Rick Joyner Defending Lakeland and Todd Bentley Commissioning

The following article is by Rick Joyner and is from Rick Joyner’s Morning Star website here. My comments are in italics underneath -

“This past Monday I was invited to the Lakeland Revival to be present at Todd Bentley’s ordination. For the sake of clarity, this was not Todd’s ordination into ministry, which he received long ago, but was a specific ordination by a small group including Bill Johnson, Che Ahn, and John Arnott. These three have agreed to help oversee Todd’s ministry for the “Lakeland Revival.” It was a unique and specific type of ordination that I think the Lord was in. I was asked to be there with some others who represent different streams

[End times note - Rick Joyner claims that he was with others who 'represent different streams' - this is an outright lie. Everybody there on stage were connected with the apostolic-prophetic movement of C Peter Wagner's New Apostolic Reformation - the same dominionist apostles who want to rule the world and want to demand your unquestioning submisson to them! Their call to church unity is to unify with them, under them, regardless of biblical truth.]

…. that appreciate and support what is happening in Lakeland and Todd’s ministry in particular.

[End times note - well they would appreciate it and support it, seeing as it is a dominionist Latter Rain revival, a stated, albeit more 'hidden' agenda being to elevate these new apostles and prophets and get them into 'government' over the whole church. But how can any true Christian Bible-loving man or woman appreciate and support what is happening at Lakeland through Lakeland and Todd - because it has an antichrist agenda, not to mention antichrist teaching and antichrist impartation? Rick Joyner and his cohorts also show themselves to lack integrity - they allowed Todd to openly blaspheme on stage, and to lie unrebuked - yet still they commissioned him. That is despicable. They readily and knowingly commissioned a lying false prophet!]

I also wanted to be there to express the high degree of trust and appreciation for the three who have agreed to oversee Todd’s ministry in this way.

[End times note - Che Ahn has already demonstrated he cannot be trusted as he is a proven false prophet, and by all accounts now, a liar too here. How can false prophets properly lead false prophets except into more error - to decieve and be decieved? As for Bill Johnson (he who loves feathers and gold dust and tolerates proven charlatans) and John Arnott (of Toronto Blessing fame), these men have long been associated with flaky ministry and deceptive teachings, so hardly the right godly and biblical choice. But then this is not about truth and biblical truth. It is a lying revival in many different senses.]

The Lakeland Revival is now a world event, touching many nations and denominations. As its impact has grown, so has the controversy and persecution.

[End times note - persecution?! How can Rick Joyner have the audacity to claim this!  The Lakeland Revival is 'controversial' because Todd is a proven liar and deciever and blasphemer. If Todd were not a proven liar and deciever and blasphemer, Lakeland and Bentley would not be controversial on the majority of blogs that I am aware of, nor gain this amount of press. 

Writing out warnings about a wilful deciever is not 'persecuting', rather it is 'warning' people not to be taken in by a conman - a huge difference in perspective. Also nobody would rightly accuse a fair trial judge for rightly judging a criminal  or a policeman for arresting a thief as being wrong, or unloving, or divisive - let alone 'persecuting' - there would be outcry if he did not do his job and let the criminals roam free unrebuked - and Christians are to judge the church, and are to 'arrest' falseness from within their own midst.

Also, I have kept to the proveable facts, where Todd Bentley's camp slander us with sayings and motives we do not say or possess, and they insist without proof that people who criticise their elite anointed are 'witches, warlocks and satanists', not to mention 'divisive' and 'unloving'! They have the audacity to say the critics should not judge with truth and the word of God for holy God-honoring reasons, but they can judge the critics with slander and unbiblical notions only to protect themselves and their antichrist agenda?! That is hypocritical and also deceitful!

Furthermore, we who state the truth as to what Todd Bentley and his brigade are about, are not the side that state anyone that disagree with us in future will be killed in the prophesied coming civil war in the church, as prophesied by Rick Joyner and other of Satan's cohorts!  That is persecution - their side! It is their side that is controlling and elitist and seeks to lord it over the flock who must obey them even when they are wrong. Yet these proud, boastful, arrogant man insist the gentle shepherds who do not seek to beat the flock, or elevate themself or their own agendas but rather seek to look after the lambs and lead them to safety, and care about the lamb's welfare for no other agenda than to honor God and to love their neighbour, are the persecutors?!!!!]

