CHARISMATICA

This is an incredible story.  Yasmin became a Christian after she had  a vision of Jesus during the difficult birth of her son. She tried to keep her faith a secret from her family, since she was afraid of how they would react. Later, when they did find out that she was a Christian, the persecution followed.

According to Yasmin, she was harassed on the street, and disowned by her family. Her husband hired thugs to beat her up and planned on having her killed. She finally moved out to another part of the country with her children in secrecy. Her husband tracked her down and tried to take the children, objecting to them being raised by a Christian. Here are some excerpts of her experience:

Response: I hear of and read that more and more Muslims are converting to Christianity through Visions and direct experiences with Jesus. This is becoming common, particularly in Muslim countries that outlaw conversions and missionaries.

What is really incredible about this story, and the surprising and stunning punch line is this—Yasmin lives in the UK!

We really do need to remember to pray for Yasmin and her children. Also, for all the others like her who have converted and face persecution and even death for the sake of their faith in Jesus.             *Top

(Photo: Dominic Buettner for The New York Times)

According to a NY Times story, several Israeli scholars contend that an ancient tablet found near the Dead Sea, dated from the 1st century B.C., talks about a Messiah who would die and 3 days later be resurrected. <<<Read my complete article about the tablet posted on the Apologetica blog>>>

I had initially read about this discovery in a recent copy of BAR (Biblical Archeology Review) magazine. I really did expect this to come out around Easter time like most artifacts which might cause controversy or somehow be reported (read: slanted) as presenting problems for traditional Christianity.

This really is a minor discovery, yet it caused me to consider all of the other important archeological finds that have been made during my own lifetime. Starting with the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Nag Hammadi documents, the Ebla tablets, and hundreds of other artifacts. All of which have ended up supporting the Bible in some form or another, and have given us a better and fuller understanding of the ancient cultures of the Old and New Testaments and the Bible texts themselves.

Can it be just a case of random luck that the greatest archeological discoveries supporting the Bible have all been found in the last sixty years?  No, I don’t believe so!

I actually believe that God protected many of these artifacts, especially the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is a matter of God’s own timing. Not only that, I do believe that there is even more to be come.            *Top

Jonathan Edwards preached his famous ‘Great Awakening’ sermon- "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", on July 8, 1741 at Enfield, Mass. (later Connecticut). When I studied "Sinners…" in seminary it was presented as a bad example of ‘hell fire’ sermons that no modern minister would or should ever dare to preach. In Church History class, it seemed like no one could figure out why it became so famous.

Obviously, you had to of been there and the Holy Spirit had to of shown up in an amazing way, and from all accounts that certainly was the case. According to reports of the occasion, Edwards quietly read the sermon with very little flare, but when he started talking about natural un-regenerated people being held in the hand of God over the fiery pit of Hell, a great commotion broke out in the congregation with quite a few folks being convicted by the Holy Spirit. Here is an excerpt from the sermon:

It is said that when Edwards spoke with this imagery of Hell, that some in the church that day actually felt and saw the fiery pits of hell beneath their feet and smelled the burning sulfur. Historians find those accounts to be suspect (I don’t). However, regardless of what really happened, many came to Christ that day following Edward’s invitation at the end:

What if Edwards preached his famous sermon today? Probably a better question- could it be preached today?:

1. The board of Elders would meet to vote on whether Pastor Edwards should be retained.

2. The UCC denomination would distance themselves from Pastor Edwards ‘negative’ theology. Pastor Jeremiah Wright would probably be a spokesman at a press conference.

3. The Professors at Yale University where Edwards graduated from would condemn the ‘exclusive’ theology of the sermon and promise to censure any future books or publications.

3. One lady with an unbelieving husband, in the congregation that day, would be on the evening news condemning the Pastor for scaring them and saying that a loving God would send ‘good folks’  like them to an everlasting Hell.

4. On "55 Minutes" TV show over the next weekend, a psychologist from Harvard would explain how it was all a hoax, that Edwards obviously hypnotized the entire congregation with his ‘hellish’ imagery just to increase the size of his church and get larger offerings. After all, Edwards is a maniac with 10 children.

5. On Bible Radio, the Dr. Smiley the chief cult headhunter would explain that the ‘Hell experience’ was similar to what ‘mind control’ cults subject their members too.

6. Jewish rabbi Dr. Conn on the weekend ‘Religion Dialogue’ TV show would be offended that Edward’s implied that ‘righteous people’ who don’t believe in Christ would end up in Hell. The Right Rev. Dr. Bishop Wonderful of the Episcopal Church would agree and sympathize. Dr. Ali of the Islamic U. would find that it is the first time that he actually agreed with a Rabbi.

Dr. Donald, the famous atheist, would point out that it confirms what he said in his latest book about religion being a divisive force that needed to be controlled. Pastor Charlie of the 20,000 member Valley Community Church would explain that most Christians today preach about the ‘love’ of God and how preaching about Hell is not the norm and actually a bad idea if you want to grow a large effective community organization and church reaching out in today’s culture.

The panel would conclude by agreeing that ‘God’s love for all people’ needed to be stressed today in the face of radical fundamentalist religion.

