At every opportunity, including the homegroup I lead, I have expressed my concerns quite openly about the dangers of seeking after signs and wonders in the hope of finding God there. However I now hold my hands high and ask for the forgiveness of the Lord that I chose to remain subdued in my opposition, rather than ringing the alarm bells out with all my might.

For the last few days now, the Lord has been leading me upon message after message preached about the fundamental aspects of my faith, and I would be a liar if I said I didn't feel shaken to the core. I challenge anyone to spend hardcore time and effort seeking Him in His word, listening to hardline preachers preaching the FULL Gospel message, and still jump up and down with excitement about so called revival breaking out.

The fact is that I know personally people who have become so enticed about the furore being made in Florida, they have actually flown out there to "get a dose" of the anointing. Even a couple who pastor the church I once belonged to are so deceived, they cannot see any wrong in leaving their own congregation behind to treck across the world, that they may enter into the presence of spiritual manifestation that is "dodgy" to say the least!

Revival has nothing at all to do with prancing around an auditorium shouting and shaking a lot, blowing on people, and bragging about mysterious angelic beings that have given profound new "knowledge" to the select few. It has nothing to do with healings and miracles becoming manifest, or even multitudes turning to the Lord, though these things may turn out to be fruit of a true revival. And a true revival is definitely not signified by multitudes of professing Christians blatantly denying Luke 17:20-23 to go dashing half way across the world to be ministered to by an angel named Emma! Have any of these people read the Bible at all? Is the acid test of the spiritual realm whether or not miracles occur? A true revival is when the Spirit of God moves in the hearts of those who follow after Him; breaking their hearts into a million pieces as their awareness and sensitivity to the familiar call of sin in their lives, drives them fully and firmly into the arms of the only One who can save them. They would sooner face death, and are willing to die daily, rather than return to the clutches of the sinister whore that once seduced them, and bound them in chains of death. Overwhelmed by their need to repent and humble themselves before a holy God, they become overjoyed as the fullness of His love is poured out into every part of their lives. These are the beings the devil detests and fears, and whose lives begin to manifest the truly miraculous!

I do not know the state of Todd Bentley's heart, nor many others who are ministering in the Lakeland revival meetings at the moment, but I do know this: Jesus says that the tree is known by its fruit, and I have witnessed rotten fruit coming out of this thing like there is no tomorrow! For heavens sake please let's stop seeing all supernatural occurence as good fruit, whilst ignoring the fact the Bible clearly tells us a time will come when false prophets will enter the stage with great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect if that were possible. Matthew 24:24

Make no mistake about it, every true believer has the Spirit of God, and is able to discern the truth for himself. It is our instruction in the Bible to leave judgement of those who are in the world to God, but we are to judge those within the Kingdom 1 Corinthians 5:12. If you fail to do this, are you not denying that there are wolves amongst the flock Matt 7:15? The truth of the Word of God alone is your standard to judge by, and nothing, but nothing else!

I urge you to be on your guard about such things as this occurence in Lakeland, for this is only the beginning. The Bible tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 that a time will come when God will allow many who think themselves as Christians to be deceived and condemned by a strong delusion, because of their utter refusal to cling to the truth of His Word alone! If you are sitting shaking your head at these words, please at least take the time to view the following video before wandering off blindly.

God bless you and keep you,

John.