A couple of more viewpoints/what I heard from God:

What Is Going On? Is It Real or Fake? - Joni Ames
JONIAMES@aol.com
May 11 2008 11:04PM


What Is Going On? Is It Real or Fake?
- Joni Ames
JoniAmes@aol.com

When I was in my late 20's (I'm now 53), the church I attended took part in hosting a famous televangelist to come to our city. A large, 5,000 seat theater was rented, and many of us took part in volunteering and helping out. I was very excited, and arrived earlier than anyone else, figuring maybe I'd be able to get a good enough seat to see the miracles I'd heard about first hand!

When I got to the theater, the evangelist's staff was already busy. There was a flurry of activity and they were all quite friendly and seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me. I felt quite honored just to be there! I was a young single mom, and this was the most excitement I'd had in awhile!

As the people arrived, the man's staff was very helpful to everyone. People who seemed to have a hard time getting around were especially helped. They even grabbed wheel chairs to put them in, and gave the more feeble ones front row seats in them! When the people said they really didn't need to be in a wheel chair, the staff winked and said, "That's ok! Being in it will give you a better seat!"

I just did what I was told, and helped unload products onto tables, or did whatever was needed. When I was no longer needed, I went and sat in a fairly unoccupied area to observe it all.

I met a precious older lady who was in a lot of pain because she had been in an auto accident. She was there to get healed. I let the staff know that she especially needed prayer. Some of them went over and struck up a conversation with her. They then assured me that she would get prayed for personally by the evangelist during the service. I was excited about that! I wanted to see her healed and was happy to have helped line her up for that!

The meeting began, and the auditorium was quite full of excitement and enthusiasm. Some staff members got the people to begin shouting, "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" and to do some other kinds of cheers. They also did responsive type of things like, "Do you believe Jesus heals?" The crowd would say, "Yes!" - They would say, "Oh come on now - do you REALLY believe Jesus heals?" And the crowd would again say, "Yes!" - Then they would tell the crowd, "That was pretty weak! If you want Jesus to heal tonight, you better let Him hear you!"

Next, they had little contests with each section of the auditorium trying to see who was the loudest. They told the people that they were going to be on camera, but not to be intimidated. They needed to keep up the same enthusiasm so that it would encourage the evangelist to press in and get the anointing so good things would happen. They were promised that, if they did as directed, they would see and experience miracles that night. - And reminded that they didn't want to "quench" the spirit and stop those miracles from happening. How smart and how kind of these people to help us know how to help God to show up! (I was young, remember?!)

The services finally began, and the crowd was dutifully pressing in to participate in every way in which they had been directed - even to being responsive in the worship. Nobody wanted to be the one to "quench" the spirit and stop miracles from happening.

The evangelist came out and spoke awhile, and then asked if there was anyone there who had been healed in any of his previous meetings. There were several who came up - and apparently they'd been so touched that they became his staff members, because they were all people that I'd recognized as having been those who had been meeting and greeting and helping people get into that night's meeting! (I told you I was young!)

For awhile, the evangelist told some stories about other places and other times when other miracles had happened. Then He said, "Jesus is here now and is going to do it tonight too!!" Wow! The crowd got excited!

Two or three sets of people came up on stage and got prayed for. He seemed to know everything about them! Even their kids' names, and the town they were from!

Suddenly the staff hurried down to the lady in front of me who'd had the accident! Oh good! She was going to be prayed for and healed! I began to cry for joy for her!

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WATCH AND LISTEN!
=================
Suddenly the presence of the Lord came on me, personally, in a serious tone. He sternly said, "Watch and Listen! I'm going to teach you something tonight that you will carry with you for the rest of your life!"

The evangelist asked the lady if she had ever met him before. "No."

He repeated the question and added, "So we have never had a conversation before this moment, right?" She responded, "No, but I spoke to some of your staff members."

Irritated, he said, "That's not what I asked. Pay attention. You and I have never had a conversation before this moment, right?" She got a little uneasy, "No, but..."

"Do you believe God knows your name?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe God knows everything about you?"

"Yes."

"Is your name ____, and do you have a son named ____?"

"Yes."

"Let me ask again...Have you and I ever had a conversation before tonight?"

"No, but...."

"Don't interrupt the atmosphere, just answer yes or no to my questions. ...Have you and I ever had a conversation before tonight?"

"No."

She looks down at me, pleadingly, as if to say, "What do I do?!"

He continues, "You had a wreck about 2 years ago, yes or no?"

"Yes."

"You hurt your back and haven't been able to bend to touch your toes since then, yes or no?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe Jesus heals?"

"Yes, but..." He stops her as she tries to say, "But I spoke to YOUR STAFF and told them these things!"

