Lakewood Revival - Bentley

[runner4jesus]

USED BY PERMISSION: [e-mail] Jackie

May 11, 2008
Todd Bentley’s Diabolical Signs
If you’ve been watching the news on "Christian Television" in the past couple of weeks, you could not have missed the glowing reports of a "revival" breaking out in Lakeland, Florida. It is headed up by a certified false prophet/teacher by the name of Todd Bentley, one of the guys from the infamous Elijah List, an umbrella group that markets all the bogus "prophetic" junk their many seers sell. Many of these forerunners for the antichrist are heralding this outbreak as the much-touted outpouring of the latter rain. {If you think I'm speaking harshly, keep reading to understand why I can't mince words.}

Sadly, this circus show featuring an "illustrated man" is now on the road and targets young people and new believers who are not armed with a knowledge of Scripture so they are sitting ducks for deception. The crowds following Bentley are seen being overcome by ugly spirits of drunkenness and stupor. Those in the church who are crying out against this injustice perpetrated upon our weakest little lambs are being squelched by the "Christian" media, since those in control of the airwaves suppress the truth in unrighteousness. And any otherwise solid ministries that buy airtime on networks such as TBN and the God Channel shut up their own mouths for fear of biting the hand that feeds them and getting their programs tossed.

So that leaves the Internet – the only place you’ll see any opposition to the madness. I hate using an analogy from the worst contemporary "Christian" song that gets sung in churches on Sunday mornings, but as most of the church waltzes with this injustice, we need to break-dance upon it instead. Better yet – we need to stomp on it and pull down this stronghold that has come against the bride of Christ.

That awful song, "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble" could well be a theme song for this deceptive display of lying signs and wonders. It reflects the faulty theology of those in "the river" movement popularized by the so-called "Toronto Blessing," the last wave of madness that hit the church back in the latter half of the 1990s. The lyrics reflect Kingdom-Now visions of the church taking over all the elements of society and setting up a kingdom on earth before the Lord returns – an idea that the book of Revelation and all other passages about the end times contradict. The song says, in part:

And we can see that God you're moving
A mighty river through the nations
And young and old will turn to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Open up the doors and let the music play
Let the streets resound with singing
Songs that bring you hope
Songs that bring you peace
Dancers who dance upon injustice

Are the nations really turning to God? Hardly! In fact, not only are the nations not turning back to God, but the church as a whole is being transformed by the world, as the Emerging Church and the Purpose-Driven movement demonstrate. One anonymous blogger commented on this song:

"Injustice would be better dealt with by a brute squad than some can-can dancers. My dad and I were brainstorming about the type of dancing the song was talking about, and we came up with some of these: 1. Moshing on injustice; 2. Rhumba on injustice; 3. Waltz on injustice; 4. Square dance on injustice; 5. Break-dance on injustice."
What’s Happening in Florida?

Todd Bentley was guest preacher at Ignited Church in Lakeland, Florida, for a 5-day healing revival starting on April 2, 2008. It was extended to the end of the month because of the crowds coming to get healed and to get "drunk in the spirit." The church’s pastor is Stephen Strader, the son of Karl Strader, formerly of Carpenter’s Home Church in Lakeland where Rodney Howard-Browne made his holy laughter debut back in 1993. That "outpouring" went on to spark the Toronto and Pensacola drunken revivals.

So, it’s back where it started from. One eyewitness described the manifestations going on at the impartation of Bentley’s "anointing":

"These are the effects that I have witnessed on people who have attended this movement and either have had hands laid on them or claim to have been imparted with 'the spirit': -They come back with this kind of childlike drunken stupor. -Descriptions of a burning sensation either in their veins, heads or stomachs. -Descriptions of being washed back and forth like the waves in the ocean;-Dancing about like drunk...-Inappropriate yelling and screaming like they're at a football game;-Young men whistling over and over and holding their heads and claiming that they 'feel the Holy Spirit about to split them in two'; -One young man's back two teeth turned completely to some metallic finish.-People with their eyes rolled in the back of their heads and weaving around like they're lost.-Women just gyrating and pulsating like they're being ravaged from behind from some unseen force. -Drunken uncontrollable laughter in the middle of a solemn prayer time…-People being 'slain in the spirit'... just falling down and being unable to move (like something's holding them down)."

Then the blogger who posted this asked a pointed question about the women reported to be "ravaged from behind"-- "Am I misreading or does this mean that the women are literally acting like they are being "sexed up" by unseen supernatural forces?"

Another phenomenon I notice whenever watching any of these "outpourings" is people bent over, unable to straighten themselves up, while convulsing into their bellies. Whenever I see this, I’m reminded of the "spirit" from which Jesus delivered a woman as reported in Luke 13. Jesus said that this woman "whom Satan has bound" needed to be loosed – even on the Sabbath. So he released her from the spirit and "immediately she was made straight." These pitiful people who can’t straighten up their backs need to be loosed from whatever spirit Bentley is imparting.
Bentley’s Source of Power

We don’t have to play a guessing game to discern the source of Bentley’s power over undiscerning people. His own testimony reveals how he reportedly tapped into the spirit realm for the key to do signs and wonders.

In one of his "Fresh Fire" classes called "The Secret Place" (circa 2005, CD on file), Bentley takes his followers to Psalm 91 for his proof-text in examining how to get power.

[His voice on these tapes is very eerie – it is indistinguishable from a cult leader by the name of Anthony Marcolongo, a demonized "prophet" who back in the late 1980s abused his flock and molested his female followers. His tyranny came to an end when he was killed in a one-car crash and his body, along with his car, were wrapped around a tree.]

Here is the text in Psalm 91:1-2

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’"

And here is Bentley’s paraphrase of it that he gave in a gravely shouting voice:

"He who dwells, not visits, dwells in the abode of God shall be like the Most High in that you will be uppermost, far above, in the highest excellence of anything that you do in your life as supreme ruler in your circumstances. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High is supreme, far above uppermost, highest heights of heaven, lofty, excellence, overcoming Christian. Are you understanding me?!?"

So, according to Bentley, those who dwell in the secret place are "supreme" – supreme what? Lofty? Uppermost? Do those words sound familiar?

"How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’" (Isaiah 14:12-14)

It is hard to tell the difference between the words of Bentley and those of Satan! He went on to elaborate:

"You see, I want to be fruitful; I want to be far above. I want to be a conqueror; I want to be a mountain of strength; I want to be greatness. You know, we like that word greatness. Well, he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High automatically comes into everything that the Almighty is. It happens."

