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By Jim Coggins
 The Lakeland Outpouring, the controversial revival in Florida led by Canadian evangelist Todd Bentley, has come to an end, amid reports that Bentley's marriage is in trouble.
The board of directors of Fresh Fire Ministries, which Bentley founded 10 years ago, issued a news release August 12 stating, "Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencing significant friction in their relationship and are currently separated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immorality on the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been."
On August 15, the board issued another news release stating, "We have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level, with a female member of his staff. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the board of directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season, to receive counsel in his personal life."
The whole story?
Questions have been raised about whether Fresh Fire's board was telling the whole story. After the August 12 news release, Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignited Church, which had invited Bentley to Florida in April, told the Lakeland Ledger, "I've been assured by his people that there is no third party involved."
After the August 15 release, Strader said Bentley "told me he kept me out of the loop for my protection." However, Strader further stated, "Three years ago, he did the exact same thing. He grew out of his relationship to his wife and transferred his affection to another . . . The bottom line is that he was traveling too much and not taking care of his wife and family like he should." Strader also said he had been informed three weeks earlier that Bentley and his wife had been undergoing marriage counseling for a few years.
Bill Johnson, a pastor from California, said in a sermon August 17, "I was involved in a restoration process to help Todd a couple years ago, in this very area."
Sadness and disappointment
A statement from Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship pastor John Arnott, a key Lakeland supporter, expressed "sadness and disappointment" over the latest turn of events.
Regarding his personal relationship with Bentley, he noted: "I have known Todd for several years and have seen God work mightily through him." However, Arnott conceded that Bentley "has chosen to do something that is wrong according to scripture."
He added that "The Holy Spirit, who is perfect, must use imperfect people even in revival" -- and that those who felt blessed by Lakeland should "not allow the seeds of hope and healing that were sown into you there [to] be uprooted by this leader's mistakes. It was God who touched you, and no one can take that away unless you allow it."
God, Arnott stressed, "is able to take the worst situation and turn it into a great blessing."
In their August 12 news release the Fresh Fire board of directors, referring to both Bentley's marriage and ministry, stated: "We are hopeful that the outcome will include restoration, but we can make neither promise nor guarantee."
Bentley had gone to Lakeland April 2 to lead four days of meetings at Ignite Church. The meetings were so successful that his stay was extended. The meetings attracted more attention when they were reported in Charisma magazine and broadcast on GodTV, and soon people were flying in from all over the world to attend. The meetings were moved to the larger Auburndale Life Church, to Joker Marchant Stadium in May and then in late June to two large tents on the grounds of the Sun n' Fun Fly-in Airport, which could accommodate up to 10,000 people.
Healings and revelations
However, the increased attention also led to criticism of Bentley's tattooed appearance, his occasionally violent approach to healing (sometimes kicking and hitting people), his theological emphasis on angels and prophetic revelations, and his claims of healings. Bentley claimed more than 20 resurrections from the dead had occurred during the Outpouring. However, news media such as the TV program Nightline complained that none of the healing claims had been substantiated.
The crowds began to decline, particularly after July 13, when GodTV announced that Bentley "would be taking some time off to refresh and to rest...after nearly one hundred days of ministry."
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The meetings returned to the 700-seat Ignited Church, and Bentley was scheduled to resume preaching. It was decided to end the meetings in Lakeland August 23, and then Bentley was scheduled to embark on a series of Outpouring meetings around the world. However, those meetings have now been indefinitely postponed.
Further polarization
Lee Grady, editor of Charisma magazine, told the Lakeland Ledger that Bentley's fall would likely further polarize those following the revival.
This is particularly true in the charismatic community, where a very active debate has been raging, particularly on the Internet, ever since the Lakeland Outpouring began. One notable participant is Andrew Strom, who had already written the first book on the phenomenon, True & False Revival: An Insider's Warning, in addition to posting information on his website.
The intensity of the debate is reflected on CC.com, in the extraordinary number of responses to a feature on Bentley.
Grady said that some who had been ardent followers of Bentley will suffer "spiritual shipwreck" in the wake of the Outpouring's demise; but for others who "are not grounded in scripture ... it won't be an issue."
