John G. Lake moved in a profound anointing of the Spirit of God. Healing, deliverance and miracles were a steady occurrence in his ministry. Anyone reading of the great things that God did through Lake would desire to walk in such an anointing. We, individually and as a movement, desire to appropriate and walk in this type of mantle.

So do we have this anointing because we are part of an organization founded by Lake? Is there a John G. Lake anointing to be claimed? These questions come up from time to time and are worthy of some consideration. There is a truth to the fact that anointings can be "handed on" through the laying on of hands. (See Num. 34:9) This "handing on" of anointings, of course, must be orchestrated by the Spirit of God. It is not just a mechanical thing at the discretion of the one with the anointing to give to whomever they chose.

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. 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.

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)