as with many things, scripture is not completely cut and dried on this issue. the greek word 'swn' (pronounced sozo) tends to be used for a number of activities and effects of the holy spirit, and the way he invades people's lives with his restorative power. sozo can mean to save, to heal, to deliver, to restore, to make whole, to cure, to bring salvation - you name it, this does it. if we could develop a product for the marketplace that would sort everything out - sooth your aching bones, take away your cigarette addiction, reconcile your family, help you find peace with your maker, etc etc - we would call it 'sozo'. it's all a bit of a blur, as one healing balm merges into another, from the pharmacy of heaven. it's an explosion of goodness. that's basically what we need in our church services, our homes, our communities, our cities, our nations. 'sozo' cleans whiter than white!

I think we can all agree that this topic has nothing to do with nationality. It seems to me, rather, a matter of being a discerning child of God. Time will indeed reveal our works to be “gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw”, but we have God’s timeless Word now – so let’s remain as objective as we can, “testing the spirits”, “examining ourselves”, and “being watchful”, so that we’re not lead astray and lead others into error, discrediting the name of Christ, if that were possible.

If I had the gift of healing - I don’t, so don’t make any travel plans to see me! ;) - I would certainly be careful to administer it in the way that we see, for example, Peter and John administer it in Acts chapter 3. The pattern set consistently in the New Testament ties healing closely and consistently with the proclamation of the gospel/good news of the Kingdom (cf. Matthew 4:23, 9:35; Luke 9:6). Notice that a physical healing does not guarantee that an individual will praise God as a result – see the 10 lepers in Luke’s gospel.

Jesus makes it clear in John 14:11 that the purpose of miracles is to provide evidence that He and the Father are One, and that “by believing, you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31) Let’s face it though, Jesus reminds us in Luke 16:31 that “…if they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” Physical healing of our temporal bodies is not the ultimate result of the work of Christ – eternal life in fellowship with Him is the ultimate result! Don’t forget about Paul’s thorn in the flesh! We are reminded through Paul’s experience that “[God’s] grace is sufficient for [us], for [God’s] power is made perfect in weakness.” Just ask anyone who continues to serve faithfully in the ministry of reconciliation to which we have been called, despite their afflictions!

Again, the result of physical healing, if God grants it, is temporal well-being, but the result of a faithful and obedient response to the proclamation of the gospel is eternal life! My prayer is that I would learn to properly use any gift that I receive to magnify the Lord Jesus!

May the gospel be faithfully proclaimed, to God’s eternal glory, in Lakeland, Jena, London, Myanmar, China, etc. whether temporal physical healings occur or not! Lord Jesus, we love You above all else!

For what it's worth, I don't subscribe to any 'anti-american' approach. I would never view Lakeland or Pensacola in that way. And if you read some of the historical accounts of Brit-based revivals, you will find things that will make you bristle with holy anger. I know I have! I see imperfections wherever I look, but that doesn't stop me being awestruck at the way God shines through his dusty and dented, living sculptures (ie humanity). May I be indulgent and quote from one of today's greatest living poets?

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

(Anthem, by Leonard Cohen)

OK .. I'll break my rule and do one more... When I first heard of the meetings in Lakeland I was excited that there were so many people flocking to experience some form (any form) of tangible outbreak and interest in what God is doing (right or wrong, time will tell). My reaction (I apologize for making it personal) was more toward the underlying, unspoken suspect of all things American. If this had happened in some small village outside of London we might be discussing this from a different perspective. In the last move I watched mans tradition, marketing ploys, ego and cares of this life slowly kill the immediate effects of that move. However, history alone will tell the lasting effects of the river move. Some things can't be measured geographically. Your perspective is just as valuable as anyones. When you are an American mystic (thank you Clive for helping define myself... I needed that) the battle I face trying to keep an Eastern Biblical perspective in an American "can do" society is sometimes overwhelming. I have much more in common with the Britsh mindset on so many issues and have learned so much from my brothers across the pond. The constant frustration is what we discussed earlier with the much needed Bridge between the U.S. and Britain being viewed (not always) as a one way bridge from both sides. I look forward to the time we can sit down with a latte (or a pint) and discuss the joyful future of an emerging kingdom. Blessings ya'll

