Since the beginning of April, nightly meetings in Lakeland, Florida have attracted thousands from all over the US and across the globe to what has been called ‘The Florida Healing Outpouring.’ Beginning as a 4 day Healing Conference with Todd Bentley at Ignited Church in Lakeland, the outpouring has moved from venue to venue in order to accommodate the crowds and has been broadcast live on God TV and via the internet. Night by night many claim to have been healed in the meetings with thousands calling or emailing their stories of what God has done.

The Leader of the Florida Outpouring Todd Bentley, has the shock value of a John the Baptist or Smith Wigglesworth. His tattoos, body piercings and radical style have brought some controversy as have comments on the ministry of angels and concerning personal visions and revelation. Yet, something seems to be happening in Lakeland that is causing many Christians to seek God for a greater level of breakthrough in salvation, healing and miraculous, both personally and for their towns, cities and nations.

I travelled to Lakeland in May with two other church leaders and witnessed first hand the extraordinary nature of the Florida outpouring.

Three aspects of what’s happening in Lakeland gripped me. The first was the wave of worship which seems to release the miraculous ministry of the Holy Spirit. Night after night bold and passionate praise and heart rending worship draws people into deeper levels of expectancy and desire for God and the miracles and healings and salvation just begin to flow.
Secondly, the emphasis on active faith. Many are finding healing and breakthrough as they begin to move or act on their belief that God can heal them. Regularly, those healed in the meetings have testified to feeling nothing until they began to move, to walk, or to do something they couldn’t do before. Then, and only then, were they healed. This is not repeated as some simple and trite formula but rather people are encouraged to believe God’s word, to keep their eyes on Jesus and to trust Him to heal them as they step out in simple but determined faith.

Thirdly, I was moved with compassion. One night I witnessed what I believe was the compassion of Christ coming upon Todd as he ministered to the sick. There were many desperate people. Then it felt as though a wave of compassion came upon the whole audience. It was for me a holy moment and I was reminded that Jesus was moved with compassion by the crowds and He was moved towards them with love and power, healing and deliverance.

It is true to say that some are struggling to evaluate the Florida outpouring. Many question, some urge caution while others are keen to endorse and embrace what is happening. As someone who has studied Revival History for many years I am aware of the need for balanced biblical reflection. The Florida Outpouring as events at Toronto and Pensacola before it, will need time to be fully assessed. Yet that assessment will be more balanced and biblical if we begin with a bias towards believing the best –not the worst of a brother or sister in Christ. To see them as brothers, not outsiders, as sheep not wolves.

We are to seek (like Barnabas at Antioch) the evidence of the grace of God amongst the fresh, the new and even the messy and outbreaks of mission and ministry.

We are called to major on majors not minors – the gospel, the full kingdom message with signs and wonders following. Not to take our test of biblical orthodoxy from those who believe supernatural gifts have ceased.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 to rebuke the disciples who had stopped others casting out demons in His Name suggests that He is more than able to cope with what is happening by bringing glory to His Name.

We are also called to look for the fruit. It takes time for a full evaluation of revival and renewal phenomena. Time is refining the Outpouring in Lakeland. Significant and proven leaders are getting around Todd to provide cover, counsel and accountability. The meetings continue to draw thousands with evident hunger for God. They are working hard at verifying claims of miracles and healings and hundreds are going out on the streets of Lakeland leading people to Christ and praying for the sick out in public.

Moves of God like ’the Florida Outpouring’ have a history of being seasonal. My prayer is that this season of outpouring will continue to stir and inspire faith for a spiritual climate change all over the world.

I am encouraged as I look beyond Lakeland at signs that the Spirit is doing something not limited to one place. In Kensington Temple in London, gypsy evangelist William Lee began nightly meetings in early March, a month before Lakeland, and since then they have seen over a thousand people accept Christ and many healed. In Belfast, Pastor Brian Madden has at time of writing had 67 consecutive nights of meetings with outstanding answers to prayer and completely included people drawn to Christ. In Dudley and Glasgow and scores of other towns and cities in the UK there are people rising up with greater faith and expectancy for a huge harvest.

By Chris Cartwright
Pastor, City Temple, Cardiff