Theological Response to Lakeland Critics

Carl Thomas — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:17:59 +0000

This was forwarded by Randy Clark. It is a 55 page defense of the activities of the Lakeland outpouring. Here is a selection from page 5:

Normative New Testament evangelism is accompanied by God’ power

A simple perusal of the following passages shows that true biblical revival always involved word and deed, the preaching of the gospel alongside people ministering and experiencing (not just talking about) God’ healing and miraculous power: Matt. 4:23; 9:35-36; 10:1, 7-8; 11:5; 12:15, 18; 15:30; 19:2 (cf. Listen
10:1 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
', 'Mk. 10:1', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mk.+10%3A1');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mk.+10%3A1" >Mk. 10:1); 21:14 (cf. Listen
And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet.
', 'Lk. 21:37', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Lk.+21%3A37');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Lk.+21%3A37" >Lk. 21:37); Listen
1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
', 'Mk. 1', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mk.+1');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mk.+1" >Mk. 1: 38-39; 2:2, 11; 3:14-15; 6:12-13; 10:1 (cf. Listen
And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
', 'Mat. 19:2', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mat.+19%3A2');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mat.+19%3A2" >Mat. 19:2); Listen)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
Luke 5:17 (Listen)
On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
Luke 5:24 (Listen)
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
Luke 5:6 (Listen
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
Luke 5:17 (Listen)
On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
Luke 5:24 (Listen)
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
Luke 5:6 (Listen)
And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
', 'Lk. 4:18; 5:17, 24; 6', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Lk.+4%3A18%3B+5%3A17%2C+24%3B+6');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Lk.+4%3A18%3B+5%3A17%2C+24%3B+6" >Lk. 4:18; 5:17, 24; 6:6-11, 17-18; 7:22; 9:1-2; 10:9, 13; 13:10-13, 22, 32; 14:4, 7ff.; 21:37 (cf. Listen
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.
', 'Mat. 21:14', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mat.+21%3A14');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mat.+21%3A14" >Mat. 21:14); 16:15-18, 20; Listen)
This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
John 7:14-15 (Listen)
About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?”
John 7:21-23 (Listen)
Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well?
John 7:31 (Listen)
Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”
John 7:38 (Listen)
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
John 7:10 (Listen
This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
John 7:14-15 (Listen)
About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?”
John 7:21-23 (Listen)
Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well?
John 7:31 (Listen)
Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”
John 7:38 (Listen)
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
John 7:10 (Listen)
But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.
', 'Jn. 3:2; 7:14-15, 21-23, 31, 38; 10', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Jn.+3%3A2%3B+7%3A14-15%2C+21-23%2C+31%2C+38%3B+10');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Jn.+3%3A2%3B+7%3A14-15%2C+21-23%2C+31%2C+38%3B+10" >Jn. 3:2; 7:14-15, 21-23, 31, 38; 10:25, 32, 38; 12:37, 49; 14:10, 12; Listen)
1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
Acts 2:22 (Listen)
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
Acts 2:3 (Listen
1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
Acts 2:22 (Listen)
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
Acts 2:3 (Listen)
And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
', 'Acts 1:1; 2:22; 3', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+1%3A1%3B+2%3A22%3B+3');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+1%3A1%3B+2%3A22%3B+3" >Acts 1:1; 2:22; 3:6, 12; 4:29-30; 5:12-16, 20-21, 28, 42; 6:8, 10; 8:4-7, 12; 9:17-18 (cf. 22:13), 34-35; 10:38; 14:3, 8-10, 15ff.; 15:12, 36; 18:5, 11 (cf. Listen
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
', '2 Cor. 12:12', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Cor.+12%3A12');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Cor.+12%3A12" >2 Cor. 12:12; Listen
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
', '1 Cor. 2:4-5', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Cor.+2%3A4-5');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Cor.+2%3A4-5" >1 Cor. 2:4-5); 19:8-12; Listen
For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
', 'Rom. 15:18-19', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Rom.+15%3A18-19');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Rom.+15%3A18-19" >Rom. 15:18-19; Listen)
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (Listen)
11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:12 (Listen
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 11:1 (Listen)
11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:12 (Listen)
for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
', '1 Cor. 2:4-5; 11:1; 12', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Cor.+2%3A4-5%3B+11%3A1%3B+12');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Cor.+2%3A4-5%3B+11%3A1%3B+12" >1 Cor. 2:4-5; 11:1; 12:1-11, 28-31; 14:22-25; Listen
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
', '2 Cor. 12:12', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Cor.+12%3A12');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Cor.+12%3A12" >2 Cor. 12:12; Listen
Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—
', 'Gal. 3:5', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gal.+3%3A5');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Gal.+3%3A5" >Gal. 3:5; Listen
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
', 'Phil. 4:9', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Phil.+4%3A9');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Phil.+4%3A9" >Phil. 4:9; Listen
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
', '1 Thes. 1:5-6', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Thes.+1%3A5-6');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=1+Thes.+1%3A5-6" >1 Thes. 1:5-6; Listen)
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 6:1-2 (Listen
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 6:1-2 (Listen)
6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
', 'Heb. 2:3-4; 6:1-2', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Heb.+2%3A3-4%3B+6%3A1-2');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Heb.+2%3A3-4%3B+6%3A1-2" >Heb. 2:3-4; 6:1-2; Jas. 5:13-16.

Indeed Paul said in Listen
For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
', 'Romans 15:18-19', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Romans+15%3A18-19');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Romans+15%3A18-19" >Romans 15:18-19 that only the proclamation of the gospel that is accompanied by healing, signs and wonders, that display the power of the risen Lord, represents a full proclamation of the gospel: Listen
For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
', 'Rom. 15:18-19', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Rom.+15%3A18-19');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Rom.+15%3A18-19" >Rom. 15:18-19 (NIV)€” I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done€” by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. [italics and boldface mine]

Read and be blessed.

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Revival Blog » Deliverance

Theological Response to Lakeland Critics

Normative New Testament evangelism is accompanied by God’ power

Luke 5:17 (Listen)

Luke 5:24 (Listen)

Luke 5:17 (Listen)

Luke 5:24 (Listen)

Luke 5:6 (Listen)

John 7:14-15 (Listen)

John 7:21-23 (Listen)

John 7:31 (Listen)

John 7:38 (Listen)

John 7:14-15 (Listen)

John 7:21-23 (Listen)

John 7:31 (Listen)

John 7:38 (Listen)

John 7:10 (Listen)

Acts 2:22 (Listen)

Acts 2:22 (Listen)

Acts 2:3 (Listen)

1 Corinthians 11:1 (Listen)

1 Corinthians 11:1 (Listen)

1 Corinthians 11:12 (Listen)

Hebrews 6:1-2 (Listen)

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