A friend of mine asked me what i thought of what is going on in Lakeland Fl with Todd Bently. I wrote her back and felt maybe others were asking the same kind of ?? So here is Beans View on it..
I have been watching some of the meetings in Fl and some clips as well. I have to be truthful and say I am not yet sure what to think of it. So you are making me think about it so thank you for that..
Is it what I would call revival I am not sure, could it be a move of Gods power yes. But to me I think those are two different things. I have always been taught that revival is more about me then about God. God is waiting to bring revival to us. We are the ones that stop that not God.
In the Book of Acts, if you trace through the revivals which took place during the first years of the church, you’ll find that the same two terms are used repeatedly. The first term is the “word of the Lord” or the “word of God” or the “teaching of the Lord”. Basically the same thing is meant there. It’s referring to the Gospel going out. And the second term is “believed”. So on the one hand, there are those who are spreading the Word of the Lord, preaching the Gospel, and on the other hand there are those who are receiving it, who believe. I’ll give you some examples.
Then those who gladly received His Word were baptized. Many of those who heard the word believed. And the number of the man came to be about 5000”. Again; “but the word of God grew and multiplied”. And again:
“and the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region”. And again; “so the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed”.
And again; “and the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord”.
Again; “and the proconsul believed when he saw what had been done, he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord”.
Again; “therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks prominent women as well as men. Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many had been appointed to eternal life, believed and the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region”.
So one of the things that bothers me is that Todd Bentley himself said he has been unable to preach but only a few times.
How can it be revival if Gods word is not being taught?
I guess also for me revival is more about the hearts of the people in my area being changed by the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit working in that. Not me flying somewhere to hear someone else who is not living in my town and knowing what it is that needs to happen in the hearts of people here. If a revival is going to come to my area then the God is going to be responsible for it not a man or a member of his 'team'.
One thing that did not sit right with me is one night after the ministry time Todd asked people get up on stage to testify, things took a turn that gave me a sour taste in my mouth
Over and over, Todd reminded people of the "word of knowledge" he had that brought each person their healing and even once asked, "Do you know why this man is healed?" What I heard broke my heart. Todd answered himself: "He got healed because I had a Word of Knowledge..." No mention of the Gospel. No mention of Jesus. Just Todd and what he did.
We are changed by one thing and one thing only the power of the word of God working in our hearts.
So I guess what I am saying is that Yes people are feeling something, but true revival is not about a feeling or a emotion or even about people being healed. It is about the hearts of man being so remorseful that we turn from our sin.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (New Century Version)
14 Then if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, if they will pray and seek me and stop their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.
That is the true heart of revival not a movement or a man, not signs and wonders, not angels or gold teeth. Not bones being healed or scars being wiped away. Not Words of knowledge or laughter or tears. But the hearts of Gods people not seeking for a feeling or the glory of God but coming to understand that we are worthy or nothing.
When men start to seeking the Favor of God( which is his Grace) rather then the Blessings of God then revival will come to our nation.
That is my view on things…. You asked I gave……. It is not for me to judge what is a move of God.. I look to Gods word for the weight by which I measure things.. From this I think what is happen in Fl is a wonderful blessing for those who have been touched and healed but is it revival from my view No….
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11 comments:
Very good words Robyn. Related Question: What is your opinion of "Words of Knowledge"?
Good question Lori,
To me and from what I have been taught and exprience in my own life a Word of Knowledge is something spoken by one who has no way of knowing what my heart needs to hear or what is going on in my life and heart, But is able to speak to me about me. The way I feel and know that it is a word from God and not from man is in my spirit as the word is being spoken to me, it is always something I have been stuggling with. Words of Knowledge to me are used to confirm to me something my heart knew anyways....
Good answer Robyn - "words" should be in confirmation of what God is already saying to your heart and what He is already revealing to you through His word. You should not act on a "word" of knowledge, prophecy, or wisdom until you have tested by the unchanging standard of the holy scriptures.
Ty Daddy I had a good teacher? Wink wink... Smile
We have a small group in our church that is getting together and praying specifically for words of knowledge and they each write down words or phrases that they get on a pad of paper. Then they go out in the community and look for situations or people that match what they have written down and then they go pray for that person - or situation. I think some of them went to a Todd Bentley Seminar and this is where they got the idea....
If you are talking about the group that Chelsea is in believe they got the ieda from a book called the ultimate treasure hunt. You can buy the book from ibethel. org. Not sure if Todd Bently is a part of this. He is not the author a man named Kevin Dedmon is. I looked on this site and did not find anything about Todd Bently. I have ordered the book to read myself because the testmony was powerful to me. God does speak to us thru prayer but we need to be watchful of our hearts when we say such things as GOD told me to come and see you or tell you this... The heart is a wicked thing we need to guard ours so we don;t hurt others..
Yes you are right. It is ibethel.org. I think I confused it with something Del Sargent said this past week. Sorry.
Hi Robyn,
I just hopped over here after you left a comment on my blog. I had to respond to this post. It seems my whole family is becoming quite obsessed with the Lakeland revival and Todd Bentley.
Of course being who I am I had to go check it out myself, rather than just take their word for it.
I turned God TV for awhile and watched what was going on. I too also felt that he was focused on what he was doing, and not what God was doing.
He made a point of how his father was changed through a service just like what was going on, although it wasn't as big. He also made a point of making sure that people went to him because that's where the annointing was.
No doubt people are receiving healing, but is it because of Todd Bentley?
Thanks for stopping by and leaving me a comment.. New people are always welcome. I love hearing what others have to say.. I have been known to be wrong once or twice.. wink wink... I guess for me I alway want to see what things look like in people lives after a few months.. Was they real change real healing that lasted?..
Satan is a Angel of Light who often appears to be the true light.. God's word commands us to test the spirits.
John 4:1 (New Century Version)
1 My dear friends, many false prophets have gone out into the world. So do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God.
That is why for me I am not one to jump on the band wagon of any revial or so called move of God. Because last time I read many will speak in the name of God but not be one of his prophets.
Matthew 7:15-23 (New Century Version)
15 Be careful of false prophets. They come to you looking gentle like sheep, but they are really dangerous like wolves. 16 You will know these people by what they do. Grapes don't come from thornbushes, and figs don't come from thorny weeds.17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit.19 Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 In the same way, you will know these false prophets by what they do.
21 "Not all those who say 'You are our Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do what my Father in heaven wants. 22 On the last day many people will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, we spoke for you, and through you we forced out demons and did many miracles.' 23 Then I will tell them clearly, 'Get away from me, you who do evil. I never knew you.'
So for me time will tell if this is a move of God. But all I know is it left me a bad smell in my nose.. just beans view...
I have to say I agree with you. I just feel uneasy about the whole thing. Like it's some new fad or hype. You're words were reassuring that I wasn't the only one feeling this way. Thank you for the scriptural references.
Carile, thanks for stopping by hope you will stop again.. I am glad my words helped you.. Beans View is just my take on life and the stuff that comes with that.. I will check out you blog too. I love a good deal.. trying to learn more so i can do more for the Lord... have a blessed day... BEAN!
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