That is standard for any true move of God, and we should not be surprised by it.

[End times note - because true bible-believing Christians encounter persecution, it does not automatically follow that everybody who claims to be a 'Christian' whose actions, impartations and words are condemned as false by the church watchmen, are true and are being persecuted for righteousness sake.  (And as discussed before criticism is not persecution). Joyner is making an assumption here and leap in his logic and adding up 2+2 to make 5. For instance, Joseph Smith and the angel Moroni are rightly declared by the true church to be false, because their words and actions when measured against the word of God do not add up. He is not being persecuted, rather he is rightly declared a false prophet whose teachings and prophecies the church should have nothing to do with.

Furthermore, not only does the word of God declare Todd Bentley and his associates to be false - because of their words and actions and also the spirit behind them - it also reveals that this so-called outpouring is NOT a move of God in the sense Joyner means it.  This outpouring does not lead to truth, rather to error. False prophets and apostles are elevated, there is a false gospel without real repentence leading to another Jesus. Todd blasphemes, boasts, and lies all the time. There is continual bad fruit with major lies and deceptions. The fruit from the people going there is spiritual blindness and a hatred and disregard for the word of God. This is not a move of God!   It is ONLY a move of God in the sense of God allowing deception and delusion because people do not love the truth].

This is especially true of ministries or movements that release God’s power for healing, miracles, and deliverance.

[End times note - the trouble is, no verified miracles have been released to the media despite repeat false claims from Todd's camp that they are. More outright lies and cover-ups. 

But even if real miracles were happening, and were documented, it in no way follows that these miracles are a consequence of God's power - as the Bible says that 'miracles' can happen under the antichrist's power, whose false prophet can even call down fire from heaven and decieve multitudes including 'Christians'].

When the Lord Jesus started performing miracles, the persecution began in earnest.

[End times note - Todd is not being persecuted because he is doing miracles! If only he were doing real miracles! He is not even being persecuted. He is being criticised but not because he conforms to God's power, but because of the opposite - he conforms to an antichrist and false prophet and is a blatantly greedy liar and deciever]

When the miracles became more spectacular, the persecution increased. When He raised someone from the dead, the conservative religious community of the times resolved to kill Him.

[End times note - I have yet to see any spectacular miracles through Todd. I have not even seen a little miracle through Todd. I have seen people manifesting under the so-called power, but despite their jerking and other strange behaviour, they are evidently no more healed than when they went on stage. I have heard many false claims, many of which I have proved to be false, and there is yards of film tape showing all these people jerking but no more healed than before.  Some of the resurrection stories have also been proven to be untrue.  Todd is not being criticised because he heals and raises people from the dead. Rather, he is being criticised because among other things he doesn't, and what he claims re healings etc is repeatedly to be shown to be a lie, as also the spirit people manifest by to lead them to believe they are healed!

Note also that Rick Joyner infers those that are against Todd's words and ministries are 'conservative' - by that he is meaning anti-charismatic or cessationist. I am not anti-charismatic (charismatic in the true sense of the meaning of charisma gifts), nor am I cessationist - I am anything but cessationost! I believe in, practice and love the true gifts of the Spirit - including healing, prophecy, wisdom and discernment and distinguishing of spirits. Most of the main watchdog ministries speaking out about Todd are not cessationist either.  They believe in the true gifts but they also believe in the false gifts - which is why we speak out.

It is incredible that today because of false teaching, many pentecostals or charismatics just do not 'get' anyone who believes in and functions in the true spiritual gifts saying a ministry gift could be false or counterfeit (either fleshly or demonic), as they have never been taught to discern between truth and error and to test the spirits.

Note too, that nobody on my side is resolved to kill anyone, least of all to kill Todd. The only people who talk about killing, and prophesy it repeatedly as their stated agenda, are Rick Joyner's side.]

That startling hardness of heart is the result of letting a religious spirit gain dominion in our lives.

[End times note - it is NOT hardness of heart to love the word of God and to use it as the dividing line to distinguish between truth and error. It is not hardness of heart that submits to and obeys God's word in testing and discerning the spirits and in calling out a false prophet or apostle for what he is and warning about him.  Rather it is hardness of heart that detests the word of God, casts it aside and disobeys it. He who loves God will love His word and contend for it. He who loves Christ will rebuke false Christs and blasphemers.

