Lakeland and Discernment

Here are some more tidbits on Todd Bentley. I have cut and pasted these from emails I have received from Charisma and Ministries Today:

After originally claiming no third party was involved in his filing for separation from his wife, evangelist Todd Bentley confessed to his ministry’s board of directors last week that he had engaged in “an unhealthy relationship” with another woman—the second such occurance in three years. A letter written by Fresh Fire Ministries’ board stated that Bentley had “entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff.” Another statement released by Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship pastor John Arnott, one of the three leaders appointed during the Lakeland Outpouring to oversee Bentley, added reports of “excessive drinking” to the mix. Bentley has since resigned from Fresh Fire’s board of directors and will “refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.” “I am deeply saddened for the body of Christ that has been disillusioned yet again,” Arnott said. “Had any of us known what was just ahead, perhaps we would have been able to intervene before things went into crisis.”

And this:

Evangelist Todd Bentley, leader of the Lakeland Revival, stirred up interest in angels when he wrote about Emma, a female angel he said wears a long white dress, floats above the floor and resembles Kathryn Kuhlman.

The naysayers, many of whom were very reputable Full Gospel leaders, kept telling us something was fishy in Lakeland. They were accused of being doubters and worse. Just three weeks ago we were told that to disbelieve in this fellow was going to start a “charismatic civil war.” Now we know they were on to something.

Today the Body of Christ is reeling in the wake of the revelation of Bentley’s drinking, womanizing and visits from the angel Emma. This is just terrible. I am grieved. The Full Gospel did not need another A.A. Allen/Robert Tilton type who makes everyone question our legitimacy. Why can’t we grow out of this?

Let me say that it isn’t a matter of my caring what those outside of the Full Gospel camp think of us. We have been looked down on from the beginning and will always be by some. But we had made such strides. Miracles are certainly important. I am all for miracles and signs and wonders. But holiness, doctrine and discernment are important too. I would also have to think that Apostolic oversight would be important now as then. Where was that?

You may ask, what about those who did receive miracles during this “move of God?” I believe they received because they had personal faith in God. God honored faith. He always does. Even when an alcoholic A.A. Allen prayed for folks some did receive. Was it because Allen was anointed? Not in my book. It was because people who had no knowledge of his real lifestyle trusted God. I think the same probably happened in Lakeland.

So let’s do this:

1) Ignore hype and sensationalism (we have to be careful in these last days)
2) Trust God (where you are, right now, living room or local church… He’s just as real)
3) Don’t ignore red flags (talking to an angel that says it also visited William Branham, a sure enough heretic, would be one)

I don’t want to seem critical but now is the time for discernment. We are living in the days of deception and apostacy. The devil knows his time is short.

Brother Jesse