PRAY|THE|REVOLUTION

In respect to Todd Bentley & leaders who crumble

Fri, Sep 2008 06:33 | Permalink

September 5, 2008
……Since I wrote the book, Shifting Shadows of Supernatural Power, that focuses on discerning what is true anointing and who are true power brokers, healers and prophets, people have been asking me what I think of the Lakeland Revival and how it ended with Todd’s crumbling into his own unhealed brokenness. I took a peak at what I wrote in my book and in a previous blog about Todd (“The Glory of God at Lakeland” on http://juliascribe.blogspot.com) and, wow! I think I might have been prophetic! Or maybe its just my counselor training discerning what lies in the hearts of us all.
Here is what I think in a nutshell:
We have this all surpassing power flowing into us, little earthen vessels, and we are bound to crack and leak under prolonged pressure for all to see. We also need to become better stewards of our leaders. And God’s glory will shine through anyone’s darkness…including yours.
Here are the questions I am receiving and will address in the rest of this blog:
1) Was Todd Bentley operating in God’s power or is he a charlatan? What are the marks of God’s true power?
2) Did the “apostolic” leaders make a mistake by endorsing and commissioning Todd?
3) How should we respond?
Todd- Charlatan or the real deal?
How would you handle masses of people coming to pull on you for the healing they desperately need? I know that I, for one, couldn’t sustain that. Not without help. Not without a strong mandate and anointing from God. Not without others coming alongside of me to support me, to step onto the platform and push me aside when I got too full of myself or too tired, friends who would take over, and let the purity of God’s presence minister to the masses as well as myself. Because if there is one thing I have witnessed through the years it is this – God will meet the desperate and the hungry and the pilgrim who travels far to meet with Him regardless of who or what the man or the woman on the platform of ministry is doing. Our loving Father RUSHES to meet us!
Because God rushes to meet us and responds to our faith, many of the healings experienced in Lakeland during the revival were very, very real. And the God-encounters were genuine. Todd is not a charlatan. He is just a man. Like you or me…fully human, not divine. And God’s glory revealed and power manifested did not depend solely on Todd.
The days of the solo minister facilitating a revival are over. We need each other’s gift mix on the platform. Randy Clark understands this best and as one who has a genuine healing anointing, should probably been the one to work with Todd and ensure an ongoing revival. And in fact, I wonder if the healing anointing wasn’t just residing in Steven Strader’s church because that is where I felt God’s presence most strongly during the morning services I attended and it didn’t matter who was speaking and ministering – God was there. Here’s a thought – perhaps Steven Strader was supposed to steward this revival – not Todd.
Leaders like Todd crumble when they start thinking they are the only one who can facilitate a revival because the anointing depends on them…not on God.
Eventually, as we stumble over ourselves on the road to maturity and wholeness, we realize that there are three sources of power that we are all open to – the Holy Spirit, the demonic and our own soulish power. At some point in our lives, we have all been influenced by one of those three sources and spoken or ministered out of the wrong spirit. Todd is no exception & neither are you nor I.
Here is what I wrote in my book about those sources:
“Anyone moving in revelatory, supernatural power will become like the one they behold. The more surrendered a person becomes to the source of the power, the more purely it reveals itself. Testimonies included later in this book reveal that one given over to the demonic will receive and express increasingly destructive power resulting in personalities that fragment under the weight of oppression. One given over to the Holy Spirit will receive and express increasingly authentic power resulting in a personality and life characterized by love, peace, and joy. Soulish power is merely a mixture of shadows originating in a person’s mind.
There are specific marks that characterize the origins or source of supernatural power expressed through individuals. Richard Foster, details seven marks of God’s authentic power in his book The Challenge of the Disciplined Life. They include: love, humility, restraint, joy, vulnerability, submission, and freedom from control.
If that is to be our guide for discerning the source of God’s power, then the marks of power that proceed from the occult and demonic realm would involve the exact opposite characteristics. They would include: hate, pride, unbridled displays of power, depression, jealousy, inability to relate to others or allow others to speak into their lives, and a desire to control others.
