Robbing God??

When a minister or ministry takes up an offering or tithe or gift in the Name of the LORD and miss-uses those funds, are they actually ‘robbing from GOD?’.

An oft quoted verse that is used to add to the collection plate is:

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Mal 3:8 

As with most scriptures they have a way of speaking to more than one situation or circumstance.

Could the church in North America be guilty of robbing GOD in tithes and offerings?

Nonsense, you say? Think again!

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Jas 1:27 

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mal 3:10 

How much of the offering actually goes to anything other than building men’s kingdoms?

How many ‘ministers’ guage their success by the size of their congregation or the size of the building they have erected.

How much of the tithe and offering goes to fancy clothes, splashy jewelry and means of transport, posh offices and the like?

How much of television ministry, simply takes money from the flock and moves it into the hands of secular broadcasting? How much good has most of this ministry actually done?

How much good is the church in North America doing these days, under the guidance of the present day ‘leadership’?

Now consider, how much of the tithe and offering goes to assisting the fatherless and widow? How much goes toward putting meat into the storehouse?

Those who say in this generation; they have not robbed God, need think again!

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Rory and Wendy Comment on Lakeland

Beloved GOD TV viewer,

In the light of many statements having been released about the LAKELAND OUTPOURING and concerning Todd Bentley’s marital situation, we sensed that the Lord has released us to write concerning this situation, so that you, our viewers would know our heart concerning this matter.

The first thing we feel led to do is to state unequivocally that in the same manner as the Lord instructed us to broadcast and serve TheCall gatherings with Lou Engle; to broadcast what was happening at the International House of Prayer with Mike Bickle; Rick Joyner and MorningStar; the Solemn assembly in San Francisco; BattleCry and Teen Mania with Ron Luce; Focus on the Family’s prayer event for America; the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem; and hundreds of other anointed events over the past three years, we believe that the Lord instructed us to broadcast the Outpouring services at Lakeland with Todd Bentley.

It was not a mistake.

It was not by mistake.

We believe it was a clear instruction from the Lord.

Over the past twelve years, but especially since our launch in America, we have in obedience to the Lord searched through the earth for those events and anointings that the Lord has laid on our hearts – to amplify their message and anointing to the Body of Christ in this crucial endtime hour that we live in.

The Lakeland Outpouring with Todd Bentley was one of those events. We received over 45 000 e-mails many, many of these heart rending, powerful testimonies from viewers across the earth of their bodies or their families bodies healed, their lives transformed and their hearts revived.

None of us have ever seen such significant fruit in all the years of broadcast.

Far more profound than that were the desperate cries for help. I (Wendy), would go through the live inbox and see the desperate cries from mothers, wives, sons and daughters, so many with TERMINALLY ILL husbands, wives, children, sometimes babies in arms – sensing HOPE in their situation that for so long had been without hope.

Just reading these prayer requests would bring one to tears –

We are often so cloistered from the agony of peoples day by day real life agonies - and their agonies were written there.

So much so - that we both sensed that would need the word of the Lord under the fear of God to stop these broadcasts with the life changing impact they were having in homes not only in the UK and America but all across the world. And the Glory of the Living God that was being imparted.

We both kept a very close pulse on the revival since the start of its broadcast - we had first hand knowledge of the enormous criticism, persecution and reviling that Todd Bentley was receiving (often we were second contenders for it) but it was Todd Bentley and the Fresh Fire team who received the terrible weight of this.

Todd ministered each day as the revival continued but was consistently and unrelentingly criticized, maligned, persecuted - the attacks grew increasingly violent - and the heartbreaking thing was that so much of it came from the Church.

At the same time, Todd was facing a second wave of attack. This was from the covens, the warlocks - we heard firsthand concerning some of these assignments. The enemy had heard of the great honoring of the Lamb and was determined to destroy it - BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE AND AT ANY COST.

And the cost was Todd Bentley.

Was it because Todd was vulnerable and certain areas of his life were not surrendered wholly? Yes – like so many of us - in all probability.

Was it because the character of Christ was not yet formed in him in the equivalent measure to his gifting? Yes - like so many of us - in all probability.

Could it be the case that there by the grace of God go YOU AND I… Yes - In all probability.

Some of the areas in our lives are watertight and have been honed and refined and polished by the Lord while still other areas in our lives are often still in desperate need of attention. We are an ongoing work and we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Well - all ministers who preach should ensure their lives are in order, you may be saying.

Yes - we and our board and our minister peers across the globe agree wholeheartedly.

And yet, beloved - unfortunately, THERE ARE TIMES when satan comes unawares and targets a vulnerable area whose weaknesses only become apparent under the most enormous and unrelenting pressure brought to bear.

We believe and of course this is just our personal opinion, that the revival stirred up the satanic realms in a manner that has rarely been seen and with a violent wrath.

It is difficult to understand the degree of spiritual battle that comes against a leader. We have learned we need to protect the move of God with greater prayer for leaders, including ourselves. The body of Christ is growing in greater transparency and accountability, and this too should be a subject of prayer.

Should all of us wait till we are as perfect and as watertight as can be and mature in every area - that of course, would be the safest course of action, but the truth is that most of us would be 90 years old!

The Lord who made us and knows that we are as dust and yet looks on us with His great mercies and compassions knows this and He the sovereign God of heaven and earth still chooses to take a GOD-risk on you and I every day of our lives.

That even under the most intense pressure that we would choose HIM.

That we would love HIM.

That in times of intense duress and temptation that we would follow HIM.

And let it be so - even more in all our lives, but beloved - let us not forget so many of those who walk in ministry across the earth today with such COURAGE and FERVOR and lay their lives down for HIS CAUSE at great cost to themselves - Todd and Shonnah sowed their lives to sow the seeds of revival and we believe became a supreme target of the enemy.

On the June 23rd, Todd actually spoke openly and with great vulnerability of his and Shonnah’s previous marriage challenges and how they had faced those challenges and the Lord had begun His work. He did not try to hide their struggle but shared their ongoing journey.

