His life - Extract from Wilbur Ministries
The world’s opera stages and synagogues were the ambition of a determined young man named Paul Wilbur. A passion for the arts and music took him from under graduate school in Cleveland, Ohio across the Atlantic to study in Milan, Italy. There he was instructed in vocal technique, Italian, and opera by some of La Scala's most skilled mentors.
“By the time I had returned from Italy the direction of my life had been pretty well set in stone,” Paul says. “The life of Richard Tucker had become a pattern to success that I wished to emulate. Here was a Jewish man, who was one of the world’s most revered operatic tenors, and who also honored his religious tradition by singing under the domed roofs of the world’s synagogues.”
“I was pursuing a Master’s Degree in vocal music performance at Indiana University, and the things that normally attract a young man were also attractive to me: music, my friends, and girls! As I pursued relationships, inevitably two things happened: I would ask a girl out for a date, and they invited me to church.” The writing was on the wall.
“It was like I wore a t-shirt that said, ‘Please…somebody take me to church.’” Well, it was during one of those “church dates” that Paul encountered Jerry Williams, a young man from West Texas whose testimony and friendship would soon change his life forever.
“I was completely taken by Jerry’s love and passion for God, although I had never met him. From the very first time I saw him ‘perform’ I understood that he was not singing about God, rather he was singing to Him."
This experience, along with powerful teaching from the Scriptures, continued to draw Paul back for services week by week. He joined a Bible Study in his graduate dorm and became hungry for anything that could teach him about the God of the Bible.
One Sunday the church announced that anyone who would like a free meal would be paired with a church family. Paul signed up, but then had second thoughts.
“I was picturing this grandma and grandpa, and my payment for eating their dinner was going to be hours of conversation sitting in a room with quilts over our laps looking at pictures of their grandchildren,” he recalls. But try as he might, Paul could not get out of the commitment. When he arrived at the apartment for dinner, he was completely overcome to see the young man whose music had touched him so deeply several months earlier. It was just a few weeks later on a fishing trip to Tennessee that Jerry introduced Paul to his Messiah; March 26, 1977.
Together with their friend Ed Kerr, Paul and Jerry formed the popular contemporary Christian group "Harvest". They traveled and ministered together, and recorded several albums with the Benson Record Company.
“What an incredible time this was in my life,” Paul says. “But the call to bring the Gospel back to the Jewish community grew stronger and stronger in my heart." After nearly five years with "Harvest", Paul yielded to this call and moved his small family to the Washington DC area and a fledgling Messianic congregation, called Beth Messiah.
“For two years I worked odd jobs and found part-time work to pay the bills until the Lord brought together three Jewish men and called them Israel’s Hope. We traveled and ministered together for more than eight years recording several albums on the Maranatha! record label.”
Music, Teaching & Mercy Ministry
Today Paul’s ministry is as worldwide as his music. “God’s grace is truly amazing, as we have ministered in more than sixty nations, recorded in four languages, and have witnessed thousands set free by the power of God's love.”
One of the aspects of this ministry that may not be apparent at first glance is Paul’s commitment to the marriage of music, ministry, and acts of mercy. “As we travel to the nations we seek to bring a larger expression of the Kingdom of God in a practical way. Dr. Paul Williams staffs free medical clinics to minister to the needs of the poor; Paul Cuny brings MarketPlace Ministry to the business community; Messiah Company brings the beauty of movement to worship, while Paul stirs the hearts to worship and evangelism."
Paul sees his calling to the Church and the Jewish community, and to build bridges of reconciliation between them. His latest recording for Integrity, The Watchman, is a stirring call to the Body of Messiah worldwide to take up their place on the walls of their lives, congregations, cities, and nations—to be faithful, prayerful, and watchful during what he calls “this most prophetic hour.”
"The Watchman" was recorded at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio with Pastor John Hagee. It has since been re-recorded in Spanish with live audiences in Costa Rica and Guatemala and is called "El Shaddai".
