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May 17, 2008
For every move and stirring of God, we should always examine it in light of the principles of His Word, the specific leadings of His Spirit, and also taking into account the lessons we can learn from 2,000 years of church history, especially revival history. The recent Florida Lakeland revival (if one calls it a "revival") deserves a more balanced view. J. Lee Grady has provided a balanced view as pasted below that is generally right on target.
I have personally attended Todd Bentley's meetings and have come in touch with many of his materials (sermons and messages) and can confirm some of the things Grady mentioned are worthy of attention and spiritual discernment. In general, I do not doubt the validity of the salvation and miracles as a result of the meetings, and the tremendous passion, zeal, and sincerity that Todd has for the Lord. It is a Christian quality lacking in many parts in the Body of Christ today. This holy passion and desire is an example in dire need to be followed and practiced by churches, ministers, and believers. I also believe that the spiritual encounters that Todd has are bona fide, however, his interpretation and application of them probably need to be more grounded in the Word of God and the character of His love for edification. There is nothing wrong with communing with angels, for people of God have talked with angels throughout the Bible (e.g. Gabriel talked with Zacharias, Mary, and Daniel; the company of angels told the shepherds in the wilderness to look for Jesus etc.). But it is altogether a different thing than actively seeking guidance, communication, and revelation from angels directly, as all attention should be on God, Jesus Christ, and not on the angelic messengers. All those who have truly encountered and communed with angels will know that they do not want humans to shift their attention away from Jesus to them. It is true that angelic beings are the primary means in which God's work on earth are carried out under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, including delivering revelation and truth. Therefore, it is a balanced view, mannerism, and the correct methods and teachings that we need in order to not overly exaggerate and shun extremities. Past church revival history has taught us this very well.
The vision I had last night was concerning Todd and the current situation. I saw Todd sitting in a person's (who I know in reality) car backseat, Someone (who I also know in reality) was sitting beside the driver's seat, no one was driving. The car was going out of the garage (somehow without a driver), and Todd wanted to drive and take control. But he seemed without a proper car license, or at least without the proper car insurance coverage and the owner's permission since he was driving someone else's car. The person beside the driver's seat halted him because Todd was very eager to take the wheels that did not belong to him nor was he given allowance.
One main message of this vision is that he needs to be careful not to step over the boundary that he was not predestined to. He is called to be a mighty evangelist, but definitely not a teacher or pastor (Eph 4:11). If you remember the case with William Branham well, he was such an anointed prophet and evangelist, but when he wanted to become a fivefold teacher, he fell into errors and false doctrines. Soon his life and ministry were dissolved. Here is some discretion for all ministers and believers. It is critical to know what you have been called to do, and what you have not been called to function in. Furthermore, there is always an order of the offices if one is called to more than one fivefold ministry. Two persons may both be called as pastors and teachers, but for one, he may be first a teacher, then a pastor, for the other, he may be called firstly to a pastor, and secondly a teacher. Paul was called first as an apostle, evangelist, then teacher. The order may be different for a time in different phases of one's life, nevertheless, one needs to discern and be obedient to stay in the functions and priorities ordained by God. Lastly, this is only talking about gifts and callings measured to a person sovereignly by God before the foundation of the world (of course the responsibilities to grow within that measure is our own and not God's), and not one's spirituality. This is discussed in much more detail in my fourth dream vision on how the Lord does not see as man sees. The greatest is still love demonstrated in a person and not gifts (1 Cor 13:1-8).
In the end, we do appreciate and are thankful to God for Todd, his personal testimony, zeal, devotion, and ministry. The fruit of salvation, healing, deliverance, encouragement from the meetings are awesome and God-glorifying. On the other hand, Christians need to be balanced by sound teaching of the Word (as Paul and the apostles continued to teach the Word before, during, and after revivals in the Book of Acts), otherwise our spiritual experiences will have great potential to cause more damages than benefits. For some Christians, perhaps what they need, on the contrary, are more spiritual experiences and encounters, and not just the mere intellectual knowledge of the Bible. The Holy Spirit is a living God-Person, He is still speaking and working, so are His angels and ministering spirits, thus our faith and relationship with the Lord should not be just a set of doctrines no matter how sound they may be. For this latter group of believers, they need to be open to the ministries of the Holy Spirit in regard to dreams and visions, gifts of the Spirit, the apostolic and prophetic ministry, tongues, divine healing, demonic deliverance, the fivefold ministries, angelic and Spiritual World visitations etc. A balanced teaching and correct methodologies are definitely required to present a sound and practical application of these charismatic truths in the love, humility, and spiritual depth of God. When it comes to the the working of the Word of God and the Spirit of God, it's never an either-or question, or simply throwing the babies out with the bathwater because someone in the past has made serious errors in them, just as we don't throw out the Bible just because someone has misquoted or misinterpreted a certain passage. Let's be balanced Christians, both knowing and walking in the deeper things of God for loving Him and others' sake, just like Jesus.
