A FALSE HEALING REVIVAL?? -Florida

[b]A FALSE HEALING REVIVAL?? -Florida[/b]
[i]by Andrew Strom.[/i]

Many of you will have already heard about the "Healing Revival"
that has purportedly broken out in Lakeland, Florida. Today
Charisma Magazine put out a piece on it entitled 'A Holy Ghost
Outbreak in Florida' - "...Charismatics are flocking to the sleepy
town of Lakeland, Fla. to attend evangelist Todd Bentley’s
unconventional revival services." Is Charisma preparing to hype
this one to the skies like they did with Toronto and Rodney Howard-
Browne? It seems perhaps they are.

But why am I opposed to this 'Healing Revival' so soon after it has
been announced? -It is because I already know Todd Bentley's
ministry all too well, and this whole thing centers around him.

Todd Bentley actually has deep roots in the Prophetic movement,
and he is one of the very few ministers that I have ever felt I had
to publicly warn people about by name. -His ministry is that bad.
False "angel" encounters of the weirdest kind, gold dust, guided
visualizations of the "Third Heaven" that are straight out of the
New Age, etc. And yet there is a "power" with it that makes it
all the more dangerous.

Here is how Charisma describes his Florida meetings-
"His methods are far from polished. When he prayed for people in
Lakeland, he usually began by laying his hand on their heads and
then yelling, “Bam!”
Often the people fell backward to the floor. After one elderly woman
fell, Bentley told the audience: “She doesn’t know why she fell
down.” The woman then laughed and said to him in the microphone:
“Because you pushed me!” He prayed for her three more times that
night, and she said she could hear better...
During the past three weeks people have testified of being healed
from heart conditions, skin rashes and back problems, and many
said scars disappeared...
Many charismatics are wondering if the protracted meetings will
become a phenomenon similar to what happened in Rodney
Howard-Browne’s meetings in Lakeland in 1993, at the Toronto
Airport Vineyard Church in Canada in 1994 and at Brownsville
Assembly of God in Pensacola in 1995..." [END QUOTE]

Sadly, the Charismatic movement is in such a sick state today
that it would not surprise me at all if this happens. (-I say this as
a strong Spirit-filled, tongues-speaking believer myself. I am by no
means opposed to genuine miracles). Have we completely
forgotten the warnings of "Lying signs and wonders" in the Last Days?

Below is a testimony by Lynn Clark who is a Moderator at our
website 'RevivalSchool.com'. This is what she wrote about her
involvement with Todd Bentley's ministry:

"I decided to check out Patricia King and Todd Bentley and,
ignorant of their 'third heaven' guided visualizations, attended a five
day conference of Patricia King and then two of Todd Bentley's
conferences and began to imagine third heaven visitations - guided
visualization - still not realizing that these are actually spirits of
darkness - the New Age calls them spirit guides - demons is what
they are. And so I bought Todd Bentley's teaching on third heaven
visitations and brought it home to listen to.
"I was in my living room laying on the floor listening to the teaching
on how to visualize the third heaven and what to say and was
getting caught up into his teaching and all of a sudden I began to
shake uncontrollably and jerk and groan, and no sooner had this
taken place I became frozen stiff - I could not move any part of
my body and I knew this was a demon trying to take hold of me,
and so with all the effort I could muster I cried out, "God save me -
Jesus help me" - and as soon as I cried out to the Lord my body
went limp. God spared me that night and I will be forever grateful.

"I spent much of the night in tears asking God to forgive me - and
renouncing all the hands layed on me and all the awful deception
I had opened myself up to..." [END QUOTE]

ANDREW AGAIN: I myself have heard the tapes of Todd Bentley's
"Third Heaven Visualization" teachings, and I want to tell you - they
are straight out of the New Age handbook. -Terrible stuff. And yet
so widely accepted by thousands of Christians today.

Do these kinds of practices (above) produce a genuine 'Healing
Revival'? -These are the kinds of questions that we need to be
asking Charisma Magazine. I leave it for you to decide.

Sadly, [b]the Charismatic movement is in such a sick state today[/b]
that it would not surprise me at all if this happens. (-I say this as
a strong Spirit-filled, tongues-speaking believer myself. I am by no
means opposed to genuine miracles). Have we completely
forgotten the warnings of "Lying signs and wonders" in the Last Days?

Where is the holy esteem and awe of God in the meetings. They are enraptured by a man. This is a very dangerous event and the ministry of Todd bently is not catering to holiness of life but rather to experiencing spiritual manifestations.