Rohn I seemed to have provoked in you quite a reaction. My intention is not to irritate or anger you. I guess if we were to do as Clive suggests (i.e discuss this over a latte) we would realise that we are not a million miles apart.
If I sound judgemental I am sorry and really don't mean to be.
Perhaps it might help to explain my previous posting is not referring to those who seek Christ for healing becuase they are desperate. I am thinking much more of Christians (some of whom I know) who will fly out there just to see or experience what God is doing. As I said previosuly there is nothing intrinsically wrong with this but that we should check out our own motivation for our preoccupation with this. As you say we are not in a position to judge others but there is a difference between this and assessing trends-thus my comments about hype following. On refelctin this a bit strong but similar outpourings in the recent past (last 25 years) have had similar effects among Christians with no lasting impact that can be described as revival as I understand it (but perhaps not others) Once again I am truly sorry for irritating you and for that reason like I shall finish with this forum too (perhaps except for one more visit without posting.

Christ is being preached. Maybe not always to my specification, nor according to my frame of reference. And in a strange way, that helps me to grow, too. And I'll chat forever - it's a shame it's not over a latte!

Well I am about done on this subject. I think we have covered all sides and back again. I have enjoyed most of it. i am still amazed at how quick we are to judge the motivation of every person seeking a miracle in this florida thang.. As I said earlier Spiritual contemplation would have left the woman with an issue of blood still owning here issue. When you are desperate... you will jump (or push through a contemplative crowd) at any chance to be healed. God looks on the heart and it is none of our business to judge why anybody does anything except ourselves. What did you call it? The hype-following? That is cetainly not our place to judge their personal motivations for going to Florida. no matter how wonderfully He is at work? If you need healing you will run (not walk) to any sign of His presence if you are hungry enough. I am glad that so many have such a wide grasp of personal access to God. You said "We who are born of the spirit should discern our motivation for chasing after God in this way" That is exactly my point. Discern for yourselves not those people thousands of miles away. Your personal position is exactly that. I have seen more unbelievers healed than believers. What was their motivation if not soulish curiosity. Their spirit was still dead at the time. Why is it so difficult to walk in love towards these people and expect the best instead of always being wary of something. We are truly in danger of missing the real deal if we continue to walk this path judging everyone elses intentions of the heart. We don't want to call it revival but all the references are to pentecost (by the way... if you don't think that mighty winds, tongues of fire, stumbling into the streets like drunk men and speaking in every mans language from all over the world isn't a sign and wonder and a miracle... I don't know what is.)Welch revival etc. as references. The word salvation literally means wholeness, deliverance, prosperity and salvation. Not just saved from Hell. Anyway... peace to you all and I look forward to more discussions in the future (on other subjects).

It's good to read how this debate keeps going. I've got to say that I am totally with Anthony. I am a bit wary of chasing after God through particular preachers in particualar places.
I love the reminder of the Cistercians and more recent folks who walk in comtemplative spirituality (eg Thomas Merton, Brother Lawrence or Frank Labauch). In contrast there does seem to be a trend (in keeping with postmodernism in the church)of chasing after God for miracles in specific places through particular preachers. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with this but at the risk of repeating things our motivation and focus is all important. I say this not as a cynic but as someone who has been healed at least twice (meidcally confirmed) and dramatically released of demonic oppression/possession when I first began seeking Jesus. I am merely looking at this from the perspective that revival speaks to me of whole communities being reached and not just those who are churched or attend a particular place- just like Pentecost or the Welsh Irish or Scottish Revivals or the changing of English moral and spiritual climate through folks such as the Welsleys and Whitefield. Or to put it another way, the tearing of the temple curtain was certainly to demonstrate the access we have to Father God in the holy of holies through the sacrifice of Jesus but it also seems to herald the releasing of the Holy Spirit of God in an increased measure than ever before. Thus my difficulty with the hype-following of people and to places in the hope of catching what He is doing. I like Anthony's reminder that Jesus is always present. I like also Rohn's point about passion- so true. I guess my only concern here is that there is a world of a difference (literally this world and the kingdom of God) between passion born of the Spirit of God and that driven by our own 'soulish' determination or curiosity. We who are born of the spirit should discern our motivation for chasing after God in this way, no matter how wonderfully he is at work, simply because to chase after miracles or an experience of God as an end in themsleves I fear is to say to Jesus 'your promise to be always with me is not quite enough.'

