I take no pleasure in posting these two accounts which I came across today which confirms what I feared would happen–that there would be evidence of many of these healings not being true or of God. I still know God heals–but its at HIS DISCRETION, as to whom or when, not mans.
Two stories–two accounts of falsehood..
Blessings in Christ Jesus,
This is my first post to this forum, and i’ve been following the Lakeland revival ever since I got word from Andrew through his email about it. I live in Washington State, and I have been dealing with alot of people asking me about this “revival” and what my thoughts have been. I have advised people to constantly “test the spirits” and the usual, feeling that this is mostly emotionalism and hype and agreeing with most in these forums, that what has been going on here is not of God.
I do believe that the Lord will take this awful situation and turn it around for good. I do believe that while they maybe using the Word of God for personal gain, God’s word will not return void but it shall accomplish that which He pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto He sent it. I believe that God will deal with these false prophets in time. I do pray for the people who thought that they had an encounter with the Holy Spirit, that they will truly come into a personal knowledge of the truth. I have so much to say about this as Im sure y’all do.
Anyways the real reason I decided to post on here was because of a dear friend of mine who passed away this morning at 5:20 AM.
His name is Pastor Larry Reed, Pastor of Olympic View Assembly of God in Silverdale, Washington. Pastor Larry has been suffering for the past 18 months of terminal bone cancer. He was given only a year to live, but PRAISE THE LORD out lived the doctors findings. He (Pastor Larry) told me last year at breakfast one morning that he wanted more for Jesus and was going to do whatever it took to accomplish that. He invited speakers from all over the country from evangelists to prophetic speakers so that he and his congregation could catch the fire and maybe just maybe a revival would break out in his church.
He really took a turn for the worst this year, and lost most of his weight, he looked like a skeleton, was on oxygen and needed care all of the time. He couldn’t even preach anymore. Pastor Larry was a man who dearly loved Jesus, and was very strong in his faith and very strong in stature physically. So to see him him so frail was shocking to say the least.
Last week on 5/18/08 he was in the sanctuary there in Lakeland trying to find the healing he soo much wanted, sitting in his wheel chair in front of Mr. Bentley, he was deemed as “healed” when Pastor Larry stood up and cheered in victory. During the course of last week when he returned, he got worse and so this morning he died.
Now I have to say with all my heart that I believe without a shadow of doubt, that this so called “revival” is fake! I wont question my friend’s faith because his ministry was filled with faith. But if this was truly a move of God and all these people were getting healed, then why did my friend die?
I truly believe with all of my heart that God in His infinite mercy and love for his child Larry Reed took him home this morning to end his suffering and that he is face to face with Jesus right now. But what about all the others who have been duped into going along with this mess and is finding out that they right back where they started? I tell you if I could I would knock some people’s lights out, of course that wouldn’t be right, but thats how I feel.
I hope that all of you who stand up for this guy Bentley, will “wake up, arise from the dead and allow Christ to shine in you”, the days are evil family, the light of day is growing shorter and shorter, and we’re wasting our time hunting down the anointing looking for the next wave of revivals. People are dying about a hundred thousand a minute. Instead of seeking the anointing for yourself why not run out to your street corner and begin to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and take on the heart of Spurgeon when he said that if people want to go to Hell, the they will have to jump over his body to enter those gates!
Blessings to all in Christ Jesus
*******
I find this heart breaking folks… Not because this brother was taken home to be with our Lord, and not even for the person who wrote the above post, for they appear to have not allowed the death of this dear friend to shake their faith in God. But see, many others are not as strong as this person..what about them?
A few weeks ago, I started to write a post titled “Aftermaths of False Revivals’…I put it aside, hoping to add to it as I had time to study through past false moves of God and the fall-out from them. This was one example of what I was coming across in my research; False healings and miracles, which ultimately cause many to stumble, become disillusioned and perhaps, God help us, lose their faith in God.
Also from TheologyToday:
I’ve felt that something was off in Lakeland….and now I’m absolutely convinced that this so called Florida Outpouring is a man made hoax…..Todd Bentley claimed on GOD TV that a 3 year old girl named Jaden was resurrected from the dead…..he claimed she was on her way to have her organs donated…..funeral arrangements had been made….and she “coughed! Arnold Palmer Hospital officials deny this;
Hundreds are claiming healing from various ailments, including deafness, cancer, tumors and paralysis. There are also unconfirmed reports of the dead coming back to life.
One of the cases involves a 3-year-old girl, dead for two days, who allegedly woke up and coughed as she was being wheeled into a room to have her organs harvested, Strader said. The hospital denied the report. link
I remember watching Todd Bentley talking on a cell phone with this girls father and proclaiming the good news of little Jaden’s resurrection….and now we all know that this was a lie….there was never a resurrection of little Jaden.
I remember how the crowd went euphoric at the news of little Jaden’s resurrection….and how Bentley jumped around shouting and yelling “Praise God”! Was it all an act?
Now the million dollar question?
Did Todd Bentley know the truth or was he purposely deceived?
Is Todd Bentley deceived or is he a deceiver?
This false resurrection claim makes all his other claims like visiting heaven and conversing with angels questionable, don’t you think?
This false resurrection claim also validates my beliefs that this revival is a hoax. I would think even the most ardent supporters of this revival would take pause and re-examine this man, his ministry and his revival….don’t you think?
Why hasn’t GOD TV, like Charisma Magazine, stepped forward and stated the resurrection story of little Jaden was a lie? Charisma Magazine buried the story but why haven’t they placed this on blast and denounced this hoax?
It’s time for some honest answers from the Bentley people…..from Stephen Strader and anyone else affiliated with this so called revival!
Sola Dei Gloria 
I think both..
I think that he was at first deceived andnow he has become wilfully blind, and now has become the deceiver.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:
The same happened to Pharaoh.
But, what about all of the legitimate healings? You can’t say that a revival is fake if some people get healed while others don’t. Jesus is glorified there, Jesus is worshiped, many have been healed and many have been saved. It’s simply strange to be so resistant.