The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible - if one is a true prophet or apostle led by the Spirit of God, one will be led to conform to that same word and love that and uphold it. One who does not comform to it or love it must not be led by the Spirit of God as He does not contradict himself.

Not only do Joyner et al contradict the word of God with their antichrist teachings and blatantly false prophecies, and tolerate blasphemy and lies, but they do not allow testing, discernment and criticism of their words or of their anointed ones. It is only an elitist cult-type leader/s who has something to hide who does this, for the apostle Paul welcomed questioning and discernment. Far from calling today's Bereans noble-minded, Joyner et al prophesy the Bereans will be killed if they do not conform to their new revelation contradicting the Bible. Just who is intent on persecuting who?

For three years or more, the apostle Paul warned with tears about the super apostles, and for an extended period now, I and others like me, warn about the new super apostles with tears. We take no delight in this apostasy. I too would like to lie in a meadow in the sunshine holding hands with the world and talk only of buttercups and butterflies and rainbows and prophecy 'peace peace'. But how can I, when there is no true peace on the horizon - and no unity possible with darkness?

Rick Joyner, however, would rather the apostle Paul and those that follow Paul to shut up for the sake of 'unity.'   Note too, despite his claims to love and want unity, if the church unified against the false prophets and apostles (as it should be) Joyner would hate this unity! It is only unity on their terms - that is their obtaining absolute power, which is not unity it is dictatorship. Joyner only means unite and come under them. What uniting the Holy Spirit with an antichrist spirit, and uniting light and darkness, how can that be?! 

Note also Joyner's rude dismissal of all those that would criticise a false prophet for being a false prophet, as having a 'religious spirit'.]

A main strategy of the religious spirit is to get us to honor what God has done in order to justify persecuting what He is doing.

[Joyner claims yet again that those who critise are not only persecuting Todd, but are possessed by an unclean religious spirit. Yet the Holy Spirit testifies that Todd is false - in the Bible (His words) and also in the testimony of true 'prophets' or 'discerners' led by this Spirit of truth.  So Rick Joyner is actually blaspheming against the Holy Spirit and charging the Holy Spirit with being an unclean demon, for it is HE that testifies against Todd and his medley MORE than any of us put together!

As discussed before, Rick Joyner would also claim the apostle Paul, Timothy, Jude, Titus and others had unclean religious spirits, as they demanded not only that everything be weighed and tested but that false prophets and teachers should be exposed and shunned.

Also, by his own logic, who is Joyner coming against a move of God in the godly discernment and warning movement, and who is he judging his critics? Isn't criticism and naysaying of a religious spirit - but ah he does not really mean that, he can naysay us, but we cannot naysay him - the hypocrit!]

I have known Todd Bentley for about a decade, and he is a man of exceptional theological depth,

[End times note - Rick Joyner is having a laugh here or is lying through his teeth - did C Peter Wagner twist his arm to say this, as I know Joyner is not this dumb. Surely, he knows this claim is untrue! Even Todd's most ardent lovers could not say Todd is a man 'of exceptional theological depth' as he is not - as even the ministry admit to the media and use as an excuse as to why critics do not like him!  Todd does not even adhere to the very basics and the milk of the word and constantly undermines and contradicts the Bible].

….revelatory gifting,

[End times note - revelatory for who? And guided by what spirit? The majority of false prophecies Todd has made are so far fetched and over the top and also contradictory, I dispute that Todd even had many of these alleged visions in the first place. You just do not have so many inconsistencies in storyline and contradictions in a true account, even if guided by a demonic spirit.  Todd evidently makes things up as he goes along, and as can be proven by what he has said recently at Lakeland and to the media, he seems to be a pathological liar (eg his claims his many tattoos and piercings have been there since before his conversion at the age of 17 or 18 when it is proven from photo and video evidence he only got them 3-4 years ago.  Furthermore Todd blasphemes as he declares for himself the promises of Psalm 2 as a prophecy about him. If he truly does prophesy this, then it is  prophesied by the spirit of an antichrist. Regardless, it is taught , and is not a true gifting from the Spririt of God.  Todd is a false prophet and teacher whichever way you look at it].

