My Comments on the Lakeland Revival
June 21, 2008 Many of you have been asking about my thoughts on the Lakeland revival. First I'll give you my standard answer to anything going on in the body of Christ and then I'll expand on it:
Standard Answer
- Thank God for whatever He is doing.
- Reject whatever Satan is doing.
- Pray for the discernment to know the difference.
My Thoughts
I've spent some time reviewing videos and articles from many different viewpoints concerning the Lakeland revival. Lee Grady has some good thoughts that I would encourage you to read. Article One • Article Two
I'll answer your questions in this way. Whenever I minister around the world I encounter "residue" from previous ministers and ministries. This residue can be helpful or a hindrance depending on who was ministering. Most of the time the residue is a hindrance and I have to undo the damage before I can teach and minister with real effectiveness.
A good example was my trip to the Philippines last September. I have vivid memories of beginning to pray for people and nothing was happening. I sensed a real resistance when I laid hands on them even though, minutes before, they were very eager to be prayed for. I stopped, had everyone sit down, and I asked them to tell me what the problem was.
They told me that the last Americans to pray for them knocked them down and hurt some of them. (I wanted to cry.) The Philippino people are very kind so they allowed the Americans to keep praying for them but they were very reluctant to go through it again. It took me about ten minutes to reassure them that the Holy Spirit is gentle and there is no need to hurt or scare anyone. They relaxed and the ministry was very gentle and effective from then on.
This happens often.
In Mongolia the people are very sweet and have been scared by unwise evangelists. In Nigeria I remember praying for about two hundred people, one by one, and they were a little nervous. When they saw I wasn't going to go wild or push them they relaxed. In Cabo San Lucas the local pastor allowed me to preach and minister but I could tell he was nervous. He told me later he was so happy when I didn't push or scare the people.
This begs the question: Why does anyone think it's necessary to push, scare or purposely knock down God's children?
As anyone who ministers with me knows, no one has ever been hurt in any meeting I've ever preached or ministered in. People fall under the power of the Spirit in a very gentle fashion. I will not tolerate rudeness or anything that is not consistent with the nature and character of God. This doesn't mean that God isn't powerful: people get healed and delivered of demons all the time. There just isn't any need for anything to be rough.
Some tell me it's up to the personality of the one who's praying. I don't buy that argument either. We are to be "dead" and let the Spirit of Christ live and minister through us. Anything other than that is us and potentially the flesh.
As far as people barking, clucking and doing any number of silly things, I have a simple answer: If it looks like a duck...
At this point you might say, "What do you know about powerful ministry? Where are the crowds following you?" Fair questions. Just come with me on my next trip overseas and you'll see for yourself what I'm talking about. Over the years I've prayed, one by one, for thousands and thousands of people. Many are healed and delivered, some very spectacularly. But, honestly, I'm just the one praying. It's Jesus that heals them and sets them free.
It's not about Pastor Chris and it's not about Todd Bentley. It's about Jesus. But, we represent Jesus. We are His ambassadors. How should an ambassador of Jesus Christ act?
I'd say we should act like Jesus Himself would act.
Reader Comments (2)
All I have to say, YEH For JESUS! It's so refreshing to hear someone who walks with God, talks with God and really knows God tell the world, it is all about Jesus, not me. It's not about 'the movement', the people, places or things where God is manifesting Himself to show His Power, it's about His Love. Period. Thank you Pastor Chris for being a real living example of God's Love in the world, who just so happens to be blessed with more of God's Power shown through you.
I believe that Pastor Chris' assessment is fair. There will always be the activity of the flesh and the devil when God is moving: just remember what Ananias and his wife did during revival in Jerusalem. None of this takes away from the reality of God. I believe that God is simply visiting North Americans with a sweeping demonstration of His love by healings and miracles. For a great look at the supernatural check out "A Step Into Deliverance" by T. Pugh. It's a riveting autobiography of one pastor's amazing battle with the spirit of Jezebel.