"Don't grieve the atmosphere, just answer yes or no to my questions. ..Do you believe Jesus heals?"

"Yes, of course I do! But..." As he stops her from speaking, she begins to nervously cry.

"There it is! Don't be afraid to weep! That weeping shows that He's coming on your right now!"

The woman looks pleadingly at me again. The evangelist addresses the crowd. He reads a couple of healing verses. He asks them if THEY believe God's word, and if THEY believe Jesus can heal her tonight. They respond enthusiastically, as previously directed to do. The evangelist says, "All 5,000 of you here in this auditorium tonight, stretch your hands forth towards this woman! We're going to see her healed tonight!" He recites a prayer, reminding God of His word, and that if two or more agree, He will do what is asked. The crowd gets caught up in more responsive comments. He tells the lady to touch her toes now (which she couldn't do before) and she does it! The crowd goes wild! He has her do it and some other things she couldn't do several times. Now the crowd is on their feet!

That woman is finally sent back to her seat and he goes over to the wheel chairs and commands people to get up out of them and walk. The crowd goes even more wild!

But I remember that those people didn't need to be in the wheel chairs in the first place. Now I begin to see what is going on.

The Lord draws my attention back to the lady who just got healed. He says, "See her face? She is grieved because she was a part of how things just went down. Get ready to go meet with her in the lobby and tell her not to loose her healing."

The Lord continues, "You see, what just happened here is that I honored My Word, My Name, and the faith of My people. My Word does not go forth and return void, and when 5,000 people agree on My Word and in My Name, people are going to get healed."

"The gifts and calling are without repentance. It is up to each one as to how they use them."

"As for him, I'll deal with him in time. You see, what happened tonight is why My Word says that there will be those who say they healed and cast out demons in My Name, yet I'll tell them to depart from Me because I never knew them."

"But My Word will NOT go forth and return void, and I will honor it when My People believe and agree on My Word and in My Name."

"Go tell her I love her, and not to loose her healing, and explain this to her."

At that, she rose, ran out of the auditorium, and down the hall. I ran after her and did as the Lord said. She just kept weeping and saying, "I don't deserve to be healed! I helped him lie!"

I don't know what ever happened to that lady. She left in tears. As for the evangelist, a few years later he was exposed as having used an earpiece to get information from his staff while he ministered, and he spent time in prison.

I later went on to work for several large ministries throughout my lifetime. At some I learned what to do, and at others, what not to do. Still in all, I mainly tried to believe the best until proven otherwise. Then the Lord showed me in His Word that He really wanted us first to "Test the spirits as to whether they were from Him." So that took me down another road called discernment. Not judgmentalism. Discernment. And love.

In Phillipians 1:15-18, Paul says, "(15) Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill," (16) "The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains," (17) "But the latter of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel." (18) "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice."

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OTHER SIMILAR EVENTS
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Since that time, I've worked at and been around many other ministries before God launched me into my own. Most of them were sincere and real. But I've seen many things that were not good as well. I've seen people fake the gold dust, fake the gems, and fake the prophetic. I've watched people try to blow others down, push them down, and cause them to laugh themselves silly. But God is the same yesterday, today, and forever - and is forever real and true. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and God has been faithful to still be real and show up and honor His Word and His Name.

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VIVA LA DIFFERENCE
==================
In most cases, we don't have to deal with whether something or someone is or isn't of God. The various "offices" all have their own "personality." The "evangelist" is known as the more showy, loud, excitable, "Simon Peter" type of anointing. They get so excited that they often embellish the numbers in the crowd, etc. - In fact, Simon Peter got so excited that he lopped off a man's ear!

I learned to not expect everyone to do things "my way." But I've also been freed from other's expectations to try to get me to be "like them" as well. I'm a more laid back person. So I minister in a more calm manner.

The Lord showed me that's ok! After all, David couldn't walk in Saul's armor to kill the giant, so we cannot walk in anyone else's personality, style, or anointing to kill ours!

There are people who like the more loud, showy ministries that others can't stand nor receive from. By the same token, there are those who are bored by the more calm and gentle ones. But isn't God good for giving to us a variety so that all can be met right where they are?!

Sometimes we just need to give a little grace to the person to be who they are and to operate in their own personality and style, without demonizing them because of it.

============
WHAT TO DO?
============
Since God uses people, we just have to realize that, although each move seems to bring about a new facet of the Lord, we will also see new personality type in the people He uses to convey it through.

The over zealous ones will try to demonize those who don't run with the new thing, and visa versa. The ones involved in the 'new thing' will try to demonize those who don't participate with them as being religious spirited.