And here’s God’s response to the devil and to Bentley if he does not repent:

"But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit."
(Isaiah 14:15)

So how did Bentley purport to get into that secret place? He explains that in another session from the same conference in his message entitled, "Soaking." In that message he said that he began to practice "contemplative prayer" something he said he learned from studying the lives of mystics such as Brother Lawrence and an Indian mystic named Sundar Singh. He said that this silence launched his ministry after three months of soaking (meditating in an altered state of consciousness) culminated in a physical encounter with Jesus Christ who stood behind him and spoke to him audibly.

In reading about Singh on the Internet, I found out that he was a "Christian Sikh" Indian who lived from 1889 to 1929. He practiced mind-emptying meditation that he warned wasn’t for everybody since it held dangers. Wikipedia documents that Singh would visit the spirit plane during his times of silence. It said:

"Singh stated that he had contact with Swedenborg in the spirit world: ‘I saw him several times some years ago, but I did not know his earthly name. His name in the spiritual world is quite different just according to his high position or office and most beautiful character…Swedenborg was a great man, philosopher, scientist and, above all seer of clear visions. I often speak with him in my visions. He occupies a high place in the spiritual world ... Having read his books and having come into contact with him in the spiritual world, I can thoroughly recommend him as a great seer."

Wikipedia also points out that--

"Christian apologist Walter Martin classified Swedenborg and his followers among the cults…The difficulty for evangelicals is compounded by Singh's confirmation of contact with Swedenborg in the spirit world. This visionary form of contact with an unorthodox deceased teacher clashes with the portraits of piety drawn by later evangelical biographers."

It is also interesting, that Bentley claims to have witnessed to a witch doctor on the spirit plane while his body remained in his hotel room and he testifies that unseen angels have come to his rescue by throwing a potential mugger into a wall on his behalf.
Emma – the Demon of the Abode of Hell

Speaking of angels – that’s another source of power Bentley claims to have working for him.

The parallel passage to the description of Lucifer in Isaiah 14 is the 28th chapter of Ezekiel. Here God further describes His arch-enemy as one who has a great love for treasure.

"By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud" (Ezekiel 28:4-5).

Contrast that with Todd Bentley’s focus on riches as documented in an article called "ANGELS" & the FLORIDA HEALING REVIVAL - Warning!" written by Andrew Strom, a historian of the Charismatic Movement, who quoted Bentley from an article Bentley wrote in 2003 called "Angelic Hosts." Bentley wrote:

"So when I need a financial breakthrough I don't just pray and ask God for my financial breakthrough. I go into intercession and become a partner with the angels by petitioning the Father for the angels that are assigned to getting me money: ‘Father, give me the angels in heaven right now that are assigned to get me money and wealth. And let those angels be released on my behalf. Let them go into the four corners of the earth and gather me money.’"

Todd’s money-gathering angel’s name is Emma, who his good friend Bob Jones (discredited "prophet" who was disciplined for using his prophetic office to get women to undress for him) credits with birthing the discredited Kansas City Prophet movement of the late 1980s. In Bentley’s own words:

"Twice Bob Jones asked me about this angel that was in Kansas City in 1980: ‘Todd, have you ever seen the angel by the name of Emma?’ He asked me as if he expected that this angel was appearing to me. Surprised, I said, ‘Bob, who is Emma?’ He told me that Emma was the angel that helped birth and start the whole prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. She was a mothering-type angel that helped nurture the prophetic as it broke out. Within a few weeks of Bob asking me about Emma, I was in a service in Beulah, North Dakota. In the middle of the service I was in conversation with Ivan and another person when in walks Emma. As I stared at the angel with open eyes, the Lord said, ‘Here's Emma.’ I'm not kidding. She floated a couple of inches off the floor. It was almost like Kathryn Khulman in those old videos when she wore a white dress and looked like she was gliding across the platform. Emma appeared beautiful and young - about 22 years old - but she was old at the same time. She seemed to carry the wisdom, virtue and grace of Proverbs 31 on her life. She glided into the room, emitting brilliant light and colors. Emma carried these bags and began pulling gold out of them. Then, as she walked up and down the aisles of the church, she began putting gold dust on people...Within three weeks of that visitation, the church had given me the biggest offering I had ever received to that point in my ministry. Thousands of dollars! Thousands!... During this visitation the pastor's wife (it was an AOG church) got totally whacked by the Holy Ghost – she began running around barking like a dog or squawking like a chicken as a powerful prophetic spirit came on her. Also, as this prophetic anointing came on her, she started getting phone numbers of complete strangers and calling them up on the telephone and prophesying over them... Then angels started showing up in the church."

Bentley claims that his angel also assisted William Branham in his healing ministry in the 1960s. [Check out background on William Branham who called the Trinity a pagan doctrine.] In fact, Branham always claimed that he could do no healings until his angel showed up. Bentley refers to his angel as "the angel of the Lord" and also waits upon Emma for the signs and wonders to manifest. However, according to Bible scholars, the term "the angel of the Lord" is an Old Testament reference to the pre-incarnate Christ, also called a Theophany. It seems that Emma is really overstepping her bounds to be referred to as "the angel of the Lord."

This same Emma is credited with showing up in revivals spreading gold dust and dropping gems around. {See my article All That Glitters is not God’s Glory}

But who is Emma, if she exists at all? The Encyclopedia Britannica identifies Emma-o as a demon ruler in hell:

"Emma-o in Japanese Buddhist mythology, the overlord of hell … judges the souls of men… The sinner is sent to one of the 16 regions of fire or ice assigned him by Emma-o for a fixed period of time until the next rebirth."

Another online encyclopedia confirms Emma’s identity:

"The folklore of Chinese Taoism and Japanese Shintoism was naturally embodied in the mythology of the Buddhists, and we find therefore in their temples innumerable representations of hell with all their traditional belongings; Emma, the stern judge of Meifu, the dark tribunal; Kongo, the sheriff, and all the terrible staff of bailiffs, torturers, and executioners, among whom the steer-headed Gozu and the horse-headed Mezu are never missing."

Watching Bentley do his circus act can be very nauseating. He imparts his Emma spirit on the young people who come up for a touch. He flings the evil spirits upon them while yelling, "blah, blah, blah, blah" – whatever he means by that – and culminates it with slaying them in the "spirit" with the word "BAM!" [see link for example ] Why would he scream "Bam" over people? A clue is in his own words taken from the "The Secret Place" CD of the Fresh Fire conference referenced earlier. Bentley said:

"We’re like little chickens. We’re pretty defenseless and sometimes we’re just going through life pecking away… and then the wolf comes and we don’t even see it coming. Bam! He’s got you!"