Is there some weakness of man showing through? Probably… but no more than you see in any church be it dead or alive.
If this didn’t break out in Florida, fewer would be healed now, fewer would be saved, and fewer would be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
r180, God is merciful, even in the middle of questionable moves/’revivals’….There is no doubt people have always been healed by God, in whatever circumstances at one time or another. …
Why? because it was HIS will to heal the person…
Even when unquestionable men of God, (unquestionable in that we know their beliefs, teachings, doctrines, walk, etc are totally biblical) have prayed for people to be healed, not all were healed.
What i found and find disturbing about the above story of the pastor who died, was the automatic proclamation by Todd of “YOU’RE HEALED!”, after praying ..and the stirring up of emotion it garnered from the congregation…only to have the man die a few days later; apparently he wasn’t healed–correct?
Now think—
What about all those who heard Todd proclaim that God healed this man–what about all those who this pastor TOLD afterwards that God had healed him at this ‘outpouring’ by being prayed for?
The man obviously was not healed by God…so can you understand why we have to be careful in claiming something miraculous by God? We can become a stumbling block to those weak[er] in the faith–those young in the Lord, by our careless words and presumptions.
Its no different (or maybe worse) then those who are constantly posting, writing books, etc about rapture dates: only to have the date come and go–
I’ve witnessed first hand the results of that on a board i help out on…one guy disappeared from the board for months, only to return later to tell us he had went through a horrible time of questioning God and his faith: why? Because he got all excited and caught up in a date [for the rapture] which went around all over the internet 2 1/2 years ago…
When we as Christians step over the line, with this “i speak it so its true” business, we are only asking for trouble and possible heartache–and its usually others who get hurt by our boastful or presumptuous words..
As far as the other account–either the hospital lied or Todd did.
Someone who gets prayed for dies and now you know for sure that this revival is counterfeit? That is some amazing reasoning. Did not Jesus tell people to stop sinning or a worse thing would come back and that after he cast devils out they came back with seven other worse devils to the same person? Surely according to these scriptures Jesus prayed for many and they got sick and died soon after and surely some Pharisees were standing around talking about how it was proof positive Jesus was a false profit. Judge rightly, graciously, truthfully or be quiet and pray. If they are not against us then they are for us. They are not preaching another gospel or some strange doctrines. They mention angels being involved in healing and deliverance and people get all judgmental and critical. The Apostles mentioned angels many times and had encounters with them. Just because the religious people experience nothing from the spiritual realm does not mean it is non-existent. If you want to study what the false religious spirit will look like in the last days then study that of the Pharisees, Sadducee’s, scribes and teachers of the Law in Jesus day. The Spirit of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy. His life is a picture of the life of the church. When the church comes alive and starts showing God’s mercy to the sinner and healing the sick they will be vehemently attacked by the religious experts but a harvest will be reaped and righteousness will prevail. I would sure hate to me on the side of the judgmental critics when He comes and sets things straight. I speak from experience as a pastor who God had to break of his opinions and judgments and teach me about mercy, love and joy. Yes, many are offended and even crushed who do not get healed when revival breaks out. It leaves in its wake manifestations of fear, discouragement, doubts and unbelief. It makes luke-warm people cold and the dogs go home empty after the children eat. Jesus did not heal everyone and in some towns almost none. What did all those feel like when he passed them by? If they had the gift of faith in their hearts then they trusted him anyway, if not they simply manifested the junk in their hearts that was there before he passed by. May all the gospel “police” open their eyes and judge rightly.
I tend to agree with you Vee–
When i look at Todd i try to remember he is young–in fact he’s the same age as my youngest child!
Its just my opinion, which can be wrong, but i think he got sucked in by these older false prophets: Cain, Jones, etc etc…and Pat King, They took him under their polluted wings and molded him into a ‘younger’ representation of themselves.
I think now he is both, as you said: deceived and a deceiver.
Please tell me, that as a Pastor over God’s sheep, you are not saying this pastor was healed but died because he sinned?
What?
How can you not know that many of his teachings are more then strange…they’re out-right un-scriptural and dangerous.
quote..
He talks of ‘portals’…thats new age lingo. He tells of going up into heaven, being taken to Gods ‘treasure room’ and stuffing his pockets with gold–on and on…and on.
If you don’t find these teachings/doctrines strange and unbiblical i don’t know what else to say–
Is our God a God of the supernatural? yes…of course. And there are rare occasions when we are shown that…but we are called to walk by faith not signs and wonders. And if you look in the word, any time supernatural occurrences happened, the person or people were not looking for it–it occurred at God’s discretion. We are never told to ‘pray’ portals open nor are we told ‘Angels’ appear to sprinkle gold dust on people–and since when does an Angel of God appearing cause people to bark and act like a dog?
I just read over my comments to you pastorjdh, and realized i came across as an angry bear…rather then editing it–i humbly ask your forgiveness. After reading it back, it did not reflect the Spirit of Christ.
I allowed my frustration, at what i believe are false teachings and doctrines coming from Todd Bentley, and manifestations not of the Holy Spirit’s prompting, to color my words to you…
God bless you
pj
[…] FALSE HEALINGS AND CLAIMS AT LAKELAND […]
pastorjdh – I agree totally with what you said. Its appalling how some people will make the claim that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit upon a person is demonic!
ie. they see someone shaking their heads in the revival and they think its demonic. they see someone knocked to the floor and they think its demonic. For crying outloud, some of the folks making these claims have never even dealt with deliverances and neither have they seen what demonic manifestations look like.
First of all, the kingdom of satan is very discrete in that satan desires to keep his hordes and all of his work as quiet as possible. demons do not show themselves in broad daylight unless they are FORCED to and they will only do that when a child of God (who is close to the Lord) takes authority over the demonic spirit and commands it to come out in the Name of Jesus! this happens during deliveance. the minute satan reveals himself or his demonic hordes, his cover is blown and people will run to God immediately. No demon will suddenly fly around and cause people to act outrageously abnormal unless there is deliverance going on.