What we need to remember is that God's word tells us that ALL parts of the Body are needed, and to not disrespect or minimize any of it. Additionally, in Eph. 4:16 we are told that "When EVERY part does it's share, it causes growth in the Body."

Hence, we each need to do what we are called to do and finally get that Kindergarten principle down and learn to "Get along well with others!"

======================
WHAT'S GOING ON NOW?
======================
I heard that some Osprey were seen carrying fish over the stadium in Florida where things have been happening recently. Osprey are kind of related to the eagle family. I feel that, through that, God was showing us that the "offspring" of the previous healing evangelist era and the prophetic movement are bringing in the "fish!"

What we are seeing right now is a full blown example of the zealous healing evangelist anointing, combined with the prophetic, coming forth. The evangelist is sometimes wild, loud, aggressive, and seemingly obnoxious. To them, everything is extraordinary and over the top. They need their "papas" - their apostolic/prophetic/pastoral coverings - to help them out so that they don't get strange and out of balance. We all need that! But they are still needed! They are fire starters.

Let's rejoice and take what is happening as a sign that the harvest will now begin to come in. We've been getting equipped and ready for this day, and with the healing evangelist anointing coming forth again, the harvest is on it's way!

In that, don't leave YOUR post if that isn't your call! And you don't have to feel "guilty" or "bad" about it. But let's not try to "kill" them either! Just say, "Yay God! Another part of your team is coming forth!" Then keep on doing what you are called to do and don't word curse them.

By the same token, those who are going full blown into what is happening don't need to say to the others, "Your day is over - get on this boat or die." - Because that isn't true. Those who are called to teach and activate the Body of Christ need to keep on doing it! There is a whole new crew about to come in that we need to tend to and to train up now as well! Their job isn't "over;" rather, it has begun anew once more!

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BOTTOM LINE
============
So, what is going on? And is it real or fake?

The bottom line is, it takes all kinds to minister to all kinds.

Will there be lying signs and wonders and some fakes? Jesus said there would. But in the process, there will also be some folks who may just be rough around the edges, or different than we are used to, who aren't necessarily demons, but just different. And hey, God used a donkey, and he uses you and me, so why not others?

In the process, God honors His Word, His Name, and the faith of His People. His Word does not go forth and return void. So, when people agree on His Word and His Name, stuff is going to happen.

Are signs, wonders, and miracles a sign that someone is right with God? Not necessarily. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. If someone is doing something and their heart isn't right, God will deal with them in time. The Word says that there will be those who say they healed and cast out demons in His Name, yet the Lord will tell them to depart from Him because He never knew them.

But, again, even if the person preaching it isn't perfect, God's Word will NOT go forth and return void, and He will honor it and the use of His Name with genuine healings, signs, wonders, and miracles when His People believe and agree on His Word and Name. Good thing. Because none of us are perfect.

- Joni Ames
=======================================

If anyone listened to the three hour interview Sunday night with Matthew Stephen via satellite radio in connection with the Unleavened Bread Ministries (David Ells) website, they heard an earful on this topic.

I, for one felt a wave of relief and resonance within my spirit with most of what Matthew had to say. Since he knows most of the principals behind the Bentley ministry and it's Kansas City Revival roots, I felt he had great credibility as he was speaking from experience.

Matthew did not seem bitter toward anyone he knows from his early association with this group, but did counsel great caution to uninformed believers with sincerity and love IMO.

The association with Michael Boldea certainly does nothing to diminish Matthew's point of view. Aside from specific prophecies made by Matthew (which I truthfully can not quite make sense of at this time), the two as a team seem to have created a powerful twofold appeal to believers who are being herded into revival or caught up in error with those who teach an unbalanced or extreme prosperity message.

Between Michael and Matthew, there appears to be an atmosphere of responsibility, integrity, caution and love. It is indeed a refreshing blend of character attributes for a modern ministry to possess and comes at an opportune time considering the degree of corruption and confusion in the church.
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Have yet to listen to this, posted at Open Heaven forum:

Dear saints. I have been so burdened as I have watched the debate about the Lakeland outpouring and heard many people declaring words of judgment concerning it. I felt the need to share what the Lord has been showing me concerning His refiner's fire and how it works and what he wants to accomplish within His Body at this time.

A mark of these meetings has been that there has been a hunger for the fire of God to be poured out. The link to the podcast of what He has been saying to me is below. (if there is a brother or sister out there who is a dictaphone typist, I would really appreciate a transcript being done for me as I am a one finger every 3 seconds kind of typist!!!)

http://freshoil.podomatic.com/entry/2008-05-09T08_06_52-07_0 0

May God be glorified in His Body

Christine Beadsworth

Am back from Lakeland...testimony
Russell Durose (Prayer Revival Initiative)
May 9 2008 02:40PM


Dear All,
Before I publish this, I just would like to reiterate 2 things, 1 I have prayed about the Lakeland meetings, and God has spoken to me specifically concerning this, it is an awakening, in preparation for revival, not the revival itself, but its preparation, if they continue to pray and seek God's face, it will become revival. Secondly, I will not deny that at times human flesh gets in the way, and crazy interpretations and crazy demons try to get in to discredit the work, compare Azusa Street.