7. Osama Muhammad the al Queda leader would come on Algazerra TV and lay out plans to send Edwards and his entire congregation to hell in the name of Allah. After all, a visiting Muslim student converted to Christ that day.  

8. There would be at least 10 blog posts about how the service reminded them of the ’so-called’ Toronto revival. According to reports, there were all sorts of undefinable noises coming from the congregation.  Some sounded like animals and many were flat on their faces just unintelligently moaning and groaning.

God could never be the author of such a confusing uproar. After all, show me in the Bible where anyone ever experienced the fires of Hell beneath their feet!

…If Edwards preached his famous sermon today!             *Top

The Pew Forum was released on Monday (6/23/08) -the results of an extensive poll of 35,000 Americans concerning their religious views and practices. One of the largest studies ever conducted on Religion in America. Here’s a link to the complete Pew report and also a page with links to a dozen of articles responding to the survey.

  This really is an important report that all of us in the ministry should take a good look at, it really is a report card on our efforts! Here’s an ‘Interactive Graphic’ from USA Today: See how other Americans’ religious beliefs and practices match with yours

There is some ‘good news’: 92% of Americans profess to believe in God or some kind of ‘higher power’. 80% believe in miracles, 66% in angels and demons, and 58% pray every day. 74% believe in Heaven and 59% believe that there is a Hell. America is still the most ‘religious’ country in the Western world.

Now for the ‘not so good’: A large segment of the population mistrusts organized religion and most of those committed and involved in a religion or church, do not consider it to be the only path to salvation or heaven. 70% believe that there are many different paths to God and Heaven including 58% of so-called evangelical Christians.

In an article in Tuesdays USA Today, Cathy Lynn Grossman quoted Rice University sociologist Michael Lindsay saying that TV’s Oprah has become more of a spiritual leader and a greater influence in America than any of the "religious" leaders. She presents many paths to God on her TV show:

The best response to the Pew Report that I found was from Cal Thomas: "Do They Think Jesus Was a Liar?"  First Cal quotes Jesus:

Then he continues his short article with the following:

Then concludes with the following thought about how churches should respond to the survey:

Response: Ministers, pastors, and Christian Churches in America have a lot of work to do with their own people. Seeker sensitive services and ‘watered-down’ preaching has obviously not gotten the job done. This really is a failing report card for American preachers.  We really do desperately need revival!             *Top

This is the first and maybe the last in a series of posts exploring what it might be like if certain revivals started today.  Enjoy:

…..If Azusa Street started today:

1. The LA Fire Dept. would shut down the meetings. Too many folks stuffed in a dangerous wooden barn.

2. OSHA would come by and fine the church for lack of disability ramps, restrooms, and parking.

3. The neighbors would complain because of all the noise and traffic caused by the gatherings. Plus those all night services must stop.

4. The Mayor would order the church banished from the city: " After all, we already have enough churches and not one of them help with the city budget. Besides churches are all suppose to meet at schools or in industrial parks outside the city limits, accept for the old ones which were built by ‘real’ denominations 50 years ago. Also, WalMart was interested in that property and we are just going to have to condemn it anyway."

5. According to the ‘Biblical Answer Man’s’ chief cult headhunter: " The last ones we know of who spoke in tongues were Joseph Smith and Brigham Young of the Mormons in 1835".

6. Fundamentalist Bible teacher, Dr. Cliff proclaims on the radio that "Tongues and all those gifts ceased when the ‘perfect’ Bible came– I Cor.13 proves it!"

7. Google ‘Azusa Street revival’ and you would get 2 pages of critical articles from folks who haven’t been there with theological reasons and expose’s of why it can’t be from God. Then this is followed by 10 folks who claim they went to a service at Azusa Street "with an open mind, but…".

8. RelTV would probably refuse to televise the meetings because…" Pastor Seymour is a horrible speaker and the music is terrible!"

…..If Azusa Street started today!             *Top

Jesus and his disciples were healing folks right and left, yet John the Baptist sent some of his group to find out what was up.  It was not going the way he had expected: "shall we look for another?"

That is a lot like what is happening at Lakeland. Some folks are being healed and many are being blessed, and yet there are even more Christians who would paraphrase John the Baptist and ask- "Is that all there is –shall we keep looking?"

I would be inclined to agree with some of the critics except that I firmly believe that we are just at the beginning of a sovereign move that will not be limited to Florida, but will sweep across all of North America and eventually to the UK and Europe. Already, I have personally heard of dozens of churches and ministries in America that have seen an obvious increase in healing in 2008.

John the Baptist obviously had some preconceptions about the Messiah and what would happen when he came. A few miracles and healings didn’t look anything like the revolution he expected. But it was just at the beginning! 2,000 years have come and gone and most of us still don’t have a clue what Jesus is doing and what he is waiting for.

We have to remind ourselves that whatever is happening at Lakeland, it is just at the beginning. I wonder how past revivals would have survived the onslaught and glare of 24 hour TV and Internet. What did Wales and Azusa Street look like after a month and a half into it?

So many of us have read about past revivals and expect God to do the same thing again, full blown and mature at the start. We forget that each sovereign move was new and strange for those who experienced them at the time.

