The 2008 Election: Democracy or Oligarchy?

Here, one day before perhaps the most important presidential election in the history of this nation, I am painfully aware that this article, if it were to have any impact at all, will be far too little far too late. Unfortunately as well, in terms of the demographics of the readership of this blog, it likely will only amount to “preaching to the choir.” Moreover, I hold no illusions that its message will turn the mind of anyone regarding their vote tomorrow. Despite all this, I am somehow pressed with a patriotic and spiritual duty to write and publish it any way.

Only a year ago, I must confess at the outset, I had basically resigned myself to the premise that in the 2008 election America was going to get what it deserved politically. Considering the precipitous moral and spiritual decline of this nation, and the dizzying speed with which it is taking place, it is easy to arrive at such a conclusion, not from a pessimistic but realistic prospective. Yet, when I mentally scan all that I know regarding the scenario before us, the only thing that gives me a modicum of hope is the Apostle Peter’s resonating descriptor of God the Father, that He is “the God of all grace” (1 Pet. 5:10). As we know, the Gospel of Christ is all about, through and through, the Amazing Grace of God extended to humanity instead of the judgment we so rightly deserve.

So it is indeed a hard call, difficult to prognosticate, what will be the outcome of this pivotal election. Will America get what it deserves, or will God once again extend His grace? Frankly, I absolutely don’t know. Probably, few, if any, do know with even relative certainty. Though, we will ALL know our fate and future as far as things in the natural realm go within the next 48 hours.

God's Plan for the Global Economic Collapse of 2008

In this crucial hour when not only Americans but all peoples of all nations collectively are faced with the catastrophic effects of the most expansive economic collapse in the annals of human history, it is calming, comforting, and cheering to know that the Sovereign and Almighty God has a plan, has eternally known what the plan is, and that His plan—for individual believers and His true Body alike—is not for harm, calamity, disaster, or destruction, but welfare, good, prosperity, peace, and a hope-filled future.

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ (Jer. 29:11, NASB)

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Ibid; NIV)

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. (Ibid; AB)

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Ibid; NLT)

In the present tumultuous times in which talk of crisis, collapse, and calamity fill the air and images vividly portraying same fill our television screens, it is vital for believers to understand one thing—God has a plan. He’s always had a plan. In fact it is not just a plan, rather His plan is THE plan. The various translations of this oft-quoted verse cited above reflect some poignant points concerning the plans that He has for us.

First, it’s thrilling to just know that the Almighty has a plan for our welfare and well-being—that a plan actually exists. How often do people—believers and non-believers alike—languish in life for lack of a plan and because they don’t know what God’s plan is! One of the most pitiful divine laments in the Word of God is: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6). In other words, those who profess to be God’s people and wear the badge—“Christian”—don’t know that God has always had a specifically and intentionally devised plan for their life, and they have no clue what that plan is.

True Unity of the Spirit (Part 3)

I believe in and covet unity among believers—wholeheartedly. I grealty prefer unity over disunity, harmony over disharmony, accord over discord, concord over controversy, agreement over disagreement, amity over animus. There are numerous Scripture passages stating God's desire for unity among the Brethren. Genuine unity of the Spirit is vital to the Body of Christ in order to accomplish the purposes and plans of God on Earth. Unfortunately, however, the notion of unity that many in the Church today have been indoctrinated with is not true unity at all, but rather a convoluted counterfeit that is used by some unscrupulous and unaware leaders as a subtle mechanism of manipulation aimed at predomination for self-aggrandizing purposes.

If you did not read Part 1 and 2 of this three-part article, I strongly urge you to do so, because the foundation was laid for this portion in the previous posts. This part cannot be properly understood or assessed apart from the backdrop laid out in those previous posts. Links to archived articles are on the right side panel. You may also read the entire 2-part article on my website at: http://www.slm.org/trtdigst/articles/unity_part2.html.

In the first post, I said I believe in and covet unity among believers—wholeheartedly. I talked about my surpassing personal preference for unity over disunity, harmony over disharmony, accord over discord, concord over controversy, agreement over disagreement, amity over animus. I quoted Scripture passages indicating God's affinity for unity among the Brethren as well. Moreover, I stated that I believe genuine unity of the Spirit is vital to the Body of Christ in order to accomplish the purposes and plans of God on Earth.

But, then I indicated that the unity I believe in and strongly desire is Biblical unity, juxtaposed to the many other ideas of unity that exist today in the world. Then, I narrowed our focus to the particular notion of unity that many Pentecostals, Charismatics, and other Neo-Pentecostals have been taught, the centerpiece of which is the premise of "covenant relationships."

Here again I will state emphatically and unequivocally that I believe in the concept of "covenant relationships"—within its Biblical bounds.

I believe it is vital that relationships among believers be predicated on our covenant with God that we share, and that it is vital that our interrelations be rooted in the koinonia that the Early Church experienced for a time. But, again, the pivotal qualifier with respect to unity is the word—Biblical. Indeed, the point of this article and the book chapter from which it is adapted is that, unfortunately, the notion of unity that many in the Church today have been indoctrinated with is not true unity at all, but rather a convoluted counterfeit that is used by some either unscrupulous or unaware leaders as a subtle mechanism of manipulation aimed at predomination for self-aggrandizing purposes.

As I stated in Part One, the version of "covenant relationships" that has now permeated much of the Pentecostal and Neo-Pentecostal church is a product of a spiritually toxic rue of Truth mixed with mysticism. Under the auspices of the fallacious and errant teachings of the Shepherding Movement of the 1970s that were woven into the very fabric, foundation, and functions of the Neo-Pentecostal Church at large, the application of the Scripturally-valid principle of interdependency and fraternal responsibility among believers, i.e., koinonia, is extended far beyond its import and true intent, and is conveniently transformed into very unscriptural chains of spiritual bondage and psychological captivation . While believers are to value and validate fraternal relationships, as well as demonstrate a certain measure of unceasing and "unconditional" commitment to one another, those relationships in terms of their application in the natural realm in the here and now are not sacrosanct or inviolable, and they most definitely do have limits. Understanding and acknowledging those limits is imperative to avoid excess and error. In this Part of the article, we will examine the salient characteristics of Biblical unity juxtaposed to those of this fallacious unity to which I allude.

Good and Pleasant Unity
Firstly, let's look briefly at the nature of Biblical unity. One dictionary offers the following definition and synonyms of the word "unity," which supply us with some excellent concepts concerning the unity that God desires the Body of Christ to flow in:

1. The state or quality of being one; singleness.
2. The state or quality of being in accord; harmony.
3. a. The combination or arrangement of parts into a whole; unification.
   b. A combination or union thus formed.
4. Singleness or constancy of purpose or action; continuity.

Synonyms: unity, union, solidarity. These nouns denote the condition of accord resulting from an identity or coincidence of interests, purposes, or sympathies among the members of a group. Unity implies agreement and collaboration among interdependent, usually varied components… Union connotes harmony, cohesiveness, and often unanimity among individuals united in a whole…. Solidarity refers to the community of objectives and responsibilities that enables a group of people to think and act as one.¹

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! (Ps. 133:1)

Separating the holy from the profane, we can see from the very first of the unity passages I cited in the first Part, above, that the unity being described by the Spirit, in that it speaks about "brothers," is a unity that is mutual among all the brotherhood, not just certain ones. Indeed, the pivotal word in this passage is "brothers." To understand properly the unity that God has designed for us to walk in, it is imperative to understand that all believers—laymen and leaders alike—are coequal brothers and part of the Brotherhood of Christ. In this Biblical unity there is an inherent mutuality, void of exclusivism and elitism—that "big me, little you" attitude—so overtly manifest and prevalent in so many churches, church groups, networks, and denominations today, leadership in particular. Nothing is more divisive and stifling of comm-unity and camaraderie than such attitudes of arrogance and ascendancy.

One revelation concerning which much of the Body of Christ needs a fresh and added awareness is that regardless of our God-assigned function and responsibilities, status, or station in life, all believers—leaders and laymen like—are on par as brothers. Jesus explicitly stated that in Matthew 23:8: "all of you are on the same level, as BROTHERS" (L.B.). Spiritually, i.e., in our spirit-being, all believers, male and female, leader and layman, are coequal brothers. Though there is diversity in function, there is yet coequality or parity in our spiritual status or standing in Christ. In a word, we are "peers" or "fellows." Understanding that we are fellows is the fundamental ingredient in experiencing blessed "fellowship." Indeed, the overriding point this passage expresses is that unless believers relate and interact with one another as coequal "brothers," there will be no true unity, and their relationships and interactivity, rather than being good and pleasant will be bad and unpleasant—yea miserable!

Having become spiritual sons of God through the New Birth, believers are even (cherish the unfathomable thought!) on the same level with Jesus in terms of our heritage and inheritance. Jesus is even our Elder Brother!

the FIRST-BORN of many BRETHREN (Rom. 8:29);

For both He who sanctifies (Jesus) and those who are sanctified (believers) are all from one Father, He is not ashamed to call them BRETHREN, saying, "I will proclaim Thy name to My BRETHREN" (Heb. 2:11,12).