That’s pretty scary. And what’s even scarier is what Bentley’s endorser, Wendy Alec, co-founder of God-TV prophesied regarding this latest "outpouring" of the unholy spirit:

"THIS is just the warm up party - for what you shall see in the coming days shall even make these days pale - with what I have up my sleeve. And I tell you my son - that THIS THAT I POUR OUT UPON YOU UPON FLORIDA shall flow to the east."

Does God have something up his sleeve? Of course not! These words emerged from the pit of hell where Emma rules.

♥♥♥

Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9)

[4him]

Hi Margie,

Thanks for posting this stuff. May God grant us all discernment in these days !

I had never known about the connection between Singh and Swedenborg. Many years ago, I had a read a story about him. While there were certain things about his life that struck me as strange ( eg his ability to 'communicate' with animals), at the time I had been quite impressed by his willingness to 'share Jesus' with his countrymen, including those in places like Tibet, which were so dangerous that people often did not return back from them alive.

However, in the past year, I've heard some concerning things about him. It seems like he tried to 'marry' Christianity with a number of other belief systems. It reminds me of how Jesus commanded his disciples to 'forsake all' and follow him. Also, Paul warned about following another gospel and when we take 'the gospel' and add other things to it, there soon becomes a point at which it becomes another gospel.

In Jesus,
John

[runner4jesus]

Here's an excellent article by Joseph Chambers; very sensible about what is going on in this area. It's also factual, even though I don't believe in the escape doctrine of the rapture. He's got some good information here.

www.raptureready.com/featured/chambers/jc21.html

[runner4jesus]

Here is an article, just came in from Jan Markell on Todd Bentley and the 3rd Wave.

FOOTPRINTS OF A PROPHET OR
TRACKS OF A WOLF?

I am writing the "inconvenient truth" today. I have been blitzed with e-mails about the Todd Bentley "revival" in Florida. Before you fall for his stories and "signs and wonders," please allow me to make some comments. I realize this will not be received well by many.

This is a Charismatic happening called the "third wave." The "first wave" was Toronto, and it fizzled out. The "second wave" was Pensacola, and it had the same fate. Now Bentley has brought in the "third wave," and folks are coming from around the world for the "anointing." Even the Charisma Magazine editor Lee Grady says -- sounding a warning -- "My inbox has been full of messages from Charismatic leaders who are concerned about everything from Bentley's tattoos and body piercings to his claim that he once interviewed the apostle Paul in Heaven. When I called for scrutiny of some aspects of the Lakeland Revival, I was labeled a Pharisee and a 'religious policeman.' I had suddenly become the enemy."

Who is Todd Bentley? He is an ex-Satanist, a pierced and tattooed signs and wonders guy, and a man who gets messages from angels, particularly one named Emma. He does not open the Bible and preach. When he is "under the anointing" he can cause tumors to "explode," he says. The Holy Spirit told him to kick a lady in the face with his biker boot so he did so. If he tries to deal with someone he thinks might be demonized, he gets nothing short of violent, virtually choking a man he is trying to exorcise. He also gets violent when he uses the word "bam."

As Mike Oppenheimer from Let us Reason says, "Instead of people getting saved, they are getting lost--by listening to a man's experiences of the supernatural that are unbiblical and untrue."

Oppenheimer continues, "This revival has all the spiritual sensations and activities of the other revivals combined: Roaring, groaning, burning sensations in the body, head, and stomach; shaking, jerking, spiritual drunkenness and uncontrollable laughter and then some new manifestations. People have their eyes rolled back in the back of their heads. There are reports of women gyrating and pulsating like they've been ravaged from behind by some unseen force. Holy or un-holy may still be debated by some but to those of us who are knowledgeable of the previous 'revivals' and the power of the occult, the jury is in. The source is not the God of the Bible. This may disturb some but if they will use their Bible, pray, and think it through, they will gain discernment and spiritual understanding."

The shakes, jerks, twitching, frozen stillness, laughter, animal sounds, and more have all been standard in other "revivals." The Florida Revival is nothing new but it is preying on young and new believers who do not know their Bibles. It is also preying on the desperate: Sick people who can find no medical help.

Critic Jacob Prasch says, "The crowds following Bentley are seen being overcome by ugly spirits of drunkenness and stupor. It reflects the faulty theology of those in 'the river' movement popularized by the so-called 'Toronto Blessing.' Song lyrics reflect Kingdom-Now visions of the church taking over all the elements of society and setting up a kingdom on earth before the Lord returns which the Bible contradicts."

Todd himself talks about the mad chaos--totally uncharacteristic of God. He says, "During a visitation, the pastor's wife got totally whacked by the Holy Ghost. She began running around barking like a dog or squawking like a chicken as a powerful prophetic spirit came on her."

The research site "Lighthouse Trails Research Project" reports that, "The following information will show Bentley's spiritual resonance with a man named Sundar Singh (1829-1929). At one point in Bentley's ministry, he had a vision of Sundar Singh. This vision influenced Bentley. According to the biographer of Singh, Singh spent much of his life in deep trance-like states communicating with spiritual beings." Through this he saw the "glories" of the spirit world. He combined East and West in his meditative disciplines. He had long hours of meditation and days of silence.

Bentley talks about himself being possessed by demons, undergoing a deliverance, his past Satanic worship, his mother levitating, and demons writing 666 on his cupboard in his kitchen.

It is hard to tell the difference between the words of Bentley and those of Satan! Todd says: "You see, I want to be fruitful; I want to be far above. I want to be a conqueror; I want to be a mountain of strength; I want to be greatness. You know, we like that word greatness. Well, he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High automatically comes into everything that the Almighty is. It happens." Sounds like Isaiah 14:12 - 14 to me.

Angelology plays a large role here. He talks to an angel named Emma and he says, "So when I need a financial breakthrough, I don't just pray and ask God for my financial breakthrough. I go into intercession and become a partner with the angels by petitioning the Father for the angels that are assigned to getting me money: 'Father, give me the angels in heaven right now that are assigned to get me money and wealth. And let those angels be released on my behalf. Let them go into the four corners of the earth and gather me money.'"

As reported by Jacob Prasch, "Bentley refers to his angel as 'the angel of the Lord' and also waits upon Emma for the signs and wonders to manifest. However, according to Bible scholars, the term 'the angel of the Lord' is an Old Testament reference to the pre-incarnate Christ, also called a Theophany. It seems that Emma is really overstepping her bounds to be referred to as 'the angel of the Lord.'" She is most likely a demon.

