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George Whitefield to John Wesley On Todd Bentley & Lakeland Outpouring Manifestations

George Whitefield wrote to John Wesley that should he give ’similar encouragement to those convulsions…[eg the physical spiritual manifestations linked to the Camisard French Prophets, see here, that mirror the manifestations at Toronto and Lakeland] how many [people in his meetings] would cry out each night! I think it is tempting God to require such signs…….. the devil interposes. I think it will encourage the French Prophets, take people from the written word, and make them depend on visions, convulsions, etc., more than on the promises and precepts of the gospel.’

(Source – George Whitefield personal letter to John Wesley, dated 25th June 1739, quoted in Origins of the Shakers  by Clarke Garrett )

June 27, 2008 - Posted by endtimespropheticwords | Church History, Dominionism, Evangelism and Missions, False Prophets and Teachers, French Prophets, Fresh Fire, Healing, Holy Laughter, John Wesley, Latter Rain, Prophecy, Revival, Spiritual Warfare, Todd Bentley, Toronto Blessing, signs and wonders | , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

5 Comments »

  1. I used to attend a church some distance away, and one night while at a prayer meeting, I began to shake and tremble – first in my hands and then in my whole body. After a while this happened almost every time I was prayed for, even if I visited another church. I also noticed that if I kept my attention on God the shaking would increase, but if I let my mind wander, the shaking would dwindle down. This convinced me that it must be from God. After a while I began to notice that I was actually gaining nothing positive from this. It did not bring me to repentence; I was not being healed; there was no fruit – nothing; just the manifestation. In fact there was pride creeping in. In this church when people were prayed for, everyone was ’slain in the spirit’ except me. I was sometimes the only person left standing. I began to feel that I was not as spiritual as the others and the shaking became a substitute for me, proving that I was just a spiritual as everyone else – I just manifested it differently. I confessed my doubts and my pride to the Lord and told Him if this wasn’t from Him, then I didn’t want it. Since then I haven’t shaken or jerked at all when prayed for, nor been ’slain in the spirit’. I used to think that people who had doubts about these manifestations had a fear of the supernatural. Unless we walk closely with the Lord, how easily our hearts can deceive us!

    Comment by Jacque | June 28, 2008

  2. Jacque, thanks for that honest testimony! Funny, I have heard many, many times from people that “manifestations don’t matter” but in fact they do sometimes stir up pride. (Been there done that, repented of it … :-)

    Comment by Dave | June 28, 2008

  3. I’ve manifestated and it bore fruit. I was in a meeting once and my head began shaking back and forth. This went on for a while. Afterwards, I had been delivered of some sinful thinking that I had been asking God for deliverance from. I’ve also been in river churches where there was a marked temptation for people to fake manifestations. It was demonic. So there is good. I think manifestations from God are holy but our focus should never be on them, but on worshipping God. Some manifestations are clearly faked by believers who want to be spiritual while others are real. The devil does try to come in and counterfeit. We should all live in humility for that will guard us.

    Comment by nelda | June 28, 2008

  4. I, like Jacque, used to attend church where it almost seemed required to shake or go down. One time the pastor’s wife kept coming back to me and almost pushing me. I stood my ground because I felt no need to lie down. At one time, I did manifested some things, but I when I left that church, they stopped. I have to say I am wondering. Anyhow, the only time I have shaken since is the time I felt God’s presence so close during the time my grandmother was dying and I needed comforting, but it was like a sense of awe and respect and holy fear before His presence. When I felt His comfort, I calmed right down and felt no need to fear. I guess it was just my spirit trembling before the King of Glory.

    I do not feel I have the right to agree or disagree with anything going on at Lakeland. I watch it sometimes and sometimes things are so right on that I love it, but sometimes I just listen, ask God to reveal through His Holy Spirit Him, and if nothing is being revealed, I turn the computer off. I have never been to the revivial personally on site, but I have had such personal revival in my life that I know God is with me here or anywhere I am. Would I like to go? I don’t know. I have not considered it so I cannot say; but one thing I do know, God is sovereign and if He wants to move in that way, He does not need approval or disapproval from me. He is the Creator, I am the created and that is the way it will always be. I do test the spirits though and I am only concerned if God is being glorified and if Jesus is being lifted up. If not, I will not bother with it, but I am also very cautious because since I am not God, I did not choose the one He chooses to use, so I will not be caught speaking against anyone whether I agree or disagree. I am praying for those who do because it is a very fearsome thing to be in the hands of an angry God.

    Comment by Calmwhisper | June 28, 2008

  5. I have been slain in the spirit one time. It was after a long long time of stress and nervous problems. I went forward , was never touched by any human being, but was slain flat on my back for some time unable to move. Upon ariseing I felt the most wonderful peace, a calmness and have never had nerve problems to this do. As a matter of fact I was on valumn and other never pills. Have not taken one to this day and I am now 68 years old. Hummmm must be something to it.

    Comment by Carolyn Thompson | June 28, 2008


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