Revival in Lakeland, FL
Posted in The Holy Spirit is on the move by Seth Barnes on 5/8/2008
I don’t know if you’ve seen what’s been going on in Lakeland, Florida. Some are calling it the the beginnings of a global revival; others say it’s a farce. This [edited] report describes it. I find it interesting it how quickly some people rush to judgment about something that is bearing good fruit and that God may be authoring. I want to ask them, “So at a minimum they’re focusing on Jesus – what are you doing to more passionately pursue a relationship with him these days?” Anyway, I recommend checking this out on line and sounding off one way or another about it.
Revival in Lakeland, FL
By Steve Strang
May 7, 2008
The latest outbreak of revival is apparently in Lakeland, Florida. It started with meetings with Todd Bentley on April 2 at Ignited Church pastored by my long-time friend Steve Strader. I’ve know Steve since I was in the 9th grade and he was in the 6th grade when his father Karl Strader came to pastor the church my family attended in Lakeland.
As I’ve covered the move of the Holy Spirit for the last three decades, I know that anytime there is a genuine move of God, it is guaranteed that certain people will automatically oppose it.
These people oppose any move of God that is beyond their own religious experience. The sad thing is that some times they will have some valid criticisms that people like me tend to discount because they are so negative.
When I attended the meeting I was excited to see the level of enthusiasm among those who attended. People waited in lines for hours to get a seat at the civic center in Lakeland, a venue that seats about 7,000. There seemed to be about 6,000 there that night and I was told that at the baseball stadium over the previous weekend there were 12,000. The meetings are broadcasted live on the Internet on the Ignited Church’s website, http://www.ignitedchurch.com, and also on GodTV which is also broadcasting the services daily from 7 to 11 p.m. EST.
There was great praise and worship that night for about an hour and 15 minutes. Then there were testimonies, Todd Bentley shared and there was ministry of various types that took place. There was a lot of humility exhibited in the service that I attended.
There were also words of knowledge including that there would be an outbreak of revival in Holland, Germany and Ireland. Todd Bentley called for delegations from those countries that had flown over for the revival to come forward. There were about a dozen from each country and they seemed to be mightily touched by God when Todd prayed for them.
Todd Bentley is from Canada. Most of the people in his ministry team have come down from Canada. Many of them are from the biker culture. While I had never met Todd Bentley nor heard him minister, I was a little surprised to see that he was covered with tattoos – which is much more acceptable in his generation than in mine.
Nevertheless he ministered with power. When I was asked later on to describe the service I heard myself saying rather extemporaneously that the first part of the service with worship reminded me of the worship at the Brownsville revival and Todd’s style of ministry reminded me of a “Benny Hinn with tattoos.” A couple people I’ve said that to have found it rather funny and have also found it a helpful word picture.
It’s too early to really tell the long-term effect of this revival. My report today is neither criticism nor an affirmation. I have not had an opportunity to research any of the miracles or even to talk personally with Todd Bentley.
However, the people I saw at the meetings seemed genuinely hungry for a move of God. Like many, I’m also hungry for a move of God and I’m glad to see this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I’m glad to see the excitement that has been generated – not only in Lakeland, but in various parts of the country.
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My thoughts:
So, what do I think about the revival going on in Lakeland? Well, I believe that there are plenty of hungry people seeking God’s presence. I went for that very reason – to see God moving. Do I agree with everything that is happening there and everything that is being said? I don’t know. I have been wrestling with some things myself, but it was so worth it to go. I say, go and see it for yourself. But, strip yourself of all the negative thoughts and instead of looking for someone to mess up, or say something you don’t agree with, go with an open heart and mind. Don’t be bound to the fact that you have never experienced these things before.
My experience:
Well I posted one story
in a previous post of how my “normal” was changed after going to
Lakeland and seeing people being healed right before my eyes. I had
seen two people healed before and that was about 4 and 5 years ago, one in my old
apartment and the other was my husband. I have always believed that God can heal and recently at
training camp for the World Race
I was reminded that Jesus cast aside his divinity and as a man just
like you and me, was empowered by the Holy Spirit to heal people. He
is our example! We too are called to step out in faith and to usher the Kingdom of God to earth.
Since going to Lakeland, I have been stepping out in faith again in my own town refreshed and not afraid to be BOLD and I have seen one boy healed already. My friend Steen who went with me just prayed for a woman the other day at the grocery store and saw her healed! And, last night we got to share the love of Christ with Andy, a Kenyan man who was recently hit by a car. Our small group brought him dinner and ate with him and we got to pray for him as well. We did not see him instantaneously healed, but we will continue to pray and believe. (We are praying for a healing of his heart and that he will have a relationship with Jesus more than a physical healing.)
Here is a good article to read that asks some tough questions about what is going on in Lakeland. And, if you want to read something that I learned recently about the 42nd generation check out Seth Barnes’ recent posts.