I've been thinking about this today. The Cistercians have an emphasis on 'continuous conversion', and it is easy to forget the process of salvation amid the enthusiasm to see people make first-time decisions to follow Christ. That ongoing pattern of change may happen in various ways - through the fiery furnace of experience or the glowing embers of quiet contemplation - or several stages in between. In one word - discipleship! We are called to it, and we should get on with it. Disciples make a difference.

We learn in Isaiah 14 that the first created being to be kicked out of heaven was Lucifer - at the "time" a worship leader. As a worship leader, I should be aware of the dangers I face, namely falling into the sin of pride...

When I hear of the revival in Lakeland, I struggle to see how what is happening/has happened there measures up to the guidelines for healing given to us in James chapter 5. The healing of believers is treated as a normal occurrance within the household of faith; no fanfare, sensationalism, or hype.

As far as rejoicing in the Lord, we have a command from Paul in Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" So, this, too, should be a normal occurance within the household of faith.

I know we all struggle with various trials, and we all desire to draw closer to the Lord, experiencing His power and presence. Remember, He's always with us, and we have the gospel message - "...the power of God for the salvation of all who believe..."! Clive makes an excellent point - our lives should be a witness to the gospel for those who desire deliverance from sin and death. Lord Jesus, teach me to worship You in spirit and in truth!

I don't think we are veering away from that. The best advert for the gospel is a changed life. So if people around me can see that I am being changed, they will wonder what is causing that. Our job is to keep giving those people something to think about.

The Day of Pentecost was a revival, right? What miracle was performed on that day? The bold proclamation of the gospel, overcoming the language barriers by the power of the Holy Spirit, resulting in the salvation of three thousand souls!

Another concern - while we in the church seek after healings, miracles, signs, wonders, and moving worship services to encourage us in our walk with Jesus, the lost are perishing in their sins!

I like to tie in what Jesus says in John 20:21 (not to mention Matthew 28:16-20) with the concept of the "elect" - those God foreknew (God knows the beginning from the end!), predestined (God promised from the beginning, and provided through Lord Jesus, the only Way of salvation!), called (we have to willingly answer that call!), justified (we have to willingly receive the gift of forgiveness!), glorified (we have to willingly allow God to work in us!) we read about in Romans 8. Clearly, we are not elect to indulge ourselves in the joys of our own salvation - we are elect to proclaim the truth in love - the good news of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, in all we say and do!

John 3:16

I must admit, I am drawn to the idea of distracting Christ with our need and our passion. I must look into that.

wow... I can see that a forum topic this long runs the risk of repetition because we end up discussing issues already discussed. We all know revival is not a biblical word... neither is computer or toilet but we use them both. now we are on to the sovereignty of a move of God. Of course God can move at will. No one is saying any different. But the woman with the issue of blood proves that our desperateness and hunger draws from, and alters the plan. Jesus plan was to move on but a mini healing revival happened when someone pulled miracle working power from Christ. God responds to passion and hunger... not how many hours we log in prayer or worship or community service. Those things are a result of holy hunger and passionate love for Christ not just dutiful habits. In the book of Acts each power move of God happened by an experiential miracle first and then came the building of a community church. Signs, wonders and miracles are the stamp of authenticity on the preached word so whenever we see something like Lakeland happen we should be less skeptical and more hopeful. After all, hope is joyful expectation. The last thing I want to see is a move of God dry up and have to hear the cynic repeat those words "see... I told you so".

I agree. It is exciting to read of past revivals - eg in Wales, Northern Ireland, the Hebrides, etc - and to hear of regionalised awakenings currently underway. Anglican vicar Sandy Millar, who knows from experience what a renewal movement can do to a church, once told me that we are always on safe ground to pray for revival. But we all have different expectations of that. We should get on with the business of shining - and maybe that light will be enough to ignite a fire or two.

Very interesting to read your comments on this. It strikes me that we have to give some thought to two questions. How do we define revival and what is the Church's focus in all of this.

