The Long-term Effects of Revival

It's exciting to see what's happening in Lakeland. In my 32 years of covering the charismatic movement, I've never seen any "revival meeting" get so much attention so fast. Everyone, it seems, is talking about it. A long line of respected leaders have attended the meetings to see it for themselves. Most have come away saying it's a genuine move of God.

After only 50 days, someone said the revival is still a "baby." So it's not fair to pass judgment yet. That is for God to do. But at the same time, we can look at history to give us an idea of what to expect. After all, it's well known that those who don't learn the lessons of history are bound to repeat them.

There are many examples of revivals that have had long-term effects on the culture. The First and Second Great Awakenings in the 1700s and 1800s had enormous impact on our nation which in some ways we are still experiencing today. For example, it began a cycle of revivals in this country that continues. Compare that to Europe that hasn't had the same sort of revival movements, or where revival is snuffed out as it was in France with the Huguenots. Other revivals such as the one in the Hebrides Islands are discussed in books on revival, but I think most would agree there was not much long-term effect.

The Pentecostal movement which started at Azusa Street has had many revivals over the years and has had an enormous impact felt around the world. Yet many Pentecostals long for the "good-old-days" of revival that they experienced when they first came to Christ or received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many-- instead of praying for souls or even for more of God in their lives-- will pray for revival. The excitement that touches the spirit and the closeness to God that one feels in the service is something that many people long for.

In my own career I've covered several "famous" revivals such as the ones in the 1990s in Toronto, Canada; Pensacola, Florida; Smithton, Missouri; and the meetings of Rodney Howard-Browne in Lakeland, Florida.

Those were great moves of God, I believe. Yet other "revivals" haven't always had such a positive effect. One, for example, broke out in the Dallas area in the mid-1980s when some services with a well-known charismatic preacher turned into extended meetings. Everyone was talking about it. Healings were taking place and those who had been healed put their crutches and other medical paraphernalia on the walls around the church. It was really something to behold.

I remember that ministry contacted me wanting coverage in Charisma, saying that the revival was the "greatest revival since Azusa Street." I attended and could tell there was excitement, but never felt it was worthy of comparison to the Azusa Street revival. I also knew that time would tell if the prophecy about a greater revival than Azusa Street would come to pass. Obviously it didn't. The revival died down, the pastor of the church went through a scandal a few years later, and the church building where the revival took place has been torn down, someone told me, and the property is now owned by the city government.

Another revival in the 1970s had an unfortunate affect on the church where it started. The revival was in San Jose, Calif., at one of the major Pentecostal churches in that city with a young evangelist I have long admired. It went on for months and everyone was talking about it. Sadly, there was a major church split as a result of the revival and that church actually went out of existence.

I cite these two examples (and there are more) as just a word of caution about what's happening in Lakeland, Fla. Just because people are excited, don't say --as someone is quoted as saying--that it's the greatest move of God since Azusa Street. The revival may actually be short lived, or the long-term effects not so pleasant, if things begin to go awry. What is happening in Lakeland is so wonderful that I believe we must nurture it and help it avoid pitfalls that could cause its demise.

I attended the services with Todd Bentley in Lakeland a second time recently when Bob Jones (the prophet, not the university) and Bobby Connor were there. (Click here to read my observations from my first visit.) I was moved by the nearly two hours of music and worship that night. The tone of the service was more serious than the first meeting I attended. Both Bobby Conner and Bob Jones ministered powerfully. Even though I had been warned by some friends who disagree with some theological points of Bob Jones, I sensed nothing wrong in my spirit. I was encouraged by attending.

I'm glad to see "revival" breaking out. It is wonderful to hear the testimonies of healing and even stories about people being raised from the dead. I hope the revival continues because I believe that it is a fresh move of God. But the focus must be on more than just what's happening in Lakeland (which is my hometown) and on only one ministry. What we need is a move of God that will impact the entire body of Christ-- not just 6,000 to 10,000 people in Central Florida on any given day, plus those who watch on TV, or the couple thousand who watch the streaming video on the Internet.

