The Path (Fire on the Mountain Series) (23 page)

“Yes, he did,” I answered.

“It was cut from the tree. Did he tell you about the tree?” Mark continued.

“Yes, he did, but what do you know about the tree?” I asked Mark.

“I have seen the tree and the shepherd’s staff. It’s the Tree of Life. The authority of the shepherd comes from the Tree of Life. It is the fruit of that tree that you are to lead God’s people to. It is the ‘root of Jesse’ that brought forth Christ who is our life. He is the food that is our joy, and His joy is our strength.

“It is also the rod of Aaron that sprouted. His rod sprouted because the staff of the shepherds is from the Tree of Life and is living. It is this life that helps us recognize the ones who have been sent by God and are the true shepherds,” Mark said, pausing, but obviously able to continue.

“Mark, where did you get all of this understanding?” I asked.

“When I was given my calling as a prophet I was told that one of my assignments was to recognize those who had the shepherd’s staff and to support them. I have only seen them in visions before, but I recognized that staff right away.”

“Tell me all you know about it,” I implored.

“You think your rod is new and freshly cut, but it is much older than you can imagine. It seems like it is new and fresh because of the life that is in it, and life will stay in it as long as you walk with God and do not depart from His path. This was cut from the Tree of Life before the world was formed, and it was sized just for you at that time. This is true of every shepherd’s staff given to the shepherds, even those who lead the smallest company of God’s people.

“Do you know why Enoch was the one who gave this to you?” Mark then asked.

“I know a little, but I think you may know more. Please tell me what you know.”

“Enoch represents the path on which all true shepherds will lead God’s people. True shepherds are known by their walk with God. They may be great counselors, healers, and teachers, but the shepherds will be known most of all by their walk with God and their closeness to Him. There are many things that can cause people to follow you, but the shepherds will be known by how they follow God on the path of life.

“One thing by which we can recognize shepherds that have stayed on the path of life is by their increasing joy. This was the joy you saw in Enoch. Shepherds who have stayed on the path of life do not seem to have cares or burdens because they are yoked with the One whose yoke is easy. These are not stressed, but are constantly energized by the strength that comes from the joy of the Lord. Their rod, or their authority, will be recognized by the life that is in them. Their rod will always be budding, bringing forth new life, because it comes from the Tree of Life Himself.”

As Mark talked, everyone was enthralled, but some more so than others. I knew these were the shepherds. Deep was calling to deep, and their hearts were being awakened. As I watched Mark I could tell that he was also noting those who were being especially touched so that he could speak to them more at a later time. “What a gift he is to us,” I thought, “and so young!”

“I am young, but I have already walked with God for a few years,” Mark said, as if hearing my thoughts. Then he continued:

“Some claim to be able to use a ‘diviner’s rod’ to find water under the ground; they are the counterfeits to what you have in your hand. Your rod can find the living waters that are hidden below the surface. Deep calls to deep, and life calls to life. Those who have the shepherd’s rod become increasingly sensitive to what is life and where the waters of life are flowing,” Mark said, and then hesitated as if he had more, but did not know if he should share it.

“Please continue,” I said to him.

“When your rod buds you must gently break the buds off. Then you must give them to those who are being awakened to their calling as shepherds. These buds will grow with them, and each one will become a staff like yours,” he said, again hesitating.

“Mark, please share all you know,” I said.

“Okay. Those who receive the buds now and grow up to be shepherds at the end of the age will walk in the authority of the Shepherd. Their rod will be His rod in the earth. They will not just lead God’s people and protect them from the enemy with the rod, but they will strike the enemies of the Lord. They will not just part seas, but they will part nations. They will lead God’s people to the Promised Land.”

“Why were you hesitant to share that, Mark?” I asked.

“Can I tell you privately?” he responded.

“If you think you need to, sure,” I answered, and we walked a short distance from the rest.