Merely by virtue of the New Birth, every believer is baptized into the family of God, the Brotherhood of Christ (also known as the Church). Moreover, God has Himself elevated the entire entity of the Brotherhood of Christ to as sublime a height as possible short of infringement on the God-Head itself! Truly, if we ever fathomed the profound depths of this glorious Truth, all perceived need for preeminence and predominance over fellows among the Brethren would be instantaneously and eternally eradicated! Would to God it would be!

Part of what we can draw from this unity passage is that the unity that is being spoken of is mutually beneficial in many ways and produces "good" results. In Part One I talked about the anointed ambience, or supernatural atmosphere, that was manifest in the Early Church as a result of the apostolic dimension that was present among them. What it generated was works of supernatural power in the form of healing, deliverance, and miracles as well as supernatural working in the lives and relationships of the believers. The result of it all was that the Jerusalem Church was "having favor with all the people," and "the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." Certainly that would qualify as "good" results of the "brothers dwell(ing) together in unity!"

The unity passage also described this kind of unity that occurs when the Brethren live in harmony and oneness of purpose, or koinonia, as "pleasant." Pleasant is defined as giving or affording pleasure or enjoyment; agreeable; pleasing in manner, behavior, or appearance; amiable, fair and comfortable (as in pleasant weather); merry; lively. When Brethren gather and live their lives in comm-unity, all of those elements are manifest. And when they are, that certainly is pleasant! Where that kind of comm-unity exists, it always exists because of the Presence of God, and the Presence of God is manifest there because there is a core group of true worshipers who are worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth, which causes God to inhabit the praises of His people. And wherever the Presence of the Lord is, the atmosphere is to say the least—pleasant! It is pleasant because where the Spirit of the Lord truly is present and truly is Lord rather than humans, there is always discernible liberty, liberality, and liberation from the influences of demons (2 Cor. 3:17).

However, there is nothing whatsoever pleasant about the obverse of that—the atmosphere in which human predomination is manifest. In groups where it prevails—where the leadership is wittingly or unwittingly employing witchcraft to dominate, control, and subjugate the followers—there is a distinctive foul, foreboding, fiendish sense of demonic captivation tangibly present and readily discernible to those not bewitched by its spell. Indeed, when the interrelations among the members of a group are not a "good and pleasant" experience, chances are the "unity" being promoted and pursued is not a bona fide unity emanating from the Spirit of the Lord, but rather a bogus man-centered "unity" characterized by bondage, restriction, constriction, and demonic activity and attack.

All of these conditions are indicative of the spirit of divination or witchcraft, which some expositors posit is symbolized in Scripture as the Python Spirit. A python is a huge specie of snake often 20 feet or more in length that kills its prey by wrapping itself around its victim and squeezing or "constricting" it until it crushes or asphyxiates it. Constriction is the primary modus operandi of witchcraft. Its ultimate goal is to squeeze the life right out of its prey. That's precisely what happens to followers of spiritual leaders who are exercising witchcraft over them—eventually they become spiritually crushed, the Pneuma (Breath) of God, the Holy Spirit, spiritual life, is squeezed right out of them, and they die of spiritual asphyxiation.

Coerced Conformity
there are two other distinctive characteristics of this type of false unity predicated on and supposedly emanating out of this erroneous version of "covenant relationships"—coerced conformity and required or expected uniformity. Here again the nature of a counterfeit is demonstrated. A counterfeit by definition is a fraudulent copy of an original, a mock up of the real. It has the appearance of the real thing, but it really is not the real thing. It is a pretense of the real thing, but it only feigns the nature of the real thing. It is a phony, a fake, a sham, a falsification, a fraud. The intent of the counterfeit is to defraud by making you think you have the real thing but you really don't.

In the case of the hyper-authoritarian counterfeit of "covenant relationships" and the sham unity it engenders, the very valid principle of interdependency and fraternal responsibility among believers is extended beyond its proper import and intent to virtually nullify and eliminate any semblance of personal autonomy and individuality. Contrary to the prevailing "wisdom" within much of Christendom, "autonomy," "individuality," and the much-maligned "independence" are not "four-letter words." In their proper application and context, these concepts are not at all incongruous with the Divine Nature and Christ-likeness. Ezekiel's vision of a wheel within a wheel portrays the precept of "interdependence with independence" inherent in the Kingdom of God and which is to exist in the administration and the interrelations of the Church of God.

God has created every human-being with a will, or volition, and endowed us all with the inviolable right to self-rule, or autonomy. So inviolable is that prerogative that not even God will violate or impinge upon it. Even when we choose to subject and subordinate our will unto God's as Jesus Himself did in the Garden of Gethsemane, that in itself is a voluntary exercising of our own free will. We choose to submit and subject our will and purposes unto God and His will and purposes, but He never coerces us to do so.

It may come as a surprise to some, but being Born Again does not mean that we forfeit our free will and right to self-rule in order to become some sort of mindless spiritual robot or zombie. Even after the Holy Spirit inhabits our being, we are still free moral agents, and are given the prerogative and privilege of operating in accordance with God's revealed will, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us by His inner promptings and urgings, submitting to His desires, and thereby allowing Him to live His Life through us. Being a willing participant in this cooperative coexistence is the great joy and privilege of it all. We are not compelled and coerced, but entreated and enabled.

Even when we are indeed Born Again, inhabited by the Spirit of God, and have become doers of His Word—active cooperatives for God on this planet—we still are not merely a contingent of identical "clones." Even then, we still have a certain amount of individuality, we still have the right of self-governance, or autonomy, and we are even given a certain kind and degree of latitude and independence within the bounds of righteousness. Independence is not intrinsically evil. While there is a certain amount of interdependence inherent in our relationships as members of the Body of Christ, nonetheless, God made us independent as well. Though those two concepts may sound contradictory, in fact they are not, but rather are quite congruous.

Yet in churches and ministries where predomination or hyper-authoritarianism is flowing down through the leadership unto the members, there is a definitive usurpation of their free will and right to self-governance. The followers are indoctrinated to believe that God requires them to surrender their will unto the will of their spiritual leaders, and that they must receive the approval of their leader(s) for major and in many groups even mundane decisions of life. They are taught that Scripture teaches that they must conform to the dictates and desires of their "masters in the Lord." This "coerced conformity" often starts out small and seems somewhat innocuous, but then continues to increase and expand until it is invasive and eventually pervasive. The victim is no longer his own or even God's, but the slave of some flesh and blood human.

Required Uniformity
The other characteristic of this fallacious unity is that of "required uniformity." True unity is not and does require uniformity. Too often, however, people perceive unity as being uniformity. In fact, it is quite a common thing among humans to view diversity as opposition and even as a threat. People are commonly suspicious, distrusting, and unaccepting of anyone who is significantly different than they. Sadly, that is too frequently the case among believers also, both individually as well as the groups they comprise. But true "unity of the Spirit" engenders a oneness and fellowship with members of the Body of Christ actuated in the natural, physical realm, however, based purely on "likenesses" in, of, and by the Holy Spirit. True unity can never be attained on the basis of our fickle carnal personal likes and dislikes. Rather, "the unity of the Spirit" is a unanimity in, of, and by the Spirit, produced by the confluence of diversity to create a complimentary and harmonious concinnity (working together) of "the body for the building up of itself in love" (Eph. 4:16).

All of Creation itself makes it abundantly clear that uniformity is not a God thing at all. And if it's not a God thing, it certainly is not a good thing. God, like so much of His Creation, created us all unique. There's no carbon copy of any of us anywhere. We are all "one of a kind," not just the "weirdos" to whom that term is often attributed. God delighted in making us all unique and so we should embrace it and learn to appreciate and like those things about us that distinguish us. It is okay to be different than everyone else. After all, even God called us "a peculiar people," and I always like to add, "some more peculiar than others." We all have things about us that make us "weird" to somebody else. We all have what others consider idiosyncrasies, and that's okay, as long as it is indeed idiosyncrasies and not neurosis or psychosis.

Today, with the prevalence of amateur psychology in our culture, it is common for people to try make a character issue out of what is in reality merely a personality issue. I enjoyed immensely what Graham Cooke said in different contexts concerning the uniqueness of his personality, in his book, A Divine Confrontation, which I highly recommend:

To read the rest of this article click here.

In the next and final part we will take a look at some of the effects of false unity and what it keeps us from possessing that God desires and has made provision for us to possess. We will also examine the limitations of true unity.

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Endnotes:
¹ Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition. © 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation; further reproduction and distribution in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved.

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This article is an adaptation from the book, Charismatic Captivation, which may be ordered online at: http://www.slm.org/pubs/ccbook.html, or from booksellers worldwide.

False Unity and the Lakeland Revival Cult -- Part 2

Finally and mercifully, the "strong delusion" known as "The Lakeland Outpouring" or "Lakeland Healing Revival" is no more, after its main leader, Todd Bentley, has been exposed as the charlatan that Biblically-grounded and spiritually-discerning believers always knew him to be. In "ONE DAY," the farcical charade Bentley passed off as "ministry" emanating from the Holy Spirit and shamefully flaunted over satellite airwaves around the globe nightly for months on end on a television network audaciously, if not blasphemously, named by its founders, "God TV," was suddenly brought to a screeching halt by God Himself.

