Encouragement and encounters

MSNBC news article on TODD BENTLEY- May 29, 2008

I was once critical and quick to dismiss things as hype and emotionalism. Anything I didn’t understand or experience: supernatural phenomenon, God’s power to heal, do miracles and speak to your life’s situations. I learned alot traveling for the Gospel in Africa. You owe it to yourself to:

1)Give it a fair shake- spend a week at the meetings and see if God ‘really is in the midst’ of the revival, before dismissing something you don’t know about. Better yet, save money and just tune in via internet (http://us.god.tv then go to ‘programming‘ tab, and ‘watch now‘) Its very easy to criticize what we dont understand, and in doing so ‘miss the grace of God’ that could have been freely ours. -My advice is to people ‘If you already have enough of God in your life, don’t come/tune in- its only for the hungry and desperate.’ Didn’t Jesus say ‘It is the sick who need a doctor?’ - What did Jesus mean by this? A true revival is all about Jesus being amongst people, saving them, delivering them and healing them- revealing His glory and love to people. He does still use people, just like he used his people from least to the greatest in the Bible

Some (with good intentions) in their zeal against the ‘counterfeit’, completely shut themselves down to the ‘authentic and real’ supernatural realm of God. The Sadducees of the New Testament did this- neither believing in angels or the resurrection from the dead.

2)Resist entertaining wrong ideas like ‘God can visit me in my house and my church’- Elijah could have gone to Namaan’s house too, but he commanded him to go to the Jordan river. Jesus mentions how humble Namaan had become (Luke 4:25-27) Sometimes, in order to not miss God’s visitation/blessings, we must become very humble, even if it defies our logic and past experiences. Jesus could have healed every sick person… but he responded to the radical and hungry hearted. The paralytic was healed because (those who brought him) tore the roof off the house, lowering him down on a stretcher before Christ. Hunger means alot to heaven- so does complacency and pride. When we are talking about the God of the universe, the Holy Spirit, we should try to humble ourselves by doing things His way, not our way. Are we really in a position to try to ‘command God’? Thats why Jesus said ‘Ask and you will receive- seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.’ (Matthew 7). This simple litmus test of attitude/obedience can be the difference between receiving grace or adopting a critical spirit (=missing the grace of God). I am telling you honestly (after having such negativity and skepticism for many years)– Jesus is so amazing, so infinite and vast, and also so ‘incapable’ of fitting into our neat file cabinets inside our mind. There is an invisible spiritual world (just like atoms, protons and electrons)- just because we can’t ’see something’ doesn’t mean its not ‘real’ or that it doesn’t exist.

3)We have been to the meetings for the last week and can testify that the environment is certainly different than any place we ever experienced. We saw many people healed of diseases like cancers and broken bones, with the photos and xrays to prove it. Doctors (MD’s) and even a United Nations representative have been there in Lakeland, speaking about their own experiences. Scores of people from gang members to homeless people have dedicated their lives to serving Jesus Christ. It takes some real serious pride to criticize an outpouring where little children are weeping, having heavenly encounters and unbelievers are getting born again (experientially). One of the key features was that the Holy Spirit is empowering many ordinary people in these great days- this is a contagious features of true revival. God still delights in sharing his best plans with any who are willing- this is great news!

4)There is a still a need to judge and discern events/ people. Every business and ministry is made up of the same thing- people! People are flawed and weak, and we will always have to discern and choose- this is always the case, even in the book of Acts they came together to discuss events and questionable matter. I perceive some things to be true miracles at Lakeland, and also other things to be extreme - but I am not willing to throw it out because the Bible teaches clearly ‘Hold onto the good- do not quench the Spirit.’ Therefore we can do both, appreciate and receiving the works of the Holy Spirit, and still admit that their is over reactions and even some hype- it was no different in the days Jesus walked the earth or the book of Acts either.

5)God is pouring out His Holy Spirit on His people, throughout the denominations (its not about ‘running to Lakeland’): These are historic times of fulfillment for repeating prophecies like Joel 2. Catholic, Protestant, Episcopal, non Charismatics, Baptists…. on and on (no one is safe)- God is moving in and throughout all churches in the world. We live in historic times!

We know and believe God loves to heal, restore and impart greater glory in the days to come- thats why we are spending our time and money to come down here, during our 6 year anniversary. Its totally worth it- come and check it out for yourself, if you really are hungry for Jesus- you won’t be disappointed!

If you can’t come, thats ok too- tune into this link on the internet at 10am and 7pm or into GODTV for free. If you want to encounter Jesus Christ, you won’t be disappointed!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/great-florida-healing-revival