Bentley and his close friend, the exposed false prophet Paul Cain, look to disgraced "prophet" William Branham. Pentecostal pastor Bill Randles says, "The only problem was Branham's teaching. He had a few quirks, such as his belief that the doctrine of the Trinity was of the devil, his belief that the zodiac was as valid as the Word of God, and his unfortunate belief that he was the angel of the Church of Laodicea! When he died in a head-on auto crash in 1965, his followers were so obsessed with his 'works of power,' they delayed burying him for several months, hoping that he would be resurrected the following Easter! He was that GREAT!"

We are warned in the Bible that the devil will "transform himself into an angel of light," and that in the last days will come "lying signs and wonders" that will deceive, if possible, the very elect" (II Thess. 2:9). Doesn't the Bible tell us that the devil is capable of the supposed "miracles" at the Bentley meetings? Tragically, many pastors are having hands laid on them to receive this "Florida anointing" and further spread this chaos.

So what started April 2, 2008, at Ignited Church in Lakeland, Florida, is now spreading everywhere. With today's death of discernment, guys like Bentley flourish and prosper. We are in a season of weak gospel-preaching as well. This longing for the signs and wonders of one man is but paving the way for the "man of sin," the "lawless one," the Antichrist. What many believe is the anointing of the Holy Spirit is really nothing but "kundalini power" which in sanskrit means coiled as a snake. You can watch Todd exercising that power at the above link. You can learn much more in Caryl Matrisciana's brilliant film, "Yoga Uncoiled" as well as her film "Supernatural Powers" which deals with God's angels and fallen angels. You can also learn more about "kundalini power" at this link.

It says in II Timothy 3 that in the last days evil will wax worse and worse with men seducing, deceiving, and being deceived. Todd Bentley is a deceiver who is himself deceived. He will likely stand before the Lord some day and say, "But Lord, I did this all in Your Name." But he is exercising serpent-power, not Holy Spirit power.

Pray for Todd and the legions following him and believing every word out of his mouth. Pray that their eyes would be opened before they are further spiritually damaged. We are not trying to demonize Todd; rather, we hope to protect some sheep, which our pastors should be doing but many are not.

[runner4jesus]

This was just sent to me by a brother we know well, who has a valid ministry.

Revolution Ministries published a new entry entitled "Guards Up" on 6/17/2008 4:52:50 PM, written by Brian Cranford.
Guards Up

When I was speaking at a church in Mississippi last year, the pastor said a very interesting thing to me. I had spoken about not being deceived in the last days. Deception will be everywhere, and if you are not very careful, Satan will deceive you and pull you away from the truth. Afterwards, he made a very simple statement to me. He said one of our main problems as Christians is that when we get around religious folks, we put our guards down instead of up. We naturally trust religious people, because we don’t think they will steer us in the wrong direction. But when the Bible tells us about false christs and false prophets, those are religious folks that we need to careful of.
So let’s put our guards up and take a look at something that is happening right now that seems to be turning into a phenomenon. Remember your guard is your Bible, and we must filter things through that prism to see if something is true or not.
1 John 4:1 says,

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

The word “try” here means to test or to examine something. There is nothing wrong with questioning things and examining things to see if they are really of God. As a matter of fact, that is what we are supposed to be doing! We can’t contend for the faith unless we test and try things. That is how we can then tell if false teachings are making there way into our Christian circles.
There is something happening right now called the Florida Outpouring. It is a supposed move of God where a lot of people are being saved and a lot of people are being healed. People are driving in from everywhere to be there, and people have flown as far away as Australia to be at these meetings. The services are led by Todd Bentley. I have been getting a lot of emails about this and some phone calls. So I decided to take a look at what was happening and test the spirits to see if they were from God.
This newsletter is going to take you a little bit longer to get through than most of them that I write. I am going to provide you with some video links so you can see for your self what is going on.
Click on the link below and watch Todd for a few minutes as he walks down a healing line:

www.alittleleaven.com/2008/05/todd-bentley-th.html

One of the first things that you notice is that he is completely wrong on what he is telling these ladies. He even says thank you Lord Jesus and then says something completely inaccurate about the woman! So who was really speaking to him? Just because people use the right religious words does not, and I repeat, does not mean they are from Jehovah God. As a matter of fact, those are the people that you have to be most careful about.
Deuteronomy 18 is a great chapter to read. The last verse of it says,

“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

When prophets speak for God, they need to be 100% accurate. Why? It is God speaking through them. He will not and has not ever been wrong. If someone is speaking for God prophetically and they get one thing wrong, they are someone we do not need to fear because it is not the God of the Bible speaking through them.
Also do you see him slaying people in the spirit where he puts his hand on people’s heads and they fall under the “power of the spirit?” Now, do you find that anywhere in the Bible? The answer is no. You do find it in some charismatic circles but never in the Bible.
Click on the below link. You can read what was written by the person who put this link on his site:

endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/watch-todd -bentley-laughing-at-the-lakeland-healing-revival-2

Is that uncontrollable, wild laughter of God? Where do you see that in the New Testament? Is that part of Paul’s and Peter’s ministries? The supposed holy laughter movement has one big leader here in America. His name is Rodney Howard Brown. The only problem is that it isn’t biblical. What about that uncontrollable shaking? You find it in occultic circles, but you do not see it in the Holy Word of God.
Click on the link below and see what you can find that glorifies the Lord and shows up in the New Testament. This clip is absolutely amazing. How can people watch this and think it is from God? It is called deception.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BYxoSYTr_E&eurl=http://christianr esearchnetwork.com/

In the link below, Todd talks about an angel Emma that brings financial breakthroughs for people. The angel also has gold dust. A friend told me that one of his friends went to this revival in Florida and people had gold dust show up on their shoulders and their fillings in their teeth became gold. Do you see this anywhere in the Bible? In the same post, Todd talks about the pastor’s wife running around the church barking like a dog! But because we live in a touchy feely world and we want to experience things and want our flesh titillated, we fall for unbiblical stuff like this. It is a manifestation of a spirit, but it is not the Holy Spirit.

www.qaya.org/blog/?p=527

In the following blog post, Todd talks about a trip he took to the third heaven. During his time there he got to spend some time in a small cabin with the apostle Paul. What is the first big giveaway when someone mentions something like that? Deuteronomy 18:10,11 says,

“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.”

