What is Going On Down in Florida??????
7 05 2008As the eldest son of a Pentecostal preacher, I have the unique advantage of seeing what goes on in those sort of circles from [pretty much] a ringside seat. One of those things going on is something going on in Florida known as “the Lakeland Outpouring”.
Now, in all honesty, I shouldn’t really have to deal with this, seeing as my brothers Alan Higgins and Phil Naessens [who I need to add to my links] have both dealt with this from a more objective stance than I ever could. What I want to do is to give the “former insider perspective” on what is happening.
Firstly, Todd Bentley, the figurehead of this thing, is clearly irreverent in his understanding of anything spiritual. I remember the first time I watched the thing after hearing my Dad go on and on about it, and noticing the language coming out of his mouth. He [Bentley] would use phrases like ”bam” and ”bazooka’d”. Now maybe I’m being wrong but doesn’t the Bible say:
Titus 2:7-8
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
I don’t see soundness of speech in Bentley’s talking [it ain't preaching - leave it at that], even for someone who claims to walk in the prophetic.
Another problem I have relates to the lack of any real teaching out of this movement. Bentley makes no Biblical case for what he is doing down there, neither does he do any Bible teaching. When I see periods of spiritual renewal in the Bible, I see [to quote the rather hilarious song] “Bibles, Bibles”:
2 Kings 22:8-20
8 And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her. 15 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19 because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20 Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’” And they brought back word to the king.
Nehemiah 8:1-8
8:1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, [1] helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, [2] and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
Dave Hunt [who really mis-understands Reformed theology but has produced some cool resources in relation to the false Gospel being preached by the likes of Bentley] noted that in the days of the Brownsville Revival, he contacted one of the leaders down there and asked how much Gospel presentation had gone on. The answer - well he didn’t get one. Here’s some video of what happened to someone who attended the Toronto Revival:
Note there’s a nice big Bible on the pulpit, but he ain’t preaching from it. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not of God! Then against, if you understand how Pentecostalism works, it doesn’t really matter. You see, Pentecostalism from the outset didn’t have much of a care for doctrine. Hence you had Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians [just to name a few...] all under one roof united by an experience - not sound doctrine. The Lakeland Outpouring may well go down in history with Azusa, Brownsville and Toronto, but rest assured, false prophets will definitely get what is coming to them
I think all of you who have been judging this man and many other ministries better watch what you say.If this is of God it will stand.If it isn’t it will fall.I left a group over this.For I am spirit-filled and the Lord spoke to my spirit and told me not to speak evil of this man.
Greetings Doug. Oh man, this reminds me of a time when I went to a church like this. Poeple were barking and running around laughing outrageously! I remember I tried doing what these people are doing and I didn’t feel right at all. Thank God for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is sad that some actually believe this to be a work of the Holy Ghost.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(2 Timothy 4:2)
What happened to just preaching sound doctrine? God bless my brother. Solus Christus
Karsten Miller
Pamela,
My Bible tells me to judge - Matthew 7:21-23, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 1 John 4:1-4. Quite frankly, I couldn’t give seven shades WHO spoke to you - Mr Bentley is a false prophet with a false Gospel. By saying that God spoke to you not to JUDGE THE PROPHET, I know that it weren’t God! God doesn’t fight the words of Himself [bad grammar, great theology]
Karsten,
What did happen to just preach the “straight-and-narrow”? Y’know, sometimes I just wanna walk into these places and literally slap folks awake…but that ain’t Christlike and probably not the way to go. Quite frankly, people will always gravitate towards the lie rather the truth - the human heart is wired that way
Pamela, before you start on the ‘do not judge’comments, may I encourage you to look at the video at http://realchristianity.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/judge-not/
Pamela;
Honestly, I used to say the same things in my charasmatic days. I would say the Lord told me not to say this against this person and that person. If we look at the context of the Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus Christ is speaking to hypocrites about wrong judgment, but what about righteous judgment? Romans 16:17 says
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Romans 16:17)
and Paul(who is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) also says:
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; (Titus 1:9-13)
or what about the loving judging words of John the Baptist:
Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Luke 3:7-9)
I surely wouldn’t want to be called a snake? The question is our judgment correct? Pamela, I suggest, because I understand what you’re saying, you test what you believe God said to your mind. The scriptures (God’s Word) tell us to prove all things 1 Thessalonians 5:21. Why not see if what you believe God said to you is true? Where does God say not to judge the words of a prophet? Because the scriptures tells us under proper church order one is to judge according to 1 Corinthians 14:29. Why in the Old testmant did the Lord warn them of prophets coming among them(Deut 13:1-11)? If you’re being warned by Yahweh Almighty to be careful, aren’t you going to have to judge when what’s mentioned in the warning comes around? Even Jesus Christ said Beware of false prophets. See the truth is all this holy laughter and slain in the spirit draws many away from the Lord Jesus Christ of the bible. How so? Let’s look at Deuteronmy 13:1-2
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; (Deuteronomy 13:1-2)
Now here we see somthing very key. The prophetic message of the so called prophet is to go after other gods. Many times when I was in this movement, I was lead to try and press to hear from God, soak and lie on the floor, pray in tongues, etc etc. This in turn caused me to not read, study, or live out the Word of God, the scriptures. So what was I doing? Correct, going after other gods. A true minister of the Gospel is going to understand this:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
See the scriptures are all we need. So we need true men of God to uphold the Word of God (contend for the faith Jude 3). A true man of God teaches exegesis, transliteration and uses excellent biblical hermanutics to make the Christian listener a good workman for the Lord Jesus Christ. The God told me stuff is not sure. The scriptures are! I encourage you Pamela to listen on You Tube to a series by John MacArthur on does God still give Revelation? May the grace of Christ Jesus be with you. Sola Scriptura, the Scriptures alone!
Karsten Miller