Here is the testimony seen on Lit4ever.org forum.

Report: I'm back from Lakeland Florida outporing!
by Lillis Boyer
May 9, 2008



Blessings all

This past week i attended the Lakeland Forida outpouring. I
atteneded two evening services. Whew! There are no words to describe
this phenomenal move of His Spirit!

Last March God gave me a very prophetic dream called 'Guarding
Flame' which I believe spoke of this revival and what the Holy
Spirit is doing and wants to do in His people. So for this reason I
knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God wanted me to go to this. To
read that dream click here:

http://www.injesus.com/index.php?module=me...mp;MID=ZB007EIB
B&GroupID=CT028MXS&label=&paging=all

Driving on the highway, when I got within 50 miles of the city of
Lakeland my friend and I could sense such the presence of angels in
the area, and there were beautiful cloud formations that seemed to
be supernatural over the region.

The atmosphere in the meetings were electric. Each night is
different. The first night there was such an outbreak of joy. People
were overcome with this joy. There was such a sense of expectancy in
the crowd. And such a spirit of unity. It was amazing to see
thousands of people from all over the world coming together in such
love and unity. To me this was a miracle in itself; even more of a
miracle than the countless numbers of miracles of healings!

Todd wanted to personally lay hands on EVERYONE in the arena that
night, over 6000, and pray for an impartation of 'fire'. He and a
number of other pastors/leaders made two lines, and from 10:30-12:30
am thousands of people walked thru through these lines and were
personally touched and prayed for.

I stayed in the Hyatt hotel, which is next to the convention center.
A couple hours before the meeting I was outside, and the Lord showed
me a vision what was happening in the spirit over the convention
center. I saw what appeared to be columns extending into the heavens
to the ground, and inside of these columns angels were ascending and
descending. They were holding special gifts in their hands. All I
can say is that there is definitely an open heaven right now over
the city of Lakeland.

The second night of the meeting the atmosphere was 'charged'. At
times during the praise and worship you could feel His glory coming
in waves accross the thousands of saints. And with each successive
'wave' healings began to break out. One lady who had not been able
to breathe without the aid of oxgen was instantly healed, and she
began to run around the areana yelling. She sat just a few seats
down from where I was seating. Also that night, Todd wanted to pray
for all the pastors of Florida, as well as full-time missionaries
from all over the world. It was simply amazing to see where everyone
had come from. There were so many of precious saints who, at the
bidding of the Spirit, had just dropped everything, bought a plane
ticket, to come to this remarkable gathering in Florida.

The last time I was in a meeting that even came close to having the
same magnitude of glory was the Charismatic Renewal in the Churches,
held in Kansas City in 1977. In that particular meeting there was a
prophetic word released that I will never forget. In it God spoke,
in grieved voice saying:

"The body of My Son, My Church is broken, it is divided' (meaning
His church was divided into countless numbers of denominations, etc)

After attending the Lakeland revival (and hoping to return asap!) I
can truly say that even above the countless number of supernatural
miracles that have occured in this revival, even more miraculous and
remarkable is seeing His Spirit truly uniting His Church!

And His 'fire' (symbolized by "Flame" in my dream) will spread even
into the most remote part of the earth, must not be contained or
attributed to any ministry of man, and will truly take His Church
into a higher level of glory, of visitation, one that we have never
seen the likes of before.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

Lillis Boyer
www.lillisboyer.com

I have spent more than 10 years taking teams overseas to minister healing. During these overseas trips I have been casting vision for a divine visitation in the Untied States for healing. I believe the time of such a visitation has come. I have just returned from Lakeland, FL where I witnessed a healing outpouring through Todd Bentley. What I saw convinces me that the season has come for another Healing Revival. I am expecting another level of anointing to begin to occur at our upcoming conferences and Schools of Healing and Impartation. I have instructed several of our key leaders to get prepared to move into protracted meetings when the Holy Spirit breaks out in our meetings. I have not sensed an urgency to prepare for protracted meetings since 1995, but I believe God is now going to cause His name to be honored in our nation again. He is going to amaze the unbelieving believers, who were taught not to expect God to heal today. He will anoint the believing believers to be part of this new move of God. Todd prayed for me several times privately and on the stage in public. Todd told me this was a sovereign move of God. He wasn't totally surprised because he had received a prophecy about two months ago about this type of visitation coming soon. I too recently received several prophecies from people about getting ready for the stadiums. I know that God is going to raise up many "Firelighters" to help light this fire not only in the United States but around the world. I look forward to our future Voice of the Prophets Conference, our International Ministry Trips, our mini-conferences at our new Apostolic Center, and our Schools of Healing and Impartation.