As Rick Joyner so wisely put it –

"In marriage, I have learned there are those who admit they have been through times when they wondered if their marriage would make it, and then there are liars. Relationships are hard, and the closer they are, the harder they can be. I tell everyone that I give premarital counseling to that the Lord has ordained their marriage in order to kill both of them! That is true. It is also worth it! The greatest gift He gave to man was marriage and family. However, to have a marriage that is good, both will have to die to themselves. If either one does not make the commitment to lay down their life for their mate and their family, then what was meant to be heaven can be hell."

It is an ongoing walk - and we all are ongoing works. But the Lord said something to us some years ago - He said - When you hate sin because it HURTS ME - then it will lose its grip on you. When you hate sin because it displeases ME - its hold diminishes.

The Lord also shared with us that someone can be deceived in an AREA of sin but it does not necessarily mean that in every area of his or her life or ministry, they were walking in deception as some critics of the revival may lean to believe.

And who is to judge that the Lord does not hold the violent unleashing of criticism and faultfinding and tearing down and divisiveness of the heresy hunters, as severe a sin as separation in a marriage?

We will find out before the judgement seat in eternity.

One of our greatest grievings has been to see how many in the church backtracked to protect their own reputations. We have been truly refreshed by several close ministry friends with their uncompromising love of truth and lack of a man pleasing spirit that has arisen in the church in the light of the Lakeland aftermath. They have given us fresh courage when we grew weary.

So beloved friend –

Do we at GOD TV refute the Outpouring? NO.

We are presently planning to broadcast other offshoots of Lakeland in both the United Kingdom and America, including revival meetings in Dudley, England.

We have determined in our hearts to follow the Lord with all our might as courageously and as boldly as we can, to reject the pressures to bow to a man pleasing spirit but instead to humble ourselves under the Fathers leading.

For HE is our all in all.

He is our great desire.

Finally, dear friends, while we defend and rejoice in the many ten thousands that God lifted and healed, we also know that there were dear souls, sheep, who were scattered as a result of Todd’s personal choices. The Bible says that “hope deferred makes the heart sick” and this is the last thing GODTV would want to see happen. We arepraying for any that stumbled and believing that the Lord will restore them to Himself.

Remember: this was never about Todd Bentley. It was always about the Holy Spirit and the fact that God loved you and I. It was GOD who touched our lives.

One thing, we felt impressed upon our hearts thirteen years ago when we first launched this ministry. That the Father will allow none of us - whether in ministry or as a viewer to hold idolatry in our hearts for any man.

For the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit alone are to receive our worship.

We continue on the road to maturity.
We continue our efforts to serve an end time spiritual army.

We continue to try each day to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of the ONLY one who is worthy of ALL adoration.

Of ALL HONOUR.

Of ALL WORSHIP.

Remember also, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Let’s turn our eyes toward Him and away from our trust in man.

He who sent His only begotten Son.

The Great Father of Compassions.

To Him alone we bow.

Personally we believe that the best is yet to come.

For our King and His Kingdom

Rory and Wendy Alec

Response To Critcism of Lakeland

Lakeland Outpouring Update from Pastor Strader

Stephen Strader

Aug. 30 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

The Lakeland Outpouring continues! The anointing is strong!

We are broadcasting LIVE at 10am & 7pm Wednesday through Sundays. See the new webcast information at the bottom of the page.

Go to the website www.ignitedchurch.com for the most up to date information of speakers and locations. We begin this TUESDAY with HEALING FAITH at the Believers Fellowship Church. It's located just a few miles from Ignited Church. Then Wednesday through Sunday we will be at Ignited.

Ministries Today printed my article on the Lakeland Outpouring. I've included it here for you. Please pass this on to your friends and family.

Surprised by the Spirit
What we’ve learned from a sudden outpouring
By Stephen Strader

Our congregation has known the outpouring of the Spirit for more than 50 years. Through the leadership of my father, Karl Strader, our church experienced the Latter Rain Movement, Voice of Healing, Jesus Movement, Charismatic Movement, Word of Faith Movement, Prophetic Movement, Renewal Movement, Apostolic Movement and many others. But on April 2, 2008, it’s as if the Holy Spirit moved into our church in a fresh, dynamic way ... and He’s never left!
I had invited evangelist Todd Bentley for a five-day “Signs and Wonders Conference” at our church. Todd had spoken at Ignited Church the year before—the first time we’d met—but something was different this time. The expectation was extremely high.

Two weeks earlier in Australia, New Zealand prophet Rob DeLuca had prophesied a coming anointing on Todd that would “boomarang” around the world. Rob said the boomerang was to have double the force when it came to central Florida, and he even mentioned the Lakeland revival of 1993. He didn’t know that Todd was headed to the very congregation that experienced that revival.

When we heard about the prophecy, we knew something special was about to happen, but we had no idea just how big it would be. As with any planning in church leadership, we wanted to leave room for the Holy Spirit to do whatever He wanted. Since Todd had informed me that his following week of meetings had just been cancelled, I told him that we were prepared to extend a week if we wanted to. However, he had already changed his tickets to fly home and was looking forward to a week of rest. Obviously, those plans changed.

The Start of Something Big
That first Wednesday night was explosive. The building was comfortably filled, but something in my spirit had told me to prepare for overflow crowds. We wired both our children’s room and our youth room with closed-circuit monitors, which enabled us expand from the 700 seats in the sanctuary to more than 1,300 with the two overflow rooms. (We also wired the outside patio, which could seat an additional 400.)

By the second night the first overflow room was filled. The atmosphere was charged with the electricity of God. Incredible miracles began to take place. Even Todd appeared to be taken back with the ease at which they happened. Both of us conduct overseas crusades and regularly see great miracles take place in other countries, but we’d never seen them flow in America like this.

The third night, when Todd walked into the room, our eyes met while standing on the front row. “I think we need to go another week,” I told him. It turns out he had just told his staff, “I think we need to talk with Pastor Stephen about going another week.”

We announced it that night.

Every night from that point was like taking another step deeper into the anointing, as if we were reaching another level. The crowds now filled both of our overflow rooms. In fact, by Sunday we had to lock the doors because the fire marshal required us to limit the capacity to 1,300. Hundreds watched on screens outside the building on the patio, and hundreds more had to be turned away. People would begin lining up to get in as early as 3 p.m.

