The so-called “Lakeland Revival” or “Lakeland Outpouring” has produced a new Charismatic cult of dogmatic religious zealots, who claim to be “Christians” birthing a “new form” of Christianity. They speak Christian lexicon—the words, phrases, idioms, expressions associated with Christianity—but their doctrine, or teaching, their theology, their ways, the values and culture they advocate and promote are all far from comporting with orthodox or genuine Christianity.
Plain and simple, this whole phenomenon is nothing but just another of the long list of “Christian cults” that have sprung up in church history. To the discerning and experienced, the signs of cultism are all there—glowing and flashing like a neon sign. And, cultism is, in effect, synonymous with the occult. Thus, there is no such a thing as an innocuous cult, because all cults are ensconced in the occult, and usually in a plurality of ways.
The Bible informs us that Satan, formerly named, Lucifer, before his rebellion and consequential expulsion from Heaven, is the craftiest and the most subtle of all the creatures God created. He is the master-deceiver, who possesses supernatural abilities for deception. Mere humans, especially unredeemed humans, are no match for angelic beings, of which creational-class are Satan and his fallen cohorts. Satan himself, was one of the arch-angels, the highest echelon of angelic order, which resulted in him possessing supernatural power that, in his apostasy and rebellion, he now uses for evil and destruction. Thus, to the uninformed, naïve, and carnally-minded, cultism and even what is blatantly occult, is often difficult to detect or discern. But, not to the Spirit-led, Spirit-infused, Spirit-Baptized, and Spirit-taught. To them, the truly “spiritual,” cultism and the occult are as blatantly obvious as the proverbial nose on their face. They can spot it a proverbial mile away. When “deceiving spirits” are afoot and at work, their spiritual antennae go up, their internal spiritual radar begins scouring the atmosphere, and the Holy Spirit within their human spirit sounds the alarm like a reverberating air-horn, declaring, “Something is not right here; this is NOT OF GOD, but is the work of the Deceiver!”
Such is the case with this latest of occult “Charismatic” cults—”The Lakeland Healing Revival” or “Lakeland Outpouring,” whichever title you prefer. The spiritually-discerning are not the least bit deceived or even for a moment disconcerted by this phenomenon, but rather immediately know without a shadow of a doubt it is a counterfeit, no matter how many purported miracles and decisions are reported. The true and infallible test of the workings of the Holy Spirit is inward workings of transformed hearts, repentance, and sanctification, not signs and wonders affecting the outward and physical. Regardless, the fact remains that those who worship in (Holy) Spirit AND TRUTH are still the TRUE worshipers that the Father seeks (Jn. 4:23,24). Satan, the prince of the power of the air, is able to exercise supernatural power on the earth affecting the outward and physical, but he is powerless to perform the inner workings of the heart. Genuine salvation and having relationship with God is a heart matter, not a soulish or fleshly matter. The Holy Spirit and the Truth (Word, Jesus) ALWAYS agree; they are never contradictory of one another. Operating in spiritual power, even if it is the Holy Spirit, is only one-half of the requirements of being recognized by God as being “true worshipers” who are engaged in true worship. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln’s famous quote, “You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool GOD ANYTIME!” And He is the ultimate judge, whose “opinion,” judgment or assessment, is the only one that ultimately counts!
Make no mistake about it, Todd Bentley, and all of the acclaimed leaders who have now allied and aligned themselves and their ministries with him and his ministry, including the elitist International Coalition of Apostles, led by C. Peter Wagner, have birthed and christened a CULT of religious ragers and ravers, complete with their Harley-Davidson-like culture of hedonism and copious body-tattoos and -piercings. So now, in true fashion of all cults, the cult’s leaders are now “training” and “commissioning” any and all of their adherents following their pied-piper lead down the path they have forged to worship of false gods and the demons behind them as “street-evangelists” to go out anywhere and everywhere to “evangelize” and “proselytize” the “unbelieving” with their deviant brand of “Christianity” with all its cultural distinctives and peculiarities.
These are the “new Charismatic Hare-Krishnas” going out into the highways and byways compelling (button-holing, strong-arming, demanding, commanding, and in some cases physically assaulting) the infidels to come into their new found cult and the “kingdom of the cults.” Like all cults, the leaders of the Bentley Bangers, are indoctrinating their followers with the tenet that to validate their “conversion” and “commitment” to the “cause,” they must go out and spread the word to the uttermost parts of the earth. Churches and the new universal church, the Internet, are being invaded and pervaded with the new cult’s “evangelists” declaring to Christians and non-Christians alike that this is the “new” God-approved “Way,” and if you don’t accept and approve of this “move of God” and all its weirdo ways, cultish and counter-cultural conduct, anti-biblical teachings, and occult practices, then you just can’t be a genuine Christian, nor can you be of God. For after all, this is “THE new thing” God is doing, and if you were of God, you’d be on the bandwagon waving the banners and declaring your allegiance to this “new god” of “revivalism.” (more…)