I have raised up enough spiritual associates, and spiritual sons and daughters to be able to continue with the mission and vision God has given me. We are equipped to respond to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit by staying in whatever cities receive the visitation, and where the pastors have the faith to continue the meetings. I have sensed this growing hunger in America, and about two years I began to focus more of my travel nationally versus internationally. I believe the fire is going to fall on every city where the church has the faith and is hungry and desperate for a visitation.



I don't know which cities will be the first to experience such a visitation, but I believe God has revealed to my spirit a few of these cities already. While in Lakeland I had a sense that Philadelphia is going to receive a visitation. I am to plan to go there again like I did in 1996 when we did 30 days of meetings. This time though I believe it could be an even longer protracted meeting, with tremendous healings occurring. I also sense in my spirit faith for a visitation in Toronto, Canada, Tucson, AZ, the greater Denver, Colorado area, cities in New England, and other cities throughout the world that have had great visitations of God's presence in the past. I believe this because I believe Tommy Tenny is right in stating that wherever there has been a visitation in the past that the heavens are thin there and it is easier to receive another visitation. It is easier to punch through, so to speak, through prayer where the heavens are thin.



I believe that within the next 12 months we will experience a breakthrough in a city that will result in moving into protracted healing meetings with salvations. When that happens I will be calling up the "reserves" to come and help us pray for the sick. I am preparing for city wide revivals that move from the churches to the auditoriums of the city, and from there to the stadiums. Even as I write this I believe the August mini-conference on Apostolic Structures for Local Church will need to be broadened to Apostolic Strategies for Revival which will include the issue of structures for the local church. I believe fire is going to fall at the Voice of the Prophets and the Voice of the Apostles this year. I encourage you to be talking with others to come with you, especially pastors. It is extremely important for pastors to be prepared for this visitation. We can learn from our nearly 15 years of experience since the last visitation.

Click on pic
Be Healed in the name of the Lord Jesus
Dr. Jesus, Dr. Jesus - our Gentile Healer



.......gas, food, no hospitals, no drugs! We will need FAITH!

This was a bulletin from Randy Clark...

Keith Miller

Praise the Mighty name of Jesus! We have seen an incredible realm of God's Glory and Power being released in the meetings. We are experiencing a new level of breakthrough in which the Lord is impacting lives, churches, cities and regions.

First we give Him the glory and the honor.

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty. Who covers Yourself with light as with a garment; Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain. (Psalm 104:1-2)

Isn't that a great scripture... He is clothed with light, honor and majesty& In the Throne Room and in the activity of Heaven you see why the song around the throne is, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created!" (Revelation 4:11)

We are seeing this atmosphere of His glory flooding the services in a great way. We are experiencing the deep calling to deep place...the place where you worship out of the deepest part of you to the deepest part of Who He is...a place that you are literally moved deep within your inner man and are being established by the width and length and depth and height of His love.

Get ready for even greater depths of the Glory and Honor of God to flood services during the worship, the offerings, the ministry of the Word and the ministry time. Recently, Janet and I were in San Antonio, Texas for three days of Glory and Power meetings with our good friend, Bobby Conner, and several powerful things took place. During worship in one of the evening sessions, I went up to share and the power of God began to hit me so strongly that it felt like waves of raw power from my head to my toes. During the ministry time, a wave of power was released in the front causing as deep as 5 rows to literally be overcome by the power of God. We saw instant healings take place. People were weeping and giving the Lord honor and glory for what He had just done for them. One young lady's shoulder was instantly healed by the Lord. As every bit of the pain left, a release of fresh oil and anointing hit her and all she could do was weep and thank the Lord. The next morning the same young lady came again and was healed in her abdomen area from pain that she had since giving birth. It was awesome!

Another healing that took place was a precious man who had back problems for several years. The Lord instantly took His pain. It was awesome to see what the Lord had done for him. There were so many healings that took place as the Lord moved in great power among the people. One young group was so excited by their experience, they brought back more of their friends the next night! As the word spread that the Lord is still the same today as He was yesterday and will be forever, several different denominations began to show up for the meetings!

