Tag Archives: Revival

True and False Revival by Andrew Strom

Paperback: 132 pages
Publisher: RevivalSchool (September 11, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0979907314
ISBN-13: 978-0979907319
Price: $11.91
Purchase: Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

Description:

Andrew Strom is founder of RevivalSchool.com and the international REVIVAL List. He was involved for 11 years in the same Prophetic movement as Todd Bentley and Rick Joyner – until he quit in anguish over the unbiblical and bizarre things going on in that movement. As an insider, Andrew questions a lot of the ‘angels’, the gold dust, and “revivals” like the one in Lakeland. Read the FACTS to find out why. What is real Revival? And how do we tell the true from the false? The answers are found in this provocative book.

Review:

True and False Revival is about learning to discern which is true and which is counterfeit in the Church. Andrew Strom is an insider who knows about the counterfeit and has studied revival extensively. I consider him an expert on true revival.

This book is such an important book, especially for leaders.

Andrew Strom writes in an easy to read format. True and False Revival is a warning to the Church and a call in the wilderness.

We need John the Baptists in the world who will preach on repentance and renewal. There is too much focus on signs and wonders, materialism and secularism in the Church today.

Andrew Strom has a burden for the Church in bringing them back to true revival. This book is an excellent resource on this subject and I highly recommend it.

Andrew Strom is an international writer and speaker, founder of RevivalSchool.com and the international REVIVAL List – and author of ten books including ‘The Sinner’s Prayer – Fact or Fiction?’ Andrew was born Downunder in New Zealand. He has been happily married to his lovely wife Jacqui for 26 years. They have six wonderful children.

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Just Don’t Do Porn

This is what I wrote on my Facebook status yesterday after posting this article.

When I posted it, I wasn’t intending to spark a debate. I was only trying to bring light to the spiritual climate.

I decided to amplify and address my views here as there was an implication about my being judgmental.

Courtesy of Creative Commons.

For the record, I am judging the entire porn industry. I refuse to sugar coat what is.

Pornography is wrong and the entire industry is evil. There is nothing good or wholesome about it. I personally think it’s repulsive and shouldn’t exist at all.

God tells us to discern and judge. Ultimately, God knows man’s hearts and what motivates them.

I can’t imagine God is just sitting back, watching and thinking how great the sex industry is. It must grieve His heart terribly.

The entire industry is motivated by the flesh, carnal desires, sinful lusts and greed.

In 1 John 2:16, For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

It says in 2 Corinthians 4:4, In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Who is the god of this world? Satan.

Who created and controls the sex industry? Satan.

When people say those in the porn industry are victims and don’t know any better. I would have to point them to Romans 2:14-15:

Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

I could have been a statistic, I had every excuse to do so, but I chose not to.

We all have choices. Every single one of us walking the face of this earth has choices. God has blessed us with the gift of free will and choice.

Those pursuing a career in pornography are aware of the dangers involved in that life. They are not ignorant to what they are doing, which is why a huge majority do drugs.

They sell their bodies as a commodity.

To say, they don’t know anything else, is to lessen them to sub human with no sense of rationale.

They do have choices, but they choose to sell themselves because that’s where they make the most money and that’s something they are not willing to give up. The majority in that industry are not victims as they are choosing to do what they do for the love of money which is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10)

If they live in America, they also can’t say they’ve never heard the Gospel. This country is inundated with the Gospel all over the place.

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Personally, I find the Christian community wanting to sugar coat everything.

They talk a lot about love, but love is a verb, not just a word. Loving someone is telling them the truth.

But no one wants to hear or speak the truth anymore. Christians don’t want to hear about sin, judgment or repentance.

Christian’s only want to listen to the Joel Osteen’s of the world. They want their ears tickled. (2 Timothy 4:3)

All these ‘feel good’ messages. This is the kind of gospel they want to listen to. It’s a man made gospel, not the Bible.

They pick and choose, they only focus on the verses they like and spit out what they don’t like.

Everything to them is wonderful, beautiful and grand, when quite frankly, it’s not. But, they are either not paying attention or sleeping.

Christians don’t want to speak up anymore, they are afraid of offending or coming across as judgmental. Judging has become a crime now and discernment has gone out the window.

However, by not discerning or judging the time and by turning away from truth, Christians have made a god of their own understanding and thus, the Church has become powerless.

The Church needs to rise up and speak the truth again, so that people can repent, turn away from their sins and be saved.

Time is running out.

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Rise Up Church

Everywhere you turn, a tragedy befalls us.

Yesterday was the mass shooting in the DC Navy Yard. This morning the abduction of a 14-year old girl in Georgia.

Courtesy of Creative Commons.

It’s not that I’m focused on tragedy or negativity, it’s just what is happening all around us.