Changing Venues
For those of us in leadership, the first three to four weeks were consumed with finding facilities to accommodate the growing crowds. Once it became obvious that our church couldn’t hold everyone, my brother-in-law, Shane Simmons, who pastors Life Church in Auburndale, Fla., allowed us to use his 3,000-seat facility only 20 minutes away. It wasn’t long before we overflowed his building and began to turn hundreds away. Next, we moved into the Lakeland Center arena, which seats 8,000 or more.

We filled that building.

We then moved to Joker Marchant Stadium, spring training home of the Detroit Tigers baseball team. The stadium seats 10,000 and has a grassy knoll overlooking left field that can hold another 2,000 people.

>From there we held an open-air meeting at the Sun ’n Fun Campground at the Lakeland airport, and about 12,000 people came. In fact, the police told us a traffic jam developed that was so bad it blocked thousands from getting into the campground for miles down the road.

We finally settled at the campground using two tents attached side-by-side that would hold 10,000. By that time, the nightly crowds ranged from 3,000 to 8,000, with more coming on the weekends. Throughout the changes, we’ve continued to meet at Ignited Church each morning, Sunday through Friday, and on Saturdays we’ve moved to the tent to fit the larger crowds.

During the first few weeks our staff and volunteers nearly burned out because of the day-and-night, seven-days-a-week schedule. Weary and exhausted, many of us became physically sick. The common joke was, “Looks like you’re too sick to come to the healing meeting!” We eventually settled into a flow, rotating so some could take a day off—although for many of us, that never happened. (I personally went nearly 60 days straight and had to spend two days in bed sick.)

Quick Critics
As with most moves of God, there are those who question the authenticity of what’s happening in what’s been dubbed the “Lakeland Outpouring” or the “Florida Healing Outpouring.” Yet it seems this time the critics have not only become quicker to respond, but also louder with their objections.

The amazing amount of controversy has admittedly caught me off-guard. I had no idea how prejudiced the Christian world is to Todd Bentley’s ministry. I never found anything in his ministry that concerned me—including his tattoos. Frankly, I had to work through being offended by some of my ministry friends who were expressing their “concerns” publicly. Some wrote in their e-mails, blogs, magazines or newsletters; others voiced their concerns through sermons. The heresy hunters were quick to point out that “even [Stephen’s] friends are speaking against him.”

What hurt was that these ministry friends never tried to contact me. Most still have not. Even when I tried to reach out to ask why they didn’t call or e-mail me, it was as if they had a blind spot to what they had done. They never apologized, but simply said they felt they had to “express themselves” because so many of their constituents were asking them for answers.

Admittedly, I’ve needed a lot of prayer and counseling to keep my spirit pure of offense. I’ve also had to apologize to some for my rebukes. In fact, I work my way through repentance daily.

One of the side effects of this outpouring has been a work of holiness and the fear of God. I can’t go for more than a few minutes in any kind of sin before I feel God’s hand squeezing me. Temptation of any kind is met with a swift move of the Spirit, followed by strong repentance. That’s one of the reasons why I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that this is God.

Show Some Support!
For some reason, the body of Christ seems to have ignored the Scriptures that admonish us to hear both sides of the story. Even the secular press would at least contact us for a comment before writing a story about us. Yet our Christian brothers and sisters never once tried to contact us. They appear to have ignored the passages that tell us to go to our brother who we feel is “overtaken in a fault” (Gal. 6:1, KJV). Instead, they have used the bully pulpit of their e-mails, newsletters and Web sites to express their concerns that often have been based on incomplete or faulty information.

Todd, a few friends and I were able to formulate statements and theological responses to some of these concerns, but even these seem to be ignored or refused. It appears that many are simply predisposed to believe this outpouring is demonic—period. It’s like trying to convince non-Pentecostals that speaking in tongues is really for today; no matter what Scripture you give them, they have chosen not to believe.

Here’s what I believe is the bottom line: If what has been happening here in Lakeland is in any way a move of God, why isn’t the body of Christ—especially Pentecostals and charismatics—praying for us? Why haven’t they contacted us to let us know that although they have some concerns or are uncomfortable with some things, they’re still praying that God gives us wisdom? Where are the apostles? Where are the fathers of the faith?

There have been a few who responded immediately in support—John Arnott, Ché Ahn, Patricia King, to name some of those supporters. Several others came, though only for one night or part of a service. And a few apostles have reached out to me personally when I asked for their help, including Peter Wagner and another major leader who asked me to withhold his name for a season. I’m thankful for them all.

Still, there are those who have labeled the Lakeland Outpouring as a work of an “angel of light” or a deceiving spirit or familiar spirit. Do they truly know what they are saying? Isn’t it a sin to attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan? How can we worship for up to two hours in each service, preach the gospel, exalt Christ and emphasize holiness—and yet be operating in a demonic spirit? I’m baffled by their assessments.

A New Move
My prayer for the body of Christ is that we learn that “eye has not seen, nor ear heard ... the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). I pray that when we “see” something new, we truly investigate it from all sides before we label it “not of God.” Is it possible that God is doing something new?

The reality is that there is mixture in every Christian endeavor. There is flesh, there is the counterfeit; and yes, even the demonic tries to infiltrate. But I’ve been in church board meetings where there was more demonic involvement than anything I’ve ever experienced in one of the outpouring meetings.

In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares. The field workers complained about the mixture of the tares with the wheat, yet when they asked if they should pull up all the weeds, the owner responded, “No ... lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.”

Honestly, sometimes I think that the body of Christ hasn’t learned a thing from our past mistakes. We rejected the Latter Rain, Word of Faith, Prophetic movements—virtually all of them when they first appeared. And most were dismissed simply because we couldn’t understand them.

Here’s what I know: I love Jesus more now than ever before. I can’t even write these words without tears flowing from my eyes. People are being saved in the meetings and in the marketplace. Many in the body of Christ have a renewed faith in miracles, and we’ve received more than two-dozen recorded resurrection stories since we began. Multiple funerals have been canceled! I’d say that is pretty good verification.