Vision of Christ
While Bentley may be off the revival platform for the foreseeable future, his spiritual insights are available in books called The Reality of the Spiritual World, and Journey into the Miraculous. In the latter, he said he once had an extraordinary vision of Christ as a "warrior king."
"Upon his breastplate," Bentley wrote, "was the imprint of a golden eagle . . . His biceps were enormous, the size of my head, and he had massive forearms and huge hands. There was Jesus, the mighty warrior God! He towered over me, three to four times my height."
The evangelist further claimed that Christ gave him a special revelation, declaring to Bentley: "I have a hidden, secret army around the earth that I will enlist and uncover at my time. They are hidden away in the secret prayer closets - a generation of nameless, faceless nobodies . . . . You are one of many first fruits of an entire army that I am equipping."
Elsewhere in the book, Bentley exhorted his readers: "The power of the early church that we read about in Acts is an example of the normal Christian life - the way it should be. And that's the blueprint for us, and our lives, too - but the new dimension of this Christian life will be even greater. Have faith in the God who does miracles!"
Bentley's theology was learned from other contemporary figures who are considered prophets by some charismatics, such as Americans Paul Cain and Bob Jones -- and Patricia King, whose Extreme Prophetic ministry (like Fresh Fire) is based in B.C.'s Fraser.
While some bloggers have contended the Lakeland Outpouring was based on deception from the beginning, many in the charismatic movement argue the revival was genuine, and needs to be separated from Bentley's failures. Lynne Breidenbach, Bentley's media liaison during the Outpouring, observed, "God uses fallen, flawed people ... This doesn't invalidate what Todd did."
Bigger than one man
The Fresh Fire board of directors pointed out in their news releases that the ministry is still running conferences, led by associate ministers, and pursuing missions and relief work in Africa. They cited Bentley's own words: "What God is doing is bigger than one man."
One of the most balanced observers of the Lakeland Outpouring has been Charisma's Grady, who has been writing about the phenomenon from the beginning. While sympathetic to the charismatic movement, he has been urging caution about Bentley and his supporters.
In an article called 'Sorting out the confusion', Grady was critical of people who were so eager for revival that they were "just plain gullible." He was also critical of some Lakeland supporters -- such as GodTV, which dismissed any criticism of Bentley as "demonic."
Grady further criticized "respected ministers" Peter Wagner, Che Ahn, Bill Johnson and John Arnott who publicly laid hands on Bentley June 23 to "bring him under their care" -- but apparently didn't ask the hard questions, or provide him the help he so desperately needed.
- additional reporting by David F. Dawes
August 21/2008
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Jesus gave his followers what He was give by His Father to do: preach good news, proclaim freedom for those in prison, recovery of sight to the blind, release the oppressed, and proclaim this is going to be your acceptable year from the Lord. Jesus taught and modeled this (feeding the thousands, Sermon on the Mount, Samaritan woman, tax collectors house, woman caught in adultery, woman with issue of blood, sight to the blind, etc.). Jesus taught the values and examples of the Kingdom that was starting with Him and would and should become more and more each day until His return.
Jesus called a man to be an Apostle who was a bigot, murder, and someone who had to live with a thorn in his flesh for the rest of his life. An effective man, an apostle. A man who said eat meat to idols. A man who went to pagan temples, and markets. A man who put women in authority. A man who spoke in tongues and encouraged prophesy.
No all the dirt is out about our life, yet. As is with Todd Bentley’s dirt, my dirt, your dirt. Oh the dirt that Jesus could have revealed to Zacheous in getting him right before dinner at his house or as an appetizer before dinner. Jesus dished out goodness before, during and after summer; and left down with a redeemed man feeding thousands. Wow that’s good teaching and good works. With time, mercy and grace on God’s side because He does not desire that any should perish. He is not slack as some say He is. Jesus was punished enough – once and for all. The good news is still available to the worst of us. Who is the worst and when will they be the worst – now or at eternity’s date where all is laid bare. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Logs in our eye and camels gates are often still big problems. All that Jesus began to teach and do – what’s being taught and what’s being done. What can we tell John the Baptist today.