Yes, I can perhaps bury my head in the sand, and pretend all is well, but I would only be lying to myself.

I’m not the type of person to focus on myself and forget about everything else.

My life is good, but just because things are relatively good, doesn’t mean I should forget others who are suffering.

I guess I’m this way because I have been through my share of hardship in life.

Sure, following the news can be overwhelmingly hard and there are times I do need to unplug from it all.

But most times than not, I feel burdened for the state of affairs. It’s not something I can shake off or ignore. I wish I could, but for whatever reason, God didn’t design me this way.

Even in the midst of tragedy though, I can still see God’s goodness and beauty. His signature is everywhere; from the rising sun, the mountains and vast oceans.

He is a divine artist and the master designer of this universe. He is a great and loving God.

His heart grieves and for whatever reason, so does mine.  He yearns for His Church to rise up in this lost, dark and broken world.

Every Sunday He passes the pews and sees His beloved sleeping. He is so loving and kind, He just passes quietly as not to disturb them. But oh, how sorrowful He is, when those He passes aren’t discerning the time nor the hour.

He is calling His sheep. He is saying, Rise up Church, for now is the time and the hour. Wake up from your slumber.

The days ahead will be far worse than they are now, we must wake up before it’s too late.

I tremble at that thought as my heart can hardly stand what’s happening now.

I am so broken and burdened, and I don’t even understand it myself. It’s definitely not depression, it’s this heaviness or sorrow in my soul.

The sorrow of seeing the Church powerless.

I’ve been praying for revival. The Church and this world needs a revival. I know there are many scattered, praying for this as well.

May the Lord come and visit us soon.

Am I the only one who notices the direction in which this world is going? Do you see it too? Please share in the comment section below.

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Oh Religion, How I Hate Thee

Courtesy of Creative Commons

No, no, I haven’t thrown in the towel. I’m still a Christ follower. Jesus has nothing to do with this. He is in a class by Himself, for the obvious reasons. Jesus is Jesus. He died for me, you and the whole world. Someone who would be willing to die for the likes of me, well, let’s just say, they score big time.

I have no problem with beautiful, amazing, lovely, sweet, gentle Jesus Christ. He is a rock star. I love Him, plain and simple.

What I do have a problem with is religion. The Pharisees. The arrogant, stuffy, stuck up, know-it-all, condescending, judgmental, legalistic Christians. You know the ones who have an answer to every problem, and spout a bunch of scripture at you in one breath with saliva and all… yeah, those kinds of Christians.

I don’t have anything against Scripture. I love the Word of God, even when it cuts deep. Like I said, my issue is with those who call themselves Christians, but will be the first to criticize, judge and gossip about you.

Oh religion, how I hate thee… Where is the love?

I have to say, I don’t love others nearly the way Christ wants me to. I realize I don’t have it in me. If Jesus doesn’t love through me, it ain’t gonna happen.

Hollywood portrays their version of love, but that’s not what biblical love is about. Love isn’t about feelings or moods… it isn’t about goose bumps and racing hearts.

Mature love is grounded, steady, selfless and resilient. Real love stands the test of time. [Tweet this]

Religious people don’t know how to love others. All they know is how to preach scriptures, which doesn’t even penetrate… because half the time, they have trouble believing in it themselves.

When the Word really buries deep in your heart, it will manifest in your life. Love will be evidenced by how you live, act, speak and treat others.

Unfortunately, there are tons of people in the pulpit who don’t know how to genuinely express love toward others. They preach something they themselves don’t live or practice from a real and authentic place. There is a total disconnect.

To me, this equals bondage and death. There is no life, only rote and ritual. Where is the passion?

I look to my left and to my right, and I don’t see it evidenced anywhere. I just see a bunch of people filling up the pulpits and pews every Sunday. When they leave, you wouldn’t even know they went to church. And if you watch closely, there is no evidence of Jesus in their life, just a bunch of empty words.

A sad state of affairs indeed, which is why we need revival.

So what’s the answer? Surrender. How do we surrender? We pray and sincerely ask God to change our hearts to reflect His. We do not have the power to change ourselves. But God can and wants to. He is waiting on us to give up our “act” and come humbly to His throne.

God wants us to be real and authentic, not a bunch of actors memorizing lines on His stage called Life. [Tweet this]

I’m reading a very provoking and convicting book right now called Kingdom Journeys by Seth Barnes. This book is helping me understand why religion doesn’t work. It’s a dead end. God has so much more in store for us if we really take Him at His word.

I woke up this morning with this song on my mind, “Love is a Movement” by Switchfoot. The lyrics really speak to me.

Have you been struggling with religion? What are your thoughts on this? Please share in the comment section below.

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