Many churches that do not allow the Holy Spirit to manifest in the people are more than likely to have never witnessed spiritual phenomenas going on and for this reason, when they see something like whats going on at Lakeland Revival, they get all tripped up about it and start bashing on what God is doing.
There was a video clip a brother who was given his testimony of his encounter with an angel and as he was telling the story, he fell to the floor and started to shake… No one around was commanding demons to come out…this took place in in the hotel room after he had gotten back from the Lakeland Revival. Some other brother in the Lord saw the video clip and immediately declared that it was demonic manifestation. Yet, the brother making the accusation has never seen demonic manifestations.
Infact, there is probably a very big chance that many accusations made against Lakeland Revial are from Christians who have never even seen what it looks like when demons manifest. And its quite sad to know that many churches do not practice deliverance..if you do, then you’ll know that this revival is not fake.
I was sitting here last night I was thinking to myself, “this is nuts…if this is a real revival, then why are there so many accusations made against it? This is rediculous!” So I spoke to the Lord and I asked Him that same question, “Lord, why are so many people making accusations against this? If this is truly Your Work then everyone should climb onboard and stop all the slurs and slanders”
Then right before I fell asleep God spoke a verse into my mind..I heard Him clearly..He said “Matthew 13:16”
I was so tired but I knew He had spoken so I wasn’t going to pass by this verse. and there it says in Matthew 13:16
But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
Heres another point to ponder…if this revival is a fraud then that means that not only Bentley and the staffs on stage (band members and speakers etc) are in on this together…but that every single person who walked on stage to give their testimony are plotting this out….thats a whole lot of people to plot a scheme…the chances keeping it on a downlow would be next to impossible. Thats waaaayyyyy too many people to keep a secret…
Watch God tv yourself and see the worship service…last night the band was playing and the crowd was singing to God and next thing you know, almost everyone on stage was knocked out..the band members left their music instruments and laid flat on the floor, lost in the Holy Spirit, while the people kept singing, “You are Holy” for a whole 1/2 hr+ nonstop!!! you wont see something like this in any church or even at a large Christian convention with 30,000 people. This is truly a move of God and we all should get on it to destroy the devil!!!! he is the one we’re fighting not ourselves!!!!!
Hey pj,
Nice reply. Since we are after truth… do you know what “sitting in front of Todd Bentley” meant? Was he up on stage? Was Todd speaking directly to him only when he said “You’re healed” or addressing many people, many of whom could have been healed. Or maybe Todd was speaking in faith, and made a mistake.
“Portals” being “New Age lingo”? You’re implying a kind of a guilt by association based on his choice of word. What part of scripture gives you the right to judge on that basis? If he’d used the word “gate” or “stairway” or “door” instead as in “I saw a door open in heaven” would that make you happy?
You say “we are never told to pray portals open”. OK, so we should never do anything that we are not specifically told to do? Please tell me where are we told to judge someone based on their choice of word?
[…] Two more claims proven to be bovine skubalon… […]
Hi YourChild..
I’ve dealt with deliverance many times…i actually worked with a deliverance ministry for a few years.
no always true. One of the worst cases of demonic manifestation i ever witnessed, was during a church service…the person, later was delivered by God.
You are also forgetting;
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. luke 4
Again not necessarily true. I cannot speak for others but know of myself and at least one other person who has posted here on my blog about this, worked in a deliverance ministry.
While having experience in dealing with demons may give someone a slight advantage, in as far as recognizing demon activity when its present …we should not rely only on or primarily upon that, but upon the Word of God. amen?
When those words are coming from a minister who is twisting or misapplying the Word of God. Its called defending the Faith.
[quote]I’ve dealt with deliverance many times…i actually worked with a deliverance ministry for a few years. [/quote]
If you have then of all people making the accusations, you should be the one to distinguish between demonic manifestations and manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
But what do you mean by you have worked with a deliverance ministry? What type of work did you do? I’m not talking about inventory – paperwork – arrangements – time organizing – money budgeting – corporate – business type of working…I am talking about getting in front of person going to be delivered and by faith and authority in Christ, bind up the demons and casting them out in Jesus’ Name.
If you are in the deliverance ministry then no way could you easily pass up whats going on in Lakeland and declare it as a fraud….the things happening in Lakeland…the people shaking on floors etc should be a common scene for you…
[quote]
no always true. One of the worst cases of demonic manifestation i ever witnessed, was during a church service…the person, later was delivered by God.
You are also forgetting;
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. luke 4
[/quote]
you are right about this.. please allow me to rephrase what I said earlier…demons dont always come out by being commanded in Jesus’ Name…sometimes if the atmosphere is intensified with God’s presence /glory, the devil cannot stand it and demons will start to reveal themselves…I know a sister in the Lord who I think has legions of demons in her..she has not been delivered up to this day…One time we were in a room with about 40 other Christians and preaching was going on about God’s love…suddenly she fell to the floor and let off demonic screams…no one commanded them to leave…
But in general, demons do not show themselves up easily…satan is into promoting his kingdom through the back door – by being discrete about it…he’ll do whatever he can to keep his kiingdom on the downlow…his kiingdom is exposed whenever people are being delivered and all the churches that are not doing deliverance aren’t helping out with exposing the devils’ kingdom!
[quote]
While having experience in dealing with demons may give someone a slight advantage, in as far as recognizing demon activity when its present …we should not rely only on or primarily upon that, but upon the Word of God. amen?
[/quote]
Dealing with demons in deliverances gives you a BIG advantage in discerning whats going on in Lakeland…
and this results in applying and relying on the Word of God to discern the genuity of Lakeland’s revival
Deliverance is a major biblical practice, which Jesus has specifically commanded His disciples to do.. if more churches would do deliverances!
