ANOINTED WORD from AN OLD-TIMER
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
by Clayt Sonmore
[Together with Demos Shakarian and a few others, Clayt Sonmore
was one of the early founders of the Full Gospel Business Men's
Fellowship International. Many of the preachers from the great
Healing revival of 1949-1956 were among his closest friends and
associates in ministry].
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I have seen with my own eyes many marvelous physical healings,
even to that of blind eyes being opened, but never have I seen a
miracle compared to the one I witnessed in a Holy Ghost meeting
in the early 50's. The miracle very simply was a mutual "Love and
Trust" powerfully moving among a host of brethren. Of such mutuality
I believe there has been no equal anywhere in our century, before
or since. We could only say, "Behold, how they love one another."
This was a true "baptism of Love." We have lost this central quality
even in Spirit filled circles, brethren. What has happened?
We cannot separate "Love from Trust." We must pause long enough
to realize that Trust has become an elusive, yes, almost lost quality,
oft times lost even among those conscripted to be a part of God's
end-time army.
"In honor preferring one another" must be a central theme; and
political maneuvering must be eliminated. We cannot even believe
reports of behind the scenes maneuvering, for we must have "trust."
We must have what you might call "pure love from a pure soul."
Someone said that "God always starts with a Man and uses him to
begin a Movement. Finally and invariably as it loses its simplicity
and childlike faith and love, it becomes a Machine, then a Monument,
and wists not, like Samson, that the Anointing has begun to wane."
It has been said that the steps to spiritual downfall of groups during
the ages have always followed this cycle. (1) Revelation; (2) Inspiration;
(3) Evangelization; (4) Organization; (5) Education; and (6) Stagnation,
with this generally happening in less than one generation.
Paul states in II Cor. 11:3, "But I fear lest by any means, as the
serpent beguiled Eve through subtlety, so your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
E. M. Bounds in his book "Power Through Prayer" has written...
"We are constantly on a stretch, if not a strain to devise new
methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and
secure enlargement and efficiency for the Gospel. This trend of the
day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the
plan or organization.
God's plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than
anything else. Men are God's method. The Church is looking for
better methods; God is looking for better men.
"The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men.
He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint
plans, but men - men of prayer. . ."
Our cry ought to be: Oh God, "Return that which the palmerworm
and cankerworm have taken away." I feel the Lord is saying to us,
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast
left thy first love." Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen,
and repent, and do thy first works; or else I will come unto thee
quickly and remove thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent."
Leonard Ravenhill writes: "Sodom-like sin must merit Sodom-like
judgement. This was the iniquity of Sodom - pride, fullness of bread,
and abundance of idleness. We need prophets for this day of doom!
Neither Gideon or anyone else gets into trouble for having visions.
Let Gideon, however, slip out at midnight and cut down the groves
of Baal - then Hell releases all its fury.
"Let John the Baptist call the priests vipers, and rail at Herod's
adultery - and he signs his own death warrant."
God's various dealings with me have caused me to place what I feel
to be God's truth before you, my brethren, at any cost, rather than
to see my brethren in this last day move, brethren whom I love,
flounder in self satisfaction in the wilderness, all because through
fear No Voice Cried for Repentance.