I currently have more than 5,000 praise reports on my computer that I haven’t been able to read yet. Todd’s ministry, Fresh Fire, and GOD TV have multiplied thousands! What will it take for us to even suggest that maybe, just maybe, God is doing something fresh?

This article appeared in the Sep/Oct 2008 issue.

http://www.ministrytodaymag.com/display.php?id=17760

Obviously this article was written before we heard the news about Todd Bentleys troubled situation. Please continue to pray for Todd & Shannah, their children, and the Fresh Fire Ministries. Please also pray for the Revival Alliance and the other apostles that are working hard to bring restoration to the Bentley family.

To view the Lakeland Outpouring, you can go to www.ignitedchurch.com for high quality viewing, or use the uStream link:

LAKELAND REVIVAL VISITORS REPORT

Hello, and bless you all.

There is no doubt in my mind that this was a genuine move of God. My wife and I began to watch in late April on the internet. We eventually were able to get Godtv on cable.My wife has been totally transformed. She surrendered her life totally 100% to Christ on May 8 while we were watching on the computer. She received the baptism of the Holy Spirit during the revival. God has gifted her with visions, dreams, dream interpretation, words of knowledge, throne room encounters, angelic visitations. We now pray together daily and God has blessed me and our children with some of the same experiences. From very early on, my wife said that we needed to go to Florida. We live in Illinois. We prayed for 2 months for the finances to be able to go. God miraculously provided the money in early July. We were blessed to be able to go to the tents for 7 glorious nights, July 8-14. What an awesome experience!!!! The worship and presence of God was so overwhelming, it was difficult to remain standing, and often I was unable to. We received so much, we still haven't processed it all. But we will never be the same. Our church has been lit on fire as well. Our pastor went 4 different times. Like everyone, I was so grieved when the news came out about Todd & Shonna, but it does not invalidate ANYTHING that God or Todd did. I don't regret going, and I would go back tomorrow if the meetings were still happening. Those 7 days are something I will never ever forget.

God bless you all,
Rick Kindred & Family
Oakwood, Illinois

A READER COMMENTS ON LAKELAND

http://www.ibethel.org/regarding-todd-bentley/

This is a link to a response that I like very much regarding Todd Bentley. I think it's important for us to develop and keep a culture of honor. This church in Redding, California has found a way to recognize different anointings when they see them, and look past the things that they might not agree with. Whenever someone speaks at Bethel Church in Redding, the pastor will never tell you what he didn't agree with. He wants to train the church to recognize different anointings and different moves of God in different people. And sometimes those come in unlikely and maybe even uncomfortable forms. The important thing is to learn to see God, instead of the human. To recognize the "Truth" wherever it is. If we focus on the good, and learn to honor fellow believers even if we have small differences in doctrine, we get closer to understanding the heart of the Father. Just like the dad in the Prodigal Son, he did not care about the mess his son had gotten into. He loved his son and wanted to honor him and bless him just for being his son.

As believers we are going to keep being divided as long as we remain critical, and see the human error rather than the potentially mighty move of God in someone. Todd needed believers to support him (by supporting you don't have to agree with every last stroke of the pen), to love him, to honor him, and to pray for him. I believe that Todd has an amazing anointing to heal the sick and raise the dead. I know several people personally who encountered God in ways they never had before in Lakeland. Todd ushered in God's presence no matter how you look at it.

If you look at the history of revivals and revivalists, you'll notice that at the end, the "main player" usually gets burnt out, tired, and broken. Moves of God can happen quickly, and when someone is pushed ahead of the group to lead, they rarely have an opportunity to build in extra accountability, prayer support, and to get friends alongside them to help them lead. Without those things, anyone would burn out and get tired and feel lonely. Believers are meant to be honored and supported by each other, without being divisive about every detail. I think in times like this, we need to storm the gates of heaven on behalf of our brother in Christ, rather than sitting at the dinner table picking him apart. We need to show honor and love to all believers. If we can't love the Body, how can we love the lost? the homeless? the poor?

We have to first know and feel the love of God for us, before we can unconditionally give it. We should work from love not for love. from victory not for victory. and from a place of rest rather than for a place of rest. We have been fully equipped with everything we need, we just have to believe we have it, and then act on it.

Mary West

COMMENTS ON LAKELAND REVIVAL

WHAT SOME OF THE
'LEADERSHIP' IS SAYING

If you would like to read some of the comments from the 'Who's Who' as to what has happened in Lakeland you can use this COMMENTS LINK.

YOUR LAKELAND EXPERIENCE

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT
THE LAKELAND REVIVAL OUTPOURING

If you visited Lakeland in person, if you were healed or know someone who was either in person or while watching I would like to hear from you with your opinions and testimony.

To share your views just send an email using the following link and your comments will be published here.

Email The Lakeland Revival Blog

SOME LAKELAND REVIVAL AFTER THOUGHTS

I OFFER A FEW MORE MUSINGS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF THE LAKELAND REVIVAL

Most everyone by now must be aware the marital difficulties that Todd and Shonnah are having. It seems that Todd has filed a separation agreement and that he is involved in an 'inappropriate' relationship with a staff member.

From many corners of the Church have come appeals for prayer that they and their family will be restored as only the LORD can do. Keep them in your prayers, they need it!

Now all the hand wringing and buck passing and genuine repentance is coming forth from the 'who's who' in the Charismatic zoo. There is the 'I told you so' crowd who always thought Lakeland was not of the LORD, with their 20/20 hindsight fully working.

There are those who KNOW this was a fresh genuine move of the Holy Spirit and are not really sure how it got off track so quickly.

It seems to this humble scribe that NO ONE has the maturity or discernment to shepherd a genuine move of the Holy Spirit. The 'I told you so' crowd would have, and in some cases did, do everything in their power to kill it before it started.

There are those who can recognize when the Spirit of the LORD is moving and simply jump in and enjoy His Presence. They do however lack the maturity to know what the LORD would do and follow Him so they start to impose their agendas and formulas for how you run a meeting.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to now cry out to the LORD to not leave us in our infancy even though we are arrogant and prideful enough to think we know what we are doing .... to come and take His rightful place among us and then step back and let Him do what only He can do!