re. Definition. Revival is not a Biblical word and therefore difficult to define so I shall not try. Except to say that it is clearly a sovereign work of God that we cannot manipulate or make happen. It is clear too that God's heart is for all nations -every tribe nad tongue to know him and therefore as Noel suggested God's heart is to bless the whole community.
No doubt those who experience God at work in their lives will have some impact because of the work of the Holy Spirit. This is not the same as God sovereingly working in whole communities and changing the spiritual, moral and social climate of the day. This is what happened in true revivals of the past. It is equally wrong to expect God to work just as he has in the past. However He is unchanging (James 1) and therefore his motivation is still to see his gospel proclaimed and works of sovereign power visible among all nations which includes our immediate communities. Amen to whoever spoke about not waiting but to get on with the task at hand which is evengelism, social action and worship 24/7 in every detail of our lives.
Re. Focus. There appears to be many potential focusses in all of this. Good television or entertainment/getting to where God is at/ wow! look what God is doing in our area/desire to meet with God and experience all that he has for us and so on.
No matter what our perspective, vantagepoint or proximity to Lakeland our focus has got to be centred on Jesus. If we allow our focus to shift we run the risk of merely being consumers of Christianity or mere hearers/experiencers' of the word and not do-ers or at worst making what God is doing an end in itself which is or results in idolatry. All that the Spirit of God does is for the purpose of bringing glory to Jesus and Father God.
Heavy stuff I know and I don't in anyway want to be negative becuase where God is at work we must rejoice. I guess even moves of God in recent times have taught me that it is vital not to become pre-occupied with anythign other than him and his glory. In all of this let's guard our hearts and maintain a holy desire to bring honour and glory to Jesus.

Wow. We are really opening up some big subjects here. A few years ago, I was interviewing Ray Simpson, who lives on the holy island of Lindisfarne. He tends to be one of those wise kind of blokes. I asked him, how do we prevent ourselves from going off the rails? How do we hold the main road of faith? He said the key thing that will help us is following a strictly trinitarian faith. Keep the whole of the Godhead in focus - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and generally we can't go wrong. I know that sounds simplistic, but I like to keep things simple. Keep the main thing, the main thing.

one more point Anthony. You touched on the deception of the elect that is in itself another huge forum topic. I am with you on that one! i believe that the spirit of lawlessness is in full swing as we speak. I prayed about this in depth (so as not to be caught up in it.) and this is what I got. If we have ANY alternative agendas or we draw our strength, our pleasure, our comfort, from any other source but Jesus... then we are a candidate to be drawn away by the spirit of Lawlessness. If personal recognition clouds our will we are in danger. Simply put, if we can be drawn away... we will be drawn away. The mind blowing part of this is that God Himself is the initiator of it all.

I hope I didn't come across too confrontational because i am passionate on this subject. I think that is what i am trying to say. Passion is the key to winning this world. If I hurt i cry. If I am mad i yell. If I am joyful laughter surfaces. When we are delivered from the captor our mouths are filled with laughter. Anything that is not subject to the Holy Spirit comes out flesh. Our emotional responses to the Holy Spirit, by the HS, thru the HS are never wrong. Joy most definately has an emotional expression. it differs as our personalities differ but emotional it is. Religion has forced an inacurate perception of joy that excuses our lack of passion to the point that this generation wants nothing to do with it or us. so much of the time we tend not to validate a move of God until it happens to us. It happened in America recently. A certain denomination would not validate an obvious move of God until it happened to their denom. Then they claimed ownership and tried to instruct people how to do IT. it is silly at best. I prefer to be like Paul who said "if we err we will err on the side of freedom". I love you all and appreciate the opportunity to express my heart in such a way that is devoid of judgement. Having spent time with Noel and Clive I understand their heart in these matters and am thankful for their expression which always challenges me to dig deeper.

Good points, Rohn! I'm not denying emotions - even Jesus experienced them. They're a defining characteristic of being human. I often think of how joyfully David danced before the Ark of the Covenant. But is joy an emotion? Paul lists it as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). In Acts 5, the apostles rejoiced after suffering disgrace for the Name.

For what it's worth, my concern is that if I lack discernment, I'll be carried away by my emotions. Let's remember the warnings Jesus gives us in Matthew 24:24 about the "great signs and miracles" that will be preformed in these last days "to deceive even the elect - if that were possible."

We have joy in spite of our circumstances; we experience emotions because of our circumstances.

Yes. Rohn. We Brits are very good at downplaying emotions! Sorry about that. We are learning. The point is just to make sure our anchor is in the rock of Christ, not the boggy sand of feelings. But we should still enjoy the liberty of being emotional beings. I remember when I was a young child, if I fell over in the yard, I would just pick myself up, have a giggle, and then get on with playing. I would like to get back to that attitude in my faith. Too many times, we fall and we stay down in our misery, instead of laughing at ourselves and pressing on. Laughter is a key to freedom. And if you are saved from hell - both temporal and eternal - that is something to celebrate. Maybe we are still looking over our shoulder, just in case our laughter might be stifled. But Jesus is our song in the night.

