Showing posts with label Todd Bentley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Todd Bentley. Show all posts

Revival & the Todd Bentley Restoration I

By Rick Joyner

I first want to apologize for this Bulletin being long overdue. We have tried to cover most of the issues that people have had questions about concerning Todd’s restoration in video bulletins simply because it was so much easier and faster that way. However, not everyone has been able to watch all of the videos, so I will try to address the most important issues and commonly asked questions in a series of Special Bulletins. I also want to apologize for this Bulletin being a bit long. Future Bulletins on this subject will be shorter; however, I want to answer some of the frequently asked questions in as much depth as possible in this one.

Present Status

After nearly a year and a half of working with Todd, I recently felt that it was time to release him into some limited ministry in our local church. This does not mean that Todd has been released back into ministry in general, nor does it mean that Todd is nearing the end of his restoration process. We do not know how long this will be, and as from the beginning, we want to be confident that it is the Lord’s timing with each step that is taken.

Before Todd will be fully released back into ministry, we will ask for a council to endorse this, which will be composed of those who are respected throughout the body of Christ as true elders in the church. Of course, they would need to come to the comfort level that would enable them to become part of this council, which we think would be a worthy test of Todd’s present spiritual condition. This is not to imply that this would endorse anything that Todd has done in the past; rather that he recognized his mistakes and his sins, has genuinely repented of them, and has adequately “shut the gates of hell” that gave the devil access into his life in every area where this happened, making him now fit for release back into ministry.

At the same time, the expectation of this process should not be interpreted as resulting in Todd being made perfect or that some of the nuances of his style, which have been offensive to some, have been dealt with. There is no guarantee that Todd will never fall again, just as there are no guarantees for any of us. However, he will probably be far less likely to fall than those who have never fallen but have judged with pride or condemnation those who have. We see clearly in the Scriptures that the Lord has a lot of mercy for sinners, but none for the self-righteous, and that such pride usually precedes a fall.

This is not to imply that all who question or oppose Todd’s release are doing this out of pride, but it is a form of pride to make important or sweeping judgments with partial information. Therefore, we will try to provide all of the information possible to keep people from stumbling in this way and to judge Todd and our process rightly.

Todd is now very much in touch with the grace and mercy of the Lord, and to that degree, he will be made stronger in the Lord. As the Apostle Paul explained, the Lord’s grace is made perfect in weakness (see II Corinthians 12:9), and Todd has had some major weaknesses. The anointing on Todd’s ministry seems stronger than ever, which is probably a result of this deeper revelation of the grace and mercy that he needs. The miracles have been spectacular, and at least in one case have been lifesaving. I live to do the will of the Lord and to see as many people touched by God as possible. I will not make any apologies for this. It might have made my job easier if Todd was not so anointed, but that is up to the One who knows what is best far better than I do. Therefore, I resolve to be thankful for it and enjoy it, and I do.

We have received many testimonies from those watching our meetings on our IPTV channel at www.MorningStarTV.com. I’m sure that at least some of the explosive growth of those watching MorningStar TV is because of Todd. Since MorningStar TV is already being watched by people in more than 140 nations, I have heard a few concerns that this seems like Todd is being released back into international ministry. I can understand this objection; however, I do not agree with it. People are free to watch or not watch these meetings, just as they are free to come to our church or not come. We have visitors from many other nations in virtually every meeting we have, so what is the difference except in degree? Whether they visit our local church or if they watch our services on Morningstar TV, sometimes Todd will be ministering. I am glad to take the heat to see as many people touched as we are currently seeing.


Reason for Release in Local Church

I felt that it was time to release Todd into limited ministry in our church because I had the leading of the Lord to do this. To me, this always trumps every other reason, but I had some other reasons, too. Some of the major issues, or strongholds, which had caused Todd’s problems, failures, and sins had been understood and repented of with considerable depth by Todd and Jessa. Todd’s personal relationship with the Lord has been restored and strengthened. Todd has an understanding of, and a vision for, entering the rest of the Lord, and he has done this to a great degree. As far as his spiritual health, Todd is probably now in a better place than many other ministries I know. However, he does still have issues that could hurt him, or cause problems in the future, some of which we have not even addressed yet. Therefore, he is still very much in the process of restoration, and so is everyone else that I know, including myself.

We are all in a restoration process if we are not perfect yet. So where do we draw the line and say that people are at a level of maturity where we can release them into ministry? This is one of those questions worthy of deep consideration because its impact on the church has been, and will be, huge. My position is that if we are going to do this right, we need to consider how the Lord did it. How did He do it?

In Luke 10, the Lord sent the seventy out in teams of two. They cast out demons, healed the sick, and preached the gospel. They were so successful that the Lord said He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. It was in Luke 11 that these disciples came to Jesus and asked Him to teach them to pray. Think about it—they did all of this and they did not even know how to pray yet!

Look at the condition of the leadership in the church when the Lord went to the cross and basically left everything in their hands. They were fighting over who was the greatest on the very night He was crucified. They could not even stay awake for one hour to pray with the King of kings in His most desperate hour, then betrayed and denied Him, fleeing from Him when He needed His friends the most. This is after three years under the greatest Mentor there will ever be!

It is hard to understand why the Lord would trust so much to men in any degree, much less to be representatives of His kingdom. In looking at the great heroes in the Bible, it seems that every one of them had failures and were a major embarrassment in some way, often in many ways. He is the King, so I have resolved to keep it simple and follow Him regardless of whether I understand everything or not. I am also resolved to do my best to stand for His truth and His people, regardless of the consequences.

It is interesting that the person who is considered the very first evangelist in Scripture is the woman at the well, since she was the first to go forth proclaiming Jesus to be the Messiah. She had been divorced five times and was living in sin at the time. It would be much easier to explain if the Lord had chosen someone far less controversial for this great honor.

Then there is the embarrassment of Peter, who lived with Jesus for several years, had seen all of His miracles, and had the revelation from the Father of who Jesus was, then denied Him three times in one night—one of the worst things he could do. Just a few weeks later, he was again in leadership preaching one of the most important evangelistic messages ever preached on the Day of Pentecost. I’m quite sure most of those new converts wondered just what kind of leadership the Lord had given them in the church. From the beginning, we certainly have had a leadership that would definitely be a stumbling block to those who care about appearances.

Many leaders feel that these embarrassing falls from those in high visibility in the church are causing many to stumble, and doubtless they do. However, the self-righteousness manifested by many when this happens is probably causing far more to reject the church and our message. How can anyone trust our message of redemption and restoration when we will not even restore our own fallen?

An even more important point is that those who are forgiven much love much and tend to have more real faith—which is having a dependence on who Jesus is, not on who we are. Those who are immature are more dependent, and those who have received the mercy and grace of the Lord in a fresh way seem to be the most powerful in sharing it in a way that lead others who are struggling to receive salvation—making them some of the most powerful evangelists.

Being an elder in the church is a different matter. Many think that being any of the equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4 automatically makes one an elder, but it doesn’t. If this were true, why would Peter and John have to verify that they were elders in their Epistles? Being an elder is often superficially understood in much of the modern church movements. The New Testament model adopted by the early church was from the nation of Israel. In the church, we often honor people with these positions just because they have some maturity and wisdom, but in Israel an elder was a gatekeeper and a judge. Even prophets were not considered elders, but like watchmen on the walls of a city, they communicated what they saw to the elders who sat in the gates. However, it was the elders who determined the action to be taken from their reports.