Almost immediately the ever-growing cadre of self-proclaimed international apostles and other leaders who virtually stampeded the Lakeland platform to make PR hay for themselves by associating with and effectively endorsing Bentley and the Lakeland fiasco are now scrambling to disseminate their statements of regret, explanation, and even apology. As sincere as their post-facto sentiments and apologetics may be, many believers, myself included, find it difficult to see it as anything more than variants of damage control and spiritual spin-meistering.

The fact of the matter is: the entire "outpouring" or "revival" — from the beginning — was indeed a shameful fiasco and fraud that surely those who brazenly claim to be the God-appointed "gatekeepers" of the Kingdom of God on the earth, should have been discerning and knowledgeable enough to recognize from the start. I'm sorry, I really am not meaning to be unkind or overly critical, but how much discernment does it take to know that someone who tattoos and body-pierces himself from head to toe more than a decade AFTER claiming to have been Born Again, and employs WWF "wrassling" body-slams, forearm shivers, step-over-toeholds, airplane spins, fireman carrys, and solar-plexus punches accompanied by such Neanderthal outbursts as "bam, boom, sheeka-heeka, batta-batta-boom," to "minister" to severely infirmed, crippled, pain-tortured, devil-oppressed, and even terminally-ill people desperately seeking Divine healing is not ministering through the genuine anointing of the Holy Spirit? Seriously — how much discernment does that take — to know instinctively and without any doubt that none of that is inspired by the HOLY Spirit but rather some very uncouth and unclean EVIL spirits? I mean, really people! The gift of discernment is not needed to know that! Nor is it needed to look into someone's eyes, smell their breath, and watch their physical movements to know that they are inebriated, as Bentley has now reportedly admitted he was during some of the Lakeland meetings. How much spiritual acumen does it require to recognize the lustful looks, body language, and behavior of a practiced and habitual adulterer, and to be able to deduce from his speech, attitudes, and interactions with his wife that their marriage is not what it should be?

Again, I'm honestly not trying to be unkind, nor am I reacting out of envy, as spiritually immature or untaught people often allege regarding anyone making comments such as these, but I seriously doubt the validity of the claim to apostolic or prophetic anointing and function of anyone who could be so easily duped by such obvious doctrinal deception that in some cases crossed the line of heresy and blatant ministerial travesty that at times crossed the line of outright blasphemy against the Holy Spirit! I'm seriously having trouble believing those that are that gullible, theologically liberal, and given to such compromise could possibly be genuine apostles or prophets.

Of course, I am not an "approved" prophet by the ICA apostles and the self-proclaimed "clearing houses for the prophetic" such as Christian International, in fact those of them who know me, and a number do, highly disapprove of me, nonetheless I AM a Heaven and Head of the Church approved prophet, and I have a pretty good idea what genuine prophets are like, and one of the fundamental characteristics of a genuine prophet is that they are obsessed with the Truth. They can't help themselves. They seek the Truth, speak the Truth, and refuse to compromise the Truth, no matter what — who it offends, or what it costs. Genuine prophets, who themselves are not compromised in some way, can no more compromise regarding the Truth than the sun can stop shining.

I'm sorry, but I just can't give the "high and mighty" — those who so arrogate themselves to purport to comprise the highest echelons of the Charismatic chain-of-command — a pass on this obvious display of lack of discernment and concern for the Sheep of God's Flock.The Charismatic corps d'élite totally missed it BIG TIME on this one, which really is nothing new, but the difference in this case is that they are publicly chagrined and chastised. If I were one of them, I would turn in my Apostle or Prophet badge, resign my position of status, and publicly admit I am not spiritual qualified to accept the title. But, hey, that's just me. I don't look for anything even close to that kind of integrity and honesty coming from the ranks of the ICA types of organizations.

Frankly, I believe it's all God! I believe it was a Divine "set-up" or "sting" of sorts. As I said in my first article on this matter, I DO believe the Lakeland things is a move of God — a move of "strong delusion" such that God promised to send upon those who do not "receive the love of the TRUTH...so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the TRUTH, but APPROVED (lit.) wickedness" (2 Thes. 2:9-12). There were a vast number of people other than Todd Bentley who were and are still being exposed by this "Sting of the Spirit." I don't mean for the same kind of faults and failures as Bentley's, but others that are just as spiritually defiling, destructive, ungodly, and grievous, both to God and genuine believers.

While one, so far, of the elite echelon of the International Coalition of Apostles, Dutch Sheets, has come forward to express his personal remorse and repentance for his implicit involvement in the Lakeland looniness as well as a host of the other Charismaniacal excesses and spiritual failures that have gone on over the course of the Charismatic Movement, others of the exclusive club's leadership have yet to acknowledge or accept any complicity in the obvious errors that were made, including the public and televised coronation ceremony over which the ICA's top leader, C. Peter Wagner, presided, along with three other ICA brass. Wagner has published some statements since his endorsement of the Lakeland Outpouring and Bentley attempting to explain his rationale, but many view his statements as too little, too late, and reflecting that he apparently is genuinely unaware, as sincere as he may be in his beliefs regarding the ICA's stated purposes and mission, of the negative view of the organization held by the majority of Charismatic and Evangelical leaders as well as laity. Apparently, similar sentiments are now being espoused within the ICA's membership, resulting in a number of them resigning from the organization.

Moreover, Wagner is not helping his cause at all by now suggesting that the Lakeland Outpouring should now be viewed as "Lakeland I" and "Lakeland II," which will be viewed by many as being just another attempt to whitewash the many errors that occurred in "Lakeland I" and to promote "Lakeland II," the supposedly "redeemed" continuum under the new leadership of Stephen Strader, the leader of Ignite Church and ICA member. Many believers are finally beginning to recognize "organizationalism" as the bane it has always been with respect to the Kingdom of God. Organizationalism and institutionalism has always been the assassin of every move of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will not be confined, contained and controlled by men and their contrived organizations. When organizationalism moves in to hijack the move of God, the Holy Spirit departs and moves on to find true worshipers through whom He can operate. From that moment when the Holy Spirit departs, "Ichabod," is written by the Hand of God over the doors of the meeting place, and it becomes a haunt of vipers and overrun by serpents as evil spirits hasten to fill the spiritual void.

How I see it all is that those who were on the Lakeland stage the night of the ICA coronation, all became the natural ground when God downloaded a true "outpouring" of Kingdom Power into the whole "movement," and they were all electrocuted! I believe it was God, and that a lot of good things — meaning, a lot of long needed changes — are going to take place as a result of the Lakeland debacle.

The good thing about the recent implosion of the Lakeland Outpouring is that maybe we can all now move on to better things — real God things — and everyone can get back to daily and faithfully doing what they do in, of, and for the Kingdom, void as it is of all the hype, hoopla, and fanfare.

In the previous post, I was addressing the calls for "unity" that were coming out of and on behalf of the Lakeland Outpouring prior to its debacle, and how that the so-called unity that was being demanded by a multitude of voices endorsing and promoting it, is not the "unity in the Spirit" delineated in the Bible. Often, the "unity" that is being touted in religious sectors is not true unity of the Spirit at all, but a "coerced conformity" that does not promote the freedom that is always present "where the Spirit of the Lord is," but rather a dark, diabolical, and demonic bondage. In this case, the unity enforcers were saying that if you were not onboard endorsing and promoting the Lakeland hubbub you were anti-spirit, anti-supernatural, anti-charismatic, anti-prophetic, rebellious, legalistic, and had a critical spirit and a spirit of unbelief. Well, all those childish, revealing, yet dangerously demonic charges all sounded very familiar to anyone who's been part of the Charismatic Movement for any significant period of time. I've been so labeled by the Charismatic Cosa Nostro for most of my three decades plus in the movement regarding a plurality of new trends and developments that I refused to simply "swallow and follow." So, I'm used to being the odd man out on such things. I'm gettin' so I like that scarlet "R" for rebel they've branded me with, 'cause I've just never been one to go along to get along. Never have; never will.

The following is Part 2 of this series of posts that compares false unity to true unity. If you did not read Part 1, I urge you to do so. Links to archived messages appear on the right of this blog. If you are a new reader, I suggest you take a little time to browse through the past articles, which I pray will also bless and inspire you.

True Unity is Not All-Inclusive

It's just not humanly possible to be committed to everyone in the same way and degree as we are to our own immediate families or our spouse, nor is that what God intended. Contrary to the idiotic, New Age, one-world, humanistic philosophies, the human race is not "just one big cosmic-family." Yet, many professing believers have not disabused their minds from the plethora of these kinds of "vain philosophies" and replaced them with the Truth of the Word of God. The result is that the belief system of these professing Christians is an eclectic mixture of false doctrines rooted in false philosophies and false religions from Astrology to Zen and everything in between. Certainly no less can be expected when masses of professing Christians are practitioners of scads of demon-associated practices from martial arts to Freemasonry to occult rituals to yoga and a slew of other false religious rituals, and are ensconced in romantic relationships with practicing and therefore demon-possessed Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Shintoists, and so on.

