![]() From time to time we hear about spiritual movements breaking out in various places. We wonder if the reports are true or if they are someone’s embellishment of a simple fact. In the month of June 08 I heard about one such movement. After preaching one Sunday morning in a local church a middle-aged couple asked me if I had heard about the revival taking place in Lakeland, Florida. I admitted that I had not heard anything. The wife shared with me her thoughts on their personal experience. Later that week I began to do an internet search for the “Lakeland Revival”. After reading several accounts and watching youtube.com videos, it did not take long to develop serious concerns about the excesses of the movement. Many people are hungry to experience an authentic move of God but unfortunately are unable to discern God’s hand in action. This multi-part series recognizes the great need for an authentic move of God’s Spirit. We need a deep, live-changing, fresh encounter with God. At the same time, this series identifies clear-cut biblical parameters of such a movement. The main purpose of this multi-part series is to give specific ways in which we as believers can discern where God is at work. Not one of the biblical guidelines, in this and following editions of the newsletter, are based on emotions, feelings, an individuals stage presence or visions, dreams, or special messages from angels. Each guideline is based on Scripture. When judging spiritual movements we should always look for specific spiritual fruit. The following is a list of a few types of fruit that should be present in any movement of God. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Jesus stated, “each tree is known by its own fruit” Luke 6:44. Let’s look at some biblical fruit and wisely discern modern day spiritual movements. 1. True movements of God will always have the fruit of exalting Jesus. In other words, it is Christ-centered. John 16:13-15 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” Jesus said, “He (the Spirit) will glorify me . . .” The Holy Spirit will always glorify Jesus. He will always lift him up and draw all peoples to Jesus. Occasionally some sects of Christendom say that the Holy Spirit is not honored sufficiently by other present day christians. Yet, if Jesus is given the proper emphasis, the Holy Spirit is being honored. Others have shed light on this:
In Acts 2 when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, the central theme of his message was the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The events of that day fulfilled Jesus’ words in John 16. The Spirit of God filled the 120 people in the upper room. Then Peter preached under the power of the Holy Spirit. What was the message that the Spirit of God anointed that day? The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The Spirit of God did just as Jesus had said, He (the Spirit) glorified Jesus, not Himself. In Acts 8 Philip went to Samaria and a great movement of the Spirit of God took place. The Holy Spirit worked miracles through Philip. “The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was much rejoicing in that city.” Acts 8:6-8 The Holy Spirit was working, but look at the emphasis in verse 12: “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women.” The emphasis of verse 12 is not on the Holy Spirit but on the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ. Present day movements frequently focus more on various spiritual manifestations than on Jesus Christ. A true movement of God will be Christ-centered. Think of this fruit and consider the ministry of Billy Graham, Luis Palau, or anyone else. Also consider the Lakeland Revival, the Brownsville Revival, the laughing movement with Rodney Howard-Browne, the Toronto Blessing, etc. in relation to the true fruit of being Christ-centered. Whether a movement focuses on spiritual manifestations, someone’s dreams or visions, messages from angels, a charming personality, or a dynamic stage presence, we would do well to remember the words of John, “believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because 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, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3
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