As you will be aware, it is the most utmost conviction of my heart that all really is not well in Christendom right now, for so many of us are being lullabied by the devil himself into a perilous sleep. We may long for the rest, and it may seem just so peaceful and enticing, but the time to sleep is most definitely not now!

• "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
  (1Pe 5:8 KJVR)

The word for vigilant from the above scripture is gre?goreuo? and according to Strong's dictionary can be translated: "to keep awake and watchful". The reason I am so concerned and so determined to not shut up about this is quite simple really, and can be best understood if we would see the current situation of the Body of Christ in the Light of His Word.

In recent years, and on an accelerating scale, there seems to be more and more recorded "outpourings" of the Holy Spirit according to the Church. We hear of "revivals" such as Brownsville after the "Toronto blessings", and now Lakeland, Florida to name but two. However take a look around the internet, or on pretty much any channel on Christian TV, and you will find reports of other such outpourings. You will find many testimonies of genuine healing, financial breakthrough, freedom in praise meetings with a wonderful "sense" of the Holy Spirit in attendance. There are reports of gold dust appearing from nowhere, gemstones appearing out of the blue, and angels manifesting quite clearly. Believers are shaking, speaking in unknown tongues, and prophesying great revival. In fact you may now be thinking that I am some sort of raving lunatic to come against these things, especially when so many recognised church leaders are even embracing these moves.

The reason for my stance is simply this: What seems to be so right and of God on the surface, only does so if you fail to first look intensely at His Word. We talk of the great End Time revival that is upon us that is without doubt from God, and yet His own Word talks of a great End Time falling away! We talk of the Holy Spirit setting the hearts of His people on fire, and yet His Word clearly warns of apostasy and luke-warmness! We talk of an open Heaven which can now be drawn to earth by faith, and yet His Word talks of dying to ourselves, picking up our own cross, forsaking everything and following the path that Jesus Christ Himself trod, leading to a hope that is still to come! In fact, come to think of it, I sat through 2 hours of the Lakeland meeting a few weeks ago to judge for myself, and never heard the Cross of Christ mentioned once!

If you are an avid follower of these ministries and "moves of God", then I urge you to test these things as the Word of God instructs you to do, before rushing headlong into them. Obviously there will be sincere moves of the Holy Spirit that bring immense glory to Jesus Christ, as His people once again realise fully their need for Him, understand the cost that He bore on their behalf, and are willing to follow His ways at whatever personal cost and suffering. However these moves will come through a sense of brokeness of heart as we realise how we have failed Him, and a contrite spirit within us that fully understands that it is His will and not ours that needs to be done.

For an excellent entry point into studying the Word of God for yourself, that you may fully understand the view that God Himself holds on these matters; it may be of benefit to use a study such as the following article written by a man named Derek Prince. However, whatever sources you decide to use to help you, remember that the final authority is ONLY what THE WORD OF GOD SAYS ALONE!

God bless,

John.