RECOVERING the AXE-HEAD of GENUINE ANOINTING

RECOVERING the AXE-HEAD of GENUINE ANOINTING
-by J. Lee Grady.

We've faked the power of Pentecost long enough. Let's set aside
the imitations and reclaim the real deal.

Shortly after Elijah was carried to heaven in his fiery chariot, a group
of young prophets asked Elisha to go with them to build new living
quarters near the Jordan River. While one of the young men was
cutting down a tree, the blade of his axe fell in the water and sank
into the murky depths of the riverbed (see 2 Kings 6:1-7).

The construction project came to an abrupt stop. This was before
the days of flashlights and sonar devices. These guys were in
trouble.

Knowing that his friends could not replace this expensive iron tool
they had borrowed, the young prophet cried to his mentor Elisha
for help. The wise prophet threw a stick in the water where the
axe head had sunk. Immediately the heavy iron blade floated to
the surface—defying the laws of physics and proving that nothing
is impossible with God. Elisha's faith saved the day.

We can gain so much comfort from this story. It reminds us that
God has power over the natural world. It also proves that He cares
about the seemingly trivial details of our lives—and that He is
even willing to bail us out of the messes we make.

As I have meditated on this passage in recent days I've also
applied it to our current situation in the American church. It
illustrates how desperately we need to recover what we've lost.

Perhaps you've noticed that our blade is missing. I don't know
exactly when it fell off the handle, but it seems as if we've been
trying to build God's house without the sharp edge of His genuine
anointing. We've traded the real for the phony. We've cheapened
Pentecost to the point that it's been reduced to dry religious
programs and circus sideshow antics.

We've mastered the art of hype. We know how to fake the
anointing. We push people to the floor during our altar times. We
know how to manipulate music and crowds so that we can create
the atmosphere of the anointing. But in so many cases the real
anointing isn't there. In its place is a hollow imitation.

Some charismatic leaders today are even selling specially
handcrafted oils that promise the Holy Spirit's power. Others sell
scented candles that claim to bring God's presence. And last year
one brother was traveling the country with feathers in a jar—
claiming that these belonged to an angel with healing powers.

Lord, forgive us for our charlatanism. We need the blade back! We
must cry out to the God Who has the power to raise iron from the
bottom of a river.

We are not going to advance Christ's kingdom, or build His
victorious church, using scented oils, fake charms, ear-tickling
prophecies and goofy charismatic gimmicks. This is all wood,
hay and stubble destined for the furnace. What we need today
is the sharp blade of the Word that is empowered by the Holy
Ghost and fire.

In my world travels during the past few years I have met humble
Christians who carry the genuine anointing of the Spirit. I've spent
time with Chinese believers who see miracles inside their prison
cells. I've met an Indian evangelist who has seen six people raised
from the dead. I've met a Pakistani apostle who regularly sees
Muslims healed during outdoor gospel meetings.

Last week I interviewed an Iranian church leader whose ministry
is leading 5,000 Iranians to faith in Christ every month. In the
midst of persecution and political upheaval, a New Testament—
style revival is erupting in that Shiite Muslim stronghold-all because
the church in Iran is weilding the axe head of genuine Holy Spirit
anointing.

Where is the God of Elisha? There is a cry in the American church
today that resembles the cry of the desperate young prophet in
2 Kings 6. We have not been good stewards of the Holy Spirit's
gifts, and now the precious power of God has eluded us. We
dropped it. Yet we are beginning to acknowledge our blunder.

Let's fully humble ourselves. Let's repent of fakery and fraud. Let's
ditch our counterfeits and our cheap substitutes, and ask the Lord
to restore the axe blade. Let's cry to Him for a pure, unadulterated,
genuine, life-changing, planet-shaking revival.

-J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.

-SOURCE:
http://charismamag.com/index.php/fire-in-my-bones/26080