Continue to Pray that the LORD will accomplish what He has set out to do.

LESSONS FROM LAKELAND REVIVAL

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN LAKELAND
FLORIDA OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS?

I offer my opinion based on my observations after watching the revival meetings from about the end of April until the last one in August.

This started as a pure, genuine, fresh move of the Holy Spirit who made His Presence known at Ignited Church in Lakeland Florida.

The Holy Spirit from the beginning drew people to Lakeland and provided the needed finance to secure the ever increasing size of venues and brought much attention to what was happening from all over the world.

Then, as is always the case MAN decided to try and stick handle what the LORD would do and sooner or later the spontaneous Spirit led meetings became the predictable 'man-made' programs with the same predictable results. If MAN insists on putting his hands on a move of the Holy Spirit ... the Holy Spirit will leave! And leave He did!

So what has this proven about the present state of the so-called church and it's leaders in this present time? It proves that NO ONE knows how to behave when the Holy Spirit actually comes in and takes over our meetings, which should never have been 'ours' in the first place.

There were supposed leaders who immediately called Lakeland a false outpouring and that Todd Bentley was playing with strange fire and that he was a false prophet etc. etc. Those who would call themselves leaders have only demonstrated their complete lack of maturity and discernment when the Holy Spirit is actually present and would like to take us further.

You now have these same immature 'leaders' applying 20/20 hindsight and saying 'I told you so' because once again we have screwed up a genuine move of the Holy Spirit.

May the LORD have mercy on ALL of us!

Lakeland Revival Goes To S. Carolina

Isaac tells Todd how he and five or six friends went to the Lakeland Revival and the first day did not feel it was of God. He said what was happening offended him. However, the second day he put the devil behind him and said he wanted whatever the LORD had for him. Before returning to S. Carolina he had some people pray for him for the impartation. On the long drive home they began to seek God for the revival to come to them, and not be left in Lakeland.
The next morning during their school's bible study time, Isaac simply asked the LORD to show up and He DID! The result has been an outpouring that has lasted for over 16 weeks at Morningstar Ministries.
This is what happens when God gets a hold of someone who is seriously hungry and then ACTS upon what he has received.
This young man is a part of the generation that will turn this world on it's ear for the LORD.


Thousands upon thousands gathered in Fort Mills S. Carolina at Morningstar Ministries to receive an impartation of the Florida Healing Revival Outpouring.


Todd gave some background as to how the Florida Healing Revival, also called the Lakeland Revival began with a five day meeting at Ignited Church and continued for over 120 days during which time thousands were healed and thousands more received the healing impartation to take to their home churches.



Bob Jones explained that what the LORD is doing now is bringing people to maturity and that the 'New Breed' will come from the 25 - 40 year olds who will pastor the youth who will be the partakers of the Divine Nature. This will be the generation who will grow up INTO Christ and will be known as the friends of God.
This will be the fulfilment of Gal. 4:19. They will be the generation that will do nothing they do not see the Father doing.

Todd and Bob Jones prayed for impartation of 15 people, one from each age group of the 25 - 49 year olds who will be the New Breed.
Todd was sharing an understanding the LORD had given him on the different progressions of the Christian life, and said he saw four different floors and each floor required the going up of three steps. These steps are the same and speak of the outer court, the inner court and finally the Holy of Holies.
On the first 'floor' there was the healing miracles. The second floor was notable, remarkable miracles. The third floor was the raising of the dead and the fourth floor was Resurrection Life. He asked the LORD what was the difference between raising the dead and Resurrection Life and the LORD explained that Resurrection Life is the full manifestation of the sons of God who walk in the fullness of the LORD who IS the Resurrection!
At this level of the Christian life, all manner of sin and sickness will simply be destroyed in the presence of the sons walking in the fullness of the LORD. This level will have come into maturity and will have power over death.
Listen to the archive copy of tonight's meeting on the God on Demand feature on the God TV website.


This was the first man Todd had a word of knowledge for who was healed of deafness in his left ear which he had for fifteen years! He was the first in a never end stream of healings the LORD called out during the healing portion of tonight's meeting. At one point Todd had everyone assembled pray for anyone who was needing a healing, this is an example of the prayer of faith by the saints. Healing was happening all over the crowd both in the field and in the overflow and on the hill as the LORD moved mightily among His people!

Todd listens to one of the many who came forward who had been healed during tonight's meeting which was still going strong when God TV stopped airing the meeting.

A partial list of some of the testimonies is as follows:

• 15 yrs. deaf if left ear .. healed
• 20 yrs. deaf in left ear, suddenly everything got loud
• woman deaf in left ear and pain in leg was healed
• man needing heart transplant prayed for
• arthritis for 40 years was healed
• eye surgery left one eye blurry .. was healed
• Korean woman received an impartation to take the revival home to Korea
• woman with heart condition felt her heart beat normally
• right hip crushed in a car accident chronic pain was healed
• cancer tumor in colon, woman felt the pressure release believes healed
• 9 yr. old boy from Guyana was healed of pain in his eye
• three women with left eye problems were all healed
• woman deaf in the right ear was healed (claimed her healing when Todd called out healing in the left ear)
• left ear deaf was healed
• woman with colon cancer which had spread to her lungs can now breathe deeply
• woman removed her leg brace and her knee was healed

The only proper way to describe tonight's meeting would be to use one of Todd's favourite expressions . . . . . . . WOW!

WHERE TO FROM HERE FOR THIS BLOG?

Whether or not the meetings at Ignited Church will continue to be aired on the GOD TV website is unknown to me at this point. As long as they do I will continue to chronicle the events at Lakeland as I for one do not think the devil has won as much as his little helpers think he has. There will always be a special anointing from the LORD at Ignited Church and those who realize that and come will be blessed. Those who don't . . . won't. Those who were only coming for the hype and hoopla would never have received what the LORD wanted them to have in the first place. Anyone who came to see 'Todd Bentley' missed the whole point of this outpouring anyway. But those who can discern the LORD rightly and came to be touched by Him have been, and will continue to be blessed.