I’ve also come to notice, during my past years of walking with the Lord, that the ones who speak out against others with accusations, pick-nicking, ‘patrolling’ attitude etc….these same individual tend to be this way towards almost every single event that comes their way..They sort of feel like everyone is always wrong and only their doctrine and their way is right…so they seclude themselves from the rest and they carry that mentality of thinking that every great man of God who is well heard of is some kind of fraud….
Pardon me for saying this but I will push this one bit further….I read a book on deliverance called “Spiritual Warfare” By Richard Inn and he described groups of Christians such as these and said that there is actually demonic spirits working in these people…I forget which ones but if I remember clearly, the main one is the spirit of Pride.
Don’t get me wrong…discerning between false and true prophets is vitally important to our faith – it can determine our eternity!!! I’m not encouraging you to forget everything you’ve learned and blindly follow anyone who tries to lead you… at the same time, we can’t always dismiss everything as fraud just because we ourselves have not experienced it yet in our spiritual walk. I once thought I had it all, thinking that even my own church wasn’t doing things right…but shortly God showed me that I needed to depend on Him and not my own limited understanding….yeah there is a problem in my church but that doesn’t make way for me to walk away and find another church. God wants me to sit tight and watch Him fix it…and praise the Lord I am watching Him fix the problem! thats called depending on Him and not my own limited wisdom.
ask God if this revival is real or not…He’ll tell you.
I was actively involved–not only during the years in a formal ministry, but otherwise as well. Its where God placed me in the body…for the simple reason this part of ministering, which all believers should be doing, has been a neglected doctrine for many many years inside the Church–not because i am anyone special.
I don’t seek them out–God brings the people to me.
And i did my friend, distinguish –you just don’t agree with what i discern through the Holy Spirit concerning not only the teachings by Bentley, but what he is imparting upon others–
Me too… In fact i know a few people in that condition. The Holy Spirit showed me if they are not WILLING to be rid of them, or in fact ‘like their presence’…God will not work against their free-will.
Friend, satan and his hoard will get in anyway they can…right through the front door if we the church allow it. And sadly we have in many instances. No, they, don’t march in announcing, ‘hey, im a demon’, …but disguise themselves and their doctrines of devils, as truth. This is why we are warned repeatedly to try the spirits to see if they be of God–and, are told satan can appear as an Angel of ‘light’…
As i said earlier, its not what we should only rely upon though–we have to first rely upon the Word of God; that, even before our own experiences. The Spirit and the Word work together….
No pardon necessary….But remember pride can be very deceptive itself. It can also manifest itself in stubbornness–or having an unteachable spirit. To safe guard ourselves from falling into the many ‘tentacles’ of pride, we must humbly hold any and all of our beliefs up to the mirror of God’s Word–and be willing to let go of our beliefs if its not supported by the Word.
Of course not…if you’ve read much on my blog you will know first–im 60 and still consider myself a ‘student’ in the school of the Holy Spirit after all these years; i hope to continue to learn until the day i leave this earth.
Secondly, i believe the word: which means i believe Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. amen!..this means i know the gifts of the Spirit are still in operation today–that there are real manifestations of the Holy Spirit–healings, prophecy, etc…
But i also know there are counterfeits as well…and as the day draws closer to the appearing of our Lord, these counterfeits are going to multiply.
These are the days in Church history, that anyone without true Godly discernment is a ship-wreck waiting to happen.
PJ, may the Lord continue to bless you and uphold you in His strength, mercy, grace and favor. May He continue to give you a sound mind of His wisdom and discernment. and the gospel of His word. The fire of this revival is heating up and people are coming against you and others who hold to the truth of God’s word, above experience
quote
.But remember pride can be very deceptive itself. It can also manifest itself in stubbornness–or having an unteachable spirit. To safe guard ourselves from falling into the many ‘tentacles’ of pride, we must humbly hold any and all of our beliefs up to the mirror of God’s Word–and be willing to let go of our beliefs if its not supported by the Word.
These are very true words of wisdom that you were given PJ. May they be heeded in this hour.
Milinda
Hello pjmiller,
Lets just assume then, that Pastor Larry Reed, was healed at the revival and after leaving the revival he is here today on earth well and healthy..despite of all the things Bentley has said already (portals, going up to heaven, having visions, encounters with angels, etc),
what would your conclusion then be about this revival? would you still call it a fraud, or would you see it is a move of God?
I think you would lean more towards believing that it is indeed a move of God. If that is so then your disbelief is not really about the terminologies or even the doctrine that he’s teaching (which I havent seen anything wrong with) but its more of a personal issue regarding Pastor Larry Reed.
My wife and I had been over at my mother’s house and happened to see God tv to watch what was going on. We watched for about an hour and a half. Testimonies and emails and a Hoorah of Woops and Hollars…ok…
So, we came across the above “Emma” letter. Friends…this is a letter/teach BY TODD BENTLEY not about him….He wrote it.!
NO WHERE IN THE BIBLE do we pray for angels to do something…nor to see them…nor for them to do something for us!!! Obviously, we don’t pray to them…but we pray to God alone and let Him send healing, eyes opened, or anything else the way He wants…or has written in His Word.
The Holy Spirit is needed to understand the same One Who was needed to write the Word down in the first place.
Our benchmark is the Word of God…or man’s opinion, feeling, or knowledge.
Lee Iacocca use to work for Ford before he took over Chrysler. Do you think he still knew how the Ford Motor Company worked?
God has an ex-employee that knows the power and authority of God…CAN SATAN DUPLICATE THE HOLY SPIRIT? NO…of course he can’t DUPLICATE IT.
But ask yourself what people are seeking…via the eye (visions), ears (hearing angels), nose (smelling flowers) touch ( feeling “the fire”), toungue (tasting gold or whatever).
The LUST OF THE FLESH IS IN FULL SWING… WHY ARE THE SENSES SO IMPORTANT TO THE CONFIRMATION OF FAITH?
