Posts Tagged: lakeland revival

Charismatic Issues — No Comments
16
Mar 09

Todd Bentley Back in Business

Being out of the limelight for the better part of a year was enough for Revivalist Todd Bentley of the Lakeland Outpouring. Now, freshly divorced and remarried to his adulterous partner, Bentley has settled down in my stomping grounds of South Carolina, in a little town called Fort Mill. Here is an excerpt:

Todd Bentley was used to spark the Lakeland Outpouring, which raised the faith level of much of the body of Christ. Testimonies of healings and miracles from it are now virtually all over the world. When Todd’s marriage failed, he abruptly stopped all ministry and virtually disappeared for almost nine months. In the meantime, his divorce was finalized and he has recently remarried.

Todd has taken full responsibility for the failure of his marriage. He and Jessa also admit that their relationship was premature and should not have happened the way it did. Both are adamant that it was not the cause for the failure of his first marriage, nor did they begin their relationship until Todd was convinced that his marriage was over. They have both expressed that it was wrong and premature. They do not want to try and cover this up even though they know many will never accept them for it. Even so, they are married now and are resolved to make the most of their marriage, their lives, and to continue to serve the Lord in the best way that they can.

He has entered a “restoration and healing process” under Rick Joyner, Jack Deere and Bill Johnson. Joyner’s Morningstar Ministries is based out of Fort Mill (at the old Jim Bakker/PTL/Heritage, USA headquarters) and is one of the dominant leaders in the “prophectic” movement or whatever they are calling it now.

Of course, at the end of the announcement is a plea for donations to help rebuild Fresh Fire USA (Bentley’s previous ministry organization).

Make checks out to Fresh Fire USA, or if you would like to donate by credit card to help in rebuilding Fresh Fire USA, call 1-800-542-0278, and tell the operator that you want to make a donation to Fresh Fire USA.

Wow. I guess it will never change. Read the full statement here.

Biblical Truth / Charismatic Issues — No Comments
30
May 08

Greater Works???

Todd BentleyA verse that is getting thrown around a lot lately (especially in Lakeland, FL) is John 14:12 where Jesus told His disciples that they would do greater works than He. Much has been and is being said about present-day Christians being able to do greater miracles than Jesus in both number and kind.

Let’s get real here — Jesus did some pretty unbelievable things. From spitting in the dirt, making clay and healing a blind man to raising 3 people from death to life, Jesus’ 3 years of ministry contained some radical miracles. For us to claim that we can do “greater” than He is just preposterous.

Still, let’s examine the proof-text and see what it really says:

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask[a] anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, keep[b] My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever–

Where in this text does Jesus talk about miracles, signs and wonders?? In fact, after looking through the immediate and extended context, you will find that the nearest miracle Christ performed was the raising of Lazarus from the dead in John 11 (though, chronologically close to what He is saying here – about one week before crucifixion) and none after that. Lazarus’ resurrection was Christ’s climactic last miracle. But again, to what “works” are Jesus referring to here, saying that future believers will do greater than He?

The answer is clear — Christ is referring to the scope and reach of the ministry of the disciples and future believers will have in the world because of the gift of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus is about to promise starting in verse 16. Compare the message here with Acts 1:8:

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Greater works?? Yes. Greater scope of the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not greater healings and resurrections. The Holy Spirit (Helper — parakl?tos) whom Christ gave us in His place will empower us to take His message to places Christ Himself would not reach. A clear reading of the text reveals this rather abundantly.

Good hermeneutics is a lost science among most Christians today, but there is no excuse for it in a minister of the gospel of grace — unless there is another motive behind interpreting the verses certain ways, which is clearly the case in various TV preachers, charismatic evangelists and “revival hubs” (particularly Todd Bentley in Lakeland, FL) around the world.