Discography - Albums
* Arise O Lord (with Israel's Hope) · 1987
* Up to Zion · 1991
* Shalom Jerusalem · 1995
* Lion of Judah · 1995
* Holy Fire · 1997
* Jerusalem Arise · 1999
* Heal Our Land · 2000
* Mas de Ti · 2000
* Lion of Judah . 2001
* Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem · 2002
* The Watchman · 2005
* El Shaddai . 2005
* Praise Adonai . 2007
* Live - A Night of Extravagant Worship 2008
Compilations
* Adonai
See also
* Harvest
* Jerry Williams
External links
* Wilbur Ministries
Now is the time
Paul Wilbur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roaming the earth
Seeking a people who'll obey Your word
Oh count us among them now is the time
Make us the temples of Your holy fire
Our hearts are thirsty send forth a flood
This generation needs to know Your love
Make us the temples of Your holy fire
Make us the temples of Your holy fire
Let You glory shine
Come consume our lives
Pour out Your Spirit
Fan every flame
Burn with a brightness that can't be contained
Fall on these altars now is the time
Make us the temples of Your holy fire
Make us the temples of Your holy fire
Wind of the Spirit blow
Make heaven's glory known
Come with compassion fill every soul
Wind of the Spirit blow
River of life run deep
Fountain of grace flow free
We are Your garden water Your seed
River of life run deep
River of life run deep
The opening lines of "We know You're searching, Roaming the earth, Seeking a people who'll obey Your word" suggest that God is searching for a specific group of people who will obey and follow His commands. The song is a call to action for believers to proclaim that they are among those who follow God and want to be filled with His Holy Spirit. The lyrics also speak to the importance of contemporary Christians to spread the love and teachings of God in their generation.
The theme of the thirsty heart is prevalent in the lines "Our hearts are thirsty send forth a flood, This generation needs to know Your love," where the singer expresses the need for spiritual fulfillment and suggests that the current generation is lacking love and understanding of God. The chorus "Make us the temples of Your holy fire" and the lines "Let Your glory shine, Come consume our lives," convey a deep desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit and become a place for God's fire to manifest.
Overall, "Now Is the Time" is a call to action for Christians to be a light and spread God's word and love. It emphasizes the need for the Holy Spirit to reside in believers and advocates for a deeper personal relationship with God.
Line by Line Meaning
We know You're searching
God is actively seeking for people who follow His commands.
Roaming the earth
God is searching the earth for people who are obedient.
Seeking a people who'll obey Your word
God desires to find a community of faithful believers who will follow His instructions.
Oh count us among them now is the time
Please consider us to be among Your obedient people now; the time is now.
Make us the temples of Your holy fire
Transform us into holy vessels where Your divine presence can dwell.
Our hearts are thirsty send forth a flood
Our hearts desire to be filled with Your presence; please send a life-giving flood to quench our thirst.
This generation needs to know Your love
There is a generation that is hungry for love and they need to encounter Your love and affection.
Boldly we cry out now is the time
We boldly proclaim that the time to turn to God is now.
Let You glory shine
Please reveal Your divine glory to us.
Come consume our lives
We ask that You take over our lives and consume us with Your presence.
Pour out Your Spirit
We ask that You pour out Your Holy Spirit for us to be filled with.
Fan every flame
Stoke the divine spark within us so that it burns with a greater intensity.
Burn with a brightness that can't be contained
Let Your holy fire within us burn so fiercely that it cannot be contained.
Fall on these altars now is the time
We ask that You transform us into holy altars, now is the appropriate time.
Wind of the Spirit blow
We ask that Your Holy Spirit brings a powerful wind of transformation.
Make heaven's glory known
Please reveal Your divine glory to us here on earth.
Come with compassion fill every soul
Please bring Your compassion and fill every soul with it.
River of life run deep
Please bring a powerful river of life that runs deep within us.
Fountain of grace flow free
Please pour out Your grace freely upon us.
We are Your garden water Your seed
We belong to You; please cultivate us as Your garden and nourish us with Your presence.
River of life run deep
Please bring a powerful river of life that runs deep within us.
Contributed by Cole G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mariond1325
Great song! Beautiful clip. God may this be the heartfelt prayer of Your Church in every place at all times ❣️
@OTC.Northwest
Amen!