READ MATTHEW 7….ALL THE WAY THROUGH…please, I urge those who want it fast…and want it now….don’t just. “Get some”.
Make your calling and election sure.
Please make sure you are Saved.
Think…when Jesus was on this Earth…He…
healed diseases
raised the dead
performed miracles
cast out demons…
this was all…BEFORE HE WENT TO THE CROSS.
So why did Jesus die on the cross?
to heal us?…do miracles?…cast out demons?…raise the dead?…ABSOLUTELY NOT….He could already do all this!
We broke God’s Laws and Jesus made atonement…paid our fine.
That’s the gospel…
By the way, I had my mom record may 23rd and I saw another unconfirmed death raising…HE SAID, “We have no confirmation for this.” But Hooped and Hollered…also in reading the letter it said…”Praise to God and to Todd Bentley.”….God doesn’t share His praise…
He also prayed for the sick in groups of calling out the names of the diseases at least 4 times.
Each time he called out 5 to 20 infirmities…
At least twice he said….”I COMMAND arthritis, I COMMAND new livers, I COMMAND influenza, to come out NOW!”….
Not uncommon, except not using Jesus’ name…then a few minutes later he went into more commanding…and 2 out of at least 4 times he DID NOT USE THE LORD’S NAME TO CAST OUT THE SICKENESSES.
THE GOSPEL IS TOUCHED UPON…BUT IN GOD’S WORD…REPENTANCE IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION.
Much less the lack of caution that is so clear in the Word…wonder why?
If our experiences are held in higher esteem than the Word of God…then God will give us over to our own affections.
By the way, my brother in law has MS…went up on stage as well slumped over in a wheelchair…(not his condition a week prior. He sat up stood and proclaimed the healing through Todd’s Christ.
HE NOW IS CONFUSED HOW GOD DOES A SHORT TIME HEALING AND HAS REVERTED TO A MUCH WORSE CONDITION.
My wife and I have prayed for the Savior’s healing…please keep him in your prayer as well.
CAN WE GO AND JUST GET WHAT WE WANT FROM GOD…not the one from the Bible.
WE ARE TO GO TO HIM ON HIS CONDITIONS.
DO WE USE THE WORD OF GOD FOR OUR BENEFITS OR ASK GOD WHAT HIS REQUIREMENTS FOR US ARE!?
God has a pasture which He calls us into…we can go through “the Gate/the Way/the Door” Jesus Christ alone…or we can go over the back fence and still get in. Do we get to stay in?…read if you think yes.
OK JUST READ A WHOLE CHAPTER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AND READ EVERY VERSE…NOT JUST THE VERSES THAT WE ARE WAITING FOR.
Passionately , IN HIS WILL (prayerfully)…TRACTTEAMJAX@aol.com
by the way the famous “Emma” letter has been edited to remove the Emma name off the Fresh Fire website nov 2003…
Hi YourChild…by the way, i keep wanting to address you as God’sChild, lol, that’s the user name a friend of mine has gone by for years.
What you bring up is the actual ‘gist’ of the disagreement between those who see this as an actual ‘revival’ of God and those who don’t or at least question it…that being.:
How can you separate the two: The teachings and beliefs of the man many credit with bringing this to Florida from what we are seeing…?
I cannot do that. The man and his teachings are at center-stage in all of this.
Now before someone comes back with the example of God using an ass to speak, or how God can use anything/anyone, let me say, i understand that, BUT the ass wasn’t teaching unbiblical or ‘extra’ biblical doctrines.
This man is…
OK your question;
First i would ask you, how do you know the man was healed; What would make you assume that he was?
Isn’t it more likely that this pastor, wanting to believe Todd’s claim of ‘YOU’RE HEALED’ clung to that for the moment, but after leaving the meeting realized he was not healed by God.
You say..
I humbly ask you how after reading his teachings on; speaking to the dead, Angels-gold dust-and feathers, his claims that Paul told him, when visiting his ‘home’ in heaven that Abraham wrote the book of Hebrews, …. that Angels operated on him, etc etc etc….(the list is endless)……. you can not see anything wrong or at least questionable, with his doctrines/teachings?
quite honestly I haven’t heard all of his spiritual experiences.. but generally speaking, if there is a revival going on, then spiritual phenomenas are bound to happen and some of them may possibly be things that we normally do not hear of…I mean..its a revival..that would mean that the elements of the spiritual world has become more ‘vivid’ or more ‘apparent’ to our physical world at some point of contact on earth..
Take for instance …theres a church in Puerto Rico where signs and wonders is happening inside the church everyday. Oil from heaven is dripping off of the Bible at the altar. I mean, the Bible is literally wet with oil dripping off to into a container. And out of no where gemstones from heaven are appearing on the floor..beautfiul nicely tear drop shaped gemstones.
My friend recently took a trip to Puerto Rico to check it out. he said that during worship in the church, he was walking around the church praying with a few other people and when he passed by some location near the altar, a gemstone popped up out of no where. he saw this with his own eyes.
So what are you going to say to this? “Is it in the Bible? Is this Biblical?”
some might say “NOoooo it can’t be! It was never mentioned in the Bible!”
But not every spiritual phenomena is mentioned in the Bible. Jesus told the disciples that there were even more things that He couldn’t reveal to them because they wouldn’t understand it.
Some might say, “oh no its not Biblical for gemstones to appear out of nowhere and it could possibly be demonic!!”
well why on earth would demons make gemstones appear and whats that going to do for the devil? things like this would only increase people’s faith in God, bringing Him glory because they have witnessed something miraculous.
Lets put it this way…if you (you as in anyone with disbelief in this revival) really want to see if this is a real revival…this is what you should do. Go to Florida and stay there for a whole week. Go to the meeting every day and for every person that walks up to the stage and says that he/she is healed, when that person gets off stage, go up to that person, get his/her name and number…make a whole list of every one who was on stage..then call them up a month later and touch base with them..see for yourself if they are really healed. Really, thats what you ought to do because revival isn’t no joke and it doesn’t come by every year!