Soulish power—that which originates from a person’s state of mind and heart—expresses itself with a variety of mixed markers. Unhealed, unaffirmed people tend to exercise their soulish power to manipulate people and events to compensate for an overwhelming sense of their own powerlessness. Because they have no strong sense of identity or core self rooted in relationship with Jesus Christ, they attempt to acquire an external derivation of significance. As a result, when they express the spiritual gifts, the recipients may feel tainted by the residue of soulish imprints. One receiving a prophetic word originating in another’s soul power may feel more like the word is mere manipulation or flattery, a put down or a power trip. The laying on of hands for healing may also feel like a power trip drawing attention not to the healing power and presence of Jesus Christ and His atonement, but to the presence of the one praying.
For some, expressing soulish power is part of the process of normal spiritual growth and personal healing. A healthy process leads them to become secure in setting boundaries with others rather than attempting to control others and involves repeated encounters with the healing presence of Jesus Christ. An unhealthy process drives them into the occult realm and their minds become playgrounds for the antics of the demonic.
Attempts to harness and express power that originate in the soul are but one extreme. The other extreme involves those who seek power based on narcissistic desire. To obtain spiritual power for the glorification of self is to align oneself with the demonic. Lucifer is the ultimate narcissist.
The marks of power that come from God are the marks of a healthy personality as well as a mature Christian who is secure in God’s love. When authentic power works deeply in the lives of individuals releasing healing into their wounds, they can release it more purely to others through words of knowledge, prophesies, miracles, and healings that relate the heart of a loving God. Since most of us need progressive healing and sanctification and are not free from expressions of hate, pride, jealousy, and depression how can we determine the origins of power that flow through mere humans?
First, we need to recognize that soul power is not entirely bad. Our life experiences (good and bad), personalities and giftedness are given to us for a reason—to co-labor with God as we enter into our destinies. God gives us a vision but we have a role to play in working that out. Soul power rooted in God’s love and understanding of the particular destiny and vision given to each individual, tempers our human nature on any given bad day. Soul power, working under submission to God’s power, also gets the work done. We release the power of God through our soul, or mindful action, and the marks of power will correspondingly bear the marks of our personality. God, having given you a unique personality, loves the way you express Him.
Second, no matter what our state of heart and mind, our level of maturity or brokenness, the imprint of soulish origins fades when overshadowed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. God’s loving presence can move through the youngest child or most immature and unhealed adult to accomplish His will. His power is made perfect in our weakness.”
We all minister in God’s anointing and fall back into our soulish state of mind. Think about it – one minute you’re ministering to someone at work and the next minute you are cussing out your computer. Oooooh…yech…. I believe that Todd has exhibited a genuine anointing at times and that he has not yet come into the fullness of the measure of Christ that will be given him – after he takes some time to submit to a healing process & realizes that he should always partner with other ministers.
__________
How can leaders become influenced by the wrong spirit?
It is quite possible that the weight of glory and demands of people brought Todd to the brink of burnout. It is also quite possible that we all failed Todd – it wasn’t Todd that failed us.
I watched as leaders, one by one, sat on the platform enjoying the visibility afforded them by international television broadcasts. Were any speaking into his life or ministering to Todd? Or were they all needing Todd to minister to them; to infuse them with a fresh jolt of the Holy Ghost? Are all the older, more seasoned, current ministry leaders who have some degree of visibility so busy or tired and burned out that they failed Todd? Or was Todd becoming so enamored with the limelight that he failed to listen and receive them? I venture a guess that it was a little of both. And by the way, where were your prayers for Todd?
How can leaders come under the influence of the demonic or start moving out of their own soulish power? When you are tired, you trip over your own feet. Couple that exhaustion with undealt with emotions, memories and traumas; not taking time to heal from the fragmented and unhealthy family upbringing; and not having mothers and fathers in the faith come alongside of you BEFORE you burnout…and you’re in trouble. It doesn’t mean that you are a charlatan – it means that you are human…and perhaps just a little cracked pot in the midst of a pressure cooker. It doesn’t mean that you are an imposter – it means that you are a little boy or girl clomping around in your daddy’s shoes not quite all grown up, or healed up. But our Father in heaven’s intensely, loving eyes hold our gaze and we come to understand that He delights in us still. Just because you need healing doesn’t mean that you are a false prophet or healer; or an illigitimate son or daughter of the King. It means that you are growing from healing to wholeness; from glory to glory.