On the last night, a wave of power literally swept the building. Many say that the ground actually rumbled from the Presence of the Lord. The worship leader was overcome and began to weep as she felt the Angel of Presence step onto the platform. The entire platform began to shake from His

Presence. Several people testified that they felt a rumbling hit the room from the back to the front. This activity was attested to in the Spirit by Chuck Pierce. While preaching in an unrelated meeting that same week, Chuck said he stopped preaching and said that a shift or moving is taking place in San Antonio. The next day a small earthquake registering 3.7 on the Richter Scale was reported near San Antonio!


Desiring to get ready??
see: Kairos Now
http://www.christian-forum.net/index.php?showtopic=19260

http://www.charismamag.com/fireinmybones/##

Honest Questions About the Lakeland Revival
I support any holy outbreak of revival fervor. But let’s be careful to guard ourselves from pride and error.

God is stirring deep spiritual passion in the hearts of the thousands of people who have traveled to Florida during the last month to experience the Lakeland Healing Revival. Since these meetings began in a 700-seat church on April 2, the crowd has moved four times to bigger venues, the fervor has intensified and the news has spread worldwide—thanks to God TV and online broadcasting.

Within a few weeks, the bandwagon effect was in full swing. It’s safe to say that no outbreak of Pentecostalism in history has gained so much international exposure so quickly as these meetings have.

I’m a cheerleader for the charismatic movement, so I rejoiced when I heard the news about revivalist Todd Bentley’s extended visit to Ignited Church. It was thrilling to hear the reports of miracles and to watch the crowd grow until a stadium was required to hold everyone.

“When we put bizarre behavior on the platform we imply that it is normative. Thus more strange fire is allowed to spread.”



When I visited a service on April 15, I was blessed by Heather Clark’s music and the audience’s exuberant worship. And I laughed with everyone else as I watched Bentley shout his trademarked “Bam! Bam! Bam!” as he prayed for the sick and flailed his tattooed arms over the crowd. Hey, Jesus didn’t pray for people according tothe Pharisees’ rulebook, so I’m open to unconventional methods.

But I would be dishonest if I told you that I wholeheartedly embraced what I saw in Lakeland. Something disturbed me, but I kept my mouth shut for three weeks while I prayed, got counsel from respected ministry leaders and searched my heart to make sure I was not harboring a religious spirit. The last thing we need today is more mean-spirited heresy hunters blasting other Christians.

I am not a heresy hunter, and I support what is happening in Lakeland because I know God uses imperfect people (like me and you) to reach others for Jesus. At the same time, I believe my questions are honest and my concerns are real.

My motive is not to criticize Bentley or the pastor who is sponsoring these meetings, Stephen Strader. In September 2002 Charisma featured a seven-page article about Bentley’s amazing conversion from drug addiction. I believe Bentley is a sincere brother who wants people to encounter God’s presence and power. No doubt this 32-year-old evangelist needs our prayers now more than ever, especially since he has become the focus of international media attention.

But as the noise from Lakeland grows louder and its influence spreads, I’m issuing some words of warning that apply to all of us, not just the folks in Lakeland. I hope everyone understands that these cautions are offered in love:

1. Beware of strange fire.The name of Jesus is being lifted up in the Lakeland revival, and three people came to the altar for salvation the night I attended. Larger numbers have come to the front of the auditorium to find Christ every night since then.

Yet I fear another message is also being preached subtly in Lakeland—a message that cult-watchers would describe as a spiritual counterfeit. Bentley is one of several charismatic ministers who have emphasized angels in the last several years. He has taught about angels who bring financial breakthroughs or revelations, and he sometimes refers to an angel named Emma who supposedly played a role in initiating a prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. Bentley describes Emma as a woman in a flowing white dress who floats a few feet off the floor.

All of us who believe the Bible know that angels are real, and that they work on our behalf to protect us and minister to us. But the apostle Paul, who had encounters with angels himself, issued stern warnings to the Corinthians, the Galatians and the Colossians about angels who preach another gospel or that demand attention. In Colossae, believers were so enamored with angels they had seen in visions that they became “inflated without cause” by spiritual pride (Col. 2:18, NASB). Paul was adamant that preoccupation with angels can lead to serious deception.

We need to tread carefully here! We have no business teaching God’s people to commune with angels or to seek revelations from them. And if any revival movement—no matter how exciting or passionate—mixes the gospel of Jesus with this strange fire, the results could be devastating. We need to remember that Mormonism was born out of one man’s encounter with a dark angel who claimed to speak for God.

2. Beware of bizarre manifestations.When the Holy Spirit’s power comes on people they may feel weak or even fall. The Spirit’s power can also cause people to tremble, shake, laugh or cry. Such manifestations are biblical and we should leave room for them. But where do we draw the line between legitimate experience and fanatical excess?