Thankfully Bentley is urging those who attend to take the revival “to the world.” Now we're beginning to hear of reports of revival breaking out beyond Lakeland, and we’ll report on these outbreaks as we hear of them. Some of them are coming from people who have attended the services in Lakeland and who have indeed "taken it home." But they haven't necessarily gotten the same media attention that the Lakeland revival has received. Of course most of the media attention has been from GodTV and the live streaming services that are available on the Internet. So far, there's been very little secular coverage beyond The Tampa Tribune and The Ledger (the two nearby newspapers) and a few local TV stations.

As a former newspaper reporter I can predict the media coverage that will eventually happen. First will come the "isn't-this-odd-but-interesting" type of story about the people shaking, falling over, the loud exuberant praise, and how unconventional Todd Bentley is with his tattoos and his saying "bam" when he touches people and they fall over. (As I wrote this someone e-mailed a story to me from The Ledger in Lakeland, where I once worked, which proves my point. Click here to read it.)

Next will come stories about the money, reporting on the offerings and who is getting how much, implying that something is wrong financially. Those stories will be followed by stories reporting criticism from people and ministries who don't agree with the revival, or investigations about some of the healings. All the healings that are reported aren't necessarily the miracles they appear to be. Sometimes healings are gradual yet the secular critic doesn’t always understand this, and will call these "non-healings."

Finally, there will be coverage of the people being raised from the dead. Even assuming that every report is accurate, it will be impossible to track down every one, or the media will find detractors-- even those who want to hurt or stop the move of God-- denying that it's true. This will discredit all of the healings and miracles and the revival itself. Next, you can predict a backlash from the ministry, which will assume that everyone's against them. Or they will say that any criticism at all is denying the power of God or, on a lower level, questioning the integrity of the ministry.

We saw this pattern, or a variation of it, in the coverage of the Brownsville Revival and in the Toronto Blessing. In those instances major coverage came from the secular media after one or two major media sources, such as The New York Times, signaled to the other media (which typically follow each other in their coverage) as if this story was OK to cover. The mainstream culture, and especially those with a secular humanist mindset, are not inclined to cover revivals. They don't get excited when there is good praise and worship or when people are exalting Jesus. To them it's an odd sideshow. There's a long history of them making fun of it, going back to the fictional character of Elmer Gantry who is Sinclair Lewis's embodiment of all huckster preachers.

I'm concerned when I hear references in Lakeland to the "healing revivals" of the 1940s and 1950s-- especially with A.A. Allen and William Branham. That's because those revivals did not really touch the mainstream of America and in those two instances the ministers fell into disrepute before they died.

The focus of any revival or ministry must be on Jesus and on changed lives, not on revival itself or on the ministries involved. I was glad to hear an emphasis on Jesus when I was in Lakeland. My spirit sensed that there was a genuine flow of the Spirit in the services.

However, criticisms are beginning to come about the revival—not so much from the secular media, but from leaders in the body of Christ who are unwilling to publicly criticize but who feel there are extremes (from their perspective) that could derail the revival.

After 49 days the revival is still vulnerable, almost like the tiny flame mentioned in Isaiah 42:3. How sad if that flame is snuffed out (as have been most revivals in the past) before it has the opportunity to grow into a raging fire.

I’ve been impressed with how open Stephen Strader—the pastor who invited Todd Bentley to come to Lakeland—and Bentley have been to those who encourage them to keep the revival on track.

A genuine revival must be more than lukewarm Christians flocking to meetings and getting excited once again about God touching their lives. It must change people's lives who then in turn change the culture around them. That is really the revival we need in America.

So let’s pray that this revival grows. Pray for the leaders who are under enormous pressure to minister seven days a week under the glare of national and international media, as well as critics—both those who want to destroy the revival as well as those who want the revival to stay on track so it can continute to grow.

Meanwhile, let us know of outbreaks of revival you know about so we can check them out and report on them.

Support Israel on its 60th Anniversary

It was sixty years ago today, May 14, 1948, that the modern state of Israel was formed. It was the fulfillment of a prophecy in Isaiah 66:8, "Can a nation be born in a day?" (Contemporary English Version).

I have been to Israel five times. I have long been a supporter of Israel. I believe that every Christian should visit Israel to walk where Jesus walked and to see the temple mount where Solomon built his temple, the city of Jerusalem, and where so many Bible stories took place.

I also believe that God blesses those who bless Israel (Genesis 12:3). This is one of the main reasons I have joined Pastor John Hagee in Christians United For Israel. If you haven't joined Christians United For Israel, I urge you to click here and also to plan to attend the Washington/Israel Summit on July 17-20 in Washington D.C.