This is a study worthy of much more depth than we have a place for here, and even though any minister could be an elder, having a ministry does not make you an elder. The woman at the well may have done a great job as an evangelist by getting people to meet Jesus, but this did not make her an elder. On the other hand, Peter was certainly an elder, a gatekeeper to the entire body of Christ, opening the gate of salvation to both the Jews and the Gentiles, having great authority over the church of the first century. Even so, he was prone to some serious mistakes, too.

Todd may never be an elder, but he has already led an estimated one million people to the Lord, and I think he is destined to lead many millions more to salvation. This is fruit that remains, too. We were recently visited by the leader of more than twenty-two hundred churches in India. He told us about how people go to villages all over his region and ask young children their names, and a good number will say, “Todd Bentley.” Their parents named their children after him because he led them to the Lord in his crusades there. This church network, one of the strongest and fastest growing in India, credits much to Todd’s work there. His crusades did not leave new believers who had to make it on their own, but left churches, orphanages, and schools by raising up and working with strong local leaders. Of course, this was not done just by Todd, but by his whole team.

A large part of my motivation for seeing Todd restored to ministry is to see more of this kind of fruit, and I am not at all ashamed of it. Many years ago, I was shown Todd’s calling. I know that what he has yet to do will greatly eclipse what he has already done. As Bob Jones said when the Outpouring broke out in Lakeland, “This is just previews of coming attractions.”

Even so, one of the greatest concerns I had about Lakeland was the prima donna attitude that began to manifest on Todd. People with this syndrome don’t think the rules that apply to others apply to them. This will cause you to start thinking you are the main reason for the revival, not Jesus, and not the lost. You’ll start seeing yourself as more important than any one person is, and even essential to the plan of God. This is the root of pride, which likely caused the fall of Satan, and has caused many falls since.

One of the biggest open doors to this prima donna syndrome is low self-esteem and rejection. These can cause one to be driven to prove their value to others. This is why the foundation of Todd’s restoration was entering the rest of the Lord and finding his acceptance in what the Lord had done, not what he could do. True faith has to be coupled with patience to attain the promises.

One reason why I felt it was time to release Todd into some limited ministry was because I have seen people with serious strongholds in their lives get free almost immediately when they receive the great encouragement that comes from being used by God when this is coupled with patience and rest in the Lord. This seems like a paradox, that he would start getting the prima donna attitude by being used, and could get free of it by being used.

As the law of inertia teaches us, you cannot steer something that is not moving. Likewise, Todd doing some ministry will allow us to see and deal with some of these things that could cause him to stumble again. I felt that him doing some ministry again would bring some things to the surface so they could be dealt with in a more controlled place. However, my real reason for releasing him into some limited ministry was a clear leading from the Lord.

Todd still has some open doors that could trip him up in the future. At times, he has to fight the discouragement that would naturally come with the failure of his marriage, the way the Lakeland Outpouring ended, and the loss of just about everything he had built over the last decade of very hard work. If he allows these feelings of failure to become a drive in his life, he will likely burn out again, and the next time could be the last. I want to be with him while he works through some of these.

When I was a flight instructor, I could fairly accurately tell which mistakes a student would make. I would not let those students solo until they had made those mistakes with me in the cockpit so they would not kill themselves. However, no matter how much I tried to explain their tendencies that I considered dangerous to them, until they actually made the mistakes while flying, they did not get it. It was time for Todd to start flying again, but I am going to be very close to him for a while, for his sake, and for anyone else who might later get in the plane with him.


A Visitation

I was not asking for confirmation of this step with Todd because I was confident in the leading I had, but confirmation did come in a very powerful way. Bob Jones had been saying for some time that he knew he was about to have a “face-to-face” encounter with the Lord, and he did. In this encounter, Bob was told to come to our Sunday morning service and lay hands on Todd for his release, and then to break off of Todd and MorningStar the negative spoken words against us from other Christians. The effect of this prayer was so powerful that it was like having the sky go from dark and overcast to clear blue instantly.

In 1988 and 1989, Bob Jones operated in a level of the prophetic that I have not seen in him since. This was true in some ways of the prophetic ministry in general. Then a great persecution was raised up against the prophetic ministry in the church, and some prophetic people did not respond to it well, including Bob. Much of the high-level prophetic ministry was also hindered by the doubt sown in the church about the prophetic. Even Jesus was hindered in His ministry by doubt, and prophetic people were faced with so much doubt after this persecution that many quit traveling to try to help the church.

MorningStar became a haven for many wounded prophetic people, and we grew stronger in the prophetic, but even here it has taken a lot of plowing, hard work, and dry times. We only saw occasional flashes of the high levels we had seen in 1988 and 1989. Since Bob had this visitation, it seems as if he has been catapulted back to a very high level. When he prayed to break off the negative words that had been spoken against us, it seemed as if our whole prophetic ministry here had the shackles taken off, and we are again beginning to see remarkable things that have us in awe daily. It seemed to be the same with Todd—he was instantly in a new place.

At the first meeting when Todd preached, I felt he had one of the greatest messages on hunger for God that I have ever heard. It was not just about the words or concepts that he was teaching, but there was a tangible impartation of hunger for God like many had not experienced in a very long time. You cannot have that kind of impartation if it is not working in your own life. This was the greatest witness that the restoration process I have been leading Todd through has been working. I do believe that above any knowledge or personal discipline we have, it is our love for God that keeps us hungry for Him more than anything else.

Loving God is our main job description as human beings, and it is the main way it will be determined if we have been successful in this life. This is going to be the main thing that keeps Todd, or any of us, on track in this life.


Immediate Revival?

In that meeting, and virtually every meeting since, the presence of the Lord has been stronger than we’ve experienced in a long time. It seems to be increasing as the hunger in us is increasing. This is what we signed up for in the beginning—the manifest presence of the Lord. We are having great miracles and prophecy, but this is better than all of that. We may be in the first stages of an authentic revival. We’re not calling it that yet, but it seems like it is the beginning of something remarkable, and the beginning of it all was Bob’s visitation and prayer for us.

In our first MSU class after the students returned from the Christmas holiday, I asked Jason Hooper to say a short prayer over them for spiritual hunger. The power and presence of the Lord fell so strongly that their two-hour class lasted for twelve hours. The students skipped their meals and everything else just to stay in the presence of the Lord. Soon others were gathering. Then Bob and Bonnie Jones came. Todd said he had felt surges of power going through him all day, and when he heard that something was happening at Heritage, he jumped in his truck and came over. By early evening, the place was virtually full. Better than anything was the powerful, tangible presence of the Lord.

Students and people who had been a part of some of the great revivals and moves of God in recent times said that they had never been impacted as much as they were that day, and it has been getting better. If it had stopped with that one day, I think many of the students would have thought that it alone would have been worth coming to the school for.