God simply does not intend for us to be in "unity" with everyone! Unity is a oneness in mind and purpose. It is an agreement of sorts. Amos 3:3 says that two cannot walk together except by agreement. Believers cannot be in unity or agreement with and walk with certain people. That's just the way it is—deal with it! As much as you may want to bring the world's humanistic unity along with the rest of its vain philosophies with you into the Kingdom when you enter it, that cannot fly. And, at that stage of your immaturity, if you do not yet understand that and all the whys and wherefores of it, then you've just got to accept it by faith as being the wisdom of the wiser than you! Sorry, you've got to check all the world's philosophies at the door when you enter the Kingdom of God! I know it makes you feel diminished and vulnerable as you start off-loading all that "wisdom" and "knowledge" that you accumulated from the world's university of "higher learning," but that's the way it's supposed to make you feel—humbled is the word—so that you will cast the whole of the weight of reliance upon God Himself and none other. All of that is nothing more than hot air and bluster that just makes you feel smarter, wiser, and more grandiose than you really are anyway. It's all a lie, and you've bought into it all hook, line, and sinker. So, how smart are you really, O wise one? All along the devil's been lying to you and making you think more highly of yourself than you ought, which results in separation from God, so that he can ultimately destroy you. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prv. 16:18); and, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (Jas. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5). So, why don't you make it easy on yourself and humble yourself before you are humiliated and come on down here with the rest of us Lilliputians who have realized we're a big fat ZERO in ourselves apart from God?

Believers are not called to be in unity and agreement with everyone! We can't be! Our quest is fellowship, union, and communion with God preeminently—to walk with God. By definition, to walk with God, we must be in agreement with God. To be in agreement with God intrinsically means that we are going to be in disagreement, disunity, disfellowship with fellow humans who are not walking with God. It's just that simple. The Spirit puts it this way:

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and
lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor. 6:14-18, NAS)

This is one of the many promises of God in Scripture that is a promise of contingency. It's a covenant, an agreement, a contract—with God. It is a promise, for sure, but it has conditions that are just as sure, and those conditions must be met if the promise is to be fulfilled. The benefits of the promise are great—to the person who meets the conditions. To that person, God promises to dwell with them, walk with them, be their God and be their Father. But, if the conditions are not met, one cannot expect the benefits of the promise to inure to them.

Imbalanced "Unity" is an Abomination to God

Close study of the relatively (and surprisingly) small number of unity Scripture passages makes it clear there is a distinct difference between the "unity of the Spirit" God speaks about in His Word and the notion of "unity" centered around "covenant relationships" and promulgated by Latter Rain-influenced teachers.

Subtle twisting of the Spirit-intended and -inspired import of God's Word and an imbalance in the application of the precept of unity has resulted in a distorted and debauched version of unity. Virtually invariably, over-emphasis, or over-balance, is what makes erroneous teaching erroneous, rather than the radical deviation from truth people commonly look for in their vigilance to spot error and avert deception.

Over-emphasis is over-balance, over-balance is imbalance, and imbalance is error, and—"A false balance [imbalance] is an abomination to God" (Pro. 11:1). Truth consists of counterbalancing components. Imbalance is averted by counterbalancing each component of Truth with the rest of "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27, RSV).

Theological Truth is analogous to human cells in that each cell contains the protoplasm that comprises the whole body. In other words, each component of Theological Truth gleaned from the Word of God contains the essence of the whole Word of God, and will be completely compatible and congruous with same.

The unfortunate dynamic of imbalance or over-balance is that once it occurs, everything, even that which is good and right, slides toward the imbalance or error and becomes tainted by it. So that, once a person or a group loses spiritual equilibrium, a downward spiral into apostasy is begun. Only the sudden applying of a counter-balancing weight equal to the imbalancing weight can halt the descent, rectify the imbalance, and regain the equilibrium.

Many believers and whole groups of believers, unfortunately have slid into an imbalance with respect to "unity" that is an abomination to God. Thus, an equal weight to the over-balance must be applied to the opposite side to regain the balance and rectify the abomination.

In groups who are "out of balance," God often uses prophets to bring a counterbalancing word which when given brings an offense to the mind of believers caught up in the deception. Though Satan perverts and misapplies the concept, and interjects it into a plethora of a New Age "doctrines of demons" being proliferated today in the name of the "prophetic," it is nonetheless true that — it often is necessary for God to offend our carnal mind in order to win or enlighten our heart, i.e., our spirit.

True Unity is of the Holy Spirit, not the Human Spirit

Unity among believers is vital, but it is secondary to and actually a bi-product of unity with God. A significant corroboration of that truth, though I will not elaborate on it here, is represented in the typology of Moses' Tabernacle, in that the Table of Showbread, typifying the Communion Table, one aspect of which is fellowship among fellow believers (cf., 1 Cor. 10:16,17), was located not in The Most Holy Place of God's presence, or Holy of Holies, but its anteroom, The Holy Place. The former signified fellowship with God and the latter represented fellowship with one another.

True unity is a union or "oneness" with God first and then with our fellows second. True unity is a unity in which our love for and loyalty to God is first or preeminent, and all other relationships are secondary or subordinate. In fact, true unity is a unity that results in unity with fellow believers but is rooted in and an outflow of union and communion with God. The nature of true unity is that apart from God it does not exist. True unity is a characteristic of the nature of God. Thus, He alone is the source of genuine unity. Contrary to what some people apparently believe, unity does not exist because you are wanting to have or produce unity. Rather, it transpires when you become, as the Early Church did however briefly, "worshipers in spirit and truth." In other words, unity is an outflow of true worship—"true worship" being defined as "worship in spirit and truth."

Unity is a God-thing! True unity is the unity that originates with the Godhead, the Trinity. The three Persons of the Godhead continually live in complete unity—oneness of mind and purpose. There most definitely is a "oneness" with the Godhead, but not the kind that unitarianists or modalists want us to believe. It is this perfect oneness or unity that flows from the Godhead that is genuine, bona fide unity. That's the Real McCoy! All other forms of unity are merely human and are counterfeits! Without God, and without His Spirit flowing through you to shape and formulate your life, you will never experience or appropriate the real thing! Genuine unity cannot be manufactured, but it can be generated through supernatural communion (union via fellowship) with the Spirit of God both directly and in the human spirits that He habitates.

Distinguishing True Unity of the Spirit From Contrived Counterfeits

Click here to read the rest of the article.

This article is an adaption from the book, Charismatic Captivation, by Steven Lambert, ThD. More information, sample chapters, and online-ordering of the book is available at: http://www.slm.org/pubs/ccbook.html, or from booksellers worldwide.

False Unity and the New Lakeland Revival Cult

The so-called “Lakeland Healing Revival” has produced a new cult of dogmatic religious zealots, who claim to be “Christians” birthing a “new form” of Christianity. They speak the words, the phrases, the idioms, the expressions associated with Christianity, but their doctrine, or teaching, their theology, their ways, the values and culture they advocate and promote are all far from comporting with orthodox or genuine Christianity.

Plain and simple, this whole phenomenon is nothing but just another of the long list of "Christian cults" that have sprung up in church history. To the discerning and experienced, the signs of cultism are all there—glowing and flashing like a neon sign. And, cultism is, in effect, synonymous with the occult. Thus, there is no such a thing as an innocuous cult, because all cults are ensconced in the occult, and usually in a plurality of ways.

The Bible informs us that Satan, formerly named, Lucifer, before his rebellion and consequential expulsion from Heaven, is the craftiest and the most subtle of all the creatures God created. He is the master-deceiver, who possesses supernatural abilities for deception. Mere humans, especially unredeemed humans, are no match for angelic beings, of which creational-class are Satan and his fallen cohorts. Satan himself, was one of the arch-angels, the highest echelon of angelic order, which resulted in him possessing supernatural power that, in his apostasy and rebellion, he now uses for evil and destruction. Thus, to the uninformed, naïve, and carnally-minded, cultism and even what is blatantly occult, is often difficult to detect or discern. But, not to the Spirit-led, Spirit-infused, Spirit-Baptized, and Spirit-taught. To them, the truly “spiritual,” cultism and the occult are as blatantly obvious as the proverbial nose on their face. They can spot it a proverbial mile away. When “deceiving spirits” are afoot and at work, their spiritual antennae go up, their internal spiritual radar begins scouring the atmosphere, and the Holy Spirit within their human spirit sounds the alarm like a reverberating air-horn, declaring, “Something is not right here; this is NOT OF GOD, but is the work of the Deceiver!”

