Fall 1998
A New Song
Wade E Taylor

"His lord said to him, Well done, thou good and
faithful servant; you have been faithful over a
few things, I will make you ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of your Lord" Matt 25:21.

"And they sang a new song ..." Rev 5:9a.

A "new song" can mean many things, but there is a song that is uniquely our own, one that no one else can sing. This song is far more than words which we have not before sung. Rather, it is the expression of all that the Lord has accomplished within us.

This "new song" is the testimony of what we have become in Him. It begins with our worship of Him; He who has made it possible for us to sing this new song.

"And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to
take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for You
were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and
nation" Rev 5:9b.

This speaks of the Lord seeking out a people from among all the nations, which spans all of history. Then follows the outworking of His purpose within these whom He has called to Himself.

"And hath made us unto our God kings and priests" Rev 5:10a.

These words, "made us," tells us that what we are to become is far more important than anything we may ever do. The Lord said "well done" good and faithful servant - not "much done." Thus, it is the way that I do what I do, not what I do, that is rewarded. If I mop floors to the glory of God, my reward will be equal to one who has done some great thing. In fact, it may be greater, as it requires a greater faithfulness to mop floors.

"Good and faithful." The word "good" comes from a root word "God." To be good means to be like God. We are to be conformed to His image. Thus, we are to become like Him. Being "good" means that this has been accomplished. The reward is for our "faithfulness" in doing what we do, rather than our being rewarded for what we do.

We may not be able to achieve greatness to qualify for this reward, but any one of us can fulfill our tasks in a way that will indeed qualify us.

"Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you
do, do all to the glory of God" I Cor 10:31.

When the Lord called Andrew and Peter while they were fishing, He said to them,

"Follow me, and I will make you to become fishers of men" Mark 1:17.

Thus, in following the Lord, their (and our) primary calling is "to become" rather than "to do." They were being lifted from an earthly occupation to a heavenly calling, in which there is a process of preparation for that which is to follow - "You have made us kings and priests."

The Lord has a present, higher purpose for us than our going to heaven at the end of our lives. Once we see the reality of this, we will be able to place the totality of our being in His hands for the outworking of this higher purpose in our lives; being made ready to participate with Him in His Millennial Kingdom.

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:
and we shall reign on the earth" Rev 5:10.

"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto
the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron" Rev 2:26-27a.

Paul saw this and as a result said,

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already
perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that
for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus ... I
press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus" Phil 3:12-14.

Heaven is a gift, not a prize to be sought after.

This principle is present in the foundational Scripture that relates to the formation of the Church.

"But you will receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you: and you will be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth" Acts 1:8.

Notice that this Scripture tells us that we are to "be" a witness, not to "do" witnessing. Thus, the power that is received is power to become, rather than power to do.

Once we understand this, we can enter into a personal relationship with the Lord in which we partake of His life and become as He is. This will result in His approbation, or favor resting upon our lives.

This "approbation" speaks of His singular attention and activity toward us, as though we were the only person in the universe. As we respond to this, we become the product of His workmanship.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that
we should walk in them" Eph 2:10.

In the outworking of this process, we are to become "kings and priests." The "kingly" aspect has to do with the earth realm - our coming into a relationship of spiritual authority and function, which will affect mankind and the Kingdom purposes of our Lord. In its fullest sense, it is governmental and has to do with the Millennial Kingdom rule of the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, before we can ever rule out there, the Lord must first successfully rule within us (our becoming an overcomer). In this realm, our primary calling is preparation for a cooperative, governmental relationship with Him.

The priestly aspect has to do with a high level of spiritual worship. This worship not only pleases the heart of our Lord, but lifts us into the heavens in spiritual warfare, where the principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness are defeated and brought down. In this relationship, our primary calling is preparation to become a worshipper.

"And we shall reign on the earth" Rev 5:10b.

It is very important that we understand the purpose for His dealings in our lives, and willingly cooperate with the present outworking of this process.

"To the intent that now unto the principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be known by the
Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to
the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ
Jesus our Lord" Eph 3:10-11.

This verse tells us that there is a present expression of this rule.

There is a present demonstration of the Millennial rule of the Kingdom that is to take place within the Church, through an overcoming people who have so completely submitted themselves to "being made unto our God kings and priests."

Those who are "wise" will enter the door of this present opportunity to become.