In His Love,
George
Related Article:
The Fourth Dream -- The Lord Does Not See as Man Sees (Chinese)
The following article is taken from http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=051408 by J. Lee Grady, editor of Charisma.
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J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For every move and stirring of God, we should always examine it in light of the principles of His Word, the specific leadings of His Spirit, and also taking into account the lessons we can learn from 2,000 years of church history, especially revival history. The recent Florida Lakeland revival (if one calls it a "revival") deserves a more balanced view. J. Lee Grady has provided a balanced view as pasted below that is generally right on target.
I have personally attended Todd Bentley's meetings and have come in touch with many of his materials (sermons and messages) and can confirm some of the things Grady mentioned are worthy of attention and spiritual discernment. In general, I do not doubt the validity of the salvation and miracles as a result of the meetings, and the tremendous passion, zeal, and sincerity that Todd has for the Lord. It is a Christian quality lacking in many parts in the Body of Christ today. This holy passion and desire is an example in dire need to be followed and practiced by churches, ministers, and believers. I also believe that the spiritual encounters that Todd has are bona fide, however, his interpretation and application of them probably need to be more grounded in the Word of God and the character of His love for edification. There is nothing wrong with communing with angels, for people of God have talked with angels throughout the Bible (e.g. Gabriel talked with Zacharias, Mary, and Daniel; the company of angels told the shepherds in the wilderness to look for Jesus etc.). But it is altogether a different thing than actively seeking guidance, communication, and revelation from angels directly, as all attention should be on God, Jesus Christ, and not on the angelic messengers. All those who have truly encountered and communed with angels will know that they do not want humans to shift their attention away from Jesus to them. It is true that angelic beings are the primary means in which God's work on earth are carried out under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, including delivering revelation and truth. Therefore, it is a balanced view, mannerism, and the correct methods and teachings that we need in order to not overly exaggerate and shun extremities. Past church revival history has taught us this very well.
The vision I had last night was concerning Todd and the current situation. I saw Todd sitting in a person's (who I know in reality) car backseat, Someone (who I also know in reality) was sitting beside the driver's seat, no one was driving. The car was going out of the garage (somehow without a driver), and Todd wanted to drive and take control. But he seemed without a proper car license, or at least without the proper car insurance coverage and the owner's permission since he was driving someone else's car. The person beside the driver's seat halted him because Todd was very eager to take the wheels that did not belong to him nor was he given allowance.
One main message of this vision is that he needs to be careful not to step over the boundary that he was not predestined to. He is called to be a mighty evangelist, but definitely not a teacher or pastor (Eph 4:11). If you remember the case with William Branham well, he was such an anointed prophet and evangelist, but when he wanted to become a fivefold teacher, he fell into errors and false doctrines. Soon his life and ministry were dissolved. Here is some discretion for all ministers and believers. It is critical to know what you have been called to do, and what you have not been called to function in. Furthermore, there is always an order of the offices if one is called to more than one fivefold ministry. Two persons may both be called as pastors and teachers, but for one, he may be first a teacher, then a pastor, for the other, he may be called firstly to a pastor, and secondly a teacher. Paul was called first as an apostle, evangelist, then teacher. The order may be different for a time in different phases of one's life, nevertheless, one needs to discern and be obedient to stay in the functions and priorities ordained by God. Lastly, this is only talking about gifts and callings measured to a person sovereignly by God before the foundation of the world (of course the responsibilities to grow within that measure is our own and not God's), and not one's spirituality. This is discussed in much more detail in my fourth dream vision on how the Lord does not see as man sees. The greatest is still love demonstrated in a person and not gifts (1 Cor 13:1-8).