He was a gentle man and often "meditated" on the will of the Father. The Holy Spirit is also gentle and if you listen close enough and meditate on the Father as Jesus did, you will have a closer relationship. Personally, Todd Bentley scares me. I Pray that his congregation looks for that "gentle" Spirit to guide them. Look to Jesus and live.
Larry
As a pastor, I find it wise to "keep my own sins in my pocket" and not live so far removed from them that I forget how easy it is to sin. Oswald Chambers said that we are merely two decisions away from becoming a murderer ourselves. Although I probably know more about Todd and his 'ministry' than any of you because I lived in the city where his offices are based, I will be the first to say that I don't doubt that God used him, it's just that throughout his ministry, his focus wasn't always on Jesus. It is better to pray for he and his wife and ministry than it is to vent (James 1-12). I hope this helps...
Bill Johnson, Che Ahn and John Arnott were not totally ignorant about some things going on. One of the reasons they did the meeting on June 23 was to bring Todd into formal relationship with Revival Alliance. That relationship now allows them to speak into Todd's life. Peter Wagner was conducting a review of what has been going on in Lakeland with the purpose of beginning to bring some correction and course change. People who don't have relationship have no right to speak into someone's life. I know I personally would tell you to shut up if I didn't know you and you tried to bring correction into my life. You haven't earned that right.
I think God has the world under control. Why don't we worry about our own spiritual welfare? Do you really know all the details or are you just gosiping and trying to listen for more juicy details??? I would draw a big ear right about now....
The key here is that the speaker is not claiming to be Christ, but is affirming that Jesus is the Christ, and stil many will be lead astray. I think that it is a travesty to be following one who speaks of Christ, and fails to follow Christ himself. I think that we must all consider, at least all of those who still claim that Jesus is the Christ, whether people are following us rather than the Lord. Consider for a moment Jim Jones (a Methodist preacher), we need fear him more that the David Karas who claims that he is the Christ. We recognize the emeny in the one and not in the other, yet 700 innocent people drank poison in Uganda following Jim Jones. Consider well, and like the Bereans let us return to scripture to see if what we hear is so according to the word.
Arnet
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat…" - THEODORE ROOSEVELT, (Paris Sorbonne 1910)
We experienced healing personally, and saw it manifest itself in others we had made friends with. We felt the power of The Spirit and had strangers bring our daughter prophetic words of knowledge which reflected facts about her life they could not have known. We experienced many 'acts of random kindness' which made the whole experience blessed.
Within the chaos of people calling to Jesus; dancing; praying; preaching; lying prone on the floor; shaking; crying; was a grace, a calm, an acceptance and kindness which everyone should experience.
It makes me sad to read negative comments by people who somehow think we are all fools, but themselves seem to be confused between the messenger and the message. If we believe Jesus is the Christ, then Acts makes it clear that The Spirit was His gift to us. Don't confuse the message with the messenger. Do pray for Todd and Shonnah and the continuing success of the fire of revival throughout the world in Jesus' name.
It has only taken my husband and I 12 of the 18 years of marriage to figure this one out! See, I tried serving and loving God, the church, friends, and family members first somehow and my precious husband got lost somewhere in translation.
Shame on me for ever thinking he should have ever taken a back seat to anything else and me expect our home life to excel and grow! If our spouses feel like they are at the back of the line, then they are probably getting served and loved by us in that order also. Is'nt it time we place our spouses back to the front lines and see how awsome our men are as spiritual leaders in the home when they are respected and loved by God and the wife in their own enviornment?
Would'nt marriage be much funner and happier if we actually had the extra time to spend with one another?
These last year my husband and I came close to separation. Mainly because we were to "Seperate"...
We now have been attending couples counseling which is vital I believe. (By the way, If you decide to go, go with the full intention of figuring out your own faults not your spouses. You probably have been reminding them of those for years already).
We both decided to purchase top of the line mountain bikes, and now "make" time at least 3 times a week to go bike trailing/riding together for exercise/stress reducer/talking/quality time/and even get to worship God in His awsome surroundings together!
We actually are in the sincere habit of asking one another how eachothers days have gone, and actually are listening how they have gone after we've asked...
Eating more meals together, and having him read the Bible to me (which I love to hear him do) is very nice.
You would have to know our whole story to know actually how bad this marriage has had it over the years to understand why all of this is so important to us now, and a key role in securing our vows in our hearts, minds, and souls forever.