Today we congratulate Israel on its 60-year anniversary. It's a miracle that the handful of poorly armed Jews were able to defend their newly formed nation when they were attacked by the armies of their Arab neighbors. Again and again they have been attacked and each time they have won. Today they have made peace with several of their Arab neighbors, but there's a new enemy in the form of terrorism that seeks to destroy Israel.

As Christians we must be strong to support Israel. Yet the more you get to know Israel, the more you find that the situation there is complicated. While we stand strong with Israel we need to put pressure on the Israeli's to treat humanely the Palestinians in their midst. On my last trip to Israel I was able to go into the Palestinian authority with a Christian Arab to the Bethlehem Bible College. Passing through the wall that's been erected around the Palestinian segment was like going into a penitentiary. The huge wall and the guard towers even looked like a penitentiary. It was easy to see why the Palestinians feel so oppressed.

At the same time the wall has almost ended the suicide bombings and you can't blame the Israelis for wanting to defend themselves against terrorist attacks.

Today I am writing not only to commemorate the 60th anniversary, but to keep in front of the Christian community another form of violence and discrimination that takes place in Israel that gets very little media coverage-- that is against believers in Yeshua (Jesus) who live in Israel who face discrimination and oppression of all types-- and unfortunately-- from time to time, also violence.

In the June issue of Charisma magazine (which went in the mail this week) I write an editorial about the bombing that took place in late March on Purim, when a bomb that looked like a Purim gift was left on the doorstep of a Messianic pastor named David Ortiz. His 15-year-old son, who was the only one home at the time, opened the package and was seriously injured.

No one has been brought to justice for this crime, but evidence seems to point to the fact that it was Orthodox Jews who do not went Messianics in their midst who perpetrated this terrible terrorist attack.

This was the subject of The Strang Report several weeks ago. You can read it by clicking here and also read how you can put pressure on the Israeli's to bring the perpetrators to justice. You can read my editorial in the June issue of Charisma by clicking here.

I have been impressed by the Messianic Jews who I have met in Israel. They seem to be good law abiding citizens who serve in the army, work hard day to day, and do charitable acts to show Christian love.

Their relationship with some Israelis, especially the government, seems to have improved in recent years as people seem to understand and appreciate the good deeds they do. But they also feel isolated from the Christian community (of which I believe they are a part) and their Jewish neighbors who don't understand, appreciate, or even oppose the fact that they try to maintain their Jewish identity while still believing in Yeshua (Jesus).

In the past we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help the victims of terrorism from radical Muslims against innocent Jews in Israel. I've been encouraged by the outpouring of support from people like you. Now I would like for us to respond in like manner when one of our own is attacked in Israel. The Ortiz family and the entire Messianic community is under attack as never before.

You can give to Messianic believers through our non-profit partner Christian Life Missions. In the process you are helping fellow believers in Jesus and at the same time (in my opinion) blessing Israel.

On the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding will you respond by giving a generous donation? We will send 100% of the gift, taking nothing out for overhead, to Messianic organizations that are helping the Ortiz family and helping believers in various ways. Find instructions on how to donate by clicking here.

Remember, God blesses those who bless Israel. Join me in giving at least $60 in honor of their 60th anniversary.

My Observations of the Outpouring in Lakeland, Florida

A great revival took place in Wales in 1904. Sadly there is little to show today for the effects of that revival. Two years later the Pentecost revival started at Azusa Street in Los Angeles. The black church where it started actually closed around 1930. But the revival it generated continues to include more than 400 million people around the world today.

The difference between the two revivals is that the Pentecost revival has actually been a "series of revivals" that has happened again and again over the years-- the Latter Rain movement and the healing revivals of the late 40's; Full Gospel business men that started in the 50's, along with ministries emerging such as Kathryn Kuhlman; followed by the Charismatic movement of the 60's in the mainline Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic church. Then there has been the Faith movement, the Apostolic movement, and various revival outbreakings in places like Toronto and Brownsville.
The latest outbreak of revival is apparently in Lakeland, Florida. It started with meetings with Todd Bentley on April 2 at Ignited Church pastored by my long-time friend Steve Strader. I've know Steve since I was in the 9th grade and he was in the 6th grade when his father Karl Strader came to pastor the church my family attended in Lakeland. That was also the church where Rodney Howard Browne's ministry really took off in the United States with extended meetings back in the early 90's.

