I have a number of requests to make a statement on the 'Lakeland Outpouring,' the healing revival that has been going on for two months in Lakeland, Florida.
There has been a multitude of opinions expressed in the blogosphere, but I have not felt led to make a public statement at this point. I am desperate to see a local/national/international move of God, but it's often hard to sort through everything in the earliest stages. I am called to lead State College Assembly of God, not Ignited Church in Lakeland, so I think it best for me to focus on discerning what we need to do to experience revival rather than make big pronouncements about everything 'out there.'
I think it's helpful for folks at State College Assembly to remember that it was 2 1/2 years into the Vineyard Renewal of the 1990s until we totally jumped in (I was open and seeking before that, but didn't have a total green light from the Lord until late 1996), and we didn't miss it. I don't think we'll miss it this time either, and if it is proven that this is a widespread move of God, I'm sure we won't wait 2 1/2 years.
Anyhow, here are an assortment of statements:
(1) Yesterday, the Assemblies of God released a statement by Dr. George Wood, General Superintendent. This link has both video and text.
(2) A few weeks ago, Jack Hayford, very well respected author and head of the Foursquare (Pentecostal) denomination released this statement.
(3) Several statements have been made by the folks at Charisma Magazine, whose home offices are just down I-4 from Lakeland. Here is a statement by Stephen Strang (publisher) and Lee Grady (executive editor) here (Archives: 05/14/08) and here (Archives: 05/28/08).
What do you think? Are these statements helpful to you or not?
Saturday, June 07, 2008
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17 comments:
Please see “A Call for Discernment” by going to http://www.justinpeters.org. Justin is an evangelist and in addition to expository preaching, also holds seminars on the “Word of Faith” movement. He has cerebral palsy and concurs with the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”
You can view his brief overview of the Word of Faith movement given at Southwestern Theological Seminary here:
http://www.justinpeters.org/demo.htm
To God be the glory!
Paul, thanks for the links you included...how do you find this stuff!?! I especially liked what Dr. Wood had to share. Lee Grady is the first place I turn when each month's issue of Charisma arrives! I love reading his "tough love" comments...sometimes he's even talking to me!
I think its wise to pray and wait. I too have a passion for revival and yet some questions and doubts about Lakeland particularly with some of the teachings of Todd Bentley. Being A/G I know you are aware that this is Stephen Strader's church and his dad was known for many years of having every "move of God" he could find at Carpenter's Home Church. I visited there once in early 1993.
Good advice though brother to wait and if this is from God He will include in those of us hungry for a move of His Spirit and His grace.
I have lived with a very Godly man who is a minister for 30 years. In all the years we have been married, he has never been wrong about discerning things about ministries, ministers, and people that he has met. And he has discerned some whoppers way before things became public. He very rarely voices his opinions to anyone, but has said things to me and in time, what he has said has always turned out to be right. I have learned to trust His gift and he is not very impressed with Todd Bently at all and that's enough for me.
I too yearn for a "real" revival. We so need it! But as our good friend Christopher Alam says, the reason we don't see genuine revival in America is because we will take what God is doing and market it--it's the American way! May we humble ourselves and pray for revival simply that God's name will be glorified and soul's will be saved!
I really question revivals where the emphasis is not on salvations. It seems to be in America, we are all about "renewal", more than revival. As is also the American way--"it's all about me!" History holds that revivals always bring a renewed call and interest in true holiness, sound Biblical doctrine, and repentance. I see very little, if any, in the current "move".
Caron,
It is very plain to see why Justin Peters is not healed.
YES - these statements are incredibly helpful. Yesterday my husband and I watched the video from George Wood and we thought he did an absolutely masterful job of addressing the subject. Couldn't have done any better.
I also appreciate Lee Grady's statement...his insights are always appreciated by me. I love the way he approaches subjects. So wise.
I have to wonder what Jesus would have said if his desiples would have Pastors attitude of Lets just give him 2 years and see if he is for real
Anon, actually after 3 1/2 years, multitudes of healings, deliverances and a personally encounter by 500 with the resurrected Christ, Jesus only had 120 that were willing to wait in the Upper Room for more of His Spirit.
It still worked out.
If this move of God is a 3 month window, then it is not the move of God it is being prophesied to be.
I THOUGHT WE ENTERED INTO THE BROWNESVILLE REVIVAL SOONER THAN THAT??