If this is truly a real revival then every person who is speaking against it could possibly be in big trouble on Judgment Day. Otherwise, we all should get in on it and make the fire burn even harder.
One more thing…I am close to being absolutely sure that during the Spurgeon days and other great revival days such as Asuza Revival, there were also groups of Christians who also went around and discredited what was going on just because what they witnessed doesnt fit in with what they see everyday.
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:1-4
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grown.”
The first thing Jesus said about the events leading up to His return, in Matthew 24:4: “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Verse 5: “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah (Christ),’ and will deceive many.” Verse 11: “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” And then in verse 24: “For false messiahs (christs) and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
So, Jesus warns us four times against deception. Anybody who shrugs off that warning or treats it lightly does so at the risk of his own soul.
The greatest single danger in this end time is not sickness, nor poverty, nor persecution. It is deception. If anybody says, “It could never happen to me,” it has already happened to that person, because that person is saying something could never happen that Jesus said would happen. That is a sufficient indication that such a person is deceived.
It is very essential to understand that signs and wonders do not determine truth! Truth is already determined and established, and it is the Word of God. In John 17:17, Jesus is praying to the Father, and He says, “Your word is truth.” And in Psalm 119:89, the psalmist said, Forever, 0 Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Nothing that happens on earth can ever change the smallest little sign or letter of the Word of God. It is forever settled in heaven.
Now, the Bible speaks about signs and wonders. It says some things about them that are good, and some that are very frightening.
Look at 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and read a few verses there, beginning at verse 9:
“The coming of the lawless one [that is the title of the Antichrist] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
So, Paul says here there are such things as lying signs and wonders. There are true signs and there are lying signs. True signs attest the truth. Lying signs attest lies. Satan is fully capable of supernatural signs and wonders.
Unfortunately, many in the Charismatic movement have the attitude that if something is supernatural, it must be from God. There is no scriptural basis for that assumption. Satan is perfectly capable of producing powerful signs and wonders to attest his lies, and the reason such people are deceived is because they did not receive the love of the truth. On such people God will send strong delusion.
That is one of the most frightening statements in the Bible. If God sends you strong delusion, you will be deluded. I think that is one of the most severe judgments of God recorded in Scripture, sending these people strong delusion. They will be condemned, these people, because they did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Therefore, signs and wonders are not a guarantee that something is the truth. There is only one sure way to know the truth. It is in the Word of God. Jesus said in John 8:32, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” There is no other way to be sure that we can escape deception in these days except that we know and apply the truth of God’s Word, the Scripture.
With mercy, love and shalom from this servant of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and LORD of LORDS.
PJ
I wanted to address just one of your points which you made a couple of times.
“He tells of going up into heaven, being taken to Gods ‘treasure room’ and stuffing his pockets with gold–on and on…and on.”
You indicate that because he speaks of gold and treasure room in heaven this conflicts with scripture. But in Matthew 13 Jesus gives two descriptions of heaven using treasure.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field which a person finds and hides again,and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” Matt 13:44-46
Now most think this is how God views the people he brings into salvation. Some think it is how we should view heaven with joy and have it be most important to us. The reason I use it is that Jesus used riches to describe the kingdom of heaven. Elsewhere he says to store up riches in heaven rather than riches on Earth. In Revelation John described his image of heaven with beautiful jewels and gold everywhere.
My point is that heaven is often described using gold, gems and riches to explain the beauty. Perhaps you disapprove of him saying that he stuffed the gold coins in his pockets, but could it have some other meanings than greed? Could it be that he was speaking in accord with what Jesus said to store treasure in heaven? A dream or vision often contains images that mean more than what is apparent.
If you saw a visitation of heaven would you neglect to see the beauty of the glory around you? Obviously seeing the glory of God the Father and Jesus is more important, but you might absorb many things.
What I find most interesting is that most I have talked to have nothing other to say than deceivers will do signs and wonders. At least I find that you have some things to point to in terms of teaching that you question. Anyway God Bless.
First a question for you…
‘If’ by chance you were caught up into heaven right now, into the very presence of Jesus, do you really think your heart would be on what Todd referred to as “God’s treasure room”, and stuffing your pockets with gold from it?
Think about it…
Lets look at what Jesus said:
44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
Notice Jesus repeatedly says that the Kingdom is “like” ….
He is pointing out the preciousness of the Kingdom of God Mark…comparing it to riches like gold ..its an allegory.
Just a few quotes from what Todd said about this experience…i’ll include the link so you can read and judge it all for yourself.
more here
I hope you read it all at the link…what he was doing was manipulating people to give in an offering to him…
While I’m a very conservative and some say even cynical Christian, I’ve learned to hold my peace where this revival is concerned. It is very uncomfortable to my conservative ways, but I know for a fact that there have been miracles. I know for a fact some who were proclaimed healed turned for the worse. But to sit back doing nothing but judging others from afar. Sorry, I’d rather be stirring people to faith and repentance. No I do not like all I’m seeing there, but God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. God works all things for good… so even erroneous scripture quotations, ego wars, and using the Lord’s name in vain can, and appear to be working around to good for many. I’ve been in ministry over 30 years now and have watched these “waves” come and go. Most of the ones hurt are those who wanted something for nothing or who followed copycat ministries. So it shall be with Lakeland. Why are some healed and some not? Only God can say. Why are people proclaimed as healed when they’re not. If you watched the event instead of edited outtakes you’d know that’s not the case. Bentley mearly repeats what people are telling him. He isn’t there to call them liars and spread fear and unbelief. He’s there to motivate them to believe what they are saying. That’s how miracles are born. Faith in God still heals the sick.