Necromancy is contacting the dead. We are NEVER supposed to contact the dead. We have the living Word of God that we consult.

bob-mitchell.blogspot.com/2008/05/todd-bentley-false-flori da-revival-part_15.html

And the link below is one of the ones that really, really blew me away.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zMRChoojZo&feature=related

If you have ever studied alien abductions, what he is describing is exactly what others have described during those encounters. These are not angels of God folks. These belong to an angel of light, Satan himself. Portals are of the occult world and you do not find them in the Bible. Many people who have had alien abductions have talked about being on an operating table and being operated on.
One of the bigger problems that I see from people today is that they are looking for a sign or something to confirm their faith. Again what does the Scriptures say? Matthew 16:4 states,

“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”

The thing to always remember is that we don’t need signs and wonders to confirm our faith! Once you have the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that is all the confirmation you need to know this is true!
One night, I decided to watch this Florida Outpouring. It was a four hour service that evening. Todd used six scripture verses where he had people go to their Bibles. It took about ten minutes. How does a four hour service have only ten minutes of Scripture in it? He even mentioned that he has been getting critiqued by people because he hasn’t been using the word of God in his services. We must challenge our audiences to know the word of God above all else, so that they will not be deceived in the coming days.
During this service, Todd had children come up. Of course kids haven’t been conditioned like adults. When he laid hands on the kids to slay them in the spirit, which again is not in the Bible, many of the kids didn’t fall over. He would even push on their head some. They wouldn’t fall over. If this was all true, I would think the Holy Spirit would have enough power to knock a kid over! So again very clearly it is not the Holy Spirit, but some another kind of spirit.
One good thing to do when another big name pops up on the scene is to take their name plus the words ‘false prophet’ and put them into a search engine and hit enter. See what pops up. Now don’t believe everything you read, but filter it back through the word of God. If a bunch of red flags pop up, be careful. I did that for Todd and many, many red flags began to pop up. I did that for myself when I was writing this newsletter to see what came up. Why would I do that? I often pray, ‘Father do not let me be deceived so that I will not deceive other people.’ You need to have your guard up around me as well. More and more ministers and ministries should be saying just that to the people that they influence.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 says,

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”

Remember that all signs and wonders are not of God. Be very careful in the coming days.
2 Thessalonians 2:11 says,

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”

Delusion is coming folks. Would you know the difference if something was from God or from Satan?
Jesus says in Matthew 24:24,

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

Wow. That must be pretty strong delusion if it could possibly deceive the elect.
And Deuteronomy 13 also tells us, even if the signs and wonders come true you still check that person’s doctrine and teachings to see if it is of the God of the Bible. We must test everything that happens today and in all days to come back through the Holy Bible.
In just a very short time of researching this, it is very easy to spot Todd Bentley as a false prophet. So many of these false moves of God keep coming out of the charismatic circles. Todd is either doing this on purpose to deceive people, or he is doing all of this unknowingly. Either way, it is false. He is a charlatan. These are not easy words to write. I don’t like it that there is another false representative of the Lord Jesus Christ out there. But I am much more concerned of the fact of warning the readers of these newsletters to be very careful of the current and coming deceptions. Be careful.
Is your guard up or is your guard down? It will really determine how the Lord can use you for His glory in the coming days.

Permalink: BLOG.REVOLUTIONMINISTRIES.US/2008/06/17/guards-up.aspx

[runner4jesus]

Here is a very informative video and what is really going on at Lakewood.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqJaJzHdGaI

[runner4jesus]

TODD BENTLEY SELLING THE ANOINTING...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3osW9iwbfU

Article from End Time Deception

ATM Machines Set Up at Todd Bentley’s Meetings

This story is also from Slaughter of the Sheep. Kinda made me sick when I read it. I guess the Lord would be overturning ATM machines now days in his church.

“When attending church, it doesn’t take long to see what the main focus of that church is. Either the service will be centrally focused on Jesus through praise, worship, and teaching of the Word of God, or it will focus on signs, wonders, miracles, and money. If your pastor or speaker approaches the platform with Bible in hand, and expounds the true Word of God to those in attendance, then you know that is a Bible believing church. If your speaker or teacher approaches the platform with twitches, shakes, screaming, and an hour-long testimony about all the things he himself is doing in his “ministry,” then you know the teacher is self-centered and not teaching the whole council of God.

What you focus on tells what you serve. In this case, Todd Bentley, according to World Magazine, spent at least 30 minutes on the offering alone. The magazine also reports that there are ATM machines set up at the Lakeland Revival. This should make it more convenient to keep the people giving. How considerate of them. What time he wasn’t talking about himself or manifestations, he was talking about money.

This is from World Magazine:

A visit to one of Bentley’s services suggests that he is learning how to turn the big crowds into big money. ATM machines have been set up, providing attendees with ready cash for the offering plate and book purchases. The offering is now a significant part of the service, taking as long as 30 minutes. Bentley has not released financial information, saying he is “too busy keeping up with what God is doing” to pull the information together.

[runner4jesus]

By Slaughter of the Sheep

The Lakeland Outpouring Now Heading to London

Hold onto your seats, folks, the Lakeland Outpouring is now headed to London. Soon, we will not only be talking about the Lakeland Outpouring, but the London Outpouring as well if this thing spreads like they want it to.

This is from the Church Times:

TODD Bentley, the revivalist behind the Florida Outpouring, is to send some of his Fresh Fire Ministries team over to the UK for a London Outpouring from 10 to 12 July. It will take place at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster, in association with Premier Christian Radio.

Reported healing miracles at his church in Lakeland have been interpreted as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and elicit comparisons with the Toronto Blessing of 1994. Visitors to the events in Florida have brought back its influence, chiefly in the Dudley Outpouring in the West Midlands, led by Trevor Baker, pastor of the Revival Fires church. Source.

Speaking of the Dudley Outpouring, the same article has this to say about the preacher leading it:

In Dudley, Mr Baker uses a cloth soaked in anointing oil, given to him by Mr Bentley, to anoint everyone present at his meetings, sometimes numbering 1000.Meetings have been streamed on the internet, with people praying for each other online. There is anointing for debt-cancellation, where those present wave their paperwork in the air and those online press it to the computer screen. Source. (emphasis mine)

A cloth soaked in anointing oil given to him by Mr. Todd Bentley himself. That’s certainly one way to take the spirits back with you. Having more faith in Todd Bentley than God Himself is spiritually suicidal. Mr. Bentley is known to be a false prophet, one who subverts the sheep by leading them down a road of spiritual invocations with seducing spirits, not the Holy Spirit of God. Undiscerning pastors from across the globe are coming to Florida to “get some” and take it back and feed it to their own flocks. More baby Christians being fed poison milk. Is it any wonder error spreads like wildfire when the pastors, who are responsible for feeding their flocks the pure Word of Truth, don’t know the scriptures themselves? They’re teaching them fallacy and leading them straight into error?

For those who do start doubting these strange doctrines, they begin to exclusively self-feed when they can’t trust their pastors, and that too can lead to error. It’s like an endless circle of frustration for those of us watching it.

Todd Bentley Gets “Anointed” By Special Oil from Africa

There was so much in that one article from Tampa.com, I had to bust it up into three posts to cover it all because I didn’t want all the information to get lost in a long entry.