We did not know if it would last, but we decided to gather the next night to see if the Lord would move like that again. He did. We have continued these meetings for almost a month now. I have felt that virtually every one was a dramatic encounter with the Lord. At this time, Todd has been there for less than half of them and has only ministered in a handful. There have been noteworthy miracles, waves of the joy of the Lord, and an uncommon prophetic anointing, regardless of who was leading the ministry. We also seem to have gone to a new level of anointing in worship, and all of our worship tends to be pretty high level.

We are obviously in the first stages of something major. It is not built around Todd’s ministry or anyone else’s. I’m thankful we had released him to minister in our local church because he has been a large part of what’s happening, and he will no doubt be a big part of what unfolds. He may be in the forefront for a period of time, and then others will. Todd is just one of about a half dozen who are being used on the forefront of this, and we expect that number to grow. Several have an anointing similar to Todd’s, but others are different, but no less God. I am “the designated driver,” and I am the primary one with the authority and responsibility to steer it. If I do my part right, I will free the others from having to do this, and I expect all of them to go to a new level. To do this, I need to know where the Lord is leading us, and I do have a general map that I have been shown, beginning thirty-five years ago.

When we planted a church here, we began with the team ministry concept because we were shown that this was not only biblical, but would be necessary for the revival that was coming to this area. After living here for a short time, I started to meet older people who told me about the prophesies from as far back as the late 1930s and early 1940s of this coming revival. None of these had lost hope, but were sure it would come one day. This could be it.

If it is the beginning of what I was shown, it will grow into something more remarkable in some ways than anything we have experienced in our lifetime. If this is the beginning, we will soon be in the greatest of all of the Great Awakenings, and a tithe of all Americans will soon be born again and filled with the Spirit. That is thirty to forty million people who will be added to all who are already born again. These will also be added to a real New Testament church life because the church is going to be transformed into this.

If what is happening here is what I was shown, then no man or group of people will be the face of it. MorningStar will not be the face of it either. This one will be about Jesus, not us.

If this is what I was shown, we will have the greatest anointing for worship, preaching, the prophetic, miracles and healing, and everything else, but no one will leave here talking about us—they will leave talking about Jesus and the encounter they had with Him. The King will be manifest in the midst of His people and the gospel of the kingdom will go out.

Once we have experienced the manifest presence of the Lord, we are ruined for anything else. What good is the most glorious temple if God is not in it? If God is in His temple, then it does not matter how glorious or spectacular the temple is—it will not be the temple that gets your attention. If people come here and then leave talking about any of us, or even the great experiences that they have here, it will have fallen short of what it is supposed to be. If this becomes a Todd show, or a MorningStar show, we will have fumbled in what we were being entrusted with.

One of the main promises we were given thirty-five years ago was for Isaiah 60:1-5 to be manifested here—the visible glory of the Lord appearing on His people. We are earthen vessels. When this comes the way it is supposed to, as this text declares, it will not be the vessels getting the attention, but rather the glory of the Lord. However, that glory is going to be on His people. We must resolve that we, the temple, exist for God, not the other way around. If we are the ones who start getting all of the attention, then we have somehow lost the real glory.

Some of us experienced this once before in a meeting in the mid- 1970s in Eastern North Carolina. Since then, I have visited many of the great revivals and moves of God and have been able to be a part of some of them, which I am very thankful for. I’ve seen the pillar of cloud appear right in front of me, and I have been in meetings where the weighty presence of the Lord pinned everyone to the floor, but nothing I have seen since has measured up to a fraction of what we experienced in that one meeting when the visible glory of the Lord came.

When His glory comes like that you can be changed more in one meeting than in years of teaching or counseling. Of course, we need the teaching, counseling, and spiritual disciplines, but we need His presence and His glory much more. We were given a taste and then a prophecy—that to see this come to the church was our destiny and calling. This has been a motivation in everything I’ve done since.

When I took on the ministry of helping Todd through his restoration, I honestly did not connect him with this move that we knew would one day come to the Charlotte area. However, when I thought of what I was shown years ago about Todd’s calling, and what we were shown would one day break out here, I now see how they could fit. When I first took on the restoration of Todd, I thought he might move here for a period of time and then would probably go back to Abbotsford. When Todd was severed in a way that was obvious he would not be a part of what was then known as Fresh Fire—Canada, I did hope that he would find a permanent home here. He and Jessa are greatly loved here and appreciated. However, that is totally up to them when this process is over.

Ultimately, I think Todd will go out to do large crusades in the nations again, but it will help him a lot by serving as a part of a team in which he is not the leader. When he goes out, I think he will know the value of a team so that the pressure does not rest on just one person.

A huge factor in the breakup of Todd’s marriage was his marriage to ministry and the pace that he tried to keep up, which led to two major burnout episodes. If God would rest after six days, who are we to think we don’t need this? It’s quite a presumption to think we can do something God did not even try to do. Presumption is pride.


Restoration and the Favor of God

Many years ago, I had a dream in which one of my children had fallen into a sewage ditch and could not get up. Covered in filth, no one would help my child. People only scorned or jeered at my child, which was one of the most grievous things I have ever experienced in a dream. Then someone came and helped my child out of the ditch, and cleaned and helped them to go on their way again. In that dream, I would have given everything I owned to that person who had helped my child. I was thinking what I could do for them when I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Jim Bakker is My child. Will you help him?”

When I asked Jim Bakker to speak at a conference right after he was released from prison, I did take some heat for it, and some on my staff even thought I was risking everything. I may have been, but I also had no doubt that I would gain the Lord’s favor, which is far more valuable than having man’s favor. I know the reason that we were able to acquire the former Heritage Grand Hotel and Conference Center and other parts of the former PTL property, at a tiny fraction of its value, was because of the favor of God we received for helping Jim.

I actually did not do very much to help Jim Bakker, and others may have done much more, such as Tommy Barnett. I also think we have received such a huge benefit from our friendship with Jim that it would have been well worth it without getting the property. We did get the most remarkable home for our ministry that I could ever imagine, and we have even more of the favor of God in other remarkable ways.

No doubt it has been a huge risk to help Todd. Of course, I lost some friends, and we lost some people and partners. I have no guarantee of how this is going to turn out, and I have had restoration failures before, too. However, I try not to weigh the possible costs or benefits in such matters, but rather just try to be obedient. If I get rewards here, fine; but I’m just as good to get them in heaven.

No doubt some people will never accept Todd’s restoration to ministry, and we did gain a few more enemies, some of whom were friends before, but I know that the favor of God is worth more than any cost we can pay in this life. Even with the controversy, we gained far more friends than we lost, and we have even had a net gain in partners for our ministry. I also think the greatest favor of all could be one of the greatest revivals in history, resulting in thirty to forty million new brothers and sisters in Christ just in America. If we are trusted with this, which is yet to be determined, it might be linked to this risk we took in helping Todd.

In Mark 10:29-30, the Lord gives us a wonderful promise: “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions.” In my ministry to date, I think every time I have taken a major risk to help someone, or to speak or write something that I was given but knew it would be controversial, the benefits gained always outweighed what I had risked by at least one hundred times. It is always right to do what you think is right regardless of the risk or potential reward, but the Lord is faithful to reward those who do so. Along with it, “persecutions” may be expected.