OK i understand all the emotional downplay... But the purpose of God's manifest presence is only conviction to the unbeliever. It is and always will be the goodness of God that draws men to repentance. The word repentance is not conviction. Repentance simply mean to "change the way you think". Jesus came to convict the WORLD of sin (the sin of the new testament is unbelief. John 16:8-11)of righteousness (we have been made the righteousness of God) and judgement (because satan has been judged). All of these produce joy in the hearers ears. I can promise you if the presence of God shows up it will effect your emotions. why? because emotion doesn't come from our mind. Whenever Jesus touched someone it was followed by dancing, leaping and praises. Don't be so quick to dismiss emotional response. It seems that the only emotion sanctioned by the church as a whole has been tears. When someone crys we think " oh isn't that sweet, God must be touching them." But the Bible says that in His presence there is fullness of joy and at His right hand (where we are seated with Christ) pleasures forever more. I don't know about you but I could use a little less stoicism and more joy. Joy is what this pomo world is looking for and it is Jesus' joy that strengthens. When God showed up in Acts it said there was GREAT joy in that entire city. Sure there are always those whose emotional responses are OTT (over the top) but you don't know what God is delivering them from. The more deliverance from the realm of darkness... the more emotional response. Give me a relationship with joy and laughter instead of tears and mind games. If we don't enJOY ourselves in the true freedom of His grace then we don't have anything of value to share. Healing brings joy. Deliverance brings joy. Prospering brings joy. Salvation brings joy. By the way... all of those words are the actual definition of salvation... Not just saving us from Hell. I know... I know... there goes that American again.

You've opened up a massive well there! The miraculous is at the core of our faith. But emotions come and go. Sometimes faith and feelings collide, sometimes they don't. The Christian mystic Bernard of Clairvaux said that love is in the will. It's not sentiment - it's the centre of our freedom. I like that. My love for God is not a faint stirring in my heart - that might happen, of course - but it's more about bringing my will in line with his. Then I am truly 'in love'.

Thanks, Clive – praise God. I may be “wearing out my welcome” on this topic, however, I’d like to share a few more thoughts. Emotions are not a reliable indication of God’s presence; conviction is. Again, He’s already promised in His Word that He is always with His children – those who have received the Lord Jesus by faith and are sealed by the Holy Spirit. So we should exercise our faith, not our emotions, rejoicing in His promises and praising His great deeds.

As Noel and Starlene mentioned earlier, salvation is the greatest miracle. I should not be surprised by miraculous healings; after all, God raises the dead! (cf. Acts 26:8) Even if our mortal bodies are healed of some affliction, we’ll grow old and return to dust. Salvation is the “…one thing that is needed.” Like Mary, let’s choose “what is better, and it will not be taken away…” (Luke 10:42) Miracles should be used to affirm the Gospel message (cf. John 20:31), which is itself “…the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...” (cf. Romans 1:16).

Jesus asks a good question in Luke 18:8b: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” I’m certain there’ll be no shortage of emotions!

I like that, Anthony. Thanks for the insights.

Thanks for the discussion on this important topic!

When we find ourselves seeking a “visitation” from God, are we forgetting that Jesus has promised to be with us ‘even to the end of the age’; that ‘where two or three gather together in [Jesus’] name, there [He is] with them’; that our very bodies are ‘temples of the Holy Spirit’?

Besides, I can’t think of any biblical precedent that validates the expectation of having a euphoric emotional experience whenever God manifests His presence. On the contrary, every time a person after God’s own heart was confronted with God’s presence, fear, trembling, awe, the loss of ability to speak and stand, the realization of their sinfulness, etc., were usually among the things they experienced.

But now we have from Hebrews, chapter 12:
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear." 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire."

Emotions may flow from gaining a deeper understanding of God’s revelation to us, but if emotional euphoria is what we primarily desire, we are in danger of “building on the sand” by setting our minds on the flesh instead of “building on the Rock” by setting our minds on the things of the Spirit.

We are all joined together by the one Spirit, and the need to engage with him - however that is expressed - whether in the wild abandonment of a revival meeting or in the deep silence of biblical meditation.

