Interpretation Of "The Silly Tree"
(A vision given to Bob Jones)
Don Hawley
 
 

I would like to offer the following interpretation of the vision "The Silly Tree" recently given to the prophet Bob Jones. The Vision is included at the end of this article.

On November 14, 1998, I preached a sermon entitled "Renewal in Transition." As the title indicates, it had to do with what I perceive are significant changes just now taking place in the great Renewal of the Holy Spirit. I believe Bob Jones’ vision deals with the same theme.

I’m not being trite when I say, "Movements move!" Denominations are simply Christian groups that started out as movements, but stalled out along the way. Looking back at their vibrant beginnings, they began to worship their doctrines and traditions instead of the living God. It ever will be the devil’s design to take the "move" out of movement.

Satan would like to turn the present Renewal into just another denomination. That must not be.

The Tabernacle was set up, and on that day the cloud covered it. Then from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle appeared to be a pillar of fire. This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud changed to the appearance of fire. When the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel followed it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel camped. In this way, they traveled at the LORD’S command and stopped wherever he told them to. Then they remained where they were as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed for a long time, just as the LORD commanded. Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days. Then at the LORD’S command they would break camp. Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and moved on the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and followed. Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. So they camped or traveled at the LORD’S command, and they did whatever the LORD told them through Moses. Num. 9:15-23. The wellbeing of Israel, their very life, depended upon following the cloud. Today, the wellbeing of Renewal, its very life, depends on faithfully following the pillar of fire. The fact that we do not know for sure where the cloud is leading is immaterial; the Holy Spirit is trustworthy.

PARTY TIME

Like the prodigal son the church has for centuries been hungry and bruised, wandering in a far country. In Renewal it has come home. Once the father placed the robe around the shoulders of the repentant son, notice his very next concern.

Kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. Luke 15:23, 24. Until Renewal it had been a long time since the church of God had partied. The joy of the Lord was seldom seen in the Body of Christ, and the world was not attracted to the funereal-like services that passed for gatherings around the throne. People already had enough troubles; what they needed to hear was that the robe of Christ’s righteousness had set them free! Whenever that fact sinks in, it always produces joy. It’s then party time. On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Godly Jews from many nations were living in Jerusalem at that time. When they heard this sound, they came running to see what it was all about, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

They were beside themselves with wonder. "How can this be?" they exclaimed. "These people are all from Galilee, and, yet we hear them speaking the languages of the lands where we were born! . . . They stood there amazed and perplexed. "What can this mean?" they asked each other. But others in the crowd were mocking. "They’re drunk, that’s all!" they said. Acts 2:1-13.

 Some would have us believe that this portion of Scripture describes a quiet and decorous little Bible study, but such an event would hardly have brought the charge of being drunk at nine in the morning. No, they were filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and that is what brought such crowds that Peter could see thousands baptized in a single day. What we need today is Pentecost II, and I believe it has already begun in the present Renewal movement.

Whenever Christians get happy, there are always saints who figure they must be up to no good. Their own expertise is in "weeping between the porch and the altar." Looking at Renewal, distracters derisively referred to it as the "laughing revival." Instead of merely accepting the negative reports, I flew to Toronto to see for myself. I came away knowing that the Holy Spirit is doing a new thing in this our own day, and my life has been immeasurably enriched as a result of immersing myself in this movement.

THE CLOUD IS MOVING

As I stated in the beginning, movements move. Movement results in change. And change is always a challenge. Whenever we perceive the cloud is moving, we must keep up.

Common sense tells us two things about the prodigal son and his homecoming party. First, that celebration certainly wasn’t the last time the sounds of joy rang through the father’s house. Secondly, that very special party didn’t go on indefinitely; there were responsibilities around the ranch that needed caring for.

I believe that Bob Jones’ vision of the "silly tree" joins a chorus of other prophetic voices telling us that the cloud is moving again. Without losing our joy in the Lord, we must—in the light of what is about to burst upon the earth—augment it with a new sense of responsibility. My dictionary says that one synonym for "silly" is "laughable." The "laughing revival" is entering a new phase.

Jones described the silly tree as being "exuberant." One of the earmarks of Renewal, and one of the aspects so important to me personally, has been exuberant worship. I determined that never again would mere men be allowed to deny me the privilege of worshiping my God in fullness of joy. But there is more beyond.

Moses was a prince of Egypt, and there must have been some great partying going on in Pharaoh’s palace. However, when a giant task loomed ahead the Lord called him to the desert to find his burning bush, and a new relationship with his God.

Many months ago the prophet Marc DuPont warned that God is calling people in Renewal to a new relationship with him. He stated that it is time to turn our focus from the party to the desert. As individuals we need more quiet time, a stretching of our spirit toward the throne.

Just recently the prophet Graham Cooke presented exactly the same message.

A few weeks ago I was present at a luncheon where ministers had opportunity to question Jack Deere and Paul Cain. When I got the floor I asked Paul, "I perceive that the Renewal movement is in transition. Do you also sense this, and if so what do you see happening?"