All, this is an exerpt of his teaching on the Holy Spirit straight from his website. I had to look into it because my mother in-law was talking about this 'revival' and my wife and I are concerned about it. Here is the link to the writing below so you know that I'm taking it straight from there. http://www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Act=read&status=teaching&Id=231&bid=916

Note:The parentheses with capital letter words are my critiques.

THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Let me give you a little background. I was impacted years ago, and first introduced to this kind of intimacy, through the ministries of Benny Hinn and Kathryn Kuhlman. They opened the way for me to go beyond the power of God’s Spirit, the gifts or any kind of experience like the baptism of the Holy Spirit
At times I may be in prayer saying, “Jesus…precious wonderful Jesus. I love You Jesus.” Then all of a sudden, “Father, my Holy Father!” will flow out of me. My whole focus will be on the Father’s goodness and that I’m His child. Then I’m back in the presence of Jesus. But all of a sudden I’m trembling and weeping, sensing the Holy Spirit covering me like a blanket. “Wrap me in Your presence Holy Spirit. You are wonderful, I love You.” Then I’m back focusing on Jesus once again and after awhile I will be in the presence of the Father. This glorious cycle might last for hours—the visitation of God and understanding the three different personalities.
For instance, there are times when the presence of God will fill my room, and I can tell you which Person is waiting for me at that moment. Yes, it’s God and it’s the presence of God, but there’s always one personality that’s exemplified. In other words, I’ve come to know which one is pressing Himself out of the presence to me. (NOTICE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PRESSING INTO HIM, HE'S THE CENTER AND THE 'PERSONALITIES' REVOLVE AROUND HIM AS IF HE'S THE SUN AND GOD, IN THE FORM OF THREE PERSONALITIES REVOLVE AROUND HIM LIKE PLANETS. HE TREATS THE TRINITY AS IF THEY COME IN AND OUT OF HIM FOR HIS EXPERIENCE AND NOT FOR THE WILL OF GOD).I’ve come to the place where I can discern the personalities (NOT IN THE BIBLE)of the Godhead—if it’s the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit—just like I know the distinct personalities of each of my three children.

(THIS IS JUST A SMALL EXERPT OF THE ENTIRE WRITING HE GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE 'EMOTIONS' OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ETC.... MOST PEOPLE WITH ANY DISCERNMENT AT ALL CAN SEE THIS GUY FOR WHO HE IS...A FALSE PROPHETEER!!!)

I read it right up to the name Benny Hinn... then stopped. Thats all I need to know.

Krispy

Hi JKAIL......you write "I would look into something a little deeper before labeling it a deception." Ho do you know that those who comment have not? Why would you presume that they speak from a lack of actual experience?

Listen brother, I have been to these meetings. I have had the misfortunte to listen to a man from Brownsville speak to our church for over two hours. The entire time he spoke of anecdotal stories of what was happening in other meetings. Then , at the end of his "service," he said it was our church's time. People lined up and he went down the line putting his hand on their heads and shouting "fire."

He pushed the people over. There was no fruit from these meetings at all, in fact our church almost split because of it. On the one hand you had the people who knew the Bible well and called it for what it was, on the other(and I am not saying I have discernment, but I could have told you who would have been on the other side of this, all the people I knew that were discontent with their Christianity, who would run from one meeting to another and so on)you had people seeking experiences.

It has been my experience, as a Pentecostal, for lack of a better phrase, for 18 years that there are three broad group of people in Christianity today. I came to Christ when I was 26 and have been a Christian for 18 years. I am a Spirit filled, tongue speaking Christtian who has seen miracles over the years and also experienced miracles in my own life.

I also went to a Baptist seminary and attended a Baptist church for over a year. So, group 1...People who were raised in the church and have never experienced anything supernatural personally. These people, whether fundamental or pentecostal will then fall into two sub-groups. Sub -group A. Totally deny anything supernatural and are completely dismissive of the possibility of God moving in the gifts as described in Scriptures. They will go to extreme lenghts and go out of their way to explain to you why God does not move supernaturllly anymore.

Sub-group B. These people were also raised in the church and they too have never experinced anything supernatural personally. This group wants to though and are attracted to the Benny Hinns and the false teachers of the day. They will run to and fro seeking out signs and wonders and they want it so bad, that they will fall for anything. The mere fact that it is supernatural is good enough for them, they never consider the possibility that the power comes from a source other than God.

Group 2. Those who came to Christ as adults(to me meaning over 21)They are solid Christians and exercise much discenment, they are not easlily led astray and generaly they are good witnesses for Christ. Yet, because of Torronto and Brownsville and other such movements, shy away from seeking out the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. They do not deny it, they simply think that it is rare and not normative.

