In regards to the Florida revival, I thank you for your concise scripture based responses and rebuttals to what they are doing. I became a Christian in my 30’s and God has blessed me with a fierce “show me in the bible” mentality. If it cannot be proven and not proof texted or scripture twisted from the Bible, I will have none of it and this is what amazes me. How could Christians who go to this not see it for what it is? It seems so blatantly wrong. I thought everyone was given the gift of discernment when they accepted Christ as their Savior. Then, I saw Pastors going up to “get what they believe is the Holy Spirit”. How, if you have the Holy Spirit in you, can you (pastors especially since they would have had to go to seminary and should know their bible) be deceived like that?
In John 4:24 we’re told that we must worship God in Spirit and in Truth. He is Spirit and His Word is Truth. Since there are deceiving spirits in the world, God’s truth is meant to give us discernment. In some parts of the Church too much emphasis is placed on experiences and feelings and not enough is given to mastering His word. The result is a lack of discernment, what Paul called zeal without knowledge.
Don’t make the mistake of believing that just because someone goes to a seminary that he or she will come out knowing the Word of God. Pastors learn scriptures through independent study and prayer just like the rest of us, and many are just too busy to do it.