Wade E. Taylor: "Choosing to Come Up Higher"

From the Desks of Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith:

We always have a choice to come up higher in our relationship with Christ. After all, it is our choice to receive Him as our Lord and personal Savior. He never forces Himself upon us!

My former spiritual father, Wade Taylor, was full of incredible wisdom while he was on this earth...and he always made it a point to put his relationship with the Lord first.

Even though Wade graduated to Heaven years ago, his messages live on, including this one about the choices we make toward our spiritual life, as Wade shares here:

As we go through life, the more decisions that we make toward that which is spiritually edifying, the easier it will become to continue making these decisions, and we will become more detached from all those things that could pull us down. In the beginning, it may be difficult, but it becomes easier as we continue to choose rightly.

Now that portion itself is chock-full of wisdom! Read the rest of this timeless message from Wade and let it encourage you to choose to come up higher. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

In Christ,

Steve Shultz and Julie A. Smith, Co-Editors
Elijah List Publications

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"For it is under His direction that the whole Body is perfectly adjusted by each joint that furnishes its supplies. And by the proper functioning of each particular part, there is brought about the growing of the Body for its building up in love." (Ephesians 4:16 Williams New Testament)

Our spiritual life is far more than the accumulation of information that we gather, such as understanding doctrine and the written Word. Rather, the "measure" of our spirituality is the result of the accumulation of the decisions that we make during our span of life. When we stand before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ, the level of spiritual life to which we have attained (30, 60, or 100-fold) will be compared (measured) against His overcoming life.

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man (spiritually mature), to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13 Treasury of Scripture, emphasis mine)

What Ship Will You Choose?

Life is never easy; it is a struggle in which we must continually choose what we will do, or which way we will go. Because of the many desires that we have, along with the responsibilities that have been placed upon us, at times it may be difficult for us to make the right choice.

"To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." (Revelation 3:21 Treasury of Scripture)

As we choose rightly, we will become one of the overcomers whom the Lord will lift into being seated with Him in His throne, at the appointed time.

"And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, He stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And He entered into one of the ships..." (Luke 5:1-3 Treasury of Scripture)

There are always two "ships" – His way and our way. We must make the choice as to which one we will enter. Hopefully, we will choose the "ship" (our life circumstances) that Jesus entered, which relates to His will being done. (Photo via Wallpaper Flare)

We are all fishermen; we "fish" for that which will bring satisfaction into our life experience. These fishermen were washing their nets. The "net" is the method that we use to get what we want. We either succumb to satisfying the desires of our flesh, or we choose to rise above these desires to feed our spirit.

The accumulation of the choices that we make is all that we will take with us (that which we have spiritually become) when we depart from this life. If our decisions for the Lord outweigh our self-serving choices, then this becomes the level of spiritual growth to which we have attained, and will establish the place of our relationship to the Lord for all eternity.

Our being an overcomer means that there is a separation between that which pertains to our self-satisfaction and fulfillment, and that which is according to the will and purpose of our Lord for us.

As we go through life, the more decisions that we make toward that which is spiritually edifying, the easier it will become to continue making these decisions, and we will become more detached from all those things that could pull us down. In the beginning, it may be difficult, but it becomes easier as we continue to choose rightly.

From Moving in Circles to Moving Upward

Our lives, in many ways, are comparable to walking in a large, circular spiral. As we move around the circle and continue to choose that which is spiritually edifying, when we return to our starting place, hopefully, we will be a distance higher than we had been when we first started. If we choose toward self-gratification, we will arrive a distance lower than we had been when we first started.

Life may seem repetitive (as it mostly is), but the accumulation of these seemingly mundane, daily choices that we make will greatly affect our eternal position before the Lord.

The capacity for us to function in the millennial Kingdom, and also in Heaven for eternity, is being developed within us during our time here on Earth. Thus, we are doing far more than simply going in circles. If we are making positive decisions toward the Lord, our desire to personally know Jesus will substantially increase, and our spirit will become more sensitive to His presence. But, if we give in to carnal desires, we will become hardened and indifferent to the Lord and to His presence.

We may be struggling and, at times, seemingly losing more battles than we are winning. But, as we spend quality time in the presence of our Lord, asking Him for the strength to make the right decisions, we will be enabled to do so, and we will begin to move upward. (Photo via Pexels)

There are those who have a spiritual quality that is perceptible to others, as their lives radiate an inner peace. This is because they have risen above all earthly pressures and temptations, and are making the right decisions.

A Platform Called "Righteousness"

Jesus said that the Kingdom is within us. The first aspect of the Kingdom is "righteousness." Thus, the righteous decisions that we make will draw us upward toward His Kingdom. When we choose the Lord and place ourselves under His Kingdom rule, we place ourselves on a platform called "righteousness."

Then, as we continue to make righteous decisions, it will result in our experiencing His abiding presence and having a sensitivity to all that is spiritual. Because we are making the right decisions, the favor or the approbation of God will rest upon us. The pattern for our making these righteous decisions is beautifully laid out in the Sermon in the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, and 7).

The "Sermon on the Mount" deals with the motive behind the act. This is the higher code of spiritual life, which is beyond our being right or wrong, but rather with our partaking of spirit and life. There are those who will pay the price to live on this higher plain of spirituality.

May each of us make a commitment to the Lord of all that we are, and all that we do. This will place us on Kingdom ground in full submission to His headship. The Lord will be glorified and pleased, and His approbation will rest upon us. Now, we will be ready in that day to hear Jesus say to us:

"His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:23 Treasury of Scripture)

Today, may we make the decision to set Jesus first in all of our daily activities. Then Jesus will make the decision that we will be seated with Him in His throne in "that day."

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Wade Taylor
Parousia Ministries | Wade Taylor Ministries |
Wade Taylor Publications
Email: nancy@wadetaylor.org
or joanne@wadetaylorpublications.org
Websites: www.wadetaylor.org 
| www.wadetaylorpublications.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. For more of his writings please visit www.wadetaylor.org.

Nancy Taylor Tate serves in Parousia Ministries, carrying the vision passed on from her father, Wade Taylor. Her books, "That I Might Know Him," and "Walking in His Ways," are readily available on Amazon. In addition, Nancy hosts Parousia Ministries Gatherings and travels, from time to time, to speak and pray with others. 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 of those to whom she ministers. Nancy has an expectation for visitation and carries a prophetic word that speaks into that which the Lord is doing today. For deeper life teachings and to learn more about the vision of Wade Taylor Ministries/Parousia Ministries, please visit www.wadetaylor.org.

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