Charisma editor Lee Grady takes a conservative and cautious look at the Lakeland, Florida Renaissance.
On May 14, 2008, the editor of Charisma stated “honest questions” and concerns below. Thereafter, I express my thoughts and admonitions to Grady and Charisma.
Grady: “… But as Lakeland’s noise grows louder and its influence spreads, I am issuing some words of warning …”
Davis: “What you call ‘noise’ Lee is the roar of young lions that sprout from the earth with the zeal of the Lord. They cannot speak, dress, act or maneuver according to the skillful dictates of professional men within the Christianity, but they have a faith that works by love, that casts out fear and overthrows caution. “
Grady: “‘Beware of the strange fire. The name of Jesus is being raised in the Lakeland revival, and three people came to the altar for salvation the night I attended. A larger number have come to the front of the auditorium to find to Christ every day. night since then. “
Davis: “If the name of Jesus is being lifted in Lakeland, we need not worry. If a man’s name is being lifted, let’s be careful. The two services I attended in Lakeland, Todd was careful to exalt and elevate Jesus. His heart, way of ministry and change of focus the glory will go away. God does not share His anointing with carnal and vain men. When the glory of God goes away, people will too. As long as both are present, let us rejoice in the risen ones Christ “.
Grady: “However, I’m afraid another message is also being subtly preached in Lakeland, a message that cult watchers would describe as a spiritual forgery. Bentley is one of several charismatic ministers who have emphasized angels in recent years.” .
Davis: “Cult watchers should not be our concern, as they are not discerning themselves. True discernment begins with awakening to what is good (Hebrews 5:14), not simply hunting down what is bad ( see Romans 16:19) .When we are in love with evil, we ourselves become evil. We become what we contemplate (see 2Corinthians 3:18). Ultimately, we attract and attend to who we are, since our perception leads to our personal screening and screening. “
Davis: “What a man or a minister did several years ago does not have to be related to what they believe or do today. We ask you what you did several years ago? A person’s past does not have to dictate their future. As for angelic visitations, these are common throughout Scripture. We must seek God, not angels. However, if the Lord decides to send an angel to answer our prayers, we must not limit the saint of Israel. “
Grady: “… Paul insisted that concern for angels can lead to serious deception.”
Davis: “Agreed, heard, understood and acknowledged.”
Grady: “We don’t have to teach God’s people to commune with angels or seek revelations from angels … We must remember that Mormonism was born from a man’s encounter with a dark angel who claimed to speak for God.”
Grady: “Beware of strange manifestations … Where do we draw the line between legitimate experience and fanatic excess?”
Davis: “Christ never called ‘us’ His disciples to ‘draw lines’ but to love and lift people up. Jesus said let the wheat and the tares grow together. The Lord Himself can remove the weeds and pluck what he has not planted “(see Matthew 13:30; 15:13). To my knowledge, Bentley is not teaching ‘God’s people to fellowship with angels,’ or to seek them out. “
Grady: “… Paul asked for discipline and order … In other words, Paul was saying that no one under the influence of the Holy Spirit should act out of control.”
Davis: “The Apostle Paul said ‘let everything be done decently and in order’ (1 Corinthians 14:40). Before trying to master, discipline and command a move of God, first let it flow and ‘be done’ before endeavoring to structure and order it Grady and Charisma can write about revival, but until they are born and do revival they should not criticize it or seek to contain it. “
Davis: “People under the influence of the Holy Spirit respond in innumerable ways. Since where the Holy Spirit is free (2 Corinthians 3:17), people can freely respond to God and do not need Grady’s permission to do so.”
Grady: “In many recent charismatic revivals, ministers have allowed people to behave like epileptics on stage … such behavior feeds carnality and saddens the Spirit.”
Davis: “What feeds carnality and saddens the Spirit is the arrogance of men like Grady who fight against a movement of the Spirit instead of supporting and giving birth to one. Casting out demons and healing the sick is not always pretty for him. professional eye “.
Grady: “… emotional euphoria does not guarantee a change of heart … When we put strange behavior on the platform, we imply that it is normative.”
Davis: “Being a Christian critic and an unbelieving believer also does not produce a change of heart. A heart of unbelief breeds evil and causes people to turn away from the living God (see Hebrews 3:12).”
Grady: “Beware of hype.”
Davis: “Be careful to embrace an evil heart of unbelief and become a Pharisee who knows the Scriptures, but not the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).
Grady: “The church is in a wayward state and our nation has rebelled against God.”
Davis: “Maybe you and Charisma magazine are too. However, if you tear your hearts apart and pursue God in humble despair, the Lord of life will revive you with the power of resurrection.”
Grady: “However, in our longing for a holy visitation, we must be careful not to call the first breeze of the Spirit a complete revival. If we do that, we are setting people up for disappointment …”
Davis: “Instead of trying to label and name a revival, cry out for it in prayer in your own life. I don’t find any disappointment in revival, only in those who try to deny and restrict it.”
Grady: “Some of the language used during the Lakeland Renaissance has created an almost side-show atmosphere. People are invited to ‘Come and have a little.’ The miracles are supposed to ‘pop like popcorn.’ They arrange everything like the greatest revival in history. “
Davis: “According to your faith, be with you (Matthew 9:29). Better to go to God’s show than to Hollywood. Better to get ‘something’ of God’s glory than dead religion. Yes to Charisma and Grady no they like ‘some’ that allow them to change the name of their magazine to Jesus instead of promoting their ‘some’ and their new ‘someone’ on the cover every month. “
Grady: “Let us be humble and broken before the Lord … miracles and multitudes alone do not guarantee revival … It was the few disciples who followed Jesus after Calvary who ushered in a true revival, one that was bathed “. in the fear of God, confirmed by signs and wonders, tempered by persecution and evidenced by thousands of conversions, new churches and the transformation of society. We should expect no less. “
Davis: “Thank you for providing the persecution, Lee. We’re almost there! Now, teach us humility and brokenness. Maybe you can match Mormons’ commitment to going overseas for 2 years to bring forth a true revival of their own. You can. win so many souls, give birth to so many churches and transform societies be quick to listen and slow to speak. As Jesus said, the fruit speaks for itself (see Matthew 7:20). I pray that we all keep our hearts and eyes on Jesus Be careful trying to stabilize the ark or trying to straighten the flow of God’s Spirit so that you are not quickly judged (1Samuel 6: 6-7; Micah 2: 7) .No (Acts 5:38). However, if it is from God, it will continue unhindered in full force with signs and wonders as God confirms His holy Word with power (see Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2: 4).