In the end, we do appreciate and are thankful to God for Todd, his personal testimony, zeal, devotion, and ministry. The fruit of salvation, healing, deliverance, encouragement from the meetings are awesome and God-glorifying. On the other hand, Christians need to be balanced by sound teaching of the Word (as Paul and the apostles continued to teach the Word before, during, and after revivals in the Book of Acts), otherwise our spiritual experiences will have great potential to cause more damages than benefits. For some Christians, perhaps what they need, on the contrary, are more spiritual experiences and encounters, and not just the mere intellectual knowledge of the Bible. The Holy Spirit is a living God-Person, He is still speaking and working, so are His angels and ministering spirits, thus our faith and relationship with the Lord should not be just a set of doctrines no matter how sound they may be. For this latter group of believers, they need to be open to the ministries of the Holy Spirit in regard to dreams and visions, gifts of the Spirit, the apostolic and prophetic ministry, tongues, divine healing, demonic deliverance, the fivefold ministries, angelic and Spiritual World visitations etc. A balanced teaching and correct methodologies are definitely required to present a sound and practical application of these charismatic truths in the love, humility, and spiritual depth of God. When it comes to the the working of the Word of God and the Spirit of God, it's never an either-or question, or simply throwing the babies out with the bathwater because someone in the past has made serious errors in them, just as we don't throw out the Bible just because someone has misquoted or misinterpreted a certain passage. Let's be balanced Christians, both knowing and walking in the deeper things of God for loving Him and others' sake, just like Jesus.
In His Love,
George
Related Article:
The Fourth Dream -- The Lord Does Not See as Man Sees (Chinese)
The following article is taken from http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=051408 by J. Lee Grady, editor of Charisma.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honest Questions About the Lakeland Revival
I support any holy outbreak of revival fervor. But let's be careful to guard ourselves from pride and error.
I support any holy outbreak of revival fervor. But let's be careful to guard ourselves from pride and error.
God is stirring deep spiritual passion in the hearts of the thousands of people who have traveled to Florida during the last month to experience the Lakeland Healing Revival. Since these meetings began in a 700-seat church on April 2, the crowd has moved four times to bigger venues, the fervor has intensified and the news has spread worldwide—thanks to God TV and online broadcasting.
Within a few weeks, the bandwagon effect was in full swing. It's safe to say that no outbreak of Pentecostalism in history has gained so much international exposure so quickly as these meetings have.
I'm a cheerleader for the charismatic movement, so I rejoiced when I heard the news about revivalist Todd Bentley's extended visit to Ignited Church. It was thrilling to hear the reports of miracles and to watch the crowd grow until a stadium was required to hold everyone.
When I visited a service on April 15, I was blessed by Heather Clark's music and the audience's exuberant worship. And I laughed with everyone else as I watched Bentley shout his trademarked "Bam! Bam! Bam!" as he prayed for the sick and flailed his tattooed arms over the crowd. Hey, Jesus didn't pray for people according tothe Pharisees' rulebook, so I'm open to unconventional methods.
But I would be dishonest if I told you that I wholeheartedly embraced what I saw in Lakeland. Something disturbed me, but I kept my mouth shut for three weeks while I prayed, got counsel from respected ministry leaders and searched my heart to make sure I was not harboring a religious spirit. The last thing we need today is more mean-spirited heresy hunters blasting other Christians.
I am not a heresy hunter, and I support what is happening in Lakeland because I know God uses imperfect people (like me and you) to reach others for Jesus. At the same time, I believe my questions are honest and my concerns are real.
My motive is not to criticize Bentley or the pastor who is sponsoring these meetings, Stephen Strader. In September 2002 Charisma featured a seven-page article about Bentley's amazing conversion from drug addiction. I believe Bentley is a sincere brother who wants people to encounter God's presence and power. No doubt this 32-year-old evangelist needs our prayers now more than ever, especially since he has become the focus of international media attention.
But as the noise from Lakeland grows louder and its influence spreads, I'm issuing some words of warning that apply to all of us, not just the folks in Lakeland. I hope everyone understands that these cautions are offered in love:
1. Beware of strange fire.The name of Jesus is being lifted up in the Lakeland revival, and three people came to the altar for salvation the night I attended. Larger numbers have come to the front of the auditorium to find Christ every night since then.