…and the leader of a large and growing multi-faceted ministry that has had a significant impact on many nations. I have been to Abbotsford, B.C. a few times to speak at Fresh Fire Conferences, and I always marvel at the substance and excellence of what Todd has been able to build in such a short period of time as well as the quality of people on his team.

[End times note - quality of people? What many of them liars, fakers and manipulators! What kind of quality control is that?}

I am saying all of this because there is much more to Todd Bentley and Fresh Fire Ministries than has yet been revealed through what is now happening in Lakeland.

[End times note - you can say that again and it is far from sweet]

I know Todd as someone who can teach or preach with a rare depth and clarity, but Lakeland is not really about that, at least not yet.

[End times note - what it is not about depth and clarity? You mean superficial and confused? That certainly is correct as Todd frequently contradicts even himself.]

 It is about an impartation of faith, power, and fire. Right now we, the body of Christ, need these more than we need more teaching and strategy.

[End times note - but faith comes from knowing and hearing the word of God. If no word of God is preached,  or it is a distorted and twisted word, then how can true faith then arise?  And how can the body of Christ have true 'fire and power' if they are led to partake of another spirit and the doctrine of demons? Rather the body are rendered numb and incompetent and led into delusion, apostasy, blasphemy and spiritual death.  For what real power has been manifested at Lakeland apart from delusion and lies and an antichrist spirit?]

One of the basic laws of physics applies here. You cannot change the direction of an object unless it is moving, and before we need more strategy and direction, we need to wake up the church and get it moving.

[End times note - so what Rick Joyner is saying, is that it does not matter where the church are going as long as they are moving. It does not matter if they all jump off the cliff to spiritual deaths if they are moving. It does not matter if they are moved to worship a golden calf as long as they are moving. It does not matter if they leave the narrow way for the broad way to hell. It does not matter if they reject Christ, the only gate, and accept a myriad of other antichrist portals in His place.

This is clearly not the case and very, very deceptive, because Joyner wants you to accept Lakeland whether you like it or not, as it must be all good because you are 'moving' - who cares where to or whether it is blindfolded!

But it is HIM and not the Lord who is telling the church to move to Lakeland. Manmade moves and commands over following the spirit of God, hmm.

And a very real and valid question is, where is Lakeland moving the church to. It is NOT the right direction.

And by that reckoning, as I am telling the church to move away from Lakeland,  am I not equally right and equally to be followed? As long as you are moving it should not matter by Joyner's perverted definition whether you follow the critics' path or their path, should it? But ahh, he only wants you to follow him, so he is being a hypocrit and deciever and does not really mean this about any moving is good, as if people moved away from him he'd soon complain. He'll say anything to get his way. But even his own perverted logic does not work because it is proven deception.

Also the thing about the moving object is not true scripturally or even logically. For if you are lost, the most sensible thing to do is to stop, regroup and look at a map, or to ask your way, and not keep driving miles in the opposite direction! There are also times that God commands us to be still and wait upon Him.

However, in Lakeland's case, the Bible's roadsigns (and indeed wisdom's roadsigns) are most clear. God has commanded his people to move away from Lakeland and to reject it as they should reject and shun all false prophets and false apostles as Joyner and his movement are.]

Lakeland is waking up the church, including the many who are naysayers and critics, but at least she is being awakened.

[End times note - awakened into what? Apostasy!]

Now I do not want to dismiss all of the naysayers or critics too quickly. They serve their purpose and can be very helpful, even if not in the way that they presume.

[End times note - how patronising! And note how his second sentence undermines his first.

Note too, for all his deceptions, that he is still acknowledging the crirics are right about some things and can be helpful in pointing out error - so why then is this error not corrected or admitted when pointed out? Do they not care?]

This is not to say that Todd or the Lakeland Revival do not need correction or cannot make mistakes.

[End times note - ok then, so where is this correction from you, or anyone else, Rick Joyner? I do not see it anywhere and the Bible does say a little leaven spreads through the whole batch? You've had months to correct Todd and he has only gotten much worse - though there is a rabbit trail of deceptions and coverups over those months which is no doubt partly his 'advisors' doing.

