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THE PRICE OF TRUTH
Wade E. Taylor
May 14, 2002
"THE PRICE OF TRUTH" First the Test. Then the Blessing. -- By Wade E. Taylor Wade's email: wetbanner1@aol.com (not a riddle: wet = Wade E. Taylor Banner = Wade's quarterly publication) ---------------------------------------------------- Note by Steve Shultz: Wade Taylor is a semi-regular writer for Rick Joyner's Morningstar Journal. ---------------------------------------------------- “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matt 22:14. "If the Lord had made SPIRITUALITY attractive and easy to attain, multitudes would have followed Him." ----------------------------------- THE VISITORS ONLY CAME FOR DESSERT ----------------------------------- There have been times of visitation” in which the manifest presence of the Lord has substantially increased. During these times, the word spread and many came to receive a blessing. During one of these prolonged times of visitation, the attendance substantially increased. But soon after the visitation lifted, the visitors were gone and we returned to the normal attendance. There had been a time of intense preparation within those who were committed, but the visitors only came for the “dessert” and received accordingly. --------------- THE POLITICIAN --------------- There is a vast difference between a prophet and a politician. The term “grass roots” refers to going out among large groups of people, and discovering what they desire. The politician then offers what the majority wants and as a result, becomes popular and is elected. In other words, the politician seeks out which way the majority are going. Then he stands in front of them and says, “Follow me.” ------------ THE PROPHET ------------ But the prophet stands alone and says, “You are going the wrong way, turn around.” The politician is popular because he relates to the majority. The prophet is never popular because his word is costly and requires change. People often are deceived because they choose that which is presently comfortable, rather than being willing to pay the price of “Truth.” “But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required” Luke 12:48. “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Heb 12:6. The truth is costly and often, the result are not seen. But to choose less, in the long run, is much more costly. “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 thou into the joy of your Lord.” Matt 25:23. This “faithfulness” relates to “patience.” Notice that the word says “well done,” not “much done.” “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Heb 11:6. ----------------------------------------------- GOD IS MOST INTERESTED IN WHAT WE ARE BECOMING ----------------------------------------------- Those who continually look for “something for nothing” are open to deception. Many of these will compromise, rather than submit to the Lord's way. He works very slowly, but very thoroughly, as He is more interested in what we are becoming, than in what we do. Our “self” will always seek comfort and ease of life. The enemy of our spiritual lives also sought for his personal gain. “For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13-15. Satan sought his own will and comfort – “I will.” Jesus always said, “Thy will be done.” He never acted on his own, or sought His own gain and comfort. After Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened and the Father spoke, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The Holy Spirit descended upon him, and the approbation, or, the favor of God, rested upon Him. But immediately, he was led into the wilderness where he was tested for forty days. At the end of this time, Jesus became intensely hungry and the enemy came to remind Him that He was very capable of doing something about this intense hunger. Jesus refused, saying that His Father had not told Him to do so. ------------------------------------------ SUBMITTING OUR HUNGERS TO THE WILL OF GOD ------------------------------------------ Each of us “hunger” for all kinds of things. We can submit these “hungers” to the word, and to the will of God, as Jesus did, when He said, – “It is written.” Or, we can act on our own, seeking self satisfaction. In effect, Satan said, “If you are the Son of God, you do not need to be hungry, therefore, You should do something about it.” Satan acted very concerned and may have shed some "sympathy tears" about the hunger that Jesus was experiencing. But in truth, he would have viciously turned on Jesus, just as soon as He had attempted to satisfy His hunger, and then say to Him, “I hungered for prestige and popularity. I wanted to be seen and heard and I acted on it, (I will ascend) now, You cannot judge me as You are no different than I.” If Jesus had failed this simple but profound test, it would have resulted in His becoming disqualified to become our Savior. Rather, Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word ...” Later, the angels came and fed Him a much better meal. ----------------------- "I DO NOTHING OF MYSELF" ----------------------- Jesus said, “I do nothing of myself.” John 8:28b. This tells us that Jesus walked on water because He had a word to do so. Thus, Jesus was not walking on water, but on the “substance” of the word He had heard from His Father. While in the boat, Peter said, “Lord, if this is You, bid me come.” Jesus responded with the word, “come.” Now Peter also is walking on “substance” as he has a word – “come.” He did well until he looked away from Jesus, to the water, and as a result, he began to sink. But Jesus reached out and took him by the hand and pulled him up. The Lord is always present in every test. Our being tested precedes the blessing. Thus, Acts 1:8 becomes a powerful present word. “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. ------------------------------------- FIRST THE TESTING. THEN THE BLESSING ------------------------------------- The word “after” confirms to us that we must first be tested, before the blessing and power are ours. “And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mark 1:9-13. “And Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil.” Luke 4:1-2. “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about.” Luke 4:13-14. The “power and fame” came, only after Jesus had been tested, not when He was filled. There is no easy formula to success. There is a price. It will come only after we have been tested, or after we have spent time, waiting in His presence.
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