What Lakeland Tells Me About the Church #4: We Can All Use A Little Sharpening
June 26th, 2008 by Carl Thomas.Clearly there does not need to be another internet post arguing whether or not Lakeland is of God. But there are still lessons to be learned. And no, the lessons are not just for them who don’t agree with us. They are for us as well. Because no matter how strongly you agree with your camps position about Lakeland, there is probably a little truth to what they are saying.
I support Lakeland. I believe God is in it. But that does not mean that everything that is proclaimed from the pulpit is rhema word. There have been a number of predictions that were flatly wrong. Those of us in prophetic ministry know that people miss it. Mature prophets will admit that there was some sort of error and try to seek how they got it wrong, or at least use it as a teaching point to show that no one person has cornered the market in hearing from God.
Prophetic words are to be tested and tried. I sat with a friend the other day who told me that he was dragged in front of a whole conference and given a word to come back to Jesus. The problem with that was that he had basically just given up every assurance in life to follow the call of God on His life. As soon as he told me the story I could see what the prophet saw. Only he interpreted it wrong. My friend was on unstable ground but not because he was away from God. He needed to know that God sees that his ground was unstable and was still with him. I doubt that man recognized his error. Because we don’t demand that of prophets anymore.
In truth, there is a fair amount of goofiness happening in Lakeland. From decrees and mantles to predictions and prophesies that are really not more than words. I know some are scared to recognize this for fear it will give “them” ammo, but I always tell my disciples that in a time of turmoil stand and speak the truth and let the chips fall where they may. Jesus is alive.
Likewise, those who characterize Lakeland as a work of demons use a sort of biblical hopscotch that is disingenuous at best and are more properly categorized as intellectual dishonesty. I have heard the opponents quote everything but the scripture that dictates testing these things.
1 John 4:1-3 Listen4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
I have heard Todd proclaim that Jesus has come in the flesh, died, rose again, ascended and one day will return. Biblically that settles it, right? If you don’t think that it does then you my friend are what we call a biblical liberal. You don’t believe that the bible means what is says. It’s ok. I understand. But don’t be surprised when homosexuals get married in your church because that is where you are headed.
The fact is that people are being healed and giving glory to God. You would have to completely reject logic, testimony, and the Word to believe that Satan is doing it. Yet many opponents would contend that satan is the healer. What happened to rejoice with those that rejoice Rom 12:15? Or in everything give thanks 1 Thes 5:18? Or if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things Ph 4:8? What about sola scriptura? Is that for only when it suits you? I have been amazed at how many cessationists have been claiming the gift of discerning of spirits lately.
It is possible to have doctrinal error and not be the spawn of satan. And just because your vision of revival does not match Todd’s does not mean that Todd is necromancing the demon of a past fallen minister. It is hard to believe the vitriol that has come from Christians against other Christians. Is it possible that this is the sign of error?
The fact of the matter is that since the earliest recorded history, when God does something, it stirs up all kinds of dust and that usually clouds people’s vision. Wherever you stand on Lakeland, don’t miss what God is doing. He is probably uncovering more than what you see at first light.
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Good Stuff, don’t mind me using some of it! In those heated debates I love to have with the religious! HA HA HA HA
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I was priviledged to attend one service while on an errand in central Florida.[Wish it could have been more]
I have been a born-again-Spirit filled ,tongue talking Christian since 1997. What I saw and experienced when at the meeting was of God !! Some people think something is not of God because they never see such in their church.
People want the gifts,but are not willing to pay the price to have them operating thru them. Many churches are so dead that the gifts are not manifested there!
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You, my friend, are on a tear. I very much appreciate the thoughtfulnes of your words. There’s something intangible, but noticeable about where you’re coming from these last few posts, I think maybe you have found your groove. Go for it bro, and go with God.
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You know what is wonderful about watching what is going on in Lakeland? Todd is actually teachable.
I, too, see stuff that gives me pause, but rather than writing to the entire body of Christ about it, I pray (OMG, what a concept!) And most of the stuff I have taken to the Lord that seriously bothered me, I have seen addressed.
I think there is a deep desire on the part of Todd and his leadership to walk in integrity in this. No one expected this to be what it has become this fast, and they are having to manage on the fly. I am encouraged by the fact that Todd has such good relationships with people like Patricia King, Bill Johnson, Che Ahn and John Arnott and he is willing to seek counsel.
And, by the way, the cessationists with the gift of discernment thing has been a source of great amusement to me of late.
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Thanks Carl,
Some Very excellent and mature observations. Keep it coming.
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my tendency to want to nuke those against the revival has been lessened of late– a lot of them, for one, don’t believe in the gifts of the Spirit at all and therefore have little spiritual discernment anyway.
i think we also have to trust and know the revival is not about todd or one particular ministry, it’s got to do with the restoration of the body, and unity in it. if todd messes up with a mistaken word, or misses something theologically, then so be it, everybody’s human and falls short of the glory that we are carriers of.
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@Ley – Why would this be any different? lol
@Mary – Lots of churches are dead because they would rather be safe. Safety is boring.
@Slw – Thanks pastor. I may call you this week.
@Patsy – I have observed the same.
@Michael – That really means alot coming from you.
@Roy – I could not agree more. I think those without understanding can’t understand that a person has a gift of prophecy but that does not make their every teaching equal with the written prophecies of Jeremiah.
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My understanding is that a “prophetic word” that is not true is not from God and that someone who speaks it and credits God with is is not only wrong in that instance but not be believed from then on when claiming to speak for God. The prophets of the Old Testament were never wrong when claiming to be speaking for God. If it begins with “God says” then it must be true. Always.
Am I incorrect in my understanding of prophecy as you use it: as foretelling and not just forth-telling.
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