Received this devotional today from Charisma Online. I have read a lot of comments about the Toronto move and how things got out of control. Can’t believe how many articles there are out there demonizing the Pastor who led it–John Arnott. Anyway, here is a small taste of his teaching up front and personal in a devotion and guess what the topic is?:

Christ Wants Control

Today’s message is from John Arnott.

Our church was praying for revival, just as many of yours are. We realize now we forgot to ask what revival would look like. When the Spirit of God came, it was like an explosion. We saw people literally being knocked off their feet by the Spirit of God—when no one else was near them. Others shook and jerked. Some danced, some laughed. Some lay on the floor as if dead for hours. People cried and shouted.

We wanted everything to be orderly and calm. The church needs to function in an orderly way so the body of Christ is edified, the people are blessed and there is not mass confusion. Yet we have seen times when the Holy Spirit has come on everyone so strongly that He has almost taken over entirely. I have felt that I might as well sit down and let the Lord take it because such power was being poured down on the people.

The Holy Spirit reserves the right to fall upon the people, even during the preaching of the Word. He did this to Peter in Cornelius’ house (Acts 10:44). But because of our fears or pride, we want to be in charge. Pastors and leaders are prone to try to be in control of what happens in their churches. They don’t like somebody coming along and rocking their boat—even if it’s God doing the rocking.

Because we’re human, sometimes things in the church are done inappropriately, and we need the wisdom of God to integrate renewal into our communities and churches. But the real question is this: Who is in control? I think Jesus wants His church back. He wants to take control.

TODAY’S PRAYER:
Lord, I ask You to take full control of my church. If our boat needs to be rocked, please rock it!