Some of the most famous revivalists and church leaders in the past and in the present have struggled with wandering off sexually, depression, insomnia born of anxiety that led them to take drugs, bi-polar episodes, rage issues, and other mental illnesses that often went undiagnosed. The presence and power of God flowed through them and resulted in undeniable miracles. Some of these leaders ended badly or died early because there was no team approach to ministry and no one wanted to “touch the anointing” when that leader desperately needed to be touched by the hand of reason, step aside, rest and get restored until they were grounded enough to continue the work of the ministry. They moved in God’s anointing, tripped over their brokenness and ended up moving in soulish power or demonic power. I an not saying that Todd struggles with mental illness. I am saying that we need to recognize when we are headed for disaster and take time out & the church needs to value the leaders enough to let them rest. No matter how grounded and stable we are, we all need others to speak into our lives and listen to them when they call, “Time out!”
Let’s look at what one seasoned prophet had to say in my book about getting into a mess in public ministry:
“The problem with power that originates in the soul—tainted with undealt with emotions, memories, and traumas—is that it gets in the way of hearing the true voice of the Lord. John Sandford speaks about this jamming of our wavelengths in the Elijah Task: “God will never speak falsely but because of who we are we will hear wrongly…both flesh and satan attack one who draws near to God. Few of us enjoy the honeymoon of God’s love long before the flesh and the enemy begins to jam our wavelengths.”
Sandford knows from personal experience that no one will graduate from the Lord’s school of listening with his pride intact. Most budding prophets and revelatory people will end up looking like a fool but it does not make them a false prophet. The pressures on Sandford as a young pastor at the beginning of his prophetic ministry, coupled with exhaustion, resulted in a strong spiritual delusion. During a progressive series of visions he became completely convinced that God had revealed the exact time of the rapture. It was to occur the afternoon of the day he was preaching at a ministry school involving Agnes Sandford. Agnes, a true mother in the prophetic, promptly urged him to stop talking and sent him to bed. He woke the next day feeling more refreshed and more than a little bit embarrassed. He explained what happened:
“I became caught up in over-serious mysticism, confusing that with true faith…I became overburdened, overtired, carried away with visions and insights, and finally deluded. Satan’s delight is to come to someone who is enjoying a true spiritual experience and then help him go too far.
“I needed that strong spiritual delusion because my confidence had been in my ability to hear God, not in God’s ability to overcome my sinful heart to speak to me.
“And as I saw my idolatry more clearly, I had to die to all such seeing, and be careful not to cherish insight more than the Lord.”
________________
The psychological health of the prophet [or one in healing ministry] determines the impact of his or her state of mind or soul about the gift. A true prophet [or one in healing ministry] will bear the marks of the power of God, the nature of God, and the fruit of the Spirit over time. They will work collaboratively and in accountability to others, learning from their mistakes and growing in humility. Unhealed prophets, will bear the marks of his or her own brokenness. If the church fails to reach out to them, leaving them to smolder in despair, unrepentant sin, and brokenness, they may succumb to the influence of occult power.”
The difference between what John experienced and what Todd experienced is very different in many ways. However, John had the good fortune to be ministering with someone who had authority to speak into his life and boot him off the platform when he needed to step aside. It’s called mentoring. And the church is sadly lacking in mentors who welcome up and coming ministers onto their platforms and offer the platform as sacred training grounds where all have the freedom to fail and succeed.
Did the “apostolic” leaders make a mistake by endorsing and commissioning Todd?
I watched all these ministry leaders on television making apostolic blessings and statements that seemed to want to offer Todd some support and covering but I do not feel like I should comment on the motivations of some or the authority of others. What I did see, to my delight, was that they were finally taking time out from their lives and ministries to stand with Todd. But the gesture was too little, too late.