The Lord did nothing but what was right. I’m sure I’m not doing everything perfectly. I have made some mistakes and will probably make more. Not all of our critics are wrong, and many have a sincere desire to protect the truth and to protect God’s people. Much of what is said and written about me and Todd is false, but some we do need to consider. What I think is false I will answer for the sake of others who are being caused to stumble by it. I do not have time to deal with some that seem less important right now, but as I have time, I may try.

Regardless of how right we are, if we are about to see a major revival break out, the persecution will also break out on a correspondingly high level. This too “comes with the territory” as the Lord Himself taught. With the increase of power and impact in Jesus’ ministry, the persecution went up accordingly. With the undeniable resurrection of Lazarus, the Lord’s enemies determined that it was time to kill Him. I have no doubt that the persecution will ratchet up dramatically with the increase of the favor of God. This is biblical. So what kind of favor is that? Ask the Jewish people who have been His “chosen people.” It may not seem like favor to those who care about earthly things and the favor of men, but to be considered worthy to suffer shame for His name’s sake is one of the greatest honors we can have in this life and will be an eternal honor in heaven. It’s not fun, but I’m not here to have fun—I’m here to do the will of God. I fully trust Him for any reward He thinks that I deserve or any honor such as persecution that He thinks I need.

Again, this is not to imply that I am doing everything right, but I am trying my best to keep it simple and seek to be obedient. The same crowd that was crying, “Hosanna,” when Jesus entered Jerusalem was crying, “crucify Him,” just five days later. Therefore, I think it is foolish to put our trust in people’s opinions whether good or bad, but I seek to please the Lord. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 1:10, “If I were still seeking to please men I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Because of this, seeking the approval of men can be the main thing that diverts us from the true course of serving God. Nothing irks men, especially religious men, more than this, and they will persecute you for it. I do have many who I consider peers, and I know are friends who will tell me the truth when I need to hear it. I am accused of not having this, but I actually have far more than anyone else I know.

The demon-possessed were easy for the Lord to deal with. The sinners were attracted to Him, but it was the religious community that persecuted Him. I knew that the result of going into this process with Todd would be to expose and help many get free of an evil, self-righteous religious spirit, which has dominated the church throughout most of her history. To get free of some things, they have to be exposed. So I knew all along that this was about much more than Todd or me. For the sake of those who are bound or influenced by this religious spirit, I will be straightforward in confronting it whenever and in whomever it rises. I would expect no less from those who are my own true friends who see it rising in me, and I certainly do not claim to be perfect in this either.

We cannot go into the future carrying some of the things we’ve been carrying in the church. I am going to be addressing these issues boldly and candidly in future Bulletins about Todd’s restoration for his sake, your sake, and even the sakes of our opposition, some of whom will be helped. To try to write them all at once would require a book, not a bulletin, so I am preparing a series of these Bulletins to address them. I hope to address most of the questions people have about this process and to help clarify the doctrines of marriage and divorce which the whole church is in desperate need of.

When I say I will try to address almost all of the questions, there are many questions that I still have. I have sought answers, and I am still seeking them, but I have to admit at this point that I don’t have all of the answers. One thing almost everyone agrees on, and we should, is that the sanctity of marriage must be protected and strengthened in the church, certainly not weakened. I have no doubt that the result of this process can do that.

I also have no doubt that many will be surprised at our conclusions, but I think most will actually end up agreeing with them. We already have a good list of people who began, in some cases, vehemently disagreeing with us who now agree with us. As this process is laid out, I think this list will grow. It will also no doubt cause more opposition from others. Even so, it would be a terrible presumption for us to think we are right about everything, but at least we want to be open about what we are doing and why. I am quite sure anyone who follows this process with us will benefit from it.

Thank you for caring enough to read this Bulletin regardless of your position on what we are doing. I think you will find the future Bulletins to be even more interesting. We will cover many subjects related to divorce, remarriage, the restoration process, judgment in the church, and other important topics.

By Rick Joyner, Morningstar, now posted on their website.

Todd Bentley is a native of the Pacific Northwest region.

Visit Northwest Prophetic for a complete archive of regional prophetic words, or to submit a word. Submissions welcome, particularly from or about the Northwest.

Fresh Fire Board of Directors Update

Note: Todd Bentley is from our Northwest region. Fresh Fire Ministries is still part of our Northwest region.

To our friends around the world,


We trust you are doing well and looking forward to what God has planned for all of us in 2009. Last year was adventurous and challenging for us here at Fresh Fire Ministries (FFM), but God's grace has made us equal to the challenges. And we are excited about the opportunity to see God work everything together for our good and His glory as this year continues to unfold.

The purpose of this letter is to provide you with an update of the ministry as well as give some vision of where we plan to go from here. The first news item that we wish to bring to your attention is that Todd Bentley has resigned from his involvement with Fresh Fire Ministries Canada and will continue a process of restoration under the capable leadership of Rick Joyner and his association. Because Todd founded Fresh Fire Ministries, we feel it appropriate and honorable to give FFM's name to him to use as he chooses when he starts ministering again in the future. We here at FFM are in the process of changing our name to reflect our present and future focus as we continue with the God-given mandate for this ministry. Check back with us soon to see our new name, logo and image.

The Lord has dramatically expanded our vision both nationally and internationally. On an international level, we will continue our crusades with FFM associates, inviting and equipping teams of passionate and like-minded believers to join us. In keeping with the original mandate of the ministry we will remain focused on working together to bring in the end time harvest around the world as we champion the call to transform nations.

Many of you have inquired regarding the status of the Uganda Jesus Village (UJV). You will be delighted to know that we are scheduling a trip in the Spring. This will be an exceptional trip, in that Shonnah Bentley and son Elijah will be part of the team! As you know, Shonnah was one of the original founders with a vision for rescuing and establishing a safe place for the children to be loved and restored. Presently, we have rescued and are caring for 64 orphans with a vision for 500 children, as we continue to expand in personnel and resources.

Many improvements have been made at the UJV in 2008, with new buildings going up right now on the land purchased this year. As you read this letter, there is a 40-foot shipping container on its way to Uganda. It is loaded with medical supplies, tools for both farming and construction, food items, clothing, bedding, household products, sewing machines and various other essentials, all of which have been provided through the generosity of our partners. The most extraordinary item is a compact backhoe and rotor-tiller, the likes of which our team in Uganda never dreamed to have and will be thrilled to receive. This piece of equipment will greatly accelerate the construction of all the building and agricultural projects.

Both in Canada, and internationally, we are networking with other churches and ministries that have similar passions and vision to our own. We are excited about the relationships we are building with Christian leaders around the world with a view to networking together to host conferences, seminars, and other endeavors to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth. To accommodate the many invitations coming in, we are sending our ministry associates with the Fresh Fire DNA to encourage local congregations through teaching and a demonstration of the supernatural.

Locally, we are continuing to establish our kingdom resource center. We will be re-launching our Supernatural Training Center in late spring of 2009, in which we will continue to train people from all walks of life to radically share the good news of the kingdom of heaven both in the church and the marketplace. The expanded curriculum will have modules focused on developing the five ministries found in Ephesians four, as well as, equipping students to model a kingdom culture in all the influential gates of society.
We sincerely appreciate and thank you for your partnership with us in prayer and financial support this past year. We believe the Lord will reward you for your faithfulness and that you will be blessed abundantly. We invite you to continue with us this year with a passionate resolve to transform nations. The nations are calling with invitations to hold crusades and schools, so perhaps you can join us on one of the trips being planned for 2009. Watch our website for details as they become available.

