Spring 1998
Being Prepared For The Days Ahead
Wade E Taylor

In Topeka, Kansas, in a service as the new year of 1900 was ushered in, a young lady received a powerful infilling of the Holy Spirit. During the next several days, many more received. This experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit spread to Azusa Street in Los Angeles, and then around the world. The Pentecostal movement was born.

There was a specific time in which this took place. So also, in each visitation that brought a greater restoration of spiritual life and power to the Body of Christ, there has been a specific time in which it was released. Often, these times have been unnoticed by the multitudes.

The world leaders were far removed from the incarnation of God in a man; the direct intervention of God into the affairs of the world. When Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem, His arrival was announced to shepherds in the fields, rather than to the news media of that day.

When the Herod of that day heard of the birth of Jesus, he sought to kill Him. The earthly kingdoms will always come against the heavenly. Thus the Lord reveals Himself to those who are of a sincere heart, truly seeking Him.

In due time, Jesus became known as "Jesus of Nazareth." This was the place in which a Jew who had married a Gentile lived, as they were hated by the Jews. A Gentile, who had married a Jew, also lived in Nazareth, because they were hated by the Gentiles. Jesus chose this as His place of identity, so He could be known by revelation alone. He was introduced to Israel by John the Baptist, who had been uniquely prepared for this purpose by the Lord.

Jesus, and those who followed Him, greatly affected the world of that day. Yet few of the elite of that day noticed or responded. But the common people gladly accepted the message of Jesus.

At this present time, many are being drawn to the Lord, hidden away in seeming insignificant places, such as Pinecrest. Within these, there is a preparation taking place for the release of a new wave of spiritual power that will again turn the world upside down, in preparation for the establishing of the Millennial Kingdom.

"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the
mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been
hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ"

"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 3:9-11.

The present "key" to this is to be found in our worship. The Word tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people. The original word for "inhabit" is very picturesque. It gives the image of an animal of prey, waiting for a good meal to come along, so it can pounce upon it.

This tells us that the Lord is waiting for the opportunity to "pounce" into our midst, to feed upon our worship. He is released through our worship to work and accomplish much within our lives. Jesus said, if you will respond and allow Me to come in, "I will sup with you, and you with Me." He sups with us as we worship, and in turn, as we sup with Him, we are greatly changed and prepared for His higher purposes.

Our worship is a key that will release us into a deeper realm of communion with the Lord, in which He can make known to us His end-time purposes, and though the "fellowship of His sufferings" include us together with Him in all He is about to do among the nations.

When we worship, we establish a line of communication, and the Lord moves down through it. As we worship, He works, as we have given Him access.

The Lord desires an active, responsive, communion with us. Have you ever noticed, when talking on the phone with someone, when they become totally silent for a time, you will say, "are you there?" We expect a response and when there is none, we react. By remaining silent, we often turn off the line of communication while the Lord seeks to talk to us. Our worship tells the Lord that we are listening. Thus, our fellowship with the Lord is a two-way communion.

When the Lord tells us that He longs for our worship, it is not so much that He likes to sit and listen, but the Lord so desires to move into and change circumstances, and resolve our problems, that He longs for us to make a way for Him to do so.

Therefore, at Pinecrest, there is an emphasis on quality worship in our Chapel services. It is our desire that each person who comes to Pinecrest will leave with both an appreciation for, and an ability to worship our Lord. These will have a part in changing the world of our day.