A comment on the first post, regarding pastor Larry Reed. Just because he died does not prove the “revival” is fake. It almost appears that because of one man’s death, you’re ready to throw in the towel. A revival does not guarantee that all will be healed. Healing may not follow, and there may be many reasons for that. We should not be too quick to claim the “revival” is false, based on someone’s healing or lack thereof. Are you saying that if the person was healed, it would validate the “revival”? I think you need to look to more than healing or lack thereof to validate any purported move of God. In the end, you need to look at where the faith of the people (the crowd) is going. Is God being glorified or not? Is the name of Jesus Christ being lifted up or not? These are much more important questions than whether or not someone who went for healing received it or not.
well one night I was watching the service and as I posted earlier on this site, the people in that service were singing to God, “You are holy” for a whole half an hr non stop …all the band members were knocked out on the floor – they all left their musical instruments…and the people kept singing..you don’t see these kind of things anywhere – not in your church, not in any crusades (not that I’ve heard of) …and definitely if it was a false revival, how can this many Christians be gathered and sing to God in 1 Spirit as such…the Name of Jesus is being preached all over this revival..Bentley isn’t telling people to follow Mohamed, or follow the Jesus without the Cross, or follow the Virgin Mary, or someone else…he’s preaching purely Jesus Christ..just watch the revival and see for yourself. he’s lifting up the Lord’s Name, not anyone else…
Hi Dennis…
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. romans 8
(I know you would know this in context but others may not)
Yes we are promised as those who belong to Christ and love Him, that even those things which appear to be a detriment to us–trials and tribulations, will work for our good.
But i don’t think we can apply that to; “erroneous scripture quotations, ego wars, and using the Lord’s name in vain”…
Yes i’ve seen many of them come and go too. I agree, many who are hurt are those looking for some experience, without realizing the cost which comes with following Christ. Also those young in the Lord–babes in Christ who come to these type of questionable events can get caught up in following man. In the case of false anointings though–that are not just phony or of the flesh, there can be serious spiritual consequences for the undiscerning. I’ve seen the results in deliverance.
True only God knows. Yes i have watched it on GodTV…not just the clips.
Yes God still heals and faith is important. But as far as Todds motives, im not sure. The only thing any of us can go by are his teachings over the years. They are very disturbing because he goes way beyond scripture. What is more disturbing is his obsession with Angels and his trips to heaven. What had me looking into his teachings was the old saying; ‘birds of a feather flock together’…why? Because of those who have mentored him.
Todd’s close associates like Patrica King, Bob Jones and others who claim extra biblical knowledge should have caused any believer to look closely at what he believes and teaches.
God bless you pastor…
I’ve watched the services at least 6 ti8mes now, and no i only hear about impartations, the angel of ‘change’ and ‘come get the stuff’…
Daniel, i don’t believe anyone threw in the towel because someone wasn’t healed–but this was only one testimony among many of those proclaimed to have been healed by Todd who were not. Sadly for this Pastor.
Those who have watched this revival have been more disturbed by the presumptions and claims by Todd that all these healings are happening because he says so–without documented proof. Also, If as many dead people were rising from the dead, don’t you think, speaking logically here, that news agencies from all over the world would be flocking to report these first hand—not to mention the science community.
But we’ve seen nothing like this–
Can God raise the dead? OF COURSE! Jesus raised Lazarus and the news AND EVIDENCE of this was spread abroad.
But when Todd claims to have raised 20-30 people from the dead–come on…there would be headlines in the paper!
What i thought was really sad was the reported 100’s of people who had lost loved ones to death, contacting Todd asking him to pray life back into them.
I love you YourChild, but you’re wrong. I’ve been in many churches in which the Glory of God has put the entire congregation–musicians and all (my two sons play guitar in our church) many times!
No he’s not promoting Mary or Islam but he did say God told him to promote the Angel.
Go here: God tells Todd Bentley we need to know about his angel, instead of Jesus
Follow the links and listen to what he said…
Do you really think God the Father is going to promote the supernatural aka ‘Angels’ over his own son Jesus?
“the people in that service were singing to God, “You are holy” for a whole half an hr non stop …all the band members were knocked out on the floor – they all left their musical instruments…and the people kept singing..”
Just a thought from a naive soul :-): How do you know that it was the holy spirit, who knocked them down? Couldn´t it be God knocking them down for mocking his name? Anyway, what´s so godly in being knocked down on the floor? Sorry, – told you I was naive…
I am myself a believer in Christ, who has been cured from cancer in the colon, which later spread to the liver. I have now been cancer free for two and a half year. Experiences on the road to recovery have totally convinced me that my dear, gracious Lord has healed me. These experiences were among others praying for healing together with my pastor and two pastors from other churches. I also received upon asking several perfectly timed bibleverses promising me to be cured. At more than one occasion I supernaturally sensed the Lords presence at difficult times, as well as i had bad omens – experienced by both me and my wife – when the cancer spread. What I see in the GOD-tv makes me sad, especially since i know from my own situation, that IF i had fallen ill again after having been declared cured, it would shake my faith in God more than anything else – which I consider worse than the cancer itself…
Hope this makes sense…
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Hey – just to nail my colours to the mast, I believe in a supernatural God – but I dont see him at work at Lakeland.
But my question is this, the little girl called Jaden, you mentioned that we “all know that this was a lie….there was never a resurrection of little Jaden.” How do we know this? I have been looking and looking but I can’t find anything conclusive.
Someone somewhere mentioned that TB (thats the first time I’ve abbreviated it – isn’t that how the Toronto Blessing is sometimes known?) announced she had died shortly afterwards because she’d been prayed for by a new ager but I can’t find the footage?
I’d really appreciate an email or a response – I’m a youth pastor and having problems shining the light over here.
God Bless,
Evo1
aj1 you made perfect sense…
God still heals, hallelujah!
And even at this lakeland event, i have no doubt there may be a few actual healing’s. But its not because of Todd or his extra biblical teachings but IN SPITE of them. And its sure not because of Todd’s impartation. If i had to guess, my guess would be if there are any true healings [from God] down there, its happened to someone who was just praising and worshiping God, who DIDN’T have hands laid on them by those present.
