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26 |
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: |
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27 |
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; |
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28 |
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: |
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29 |
That no flesh should glory in his presence. |
1Corinthians 1:26-29
My wife and I attended the mass media revival in Lakeland, FL July 24 and 25, 2008. We have been watching it on TV (GodTV on DirecTV channel 365) and on the Internet since late April when we first heard about it. We happened to watch channel 365 and saw what was going on.
To most Christians the revival in Lakeland might seem a bit odd, but to my wife and I it did revive and encourage us. Some Christians do not believe as we do, for we are Pentecostals filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire. We converted to Pentecostal about four years ago. I had been raised Baptist, and she had been raised Nazarene. Before someone gets the wrong idea, I am not condemning Baptists and Nazarenes. We feel God called us to become Pentecostals. The book of Acts and much of the New Testament influenced us to make the change into full gospel Christians.
We went to the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport where a huge tent seating ten thousand was set up. Both nights the tent was a little more than half full. A casual observer would think that the tent not being filled to capacity means one thing or another. However, that would be the wrong impression. People are fanning out to spread the fire of revival here in America. The presence of the Lord was very strong. I went there expecting the Lord to heal my severe varicose veins. Donna went there anticipating Jesus would heal her back and remove the reproach of infertility. We also expected to hear Todd Bentley and Roy Fields, but they were ministering in other places. What we received from God was much more than that.
On Thursday the twenty fourth Eli Miller brought the Word about being free from past emotional trauma. He preached a powerful message from Acts 12 where the Apostle Peter’s chains fell off in prison, but he was yet to be totally free. Eli talked about people who are delivered from various sins and afflictions but are still in a victim mindset. We had arrived a little late, so we had to sit in the overflow tent. We did not go to be on TV, but I was thinking to myself that we were behind the cameras and would not be on TV. I heard God speak into my spirit, “I know where you are.”
Friday we traveled on to Ignited church for power evangelism training with Jeff Lewis. The morning service ran a little over, so we sat and listened to Shirley Arnold talk about the John the Baptist anointing. My wife and I have been struggling with losing a child. I did not know how to let it go. I have been asking God to help. While Ms. Arnold spoke, I saw in my spirit open hands with palms up and a white dove perched in the hands. Then the hands threw the dove outward, and it was gone. That was the extent of the vision. I interpreted that to mean that God had given me peace. He wants me to let His peace that He gave me go into the world. I am to be a peacemaker. The vision was also a sign of things to follow.
If you want to take power evangelism training with Jeff Lewis, go to http://www.citytaker.com . I was impressed at how powerful the short course is. You can release faith in the marketplace, streets, jails, hospitals, your workplace, and everywhere you go. People need to be healed for sure and definitely given an opportunity to live for Jesus. However, if someone rejects the message, absolutely do not try to drive it down their throat or beat them over the head with your Bible. After all, But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6. Doing what the Bible says is more important than being “right” in men’s eyes.
You have healing in your hands, but do not forget what God has given you. Do not glory in self. Jesus gave this charge to his disciples. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-8
The second night we were there Stephen Strader gave the message. The worship was so awesome and intense. David Fitzgerald and Catherine Mullins very intensely ministered in worship and song. We bought the DVD thinking the worship would be on it, but were only slightly disappointed. Rev. Strader brought a powerful message on your miracle is 6 inches above your head. The topic was on praise. God does truly inhabit the praises of His people and give them the desires of their heart.