Group 3. People who came to Christ as adults, recognize the truth of God's word and his Spirit and are totally transformed in Spirit and body. Thye do not fall for the Benny's of this world, for they have experinced what the true presence of God is. They are reverential and in awe of God and of Calvary and there is nothing more for this group than to simply come into the presence of God and be humbled and refined and be changed and take that change to the world.

These are broad categories and of course not exhaustive, many cross-overs and other sub categories, but it is a snap-shot of the Church as a whole...............Frank

Hi Revjoel....Can I just say that you made my earlier point perfectly. Is it possible that you have never experienced anything supernatural before? Did you read that I, and many others who would comment here are Spirit filled, tongue speaking, words of knowledge speaking, believers in healing?

Here is what I will say, the fact that you were healed has nothing whatsover to do with Benny Hinn. If God decides to heal a man, He does not care where he is. So praise God for your healing, it is not neccecarily counterfiet just because it happened at a Benny Hinn healing conference. It in no way legitimizes the man or his movement. At Benny's conferences the focus is always on Benny. Thats why he always makes a grand entrance, usually dressed in a white coat, swinging over his head.

When I went to his healing conference in Kansas city, he came on stage after a big build up, spotlight , literly, on him, swinging his coat above his head. Then he shouted to a group that obvioulsy follow him all over the country "Do you want it?" I had no idea what he was talking about. Then he said it four or five more times each time getting louder and the crowd screaming "yes we want it." Then, finally, he ran at them and threw his hands up , like a magician, and they all fell back on their seats. Then he told them to stand up, and they could not, they were "stuck," to there seats, and they just went wild.

I was so grieved, I had to stop myself sobbing , the Spirit in me was so grieved. I felt the Lord saying to me that this was a "circus." Benny was the ringmaster. Also, the most important part of the night was collecting the money. The crowd were informed that if they had no money that they could take credit cards, which they urged people to do, even if they had no money. This would be a "seed ," for them. There is a reason that Benny lives in a 10 million dollor mansion. Now where did the Lord live? Thats right, the Son of God had no where to lay His head.

The worse part of my attendance was that I had taken my unsaved wife with me, I deeply regretted that.

Revjoel, one second in the true presence of God and you would never waste your time chasing these experiences again. It is awesome and reverential, and majestic, simply to bask in His presence, and in that there is fullness of Joy.........Frank

[i]Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say to themselves, 'Let us [b]FEAR[/b] the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.' Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good. "Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch men. Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor. Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this? "A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:21-31).[/i]

Indeed, would Jeremiah's words be any less severe today, in the midst of such great apostasy passing off as acceptable, nothing less than demonic spirits at work in the mask of Christianity? I sometimes think that the mass of American Christianity has utterly forgotten what was written by the Apostle Paul for our admonition and warning:

[i]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. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).[/i]

Assuredly, the true Apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul, when saying farewell to the Ephesian elders who were so dear to his heart, had many things he wished to say to them, but having only a short time before his immediate departure, said only what was most urgent:

[i]I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. (Acts 20:29-31).[/i]

And we know, by the word of the Lord, that these "wolves" who creep in and spare not the flock of God but devour withal through shrewd methods of demonically-inspired deception and hypnotic manipulation don't blatantly manifest themselves as wolves, but they appear to be 'angels of light', 'ministers of righteousness', 'wolves in sheep's clothing':

[i]"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (Matthew 7:15).[/i]

"But this prophet does miracles!", says one. "Therefore he MUST be of God", they maintain. Yet the Lord Jesus Himself corrects such erroneous thinking several sentences later:

[i]"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-23).[/i]

The true prophet of God will be a preacher of true righteousness, of holiness and grace in truth. He will not merely 'read people's mail' but will bear about in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus, if not physically, then emotionally, because he will be burdened and anguished under the burden of the Lord and his godly sorrow will be evident to all in this evil age, at least in America in the midst of the End-time apostate lukewarm church. His aim will be to turn people from their wicked ways and to trust in the Lord, to glorify His name, not only with their words, but with their hearts and lives.

A prophet will have an unction from the Holy One, a holy burden and anguish of heart. And he will consistently abase and humble himself, and glorify the Lord in his public ministry. The last thing he will do is glorify himself, and his own anointing, and his own ability to do miracles. Jesus Himself dared not glorify Himself while on this earth in the days of his humanity, his "Kenosis", like these false prophets do.

Reading through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Nahum, and Malachi, etc. gives me the impression that a true prophet of God is manifestly the EXACT OPPOSITE of what Todd Bentley is.

[u]'The Picture of a True Prophet' by Leonard Ravenhill:[/u]
http://www.ravenhill.org/prophet.htm