The first report i read on this was in an editorial in Charisma mag. on the revival Evo1….it was noted that this raising of the dead child had been claimed at the revival, but that after a subsequent call to the hospital in question, it was categorically denied.
quote..
One of the cases involves a 3-year-old girl, dead for two days, who allegedly woke up and coughed as she was being wheeled into a room to have her organs harvested, Strader said. The hospital denied the report. link
I’ll poke around over on youtube and see if i can find any more mention of it there…if so i’ll pass it on to you.
Thanks.
And its lovely to read your balanced responses and the love with which you share them,
God Bless you and your family.
Explain to me how Todd Bentley speaks Word of Knowledge about the healings as they happen? Is it by the power of Beelzebub? I think not. Mark 3:23 “How can Satan cast out Satan?”. Acts 5 38 “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. –Are you all in judgement of a man of god?
When did his majesty put you at the seat of judgement?
I don’t know Dustin, can YOU explain to me how a well known practicing witch who moved here from England, who i was acquainted with before being saved in 1980, gave readings and knew things about people’s lives that no one knew but the person themselves…
OR, how the first time she met me, the first words out of her mouth were:
Was she correct? Yes…
About my 4 children and about another daughter who died at 3 months of age many years prior to this meeting.
You don’t have to explain how this was possible coming from a lost practicing witch–because see, i found out HOW many years later when God arranged for me to meet her again. She told me herself how she was able to be so accurate.
It was a familiar spirit guide Dustin…she had a demonic spirit guide attached to her which revealed things to her during these readings–
Do you know WHY this well known witch revealed this to me years later?
Because since my seeing her last, SHE HAD FOUND JESUS! and had become a new born child of God.
So listen, don’t try to tell me or anyone else who has ever been involved in unclean spiritual practices, that satan and his hoard can not and DO NOT mimic the true gifts of the Holy Spirit. That dog won’t hunt…
Those previously involved know the truth–and that is he counterfeits every single good thing of the Lord he can–especially the things of the supernatural.
It used to trouble me how clearly demonic forces could actually appear to do God’s will but then God led me to the passage in Acts 16:
“16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.”
Even Paul put up with her for many days – mistaking the good thing she was saying with the work of the Lord until his Spirit helped him to see behind the veil.
It’s also worth thinking about Judas – you know, this guy went out with the authority given to him by Jesus and people hearing him would have been healed, freed of demons and saved – and yet, at his core he was a devil.
God bless,
E
(My major caveat to the above would be that I don’t actually see any corroburation of these wonderful healings and “resurrections” that Todd Bentley is claiming (apparently in his own name) )
We tend to forget that the greatest miricle is salvation. No physical healing can compare to the spiritual healing. As far as the talk of angels goes, this man had better beware. Colosians 2 / 18-19 applies here. While no one will probably change thier position on this because of what one or the other says.We need to agree on the important things of Christianity. To strive to have a relationship with Christ. To be on guard. We are warned of false prophets. The things I read and see about whats going on is disturbing. If God gives you the power to heal , go to St. Judes and clear the place out. Why limit His power to the stage when the camers are rolling ?
Amen PB, salvation is the greatest miracle.
Only a miracle can completely change a life!
I’m currently writing a paper on the Lakeland revival, and it’s really interesting to read this, two and a half years after it all happened. Having investigated Lakeland carefully, my conclusion is very simple – Todd is a master of manipulation, and the claims he makes are just lies. That’s all – nothing more, nothing less. There is no other explanation that fits the facts. The people who commented in favor of the revival all assumed that miracles were happening, but they weren’t. I’ve been unable to find any credible evidence that anyone was healed or resurrected. I think history will see Lakeland as one of the biggest deceptions ever to afflict the church.
I think Bentley was actually doing what had done by others before him. This time though, the age of the internet had caught up with the circus type healing hype & the outrageous claims. In this age of instant news search & video upload+posting, the carnival at Lakeland quickly became the litmus test for believer & skeptic alike. And the ‘proof’ as they say, in the empty pudding pan. Bentley was the main attraction, but such a performance needing myriads of supporters & promoters & the carnival atmosphere meant to distract anyone with a smidge of common sense to question the extreme claims & silly antics accompanying the so-called stage healings. Religious kooks of various stripes attracted to these big events as they get their 15 minutes of fame claiming their healings & supposed resurrections. The claims simply intended to tickle the ears of the signs+wonders seekers that were not interested at all in accuracy, honest review, confirmation, truth. They simply wanted to ‘hear’ amazing stories to bolster their own skewed religious perspectives & use it as proof of what was happening. Yeah, the dog-and-pony show of Lakeland the line-in-the-sand for any future big tent healing service aired on live TV or video feed. The naysayers were vindicated even before the event withered up & the truth about Bentley’s marriage issues finally exposed. And the apostolic/prophetic ‘affirmation’ debacle the most flagrant example of self-promotion in the name of God to happen & then none of those people wanting anything to with Bentley after his past caught up with him. I must confess, I actually enjoyed the way the entire mess kept getting more & more entangled in lies, deceit, cover up, back-peddling, etc. The spotlight got turned back onto the ones trying to make it into something it never was in the first place. Thank God this event finally brought about the level of scrutiny all such events should welcome if there is indeed true miracles that can be verified & pointed to as God’s gracious workings among people today.
Hey Joseph, just saw your comment. I completely agree – the manipulative techniques that Todd uses are exactly the same as those used by all faith-healers, past and present. And you’re exactly right that the internet (and satellite TV) age both promoted Lakeland, but also subjected it to a far greater level of scrutiny than anything before. This exposed the circus for what it really was.
The interesting thing is, of course, that virtually every charismatic and pentecostal leader endorsed Todd back in 2008. After all, his message and methods are the same as theirs. So they all got hit with the collateral damage when he was exposed as a fraud. It rocked the foundations of the movement, and rightly so.