Many of my brother’s and sisters in JESUS that God has connected me with have asked questions of what do I think about the Lakeland Revival. Here are my thoughts:
The Holy Spirit always comes with a “new wineskin” to ensure that we continue to stay new. When the Holy Spirit comes in a new measure, He breaks the existing wineskin. Devout men are always confused, amazed, perplexed – and will inevitably judge the manifestations for not fitting the old wineskin. I say this because of the biblical truth found in Acts 2:5, 13 …
“There were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused …
they were all amazed and marveled … so they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?’
Others mocking said, ‘ They are full of new wine.’ “
It was Peter who had to point out in v. 15 that “these are not drunk as you suppose.” The onlookers were “supposing” because these Spirit-filled people looked drunk. The spirit of religion will always come in and point out how the new move of God just doesn’t feel religious, and he’s right. When the Holy Spirit comes in power, His manifestations don’t feel religious – but they do bring a dimension of heaven to Earth.
The “foolishness of God” often confused the wise (see 1 Cor. 1:25). Whenever the Apostle Paul spoke it was with a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (see 1 Cor. 2:1, 3-5). For those looking for it, here’s your Biblical basis for the manifestations that we see on people who experience the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1, 3-5 does not say what exactly these manifestations of the Holy Spirit and power were or what they were not, but there was clear evidence that greater power was in the room. Let this be your guide to God and His new moves.
The alternative to life in the Holy Spirit is described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 … READ. This passage ends in this manner ” … having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such a people turn away!”
Brothers and sisters in JESUS, practicing a gospel without power produces a very inferior brand of Christianity whose followers look more like lovers of pleasure than lovers of God. When you and I embrace the new move of God, we are becoming Spirit-centric in our walk and passionate lovers of God in our style. It is very hard to be passionate about a God who no longer talks, heals, delivers, or manifests in some capacity.
The spirit of religion is very crafty and his grip upon our nation is very strong. This principality’s power is not in his might but in his lies. When you or I believe his lies, we give him power. The spirit of religion works best undercover. Very few will choose to worship Satan as the devil he is, so he comes stealthily as an angel of light.
With this understanding, here is a list of the spirit of religion’s preferences on how to steal worship from God: (taken from Johnny Enlows, The Seven Mountain Prophecy.)
– Inspire open and intentional worship of Satan (Satanism)
– Divert worship to objects (idols) that originate in Satan’s mind (secondary Satan worship)
– Direct worship to man himself (Satan doesn’t get the worship but knows it displeases God)
– Make worship vague and symbolic, if God must be worshipped at all – and, if at all possible, minus JESUS
– If a real relationship with God through JESUS is present, then doctrinally eliminate the Holy Spirit
– If a real relationship with God through JESUS is present and the Holy Spirit is present, then eliminate His power manifestations (dispensationalism, cessationism)
– If a real relationship with God through JESUS that includes power manifestations of the Holy Spirit is present, then obstruct the theological understanding of just how close one can get to God, and how much authority we have been given on Earth (creating immobilized “rapture waiters”)
In short, I affirm the move of God in Lakeland. And I praise His Holy Name that He saved me some of these manifestations of the spirit of religion above – namely dispensationalism, cessationism and rapture waiting. I desire to passionately pursue the face of God and be counted in the generation that is pursuing Him (cf. Psalm 24:6). Beloved, God’s ways are not our ways.
“…where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom.”
(2 Corinthians 3:17)
enJOY the liberty that JESUS offers you, today!
