September 15, 1997
Note: This message is particularly directed to those in Renewal who, along with myself, tend to have the "oak tree" anointing. However, I trust it will have value and prove interesting to others as well.
It was nearly three years ago that I traveled to Toronto,Canada, to find out what was going on. I wanted to follow God's instructions to "test the spirits," and to reject the false while holding fast to the good. Frightened, my wife Bunnie stayed home and anxiously prayed for me.
Almost immediately I saw things transpiring that were unquestionably supernatural -- beyond some obvious manifestations of the flesh. That left only God and the devil. Before that first evening was over, I knew I was seeing a mighty move of God.
One of the first things that caught my attention was the deportment of the senior pastor, John Arnott. He was everything I anticipated he would not be. Instead of an extroverted, dramatic character with a charismatic personality, I saw a most ordinary individual. He was quiet, relaxed, and entirely low-keyed. How wise is our God! Had the Renewal started under some flaming attention-getter, many would have turned away saying, "Well, with someone like that in charge, you would expect plenty of strange manifestations." Instead, doubters are inclined to listen when Arnott speaks. When some ask John why he doesn't manifest, he just smiles and says he has the "oak tree" anointing.
The church of God has been dry and burned out for generations. To send such reapers into the harvest fields would be of little value. Today we are seeing what Jesus prophesied to the woman at the well in John 4:23, 24. "True worshippers" are being sorted out for the final conflict, just as in Gideon's time. God is calling for a new balance between "spirit and truth." Precious doctrinal truths without an infusion of the Spirit are but dry bones. In the Renewal God has been resuscitating his people, loving on them, restoring to them the joy of the Lord. Only such reapers can expect a harvest.
In Toronto many "strange manifestations" take place,-- just as at Pentecost when the disciples were accused of being intoxicated. When a strong wind moves among the trees the branches react, sometimes violently. When the Spirit of God moves upon people in a significant manner, human flesh also reacts. Considering the mighty power of the Spirit, we are fortunate to merely shake rather than be destroyed by his presence. At Mt. Sinai God revealed only a small portion of his glory, but the people thought surely they were about to die. How dare we assume there should be no reaction to the power of God Almighty!
By the time I returned to my hotel room on the second night, I was discouraged. It seemed that people all around me were manifesting the presence of the Spirit, while I remained largely untouched -- physically. In my room I accused God of passing me by and blessing others. The Lord's reply was kind, but pointed. He said, "Donald, through the gifting I have given you with your writing, you have touched the lives of millions. Hasn't my gift been good enough?" That gentle admonition pierced my heart like a dagger, and even as I write these words I weep at my lack of perception and appreciation. Broken, I thanked God for his great love, and promised I would be faithful to whatever ministry he gave me -- regardless of whether or not I manifested physically.
I am writing because I know that some of you reading this report also have an "oak tree" anointing. You have stood still while others around you physically manifested the presence of the Spirit. You too have felt left out, and sometimes have even thought about giving up on Renewal. Don't back away from the greatest move of the Holy Spirit in human history; there is more for you.
A NEW DIRECTION
Last weekend I traveled to Springfield, Oregon, to receive the ministry of one of my favorite Renewal leaders. During the conference I believe I heard the specific call of God for this time. For many months, various prophetic voices throughout the world have predicted that 1997 would be a key year in the Renewal. This would be a time of transition, when God would begin to lead his Body in a new direction. Although the prophetic voices were in agreement in terms of time, there didn't seem to be sufficient revelation as to what was to transpire. The speaker brought a clear message in that regard.
Friday evening, he reviewed and clarified what God has been doing in Renewal since January of 1994. Saturday morning, in a teaching mode, he outlined where the Renewal is going from here.
When I joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, I would have loved to go immediately aboard ship. The leaders knew better than to allow that, and sent me to camp in Idaho instead. It would prove disastrous to send civilians into battle without basic training; the war would be lost for sure. We neophytes had much to learn before we could be trusted in actual battle.
The church has been soft, self-centered, and unfit for duty. Had God allowed the final battle to burst upon such untrained and unfit troops, all would have been lost. There needed to be a Renewal; spiritual basic training. As a result of this last move of the Spirit, millions have been refreshed and renewed. It has been glorious experience, but wars are won on the battle field, not in boot camp! While there will be new recruits who still will need basic training, it is time for some of us to move into battle positions.