“Your rod was a bud that was given to you when you were very young in the Lord,” Mark began. “You did not carry it for long before you laid it down. In a sense, you did what Moses did when he threw his rod down at the Burning Bush. He was being commissioned as God’s shepherd for His people, but did not feel adequate. When he threw the rod down it became a serpent and chased him until he picked it back up. That is what happens when you cast off the calling of the Lord.”

“I know when I did that,” I replied. “You are correct. Please continue.”

“Like Moses, your rod became a serpent and chased you until you picked it up again, which was to take up your commission again,” he continued.

“That is accurate,” I responded, “and a good way to put it. When running from my calling all that I did prospered, but I was miserable. I felt that what I had dropped—my calling to ministry—was pursuing me day and night. You are right. Please continue.”

“When you picked up the rod again and returned to your calling, it was like you had never missed a step in some ways, but stepped into a place much higher than you left. It was as if you had walked in your calling the whole time and grown into it,” he said looking at me as I nodded that this was true.

“But you did miss something. You grew, and your rod grew, but for a long time it did not grow in your hand. Because of this you missed a lot. If you had grown together with your rod you would be more mature and more stable in your authority. You would be so one with the staff that it would be as another arm to your body. Now it is almost like something you are trying to get used to. You don’t even know how to hold it right. Because of this you will be in danger of misusing this rod the same way Moses did.”

“What you’re saying is that I will be in danger of leading God’s people to their Promised Land, but not be able to lead them into it?” I asked.

“That is the danger,” Mark continued. “It is the danger for all who do not grow up together with their authority as they should.”

“Mark, thank you for this warning. Is there anything else you have to say to me about this?” I asked.

“The Lord’s grace is made perfect in weakness,” Mark began. “You have a weakness because of the time you walked apart from your calling. This is the time when the enemy found access to you and your family that led to some of the greatest failures of your life, which are the failures with your family. Even though you see the results of your failures now, you have the promise of the Lord for your children and their children. They will serve the Lord and glorify His name. He who is faithful will bring this to pass.

“Your failures will not continue to be a liability if you lean on the Lord more because of your weakness, but you do have weaknesses. You must not cast down this rod again, and you must lean on Him constantly.”

Again Mark hesitated for a minute as if to let that sink in, and then continued, “Even the least of the shepherds that are raised up from this place will be like David. They will be mighty warriors, mighty worshipers, and they will be great prophets like David.

“They must also have the joy of Enoch. Everyone in these times is going to need the joy of Enoch. Your remorse at your failures must be turned to joy because of the Redeemer who will redeem your mistakes.”

I needed to hear what Mark shared with me as much as I needed to hear what Enoch and Elijah had shared with me. As much as I longed for more time with Enoch and Elijah, I did not want to miss what the Lord would say to me through those in our company. They could be just as much a messenger of the Lord as Enoch or Elijah.

I looked back at our little group. Everyone I had gotten to know really was a treasure, and more than remarkable. “The Lord has again saved His best for last,” I thought. Again, Mark seemed to know what I was thinking.

“Some of the greatest to ever walk with God are either on this path or soon will be. The best part is not just getting to know Elijah and Enoch, but we will know the God of Elijah, the God of Enoch, the God of David, the God of Moses—the same God all of the great ones who walked this earth knew and served. Who could have even dreamed of a life like this?” Mark said echoing my thoughts.

“Who could have ever dreamed of something like this?” I agreed.

I did not wake up. I was not asleep. But you must wake up. You are being called to the mountain of the Lord.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rick Joyner
is the Founder and Executive Director of MorningStar Ministries and Heritage Internation Ministries and is the Senior Pastor at MorningStar Fellowship Church. Rick is President of The Oak Initiative, an interdenominational movement that mobilizes Christians to engage in the great issues of our time. He has authored more than forty books, including
The Final Quest, There were Two Trees in the Garden,
and
A New America
. Rick and his wife, Julie, have five children: Anna Jane, Aaryn, Amber, Ben, and Sam.