Such is the case with this latest of occult “Charismatic” cults—"The Lakeland Healing Revival" or "Lakeland Outpouring," whichever title you prefer. The spiritually-discerning are not the least bit deceived or even for a moment disconcerted by this phenomenon, but rather immediately know without a shadow of a doubt it is a counterfeit, no matter how many purported miracles and decisions are reported. The true and infallible test of the workings of the Holy Spirit is inward workings of transformed hearts, repentance, and sanctification, not signs and wonders affecting the outward and physical. Regardless, the fact remains that those who worship in (Holy) Spirit AND TRUTH are still the TRUE worshipers that the Father seeks (Jn. 4:23,24). Satan, the prince of the power of the air, is able to exercise supernatural power on the earth affecting the outward and physical, but he is powerless to perform the inner workings of the heart. Genuine salvation and having relationship with God is a heart matter, not a soulish or fleshly matter. The Holy Spirit and the Truth (Word, Jesus) ALWAYS agree; they are never contradictory of one another. Operating in spiritual power, even if it is the Holy Spirit, is only one-half of the requirements of being recognized by God as being “true worshipers” who are engaged in true worship. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln’s famous quote, “You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool GOD ANYTIME!” And He is the ultimate judge, whose “opinion,” judgment or assessment, is the only one that ultimately counts!

Make no mistake about it, Todd Bentley, and all of the supposed leaders who have now allied and aligned themselves and their ministries with him and his ministry, have birthed a CULT of religious ragers and ravers (which I prophesy will be manifest soon). And, in true fashion of all cults, the cult’s leaders are now “training” and “commissioning” any and all of their adherents following their lead down the path they have forged to worship of false gods and the demons behind them as “evangelists” to go out anywhere and everywhere to “evangelize” and “proselytize” the “unbelieving” with their peculiar brand of “Christianity” with all its cultural distinctives and peculiarities.

These are the “new Charismatic Hare-Krishnas” going out into the highways and byways compelling (button-holing, strong-arming, demanding, commanding, and in some cases physically assaulting) the infidels to come into their new found cult and the “kingdom of the cults.” Like all cults, the leaders of the Bentley Bangers, are indoctrinating their followers with the tenet that to validate their “conversion” and “commitment” to the “cause,” they must go out and spread the word to the uttermost parts of the earth. Churches and the new universal church, the Internet, are being invaded and pervaded with the new cult’s “evangelists” declaring to Christians and non-Christians alike that this is the “new” God-approved “Way,” and if you don’t accept and approve of this “move of God” and all its weirdo ways, cultish and counter-cultural conduct, anti-biblical teachings, and occult practices, then you just can’t be a genuine Christian, nor can you be of God. For after all, this is “THE new thing” God is doing, and if you were of God, you’d be on the bandwagon waving the banners and declaring your allegiance to this “new god” of “revivalism.”

Moreover, now that a litany of acclaimed and self-proclaimed “spiritual leaders” claiming “universal authority” as “the global gatekeepers” have lent their credibility to this “new way” by publicly declaring their approval and affirmation of the new cult and commissioning its primary leader, Todd Bentley, there is a new wave of “unity” preaching spreading across the globe like wildfire, positing to all spiritual leaders that if they do not get in line and begin to march in lockstep with the teachings, practices, and cultural ways of this movement, they are missing God and are enemies of God and the Spirit. The message of the Charismatic Costa Nostra to all Charismatic leaders is that you must “go along to get along,” otherwise you will be shunned, ostracized, black-balled, and discredited.

In light of these recent developments, I am compelled of the Spirit to write what I hear the Spirit speaking to me on this matter of “unity” and what true “unity of the Spirit” really is and what it is not. The following is the first part of an excerpt of my book, Charismatic Captivation, which was first published in 1996, twelve years before the Lakeland phenomenon. It is prophetic in that it reflects what the Spirit taught me about the matter of true unity of the Spirit, as opposed to personal opinion or understanding. Of particular importance is the reference I make in the article about a “movement” that began in 1948 with which Todd Bentley has openly and repeatedly associated the Lakeland Revival. He has stated over and over again that the Lakeland Revival, like its predecessor “revivals,” such as the 1992 Lakeland Revival under Rodney Howard-Browne, Toronto, Brownsville, et cetera, are all a resumption, renaissance, or revival of the “movement” mentioned in the article. YouTube, MySpace, and similar Internet portals host scores of video clips in which Bentley makes these claims as ostensible validation that the nascent Lakeland Revival is a genuine move of God.

Due to its length, I will have to break the article up into three parts and even cut some of the original text from those parts. So, in order to digest the full import of the article, I encourage you to look for the other two parts in upcoming postings, or click on the title link to read the article posted on the Real Truth Digest (see link at right).

Balancing The Scales of Unity
I believe in unity among believers—wholeheartedly. I believe it is vital to the Body of Christ in order to accomplish the purposes and plans of God on Earth. More importantly, beyond believing in it, I want it. No, I covet it! That is, I have a strong desire for it. I much prefer unity over disunity, harmony over disharmony, accord over discord, concord over controversy, agreement over disagreement, amity over animus. Don't you?

We know God likes unity too. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit spoke about it in Scripture:

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! (Ps. 133:1)

I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me. (Jn. 17:23)

being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:3)

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4:13)

And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (Col. 3:14)

I believe in and strongly desire unity, but I believe in Biblical unity. There are more versions of unity than just the Biblical one, however, that are not based in the principles of God's Word, Will, and Ways, but in a far different philosophy and agenda. For example there is the Muslim version of “unity” in which everyone in the world must believe in Allah and practice the Koran, and the entire population of the world is divided into two classes—“the faithful” (believers) and “infidels.” There is the Catholic Church's concept of “unity,” in which all the religions of the world are coalesced into a single “unified” “universal church.” Then, there is the humanistic, Age of Aquarius, New Age concept of utopian unity poetically and melodiously articulated by the hedonistic pied piper of the 1960s, John Lennon, in his idyllic ode to Godless one-world collectivism (i.e., socialism, communism) in which there is no heaven, no hell, no life after death, nothing worth dying for, but only “living for today” in a fallacious “peace” of passivity and total surrender to Satan's machinations, Imagine:

Imagine there's no heaven; It's easy if you try.
No hell below us; Above us only sky.
Imagine all the people...Living for today.

Imagine there's no countries; It isn't hard to do.
Nothing to kill or die for; And no religion too.
Imagine all the people...Living life in peace.

You may say I'm a dreamer; But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us; And the world will be as ONE.

Imagine no possessions; I wonder if you can.
No need for greed or hunger; A brotherhood of man.
Imagine all the people; Sharing all the world.

You may say I'm a dreamer; But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us; And the world will live as ONE.

And, that's just to name a few examples of so-called “unity” prevalent in this world system of the last days!

Pentecostals and Neo-Pentecostals have been taught yet another adulterated version of unity that has actually become chains of bondage to them. The centerpiece of that version is the hypothesis of “covenant relationships.”

In a nutshell, the premise of “covenant relationships” is that since all believers have come into a covenant-based relationship with God through Christ and His shed blood, and consequently have been “adopted” into the Divine Family (all of which, of course, is most true), then therefore, by virtue of that union, all believers have also automatically entered into a permanent, binding covenant with every other professing “believer” who has likewise become a partaker of the same transactions. Hence the term, “covenant relationships.”

This precept of “covenant relationships” with which most Charismatics are familiar, were first introduced in the writings of the principals involved in the spawning of the New Order of the Latter Rain Movement that emerged in Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1948. Thus, it is important in scrutinizing this concept for the purpose of assaying its validity, to keep in mind that it was a key patch in the fabric of “the manifested sons of God” doctrine—a primary component of Latter Rain theology—which the vast majority of legitimate theologians consider heretical. Nevertheless, Latter Rain adherents continued to promulgate their version of “covenant relationships” during the Pentecostal Movement during the 1920—50s, the Charismatic Movement with all of its sub-movements that began in 1960 and ebbed in the mid-1980s, as well as the nascent Prophetic and Apostolic Movements. It was during one of the sub-movements of the Charismatic Movement—the Shepherding Movement of the 1970s—that the fallacious concept of "covenant relationships" was widely promulgated and accepted, and consequently was woven into the very fabric, foundations, and functions of the Neo-Pentecostal Church.

“Koinonia”—Comm-Unity
The primary emphasis of the “covenant relationships” teaching is the interdependence and “koinonia” (i.e., commonality) among believers that proponents predicate on the fact that believers become “blood-brothers/sisters” by virtue of our having been adopted into the Family of God. Typically, purported pretext, or scriptural support, for this version of interrelations or relationships among believers relies heavily upon Luke's account in the Book of Acts concerning what took place in the Early Church in the days immediately following the original Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit:

And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common [Greek, “koina”; hence, “koinonia”]; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

This passage is indeed a key source of information about the supernatural atmosphere in the Early Church following Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, appearance, and ascension that prevailed as a result of apostolic anointing and impartation. It truly was an ecstatic time! As the Body of Christ, individually and collectively, were being transformed into a collective Holy Habitation of the Spirit of God, and were gradually becoming more and more cognizant of who they were through the apostles’ teaching, their commitment and dedication to one another increased commensurately. There was a commonality, koinonia, that developed among them, in which they were bearing one another's burdens in both prayer and practice, and living a life-style that was a daily practice of vivid connection with the Spirit of God and one another.

