既然我們的主題是神的軍隊在動員，當下我們也有許多要如何實際運用的例子，我特別想要檢視其中一個明顯又有力的課題─就是共和黨如何動員讓州長裴林成為馬侃的副手。這可能是我們在此尋求瞭解的難得例子，我們若不檢視就錯過如此大好的機會。
此非關政治，而是動員。在我一生中，我不曾記得有誰像裴林一樣，在如此短的時間從默默無聞到焦點人物、造成如此的影響。有好幾次我刻意轉到每一個新聞頻道，裴林州長的臉孔出現在所有的頻道上面─保守的、自由的與自稱中間派系的，涵蓋範圍從極端正面到極端負面，似乎每一個人都無法不談論她。
許多人對馬侃的才智嘖嘖稱奇，就在民主黨陶醉在他們大會後的感覺時，馬侃宣布裴林州長成為他的競選副手。這或許是推出副手的大好時機，卻無法帶出如此空前的影響，裴林似乎吸住所有其他新聞的氧氣。想一想，當費拉羅(Geraldine Ferraro)被選上時，這位史上第一位在主要政黨選票上被提名為副總統候選人的女性，她的影響完全不及裴林州長所激起的火花，這即是我們先前曾討論到的領導才能恩膏。
在自然界裡完全無法解釋對裴林如此正負兩極的反應，這並不合乎常理，通常挑選副總統的影響並不大，頂多轟動
裴林也振奮了反對黨；新聞很快不假思索以一種氣量狹小、全然不敬重的語調回應。女性主義者真實使用玻璃天花板（the glass ceiling ─通常專指女性在工作中升級時遇到的一種無形障礙，使人不能到達較高階層），試圖將裴林州長擊垮。當大家越來越能分辨而反抗這些假冒為善者時，那些對她的控告怪異到控告者自己立即遭受羞辱與困窘。媒體越試圖貶低她，公眾越起來攻擊他們，起碼這是相當有趣的現象。
這並非表示針對裴林州長是否夠資格成為世上最有權力地位的質疑並不恰當，兩黨中有許多人確實對此存疑，卻是以敬重且對事不對人的方式質詢，此應該被激賞。能否坐在如此權柄地位的資格是由選舉活動來制訂或顯明的。
然而，對如此重要議題合宜且敬重的質疑，與使用欺騙與謊言等邪惡動機來攻擊二者之間截然不同。起來對抗裴林州長的怒氣是因為她的恩膏所造成，當我們迫切要別人認出我們與我們的呼召時，我們需要考慮到此─如果真實的可以認出我們，邪惡的也可以。倘若我們尚未被認出，代表我們還沒有預備好。
當我第一次看到裴林州長說話，我就感到她擁有領導階層的呼召。這不代表馬侃的選舉票數一定會贏，或是每一個不認同裴林或挑戰她的人一定來自魔鬼。然而，有一群反對的人確實越過界，卻很容易認出他們不過是出於人的不認同。他們當中也有一些人反對歐巴馬參議員，只不過對他的控告層面並不一樣。歐巴馬同樣擁有卓越的動員恩膏，這樣的恩膏總會造成相對的反對。
正如我們先前所討論的，動員的恩膏可以被用在好的或邪惡的事上。在美國南北內戰雙方的領袖皆有動員群眾的卓越恩膏，所以在多數戰爭中的雙方領袖，其中一方的動機會比另一方公義。動員的恩膏越大，跟隨的人也越多，也就越能帶領來做好事或壞事。因此，當其他人開始被我們動員起來的時候到了，我們必須更小心我們要帶領他們往哪裡去。
耶穌是終極領袖；當祂被高舉時，眾人都會被祂吸引。因此，最大的吸引人恩膏將來自那些更多彰顯祂的人。要更多彰顯祂，我們必須專注在祂身上，而不是在那些跟隨我們的人身上。
那些主託付我們奉祂的名看顧與帶領的人，為著使我們能負責的緣故，我們需要留意他們的某些地方。許多年前主曾讓我看到一個異象，我覺得有必要在此清楚說明。在異象中，我看見一位牧師注視著主，人們便開始朝他聚集，何時他轉離主、注視人們時，他們就開始分散。
再一次，在某些地方我們需要認識那些神託付我們看管與負責的對象，但當大衛『數點人數』時，咒詛就臨到以色列。倘若我們的安全感是來自於人們覺得我們如何，或是有多少人跟隨我們，而不是來自主的認同，我們就落在帶領他們進入迷途的危險中。當越多人開始跟隨我們時，我們越需要將我們的眼睛放在主這位領袖身上，並決心更多親近祂。
(摘自 喬納 word for the week,2008 #38)
The Army of God Mobilizes, Part 38
Since the theme for the Word for the Week is mobilizing, and we have many current examples of how this works, I would like to examine one in particular because of its obvious and powerful lessons—that is how the Republican Party mobilized when Governor Sarah Palin was chosen as John McCain’s running mate. This may be an unprecedented example of what we are seeking to understand here so we would be missing a great opportunity not to examine it.