As an explanation, Anon, I would trace the 90s move of God (which I believe it truly was, although I pray for an even better, deeper, broader move) from the Rodney-Howard Browne meeting in Lakeland in 1993 through to the end of the decade, like this...
*1993 RHB in Lakeland
*1994 Toronto Outpouring begins (I visit in 1995)
*1995 Pensacola Outpouring begins
*mid-1996 I hear of Pensacola for the first time
*late-1996 I spend a week in Pensacola and decide to jump in
*end-1996 Renewal wave impacts State College A/G and beyond.
So, it was 1 1/2 years after Brownsville/Pensacola began and a good 2 1/2 years from the very beginning in Lakeland.
Real things can happen amongst "unreal" prophets (Matthew 7:21-23). The works of the spirit in Corinth were never indicted by Paul (nor attributed to the Devil), but the disorder was . True miracles may be occuring, and probably are, in Lakeland. What does that say about the nature of the spirit of the ministry? Very little. I've watched enough to see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears, that Jesus seems to be lost in the shuffle down there. The words you've shared, and Dr. Wood's comments are wise indeed, but perhaps we don't need to beat around the bush any longer to call a spade a spade. How long must one wait to say, "show me the beef?"
SLW, I rarely have access to audio clips on the web. What have you heard that makes you to reject that Lakeland is experiencing a revival?
James,
It's more of what I didn't hear than what I heard. Lots of anecdotal personal accounts, strange tales of angels and visions, purported miracles of gold fillings (I heard of them from another source, not the webcasts), lots of baiting and hyping and very little about the gospel. Very little about what Christ has done or why. If Todd truly is a worker of miracles, and he may well be, he needs to invite a preacher to minister in tandem with himself, so the word goes forth.
slw
Todd does not claim to be the worker of miracles, he gives the credit to Jesus.
I watch the revival all the time and I hear a lot of the gospel preached and holiness. Just two nights ago the sermon was on repentance and holiness.
I believe this is a real move of God.
Yes, he is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, but you cannot put God in a box and say he will never do anything new, What about new wineskins?
Todd B. is not a man in a suit and tie but I believe his passion is genuine for Christ.It is what is on the inside that counts.
Young people today are going to do church their way and not ours of yesterday. Who is to say that the way we do church is correct and pleasing to God.
If I were you I would watch this for a while and not listen to hear say. Ask the Holy spirit to show you.
I was skeptical at first and I prayed and ask the Lord to show me and He did.
I pray the Lord give you clarity on this.
Anon, I just heard this morning from one of our pastors what you just reported. It seems to me that Steve Strader and Todd are, to some degree, responding to some of the concerns that are coming their way. I am encouraged by that.
Anon,
I watched the webcasts for two and half weeks, myself. Granted that was back in April, maybe the preaching has changed tenor. I'll check it out again, but I saw what I saw and heard what I heard, the only thing hearsay was about gold fillings.
Incidentally, what would be wrong if Todd did claim to be a miracle worker? It is in the list of gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:28. I'm the one who posited that he may indeed be one of them, I've never heard Todd claim that for himself. What seems certain to me is that he isn't a preacher of the gospel.
I have watched many of the webcasts. Never once have I seen the man open a Bible. He was on TV the other night defendinng himself against criticism that he doesn't preach. After about 20-30 minutes or a little more of defending himself against all these accusations about not preaching, no Word in these meetings, focusing on angels and manifestations, he suddenly said, "preaching?!! What do you think I'm doing right now?"
I thought, wow...this is an issue. This man has absolutely no idea of the true definition of preaching the Word of God. If he thinks THAT (defending himself for 20 minutes) is preaching, then followers of this "revival" are in bigger trouble than we realize.
Just getting up and sharing your heart is not preaching the Word. Sharing a defense of your ministry is not preaching the Word. Responding to bloggers is not preaching the Word. Railing against pastors who present relevant questions is not preaching.
Anytime balanced preachers raise questions about any of this they are accused of not receiving Todd's ministry because of his tattoos or something else about his personality or appearance. But nobody I personally know cares about those things. Accusing people of being against him because of his appearance is a blameshifting tactic. They want to blame is on, "they don't like his looks..." as a way of discounting the questions as appropriate. They are simply raising logical questions from a Biblical standpoint and are dismissed out of hand as "religious."
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