(This revival with Todd Bentley started about the time that we had a death in the family so I was not able to go down to the services until Monday, May 5-- the 34th continuous day of the revival. By the time I attended, Lee Grady and others had been to the revival and had given their analysis. If you missed Lee's analysis you can CLICK HERE to read it. Before I attended on Monday I was also beginning to get critical emails about the revival, expressing cautions, etc.

As I've covered the move of the Holy Spirit for the last three decades, I know that anytime there is a genuine move of God, it is guaranteed that certain people will automatically oppose it. These people oppose any move of God that is beyond their own religious experience. The sad thing is that some times they will have some valid criticisms that people like me tend to discount because they are so negative.

Some people also question Todd Bentley's past. He has quite a "testimony" that actually was first reported in Charisma several years ago. But there are those who feel that a person who is less than perfect can't really be used by God. Actually I believe that the Bible teaches that "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:27, NIV).

Also, at one of the meetings recently Paul Cain was given a place on the platform. Unfortunately Paul Cain has disqualified himself from ministry due to various sins in his life he has confessed to including drunkenness and homosexuality. Other ministers have worked to restore him, but we are told that the restoration process has not continued. Nevertheless, Paul publicly said in Lakeland that there were "false rumors" about him and that he had lived a "chaste life." Both are not true. I've been told by leaders in the revival that Paul won't be invited back. I compliment them for this. I can understand how someone is let on the platform and they shouldn't. But to me, before I attended the first meeting, this was a real caution on their discernment.

When I attended the meeting I was excited to see the level of enthusiasm among those who attended. People waited in lines for hours to get a seat at the civic center in Lakeland, a venue that seats about 7,000. There seemed to be about 6,000 there that night and I was told that at the baseball stadium over the previous weekend there were 12,000. The meetings are broadcasted live on the Internet on the Ignited Church's website, http://www.ignitedchurch.com, and also on GodTV which is also broadcasting the services daily from 7 to 11 p.m. EST.

There was great praise and worship that night for about an hour and 15 minutes. Then there were testimonies, Todd Bentley shared and there was ministry of various types that took place. There was a lot of humility exhibited in the service that I attended. There were also words of knowledge including that there would be an outbreak of revival in Holland, Germany and Ireland. Todd Bentley called for delegations from those countries that had flown over for the revival to come forward. There were about a dozen from each country and they seemed to be mightily touched by God when Todd prayed for them.

Toward the end of the service there were two lines of people who wanted to give testimonies who were called up to the stage using the format that has become familiar with Benny Hinn, where he has the helpers call out the miracles on one side and then on the other. Bentley interviewed the people one by one and then there was a ministry time where they generally fall over under the power of God.

Todd Bentley is from Canada. Most of the people in his ministry team have come down from Canada. Many of them are from the biker culture. While I had never met Todd Bentley nor heard him minister, I was a little surprised to see that he was covered with tattoos-- which is much more acceptable in his generation than in mine.

Nevertheless he ministered with power. When I was asked later on to describe the service I heard myself saying rather extemporaneously that the first part of the service with worship reminded me of the worship at the Brownsville revival and Todd's style of ministry reminded me of a "Benny Hinn with tattoos." A couple people I've said that to have found it rather funny and have also found it a helpful word picture.

It's too early to really tell the long-term effect of this revival. My report today is neither criticism nor an affirmation. I have not had an opportunity to research any of the miracles or even to talk personally with Todd Bentley. Much of what I know has come from Steve Strader (whom I have known a long time and who I trust).

However, the people I saw at the meetings seemed genuinely hungry for a move of God. Like many, I'm also hungry for a move of God and I'm glad to see this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I'm glad to see the excitement that has been generated-- not only in Lakeland but in various parts of the country.

I'm encouraged by the miracles that have been reported even from those who watch on the Internet or on GodTV. I actually know a few of the people who are reporting healings. Again, I've not been able to research them and I may even report on that later. Today I just wanted to get out a quick report on what I saw and say that I was encouraged rather than discouraged.

I encourage you to check it out for yourself on GodTV or on the Internet and analyze it for yourself but if you can come to Lakeland that's even better. Please CLICK HERE to post your comments below.