I believe the article can speak for itself. Please comment and tell me what you think? I’m just wondering why there is any significance in the oil being from Africa? Does that make it any more holy? Does that make it any more potent? Why Africa? Isn’t American anointing oil just as good? Or, was there some sort of special power “imparted” into this oil? The oil Todd Bentley was anointed with when he was commissioned was this oil from Africa.

Examples of behavior like this is what leads credence to the admonition from the discerning saints that Todd Bentley is influenced by mysticism.

July 1, 2008
Lakeland Outpouring Attendance Now Passes 400,000

Now past it’s 86th day, the attendance at the so-called revival in Lakeland, Florida has now passed the 400,000 mark.

Sometimes it seems as if the voices of the Bereans goes unheard. Whether or not our warnings are heeded, secular media is listening, as is evidenced by this article in Tampa.com:

In the Christian blogosphere, Bentley has been demonized. Religious observers say his methods veer toward New Age mysticism and the occult. Many call him a false prophet. In any case, his style has more in common with Austin 3:16 than its biblical antecedent: It seems borrowed from Wrestlemania. Source.

The article goes on to say that GodTV is beaming this revival throughout the globe. In these last days, you may ask yourself why such a wolf could gather such a strong following when he is so blatantly anti-biblical. Todd Bentley takes a good share of the blame…but not all of it. The sheep are to blame as well.

God’s Word makes it clear that in these times, people won’t want to hear sound doctrine. They want to hear sermons that bolster their sinful desires. As a result, they will give people like Todd Bentley a platform, and champion him to global fame. Meanwhile, the voices of the watchmen on the wall go unheeded by those who care nothing for the truth of God’s Word.

Blame Todd Bentley all you want, but if the flock would seek the truth of God’s Word, Bentley wouldn’t have a platform to speak his heresy from.

June 28, 2008
If You Want True Revival - Repent!

When I prayerfully ponder all that is currently going on in the modern church, I can’t help but feel such a heavy burden for the sadly blinded flock. Rick Warren is teaching marketing strategies instead of God’s infallible Word, and teaching others to do so, Todd Bentley is guiding people to bypass Jesus and embrace seducing spirits, Marilyn Hickey and other WoF teachers are selling trinkets to the poor, sick, and despondent to pad their bank accounts, and Patricia King is chasing signs and wonders all over the earth. I could go on and on, but you get the point.

Those who subscribe to such fallacy say that this is God revealing Himself in these end times. But, God has already revealed Himself in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Outside of Jesus, there is no other revelation. That’s what they don’t understand.

To have revival, true Holy Ghost revival, there must be brokenness and repentance. How else can you be revived without submitting yourself to God? I’m reminded of the Pharisee who prayed and said that he thanked God that he wasn’t as other sinners, and proceeded to exalt himself. Yet, there also stood a publican who wouldn’t even lift his eyes to look up; he thumped his chest and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:10-14). The publican was the one who was justified because of his contrite heart, and because of his repentance. He was revived.

Many associated with the Lakeland Outpouring believe the manifestations they are experiencing is of God. How sad. They haven’t a clue that what God truly wants is for us to humble ourselves and call upon the name of the Lord (1 Peter 5). He wants us to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him. He wants us to learn His Word, and walk in His ways. He wants us to be obedient. This requires faith.

Why are people so blind? With the pastors we have today, is it any wonder? Not all can fall under this indictment, but many can. If the flock had been taught the pure Word of God when they were young, they would have grown tall and strong in the faith. Instead, they were taught a watered down, man-centered gospel where the cross is belittled, Hell is expunged, and the Holy Spirit is the central focus, not Jesus. The modern church is being taught nothing of God’s wrath, original sin, or the need for a Savior. If you don’t preach sin, then there’s no need to preach the need for a Savior, and then Jesus’ sacrifice loses its significance. They don’t understand the full measure of what Jesus did for them. They were never really introduced to God. Instead, they have an idea of God that is convoluted and false. They have no idea of who He is.

What tears at my heart more than anything is that during these last days, it will get worse. The love of many shall wax cold, as our Savior said. When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?

[4him]

youtube.com/watch?v=HW7LBnM6GvE

This sermon about 'the Kingdom' reminds me of some of the things that I've heard at our church lately, since someone has been filling in for our senior pastor, while he's away on holidays. Please pray for me for God's grace and wisdom to speak as I ought to speak, and to know whether we should be looking for another church, at this point. I have been praying for others in my church to become aware of the deception of 'Kingdom theology', and it looks like another person in my church is becoming concerned as well.
In Jesus,
John

[runner4jesus]

There's been a lot of opposition coming from the Christian quarter these days against T. Bentley and his antics. Now the wolf in sheep's clothing is cleaning up his act a bit. The devil is clever in the vessels he uses. He knows the word of God, of course in a limited sense; but he also uses the Word of God to deceive. He always has a certain amount of truth to be convincing. In TB's preaching on that last video, there are elements of truth in it about the kingdom of God; but knowing everything else about him, he's one man not to follow.

[4him]

Dear Margie,

Can you and others please pray for me as I am currently corresponding with someone in my church who has been promoting 'Kingdom theology' ? I am not sure where he stands on Todd Bentley, but he has asked for some info about connections between Bentley and William Branham. This person seems to have some concerns about William Branham already.

I hope that my email is not too blunt, however I felt it was necessary to carry a strong message, given the seriousness of the doctrinal errors being taught by Todd Bentley, and the possibility that this person is currently open to his teachings.

Please let me know if I should change anything in this letter :-)

In Jesus,
John



Dear ___,

Thanks for your note. I hope you had a nice holiday ! You had asked me about William Branham and some of his teachings that I was concerned about. Some of the most significant ones that come to mind would be :

- That the trinity is a doctrine of devils
- A statement that ‘man is omnipotent’
- A belief that the bible came in 3 forms; the written word, the zodiac and the pyramids
- That he was an incarnation of Elijah
- A reverence for spiritist and occultist mediums (ie giving weight to their predictions).
- Many of his teachings he said were given to him by an angel who he said taught him throughout his life.


- Given William Branham’s many serious departures from Christian truths, I am concerned that Todd Bentley claims to have received teachings from the same angel as William Branham. Also, both Branham and Bentley said/say that before praying for someone for healing they would experience a tingling sensation in the SAME hand. Considering how very far off Branham’s teachings were from what scripture teaches, I am concerned about the source of the power he was operating under. Since Bentley shares the same source of inspiration (same angel) and experiences the same physical manifestation, I am similarly concerned about what is influencing his thinking.