Anyplace where the LORD is actually able to 'break through' will always carry a certain anointing for those sensitive enough to realize it. Sadly, the Church is not filled with Spirit led Christians able to discern the LORD'S anointing who are only looking to their leaders for direction and sadder still these 'leaders' are simply blind guides to the blind.

However, the LORD will ALWAYS have a remnant in the earth. He will always have a people hungry just for Him who can recognize when He is doing something special and will travel to wherever the LORD is in order to experience Him.

There will also always be the Pharisees wearing their christian costumes which serve to provide confusion as they continue to resist what the LORD is really doing and continue to try and maintain their strangle hold on the flock! They are the ones opposing the Lakeland Healing Revival Outpouring with their venomous books and forums and websites!

As to the future of this blog, I intend to chronicle the events at Lakeland Florida as long as they are made public and I also intend to chronicle the events associated with this outpouring as it unfolds with Todd Bentley and Fresh Fire ministries.

In the meantime we all need to continue to PRAY for this move of the Holy Spirit and that man will not once again be able to abort what our GOD would do if we only would let Him.

I believe that one of the causes of great anguish when we get to heaven, will be seeing how many times we have quenched the Holy Spirit both as individuals and also as the corporate Body of Christ!

PRAY . . . . . . . PRAY . . . . . . PRAY. . . . . . . PRAY

Lakeland Revival Outpouring Turned over to Ignited Church

Roy Fields led worship for about two hours leading the packed out assembly in anointed praise and worship. This may be one of the last nights that Roy leads worship at Ignited Church where the Lakeland Healing Revival Outpouring all began on April 3/08. Those assembled are clearly coming to seek the Presence of their LORD.

Fighting back emotion Todd explained how they always knew that the 'revival' was going to be turned over to Ignited Church and that August was going to be a month of transition. Todd will be taking the revival anointing (if that is the label we can put on it) to other cities both nationally and internationally who are hungry for what the LORD is doing in this hour. There are many cities who have been wanting Todd to come and bring the impartation so that a revival will break out in their own city. This is the direction they have always felt the LORD would be leading, but when the time of actually leaving Lakeland arrived it is with mixed emotions that Todd leaves as this outpouring has touched his life immensely.

Todd said that he and family will probably be taking some time to rest now and recover from some of the brutal attacks (my words not Todd's) which have come against him as the enemy has done whatever he can to discredit Todd and this move of God. There are many misguided 'christians' who are gleefully rejoicing over what they see as the 'death of Lakeland'. I am sure the LORD made reference to them when He said ' forgive them for they know not what they do'.

Pastor Strader explained that the healing revival outpouring meetings will continue seven days a week at Ignited Church for the month of August, but will be held six days per week starting in September. They have realized that having meetings every night without a break is simply too demanding on anyone. I guess God was right with taking a day of rest!

To get location and meeting details you can visit the Ignited Church website by using this LINK.

Todd prayed for Pastor Strader and his wife to receive the anointing for this revival and Pastor Strader and elders prayed for Todd and his family and his ministry as they take these meetings to other cities both in the US and internationally as the LORD leads.

To get up to date news on where Fresh Fire ministries will be meeting you can use this Fresh Fire LINK.

Lakeland Revival Outpouring Continues

The hungry continue to come to Lakeland healing revival to experience the Presence of the LORD and receive an impartation to take back to their home church. I have as yet heard the name of the worship leader shown above as he is already singing when I have started watching.
Ryan Wyatt once again took the platform and continued his message about our ability to change the atmosphere by learning to be led by the Spirit and not our intellect. He said that the Holy Spirit is held captive by non-believing believers. Learning to be in touch with the Spirit and led by Him is not something which just 'happens' it requires a serious effort on out part. In truth there are very few of us who are actually led by the Spirit, we are most likely being led by our intellectual understanding of things spiritual, which means we don't really know much.
You can listen to all of Ryan's message by using the God on Demand link on the God TV website.
Ryan was operating in the word of knowledge which led to many people coming forward with their testimony of receiving a healing. A partial list is:

• 26 years with arthritis in knees.. healed can now jump without pain
• shoulder and knee pain was healed
• scoliosis sufferer felt liquid warmth and believes healed
• chronic fatigue syndrome sufferer felt an energy in her legs
• asthma sufferer can now breathe freely
• neck and back pain from car accident healed
• ear pain and 'popping' vanished

Aug. 4 Lakeland Revival Outpouring

BACK AT IGNITED CHURCH
WHERE IT ALL STARTED

Monday night was the second night back at Ignited Church, unfortunately I was unable to watch the Sunday night meeting due to technical difficulties. My pc was having trouble with the 'I Worship here' feed from the Church. Last night however was broadcast once again on GOD TV.

Ryan Wyatt took the platform after praise and worship with a timely message about believers being able to 'change the atmosphere' around them. He was referring to the fact that we have the power to change the atmosphere around us if we are under oppression, depression or anything which is not of the LORD.

When we are truly walking as we should be we will also be able to change the atmosphere around us, as the Glory which resides in each of us, is able to be released.

At the heart of his message is the fact that many, many Christians need to grow up and let the LORD clean us up and change us as we need changing. He made the controversial statement that the LORD told him that if He healed 1000 people in a meeting one night, most would wind up sick again within a week, as they are sick inside! Not a popular statement but we need to face the truth is we are going to grow.

Ryan will be at Ignited again on Tuesday night for a healing and impartation meeting, unless of course the LORD has another plan!

You can visit Ryan's ministry website by following this ABIDING GLORY LINK.

Aug. 2 Night 123 at Lakeland Revival Outpouring

LAST NIGHT IN THE BIG TENT

Roy Fields and Todd Bentley took the platform for the last meeting in the big tent at the Lakeland Florida Revival Healing Outpouring.

The crowd pretty well filled the one tent but the second one was not needed as the crowds have decreased somewhat in recent days. It is anyones guess how this many people are going to be accommodated in the Ignited Church where the meetings will be as of tomorrow night.