In closing we want to encourage you with the scripture found in 3 John verse 2:

“Beloved, I wish above all things, that you be in health and prosper even as your soul prospers.”


We remain in the service of the King,

Blessings!

The Fresh Fire leadership team

From the Fresh Fire Ministries board of directors.

Public Statement on Todd Bentley from the Revival Alliance

Dear friends,

Several years ago, six leadership couples came together and formed a relationally based, non-denominational network called Revival Alliance.

When the Lakeland revival broke out, Todd Bentley and the revival meetings were coming under much criticism. At the suggestion of Peter Wagner, three of the members of the Revival Alliance team went to Lakeland because the Alliance as a whole wanted to express support for the Lakeland Outpouring and to commission Todd as a revivalistic evangelist. Having been powerfully touched in the Toronto outpouring, and seeing the opposition that came from leaders in the church because of that movement, we wanted to stand with Todd and deflect some of the personal assaults that were coming against him. Many of the attacks were coming from well-respected Christian leaders, people that we still hold in high esteem. Yet the mandate from the Lord was clear. And we stood with Todd and the Fresh Fire Ministries team to both endorse and support this move of God.

Rory and Wendy Alec of God TV also took tremendous risk in airing the revival prime time and broadcasting it to over 200 nations around the world. Their heart is to capture and release the move of God, no matter where it happens or who God uses as His instrument. This unparalleled media attention gave unusual advertisement for the outpouring. But it also put their whole team in an unusual, high-level position of receiving both praise and criticism.

The impact of the Lakeland Outpouring has been amazing, and it still continues. The record of conversions and miracles of healing is extraordinarily great in number. And the spreading of the revival to nation after nation has also been very significant. The God TV broadcast stirred up the hunger in people from around the world to go to Lakeland and receive from God, but then bring it home to their local churches. Impartation seems to be one of the unusual markers of a genuine move of God. Revival fires began to spread around the world as a result of the impartation received at Lakeland. But as great as the fruit has been, so have the devastation and fallout from Todd's personal failure.

While there must be no toleration or whitewashing of sin, there must also be no allowances for ungodly judgments in the name of Jesus. Hatred often masquerades as a passion for holiness. And while the church has had its share of tragic failures of leaders in recent days and equally tragic reactions, we must get this one right. It is possible to promote holiness and accountability in the spirit of grace.

The quickness to condemn and abandon a fallen comrade has caused us as much concern as has the actual sin of our friend. Some want to humiliate and expose Todd before the world. And then there are others who want to point to the obvious anointing on Todd's life as the sign of God's approval of Todd's behavior. Neither is acceptable to us. There must be deep repentance and thorough restoration.

The restoration process must be firm but loving, while holding to the Kingdom standards of both holiness and grace. The initial goal is not to get Todd preaching again. It is to get him healed from the issues of the heart that have brought devastation to his family and such shame and failure to him. His gift will always function when given an opportunity. We just want it to come from a place of personal victory and triumph this next time.

Since the announcement of Todd's leaving his wife, Revival Alliance has been working to help restore our fallen brother. Sin is disastrous on any level, but it is well known that "to whom much is given, much is required." Gross sin from someone on Todd's level of influence is devastating. Even so, God is ready to heal and restore.

Todd recently spent three days in Redding, California, with Bill Johnson dealing with the issues of his personal life. Following that, he went to Morningstar Ministries in Charlotte, North Carolina, to be with Rick Joyner for the same reason. Rick, along with the Morningstar leadership team, has offered to help in his restoration. With great confidence, Revival Alliance recommends this as the appropriate process for Todd's healing and restoration. Todd will be moving to Morningstar Ministries to live for a season. Rick Joyner's wisdom, along with the strength of the Morningstar community of believers, will be a great support to Todd as he deals with the heart issues that brought about his failures. A council of three has also been formed to give oversight to the restoration process. Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, and Bill Johnson will give oversight as needed.

We appreciate the prayers and support of countless numbers of believers who have continued to support Fresh Fire Ministries. We also appreciate the prayer support of so many for the Revival Alliance. We are also very thankful for Rick Joyner and his whole team that will be working to bring about a complete healing to our friend, Todd Bentley.

It should also be noted that effort is being made to ensure that Shonnah (Todd's wife) and children are also cared for and given opportunity to receive ministry and help. As you may imagine, they have suffered great hurt from this failure.

There are many in Fresh Fire Ministries who also need help. Efforts are being made to serve them as well as possible. John Arnott recently invited the Fresh Fire Ministries associates to Toronto for their Signs and Wonders Conference to receive personal ministry and encouragement. These kinds of efforts will continue.

Bill Johnson, John Arnott, and Rick Joyner have each spent time with the Fresh Fire Ministries board, and will continue to assist them as needed through this tragic season.

Fresh Fire Ministries will continue their crusades and conference schedule around the world. They are a group of ministers with much integrity and a great heart for the lost. Pray for them as they maneuver through the challenging season ahead, while serving the church at large.

We are thankful for the honor of being involved in this crisis.

On behalf of Revival Alliance,
John Arnott, Che Ahn, and Bill Johnson

From iBethel.org.

Bill Johnson on Todd Bentley's Meltdown

This is a tough post. I've posted several updates from the revival in Lakeland Florida where Todd Bentley had been ministering. Recently Todd has stopped those meetings and stepped down from ministry.

I've been struggling how to respond to these announcements, and then I got this announcement from Bill Johnson's ministry. This strikes me as a very healthy response.


Aug '08

A great tragedy has come to light this past week. Todd Bentley, the revivalist who has been leading the Lakeland Outpouring meetings, has had a major meltdown and has filed for divorce. This comes at the worst possible time both for the revival and for those who have stood with him.

Back in June, Che Ahn , John Arnott, and I went to Lakeland, Florida, to do a commissioning service [see here] for Todd. We felt the need to stand with him. Opposition against him was great, and we could be a great strength to Todd in that time. John and Che especially could be a great asset as they had endured incredible opposition during the Toronto outpouring. Peter Wagner helped to oversee and lead that part of the meeting. Although he had not personally endorsed the revival, he felt it important enough to risk personal criticism from his peers to bring Todd into an apostolic alignment for his own safety.

I did not go to Lakeland and stand on the platform with Todd Bentley because he was perfect in character or because we agreed with every aspect of how he conducted the revival in Lakeland. I went to Lakeland because of his enemies. The relentless criticism and opposition, coupled with the grueling and sometimes unwise schedule, were bound to take their toll on this young man — emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. It happened two years ago, and it could happen again. It was my intention to bring a deflection into the mix so that he wouldn't take all the heat by himself. Little did I realize it was too late. He was at the place of burnout again, abandoning his marriage and pulling out of all public ministry. While I will never blame Todd's opponents for Todd's bad choices (Todd alone is responsible for them) their opposition had a greater effect than any of his critics will likely own up to in this lifetime.