This is not about politics, but mobilization. In my lifetime, I cannot remember another person coming from such obscurity to such visibility and influence in such a short period of time. Several times I have purposely scrolled through every news channel, and Governor Palin’s face was on them all—conservative, liberal, and those who at least claimed to be neutral. The coverage ranged from extremely positive to extremely negative, but it seemed that everyone could not help but to talk about her.
Many were wowed by John McCain’s brilliance at announcing Governor Palin as his running mate the morning after the unprecedented euphoria that the Democratic Party seemed to be feeling after their convention. This may have been brilliant timing, but that does not account for this unprecedented impact from a person who has seemed to suck the oxygen out of any other news. Think about it. When Geraldine Ferraro was chosen, the first woman ever to be on a major party ticket for one of the two highest offices in the world, there was not even a fraction of the stir created by Governor Palin. This is what we discussed before about having an anointing for leadership.
Nothing in the natural could explain the reactions for and against her. It’s not natural. Usually a pick for the Vice President has a little impact and then it is over in a day or two. Not so here. McCain was hardly noticed anymore, which interestingly he did not seem to mind but actually enjoyed it. Palin’s announcement excited and mobilized the Republican Party, possibly like nothing else has so fast. Immediately, crowds were eclipsing those of any of the other candidates. This is an anointing for leadership.
Palin has also excited opposition. It quickly went from what seemed to be a knee-jerk reaction to the news, to a very mean-spirited and deeply disrespectful tone. Feminists were actually using “the glass ceiling” to try to beat Governor Palin down. The accusations against her were so bizarre for a time that those making them were immediately humiliated and embarrassed as an increasingly discerning public reacted to the hypocrisy. The more the media tried to demean her, the more the public rose up and smote them back. This was very interesting to say the least.
This is not to imply that the questions being asked about Governor Palin’s qualifications to sit “a heartbeat away” from what is considered the most powerful position on the planet are not legitimate. Many in both parties did question this, but did it with respect and appeared to do it objectively, which should be appreciated. The qualification to sit in such authority is what the campaigns are designed to establish or reveal.
However, there is a difference between legitimate and respectful questioning of such important issues and attacking with evil motives by using deception and lies. The rage that also rose up against Governor Palin is the result of her anointing. We need to consider this when we are desperate for others to recognize us and our calling—if the true can recognize us, so can the devil. If our unveiling has not happened yet, we are not ready for it.
I do feel that Governor Palin has a calling to leadership that I recognized immediately when I first saw her speak. This does not necessarily mean that the McCain ticket is going to win this fall or that everyone who disagrees with her or challenges her is from the devil. However, there was a considerable amount of opposition that rose up that did cross the line and was easily recognizable as being beyond mere human disagreement. Some of the same has come against Senator Obama and the accusations leveled against him that are not true. He, too, has a remarkable anointing to mobilize people, and that will always cause a corresponding opposition.
As we have discussed previously, the anointing to mobilize can be used for good or evil. The leaders of both the North and South in the American Civil War had a remarkable anointing for mobilizing multitudes for their causes. So have leaders on both sides in most wars, and yet one side can be far more righteous in their cause. The greater the anointing to mobilize, the more who will follow us, and the more that can lead to do good or evil. Therefore, if the time comes when others start to mobilize to us, we must be even more careful of where we are leading them.
The ultimate Leader is Jesus. When He is lifted up all men will be drawn to Him. Therefore, the greatest anointing for drawing men will come by those who are manifesting Him more. To manifest Him more, we must keep our attention on Him and not those following us.
There is a place for being aware of those the Lord has given us to watch over and to lead in His name for the sake of being responsible. I was shown a vision many years ago that I feel says it clearly. In this vision, I saw a pastor who would look at the Lord, and people started gathering to him. Whenever he turned from the Lord to look at the people, they would start scattering from him.
Again, there is a place for knowing those we have been given to watch over and to be responsible for, but there is also a curse that came upon