I have had major health problems basically ever since we met, so right away we we're off to a hard start! Losing a job here and there due to health issues, bankruptcy due to extreme health issues (hysterectomy at 22yrs old after bleeding for 160days, and three prior surgeries). A diagnosis of "Psedo Tumor Cerebri" too much fluid on my brain, causing my eyes to bleed and losing sight very fast until treated. Kidney surgery, hypothyroid, asthma, three knee surgeries, and to top the sundae, I've had "Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy" for almost eight years now (same desease Paula Abdul/American Idol judge/singer star) has.
So, you can imagine the stress on my body, mind, medications over the years etc. But just imagine what this has put my husband through! To even top that he is adopted and I can't bear any children so I guess this really does certify as true "Misfits" like on the Christmas cartoon special with Rudolph "The Island of Misfit Toys"...
When it really boils down to it, are'nt we all just that in some way or another? An uncommoner, misfit, foolish, that God just longs to use for His Glory! How awsome and encouraging is that now?
And, remember, you can't lead someone through anything you have'nt been through your self...
So, any sad stories, discouraging times past or present? We can take something good out of them or just focus on only the negative which is what the enemy wants us to do!
So I say, love your marriage's! No matter what condition they are in right now... Don't toss them away. They are a rare gift entrusted to you by God. Your spouse is a rare gift to you entrusted to you by God!
Of all the strangers I have had the privalage of sharing the message of the Gospel with over the years, and all the years of lead singing on worship teams, leading children and youth groups, serving others in church, etc... After all the smoke clears, and crowds of people are gone and its only Jesus and I standing face to face, I want to be able to say loved someone with all that I have in me while on earth, this I know! And this person is my husband Steve... I will tell Jesus thank you for lending him to me as someone to love for a while. My life actually has worth to it because 1) you were willing to come down here and die for it and raise from the grave purchasing me a place in heaven! and 2)Because you allowed me to love someone as much as I allowed you to come into my heart and show me how to love him while on earth. And I must say, I feel I have already loved him(my husband) enough for 10 marriages to ressurrect!
Tracidreams
That is a dangerous position to hold another individual... not that I excuse unrighteous living, No, that is not acceptable and I do understand they will be held accountable for hurting/ offending Babes In Christ ...However, We are to Worship the Creator Not the Creation and if people were following a man, in this, then they were of the wrong thinking... Do Not Follow A Man... Follow Jesus Only. Get in the Word of God & Study to show yourself approved ... God Is a Merciful God, and His Grace is sufficient, even in this mishap... So let's come together as sisters & brothers in Christ and Pray for this family, rather than curse & slander this family. I choose to Worship the Lord even through this trying time & want to Pray for a complete revival In this marriage as if it were my own children's marriage! God Is Bigger than this mess. I believe that Todd & his wife both know that they have a choice in this marriage issue and I pray that each one will honestly Seek first the Kingdom of God & His Righteousness; Knowing that all else will be added to their Marriage. I Do Not believe that The Lord is for Divorce; and the children need their parents to be Strong in the Lord & in the Power of His Might to grow-up in their Godly relationship; Trusting Jesus and the Power of the Holy Spirit! 'Father I Thank You & Praise You that Your Will;... Your Perfect Will be done on earth as it Is In Heaven for the Todd Bentley Home & Ministry... I Believe Your Hand is not shortened nor is Your Ear deafened to the call for Revival In This Marriage & Whole Family Relationship. You, Lord, have begun a good work and You will complete the Work to the end... I ask that souls would be spared and that Many, Many, Many people continue to come to the True Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ in spite of this. Protect the innocent Lord, Awaken all of us, Lord, to hunger for a closer walk with You & to carry one another with compassion & forgiveness. Help us to Trust You with our whole heart & lean not to our own understanding. Help us in all our ways To Remember to Acknowledge You and Have the confidence to know that You Will Direct our path... It's Only in Your Will that we Are Free; So place a New Hunger for Seeking Your Word which is Your Will... I pray this to the Father in the Name of Jesus... Amen & Amen" Let's all continue to fight the forces of darkness in this situation holding Todd, Shonnah, and their childrens arms up, encouraging them to Stand On Truth & Be counted for Kingdom Living! Keep Shining for Jesus Only! Blessings glady
This is nothing more than an attack of the enemy to stop what God is doing.How dare anyone tell God what to do.