The apostle Paul had to deal with outrageous charismatic manifestations in the Corinthian church. People were acting like raving lunatics—and turning the church in to a free-for-all of unbridled ecstatic behavior. Paul called for discipline and order, and he reminded early Christians that “the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32). In other words, Paul was saying that no one under the influence of the Holy Spirit should act out of control.

In many recent charismatic revivals, ministers have allowed people to behave like epileptics on stage—and they have attributed their attention-getting antics to the Holy Spirit. We may think it’s all in fun (you know, we’re just “acting crazy” for God) but we should be more concerned that such behavior feeds carnality and grieves the Spirit.

When exotic manifestations are encouraged, people can actually get a religious high from jerking, vibrating, screaming or acting intoxicated. (I have even been around people who writhed as if in pain, or made sexual noises—thinking this was a legitimate spiritual experience.) But emotional euphoria doesn’t guarantee a heart change. The person who is bucking like an untamed bronco in a church service would benefit more from sitting still and reading the Bible for an hour. When we put bizarre behavior on the platform we imply that it is normative. Thus more strange fire is allowed to spread.

3. Beware of hype and exaggeration.Our hearts are crying out today for a genuine move of God. We want the real deal. We’ve read about the Great Awakenings of the past and we long to see our nation overcome by a wave of repentance. The church is in a backslidden state, and our nation has rebelled against God. We are desperate!

In our longing for a holy visitation, however, we must be careful not to call the first faint breeze of the Spirit a full-fledged revival. If we do that, we are setting people up for disappointment when they realize it may not be what we blew it up to be.

Some of the language used during the Lakeland Revival has created an almost sideshow atmosphere. People are invited to “Come and get some.” Miracles are supposedly “popping like popcorn.” Organizers tout it as the greatest revival in history.

Such brash statements cheapen what the Holy Spirit is doing—and they do a disservice to our brothers and sisters who are experiencing New Testament-style revival in countries such as Iran, China and India. We have a long way to go before we experience their level of revival. Let’s stay humble and broken before the Lord.

I am rejoicing over all the reported healings at the Lakeland meetings. Miracles are awesome. Crowds are great. But miracles and crowds alone don’t guarantee a revival. Multitudes followed Jesus during His ministry on earth, but many of the people who saw the dead raised or ate food that was supernaturally multiplied later crucified the Son of God.

It was the few disciples who followed Jesus after Calvary who ushered in a true revival—one that was bathed in the fear of God, confirmed by signs and wonders, tempered by persecution and evidenced by thousands of conversions, new churches and the transformation of society. We should expect nothing less.


J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.

God is to be worshiped above all.
And yes, God also made the angels. But since 1/3 is fallen, be careful, back to the source please: GOD.
I give worship to God, and He distributes it to whomever may need it in God's perception. The safe way.

As I said before, maybe it is the culture that Americans understand, and Gods way of speaking to them, what happens in Florida.

The first day that I decided to check it out, I was praying to God before. During prayer I felt a strong power reaching out to Florida, and I was genuinely impressed with this burst of God passing through me. The best way to describe it is: a multiple twined cord of golden electricity, behaving like a flash of lightning as in finding its way through the air.

I must confess, that the way I meet God is not one of Bam Bam, but rather as a gentle creek, flowing in serenity like we just sit down and talk. Maybe it is because of what I need, and maybe that is different for others. Whether just a cultural adaptation or a counterfeit movement, I am not sure.

What I can do however, is pray for those who have sought God sincerely, that they all may receive Him, our Lord and God.
For it is not as if though the enemy sets up a counterfeit and God uses it anyhow. So regardless the actions of men, I still put my Trust above anything else in God, the safe way.

God Bless You All, wherever you are!!

Raised from the dead, Lakeland revival

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1...85861&hl=en

Jim Bramlett

Who's lying?
Jim Bramlett
Jun 21 2008 04:50PM


Dear friends:

Todd Bentley and the Lakeland "revival" have been so controversial that I have tried to avoid the subject. It's no fun getting hammered.

At first, I issued one or two favorable comments, then a flood of both positive and negative e-mails started pouring in, some strongly praising the Lakeland meetings (and the Lord) and some strongly condemning them. I decided to stay on the sidelines for awhile. Actually, I got tired of the controversy. Or maybe I am chicken.

I still do not want to get embroiled. The only thing motivating this e-mail is the totally outrageous column attacking Todd Bentley and the Lakeland meetings by an ill-informed columnist named Marsha West, who writes for Chuck Baldwin's NewsWithViews.com. She seems like the Christian equivalent of acid-tongued Maureen Dowd of the New York Times.

There are some issues about Lakeland to consider, but it has become obvious to me that much of the criticism comes from the cessationist crowd -- that is, those who believe God essentially retired 2,000 years ago and ceased doing anymore what He did in the Bible. Such a position is not only unbiblical, but it flies in the face of 2,000 years of documented church history.