In trying to understand this commonality, it is vital to understand that it developed as a direct result of the early believer’s devotion “to the apostles’ teaching,” preeminently. The apostolic dimension, when a group of people truly receive and devote themselves to it, will produce a supernatural atmosphere—an anointed ambience—in which the supernatural is commonplace. And when I say, supernatural, I am not referring only to the signs and wonders of healing, deliverance, and the miraculous, that were taking place through the apostles, but also to the signs and wonders—the supernatural—that was taking place in the interrelations and interactions of these people. It is not “natural,” that is, normal human nature, for a group of people to be collectively and individually “devoted” to much of anything. It is not natural for a group of people to “day by day,” consistently and persistently, “continue” in anything, much less something good and noble. Moreover, it is certainly not natural for a group of people to day by day continue in something “with one mind,” and especially not in the Temple (church). But then to continue with one mind not only in the Temple but also as they broke bread together in Christian Communion in one another’s homes, even doing it with "gladness and sincerity of heart," confirmed beyond doubt that what they were living in was truly a supernatural atmosphere! No wonder they were “having favor with all the people!”

This was genuine commonality, koinonia, or interdependence at its finest! This was living out in daily life Jesus' Commandment, which He said summed up all the law and the prophets—Love God and love one another. This was the essence and summation of the “Christian Life.” For this brief moment in time described in Luke's account, the Early Church was a living paragon of Truth. They were “true worshipers,” because they were worshiping God both in spirit and in truth, simultaneously. There was no separation between the spiritual truths they espoused and the application of those truths in their daily lives. This snapshot of the Early Church when koinonia was its centerpiece, is the model that the End-times Church should be attempting to emulate and regain.

So, lest I be misunderstood, let me hasten to say I wholeheartedly believe the principle of interdependence and commonality among believers is a valid principle, that is, within its Biblical bounds and framework. It is an incontrovertible fact that all genuinely Born Again believers have been “adopted” into the Family of God, and as a result have become spiritual brothers and sisters in the Lord. So also, the New Testament especially is replete with passages reminding us of our especial responsibility toward “the Brethren.” Thus, in no way am I demeaning or diminishing the validity of the special familial-type relationship in which the Brethren all share, or the special responsibility incumbent upon each of us regarding our brothers and sisters in the Lord. A study of the “one anothers” in the books of the New Testament will bring to light the privilege and responsibility really entailed in Jesus' command to “love one another.” Moreover, I would wholly concur that this privileged responsibility inherent with our special fraternal relationship has very real and pragmatic application in the natural realm and by no means is to be construed merely as spiritual rhetoric.

The Perverting Effect of Latter Rain Mysticism
Nevertheless, while the precept of interdependence and commonality among believers is certainly a valid one, as is the case with a number of other facets of truth, the version of “covenant relationships” that so many Charismatics have been indoctrinated with is a distortion and perversion that “exceed(s) that which is written,” going beyond the God-intended meaning and application delineated in Scripture. A common denominator of all heretical teaching is the “super-spiritualization” of perfectly valid principles presented in the Word of God that are intended to have a fairly natural, pragmatic application, and on the other hand, “naturalization,” or codifying in the natural realm, those things which essentially are spiritual metaphors and not intended to have a literal or natural application. The term that describes such super-spiritualization is: “mysticism.” Mysticism was quite prevalent in the doctrines of the Latter Rain Movement. Unfortunately, due to the continued strong influence of Latter Rain teaching upon the Neo-Pentecostal church, mysticism and mystical doctrines remain quite prevalent in the theology and culture of the Pentecostal/Neo-Pentecostal church today.

The version of “covenant relationships” that has now permeated much of the Pentecostal and Neo-Pentecostal church is a product of this spiritually toxic rue of Truth mixed with mysticism. Under the auspices of the fallacious and errant teachings, the application of this Scripturally-valid principle of interdependency and fraternal responsibility among believers is extended far beyond its import and true intent, and is conveniently transformed into very unscriptural chains of spiritual bondage and captivation. While believers are to value and validate fraternal relationships, as well as demonstrate a certain measure of indefatigable and unconditional commitment to one another, those relationships in terms of their application in the natural realm in the here and now are not sacrosanct or inviolable, and they most definitely do have limits. Understanding and acknowledging those limits is imperative to avoid excess and error.

Disarmament or Discernment?

As I wrote in my last article, the fair State of Florida is an apostolic State, in that there is a long list of "firsts" relative to the history of the United States that transpired in Florida, even before it received its present name. Throughout human history going all the way back to the Garden of Eden itself, Satan has always had an uncanny "knack" at showing up wherever God is moving or about to move.

Such has been the case with the moves of God in the State of Florida. In so many ways, the Sunshine State is a "Garden of Eden" of sorts. It is no mere coincidence that over two centuries multitudes have been attracted to the pearled peninsula, whether it be its now 18 million residents or the multiplied millions of tourists who visit and vacation in the State every year.

Over the last hundreds years or so, there have been a number of prophecies predicting mighty moves of God that would/will be initiated in Florida. I believe a great move of God is yet to originate in Florida. But, as I am already on the record as stating, I do not believe the so-called "Lakeland Healing Revival" is the prophesied revival or move of God, nor do I believe it is a genuine move of God at all. The fact that supernatural signs and wonders are occurring at an event, regardless of its duration, is not and never has been the signature of God upon a move. As discussed in the previous post, the Bible warns us repeatedly about false signs and wonders authored by Satan. For some reason that fact is hard for some Christians to truly accept, and to acknowledge that not all manifestations of the supernatural are authored by God.

There are many voices in the world, the Word tells us, none without significance or impact, but not all are speaking on behalf of God. There are many voices out there in the blogosphere now extolling the validity of the Lakeland outbreak based on the fact that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are moving in the midst of the assembled with healings, miracles, deliverances, and salvations. But, what those people fail to recognize is that those occurrences are not a fail-safe litmus indicator that the move or the principals involved in the move are operating through the auspices of the Holy Spirit, are sent from God, or that the persons and their ministries are approved by God.

The familiar passage that Jesus spoke during His fleshly visitation and ministry in which He described people who would prophesy, heal, work miracles, and cast out demons in and invoking His Name, but then astonishingly foretold in the day of judgment He would call them "workers of lawlessness" and command that they "depart" from Him, ascribing the cause for such severe treatment will be that "I never knew you," is a hard to understand passage for many, considering the fact that Jesus in His omniscience surely "knows" everyone who has ever lived. But, the true meaning becomes abundantly clear when it is understood that the word translated in most versions as "knew" actually means "approved." Jesus is saying that these people used His Name to elicit the results that Name, which is above every other name, produces, but that is a testament to the power and rank of that Name—the Name of Jesus—not to the person(s) using the Name. Approval of the person using the Name of Jesus is not predicated on the results he/she elicits through the Name, but rather it is based on who that person is—their life and their lifestyle. That's what Jesus meant when he said that false prophets shall be known or identified by their "fruit."

The Biblical term "fruit," contrary to the teaching of many, is not results or the produce of someone's ministry, such as how many salvations are attributed to their ministry during its history, or the number of miracles or other works of power recorded, but rather it is a reference to the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5), or the attributes of the Spirit that are manifest in and through their life along with the other mentions of "fruit" in the New Testament, such as James' dissertation regarding the "wisdom from above" that he concludes with, "And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" (Jas. 3:18). Whatever results any ministry has been given the grace by God to produce are not attributable to the minister or their ministry, but rather the working of the Holy Spirit through that minister or ministry. Even in the case of salvation, we so easily forget in this age of hype and Madison Avenue marketing and slick public relations campaigns that people are born again by the abiding or living Word of God and they are drawn to Jesus through the wooing work of the Holy Spirit, and they are saved by grace through faith and that not of any man. Miracles and salvations are not the work of any human, but rather of God Himself. So, miracles, even if they are from God do not indicate God's approval of the minister or the ministry through whom they are being manifest.

With all of the false "fires" (purported moves of God), that are more a festival devoted to a pantheon of false gods, fraught as they are with a cornucopia of false manifestations, false doctrines, fallacious teaching about angels and angelic appearances, and New Age guided visitations into the Third Heaven nonsense, and the like, it is more vital than ever before that the End-time church heed the many warnings in the Scripture to examine and test all things, hold to that which is genuine and true, and discard and avoid all that are nothing but counterfeits. Moreover, believers just need to use their common sense that God gave them to analyze and judge things to know if they be of God or not.

But, I personally believe that our greatest need in this hour is a renewed awareness and understanding concerning one of the most vital yet often overlooked of all the Manifestations of the Spirit, or Charismata, which is the gift of the discerning of spirits (1 Cor. 12:10). The Apostle John, who saw and experienced about as much or more of the genuine supernatural as anyone who lived, especially of the New Testament era, admonished, "Test the spirits, to see whether they be of God." Testing the spirits to determine their origin and essence is not something that can be done with the carnal mind. Spiritual matters and operations are spiritually discerned. Supernatural, as compared with natural, discernment is what is needed to assess and judge the nature and origins of supernatural spirits.

There are three kinds of spirits: 1) Divine (God); 2) human; and, 3) angelic, which are divided into two types—good (God's) and evil (Satan's), who are those who fell with Lucifer and were evicted from Heaven and cast down to the Earth with their leader. Though it is not the purview of this article to explain all about it, discerning positively what spirit is at work when the supernatural is manifesting requires the operation of the Holy Spirit through the gift of the discerning of spirits. Indeed, in my next post I am going to begin discussing our great need for all of the supernatural gifts given to believers by the God-Head.

