New Zealand Cults, Sects, Religions, Christian Organisations, and other groups.

Drunken Revival Movement. Danger Hot Topic Part of the False Revival Movement. Key practitioners are Rodney Howard-Browne (who calls himself the "Holy Ghost Bartender"), Todd Bentley and John Crowder; also John Scotland. In New Zealand the Drunken Revival Movement is supported by Jack and Gaye Stradwick and Godfuel Media Ministries. In October 2009 Lee Grady, editor of Charisma magazine, Off site link: wrote (emphasis in the original):

With all of this emphasis on Holy Ghost intoxication, did anybody notice that the Bible clearly commands us to be spiritually sober?

If soberness wasn't mentioned in the New Testament, then I wouldn't be beating this drum so loudly. But I find numerous references, from both Peter and Paul. "But you, be sober in all things," is Paul's admonition to Timothy (2 Tim. 4:5, NASB). He tells the Thessalonians, "But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation," (1 Thess. 5:8).

Peter hammers the same point. He wrote, "Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:13) and "The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer" (1 Pet. 4:7).

The soberness here is not primarily a reference to abstaining from alcohol (although it's worth mentioning that believers who drink will find it more difficult to obey these commands). To be sober can be defined "to show self-control," "to be sane or rational," or "to be free from excess or extravagance." A sober Christian knows the heights of God's inexpressible joy, but he is never ruled by emotions, passions, lust or any other category of temptation that has the power to dull the spiritual senses.

When I look at the state of our nation today, and consider our spiritual challenges, it's obvious the last thing we need are Christians who are so sloshed in emotional euphoria that they can't pray intelligently and work diligently.

This is not a time for God's people to be incapacitated. We need to be thinking, planning, strategizing, researching and building — all using the Holy Spirit's wisdom. Yes, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit like never before — but He is not going to fill us so we can act like giddy freshmen at a frat house keg party. Let's put the childish things behind us. It's time for us to grow up and sober up.

Added to that, I'll include 1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Many of the manifestations seen in the False Revival Movement are also seen as Kundalini manifestations. Andrew Strom warns against the False Revival Movement and its practices and at the end of October 2010 released Off site link: Part 3 of his Kundalini video series. On 31 October Andrew Strom asked, in response to comments to this video: In fact, "Self Control" is a 'fruit' of the Holy Spirit. So? why do you guys think it is of the Spirit to be totally "out of control"?

Danger

Danger: The group/person or belief/practice is considered dangerous due to mind control or particularly bad doctrine. These groups (or people) have a strong tendency to damage their members/followers.

Hot Topic

Hot Topic: The group/person or belief/practice has recently featured in the secular news media, has generated notable correspondence, is a popular conversation topic, etc. Note that this rating has nothing to do with the "cultishness" of a group.

Printed on 20 January 2021 at www.cults.co.nz.
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