I guess many people in the USA and UK are glued to their TV sets each evening, watching the Revival in Florida'. It is wonderful to hear of the stories of healing and all the good stuff that is happening there. God is doing something unique in Lakeland. It is dramatic and powerful.

However, as I was reading a message from fellow WJ contributor Clive Price, I felt I needed to write something. He has been at a monastic retreat in Wales, with the monks of Caldey Island. He was telling me how they receive prayer requests from around the world. The place is a key location of intercession. You may never hear about it on GOD TV, it is not sensational and dramatic, yet I sensed that God is doing something powerful through these simple prayer warriors.

With our mind sets, do we give too much attention to the latest 'big thing' that God is doing in the Western world? Do we forget that God is at work all over this world right now in small towns and cities? What is God doing in China and India, I wonder?

Let's be thankful for all that is happening in Lakeland but I am not sure that it is the only thing on God's agenda. He is still at work among our friends, family and where we live.

My unsaved neighbours know nothing of and care even less about, a revival in Florida. But they are looking for me to make the love and Gospel of Christ real to them. If I can love my neighbour as Christ loved me, maybe I will begin to see a 'revival' in Cobham.

That is a huge challenge!!

I am looking at the 'moral mysticism' of the old saints, and wondering if that might be what we need right now. Outside the cloisters of the wider church, lies a world that is experimenting with all sorts of ideologies, often without boundaries. It is a perilous path. But what if we offered them a spirituality that is truly liberating, so long as it is practised within life-affirming parameters? It will probably mean having to look hard at what we do, how we do it, and what we can afford to do without. For the sake of the future, we might need to rescue our past.

1Corinthians 12:31, 13:13 "...eagerly desire the greater gifts... ...And now these three remain: faith hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Nice one Rohn.....

Spoken like a true mystic!

We keep looking outward for a visitation that is truly inward. God doesn't just "show up" although we say it that way. God is accessed from the supernatural download resident in the hearts of the believers. So we need each other now more than ever. The "rest of God" is the same as used in Genesis when God rested on the 7th day. He didn't rest because He was tired. He rested because He was done, through, finished. We must enter into THAT kind of rest where we are finished with our own works and move into the grace of God already living in us. That grace is manifested in love. That love will ignite in us causing supernatural expressions that change our world.

Some of the Christian mystics would say that we attract those visitations by love. I wonder if we truly loved, would the unexplainable happen?

Holy Ghost interuption... that is it isn't it! so many times we want change as long as we don't have to change too much ourselves. Great question! Am I ready for that interuption? To quote a song... "Interupted by Your Spirit... I'm intoxicated in it... I let go and rest in your and I find Joy." In all our striving (as we tend to do), we should only strive to enter into His rest. Isn't that what our communities (our people groups) really want? To find that place of rest in the freedom of a non performance reality? Where their lives can stand for something other than ourselves? and it's real. I am convinced that the supernatural interuption of the Holy Spirit is the best evangelical tool in the toolbox.

Revival is a word that we use for our benefit. We like to describe an event as such, so that it confirms something we have yearned for. There is nothing wrong with that. Going back to the 1904 Welsh Revival, that awakening did not fill empty churches. The chapels were already full. It was the fire that was missing.

Great to hear what Anthony is experiencing locally. Maybe what is happening in Florida, is causing people to cry out for their own churches and their towns and cities, once again. At the risk of sounding controversial, I heard somebody say once, that we have become so good at doing church meetings/worship, that if God didn't show up, we would carry on and not notice he was absent. The Florida happening, is a case of God being in the room and it can no longer be 'business as usual'. If I say 'Come Holy Spirit' and I prepared for the Godly disruption He will cause?

I agree with Noel on the issue of the word revival, however being mere mortals we can't see the long term effects or can we know whether it will fade or explode into an awakening that will sweep the world. In either case it is just symantics. I wrote a song a few years back called Revival Revolution. I shelved it because of the term revival. I tried to replace it with other words and ended up just walking away from it. Until recently... We have an old saying here in Texas.. "If it ain't broke don't fix it". I think now that the word revolution is so opposite the word revival that it says it all. Larry Norman once said "Rock and Roll may not be dead but it's getting sick" In the same way i don't believe that the Church is dead but is in dire need of a fresh breath of the supernatural life of God. Thus in many cases revival is exactly what we need to jumpstart this deal and move forward with passion. no matter how much we want or need to influence our communities, we can't take them where we haven't been nor can we give them what we don't have. Words alone won't function in this experientially motivated culture. If you look at the book of Acts each time they experienced the power of God and then wanted to recieve it. Now thats what I am talking about!