Though Pentecostals and Charismatics have talked about these gifts for a century, individual believers, churches, and whole denominations greatly underestimate their value and necessity in the believers every day life. When we understand what God intended in His giving of these gifts to us, it becomes clear how unfortunate our underestimation of the power and need for the operation of those gifts really is.

The following article, though it was written at the close of the previous millennium, makes some excellent points concerning our vital need to exercise discernment juxtaposed to the Adversary's deceptive calls for disarmament.
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PREPARED For The SLAUGHTER: The Disarming Of The Church
By John Green (1998)

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed..."
—Noah Webster of Pennsylvania, An Examination of The Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, Philadelphia, 1787

"[W]hen the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually."
—George Mason of Virginia: Virginia's U.S. Constitution ratification convention, 1788

As history has shown, it is a common tactic for the oppressing force to gain control of a nation by seizing the means by which individuals might defend themselves. Once the citizenry are disarmed, it is a relatively easy matter to exert complete tyrannical control. It seems to me that the same principal holds true in the spiritual realm.

The New Testament is replete with warnings of false teachers and teachings, of lying signs and wonders, and of corrupt men who would seek to draw followers after themselves. God has not left His people defenseless. He has indwelt us with His Spirit of Truth, provided us with the example of Christ, His teachings, the teachings of the apostles, and all the other writings found in the Bible. There is a gift of the discerning of spirits given to some, but more importantly, there the ability to test all things and to be discerning, which is the responsibility of all believers. If the believer is to be armed against the deceptions of the enemy, and to remain free from his oppressive regime, then he must exercise discernment with continual vigilance. If this defensive weapon is seized and taken from you, then you are easy prey for any who would desire to take you captive.

Because of these things, it is very disturbing to me to observe a trend in the Body of Christ today. This trend is to scorn and belittle those who would exercise their God-given self-defense weapon of discernment. Those who would obey scripture and "test all things" are mocked and ridiculed from the pulpit, and labeled 'Pharisees.' It seems that the Church has fallen prey to the pluralistic, non-judgmental mindset of our present age. The one unpardonable sin is to question someone's belief, or dare to say that it might be wrong. These new leaders demand you climb on the bandwagon, and if you cannot agree, then you must remain silent at all costs. They call for us to experience now, and evaluate later. Adam and Eve had no experiential knowledge of good and evil. The Serpent called their attention to the attractiveness and desirability of the fruit, and enticed them to experience for themselves. In their later evaluation, they knew that they had been wrong to ignore what God had said on the matter, but by then the damage had been done.

Those who would remove the defensive weapon of discernment are binding the hands of the Church. They are preparing God's people for the slaughter. Why are they doing this? Why would they want to expose millions to the myriad deceptions of the enemy with no protection. Why do they take away what the Father has given? The Church is becoming a slaughterhouse slick with the spilled blood of saints who have been seduced by false teachers. The faithful plod forward to the killing floor, their trusting eyes fixed on their leaders. Error and deception runs rampant. Charlatans rule the bestseller list. Pseudo-knowledge is dispersed around the world, speeding through electrical synapses. Make no mistake. It is a battle, and much is at stake.

Let us examine the logic (or lack of it) behind what some of these leaders are saying: "You have to experience it yourself before you judge it." This is pure nonsense. It is the method the Mormons use to get people hooked in (pray about the Book of Mormon and see if you get a 'burning in your bosom'). You don't have to experience suicide to know that it is bad for you. Christians are never commanded to authenticate a questionable spiritual experience by submitting themselves to it. "If you don't jump in the River, then you may miss out on the move of God." If you don't exercise your duty to test everything and hold on to what is good, then you may be deceived. God is not in a hurry. If you are walking with Him, seeking to please Him, then He will guide you into all He desires for you. Just because someone proclaims something is a move of God, doesn't make it so. Beware of the salesman who pushes you to make a decision on the spot. He may have something to hide.

"God offends the mind to reveal the heart." I don't know what this is, but it is not Scripture. It is true that God's ways may be offensive to human wisdom. Often though, this quote is used to say that if you are offended by something going on in the Church, then your heart isn't right. The real issue is, are you offended because what is going on is unscriptural? If so, then stand fast. "Don't oppose what is going on, in case it turns out to be a move of God."

This is the argument used by Gamaliel in Acts chapter 5. Although this argument worked in favor of the apostles, it must be pointed out that Gamaliel was a Pharisee making a pragmatic argument. His was not a directive from the Lord on how believers should conduct their discernment. If something is not from God, ultimately, it is true that it will not succeed. In the time that it takes for a false movement to run its course however, many lives will be damaged, and many souls deceived and damned. Look at the phenomenal growth and apparent success of Mormonism. Christians rightly oppose Mormonism on a basis that it twists and deviates from Scripture. Things which occur within Christianity should receive no less scrutiny. Or consider the works of Satan. We know that he will not succeed, but we certainly do not sit back and allow him to do his work unhindered. When souls are at stake, we cannot afford to sit back and do nothing.

"Don't you want more of God in your life?" This is a sneaky one. Of course, any sincere Christian realizes that they need to grow closer to God, and they desire to do so. This should not lead us to embrace everything that comes down the pike however. Part of growing closer to God includes obeying His commands to test and be discerning. The desperation of some Christians reminds me of King Saul turning to the witch of Endor. He wanted an answer at any price. The price he ended up paying was his own destruction.

Look for yourself. See how many times the New Testament references false teachers, false teaching. Using your concordance, look up the commands to discern and test, to not be deceived. Shake off the chains of those who would seek to bind you. Exercise your "Right to bear arms" as a believer.

A.W. Tozer: "The healthy soul, like the healthy blood system, has it's proper proportion of white and red blood cells. The red corpuscles are like faith: they carry the life giving oxygen to every part of the body. The white cells are like discernment: they pounce upon dead and toxic matter and carry it out to the drain. In the healthy heart there must be provision for keeping dead and poisonous matter out of the life stream."###

This article may be reproduced in it's entirety for non-commercial purpose as long as it contains this notice. Reproduction of this article for free distribution is permitted. (C) 1998 by John Green. Questions or comments: azgreens@hotmail.com

SOURCE: http://housechurch.org/green/

FLORIDA WILDFIRES AND LAKELAND WILDFIRE

In July of 2007 I posted an article about the Florida Fires that were happening then. In the article, I told about an open vision God gave me regarding the State of Florida three years before in 2004. Click here to read that post.

The vision was concerning seven "revival fires" that were kindled by the Spirit since the 1950s. God had specific purposes for each of those "hot spots" of the Spirit, but in every case God's purposes were prematurely foiled and spoiled by supernatural schemes of Satan, for reasons I cite in the article. But, what Satan was permitted to do was only temporary; God's purposes and plans are not subject ultimately to Satan's devices. After showing me the things He did in the vision, He then led me to prophesy by the Spirit to the Fires of the Spirit, "Restore! Restore! Restore!"

"I then saw in the Spirit these fires begin to flare up even greater, and to move westward toward the middle of the State. Soon, it appeared that much of the State was being consumed by fire. And, from my aerial view in the Spirit, I saw the smoke of these fires rise high into the air and nearly cover the state, and strong wind currents then began to blow them toward the adjoining southern states of the US. As I watched this scene, I heard within, "The Glory of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the seas. The manifestation of God's Glory shall now be released through the church Jesus is building!"

Since then, a Statewide drought of historic proportions and duration has been gradually unfolding over the Sunshine State. There have been short-lived, intermittent periods of relief in the form of precipitation during that interim, but nowhere near the amounts needed to restore the State’s aquifer levels anywhere near to normal. Epoch drought-level rainfall over the last several years has reduced to marshlands mammoth Lake Okeechobee, a crucial reservoir and resource of fresh water for vast portions of the State, decimating the fresh-water commercial and sport fishing industry of which it was the perennial epicenter.

Over the last few days, “red flag” fire weather warnings have been posted by the National Weather Service over expansive, multi-county areas of the State of Florida, based on the potentially combustive combination of low dew points and relative humidity, high temperatures, and a specter of strong winds, “creat(ing) explosive fire growth potential,” in the words of the NWS.

The July 2007 post concluded with this prediction:

The fires shall increase and the drought shall continue in the natural realm in certain strategic places as a precursor and reflection of what God is doing and is about to do in the spiritual realm. Let us pray that God's purposes for the fires and related circumstances be fulfilled, and that the Body of Christ begins to get the revelation of its responsibility to cover His chosen vessels on the leading edge with strong intercession of the Spirit so that His plans and desires be no more waylaid or hindered.

With the increased ambient temperatures and the continuing drought, the fires along the eastern coastal areas and Central Florida, have resumed, and I believe will be more aggressive, numerous, and destructive than in the preceding years in those areas.

