Lakeland Revival Is Just The Beginning - Part 1

On May 30^th I had the privilege to go to a revival in Lakeland, FL for four days.  It was an awesome experience!  The Spirit of God is without a doubt moving around the world and using Lakeland to fuel the fire.  Before I left for the revival I read a lot of the garbage plastered all over the Internet about Todd Bentley and Fresh Fire Ministries.  Todd is the man God is using to lead the revival.  On top of the negative stuff I read, I also received an email just a few days before leaving that troubled me.  The email warned me as well as other recipients to be very cautious of the revival.  Attached was an article from Prophetic News which claimed the healing revival in Lakeland was false.  (There was another email upon my return apologizing because the sender later found out the article he attached was full of inaccuracies and misquotes.)  Needless to say I went with my guard up.  The question on my mind while traveling was:  Is God really using Todd Bentley to bring revival even though I don't particularly agree with all the ways it is being brought about?  I prayed God would give me spiritual discernment, wisdom, and knowledge.

Not only did God answer my question, but he gave me much more than I ever dreamed of receiving!  It wasn't long after arriving that the truth was quickly revealed to me through scripture and observation.  The meetings were centered on Jesus Christ.  Period.  Jesus received all the glory for every healing that took place and throughout all the worship.  The first word God spoke to me is found in Mark 9:38-40.  Listen to what Jesus says to John.

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." 39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us." (NIV)

Just because things are being done in a different way or because "he was not one of us" (having the same theology) doesn't mean God isn't moving.  A tree is known by its fruit.  I felt God speaking that to me.  Even though I saw people falling backwards, shaking, speaking in tongues, etc., I also saw love and a genuine concern for lost souls, the sick, and a passion to see Jesus glorified throughout the world.  In Luke 6:43-45, Jesus says this about knowing a tree by it's fruit:

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." (NIV)

I can say with great confidence the fruit of this revival is good.  Many souls are being saved and many miracles, signs, and wonders in the name of Jesus are taking place in Lakeland, FL.  Impartation is also taking place.  Groups of people are meeting at Ignited Church, being trained, and going out in the streets every afternoon bringing the gospel and healing to people in need.  However, to leave it just at that would be short changing God.  We serve a much bigger God.  I told you at the beginning of this message He answered my question with much more than I dreamed.  I plan on giving you, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story," in part two of my message.

In the mean time, I challenge all of you to pray God will raise up laborers for His Kingdom.  Pray for the coming harvest.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will convict you and spark a passion within your heart for a revival to break out where ever you're reading this.  If you haven't already experienced it, go to www.freshfire.ca and watch what God is doing every day of the week in Lakeland.  Or, if you have DirecTV just tune into God TV at 7 pm.  I love you all and be watching for part two.

Find the fire in Christ Jesus!

Bill