Those of you who read this blog regularly will know that I posted a 2 part series exposing Todd Bentley's false teaching at the height of his popularity.
Click Here for Part 1
Click Here for Part 2
Well this sacred cow is now a rotting carcass. Here is a video posted recently quoting a key leader within the Apostolic movement repenting and giving his post mortem of the "Lakeland Revival" and the dire future for the Charismatic movement if they don't start practicing biblical discernment.
There are several things worth pondering in the aftermath of all this.
1. We should be grieved and deeply saddened by the public reproach this brings to the name of our flawless Savior.
2. We should be grieved and praying for the many people deceived by this false revival.
3. We should be grieved for Todd Bentley's marital situation and personal integrity and that he would come to a place of sincere repentance.
4. This once again highlights the need for leaders to have a willingness to speak out when they are in the know for the sake of Christ's Name and the wellbeing of the wider body of Christ.
5. Not just those in charismatic circles, but also in the wider evangelical community need to really go through a deep process of self examination and biblical study so as to be able to biblically critique and examine the claims of every "new thing" that keeps appearing on the horizon.
6. The fact that there were no documented verifiable organic miracles that took place in Lakeland is ultimately irrelevant. Our first port of call must always be the purity of the gospel they preach. Because in the last days the Bible warns us that many will be deceived by miraculous signs and wonders as we see in Mark 13:22 which says "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect."
7. Self appointed people portraying themselves as an authoritative voice for God should always cause alarm in our spirit and instruct us to proceed with extreme biblical caution.
Here is an article written by John Piper about the "Lakeland revival" and the need for biblical discernment:
Lee Grady, the editor of Charisma, one of the main charismatic magazines, has written a lament and critique of the Lakeland “revival” which is now in a tailspin over the leader's announced separation from his wife. Grady’s summons to pray for the church and our nation is right, and among his commendable questions and observations are these:
"Many of us would rather watch a noisy demonstration of miracles, signs and wonders than have a quiet Bible study. Yet we are faced today with the sad reality that our untempered zeal is a sign of immaturity. Our adolescent craving for the wild and crazy makes us do stupid things. It’s way past time for us to grow up."
"True revival will be accompanied by brokenness, humility, reverence and repentance—not the arrogance, showmanship and empty hype that often was on display in Lakeland."
"A prominent Pentecostal evangelist called me this week after Bentley’s news hit the fan. He said to me: “I’m now convinced that a large segment of the charismatic church will follow the anti-Christ when he shows up because they have no discernment.” Ouch. Hopefully we’ll learn our lesson this time and apply the necessary caution when an imposter shows up."
Charismatics will not be the only ones who follow the Antichrist when he rises. So will the mass of those who today in thousands of evangelical churches belittle the truth of biblical doctrine as God’s agent to set us free (John 8:32).
Discernment is not created in God’s people by brokenness, humility, reverence, and repentance. It is created by biblical truth and the application of truth by the power of the Holy Spirit to our hearts and minds. When that happens, then the brokenness, humility, reverence, and repentance will have the strong fiber of the full counsel of God in them. They will be profoundly Christian and not merely religious and emotional and psychological.
The common denominator of those who follow the Antichrist will not be “charismatic.” It will be, as Paul says, “they refused to love the truth.”
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Our test for every Lakeland that comes along should first be doctrinal and expositional. Is this awakening carried along by a “love for the truth” and a passion to hear the whole counsel of God proclaimed?
(quoted from http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1348_test_revival_with_doctrine/ )
Go On To Episode 6
Go Back To Episode 4
Go Back To Episode 1
After considering all the evidence, I think that that Todd Bentley is a Warlock taking instructions direct from angels of light (Lucifer, demons etc.).
ReplyDelete2 Cor 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Todd has carried out all his “BAM power” ministry in the name of Jesus, but make that a false Christ:
Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible.
The devil puts on a good show to entice, and Todd has represented the devils way well by satisfying the desires of the flesh for physical sensations, visions, etc.
2 Thes 2:9-12 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
I believe the “bride of Christ” is being enticed to fornicate with demons.
Take heed Christians, and repent quickly if you have been involved with “charismatic fornication” with other spirits, as it is unclean before God.
Consider the warning given to believers to stop committing adultery with the “whore of Babylon” in Revelation 18:2-4
Jesus said “a wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign” (Matt 12:39).
Does “asking for a miraculous sign” demand a performance from God just like the pursuit of supernatural experiences such as being “slain in the spirit”, “Toronto Blessing”, heavenly visitations and visions, etc.?
The Bible does not endorse people directing the Holy Spirit or teach methods to repeatedly make supernatural experiences or events occur.
The desire to have experiences could be a self indulgent avoidance of what God really wants us to do.
When this disobedience and lack of discernment are combined, people may easily accept counterfeit phenomena from the Devil, eg.:
Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible.
Could Christian fellowships become dens of the occult with things like body vibrations, howlings, apparitions, and visions given by demons?
The seeking of experiences could be an attempt to treat the Holy Spirit like a circus clown or temple prostitute for personal indulgence.
All these wrong things may be tolerated because there is no fear of God and poor discernment:
Prov 1:29-31 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
At a New Zealand Promise Keepers event 2 years ago well known evangelist Bill Subrizky got all the men up who couldn’t speak in tongues.
Then he got them to practice saying aba-daba-aba-daba-aba-daba-aba-daba-aba-daba.
That mocks the Holy Spirit.
A strong desire for truth, and confidence to reject the false is critical to avoid fraudsters, scams and counterfeits of any type.
The “big party” will occur in heaven after we die (eg. Rev 19:9), not now.
For now, we have to prove ourselves faithful through difficulties.
1 Tim 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
If we are truly “hungry for God” we should only do things the Bible specifically affirms, such as repent of sins, develop the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – Gal 5:22-23), worship and appreciate God, endure through trials, help people, read the Bible, share the true gospel, etc.
Signs, wonders, visions, and other supernatural experiences are God’s business according to his agenda.
Seeking them is unsafe.
Todd Bentley and all his mentors should repent of their witchcraft, false teachings and false prophecy.
A 10 year old child handing out gospel tracts would have done more for the kingdom of God than the ridiculous circus that was “Lakeland Revival”.
Eph 5:6-11 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.