Is55: 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my aways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
[1]"QUOTE"Bentley was commissioned into full time ministry by fellow Canadian Pat Coking / Cocking (AKA Patricia King Why is this alarming? She admits to being in the occult and New Age prior to "coming to Christ". Her teachings are New Age ,refers to herself as a “New Mystic and recent dalliance into neo-paganism comes with her promotion of “Ekstasis,” a form of trance dancing.[witness some of the Lakeland gatherings!!!] UNQUOTE Hardly the background of Christian Orthodoxy!!.[2]Bentley calls aberrant Kansas City prophet, Bob Jones his spiritual father, who believes he can go to the third heaven at will, openly practices astral- projection, and believes that the anointing of God resides in the Kidneys.[Scripture references please!!] Bentley claims the following. “Bob Jones told me one time, the anointing works in the kidneys -" . Bob Jones is currently suffering renal failure!!![3]Todd Bentley "teaches" about the 3rd Eye which"
is a metaphysical and esoteric concept referring in part to the Ajna(brow) chakra in certain Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. . In New Age spirituality, the third eye may alternately symbolize a state of enlightenment or the evocation of mental images having deeply-personal spiritual or psychological significance and is often associated with visions, clairvoyance, precognition, and out-of-body experiences, and people who have allegedly developed the capacity to use their third eyes are sometimes known as seers".Again where is this documented in the New Testament as an experience for the New Testament Church???[4] Finally his unsubstantiated and ludicrous claims of "visits to Heaven" have no Scriptural authourity or backing and before anyone says it certainly is true the Apostles Paul and John experienced revelations that were "outside the norm" but there is no teaching in NT that suggests that this was to be a practice for the Body of Christ.Our revelation comes thru Scripture and the Gifts of the Spirit BUT shoud be conducted when we come together as believers "decently and in order and with prophesies to be judged by other prophets",ie in a fashion that finds its authourity in Scriptural practices ALONE!!!.Finally the assertions of Tanya are very typical of those followers and adherents of this "revival"whose attitude is of a "Spiritual superiority" and blatantly [unlike the Bereans!]haven't tested this "revival" against the authourity of Scripture.
Good thing Elijah,Enoch and Ezechiel arent around today,they couldnt operate,religiosity would have quenched the spirit. 1 thes 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies.I guess their visits to heaven and being "carried away in the spirit has no biblical basis right.There are several scriptural references to people being physically carried away and being carried away in the spirit.John wasnt the only one.But I guess you want to believe that God has just decided to stop doing things like this because it will upset the religionists.Having a form of godliness but denying the POWER.
What the pharicitical church cant wrap its brain around is that what ever God creates satan copys. We have the gifts of the spirit,satan creates psychics.How this john,do you celebrate christ-mass and Estre.Congratulations youre a pagan.!Where in the NT are we told to celebrate christs b-day on dec 25th.How about pagan trees....hmmm Gal 10 ring any bells.
1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same[b] Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
I thank and praise God that Jesus is not just going to let people get back to "church" as normal, for we can see what the man made denominations have created - a people quick with judgment, very slow in grace with no apparent knowledge of mercy.
Where does Jesus say, those who may be tripped up deserve what they get? No, Mr Douglas, that would be from the doctrines of the father of all lies.
I do see where Jesus did quite often if not most of the time pass judgment publicly before all in regard to those religious bigots who had no knowledge of the Fathers heart.
I went to the Lakeland outpouring, yet not to see Todd, I went to see what the Lord was doing. I do not agree with all of what Todd taught, yet I did see the witness of Holy Spirit actively moving amongst the people.
Mr Douglas writes; The Church should pray that these "so called " revivals will cease and that the Church will get back to basics with solid teaching and not having ears "tickled" and also the cessation of "exalting" those with dubious claims of revelations and visits to Heaven!!!.
Well for those who submit to the doctrines of men and the will of denominations will reap what they have sown. I praise God for and encourage those persons who seek the Lords will. For as I read the scriptures it appears to me that revival broke out where ever the Apostles went and the religious bigots were put in their place - on their faces before a Holy God.