I also thought those people who corrected Todd's ministry (or attempted to do so) were 'naysayers' and 'critics' and being 'unloving', 'judgmental' 'divisive' and moved by a 'religious spirit' - so why is it ok all of a sudden for Joyner and his elite to propose to correct something if he or they hypothetically ever will, and not for others to propose this?  Because he is an anointed apostle and prophet on a higher spiritual plane than us mere mortals? But still if judging is wrong, then surely it is wrong for apostles too, eh? Rick can only have it both ways in his own perverted logic.]

Todd is not perfect and neither is anyone else I know.

[End times note - that is not the point at issue]

However, if someone is going to criticize, we need to check their credentials.

[End times note - this is not biblically true at all. It is NOT about the critic's credentials, but about the word of God's credentials and what the word of God says when Todd Bentley is weighed against it.]

If someone has a significant healing and miracle ministry, we should listen to them in relation to the ministry of healing and miracles.

[This is an experience based religion contradictory to the Bible. The Bible states that if a prophet appears and does legitimate great signs and wonders but says 'let us go follow other gods' he should not be listened to as God is testing His people. So in the same way, any healer or miracle worker should not be listened to on the basis of the sign alone - they should be tested to see if they conform to the word of God or not.  If Todd says, let's follow a God that looks like a giant monkey, should we follow him and believe him regardless of truth? 

What Joyner is saying is ONLY true, if the miracle worker's word conforms to God's word - otherwise regardless of their miracles or lack of miracles, they should not be heard - far less tolerated and let alone embraced by the church.

Of course, added to this, there is a huge issue here as to whether Todd's signs are real signs and miracles anyway.

Added to that, may of the 'critics' do have legitimate ministries of their own with real genuine healings, prophecies etc. But that is only a smokescreen for Rick Joyner anyway, who is not interested in this fact,  and would find another excuse to dispute their testimony. He is actually trying to imply that only his camp are worthy of judging - how arrogant and not to mention untrue for the reasons stated!

Also, by Rick Joyner's own theory, if we should listen to someone more who does experience true prophecy, and true healing etc then they should not listen to anyone from their own camp - who are all proven false prophets and not true healers as they cannot heal even their own or produce documented miracles - BUT rather they should listen to someone from outside their camp who does truly minister true healing and truly prophecy and comform in all other regards to the word of God.

If someone has been used to start and shepherd a significant revival, I would listen to him much more about his views of a revival than someone who has only read or written about them.

[What Joyner is doing here is putting critics down and implanting the idea that not only does true healing, miracles and revival exist in his camp, but that it does not occur in the critics camp - if we want true power and revival we must side with him and his apostate apostles  - which is absolutely not true]

A Chord of Three Strands

Now let’s look briefly at the credentials of the three who have agreed to oversee Todd’s ministry in the Lakeland Revival. John Arnott was used by God to start and oversee the extraordinary Toronto Renewal.

[ah, they call it 'renewal' here but it has been repeatedly called 'revival' and it was no revival. Furthermore, John Arnott did not start it, even in their own legends!]

 This is a move of God that has touched and helped heal and renew multitudes of believers, churches, and even whole movements and denominations, around the world. It is also a fire that has continued to burn for over a decade—a remarkable accomplishment in the history of revivals and renewal movements. With this kind of experience, it makes him a true elder in the church in the gate of renewal or revival movements.

[ah now this renewal is revival which it was not! Regardless Toronto was poison and not of God. Far from healing churches, it split churches, caused disillusion and a great falling away. Its bad fruit included divorces, sexual sin, false prophecy, heresy and apostasy and a disdain for the word - and the elevation of the false prophetic-apostolic movement.

Note too the expression 'gate of renewal or revival']]

Bill Johnson not only has a significant healing and miracle ministry,

[That is debatable. Unless you state feathers and gemstones proven to have been planted in congregations is a genuine miracle]

…but he is one of the greatest equippers who has been used to help release and mature these gifts in thousands of students who have come through his school in Redding, California, as well as stirring them up in a large part of the body of Christ through his books, teachings, and travels. Bill has done this from and through the local church setting, seeking to release these gifts in a major way to and through the church. Throughout much of the advancing church at this time, Bill Johnson would be in just about everyone’s top few of authorities on healing, miracles, and understanding the supernatural aspects of the Christian walk.

[But Bill Johnson is a false prophet and teacher and apostles who welcomes proven frauds into his church and associates with other flakes and frauds and false ones.