What we have been seeing throughout the last few decades, is the death of the “Man-of-the-Hour” ministry. The shift to networks and relationships has resulted in platform sharing of itinerant prophets and apostolic leaders and that seems really healthy on the surface. At least they are platform sharing. However, each one is still consumed with their message and ministry and mandate and apparently failing one another. They will criticize one another rather than embrace one another behind the scenes. I’ve heard them. You have, too.
When I hear people criticize others, it makes me feel like that person is not safe…regardless of the fact that they call themselves apostles or prophetic…they are not exhibiting the character of Jesus when they criticize and condemn. When I hear them say that their words are always right and its “my way or the highway”, I can see that they are headed straight into delusion and perpetuating a form of division born of grandious-delusion. None of us are immune from being critical but we must recognize that the God the Father is really, really grieved when we trash his sons and daughters.
I used to criticize and openly mock Todd’s style years ago when I was burned out and living mainly outside of the church. Then God spoke to my heart one day saying, “What if I called you to work for Todd. Would you criticize my son then?” Gulp. My attitude instantly changed from one of critic to prayer warrior – for Todd. I am praying still.
When will we learn that true brothers are ones who lay their lives (and ministries) down for one another? When one starts to burn out, we need to extend the hand of healing and the finances to support the others’ ministry while that person takes time out for rest or time out in a hospital. Whatever happened to releasing gestures of “unconditional love” that include calling someone to step aside for a rest to deal with the sin in their lives? It takes a high degree of humility and the ability to honor one another’s gifts to give and receive in that way. Several of the “apostolic leaders” who stood on the platform exhibit that humility, have called Todd to accunt in a loving, not critical or punishing way, and are ushering Todd right into the healing arms of Jesus. I have no doubt that they will cover him more completely from now on.
What Causes Burnout
It takes a higher degree of humility for a leader with significant momentum and international visability to step aside from the work of the ministry and rest before they crumble under burnout. No leader is there yet. Neither are you or me. I’d rather see the whole body of Christ allow leaders take time out for rest before they end up in a hospital. A month or two off the road and into their prayer chamber will only strengthen their gifts and increase their anointing. Yet it is not the pressures of the ministry that causes burnout. The lack of connectedness with family and others & the undermining critical, lack of support is the main cause of burnout.
Research shows that a perceived lack of support will cause someone to burnout more quickly; and if one is already fragmented by early childhood upbringing and bad daddies and distant mommies [as was the case in Todd’s upbringing] that lack of support will result in rebellion. Rebellion can be an act of crying loudly for help when you think no one cares…or an act of trying to get control over someone or something or just flat out losing control. And how did Jesus talk about a rebellious son? He told a story about a dad who ran to greet the rebel boy and that story led me to believe that the dad realized his part in his son’s rebellion and repented long before the son did. True spiritual fathers and mothers will embrace sons and daughters like Todd and run to meet them, having repented of their own lack of love and support.
Apparently, Todd has some true spiritual dads and moms stepping up to help him. And whatever is going on with Todd’s personal life is really none of my business…nor is it yours. All I know is that every one of us – no matter how mature and whole we are – cannot sustain prolonged ministry on our own. Just because someone went through a season of healing doesn’t mean they are not vulnerable. The more fragmented the upbringing, the more vulnerable you are…and most in need of having healthy people walk alongside you constantly – not intermittently.
Not one of us can go long in work or ministry without support. Rest involves reconnecting and being loved. Not one of us can go the distance without strengthening that deep, intimate connection with the Lord from time to time during a prolonged period of a Sabbath rest and restoring intimate connections with others. I know this personally. I’ve burned out before.
Research shows that once you have burned out, you are more vulnerable to burn out in the future and must learn to recognize the signs and symtoms and redirect yourself – rather than wait until its too late and have someone else embarrasingly, have to step in and redirect you.