Paul replied. "Yes, we are in a transition period, and I see it as a new call to "holiness."

I believe we are witnessing not a new purpose in Renewal, but rather an invitation to experience a new depth in this last-day move of God. The walls of Jericho stand between the Promised Land and us, and they will fall only to a people drenched in the Spirit of God.

WHAT ARE WE TO MANIFEST?

When I first examined the Renewal my attention was drawn, as is the case with most, to the "manifestations." A cursory inspection is as far as many go; they conclude that such strange phenomena could not be of the Lord. Those who are knowledgeable are aware that this has been the pattern for every great revival in history. The majority misses the proffered blessings, but I determined that this move is of God, and stayed by.

Unfortunately, for some the manifestations become the focus of their attention when it should be on the God of the manifestations. Also, whenever the Spirit comes with power, the flesh also rises. There are always those who are determined to "manifest" whether impelled by the Spirit or not. This, of course, is a distraction and can turn seekers away.

I confess that for a time I saw manifestations as a goal in themselves. Now I realize they are merely incidental to the true goal of knowing Him. We need a change of emphasis. I like the way Jack Deere put it at a recent conference. He said, "Don’t be weird on purpose. When the Holy Spirit comes in fullness that will be weird enough." Good advice.

So what are we to manifest? I believe that, while we appreciate and joy in the gifts of the Spirit, it is time to open our lives more fully to the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. God is calling us to a new level of godliness. Perhaps the warning the prophet Hosea gave to Ephraim is appropriate for us today.

The people of Israel have become like silly, witless doves . . .

They do not cry out to me with sincere hearts . . .

They look everywhere except to heaven, to the Most High . . .

Hosea 7:11, 14,

 Our God is preparing us for what lies ahead, the scope of which we have not yet imagined. According to Bob Jones, the only purpose of the silly tree "was to attract the attention of the people attending the orchard, distracting from the other more lowly trees that were producing beneficial fruit."

When the Holy Spirit came the first time with Pentecostal power Peter said:

People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.

Acts 2:22.

 The work of God will not end with less manifestation of power than that with which it began. In fact, we soon will see miracles and wonders greater in extent than even those produced by our Lord. We are about to write a new Book of Acts. However, at the moment we need to go to the desert to seek our burning bush.
 
 

VISION OF THE SILLY TREE

A Vision Given to Bob Jones written by Keith Davis
************************************************************

In a recent prophetic experience, Bob was taken to an orchard of trees.  Initially, his attention was directed to some of the rather humble trees in the orchard.  These trees were so inconspicuous and meek in appearance that they were hardly noticeable unless someone's attention was directed to them.  The trees did not have beautiful blossoms nor an abundance of leaves, however, upon careful examination greatly beneficial fruit could be seen being produced from these humble trees.

Bob's attention was then directed to the center of the orchard where a large seemingly beautiful tree resided.  When looking at this tree from a distance it was clear that bright pretty blossoms were being produced that were very appealing to the natural eye.  This tree was so exuberant that anyone visiting the orchard would see this tree and
hardly even notice the other more humble fruit bearing trees.  Bob thought that surely this tree would have an abundance of fruit based upon its outward appearance.

Bob then moved to the center of the orchard to closely examine this seemingly beautiful tree.  However, the closer Bob got to the tree the less appealing it seemed.  In fact, careful scrutiny revealed that this tree did not produce any fruit.  It was totally barren of fruit and it's only purpose was to attract the attention of the people attending the orchard, distracting from the other more lowly trees that were producing beneficial fruit.

Bob then saw the name of the tree...SILLY..  The name given to this seemingly beautiful tree to the natural eye was the "silly tree".  It represented the silliness that resides in the church that serves as a distraction to the true fruit bearing trees of Righteousness.  Bob then saw a hand descending from Heaven toward the "Silly Tree" striking the tree at its base cutting off its foliage and blossoms leaving only the trunk and a few branches.

INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION

Presently, there resides in the church an element of silliness that has prevented the church from moving into the necessary maturity to bear the nature and image of Christ.  The silliness has served as a distraction to the equipping ministries that were given to the church to provide a Word in due season directing the church toward growth and
maturity.  The Lord always sends his greatest gifts in the most humble packages.  The enemy of the church has promoted the "Silly Tree" causing it to "stand-out" and nullify God's Grace through distraction.

Through this experience, the Lord is saying that the silliness is to be cut out of the church.  Silliness is not to be confused with Joy. The joy of the Lord shall eternally be our strength.  There is a clear distinction between Joy and silliness.  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit...  silliness a distraction.
The apostle Paul once said, "When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things."  (1 Cor 13:11) When the church was young and immature, she did childish and silly things.  However, the church must now move into adulthood and maturity, the times dictate it.  We simply cannot allow distractions to continue to steal from us the essential fruit provided for us from Heaven.

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