IS LAKELAND A TRUE REVIVAL? by Patricia King

By Patricia King
IS LAKELAND A TRUE REVIVAL?
THOUGHTS FROM PATRICIA KING

by Patricia King

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



The Todd Bentley meetings in Lakeland Florida have become quite the subject of conversation. Some people are questioning, "Is this a true revival"? I would like to share some simple thoughts on this from my heart.


To Revive means "to bring back to life; to refresh and to replenish". The following is a definition from the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary:


1: to restore to consciousness or life


2: to restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state: bring back


3: to renew in the mind or memory


Therefore, a Revival is an event and an atmosphere where life-giving refreshment from the Spirit of God touches lives.


Merriam Webster Online Dictionary Definition of "revival":
1: an act or instance of reviving: the state of being revived: as a: renewed attention to or interest in something b: a new presentation or publication of something old c: (1): a period of renewed religious interest (2): an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings 2: restoration of force, validity, or effect (as to a contract)


COMPARED WITH RAIN
There are various degrees of revival in the same way as there are degrees of rainfall. Here is an example: If you went for a walk in your shorts, flip flops, and tank top and felt a raindrop fall on your face... and then another single drop a moment later... and then a few more, you would say, "I better get home, it is raining." It is rain if it is one drop and it is still rain if it is a torrential downpour. It is all rain.


It is the same with revival. Like rain, there are varying degrees. There are moments of personal revival experienced in prayer and devotion times or through attending a Spirit filled meeting. There are seasons of personal revival where you find yourself coming out of a dry place and into a full season of refreshment in the Spirit. We have all experienced these degrees from time to time.


There are also corporate times of refreshing where entire local assemblies experience refreshment and revitalization. And then there are revivals that influence the Body of Christ in cities and nations like the Welsh Revival, the Azusa Street Revival, the Healing Revivals in the 40's and 50's and the Toronto and Pensacola outpourings in the 90's.


It is all revival but varying degrees.



DEGREES AND TYPES
Lets look at the example of rain again. Some rain is cold and almost freezing. Other rain is warm. Some is heavy and some is light. There are tropical rains and desert rains. There is spring rain and summer rain. There are former rains and latter rains. There are different types of rain and there are also different types of revivals. There are healing revivals and holiness revivals. There are revivals of salvation and revivals of Father's love.


I always love to rejoice in everything the Father pours out. Sometimes we become too analytical. We try to measure the rain, evaluate the rain, and pull the rain apart to find out if it is a real raindrop. Personally, I like to simply jump in and enjoy. Perhaps we should simply acknowledge that God is moving, that people are being refreshed and made alive unto God, and that He is spreading a lot of joy. That sounds like a great report and maybe we should simply say, "More Lord."


I believe there is always more to enjoy in God. There can always be greater degrees and releases of the manifestation of His power, but lets totally embrace and enjoy what He is giving. Lets thank Him for His goodness.


DO YOU WANT TO CHECK IT OUT?
Just in case you do like a bit of analysis, lets take out our measuring stick and measure what is going on in Lakeland:




  1. The Lord is being praised and worshipped.


  2. The Word is preached.


  3. The Gifts of the Spirit are flowing.


  4. Miracles and healings are manifesting.


  5. The Supernatural (angelic visitation, presence of Jesus, fragrances, glory presence) is being experienced.


  6. Many souls are being saved (both in the meeting and on the streets).


  7. Deliverances.


  8. Conviction and repentance.


  9. The dead are raised.


  10. Lots of refreshment and joy.


  11. Spreading worldwide like an unstoppable fire.


  12. Major generosity.


Hmmm... sound like it could be rain (I mean revival)... I think I really like it - whatever you want to call it!


A scripture portion for meditation: Ezekiel 47:1-12


Embracing Him and all that He is and has,


Visitor Comments (0)

Be the first to post a comment.