I received a revelation today about the tearing away of the old to make room for the new.  In the Bible, clothes were torn to indicate a person's willingness to change.  It was an act of humbling oneself.  Clothes were torn when people humbled themselves and repented so God could begin a new work in their lives.  The tearing of clothes throughtout the Bible indicated a new work was being done whether the people intended for a new work to occur or not.

The Israelites spies found a good land but returned with news that it could not be overtaken.  They tore their clothes as they told the people of the giants in the land.  Because of their mistrust in God, the land was torn from their generation and given to the next.

In another instance, Joshua tore his clothes, asking the Lord why they could not conquer the people at Ai.  The Lord told him they needed to sanctify themselves before they went into battle.  The tearing away of the accursed thing in their midst would bring them victory.  An offender in the camp was found guilty and stoned.  A new thing occurred as the people experienced victory in their next battle. 

Saul tore Samuel's clothes after hearing the word of the Lord from Samuel.  So Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.  As Samuel prophesied, the next king was not from Saul's bloodline.

When Elisha received Elijah's mantle, he tore his own clothes in two.  No more was he a servant to a prophet, he had become a prophet with a double portion of Elijah's ministry.  The old was torn away and a new mantle of authority was placed on Elisha's shoulders.

When the high priest tore his clothes as he pronounced judgment on Jesus Christ, the mantle of authority that had been given him as a high priest in the Old Covenant passed away.  A New Covenant began through the death of Jesus Christ.  The royal priesthood was given to His believers instead.

Jesus knew the Pharisees did not approve of Him because He didn't fit their mold.  He told them, "To try to attach a new, unshrunk garment to the old will not only tear and destroy the new but also the old won't look right and will eventually tear again."  In other words, when a new thing happens, it must supercede the old.  It won't work if the new is attached to the old.  Jesus gave them another parable to help them understand.  New wine that is poured into old wineskins will cause the old skins to break.  A new wineskin must be used to hold new wine. 

The traditions of man must pass away so the new thing God wants to do can begin.  For the Church today, a tearing away of the manmade doctrines and rituals of Church services must pass away so Jesus can arise!  We must be able to meet Him on His terms, not ours.

I believe the Lakeland Revival is a tearing away of the old to make room for the new.  The Lakeland revival could not be housed in a church.  It had gotten too big.  It couldn't be housed in an auditorium.  It had gotten too big.  It had to be housed on the streets.  It is held in a secular venue, albeit not even streets where cars operate, but something bigger, where airplanes fly in.  An example of how most of the people who are visiting the Lakeland Revival are flying in from other countries.

I pray that our country can receive what God is offering us.  I pray that Florida receives this outpouring.  I pray that the city of Lakeland can receive the presence of the Lord.

We will be judged for what we see and how we respond.  The Lord told his disciples it would be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement than for the city that doesn't receive Him.  He is being poured out in Lakeland.  O God, let them receive you.  Let them not be judged.

When Geraldo Rivera does his report live tonight at 10, on Fox News, the whole country will have a chance to respond.  O God, let this country receive you.  Let those who think You come in different packages receive You tonight, Dear Jesus.  Let us not be judged because we cannot recognize you through our manmade traditions.  Let us not be like the Pharisees who could not receive Jesus when He came into their very own temple.  Let us not be like Nazareth, who could not receive Jesus when He lived in their own town.