As we still continue to cover the topic of Revival. Let's discuss in short some revivals of the past. You had the First Great Awakening. The 2nd and 3rd Great Awakening. The Welsh Revival from 1904 to 1905. Brownsville Revival, Church Renewal, and so much more. I wish I could take more time to elaborate on each one, but I encourage you to do some research for yourselves!
There were many Revivals, and "So called Moves of God". Many were amazing and powerful. Some were questionable. What was taking place at Asbury was different than others. Does God always move the same way? No. God is allowed to move anyway he wants to, when he wants to, and where he wants to. But God will always show up and move in a way that's ordered after His Holy Word, and not in a way that would cause confusion, because God is not the Author of it. BUT!!! There is a difference between a true move of the Spirit, versus a counterfeit move of the Spirit.
A true move of God is not Scripted. It's not polluted by the hands of men, though some bad characters could find their way into that move to cause disruption. These are agents of Satan. That's why we have to be spiritually discerning. Somethings start off right, then go south when the wrong people get involved. Then in some cases. Some of these "moves of God", weren't right to begin with. So here we have the Lakeland Revival. Todd Bentley was the Speaker and one man show. There was barely if any preaching on salvation. Only one time is what I've noticed. But he always was preaching on miracles, the supernatural, healing, etc.
Which, there was nothing wrong with miracles, and healings. But if that is the emphasis of the whole "so called revival", then it's wrong, and based in error. People came to see signs and miracles. There were reports, as well as footage, documenting people having gold teeth, angel feathers and gold dust. False manifestations, or as the Bible says,"lying signs and wonders". People were so hungry to chase signs and wonders, that they were falling for everything. We aren't to chase signs and wonders, but the scripture says, "these signs shall follow them that believe". Signs follow the believer, not the believer chasing the signs, wonders, and miracles.
There was also alot of talk and preaching about angels and one particularly named Ema. Who had a face that looked like Kathryn Kulhman. This is very disturbing. Was Jesus being lifted up? Was sin being addressed? Was the blood of Jesus and the finished work on the cross being provided as the answer for mankind? No. There were Pastors coming up in the back to receive a "transference of anointing"! For $50.00 you'll receive this level of anointing. $100, $500,$1000, etc. You get the picture.
We're there healing revivals, or revivals where multiple people got healed? Of course! Yes! There were times(on record)where peoples chopped off fingers, amputated arms and legs grew back completely, and many miracles were happening. But these things are signs and confirmation of God's word being properly preached. Again. God can do things any way he wants to, but how God moves is ordered after His Word. Now on the flipside, there's alot of skepticism when some moves of God or Revival breaks out, that we as Christians can be so quick to critique or criticize, instead of holding our peace and let God direct, lead, and order our steps in discernment before we pass judgment.
Blessings,
Pastor Barry Lipscomb Jr.
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