Let us not forget the grace the Father has poured into us that we like Jesus maybe ever willing to show forth mercy.
PRW
Whatever your thoughts on his family situation their need above all need is for Christ and the power of Holy Spirit to be active in their lives and for Christians to pray for them.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Norma McNab 09/15/08
christian doctrine" is the problem,its called "religion" and its dead and empty.Clearly you deny that Gods power can fall on anyone.If you believe that God is limited by dispensations then you can be assured that you do not believe the bible in its totality.God isnt limited by anything...EVER!
Frenzied movements!LOLOL You better not read Psalms.Dont read about David dancing half naked.You have exposed yourself as a religionist and denominationalist.The bible says that in the last days signs and wonders would increase.I agree,the church is currently in a bad state,greasy grace,programs,psychology and feel good messages abound. I can assure you Pat King,Todd Bentley and a few others have done nothing but call people to repentance and holy living before the Lord.No man is perfect.How about the woman who recently shot her pastor husband who was abusing their kids and her.Unfortunately the devil is sly and his lies are convincing.Clearly Todd did not exercise discernment.Clearly Todd didnt stand up and tell people that his family must come first for a season,as a result he was left open to an attack.Hes not perfect. Oh I know,denominationalists love to say "the devil doesnt bug me and I dont bug the devil" Thats because the devil doesnt bother with what he already owns.Yes it is very obvious that you have never had an experience with the Holy spirit.Thats what religion does.Many Many of us have experienced the Shekinah Glory and have had experiences with angels,whats really sad is that we cant share those things with religionists because of their unbelief.You limit God and thats a sin.
"Then "we would be no longer infants ,tossed back and forth by the waves[of Brownsville ,Pensecola,Toronto ,Lakeland???]and blown here and there by every wind of teaching"Ephs4v14.Lets return to Orthodox Christian teachings and doctrine on Redemption,Justification,Sanctification ,Election .Then we shall truly worship in Spirit AND in Truth."
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Interesting statement in which here we see another blast of judgment. ........
I guess the thousands of missionaries around the world that were touched and called by the Lord at Brownsville and Toronto are mere infants according to your logic, or lack there of..............
It amazes me that those who cry out for God to touch them and revive the church are like the Apostles in the boat in the middle of the storm. They cried out for the Lord to rescue them, yet when He showed up according to the way He chose they cried out in fear..........
The last thing the church needs is to return to the " Orthodox Christian" christian way of doing church. We can see exactly what impact that has had on the world - NONE - where as since the Lord breathed upon the church and birthed the Pentecostal era we have seen millions upon millions come in to the Kingdom.....Some day the true infants will wake up to realize that its not our job to build the church, rather to establish the Kingdom according to the Masters teachings. Did He not say "these signs shall follow them" ..... Truly worshiping in Truth and Spirit is walking in the compassion of Jesus our Lord, not beating people over the head with condescending religious remarks with a taste of scripture to rub it in............ We are the salt of the Earth to preserve, not to cause pain in already wounded brothers and sisters.....
To answer your question in regard to man denominations ...No I am not commissioned by a man made denomination... I am ordained by the calling of the Lord God, to which that ordination of the Lord over my life has been recognized by the Elders and publicly borne witness to in the commissioning and setting in place for the ministry the Lord Jesus Christ has called me too.
The "mainstream ", you mean we must go before the Sanhedrin and courts of the pharisees to try and convince them that Yes Jesus is alive and His disciples of today are walking and operating in the very ways He said they would?....Interesting, yet I think even as Jesus stayed away from such groups of people and went to those who were truly seeking Him, so must His remnant walk today...For the doubter and nay sayers are always with us, Yet the John the Baptist shall not bend to the wind and whims of men...Rather they shall continue to cry out - Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.
taken to the third heaven didnt happen.YOU LIMIT A LIMITLESS GOD WITH DENOMINATIONALIZED DOCTRINE.