The True Marks of God’s Power
As for the marks of true power and anointing, here is what I look for in a person and I believe that Todd, as young as he is, has exhibited some of those marks of power as well and will likely carry them all some day as he matures in life & ministry. I also believe that several people who endorsed Todd’s ministry carry those marks of true power and anointing. These are straight from Richard Foster, who details seven marks of God’s authentic power in his book The Challenge of the Disciplined Life. Read them and think about which leaders exhibit those marks on an ongoing basis. And also consider if you bear those marks as well. Jesus calls us all to take the mote out of our own eye before we try to poke someone else’s eye out…or something like that…
· Power motivated by love and compassion to release salvation, deliverance and healing;
· Power expressed with humility, deferring to one another’s gifts, willing to learn from others, aware that the gifts flow from God as He wills;
· Power expressed with restraint, not under compulsion to the needs and distractions of men or the desire to express flashy revelation or miracles that draw attention to them;
· Power expressed with joy, operating from a basis of rest rather than exhaustion which can lead to delusion, filled with the presence of the Lord;
· Power that does not dominate or control but is revealed in vulnerability rather than bravado;
· Power that is submitted in right relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ and to others;
· Power that freely gives and sets people free rather than binding them in some obligation (financial or emotional) to the minister or ministry.
How should we respond?
As a psychotherapist who has dealt with men in the military and in the ministry and many individuals in my former counseling practice, the answer is clear to me. Love and time heals all wounds – Todd’s wounds as well as your own. You may be disappointed, angry, or confused but know this - we heal more quickly if we stop looking to others and start looking up. God has not abandoned you. He has no illusions about you or Todd or anyone in ministry. His true work will survive – the rest will burn up at the end of the day. And Christ in you is the hope of glory – to be revealed both to you and through you.
This issue about the Lakeland Revival ending badly is not about your feelings about Todd. It is now about you and God.
Here is how I try to respond…and it too is straight from my book Shifting Shadows of Supernatural Power:
“The more the light of God’s love consumes us the more effortless we extend that light, that atmosphere of Heaven, to the dark lord’s kingdom. Do you bask in the light of God’s presence? Do you adore intimacy with God? Do you only hear the commands of God or can you see His smile? Does the radiance of God shine through your life? There is so much more of His presence to experience, as well as His power.
The challenge of increasing in supernatural power is not to seek to move in power but to move in the presence of God. Rather than praying, “More Power!” cry out, “More of you, Lord!” That prayer enlarges your spirit and increases your spiritual sensitivity to hear the voice of God and act on the revelation that He releases to you. The overflow of His presence is supernatural power. The overflow of your presence is merely an expression of soulish power that is most likely tapping into second heaven revelation…the realm of demonic revelation. Do you want God’s power or do you want Him? You can release the gifts of the Spirit; however, God cannot and will not be used. God desires intimate relationship with you, not overt manipulation.
The more we abandon ourselves to Him, the less we stumble around in the shifting shadows of loyalty and the more we release the manifest presence of God wherever we go. Then, what the world will witness is the power of God being expressed through the hearts of men and women who know their anointing comes from a deep intimate relationship with the Lord. As more individuals and groups of believers grow in faith, we will see a convergence of supernatural power and intimacy. Believers will release not only a sense of God’s presence in their homes, workplaces and in the world, but will discover that they have become super-Natural power brokers as well, imbued with gifts of healing, prophetic and revelatory insights, and miracles.”
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God is as near to you as your own heartbeat, what does it matter who rises and falls from platforms of ministry? And if it does matter to you, are you throwing stones or tomatoes? Calling for his head on a platter? Or are you going to choose to be like Christ and gaze into his eyes and call him “friend” and “brother” and “son”? Are you going to use your resources and prayer time to bless him into wholeness? Because that is what Christ would do for you.
The more the light of God’s love consumes us the more effortless we extend that light, that atmosphere of Heaven, wherever we go. Let His light consume you – not bitterness. Become the one you wished Todd had been for others.
And if you are still hot and bothered about it all, I encourage you to listen to the sermons on “Grace” where Bill Johnson talks about Todd and Lakeland. He talks about this stuff way mo’bettah than I do. You can download them on the sermon of the week page at www.ibethel.org.
God’s love and presence is always with you.
Julia Loren
www.julialoren.net
http://juliascribe.blogspot.com

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