In its literal sense of course, revival simply means 'bringing back life.' The church in the West certainly needs that. This last few days we've had a woman healed of ME, a man with an abscess in his jaw healed, and various others. This seems to me to be God coming to the church, and if God comes to the church, people end up coming too! The ongoing benefits on communities etc cannot be assessed while it's happening but only in retrospect (Life has to be lived forwards, but can only be understood backwards - Kierkegaard I think).
Here's a snippet from Mark Stibbe - one of our greatest contemporary evangelical/charismatic theologs who's been e-mailing with me most days as he's over there now. WORSHIP seems to be key in this, as it's most often in the worship and independent of people laying hands on etc that the healngs come...

You could feel the presence of God as you walked into the arena. The worship lasted about two hours. There was a very beautiful phase towards the end where the band just sang Holy, Holy, Holy and the sense of the holiness of God became palpable.

This was followed by some tremendous prophetic words for conditions given by Todd Bentley and the most amazing testimonies of people instantly healed of all kinds of stuff, including tumours, lumps, lameness, arthritis, deafness, etc. It just went on and on. There then followed more miracles and testimonies.

Reflections?

There is something different here from Toronto. The thing that immediately strikes you is the quantity and quality of the healing miracles. These are amazing and at a level I have never seen before. Though not everyone is getting healed many many are. Large numbers in fact, and its total healing not partial, instant not gradual - and in the worship more than in ministry times. In fact, long and lingering worship is the key. The glory comes and
the sick are healed. Musically its far from brilliant, quite raw. But the anointing is so strong!

And I would call it at the moment a Healing Revival. The emphasis is on healing and holiness in my view. And it is very very faith building being in this atmosphere (End quote)

For me, this is what I pray for whenever I sing, Great is the darkness (and it really is when you look at the news)

"Come Lord Jesus, pour out your Spirit we pray..."

Would you say that a true test of revival is the long term impact on communities near and far, after the initial dramatic outpouring has finished? Or is Revival too narrow a word to use in all circumstances?

One theory about the 1904 Welsh Revival is that, rather than fading out, it actually shifted gear and became a missionary movement. Converts from that awakening left these shores and spread the fire elsewhere. The Apostolic Church - a worldwide Pentecostal denomination - emerged from that visitation. That was a mix of 'shock and awe' as well as digging deep with a longer-term vision. Or maybe it just happened that way. We should always aim to unveil the presence of God in our localities, so that people can see him. But that should be linked with a far-reaching vision to project the kingdom into future generations through foundations we are building now. St Columba and his monks would have had no idea that the prayer, study, writing and artwork they were doing on Iona would still be impacting lives 1,500 years later. That's the kind of poets and dreamers we should be.

Throughout church history man has experienced revival, renewal, great awakening or whatever the term a la mode may be, it is, and has been, a move of God that ignites change. In almost every case the blast of the Holy Spirit has been crushed by mans need to control and market it. In each case the glory of God is revealed and people are changed. Communities are nothing more than collectives of people. People who need to be interupted by God. The cares of this life and the distraction it produces has been the culprit in every move. A nameless faceless revival is happening. No amount of guilt over what we haven't done will produce change. No amount of cynicism can stop it either. I welcome every drop of evidence that God is moving. "In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh." Little fires across this world will unite to a blaze of the glory of God that will be His fullness on the Earth. I want it and I am not afraid to swallow my pride and say God if this is real let me be a part of it. We are all hungry for change. Let that change start in me.

I grew up in South wales, in a community that talked about the great Welsh Revival of 1904. This was the 1960s and people were looking back to the wonderful things that had happened more than 60 years previously. I felt that I had been born too late. That I had missed the great outpouring of God's Spirit. (This was a revival where people would be hit by the presence of God in the streets. There was no keyboard playing softly in the background. This was the power of the Gospel impacting people, and lives being changed.)

As a child it seemed to me, that people were simply waiting for Jesus to return. That was the next big event. Revival had come and gone and now we were waiting for and singing about, the imminent return of Christ. More than 40 years later, Jesus Christ has not returned. I do believe Clive, that we must live in the good of what God is doing now in our communities. We must not keep looking back to the good old days. These days are the best - for us. Neither should we keep chasing after the next big Revival, like the donkey chasing the carrot on a stick. Let's embrace Revival when it comes, but let's realise that the transforming power of Christ is in our lives and hearts HERE AND NOW and that we have a duty to this generation, to make them aware of the Gospel.

