. Being well
dressed causes a person to feel that they are truly a person
of value. If our home is a mess, then we will feel incapable
and confused. If it is neat and clean, we will feel organized
and creative. The "atmosphere" within our environment
affects the quality of our life experience.
Also, the atmosphere in which we meet the Lord is very important.
Our worship is intended to lift us out of an earthly atmosphere
that is marred by our struggles in life, into a heavenly atmosphere.
"But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises
of Israel" Psalm 22:3. As we come into unity through
an atmosphere of worship, the Lord comes into our midst. "For
where two or three are GATHERED TOGETHER in my name, there
am I in the midst of them" Matt 18:20.
There is harmony in the music of heaven that transcends
our understanding. In a service that I attended during the
mid 1950's, a heavy anointing came upon the service and our
singing blended as one voice. Spontaneously, every one became
quiet. Many heard the "Choirs of heaven" singing.
Then in perfect harmony, everyone began to sing with them.
Heaven had come into our meeting.
The Lord was concerned about "environment" when
he brought forth Adam and placed him within the Garden of
Eden. We also are to prepare an environment for the habitation
of the Lord that He may come and dwell with us. How do we
prepare this environment? The secret is worship.
As we worship, there will develop a "flowing"
with the Spirit that lifts us into His presence. Here, we
enter into the realm of His rest, the atmosphere of Heaven.
This "atmosphere of heaven" is tremendously important,
as the Lord is present to both work and move within it. He
will be "at home" because we have consciously created
an environment, as was the "cool of the day" in
the Garden of Eden.
We are to cultivate an "open heaven" in our services.
The Scripture tells us to "Put on the whole armour of
God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places" Eph 6:11-12.
The atmosphere above us is "clouded" with these
fallen principalities. This effectively hinders the "Son"
from shining upon our services. However as we worship, this
darkened atmosphere is broken up and pushed back and the "Son"
will begin to shine upon us. Heaven will come into our services.
We will begin to feel the warmth and the glow of the Spirit.
Now the Lord will be able to accomplish many things in our
midst.
It takes deliberate action on our part to enter this environment
of worship so the atmosphere may become as an open heaven.
To rush through a song service to get to the "Word"
is folly. Most certainly, the Word of God is important, but
there must be the right atmosphere present in order for the
Word to be effective.
An interesting lesson can be learned from the building of
the tower of Babel. "And the LORD came down to see the
city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And
the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all
one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will
be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do"
Gen 11:5-6.
They were of "one mind." Therefore, they could
accomplish all that they sought to do. Our worship is the
one area where we can quickly and easily come into an atmosphere
of unity. Notice that it is not the quality of our singing
that is important. Rather, it is the unity. This brings the
presence of the Lord and results in the presence of "the
atmosphere of heaven" as the Lord abides in our midst.
As the "natural atmosphere" in the world deteriorates,
within our Churches, the "spiritual atmosphere"
should increase in quality. As it gets darker without, it
should become lighter within. We must actively seek to create
an atmosphere in which the Lord will be pleased to come, and
in which He can accomplish all that He desires to do.
We can have a foretaste of Heaven as we cultivate an atmosphere
of His presence in our services.