The following is an overview of reports of the latest flare-ups of Florida Fires over the course of the last few days (not updated after 5/14/08):

108 total known fires statewide, involving an estimated 17,000 acres total, over 14 counties. Nine of the infernos involved very large areas and pose great potential for damage. Currently, 200+ firefighters and first-responders are employed in affected areas. As of May 14, 2008, there were 40 destroyed structures reported (downgraded from original report of 60+), with 160 structures impacted, totaling an estimated $9.6 million in damages. The approximate average value of destroyed homes is $150,000. Fortunately, at the time of this writing, there have been only 3 reported injuries and no deaths. The wildfires have forced closings of Long stretches of I-95 as well as scores of school closings in multiple eastern coastal counties over the course of three days. A major portion of the fires that so far have destroyed 6,400 acres in the Brevard County communities of Palm Bay and Malabar is believed to be an act of arson, and authorities have apprehended the suspected arsonist.

The impression I am getting from the Spirit is that these current wildfires will not be ending anytime soon. In fact, I feel it is possible that they could continue for months, and that a series of inordinately strong winds coming into Florida could fan and spread the flames over even greater portions of the State. I am almost certain that the current drought conditions are not going to end for quite a while, maybe a couple more years, or even more, without God’s intervention. Meteorologists are already reporting that the global climactic patterns they are seeing makes it appear that the onset of Florida’s typical rainy season is likely to be delayed, resulting in extended fire weather conditions.

Until now, the 2008 wildfires have mostly been occurring in eastern to the central regions of the State. However, I believe that I’m hearing the Spirit say that Southwest and South Florida are about to experience massive wildfires as well.

About two weeks ago, the Lord gave me another vision, this one in a dream. I was dining in a restaurant located atop a high tower-like building, from which I was able to see a panorama of what I would estimate to be about a thirty-square-mile area of Southwest Florida. I had the impression that my vantage point was from the east, looking westward. Suddenly, at about one-o’clock, directionally, I saw some sort of an explosive fiery flare-up that produced a tall plume of fire, which became a billowing plume of dark smoke that rose high into the air. Then at around ten o’clock of the panorama there was another similar flare-up, followed by another at about four o’clock. Then I could clearly see some very strong winds that began to blow over the entire panorama, further fanning and spreading the flames, until soon almost the entire panorama was engulfed in flames, producing a sea of dark smoke rising higher and higher into the upper atmosphere.

As much as it grieves me to have to do so, I can no longer resist speaking what the Lord has been telling me to speak for quite some time which is a warning that God is releasing judgment upon the State of Florida, which actually is not something that is just now starting, but started with the rash of massively destructive hurricanes of 2004-5. The relative “lull” of the subsequent years has been God’s “selah,” or interlude, giving Floridians time to hear and heed the obvious and deafening warnings of God, and repent. My response to those asking me what God was saying in the historic multiple 2004 hurricanes that decimated Florida was that it was like the cell phone company commercials, where the guy keeps asking over and over, “Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?” One would think that the utter devastation those hurricanes wreaked in various parts of Florida would have gotten the attention of its population, but sadly, little has changed in the interim. Obviously, people are hard of hearing; “dull of hearing,” Jesus called it. So, unfortunately, God is releasing more judgment upon the Sunshine State, and will continue to do so until it repents and becomes the SONshine State. (Repent of what? That expansive topic must be left to another post.)

In no way, lest I be misunderstood, do I relish this whole specter of judgment, especially upon Florida, where I have resided for 47 of my 60 years. Florida is a special State to God, which is not a statement of bias. Consider these excerpts of what I wrote in another article concerning Florida:

Florida is an apostolic state, in that the apostolic anointing and function is a "first-in" anointing and function (1 Cor. 12:28) — a forerunner, pioneering, breakthrough anointing. Virtually all the original famed explorers' forays into the New World were along Florida's then surreal sand-covered beaches....

Further demonstrating the State's apostolic roots, though it has not been widely chronicled, a number of critical conflicts, conflagrations, and events precipitating the colonization and early establishment of America occurred here in Florida....

Florida is a proverbial "Fort Knox," financially speaking, because much of the world's wealthiest and most influential people reside in or hold properties or interests somewhere in the pearled peninsula….The unimaginable dense concentration of mammon represented in the State of necessity then comprises a lion share of the "wealth of the wicked" God declares is stored up for the righteous of the End-times Church Jesus is building that is required to finance the final great global ingathering of souls.

For these reasons and much more that cannot be addressed in this article, one of the most ferocious pitched battles between Heaven and Hell is over the 60,000 total square miles of land mass comprising the State of Florida, but more importantly, over the some 18 million souls who inhabit it. Numerous profound and portentous prophecies by prominent voices foretelling major moves of the Spirit of God have been trumpeted during the 20th and now early part of the 21st Centuries.

Unfortunately, however, as an apostolic State, the master-deceiver, the "prince of the power of the air," has also in times past hijacked the spiritual air-currents of the fair State…for propagation of some of his most diabolical and damaging handiworks of deception—"winds of doctrine," i.e., false movements founded on "doctrines of demons"—in modern church history.

This last paragraph brings me to the most recent emergence of what is being called “The Lakeland (Florida) Healing Revival,” which I believe is a false move, orchestrated not by God, but by Satan Himself. Space will not permit me further elaboration on that matter in this article, but I will in an upcoming post. All I am able to proffer on that topic here is the following Scripture that I believe the Spirit is speaking to me regarding it, with my parenthetic explanations:

The Lord has accomplished His wrath, He has poured out His fierce anger; And He has kindled a fire in Zion Which has consumed its foundations. The kings of the earth (believers) did not believe, Nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy (Satan) Could enter the gates of Jerusalem (spiritually, the Church). Because of the sins of her prophets And the iniquities of her priests (pastors), Who have shed in her midst The blood of the righteous…. [Lam. 4:11-13; parentheses and emphasis added]

My strong sense is that God’s patience with Florida believers and churches, and especially their leaders, has run out, and He is now angry with them because of their constant predisposition to “believe the lie,” and to be taken in by false moves fraught with—“the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders” (2 Thes. 2:9). There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that the power, signs, and wonders being demonstrated in the Lakeland “revival” are not authored by the Holy Spirit at all, but rather “deceiving spirits” accompanied by “doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1). The leader of it, Todd Bentley, along with many of his allies and associates are neo-gnostic, New Age, sorcerers operating by the same spirit as did Simon the Sorcerer who was "claiming to be someone great," performing his MAGIC ARTS and seducing the "smallest and the greatest" among the people of Samaria into calling him "The Great Power of God," and "giving him attention (lit., deference afforded deity) because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts" (Ac. 8:9-11). They are magicians and stigmatacists, a la Elymas the Magician (Ac. 13:6-12), and psychic diviners like the slave girl "who was bringing her masters much profit by her fortunetelling," and out of whom the Apostle Paul cast the spirit of divination (Ac. 16:16-21).

What is going on in this latest “revival,” hosted and promoted primarily by the pastor of one of the offshoot congregations of the church (Carpenter’s Home Church) that hosted the mixture “Laughing Revival” of the 1990s out of which was spawned the “Toronto Airport Revival” and “Brownsville Revival.” However, this “revival” exceeds all of those former ones in terms of its falsity, because this one is nothing but SORCERY and DIVINATION of the highest order! No mixture of the Holy Spirit and evil spirits is involved at all, as some are claiming. This one is purely Satanic!

This “revival” is “strange fire” offered before the Lord, and it shall elicit the same judgment Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, elicited from God—death! It is being hosted, fittingly, in a newly-named Church, “Ignited Church,” whose senior leader is Stephen Strader, son of Karl Strader, former Senior Pastor of Carpenter’s Home Church, who in the past has traveled with, has an ongoing relationship with, and claims to have received a special anointing from, Rodney Howard-Browne, the original principal of the “Laughing Revival.” I further believe the natural wildfires that have been breaking out in Florida before and concurrent with the Lakeland phenomenon are God’s prophetic warnings regarding the spiritual wildfire in Lakeland (1 Cor. 15:46).

This Steven puts out an open call to two other Stephens—Stephen Strader and Stephen Strang—the latter being the founder and leader of Strang Communications, publisher of Charisma Magazine, which is the leading print medium promoting this event, to cease all their activities in promoting this false, Satanic, and extremely injurious “revival.” God will hold you accountable for the fallout from the demonic incursion these meetings are producing, as well as the judgment that they are engendering.

I hear the Spirit saying God is sending “strong delusion”:

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence (strong delusion, KJV) so that they will believe what is FALSE, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the TRUTH, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2 Thes. 2:11,12; parentheses and emphasis added)

Judgment has already been released upon Florida, and there is more to come relative to the “Lakeland Revival,” in the form of many sudden and unusual deaths, I predict, so that “great fear came upon all who heard of it” (Ac. 5:5).

Despite how such a prediction may sound to those without understanding of God’s purposes and ways, the kind of judgment God is releasing upon Florida, it is crucial for believers to understand, is NOT the kind of judgment that God will release upon the unbelieving world at the final judgment. Rather, it is a refining judgment, a judgment of purification. It is the kind of judgment that God says, “MUST begin with the household of God,” that is, the Remnant Church. It is the kind of judgment of which Zechariah prophesied:

“It will come about in all the land,” Declares the Lord, “That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third (The Remnant Church) will be left in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test (purify) them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” (Zech. 13:8,9; parentheses and emphasis added)