Fall 1999
The Cry of The Lord
Wade E Taylor

"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God,
that I will send a famine on the Land, not a
famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of
hearing the words of the Lord.”

“They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north
to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the
word of the Lord, but shall not find it" Amos 8:11-12.

Many feel that these Scriptures refer to a scarcity of the ministry of the Word in the last days. However, this famine is not due to a lack of the preaching of the Word. Rather, it is largely due to the fact that all too few are truly hearing and responding in heart obedience to "the cry of the Lord in the midst of plenty." Therefore, the Lord will withdraw “the quickened present Word." We will hear ”the letter of the Word," but not the Word with spiritual life and substance.

We live in the time of “spectator sports.” Thousands gather to watch a few perform. Many of us have fallen into this mode, in which thousands gather to hear a well known speaker and feed upon His giftings and abilities.

Each one of us should search our hearts to see how we relate to the following three situations that are presented in the Word.

The first situation that we should consider relates to those who are satisfied with the redemption that Jesus accomplished for them on the cross. These are satisfied with the free gift of salvation, and are resting in their “judicial redemption.” They have not become personally active in a present relationship of communion with Jesus.

“I know your works, that you have a name that you
are alive, but you are dead.” Rev 3:1b.

The second situation that we should consider relates to those who are satisfied with all that the Lord had provided for them. Therefore, they are "rich and increased in goods." However, the Word of the Lord to them was that they themselves were "naked." That is, they are satisfied with all that the Lord is providing for them, and as a result, have not spiritually grown.

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with
goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that
thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind,
and naked” Rev 3:17 KJV.

When we are saved, through Holy Spirit regeneration, we become a spiritual baby, and are to grow into spiritual maturity.

“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word,
that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted
that the Lord is gracious.” I Peter 2:2-3.

The word “tasted” means that the “Word” is to be actively experienced, and thereby we grow. The Word of the Lord to these is, "buy of Me gold tried in the fire" (Rev 3:18).

The Lord desires to perfect His nature (gold), through the workings, dealings, and chastenings of His Spirit, in the lives of those who are completely sold out to Him. "Gold tried in the fire" speaks of an active, intimate encounter and on-going relationship with the Lord.

"For our God is a consuming Fire." Heb 12:29.

The third situation that we should consider can be seen in the life of Moses.

“And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians,
and was mighty in words and in deeds, and when he was forty
years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren,
the children of Israel.”

“And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and
avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the
Egyptian.” Acts 7:22-24.

Moses had tried to accomplish the will of God with his own ability and utterly failed. He then fled into the wilderness into a time of intense reduction.

"And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in
a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So
he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with
fire, but the bush was not consumed.”

“Then Moses said, I will now turn aside and see
this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

“So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to
look, God called to him from the midst of
the bush and said, Moses, Moses. And he said,
Here am I.”

“Then he said, Do not draw near this place. Take
your sandals off your feet, for the place where
you stand is holy ground.” Exodus 3:2-5.

From this "burning Word" that the Lord spoke to Moses, came the impartation and anointing that would enable him to lead the children of Israel out from their bondage. In effect, the Lord said to Moses, “You have gone as far as you are to go in your own ways (shoes), now you will walk in My shoes.”

After the Lord had revealed Himself; Moses, who was once mighty and eloquent in words and in deeds, spoke to the Lord and said,

"I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have
spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech,
and slow of tongue." Exodus 4:10.

Moses is saying,

"In the past I spoke quickly what I thought was your word,
but I have learned that this does not work. Unless you
speak to me, I have nothing to say. Now, I will only
speak your Words".

As Moses stood before the fire of the burning bush, all former ambition melted away. His own eloquence was replaced by the Words that the Lord spoke to him. He has "purchased gold tried in the fire."

Now, as Moses stood before Pharaoh and spoke forth the anointed Word, Pharaoh shook. At Pharaoh's rejection of the Word, all Egypt trembled until the people of God were cast out of Egypt in a mighty deliverance.

In this day, the Lord is looking for those whom He might reduce to act upon and speak only His Words. Then, the famine need not come.