Fall 2001
The Need for a Present Word
Wade E Taylor

Jesus was about to appear, and the Church of that day needed a prophetic voice that would announce the incarnation of Jesus in human form, and give direction and purpose to all that was to follow. Mary would soon give birth to a child, the Messiah, the Lamb of God.

“Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God
came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” Luke 3:2.

There was an urgent need for a prophetic voice, and this voice should have come from within the church, but the church of that day was not seeking a present word, nor were they cultivating the voice of God. Rather, they were concerned with the well being and activities of the religious system of that day. Whenever they were challenged, they referred back to Moses, instead of the present purpose and working of the Lord in their midst.

Therefore, the Lord separated to Himself, John, the son of a priest, who was not a part of the “ministry.” He was called apart into a separated place, where he could personally meet the Lord and come to know His voice.

“Then they said to him, Who are you? … He said: I am the voice
of one crying in the wilderness …”John 1:22-23 NKJV.

When Jesus appeared, it was John who spoke words that had never been expressed before, which contradicted the expectation of Israel concerning the coming of the Messiah.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,
Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
This is He of whom I said, After me comes a Man who is
preferred before me, for He was before me. I did not know
Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I
came baptizing with water.”

“And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.” John 1:29-33 NJKV.

The Lord is again about to appear, as we are in a time of transition, the closing out of the Church age and the birthing of the Millennial Kingdom age, and there is a need for the voice of a present day John the Baptist.

Many in the church of our day are not listening for a present word, but rather, are trusting the doctrinal positions which they have been taught. Therefore, the Lord is beginning to call apart those, who as John the Baptist, will hear a present word, and who will recognize the presence of the Lord, when He begins to reveal Himself.

There is a “gathering” of those who are of like spirit; those who are no longer satisfied with their present spiritual attainments, and are seeking to go further. This is not a call to leave our churches, but rather to “come apart” into the presence of the Lord, to be trained to recognize the voice of the Lord. These are being so dealt with that they will speak the “present word” that the Lord is placing within them.

If you are considering this call, first settle the issue that you will be given a message to speak that will not accord with the popular messages of our day. This calling cost John his head.

We can become this end-time prophetic voice only by abiding in the presence of the Lord and intently listening for, and responding, to His voice. This requires a separation from other voices, many of which are exceedingly loud and demanding. There is an acceleration of activity in the world, and also in the church, as never before. The words of Jesus telling us to go into our closets and shut the door, so we can pray in secret, has purpose and meaning as never before. (Matt 6:6).

John the Baptist was called apart, into a time of preparation. Here in the wilderness, he became prophetic. When asked who he was,

“He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make
straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah.” John 1:23.

In effect, John said, “I am the voice of another, crying.” He was saying, “I have become so “at-one” with the Lord that I can express not only His words, but also His emotional feelings.”

The need for such a voice in our day is urgent. We can be encouraged by the fact that the Lord is calling apart many to become this voice. These will come forth in the Lord’s time with a present message.

This time of preparation requires that we establish a “set apart place,” where we can meet with the Lord - an atmosphere in which we can quickly respond to His voice to come up hither and sup with Him and He with us. The preparation of this atmosphere cannot be accomplished instantly, nor spoken into being. This spiritual sensitivity can only be developed through a continual seeking of the Lord’s presence.

Much “value” should be placed on the anointing, and the cultivation of an atmosphere in which this impartation can take place. Most of us remember little of the messages we have heard, but if it was anointed and the spirit of impartation was present, our lives were greatly impacted.

The value is not in the words spoken, but in the level of anointing and the spirit of impartation that is present, so that those who are sensitive and are responding, will begin to receive a present word.

The Lord has chosen the “foolishness” of preaching to convey His word. This is because the value is not evident. Each word can be compared to a dump truck which carries a cargo of “Spirit and Life.” The “anointing” is the fuel that moves the “cargo” into us. The “spirit of impartation” causes it become a vital part of our prophetic enabling..

The Lord is searching today for those who, as John the Baptist, are willing to come apart into His presence and begin to receive this present word. If you are seeking more than is presently available to you, you are one of these.

“Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars
of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with
all powders of the merchant?” SS 3:6.

You cannot loose by spending quality time in the presence of the Lord, and as a result, you will be in the right place with the right word, at the right time.