Now what? Pray for Todd and Shonnah for complete healing in their marriage and personal lives. Pray for those giving counsel to them that they would use great wisdom.

Please know that while we may not give details of our efforts, we are doing everything possible to help bring healing and order to this tragedy.

Blessings!
Bill

Note: this is the latest response (as of this posting) on the subject of Todd Bentley. A more thorough conversation is found on Bill's blog.

Fresh Fire Board of Directors Announcement

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

- Print Version of August 15th Letter -


Storms in the Pacific

This is a historic moment for your nation. And you know, like a prophet, when I began to hear what Bob Jones was releasing, when he mentioned Canada, then I knew in my Spirit that Coral and I were here by divine appointment. And many of you don’t know seven years ago, exactly seven years ago, I ordained Todd Bentley with Bobby Connors in our church and the Lord has used him in a powerful way. But I believe that what is happening here tonight, this afternoon, is even bigger than that.

This is something about the mandate of the Lord for this nation. This nation, like a huge war ship, has been turning around for seven years, and the enemy has positioned his armament against this nation to take it down and the only answer for this nation is the church of Jesus Christ rising up again. This afternoon I was saying to my wife – aause I gotta preach tomorrow – I said “well maybe we should leave,” and she said “no let’s just wait for a moment.” I sensed that apostolically, the climax, that we didn’t come to it yet. I think that when Prophet Bob was sharing his heart, something was released in the Spirit. A shift happened and I believe that there’s a release right now for what God wants for this nation. It’s already shifting in the Spirit but we must be careful to turn our hearts to the Lord, and to Him alone.

This nation has not been lost yet. The purpose for this nation has not been lost yet. The hope that is in the heart of God for this nation is being released back into the apostles and the prophets and the church is rising up in this hour. So I’m going to ask you to stand as we release this word this afternoon because this is the key that the Lord has given.

I’m gonna share this with you: It was August of 2005. We were driving down to Texas and the Lord spoke to me a very clear word. He said, “Keith, there are some things coming on this nation, on the United States of America and I want you to prepare yourself to make a shift into this nation.” I shared this with Joe briefly just this last week. He says, “the church must be awakened,” he says, “because there are plots of terrorism and super storms are going to come against this nation that the church alone can stop.”

And he says “the key to this is going to be released through worship.” See sometimes we think we worship God and then we have to do things. He says “when they worship me, to the point where my glory comes into the place then whatever I release into the hearts of the apostles and prophets, what they speak, will be creative to make the shift happen in Spirit that will manifest in the church and in the land.” There’s so much power that’s available to the church, amen?

Now just lift your hands for a moment, let’s just begin to worship the Lord… “Surely,” says the Spirit of the Lord, “that this is an appointed time for this nation” says the Lord, “for there have been those who have gone before you, there have been those who have labored in prayer, there have been those who have prophesied over this land,” says the Spirit of the Lord, “but there have been storms that have come against you, there have been storms that have come against your government, there have been storms that have come against your land, and there have been storms that have come against the church in this land,” says the Lord.

But the Lord says “lift up your eyes and begin to look out over the Pacific for there is a new storm that is a brewing over the Pacific,” says the Lord “and the storm is by my Spirit!” says the Lord “for the winds are beginning to increase, the winds are beginning to blow.” And the Lord says “The winds of the storm that I have created out in the Pacific Ocean are coming towards this land.”

For the Lord says “that which I have desired to do in this nation shall break forth in a shaking and a breaking loose even in this state” says the Lord. “For I have called forth the leaders to rise up. It is I who have placed my hand upon my sons and daughters, and raised up out of the earth of this state, those who would walk with authority as apostles and prophets” says the Lord. “And yes, this is my doing, for it’s I who is bringing them together, it is I who is networking them together, it is I who is bringing together the alliance that shall be joined to the nations of the world.

But the Lord says “I have chosen this part of the United States of America. I have chosen the Northwest.

For many men have said ‘oh no, there is no church that is strong in the Northwest, the Christians are divided in the Northwest, nothing can come out of the Northwest!’” And the Lord says “I have picked it. I have chosen it. I have chosen that out of this place will come the fires of revival, and a movement, of the apostolic that will break forth the river of life that will flow throughout the United States of America and into Canada and down into Mexico.”

And the Lord says “and the move of my Spirit that will begin in this place will go around the world. Once again, there shall be a release in this place” says the Lord “and even today,” says the Lord, “because of your hearts and coming before me, I release a new wave of my Spirit, and of my presence, and of my authority upon you.”

And the Lord says “even today, call forth the apostles from these cities, call forth the apostles from these regions and allow them to decree that which I have placed in their hearts.” For the Lord says “It shall increase the intensity, it shall increase the breakthrough that I have ordained to begin even today in this place” says the Spirit of the Lord.

And so Father we release that right now. We speak release of that right now. Lift your voice and begin to give God praise…

Keith Abrams, speaking in Wenatchee, WA on 4/19/2008
Via LatterGlory
Thanks, Kim, for transcribing this!

Lakeland Revival Apostolic Commissioning

By Shaaron Coleman, June 23, 2008

The meeting began with one-and-a-half hours of anointed worship by Michael Larson. The theme song of the night is SHOW US YOUR GLORY, LORD!

TODD BENTLEY:
Todd went to Concord, NC on June 19 for one night only to see what would happen if they took the revival out of Lakeland. So many people came they shut down the freeway for 12 miles and about 15,000 were turned away at the door. Todd will be in Lakeland for the summer but will be doing some more of these one-night only meetings in various states. God said that the anointing as it goes out of Lakeland will be greater than the anointing in Lakeland. We’ve heard about the “Jesus Woodstocks.” I believe it’s here!

God told Todd two things tonight:
1. For about 15 years, God has been building networks of ministries…these have dug the canals to prepare for the Glory! God will use the networks to bring in the harvest.

2. Children 12 and under are the emerging generation of revivalists! Some of the most powerful things that have happened in this revival are the young children sharing visions of heaven…five year olds are laying hands on the sick and they are being healed!

This is not about Todd Bentley or ANY of US. It’s about JESUS! We have stepped into GOD’S KAIROS TIME! We’re just the fruit of another man’s labor! Whole cities will come into revival. Todd saw in January 1999 over 100 healing revivals that would be burning simultaneously. God has showed him only 12 of those cities at this time. God says the other cities are still to be determined by who is the most hungry.

Don’t sit back and be entertained. Don’t be a spectator. Don’t miss the boat.

Todd’s team is working on getting verifications and video testimonies of many of the healings and miracles that have happened.

Psalm 2 proclaimed

The unity of the believers coming together has the weight to release the glory to take the nations. Only when streams and movements merge is there real apostolic weight to take over whole cities and nations! The healings and miracles in this revival have been amazing, but the one thing that is most important to me is the HIGH PRAISE…THE GLORY of GOD. The Glory of God is the only thing that can take cities and nations! RELEASE THE ANOINTING TO TAKE CITIES! It’s going to sweep through America. Release mantles to take whole nations! A Spirit of Revival is being injected tonight! BELIEVE FOR IT IN YOUR CITY TONIGHT!