My Own Expectations

Myself, I am looking for a revival that sweeps across all of North America and effects 1000’s of churches in hundreds of places. A revival that crosses all the man-made divisions and denominations. Then like a tidal wave engulfs the UK and washes up on the shores of France and Northwestern Europe. A revival coming soon near you.

So many are looking for Jesus to come for his church, I’m looking for him to come to it. Come to it? What exactly does that mean? I’m not entirely sure what that means except it’s a ‘word’ that I keep hearing in the Spirit and it’s going to be good.

The church is going to get closer to Jesus, there will be a changing of the guard, ‘churchianity’  is going down, and his people will hear his voice in a profound way. I say, Come Lord Jesus and surprise us!            *Top

There are tons of critical articles on the Internet about what is happening in Lakeland Florida. Most haven’t been there, some haven’t even seen any of it on TV, yet many feel compelled to give a ‘theological’ opinion anyway.

  Found the following articles in defense of Lakeland last weekend but haven’t have the time to post about till now:

1. Todd Bentley- "Lifting Jesus High!"

Here’s Todd’s own defense.

2. Carl Thomas- Revival Blog- "Theological Response to Lakeland Critics"

Carl gives a link to a 55 page paper by  Dr. Gary S. Greig, PhD:

"A Theological Response to Criticism of the Lakeland Outpouring and Todd Bentley- Biblical Reasons To Receive God’s Glory and Give it Away in Power Evangelism"

3. Peter Kirk- Gentle Wisdom- "A theological defence of Todd Bentley’s ministry"

If you don’t have the time to read the 55 page defense by Dr. Greig, Peter provides a great summary of the main points.

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Recently, Vineyard CC Laguna Niguel has begun to have revival services on Sunday and Mondays nights, though what’s happening here cannot be contained in any official service! I went to this Mondays service and was blasted away. The place was nearly filled and there was a real expectancy in the air.

Following worship, pastor Mike Hudgins began calling out diseases and we began praying for those who stood up. After a few minutes he called all those who received healing to come to the front. It was truly incredible to hear the testimonies of so many that were blessed and healed in our midst.

Next came the special speaker for the evening, John Crowder. He and his family have done a lot of street evangelism and ministry all around the world. He is famous for offending some of us older ‘religious’ folk.

I tell you what, there were only two choices that one could make while he spoke. One could choose to be offended by what he said about the normative American church culture and thinking, or one could except that there are a lot a changin’ to be done.

I tell you what, most every ‘religious’ bone in my body turned to jelly during his onslaught and tirades, the Spirit fell on the place and backed up nearly everything he said.

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Just spent a week in Alaska on a cruise ship. What a trip it was on a number of different levels. First of all, it was good to get away from hustle and bustle of life in So. California, but most of all it was good to see some of God’s handiwork in nature. We were treated to some awesome sights that photos just can’t even begin to do justice to.

In those moments in front of a 300 ft. high glacier, under the shadow of 14,000 ft high mountains, and at the foot of gushing waterfalls you can really appreciate your own smallness in the scheme of things and the greatest of the creator.

Seeing whale tails and spouts in the water, eagles flying overhead and descending into the river in front you,capturing a salmon in its talons and flying up and away are also sights that one will never get use to or forget.

I was continually reminded of the Lord’s blessing to all of us in nature and especially the grace that he has given to my own family.

Blessings,

Michael

In a recent article on Revival Journal, David Copeland of Revival Now Ministries observes:

Amen David. I believe that across America, at least in a lot of ministries that I know of, this is increasingly true in 2008.

I know this is the case at Vineyard CC Laguna Niguel, CA. More and more folks are being healed. Heard a few visitors say last Sunday: " We couldn’t fly to Lakeland but we heard that something was going on here also".

At the beginning of the month we sponsored a prophetic conference by John Paul Jackson, it was supposed to be about prophecy and interpreting dreams and visions but God had different plans. Soon a bunch of people started getting healed of all sorts of things that they have been prayed for in the past with little or no results and the whole conference became as much about healing as anything else.

Our pastor, Mike Hudgins at the beginning of the year told the congregation that he believed that the Lord told him in November that 2008 would see healing released in a new and special way–and that was way before Lakeland.

I also recently corresponded with JC Smith and he also is seeing an increase in healing in his ministry where ever he goes. It will be interesting to see where this goes and how it spreads.

2 months ago, our pastor was coming back from a conference in India that he conducted with a team from our ministry school, he oversees 300-400 churches in Southeast Asia including 70+ in India. 50,000 attended the services and nearly 20,000 came to Christ, all sorts of diseases were healed, and the blind began to see. Everyone the team laid their hands on were healed. On the plane back to California, the Lord told Pastor Mike that soon he was going to release healing like that in America. A couple of weeks later it all started in Lakeland, praise God!

Since then in Laguna Niguel, we have seen an increase in healing and folks are coming to Christ at every service. The church is growing and the Holy Spirit is hovering over the services. Also, the 24 hour prayer room is busy all the time. I can’t use the ‘R’ word yet,  but it is close and it is marvelous!

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