2 Corinthinas 2:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
(John 14:12)
I am sad to say that, in my experience, this tends to happen quite frequently when such movements come around. Those who disagree are dismissed with phrases like "a spirit of religion", "denominationalists" etc. Which is odd, considering that Galations 5:22-23 tells us clearly that the characteristics of true spiritual infilling are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” These are not only internal, but external as well. How you treat others, even those who severely disagree with you, is a barometer for how much the Holy Spirit has truly impacted your life. Remember also first and (according to Jesus) greatest commandment, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Dismissing your brothers and sisters in Christ as spiritually unenlightened seems to fly in the face of these verses.
One person wrote above that “The last thing the church needs is to return to the " Orthodox Christian" christian way of doing church. We can see exactly what impact that has had on the world - NONE.” May I remind that person there were hundreds of millions of true Christian believers before Pentecostalism. In fact, the Christian church existed for nearly 1900 years before the Azusa Street Revival. Orthodoxy within the historic Christian church has traditionally meant “conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early church”. By the early Christian church, we mean the church that managed to spread the Gospel throughout the entire Roman Empire, despite the most severe persecutions. To act as if Christianity was dead before Pentecostals arrived on the scene strikes me as saying that the God was not really at work during this time, which I think is a very dangerous and prideful statement to make on behalf of the Almighty, and one that basically ignores almost the whole of Christian history.
You sound like rick warren clones.If you had the spirit you would be able to tell the difference between holy and unholy.We all know that there are those who are decieving,who do give false prophecy and who do speak in demonic tongues.That doesnt mean they all do.You have a form of godliness but deny the power.
Check out mark 7:1-14
By any chance were these "true christians" the same christians who came to america and raped and murdered native women and children.Brought disease on purpose.Got the natives drunk so they could take advantage of them.Are these the same true,wonderful loving christians who took natives as slaves.Care to discuss the wonderful christians who were involved with aboriginal residential schools,ya know the ones who beat and raped children.the "good orthodox christians" who took in native kids to use them for work and sex and eventually kill them.Not all of these schools were catholic.These were orthodox churches.These are the churches that have left a black mark.Considering you are unable to see beyond your tidy religious box you couldnt be able to consider the possibility that God wanted to move the church out of its religious self righteous pew for a reason.Obviously you have not come beyond the milk of the word.I would put money on it that you guys dont like Jack van Impe,Cindy Jacobs,Wesley and Stacey Campbell,Pat francis,Patricia King, or John Hagee.They dont dribble milk.
Watch Sid Roth online.Get some real meat of the word.
Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
http://www.revivalnow.com/eyesandwings/
Not only does Todd Bentley want us to develop our “Third Eye” and teaches that we can learn to enter the Third Heaven at will. "As you ponder this question, let ME!![Bentley]lay a foundation by teaching about the difference between all the levels of revelation. Now I've been to the third heaven[REALLY??], which is the highest level. Whether or not I was in my body, I don't know and spoken to many men and women who have been there. Some people call this place the throne zone. When you hit that level, it’s very obvious.”LIVING UNDER AN OPEN HEAVEN, Sept 19, 2003 UNQUOTE.
It is sad that his marriage has failed but his "theology" does not conform to basic Scriptural teaching NOR do his practices[including the tattoos!!!].The point has been labored time and time again ,if we have a proper "working knowledge" of basic ,fundamental truths of the Bible and have the courage to question as did the Bereans who "searched the Scripture" these aberrant teachings will not flourish!!!
www.sidroth.org
Colossians4v6"Let your conversation be always full of grace,seasoned with salt ,so that you know how to answer everyone".!"
No further comment is neccessary!!!
http://spiritlessons.com/Documents/7_Jovenes/English_7_Jovenes_Heaven.htm
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
I just found out about Todd Bentley. Because there were things I saw that bothered me in my spirit, I chose not to watch the Lakeland revival. I do believe that some things were accomplished and pray that those "God" things are sealed and will not be affected by mans failure.
Even though I disagreed with what I saw, It breaks my heart that Todd is/ was in sin and it breaks my heart his wife and children are suffering. I know the consequences of sin. I wonder how 'Daddy' God feels about the sin. It breaks my heart more to read the slander going back and forth between believers. I wonder what it is doing to God's heart.
Do you think all this arguing is doing any less damage than what you have assumed Todd's sin has? God is a jealous God and will allow no other gods before him. That includes us.