Transformation is the key word. OK, it's been a trendy thing to talk about, but actually it's foundational. We are all tempted to go for short, sharp, 'shock and awe' Christianity. That can make a big noise and have a lot of impact. And if the fruit tastes good, who can criticise it? But perhaps we are also being challenged to dig deeper these days. Are we in this kingdom business for the really long haul - even if it means we may not receive any credit? Even if it means the next generation sees the fruit, or the generation after that, or the ones who follow them? No one may write about us. We might be utterly despised or, worse still, completely overlooked. But the key question is, are we ready to dig deep, so that future generations can benefit? Transformation from the roots up, rather than from the branches down. I am starting to learn.

Yes...salvation is the greatest miracle. Everyone that Jesus healed and raised from the dead, eventually got sick and died. The lasting miracle is salvation and our eternal relationship with God the Father . Should not the real test of a revival be the impact that takes place in our communities? If this does not happen, the lost will still be lost. The light that transforms us is given, so that we might see others transformed. The blessing we receive must surely be given so that we might bless others.

That is so true ... the greatest miracle of all is salvation! What an incredible time we are living in! I haven't made it to Florida yet, although we are making travel plans, but what is happenning there has already touched my life deeply. By not just watching, but participating in what the Holy Spirit is doing there, I find my faith level rising and a new boldness has come to pray and talk with people wherever I go. God is simply waiting for us to realize who we are in Him and then walk it out. I am so grateful for that breakthrough in my life. Keep coming Holy Spirit, we love you!

All glory to Him when the blind see,
When the mute sing and the lame run free;
But let us rejoice, with the angels above,
When one sinner turns to receive Jesus’ love!

http://opentheword.org/content/view/812/52/

http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/8606.article.print

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=22967&forum=40

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=27777

For a few weeks at our church we've had a sense of a new move of God. We then found out that several churches across Reading have been experiencing the same thing. Praise The Lord! And then we hear about Florida! God is on the move.

As a response we've been rededicating ourselves as a church to unity, prayer and holiness. It would be easy to become a consumer, to watch what is happening on GodTV or YouTube and ask God for His blessings and let it all wash over us as an 'experience'. Instead we want our lives to be changed, for our church to make more of an impact in our community and for our relationship with God to become more intimate than it ever has.

Lord let Your glory fall!

Awesome!!!

I checked Anthony's blog!
This is amazing! - Praise God!

Great stuff, Anthony. Timely, too. Everyone who makes it their goal to worship God in Christ, and who is serious about serving him, is about to get previously unknown opportunities to share their gifts and abilities in the cause of a new spiritual awakening. There is a God-shaped hole in Britain. It's official. Read all about it - http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8208

Just come back from 3 days there. I heard about it on Saturday afternoon, and by Sunday evening I was there with my two daughters - one of whom has experienced a major healing.
The anointing is tangible, the fire's falling - and it's spreading! I believe this is a genuine move of God in great power.
I'll be posting more, but have a look at my blog www.anthonydelaney.com for the first report having just got back this morning.
We are going to start nightly meetings.

Thanks Clive

For an up-to-date report on the Lakeland meetings, have a look at 'Charisma' magazine. You can read a story on their website - www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=17197.

Yes.....when we pray for God to move...he may not move in quite the way we expect.

It seems that where there is an intensity of spiritual experience in a particular town or region, it has often started with a small number of the 'nameless and faceless' who have had a deep yearning for such an event. We are following a tradition of church history to pray for these breakthroughs. 'Come, Holy Spirit' can be a simple but effective prayer. Warning: the outcome may be messy.

Let's continually seek the presence of God. A 'visitation' such as Florida is great but we also need to see our church communities as places that are enjoying the ongoing 'habitation' or presence of God.

Yes - we need to open up the old wells of revival in Britain and Ireland. And dig a few new ones, too!

Hey everyone

Dunno if people know, but God is moving in an amazing way in Lakeland florida!

It's live on God.tv each day

or check out www.freshfire.ca

The Fire of God is coming!!!!!

I have been changed and inspired so much! just by watching the meetings on the TV.

I encourage you to check it!

Wow!!!! God is moving!!!!

Let it come to the UK!!!!