It seemed tonight that Todd remembered what the meetings were supposed to be all about, and that is the Presence of the LORD. That has been lost in recent weeks as a performance mindset seemed to have taken over the meetings. They were no longer the spontaneous meetings of the beginning where the worship was known to last for three hours or more, as people just enjoyed fellowshipping with the LORD.

The meetings had become governed by man made timetables just like any man orchestrated event. Worship time was predictable, followed by announcements, followed the collection, followed by the guest speaker, followed by a time when the Holy Spirit was expected to do the supernatural!

Just like the organized 'church' we are all perishing in!

Tonights meeting was much like the early meetings, more time was spent waiting on the LORD. Time was spent 'on our face' during the time of worship. There was no long 'message', there was of course the collection which is much needed as finances seem to be an issue. ( I think will be resolved when the meetings are once again given back to the Holy Spirit)

There was a steady stream of people testifying of their healings either tonight or from the past. Tonight was as close to the first meetings as it has been for well over a month. And it blessed everyone who experienced it!

Pray that Todd and Pastor Strader and the others in leadership will take their hands off this Revival and return it to the Holy Spirit. As He is the ONLY One qualified to lead a revival.

Now, don't go getting all critical of either of these men or others as a revival such as this brings with it a whole host of administration problems which tend to rob leadership of their time alone with the LORD and before you know it they are operating in their flesh trying to solve a whole bunch of problems. While they are doing this, their time with the LORD is stolen from them.

JUST CONTINUE TO PRAY THAT WHAT THE LORD HAS BEGUN AT LAKELAND FLORIDA WILL NOT BE ABORTED BY MEN.

PRAY THE EYES WILL BE OPENED OF CHRISTIANS WHO ARE OPPOSING THE HOLY SPIRIT AT LAKELAND FLORIDA AND THAT THE LORD MAY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BLESS HIS CHURCH AT THE LAKELAND HEALING REVIVAL OUTPOURING!

PRAY . . . . . PRAY . . . . . . PRAY . . . . . .PRAY

Christians Who Need Prayer

A Sad Commentary on the 'Church'

The Apostle Paul said that when he left ravenous wolves would come in and they would not spare the flock. In Ephesians we are also told that we are being tossed about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of man and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

Considering this has been going on for about 2000 years it is little wonder that there are great numbers of Christians and 'leaders' who have been taken in by all manner of deception. Leaders who think they are leaders because they have a diploma on the wall and members of the flock who equate the time they have warmed a pew with maturity.

Unfortunately this large number of people who purport to be the Church are unable to know when it is actually the Holy Spirit who is moving as opposed to some devil.

Forums are full of these deceived people who are gleefully cheering what they see as the death of the revival at Lakeland!

These pitiful folk are actually cheering the quenching of the Holy Spirit and some of them think that their prayers have 'saved' us from great deception. Some of these deluded souls think people who came to Lakeland received 'strange fire' and are now in need of deliverance. These same people obviously can not discern the Holy Spirit from an unclean spirit and yet they go about acting as if they were all grown up and mature, when in fact they need a fresh bottle.

Pray for those real members of the Church who have been taken in my their own arrogance and who have used their intellect to try and judge the spiritual. Pray the LORD will forgive them for any part they are playing in trying to quench the Holy Spirit at Lakeland.

Opposition to Lakeland from ‘Christians’

One of the saddest commentaries on what has happened to the Lakeland revival outpouring is the opposition which has come from other Christians.

It is no secret that Christians are divided into lots of different little camps, hence all of the denominations that exist today. But even within those camps there are lots of little sub-camps.

This division simply speaks to the carnal and infant state of the Christian church in the world today. As the Apostle Paul pointed out:

1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

If anyone should Google ‘The Lakeland Revival’ you will probably come across more anti-Lakeland sites than you will find pro-Lakeland sites. These are all put up by different ‘christians’ who don’t recognize the working of the Holy Spirit at Lakeland because God is not doing what they think He should be doing in a genuine revival. They give Satan far more credit than they give God when it comes to this matter.

The opposition borders on fanaticism from many camps, suggesting this is the ‘great deception’ and that Bentley is at the least a false prophet. Many of these sites are put up by modern day Pharisees who are led by the same spirit who could not recognize Jesus when He was standing in front of them.

These self-appointed experts are relying on their intellect to measure and judge things which are spiritual and as we all know the Spirit is not subject to our intellect.

Some people who fashion themselves as revival experts think that if the revival today does not look like the Welsh revival, for example, then it could not possibly be of God. One of the first ‘experts’ out of the gate with a book renouncing Lakeland insists that unless people are crying out in repentance it can not be a true revival. Of course, he misses the point that the people coming are already believers and may very well already be in right standing with God and not in need of repenting as did the non-believing coal miners of the Welsh revival days.

Others can simply not believe that God could use a guy like Bentley and don’t seem to remember such words as Grace, Forgiveness and Old Things have passed away…..

Others get all upset over the references to ‘female’ angels and the like to support their opposition to Todd and his ability to actually lead a true revival. These same people get all upset any time God who is Supernatural actually does something supernatural! Since it does not happen in their church it can’t possibly be of God can it??

Is Bentley perfect? Hardly, but if the LORD is going to have to wait until one of us reaches perfection before He can move, then we are all doomed! For example those crying out for repentance as the sign of a true revival …. would not have any idea how to operate in the gifts of the Spirit, so a revival they would ‘lead’ would result in everyone weeping and wailing before the altar and little else.

Sadly, it would seem that maturity is a long way off from the confines of the church right now for if we were truly spiritual we would at least recognize the Holy Spirit and then as the Bible tells us, we would pray one for another. In this case we would be praying the LORD would keep Bentley straightened out and that for once, the Holy Spirit could show up and bring us into a level of maturity we are all sadly missing.

Jesus made the comment that a house divided against itself could not stand . . . do you think Satan was listening? He has been able to keep us divided for centuries and as long as we are not led by the Holy Spirit but we insist on following some man, we most likely will remain divided all over the place.

Pray the LORD will change His mind and return in fullness to Lakeland and finish what He started the first of April.

Some Thoughts About the Lakeland Revival

What Has Happened to the 'Revival'?