REPEATED THE SONG: SHOW US YOUR GLORY

Who will be a steward? Who will lay everything else down and make room for a fresh anointing? God is digging so many wells, re-digging wells. I know one way you can have God visit you. You might have to steward the little coal God gives you until it explodes into a huge fire! It’s happening at Morningstar. John and Carol Arnott want it again in Toronto. Associate Bobby Sullivan is leading 5 revivals all over Ireland.

NBC news is coming in two days. As of tonight we are verifying our 27th Resurrection from the dead!

Tonight’s commissioning is very important. Bob Jones called and said, “Tonight the Poison stops.” Sometimes I feel like, God forgive me! I’m blowing up the world! (In a good way!)

KEN GRETER INTRODUCES DR. C. PETER WAGNER, who invites to the stage:
Todd Bentley, Abbotsford, BC
Che Ahn, Pasadena
Bill Johnson, Redding
John Arnott, Toronto
and
Stephen Strader, Florida
Carl Strader, Florida
Jeff Beecham, Sydney Australia
Rick Joyner, South Carolina
Doris Wagner, Colorado
Sharon Stone, England
? Garcia, Spain
Clarice ?, Louisiana
Richard Maiden, Arizona
Mike Maiden, Arizona
Joshua Fowler, Florida
Barry Bouchet, Canada

Dr. Wagner invited the Holy Spirit’s power and direction. This is a ceremony to commission the apostolic alignment of Todd Bentley. He read Ephesians 4 regarding the five-fold ministry for purpose of equipping of the saints. Equipping means alignment…such as setting a bone! Spoke of biblical apostolic relationships such as that of Paul and Timothy.

Dr. Wagner asked Bill Johnson, Che Ahn and John Arnott if they recognized God in what is happening through Todd’s ministry. Yes! He then asked Todd if he recognized the apostolic authority of the three men? Yes! With that we will move to the commissioning. I decree to Todd Bentley, your power, authority, influence, revelation will increase! I also decree that a new life force will flow through this ministry. Increase of discernment!

CHE AHN – Asked forgiveness for lateness…airplane held up. Bob Jones prophesied Is. 22:22 that you would go to a whole new level on June 22, and here we are just one day later. It is significant that we have three generations of apostles here. I recognize that God has chosen and appointed you to bear much fruit. He has called you as an evangelist and a revivalist…we as your brothers and your friends are here to stand with you and Shonnah and your ministry. Chuck Pierce is in Africa – he sent this special oil to anoint you! (Huge power blast…Todd hits the floor…the whole place is electric!)

JOHN ARNOTT – We love you and what is happening here. You are leading an amazing charge. Multitudes are getting behind you! We bless this charge in the name of Jesus, and we stand with you.

BILL JOHNSON – When David wanted Uriah killed he sent him into battle and withdrew, we will not do that. Tonight we are shaping the course of history! I pray that Moses that no longer be considered the high water mark because he talked to God face to face, but that the world we see the Glory that is on you!

PROPHETIC WORDS FROM THE OTHER APOSTOLIC MINISTRIES:
You have loosed a kingly anointing to bring forth wealth and governmental power.

On behalf of New Zealand, Australia and America I speak favor for you in all those nations, may you be blessed. May the report be great and mighty!

Years from now people will look at this time and remember it as the time God showed up! I will bring forth that which is new, that which is pure. This is the heart that I will not despise…the one that cries “I can’t live without your presence! No program will be a substitute.” History will measure it by HEART, says the Lord.

As a Spaniard, we welcome this revival to the whole Spanish-speaking world!

Behold the vanguard that is cutting through the ice of religious traditions! Behind you is a great ship fit for battle! Arise, kill and eat young man! No longer will men call unclean what I have called clean!

Rick Joyner – God has sent you as an antidote for the lukewarm spirit. You have unstopped the well here…there are more wells to unstop...oil wells that will catch on fire!

The Lord has made you a detonator. Great Britain will be set ablaze. There is a Portal Anointing over whatever city you enter! Boom, Boom, Boom, you will detonate!

I see the word HONOR is written over you tonight. You have blessed us and we honor you, and affirm that the rest of HONOR that is upon you will follow you into all the nations.

Stacey Campbell: Moses said, Show me your Glory! This was the pinnacle of Moses life. This came after the deliverance from Egypt, the giving of the law, after eating with God and the 70 elders. In this pinnacle prayer he had to hide Moses in the cleft of the rock and only show him his hinder parts. The Lord God is merciful, compassionate, gracious and abounding in truth…forgiving transgression. When we were singing that song tonight, TODD, I heard, “Because you have asked what very few men on the earth have asked, to see my GLORY, I will move beyond revival.” AND JESUS, FILLED WITH JUSTICE AND TRUTH SAID, LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE! Todd, I have chosen you BECAUSE OF YOUR BACKGROUND to release my nature! I will use you to father a movement that operates in such power…that a whole generation will move in such signs and wonders and power that people will give glory to God! When you were 12, God started to speak to me about a generation of nation changers that will release the Glory of God in all its fullness. YOU are the First Fruits of those nation changers!

GEORGIAN BANOV – We give you the keys to Eastern Europe. Abba says you are a well pleasing son. Dad is releasing his pleasure on you…like the pleasure he took on his son who bore our sins. (Then Jim called so I missed the second thing! I chewed him out though, in love! Smile.)

CHE AHN – Shonnah called up to stand with Todd. John 17 is being fulfilled tonight and on the earth in these days. We seal this commissioning with this ring. I am reminded of Paul saying, “A door has opened up for me in Ephesus…amidst great opposition.” Everyone, please lift up Todd and Shonnah and Fresh Fire Ministries. We are standing with you in this revival!

TODD BENTLEY
I thank God tonight for all the leaders and friends and apostles who have come to stand with us. What God is doing on the earth today is about TEAM. It’s about UNITY. Also want to give honor to my senior leadership team and our board of directors. (Called up on stage.) I received a prophetic word in April that through this revival God would establish GOVERNMENT, and that what happens here wouldn’t stop. Now I realize that this is the fulfillment of Is. 22:22 – revival of the GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD! Let’s stand and cry out for the Glory of the Lord! Something was just released in apostolic authority. I want to give all the Glory back to Jesus. Let’s open the altars and worship HIM.

God, I pray that you would UNCAP EVERY WELL OF REVIVAL. God is looking for those will steward this revival. I bless every PASTOR, every LEADER, every HARVESTER, and I release the anointing.

TODD ASKED the leaders to pray for the people gathered in Lakeland and by TV:

JOHN ARNOTT: I can see that passion on your faces! This is not HYPE, this is the KINGDOM of GOD! If there’s anything to be excited about it’s revival. Fear not, little flock, it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!

BILL JOHNSON: I’m going to release a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation on you. God, I pray for tens of thousands of Revivalists who have Wisdom and Revelation about how you move, that we might not grieve or quench, but that we might be tools in your hands!

CHE AHN: Where there is UNITY, God commands a blessing (PSALM 133) of LIFE FOREVERMORE! I see thousands of Todd Bentleys! God is raising up an army of saints…of revivalists! You are the temple of the Holy Spirit! We claim that Psalm 133 anointing. Right now I break the power division over many people…of divorce…the spirit of infirmity…the spirit of poverty…generational curses.