Marsha's article is essentially a hysterical, mean-spirited, anti-charismatic rant. To illustrate her ignorance and bias, she makes this ignorant statement, "I'm also convinced that the charismatic revival, hailed as another Great Awakening, is a lying sign and a false revival." With this, she exposes her true self.

I do not like the word "charismatic" and as a staunch charismatic of 37 years who knows exactly what the Bible says about the subject, I prefer to say this: I believe what God did in the book of Acts, He is still doing today. He has not changed, and He says will not change. Those who claim otherwise are worse heretics than Todd Bentley could ever be, yet they always get a pass from the so-called heresy hunters. Ironically, they are also allowed to anoint themselves as heresy hunters to attack others.

Further, the Pentecostal renewal that began at the first part of the 20th century has brought more souls into the kingdom than any other force or movement in history, even more than in the first century. For example, the Assemblies of God denomination (of which I am not a member) sprang out of that movement, and the latest year 2000 data I have shows the A/G worldwide total was 40 million believers in approximately 225,000 churches. Mushrooming since the year 2000, Wikipedia now reports 57 million believers in 200 countries and in a total of 283,413 churches!

She also fails to consider that most worldwide radio and TV evangelism has been accomplished by charismatic ministries, such as CBN, TBN, and now several other networks, which have beamed the gospel 24/7/365 to literally billions of people worldwide and brought tens of millions into the kingdom. No doubt, all these incredible, unprecedented, trans-denominational outreaches are a work of the Holy Spirit in these last days and part of the final harvest.

A lying sign? A false revival? Who's lying? Who's false?

Naturally, her rant grabs the opportunity to slam Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland. She makes the sarcastic Dowd-like statement, "Benny is always trapsing around the world to bring healing to the sick. One can't help but wonder how much time he spends (to) bring healing to our brave American soldiers." She demonstrates that she knows nothing about how a biblical healing ministry works. For example, for various reasons I cannot explain here, not all people get healed, not all healing is instantaneous, and not all stay healed, as faith may wane.

Marsha West represents a small, angry corner of the body of Christ that is both blind and bitter about what the Holy Spirit is doing in the world today.

Oh, by the way, Marsha West is the same exemplary person who last year published a sleazy column about Victoria's Secret women's underwear, bikinis and thongs, which had actual links leading readers to pornographic, almost-nude pictures of young women, including a video which she herself called "sleazy." It must have titillated her male readers.

But granted, Marsha and others do raise some legitimate issues about Todd Bentley and his ministry. As an ex-biker, he is strange looking, and he does some strange things. But in the Bible, God chose some strange people, such as John the Baptist and a few rough, smelly fishermen, who did strange things, like healing and casting demons out of people. But we must look beyond the natural, to the supernatural.

The overriding consideration is that Todd Bentley preaches Jesus Christ, and for that I rejoice, reminding me of Paul's words:
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice (Philippians 1:16, NIV).
Also, I know from experience that when Christ is preached as Savior, He shows up and saves. When he is preached as Healer, He shows up and heals. He manifests Himself according to the way He is preached and believed, even if the vessel has tattoos. Bentley, Hinn, Copeland, nor anyone else I know claims his own healing power, but they always credit and point to Jesus.

Pastor and friend Regner Capener says:
For folks to call Todd Bentley a false prophet because he does and says some strange things really crosses the line in my estimation. I've heard him -- and a whole lot of preachers throughout the years -- make some statements in the heat of the moment they'd like to -- and generally do in the course of time -- retract. That's a far cry from being a "false prophet." There are many times I've wished I could go back and retract some of the stupid things I've said from the pulpit in past years in my youthful exuberance; and thankfully the Lord doesn't hold us to those stupid statements….
One thing is abundantly clear…. There is spiritual warfare going on. Demonic spirits and "rulers of darkness" have taken aim at this stupendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We can start pointing at individuals and all that, but the truth is that the opposition to what is taking place in Lakeland, Florida is not embodied in flesh and blood but in the realm of the spirit.
Bramlett comment: A false prophet in the New Testament sense does not preach Christ as Lord, and Christ crucified and raised. They preach another Christ. That is why they are called "false." In our accusative day, a minister is called a false prophet if he merely disagrees with the biblical interpretation of someone.

Bottom line: I know Todd Bentley is strange, and so am I (but probably not you), but Christ is preached, people are coming to Jesus, and people are getting blessed. For that I rejoice.

Based on what I know now, I choose to cut Todd Bentley some slack and give him grace. I need it myself.

Please do not forward to me your negative e-mails as I think I have read them all about 4-5 times.

Sincerely, your strange correspondent,

Jim