Special Bulletin 01-2011
OUR DEVOTION AND RESOLVE
by Rick Joyner
I began saying in 2006 that every election from now on will be more important than the previous elections. This includes mid-terms. I think this has proven accurate. I have also been saying that each year would get even more intense, and I think this has been true, and will continue to be. I am not saying this to vindicate myself, but to affirm how important it is for us to know the times, and to be prepared for them. Those who have been drawn to The Oak Initiative have tended to be mature enough to face the reality of the times and issues, and also have the resolve and courage to do what they can to be the salt and light we are called to be as Christians. The apostle Peter addressed how we should face these times in I Pet.4:7-10:
| The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
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Here we see that at the end we must be devoted to:
| 1. | sound judgment | |
| 2. | a sober spirit | |
| 3. | prayer | |
| 4. | love | |
| 5. | hospitality | |
| 6. | employing our gifts to serve others |
This is what we will resolve to do as members of The Oak Initiative in 2011. The following is how we will be addressing each of these.
| I) | Be of sound judgment. We will continue to circulate what we consider to be the most truthful and accurate articles and video messages that illuminate the important issues of these times. | |
| II) | Be of sober spirit. Believing our members to be mature in their faith and judgment, will not refrain from sharing the most difficult facts and issues. | |
| III) | Prayer. We will be giving special emphasis to prayer this year, knowing that we are now facing many problems on many fronts that are beyond human remedy, and that we therefore place our trust in God, not men. | |
| IV) | Love. As the word of God declares in I Cor.13:8, “Love never fails…” Therefore we will endeavor to walk in love, and grow in love this year, for God, for one another, and even for our enemies as we are commanded. | |
| V) | Hospitality. Hospitality is the root word for “hospital,” and our nation and the Church need much healing. Hospitality is a special method given to us to help heal relationships, and we will endeavor to use it. | |
| VI) | Employing our gifts. As this scripture affirms, every member of the body of Christ has been given gifts to employ in helping others. The Oak Initiative has drawn together many with truly extraordinary gifts, and we are endeavoring to increase in recognizing, training, equipping and deployment of these gifts. |
For many weeks now I have been in almost constant meetings, calls, video and other conferences with high impact leaders. There is not only an extraordinary wisdom, but an extraordinary resolve that is rising. The Oak Initiative has been a catalyst to help bring some of these together, and it has also been a part of beginning other remarkable initiatives that you will no doubt be hearing about soon. Some of these are far bigger than anything I think any of us foresaw when we came together to form the Oak. When we can go public with this you will be some of the first to know.
With the tragic shootings in Tucson, this year has already begun with a terrible and a most tragically divisive intensity. Even though friends of the shooter called him a “left wing” extremist and it was affirmed that he did not listen to or watch the news or any talk radio, talk radio and conservatives were blamed for creating the atmosphere that provoked this shooting. I watched one night in disbelief at what I was hearing by national news anchors on liberal news networks. Not one time did anyone of them decry the postings on twitter that Sarah Palin “should be shot,” or “assassinated.” Hypocrisy is now overflowing its banks.
So what do we do? James 3:13-18 addresses this:
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Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. |
This extraordinary national outburst that was sparked by the Tucson tragedy revealed that the division and bitterness is probably far worse that we ever thought possible. Even so, remember what we said in the beginning of the Oak—we are not here to follow the elephant or the donkey, but rather the Lamb. That remains our resolve. When Joshua asked the “Captain of the hosts of the Lord” which side he had come to take, he basically said that he did not come to take sides, but to take over! Our King is coming to do the same.
Our job as Christians is to prepare the way for Him, and be the salt and light we are called to be, which is to reflect His nature. He was very stern at times, and so must we be. He never compromised the truth or His convictions, and neither must we. He loves all men and desires their salvation, and so must we. We must love even those who hate us, and persecute us, but love sometimes means to challenge the deception and evil that has people in its grip, and this we will also do.
This has gotten off to being an intense year, and it will continue, but we can have the peace of God that is not dependant on conditions, but simply on our faith in Him. This is also going to be one of the most interesting years yet, and we get to be here in it. For this we have been chosen, and so let us resolve to be worthy of such an honor by doing His will this year. Happy 2011.
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