Todd called for his associates (Matt Sorger, Kira Mitcell, Trevor Baker, etc.) to receive this blessing.

CAROL ARNOTT: Gave a Mother’s blessing. You are a nurturing God. I bless them to be sons and daughters of the Most High God. I ask that you lift off everything of abandonment, of abuse, as they put their hands in yours. I pray for blessing upon blessing!

TODD: The new wine is found in the cluster. I want to honor the ministers who came here tonight by inviting them to receive impartation of what God is pouring out here. This anointing is CROSS POLLINATING right now! There are so many denominations, movements and networks represented here! Michael, sing SHOW US YOUR GLORY once again!

TODD: I have been invited by all the leaders of the Argentine Revival to come and release what is happening in Lakeland there. God, release your Glory among all the Spanish-speaking people of the world. MIAMI! VENEZUALA! Every Latin American Country…receive this anointing!

Stacy Campbell said she is going soon to minister to the equivalent of the Brazilian White House…lots of important Government leaders will be there.


NOTES TAKEN “ON THE FLY” FROM THE LAKELAND REVIVAL APOSTOLIC COMMISSIONING CEREMONY
from Shaaron Coleman, June 23, 2008

Note: This commissioning and the relationships forged here appear to address some of the public and/or mainstream concerns about this revival.

An Appeal for Unity in a Divisive Season: A Critique of the Lakeland Revival

The Lakeland Revival has created tensions over doctrine and ministry styles. To avoid a crippling rift in the church we need strong leadership, clear discernment and a lot of love.

Revival is messy. As much as we would love for it to come in a neat and orderly package, history teaches us that outbreaks of the Holy Spirit are often accompanied by holy chaos. There may be conversions and healings in one corner and demonic manifestations in the other. In seasons of revival you can have miracles and mayhem. Holiness and heresy can erupt simultaneously.

When we look at the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts, we tend to focus on the positives: Dead people were raised, whole villages were saved and prison doors were opened supernaturally. On the flip side, this same revival season was interrupted by riots, opposed by religious legalists and tainted by false prophets, greedy charlatans and demons masquerading as angels.

Why must revival movements be so muddled? Perhaps it is because imperfect people (as well as sinister devils) get involved. Strange things happen when God’s power touches a sinful earth.
“I am appealing to the elders in our movement. In a desperate moment we need older, seasoned veterans to release the counsel of the Lord.”
When revival hit Wales in 1904, almost an entire nation bowed before Jesus within two years. Yet the weight of God’s presence drove the revival’s humble leader, Evan Roberts, into depression. Meanwhile author Jessie Penn-Lewis, writing in her book War on the Saints, suggested that fleshly manifestations in Welsh prayer meetings had snuffed out the Spirit’s power.

In our nation today thousands have been swept into the current of the Lakeland Revival in Florida, which began in early April in evangelist Todd Bentley’s meetings at Ignited Church. The fervor quickly spread because of God TV’s broadcasts, and today up to 10,000 gather nightly at a venue near the city’s airport. In recent days, people who were touched in Lakeland have started similar meetings in Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, N.C. and other cities. Bentley and his colleagues believe this is the beginning of a worldwide healing revival that will cover the globe.

But not everyone in the charismatic/Pentecostal community is convinced. Some say this is the last end-time revival while others maintain it is a demonic counterfeit. Cult-watchers and anti-heresy bloggers post Bentley’s comments on YouTube as evidence of a theological scandal. Revival advocates respond by posting documented evidence of healings. It all begins to resemble a childish competition.

Still others worry that Lakeland represents a questionable mixture of truth and error. Since the initial eruption of the revival, my inbox has been full of messages from charismatic leaders who are concerned about weighty issues as well as trivial ones: Everything from Bentley’s tattoos and body piercings to his claim that he once interviewed the apostle Paul in heaven.

When I wrote an article in mid-May calling for scrutiny of some aspects of the Lakeland Revival, I was labeled a Pharisee and a “religious policeman.” People who said they had been deeply impacted by the Holy Spirit in Lakeland used spiritual threats and harsh terms to tell me that I had become the enemy.

I refuse to go on the defensive, and if I need to retract any statement I’ve ever made about this revival I will. But what these nasty exchanges have shown me is that a divisive spirit is certainly at work in our midst—and we need urgent prayer to short-circuit what the devil wants to do.

When the early church was hit with the issue of Jewish legalism, Paul and Barnabas determined that the answer was to seek the counsel of “the apostles and elders” in Jerusalem (Acts 15:2, NASB). The church was being divided because the legalists were insisting that gentiles be circumcised. But when the elders looked into the matter, the apostle James settled the dispute by issuing this wise ruling:

“Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood” (v. 19-20). In other words, James affirmed the gentiles’ access to salvation and overturned the legalists’ bad doctrine.

Based on this biblical example, I am appealing to the elders in our movement. We need to hear from them in this hour. In a desperate moment we need older, seasoned veterans to release the counsel of the Lord.

Today the charismatic movement has become fractured, and opposing camps have formed. On one side there are those in the apostolic camp who tend to emphasize biblical order, proper church government, spiritual warfare and the reformation of society. On the other side are those in the prophetic camp who focus on miracles, healing, mystical experiences and the reclaiming of all the supernatural manifestations of the New Testament.

Both of these camps are contending for valid, biblical truths. We need the prophetic and the apostolic! We need miracles as much as we need healthy church growth and societal change. Yet if we do not have a holy intervention, we could bite and devour one another—and cancel out our collective impact.

A biblical council must include the leaders of both of these camps. And leaders must address all of the difficult issues triggered by the Lakeland Revival. Those include:

1. Biblical guidelines about angels. Some people in the prophetic camp speak of frequent visits to heaven, “third heaven revelations,” and long conversations with angels who use names such as Emma, Promise and Winds of Change. Are these indeed spirits sent from God, or agents of false light?

2. A proper theology of the dead. Some in the prophetic camp claim they have had conversations with dead Christians—including Paul the apostle. Is this within the bounds of Christian experience, or is it necromancy?

3. Pastoral guidance about exotic spiritual manifestations. In some circles in our movement, unusual signs and wonders have been reported in church services—including the sudden appearance of gold dust, feathers, gemstones and oil. At the same time, worshipers are vibrating on the floor, jerking uncontrollably and acting intoxicated. How can we protect people from the abuse of manifestations, and from demonic influence, while at the same time leaving room for genuine encounters with God?

4. Clear guidelines concerning the restoration of fallen ministers. The appearance of one prominent fallen evangelist, Paul Cain, at the Lakeland Revival in May unleashed strong reactions from many sectors of the church. Many people feel unprotected when they sense that church leaders have chosen not to enforce proper discipline for a minister’s unbiblical behavior. In this adulterous generation, how can we draw lines to protect congregations while at the same time offer healing and grace to a repentant preacher?

These are some of the crucial questions we face as a movement. May we proceed with a fresh gift of discernment, while at the same time laying hold of all the blessings that revival will bring us.


J. Lee Grady is the editor of Charisma. You can access his website here.
Note: many of these concerns appear to be addressed in this commissioning.