- My understanding is that T.L. Osborne was aware of some of the grevious doctrines taught by Branham, however in a Youtube video I watched where he talked about this, he explained that he continued to look to Branham as a mentor, despite having this understanding about him.

- Here are some other concerns of mine about Todd Bentley :

He has been known to punch, kick etc people when he prays for them. As I see no record of this in the Bible, I find there’s reason to question whether these actions are of God.

- Todd Bentley has had visions where he says that he has been in heaven and has spoken to God. While there, he says God showed him all the ‘offerings’ of the saints and told him that these offerings were for him. To me this sounds like materialism and is contrary to what is found in 1 Timothy where it says that ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain’ and ‘Those who desire to be rich fall into a snare that drowns men into perdition’

- Todd Bentley also says that if someone is preaching an annointed message at the front of the church and someone else wants to ‘sow into this annointing’ this person can run to the front of the church and slap money on the altar. This reminds me of the place in the Bible where it talks about Simon the sorcerer wanting to ‘buy the annointing of God’.


I am sure you can see why I have concerns about William Branham and some of the teachers who have been associated with him. I am all for experiencing power in ministry, but I believe that when this power is connected with teachers who are far off in their doctrines, then I feel it’s important to take a step back, and to ask God for wisdom to understand what is going on, so that I can worship him in ‘Spirit and in truth’.

Please let me know what your thoughts are about what I have shared about William Branham and Todd Bentley.

Love in Christ,

John

[runner4jesus]

Hello John: My apologies for not responding to your post on Bentley and your prayer request. Your letter is excellent and I do pray that God used it when you shared it. Please give us a report of the affects it had and what God did as a result. You covered good solid facts about William Branham and Todd Bentley. There are certainly similarities to these two men. The source of their power is evil without a doubt.

Well, God is faithful and now The Lakeland so-called revival is fading, and moving from a 10,000 seat tent to a 700 seat church. God is faithful, and the watchmen at large have blown the trumpet in Zion and warned God's people. To God be all the glory for bringing truth. Here is an article from Slaughter of the Sheep.


Slaughter of the Sheep
WordPress.org

Todd Bentley Revival Ending
Posted on August 2, 2008 by Chrystal

The tents are coming down!

After today’s service, the tents in Lakeland are coming down, and the revival is moving back to Ignited Church where it originated. The revival was slated to end August 23rd, but with dwindling crowds, the hefty price tag may be too much for those in charge of the revival to continue, and it is shutting down early.

When the so-called revival first began, Bentley made the bold statement that God told him this revival would continue until the second coming of the Lord. Either God was mistaken, or Bentley was speaking presumptuously in the name of God. After being cornered by all the media attention and the discernment ministries who kept sounding the alarm, Bentley ran away, not able to suffer having his theology tested, or the glaring eye of the spotlight searching him for answers to his bold claims. In other words, he realized his antics weren’t taking place in a vacuum, and there was accountability for his actions. When the heat reached a boiling point, he bailed.

What does this mean for his enablers such as Patricia King, Bob Jones, Stacey Campbell, Che Ahn, Paul Cain, Rick Joyner, and others who prophesied over Todd in his commissioning? Stacey Campbell arrogantly stated that Todd was chosen by God to carry this revival forward because he asked for it in a way that no one else had. Campbell, with head in full swing, was supposedly speaking for God. Did God change His mind? No, Campbell wasn’t hearing from God…she was speaking out of the abundance of her own wickedness and uttering false prophesies.

I praise God that many, many, many in the blogosphere ran to the front lines and stood together in solidarity, sounding the alarm and warning others with the truth of God’s Word. While time is short, let us keep pressing on. As the Lord continues to delay, there will be others who speak presumptuously, and time will continue to grow darker as we approach the day of His appearing. Keep looking up.

[4him]

Hi Margie,

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement ! I am so glad to hear that the 'revival' is dwindling. I do pray that Todd Bentley and others may be recovered from this error and that God's word and God's Spirit might be their sole source of inspiration and power. What you posted by Chrystal is great.

God bless you, dear sister :-)
In Jesus,
John

[runner4jesus]

BREAKING NEWS!

Todd Bentley and wife Shonnah separate!

Thanks to Bene Diction’s blog for the following breaking story. This is sad news and we need to continue to pray for this family. Just one question comes to mind……Could Todd Bentley’s marriage troubles be the reason that the tent in Lakeland folded early?

www.benedictionblogson.com/2008/08/12/todd-bentley-and-wife-...


Our Canadian charlatan, who headed to the US, made a small fortune and created a multi-media buzz in neo-charismatic services is separating from his wife and kids. He has not been able to draw the numbers, the money and do the hoodwinking in Canada and the UK, and started his Lakeland revival back in April, partnering with whomever wanted a cut. It was announced he had bought property in Polk County. Now the Bentley’s marriage has crumbled. Lakeland Ledger:


“Separation May End Bentley’s Lakeland Appearances

Todd Bentley, the evangelist who has led the Florida Outpouring revival here in Lakeland since April 2, has filed for separation from his wife and might not return to the revival, according to his former local spokesperson, Lynne Breidenbach. She said Bentley made the announcement to his staff this afternoon. Bentley and his wife, Shonnah, have two daughters and a son and are Canadian citizens. Under Canadian law, separation is a first step in divorce proceedings and takes nine months. Bentley and his wife have been in marriage counseling for several months, Breidenbach said. She called the situation “very sad” but insisted it “doesn’t invalidate what Todd did” at the revival.

Breidenbach, who said her contract with Bentley’s Fresh Fire ended today, said it is not clear whether Bentley will make further appearances at the revival. About two weeks ago, Bentley announced he would leave the revival on Aug. 23 in order to resume his traveling evangelistic work. The Fresh Fire Ministries Web site indicates that a September appearance by Bentley in England has been postponed. Stay tuned for further information.”

Fresh Fire Ministries bought the Florida empty ( update: maybe not empty, see comments) lot the end of July.

In all the bizarre goings on, one of the things that struck me was the pain in the background in the knighting/commissioning tape. We catch a brief glimpse of a few of the wives of these self proclaimed prophets. It’s heart-breaking. Peter Wagner’s wife can been seen briefly in a motorized wheelchair. James Goll’s wife has cancer. Shonnah Bentley is in obvious pain and looking deeply distressed. (This is the last few minutes of the hastily called commissioning by men who lead thousands and thousands of sincere hurting seeking people astray).

