Lakeland, Florida Outpouring

**James Vincent III** · 05-17-2008, 03:16 PM

Oh my goodness! Has anyone else here been to the revival meetings in Lakeland, Florida? I was there for two days and it was awesome! The best thing about it, besides the constant testmonies of healing and dead-raising, is that it is not man-centered. Jesus gets all the glory alone. Bob Jones, for those if you who know him, said that this is not a "revival"-- this is maturity; the body of Christ has come into its next level and that the power that has been poured out is ABIDING!
I can't wait to see what else God does in the coming days and how many of us will play huge roles in His plan. I don't know about you all, but I have GOT to be part of what He is doing TODAY!
God is too awesome and vast for us to be thinking small in these times.

I will enter this and more into my blog at worshipbeyondradio.com/worshippers_blog_to_the_nations/html. Feel free to comment here or there!
God is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSO OOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMME!

Let's Go Up,
James

**fmckinnon** · 05-17-2008, 03:51 PM

James,
Thanks for the report - I've been wondering, and have a few friends who have been as well.

This could be a great thread - I truly believe in miracles, healings, yes .. even the possibility for resurrections ... yet, I find myself skeptical all the time. It breaks my heart that I'm so skeptical about these type of moves, and I have to confess, I've been right in the "thick of" many of them.

I've heard many say it's not glorifying man, but then I keep hearing constant reports of how overly-flashy Todd B. is, and how he draws so much attention to himself with all the fanfare, noise, and demonstrative actions (ie. pushing people, hitting people, saying "ba, boom, bam, shazam", etc., when he prays for people ...".

I'm not judging that - I cannot, as I've not been, and even THEN, I'd be very cautious before I formed any judgment whatsoever.

I also have to keep in mind that as long as the "vessel" is "mankind", fallen, nowhere near perfect, there will be "issues" we'll need to graciously overlook.

Look forward to more reports, and other input.

**russhutto** · 05-17-2008, 09:09 PM

me too, Fred, me too.

**chrisfromcanada** · 05-18-2008, 11:43 AM

Obviously you do not want to mess with a Canadian preacher - he might kick you in the face!!

I think this is a pretty great opportunity for wisdom and maturity. We've been praying here that if it is truly of God that it would be made famous - that it would continue, expand and spread around the world. We've also been praying that if it is of human (or worse) origin that God would blow it up in spectacular fashion so that nobody would be able to deny that God is sovereign.

But yeah - without having been there and from only seeing brief reports and clips on YouTube it is hard to have a sense of what is actually happening.

**stephen_can_man** · 05-18-2008, 11:24 PM

It's really none of my business, but, I thought I might share my perspective. I was raised AG and my parents were all caught up in Rodney Howard Brown, Brownsville, Toronto Blessing, Benny Hinn etc. They made me go as a child, or when I was 11-18 years old. Honestly, I think this stuff is fake. I nearly left the church altogether because of seeing churches pulled apart, "dead" people jeered at and emotional fanaticism gone rampant. I used to be deathly afraid to give my honest opinion about this stuff because I would be mocked and jeered and acused of being unspiritual and not in tune with the Holy Spirit. I have seen people shake, roll, bark and testify, and several years later the same people have the same problems they shook and rolled in the door with, or even worse they are "storm chasers"...always looking for the next spiritual high with little substantial grounding to local church work. I am not saying that God cannot use these experiences, but I have seen more lasting transformation in the non fanciful work of the local body committed to reaching their community with the gospel. Just my 2 cents.

James 1:26-27

**James Vincent III** · 05-19-2008, 12:39 AM

You know, Stephen, I do believe for some people it can be fake. I used to know people who would roll and shake and laugh and scream, but afterwards they were the same cursing, bitter, angry, lustful, wicked people they were before. That's why at first I had a problem with it all. But always remember that with every good thing God imparts, there is a counterfeit from darkness.

Remember Simon the sorcerer who did many miracles in the sight of the people and everyone wondered at him and called him the mighty power of God. This was well after Pentecost and the many ways in which the Holy Spirit manifested God's power. But when Peter came with God's true power, it was undeniable, even to Simon the sorcerer, that this power was greater and more real than what was known in that land at the time.

I'm telling you, if you have a heart for Jesus and His truth, you will sense and see that God's power is real through these signs were seeing in these days. Jesus said Himself that the Pharisees didn't really care in their hearts to know the father, so they couldn't discern that He was really God's son! I want to encourage you not to look for the fake or faulty, but look for God in it. We can miss out on so much that He has for us if we shun everything that we would naturally label as "off" or "weird." I'm guilty of it too... I'm not accusing anyone of anything.

I can certainly understand where you're coming from... it's just like a black man who has been wronged by so many whites that when someone white genuinely shows him love and respect, he can't receive it. It's real, and that's just where the enemy wants us. So just look for God, discern with love and truth what is His heart and what isn't.

Let's Go Up,

James

**yod1948** · 08-12-2008, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by chrisfromcanada

I think this is a pretty great opportunity for wisdom and maturity. We've been praying here that if it is truly of God that it would be made famous - that it would continue, expand and spread around the world.

you mean like Islam or hinduism?

"many will say in that day Lord Lord did we not cast out demons and heal people in your name? and I will say depart from Me I never knew you

I have friends that have gone there and loved it. People I trust...but I still think they are only being deceived. I do believe it is a work of God...a strong delusion. People get healed every day in many ways. Can it happen in a meeting where Todd Bentley is? Why not? On the surface, healing is not necessarily a sign that can be trusted as an endorsement from God.

I've held my tongue for a long time but I believe David Reagan sums it up in such a way where I shouldn't be silent anymore

http://www.lamblion.com/articles/articles.php