Putting the Lord First: "My People Are So Busy Working for Me, They Have Little Time to Spend With Me"

Wade E. Taylor:

Putting the Lord First: "My People Are So Busy Working for Me, They Have Little Time to Spend With Me"

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death...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. Philippians 3:10, 12

Within the visible Church is a smaller remnant who are seeking "something further" beyond their present spiritual experience. Thus, it can be said that there is a "Church within the Church," or spiritually speaking, a "people within a people."

There are those who have a present active relationship with Jesus. Others are satisfied with the fact that they are saved, and someday will be in Heaven with Jesus. Not having a present, active, ongoing spiritual experience, they are satisfied with being a "spectator" of all that the Lord is doing through the lives of others, along with attending "the" service, once each week.

However, some are being stirred to enter into a deeper personal relationship with Jesus. This also was the desire of Paul, who said with heart intensity, "that I might intimately, personally, know Jesus." This prayer of desire to have an active, present relationship with Jesus should resonate within each of us.

When the Lord responds to our prayer, we will be directed to the "Cross" – the dying of our self-centered lives, that we might become the expression of His life, through the "power of His resurrection." Thus, Paul also said, "I live, yet not I."

Jesus ever seeks for us to enter a higher realm of identity with Him (the fellowship of His sufferings). This goes beyond the "fellowship of our sufferings" and will bring us into a "Kingdom" relationship with Jesus, in which we, in the totality of our being, become totally submitted to the dictates of the Head (Jesus). He said that we cannot enter the Kingdom (an active relationship with Jesus in total submission to Him), except we first become as little children.

...[Allow] the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Mark 10:14-15

The Lord may move in ways that differ from our past expectations, or experiences. This means that our response to the present stirrings within our spirit must be with a child-like trust and faith.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

The Lord's response to our seeking may be in a way that is not familiar to us, or that may appear offensive to our intellect. Therefore, we must be careful that we do not miss our time of visitation. It has been said to me, "This is not the way it was when we met the Lord," and they rejected the present time of visitation.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty...Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. I Corinthians 1:27, 2:12-13

The Lord may test us to see if we are really sincere, and if we are willing to accept Him on His terms. Herein is the need for child-like faith and trust.

Seek Him Early

I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me...that I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. Proverbs 8:17, 21

The Lord will respond to the expression of our heart's desire to better know Him. As we worship and express our love for Him, He will become singularly interested in us.

Some time ago, I was struggling to find something that I had misplaced. Finally I prayed, asking Jesus to help me, and quickly it was found. If I considered this, I would have to say, "When all else fails, pray." Rather, I should have prayed first. The Lord helped me, but I had missed a choice opportunity to establish and demonstrate my dependence upon Him.

The Lord is saying that He will respond in a special way to those who seek Him "early." This "early" means that in unquestioning anticipation, we are to respond to His beckoning presence, without first trying to understand what? or when?

But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

When we put the Lord first and acknowledge our utter dependence upon Him in all things, He will make Himself known to us, and also, He will work in our behalf. As a result, we will receive spiritual "substance" that will abide in our spirit – His life imparted into our lives. Now, our words will become the "testimony of Jesus" – His words being expressed through our relationship to Him (see Revelation 19:10).

And He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him whom He would: and they came unto Him. And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. Mark 3:13-15

Our primary calling is to come to Jesus – spending quality time in fellowship with Him. As we are faithful in our part (our coming to Him), He will be faithful in His part, our being sent forth as a witness of His life being lived through our lives.

But ye shall receive power (divine enabling), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses (not do witnessing) unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

Changes That are Taking Place Within Us

The important thing is that we have spent time alone with Jesus, so we might receive the "substance" that is to be imparted into our spirit for the outworking of our testimony and ministry. Our time of preparation is very important, as we can only give that which we have received. Thus, as we spend time in His presence, the Lord will place within us the seed (potential) for all that pertains to our calling.

In Matthew, chapter thirteen, a sower went forth to sow. Some of these seeds fell by the wayside (hardened soil) and were eaten by the birds. It is very important that the seed (a present word) falls into carefully cultivated soil (our being in the center of His will and purpose). The distance from the hardened soil of the wayside to this prepared soil is only one step.

The step that we take into the place of separation for our preparation as an end-time witness is very important, as while the inner work of the Holy Spirit is taking place, there may be no evidence of a harvest. During this time, the important thing is the changes that are taking place within us, rather than in what we are accomplishing.

There have been times when I have struggled to meet the Lord, trying all kinds of approaches, but getting nowhere. Then I became quiet and found that all the Lord required of me was for me to take one step to the side and become quiet. When I did this, He was there, waiting for me to wear myself out, so I could yield and come His way. I had been trying to force the Lord to move as I thought He should. All that I had to do was to yield and come His way (child-like faith).

And Moses said, "I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, "Moses, Moses." And he said, "Here am I." Exodus 3:3-4

"I Will Now Turn Aside."

The Lord visited a young man recently and said, "My people are so busy working for Me, that they have little time to spend with Me." There must be "set apart times" in which we turn aside to spend quality time with Jesus. The enemy will do all that he can to hinder this, by keeping us busy.

The demands of our soulish desires are very real and ever present. To seek Jesus early requires of us a time of heart preparation. This involves a crucifixion of these self-centered desires with a determination to seek the Lord and spend time alone with Him. We must become serious concerning spiritual things.

As we do this, the Lord will draw us to Himself, and impart into us an adequate supply of the "substance" (the living, creative Word) that will meet the need – our being sent to preach the Word, heal the sick, and cast out devils.

Then, it can truly be said, "The Kingdom of God is at hand."

Wade Taylor
Wade Taylor Ministries / Parousia Ministries
Email: nancy@wadetaylor.org
Website: wadetaylor.org

Wade Taylor graduated to Heaven on February 29, 2012. He served others as a teacher and spiritual father for over 50 years. He was respected and loved by many for his quality of spirit and walk with his Lord. He was an anointed author, bringing forth deep truths of the Spirit with a clarity and simplicity that drew the reader up into a closer walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Nancy Taylor Warner, daughter of Wade Taylor, spent most of her childhood in a Bible school environment due to the calling on her father's life. In 1981, the Lord called her to support his message and she since has functioned in a variety of positions. Today, in response to her dad's wishes and the encouragement of its board of directors, she now oversees Wade Taylor Ministries. Nancy travels at times to speak and pray for others. She particularly enjoys teaching on intimacy with God and other truths that relate to our spiritual growth. She brings an expectation for the visitation at hand, and prays for the life and ministry of Christ to be imparted by the Holy Spirit each time she ministers. Nancy's special gift of relating to and loving people stems from her own love for Jesus and His Kingdom. Her spiritual life messages flow into the hearts and spirits of those to whom she ministers.