See my blog entries on Todd Bentley’s occult commissioning service here:

truthspeaker.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/page/2/



More of the knighting ceremony is here. For those that have followed Bentley’s rise and fall, you know the history. From the start Christians across the US, Australia, New Zealand and the UK began to question the theology and behavior coming from Lakeland. They were dismissed as heresy hunters until Pentecostals and charismatics also began to speak up. The unwillingness of Fresh Fire, Ignited (Lakeland) and God TV to be transparent, to address extra-biblical teaching escalated and Bentley wound up on a US network investigative show. It was his second (he’d brushed off Fox News) and Bentley took off.


While the PR machine in New York and GodTV tried to keep the buzz going, the very mediums used to start it were where insiders began to publicly back away. Charisma magazine’s Lee Grady, Robert Ricciardelli, a Member of Peter Wagner’s International Coalition of Apostles spoke on Salem Radio a US religious chain. The Assemblies of God in the US spoke up. The Lakeland tent folded and more human dominoes began to fall. The sham of unity crumbled, and now some of the leaders such as Peter Wagner who appeared in the knighting ceremony are backing away as publicly as they endorsed Lakeland.

We reap what we sow, we serve a holy God who will not be mocked. Satan can’t be blamed. Other’s can’t be blamed, no spin heals the wounded, and God’s love calls us to remember the lessons of history and immature leadership. There are no shortcuts, faith is not bling. Wisdom must be sought, it is not handed to us. We work out our salvation with awe and trembling. PR firms, business models, media platforms do not hide the lies of our life when we face the cross.

Would an unstable Canadian with a fractured marriage cause such a tumbling and upheaval again?
No.


I think a great deal more has gone on behind the scenes that has not been made public. These movements are cults of personality, existing for profit and for power. I continue to hope and pray the days of charlatans being taken at face value and controlling their message in media for long periods of time is over.

As fast as self proclaimed leaders con, there are people willing to step forward, and offer the standards of measurement believers hold to. I see no glee, no schadenfreude from those who Lakeland leaders mocked as ‘heresy hunters’.

There are more Todd Bentley’s waiting in the wings, the roots of these movements are rotten to their core, and we reap what we sow. Bentley’s show helped GodTV get out of temporary debt, I believe Lakeland’s ‘revival’ was calculated, planned, the Strader family are no strangers to raising money.


Few are surprised by the broken people left behind.

[runner4jesus]

Evidently there was more going on that meets the eye behind the scenes.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4NtcnfscoU

This goes for all of us, last part of the verse. Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: AND BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT.

This is the printed version of the apology by Fresh Fire Ministries.

August 15, 2008

From the Board of Directors

We wish to thank all of our friends and partners for the overwhelming flood of support and compassion we have received as a ministry on behalf of Todd and Shonnah Bentley. The many phone calls and emails of concern from people who genuinely love the Bentleys and Fresh Fire Ministries have been a great encouragement to all of us here during these past few days. In particular, the rallying of support and prayer for Todd and Shonnah by prominent leaders within the Body of Christ has been a beautiful indicator of the maturity and grace the Lord is bringing to his Bride.

We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, 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.

On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors we wish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger body of Christ and to ask for your forgiveness. We are truly sorry for the pain many of you must feel and so regret that in the midst of great revival, the enemy has found a way into our camp. To those who have stood by us, we wish to thank you for what in many cases has been years of support. Thank you for your financial giving towards the vision of this ministry, and thank you especially for your prayers. For those of our partners, friends and supporters who may be struggling with the recent disclosures and finding continued support of this ministry in conflict with either conscience or conviction, we release and bless you with all our hearts and trust that God will redeem in your hearts the good that He has accomplished in your lives through this ministry. It is our sincerest hope and prayer that the Lord bless you and bring you into your fullest destiny in Him.

When this ministry was initially birthed in May of 1998, Todd had but one simple desire in his heart – to see the world come to know Jesus. Now, only 10 years later, Fresh Fire Ministries has grown to become a Resource Center that is literally reaching out to all the corners of the Earth. There have been dozens of associate ministries, scores of interns and hundreds of graduates from the Supernatural Training Center. Over 60 nations have received a combined total of more than five million dollars in humanitarian aid and we have seen well over one million conversions for Jesus Christ.

And so, the question can well be asked... where do we go from here? It is true that we are deeply saddened by these recent events, but it hasn’t shaken our faith in either God or His goodness towards us and with the help of wise and compassionate leaders within the body, we will do everything within our power to see our brother and sister healed and restored.

As a ministry, we can not forsake the vision and heartbeat upon which Todd Bentley founded Fresh Fire Ministries which is simply this:

Matthew 10:7-8
And as you go, Preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

While Todd and Shonnah each go through the necessary steps towards restoration and wholeness, we are compelled, with the resources with which God has entrusted us, to continue to spread God’s love and power all over the world.

There are many noble activities and endeavors in which Fresh Fire Ministries is involved, initiated by Todd, and to which we are still committed. We have the Supernatural Training Centre, our school of ministry, already in it’s fourth full year and with more than 50 students already enrolled we’re believing for an amazing year of biblical instruction, practical application and encounters with the presence of God. Many mature and gifted speakers and associates, graduated interns and teachers filled brim-full with the DNA and fire of this ministry are ready to pour revelation and passion into the hungry hearts of this coming year’s student body.

We will continue to host conferences in our region with speakers and worship leaders from around the nation whose message and mandates resonate with the vision and heart of Fresh Fire Ministries. In addition, we are committed to supporting the growing “OutPourings” across North America and around the world with our Associates, with encouragement and prayer support. In Todd’s own words, “What God is doing is bigger than one man”, and we now have a golden opportunity as the Body of Christ to pick up the baton and to run with perseverance for His glory.

Our missions department is progressing, as previously mentioned, with our major African crusade. With close to 100 team members in attendance, excitement is beginning to build and team members have responded that they are still believing God for the most amazing missions trip ever! Our Uganda Jesus Village in Kampala is forging ahead with the recent acquisition of 35 acres of land 30 minutes drive from our present location. Two of the 15 homes planned for the property are nearing completion, and the expanded village, when finished, will house almost 150 orphans rescued from war torn northern Uganda.

So whether in our Children’s Home in Africa, in our Supernatural Training Centre in British Columbia, in the revival meetings and outpourings spreading around the globe, or in taking teams to minister compassion and practical assistance to the poor in the far corners of the Earth, we have been and still are committed to bringing love, hope and a demonstration of the saving, healing, delivering power of the Gospel to a world in need.

Thank you all once again for your prayers and support. We bless each and every one of you in whatever decision you must make. Please know that our heart in all of this is to see the name of the Lord vindicated, and we take great encouragement from Psalm 23 and the Lord’s promise that He will “lead us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Together we look to the mercy and wisdom of our loving Father and we remain as ever, your brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Fresh Fire Board of Directors