Yet I fear another message is also being preached subtly in Lakeland—a message that cult-watchers would describe as a spiritual counterfeit. Bentley is one of several charismatic ministers who have emphasized angels in the last several years. He has taught about angels who bring financial breakthroughs or revelations, and he sometimes refers to an angel named Emma who supposedly played a role in initiating a prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. Bentley describes Emma as a woman in a flowing white dress who floats a few feet off the floor.
All of us who believe the Bible know that angels are real, and that they work on our behalf to protect us and minister to us. But the apostle Paul, who had encounters with angels himself, issued stern warnings to the Corinthians, the Galatians and the Colossians about angels who preach another gospel or that demand attention. In Colossae, believers were so enamored with angels they had seen in visions that they became "inflated without cause" by spiritual pride (Col. 2:18, NASB). Paul was adamant that preoccupation with angels can lead to serious deception.
We need to tread carefully here! We have no business teaching God's people to commune with angels or to seek revelations from them. And if any revival movement—no matter how exciting or passionate—mixes the gospel of Jesus with this strange fire, the results could be devastating. We need to remember that Mormonism was born out of one man's encounter with a dark angel who claimed to speak for God.
2. Beware of bizarre manifestations.When the Holy Spirit's power comes on people they may feel weak or even fall. The Spirit's power can also cause people to tremble, shake, laugh or cry. Such manifestations are biblical and we should leave room for them. But where do we draw the line between legitimate experience and fanatical excess?
The apostle Paul had to deal with outrageous charismatic manifestations in the Corinthian church. People were acting like raving lunatics—and turning the church in to a free-for-all of unbridled ecstatic behavior. Paul called for discipline and order, and he reminded early Christians that "the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets" (1 Cor. 14:32). In other words, Paul was saying that no one under the influence of the Holy Spirit should act out of control.
In many recent charismatic revivals, ministers have allowed people to behave like epileptics on stage—and they have attributed their attention-getting antics to the Holy Spirit. We may think it's all in fun (you know, we're just "acting crazy" for God) but we should be more concerned that such behavior feeds carnality and grieves the Spirit.
When exotic manifestations are encouraged, people can actually get a religious high from jerking, vibrating, screaming or acting intoxicated. (I have even been around people who writhed as if in pain, or made sexual noises—thinking this was a legitimate spiritual experience.) But emotional euphoria doesn't guarantee a heart change. The person who is bucking like an untamed bronco in a church service would benefit more from sitting still and reading the Bible for an hour. When we put bizarre behavior on the platform we imply that it is normative. Thus more strange fire is allowed to spread.
3. Beware of hype and exaggeration.Our hearts are crying out today for a genuine move of God. We want the real deal. We've read about the Great Awakenings of the past and we long to see our nation overcome by a wave of repentance. The church is in a backslidden state, and our nation has rebelled against God. We are desperate!
In our longing for a holy visitation, however, we must be careful not to call the first faint breeze of the Spirit a full-fledged revival. If we do that, we are setting people up for disappointment when they realize it may not be what we blew it up to be.
Some of the language used during the Lakeland Revival has created an almost sideshow atmosphere. People are invited to "Come and get some." Miracles are supposedly "popping like popcorn." Organizers tout it as the greatest revival in history.
Such brash statements cheapen what the Holy Spirit is doing—and they do a disservice to our brothers and sisters who are experiencing New Testament-style revival in countries such as Iran, China and India. We have a long way to go before we experience their level of revival. Let's stay humble and broken before the Lord.
I am rejoicing over all the reported healings at the Lakeland meetings. Miracles are awesome. Crowds are great. But miracles and crowds alone don't guarantee a revival. Multitudes followed Jesus during His ministry on earth, but many of the people who saw the dead raised or ate food that was supernaturally multiplied later crucified the Son of God.
It was the few disciples who followed Jesus after Calvary who ushered in a true revival—one that was bathed in the fear of God, confirmed by signs and wonders, tempered by persecution and evidenced by thousands of conversions, new churches and the transformation of society. We should expect nothing less.
J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.
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