But
a more primary question might be asked: What anointing is
being passed on? We feel that John G. Lake would be appalled
to think that people were claiming "his" anointing.
The only anointing that he claimed was the anointing of the
Spirit of the Lord. A foundational verse for Lake's ministry
was Is. 61:1: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to
the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to
those who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the
Lord."
The
measure of this anointing that Lake walked in was determined
by his calling and his consecration to God. His hunger for
God and His power was shaped by many events in his life that
culminated in a reaching out after God's power and presence.
Though the anointing is of grace and therefore free, Lake
paid a price in seeking God and His Kingdom, a price that
God rewarded with a profound anointing upon his life.
Lake
also associated himself with one of the most profound healing
ministries of the day: John Alexander Dowie. Lake learned
healing under Dowie and certainly "caught the fire" under
Dowie's influence. Though Dowie later went off theologically,
in his better days many commented that they believed no
one since the days of the apostles had walked in the power
that Dowie did. So the anointing that Lake walked in wasn't
Lake's. Neither, of course was the anointing that Dowie
walked in Dowie's.
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It
was the anointing of the Spirit of God. He - the Spirit
of God - is still anointing men and women who seek Him
and consecrate their lives totally to Him.
Anyone
observing Lake's life would want to walk in a similar anointing.
We believe the Spirit of God is looking for men and women
to anoint with such power. We can learn from men like Lake
what kind of heart God gives this anointing to and seek to
cultivate a similar heart.
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Wilford
Reidt, John G. Lake's son-in-law, (who headed this
organization for many years) laid hands on many of
our members for a transfer of anointing. |
He did this only as he was led by the Spirit to do so. None of our
members, however, are making exclusive claims to have Lake's anointing
or to be the designated heir of his mantle. Any claim to be the
sole heir of Lake's anointing strikes us as presumptuous and immature.
John G. Lake, we believe, would be grieved at such a thought.
Joe
McIntyre (on behalf of the board of IFM) |