If you go back and view the earlier meetings which are archived on the GOD TV website you can feel the difference in the 'atmosphere' compared to what is happening today.

The difference of course is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Of course things are still happening at the Lakeland meetings; anytime you get several thousand Christians together who are seeking after God, you are going to see things happening. That should happen in your own living room if there are two or more of you. You don't need to travel thousands of miles to experience that.

The emphasis that was being placed on 'getting verified medical reports' does not line up with the accounts I read in the Bible when Jesus went about healing all those oppressed of the devil. In fact, the testimony of the person who says they are healed should be sufficient. Asking for proof from the medical community has the very seeds of doubt and unbelief at their core. When someone claims to be healed of this or that, and we immediately insist they get it verified we are saying we don't really believe them. In that moment the seed of doubt has been planted in the mind of the believer who is claiming a healing, which will be watered and nurtured soon enough by unbelieving believers and unbelieving non-believers.

This is an example of pandering to the media, so you can 'prove' that the LORD is in fact doing miracles! Think about it! You are asking the non-believing medical world and the non-believing secular media to give their stamp of approval to what the LORD is doing! It is good for us He is longsuffering!

The second mistake which has been made is all this emphasis on having the secular media come and verify what the LORD is doing! Does He need CNN or ABC or Geraldo to hype what He is doing? Were any of these networks responsible for the crowds which came to Lakeland right from the get go?

No, both of these ideas are born of men who are trying to manipulate and promote something which is HOLY and which should have been left in the hands of the HOLY SPIRIT.

Will we ever learn? If the ark looks like it might tip over, unless the LORD has anointed us, we are NOT TO TOUCH IT!

There is a whole industry in Christendom built around the sale of books and tapes and tee shirts who jump all over a move of the Holy Spirit for their own personal gain. Many of them got their greedy little fingers into the Lakeland pie and basically drove it into the ditch!

You will notice that the offerings started to dwindle and finances became more of an issue the more these men tried to take control of what the LORD was doing. In the beginning finances were NEVER an issue, the crowds were never an issue . . . . that is the way of it when the Holy Ghost is in charge.

Only when men put their grubby paws on it, did finances become an issue, did news reports go poorly, did medical verifications become an issue . . . . .

WILL WE EVER LEARN??

Is there still hope for the true 'revival' . . . . . I believe there is if enough of us cry out to God to not forsake what He has started and to grant repentance to those who would turn His sovereign move into their own little cash cow!

It has just been announced that the meetings are going to be held once again in Ignited Church (where it all started) after this weekend. This weekend is the last meetings in the 'tent'. So this revival has gone from a 700 seat venue, to a 3000 seat venue, to a 10000 seat tent back to a 700 seat venue. This will be good if they quit trying to make merchandise of the things of God. This will be good if they beg the Holy Spirit to return with His special Presence. This will be good if Stephen can keep the money changers out of the temple!

As for taking the 'ark' and moving somewhere else, if last weekend in Los Angeles is an example of what to expect, I am afraid this revival has been killed before it got out of the starting gate. Los Angeles was just another conference!

PRAY . . . . . . . . . PRAY . . . . . . . . . PRAY

July 31 REPORT ABOUT LAKELAND

HAS THE LAKELAND 'REVIVAL'
BECOME THE LAKELAND 'CONFERENCE'??

It pains me to write this report for I have waited to see a turn around for the past several weeks, and it has not come.

What began as a fresh, genuine move of the Holy Spirit is becoming just another Christian Conference driven by formula and hype.

Do people get healed and is the LORD still moving? Yes! Whenever you get several thousand believers assembled seeking the LORD you can bet He will honour that assembly. He will come anywhere that two or more are assembled in His Name.

However, the Holy Spirit and the freshness of what He first began to do, is no longer present in these meetings.

You can predict the music will last one and a half hours, there will be a welcome message and some announcements, then a message delivered from a list of guest speakers who may or may not have something to say and finally there will be a segment when the Holy Spirit is expected to do the supernatural.

The whole meeting is as predictable as the meeting you will see in church this weekend.

What went wrong? In my humble opinion, the same thing that always happens when man tries to cash in and orchestrate a move of the Holy Spirit ..... He leaves!

Whoever has been pulling the strings in the background has managed to quench another move of the Holy Spirit and turned it into just another conference.

If you share my fears about what has happened at Lakeland, it is time to get on our faces and cry out to God to not leave and to raise up someone who will not try and touch the ark.

Someone who will not try and touch the Glory, someone who is genuinely hungry for nothing but a move of the Holy Spirit and does not see a revival as a super business opportunity!

PRAY PRAY PRAY

Jly 27 & 28 Lakeland & Los Angeles Revival Meetings

At the Sunday night meeting in Los Angeles a crowd of about 15000 came out to receive from the LORD. Che Ahn who hosted the meeting welcomed and introduced Todd Bentley who gave his testimony, followed by an altar call which saw some 300 new souls come into the Kingdom.
An altar call for anyone dealing with addictions of any kind saw many more come forward for deliverance.

Anointed worship leader David Fitzgerald led the faithful both nights in worship which lasted well over an hour and a half. I have had several requests for information about any CD's David might have produced, so if anyone can direct me to a website I would be happy to pass the information along.



Craig Kinsley delivered a message on the Sunday night, which you can view using the God on Demand feature on the God TV website.


Eli Miller has been holding the fort, so to speak as Todd seems to be distancing himself more and more from the Lakeland venue. For the first time he spoke about the spiritual opposition which has been coming against Lakeland and led the assembled in intercession to break off the assignments of witchcraft and other forces.

Monday night saw Ryan Wyatt take the platform with the main thrust of his message being the fact the supernatural is supposed to be a part of the Christian life.

He pointed out that the demonic supernatural is attracting and seducing the younger generation which is a good reason the Church needs to be walking in the supernatural rather than just walking in the talking.

He said that a great many Christians have enough faith to get into the Kingdom 'some day' but do not have the faith to bring the Kingdom into the earth NOW!

His message can be heard on the God TV website using the God on Demand link to the archived meetings.