Someone has described war as endless days of boredom, punctuated with moments of sheer terror. Having been there, I can attest to the truthfulness of that statement. If you sometimes feel bored with your Christian experience, hang on. Your moment of truth will come soon enough. In the meantime, keep growing in grace, honing your Christian weapons, and listening for the trumpet to sound.
A WARRIOR CLASS
For every man in the trenches, there have to be several serving faithfully behind the lines. No war can be won without them. However, victory also demands totally dedicated warriors to clash with the enemy, sometimes in hand-to-hand combat. The speaker indicated it is time for a special warrior class to step forward on a volunteer basis.
This call was not just an emotional exercise. It came with serious warnings about consequences. When the flags are flying,the band is playing, and the crowd is cheering, it's easy to get recruits. We need to understand that war is not just flags, bands, and cheering; war is confusion, exhaustion, pain, and even death.
I remember one occasion when my buddies and I were able to leave camp and spend some time in Couer d' Alene, Idaho. Since we were going to be sailors we hired a man to take us out on the lake in his large, fast speedboat. As we roared along paralleling the shore, I imagined myself bravely raking the tree line with machine gun bullets. With brave men like myself, we could hardly lose.
A few months later I found myself in the South Pacific, gunner on a twenty millimeter cannon. As we went into action for the first time, I donned my life jacket and steel helmet, while my loader snapped a magazine into place. (Not TIME or Newsweek, but alternating tracer, fire-starting, and explosive ammunition.) Somehow my bravery began to leak out even before the first shot was fired. This definitely was not Idaho. Behind the trees were enemy soldiers who wanted to kill me, and who would be firing real bullets!
We are now entering a time of escalation and God is calling for warriors, but don't volunteer without first counting the cost. This time we battle not against "people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms." Eph. 6:12. The outcome is not in question, but there will be casualties.
On another occasion I traveled to Seattle for a Renewal conference. The speaker had arrived weakened, as he had been stricken and hospitalized en route. This time, in Springfield, the same gentleman once again arrived weakened, after being hospitalized on the Oregon coast. However, when men of God stand up to speak they receive an infusion of power, and this man of God made the forces of darknes shiver.
Shortly before the end of the program, the local pastor and host was hit by an automobile and taken to the hospital with a broken shoulder and severe lacerations. The devil is out after anyone who challenges his kingdom, but especially leaders. Continually we should pray God's protection around them, but even then there will be losses. Most of the disciples, John the Baptist, and even my Savior were carried off the field in death. Thank God we know the "rest of the story."
One thing I learned about war is that you can't tell ahead of time who the brave hearts and heroes will be. Some who show up brightest before the battle, fade in the heat of conflict. Some of the quiet ones often turn out to be the staunchest warriors. If you've been concerned because of your "oak tree"anointing, you may be one of those who will carry the day in the heat of battle.
A TIME FOR COMMITMENT
After the speaker described the battle ahead, and warned of potential consequences, he gave us an opportunity to commit ourselves. A man, from Redding, California, who leads a ministry dealing with banners and flags, was present to hold a workshop. At the strategic moment, the speaker asked him to come forward with his battle flags and take a position on the platform. The speaker challenged that while we have enjoyed playing church, you can't play at war. Those who heard a personal call were invited to come forward and pass beneath the battle flags, signifying a commitment to whatever lies ahead. As I did so, my "oak tree" anointing was shattered, and I found myself on my face enduring body-wrenching sobs. The Spirit can penetrate to the core of any being.
What I was doing that day, was reaching for a higher anointing. Later I want to write about that subject at some length, but for now note the Nazirite vow of Numbers 6, as it is similar. Some of the children of Israel yearned for a closer connection, a greater intimacy, a higher vision of service, and so they took a Nazirite vow. This did not separate the good people from the bad people, but the good people from those who cry out, "More, Lord!" The Nazirites could not allow themselves to engage in practices that were perfectly acceptable for others. Verse 21 indicates that even among the Nazirites,some stretched for a still higher anointing -- God's storehouse is limitless.
What about you, my friend? Have you entered the basic training of Renewal? If so, are you ready to move on into battle? Do you feel called to become a frontline warrior? Do you seek a higher and still higher anointing? Is everything you are and hope to be on the line? Stake out your position quickly, as the final battle is about to be joined.
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