Bill is certainly not one of my top authorities on healing, miracles, the supernatural and the Christian walk, or any legitimate ministry's authority's either.]

Che Ahn is one of the emerging great church builders. He is not only the leader of a significant church in Pasadena, but Harvest International Ministries is now a network of hundreds of churches. He is a church man who loves the church, and his heartbeat message is about building the church with a kingdom perspective. Lou Engle, the leader of The Call, one of the most powerful ministries mobilizing the youth and intercessory prayer in our times, was raised up under Che Ahn. When they called together youth to the mall in Washington a few years ago, more than 400,000 responded. On August 16, The Call in Washington could gather even more. Che Ahn knows how to build healthy local churches, to raise up and release new movements, as well as help oversee huge gatherings of God’s people for important events.

[Che Ahn knows how to build healthy churches? More like to quash and control and crush congregations with an elitist 'us and them' mindset which is far from healthy. Not to mention being yet another false prophet and deceiver]

My point is that the three who Todd now has as overseers have a unique and extraordinary deposit of experience and wisdom in the important areas that are being touched by the Lakeland Revival. They are also all strong and successful local church builders. It would be hard for me to think of three more brilliant choices for this, and I greatly appreciate Todd’s wisdom in it.

[What that Todd chose them or they chose Todd? Regardless proven false prophets and apostles are 'mentoring' a proven false prophet.]

Does this mean that everything in Lakeland is perfect or will be perfect? Of course not. As qualified as these three may be to oversee this, they are all very busy. They cannot micromanage what is happening in Lakeland, but they will be there to step in if there are serious issues that need to be addressed.

[Rick Joyner says 'they will be there to step in if there are serious issues that need to be addressed' - implying there are no serious issues there now?!!! Rick Joyner is implying that the critics' issues are only micro, tiny, non significant issues not worthy of attention (but, the problem with this claim is that apart from being untrue, even Rick admitted earlier that there are mistakes needing coreection now past and present tense - quote "not to say that Todd or the Lakeland Revival do not need correction'". Now not only is this now a potential correction in the future tense, it is also conditional on there being error there.  Whoops, Rick, you dropped a clanger and betrayed yourself. But, regardless of this contradiction, there are multiple huge whacking great serious issues evident to many, which if any of these men had any integrity, including Joyner, they would have dealt with long before now.

And how can these three false prophet-apostles whose interest is to promote themselves in C Peter Wagner's dominionist apostolic-prophetic, discipline another false prophet whose interest is to promote Wagner's dominionist apostolic-prophetic?]

It is my conviction that this ordination can help keep the Lakeland Revival on track and help it to have much more longevity.

[Keep it on track? It has never been on the correct track, even when it was being planned. (And it was planned by man) - however if they mean keep it on THEIR track and agenda, then it is on that antichrist domininist track]

Stephen Strader, the pastor of Ignited Church where this revival broke out, is also a man of great wisdom and depth in all of these areas. He is a revivalist who moves in a great power ministry himself, but he is also a true pastor with a pastor’s heart. As a local church leader in Lakeland, vitally in touch with the revival from the beginning, I really could not think of anyone I would rather have on the ground there than Strader, knowing that he will not hesitate to help give input when it is needed.

[Not hesitate to lie and cover-up where needed - as proven and documented on this site. True pastors are honest, love truth and have integrity, and are not money-focussed, Stader evidently does not possess these qualities.]

I think the Lakeland Revival is now about as well-covered and overseen as I could imagine it being done.

[Well-covered and overseen?  Note the arrogance here promoting Joyner's mob. But regardless of their 'apostolic covering', this revival and this minister and his impartations are false and rotten at the very core. All their 'covering' is not going to change that, even if they were true and honest and men of God which they are not!  But seeing as Joyner's mob are false and rotten at the core too - a dominionist dishonest antichrist beast - they are happy.]

Great revivals, even in recent times, have been shut down by officials coming in to oversee and dictate policy who were not really in touch with the heart and spirit of the revival. This is always a dangerous thing for any movement or revival, but I think this one was divinely ordained and can enable what is happening in Lakeland to go to a new level. 

[this is not a great revival, nor was it divinely ordained in this sense. It was planned by man for years and has been hyped and hyped from the very start].

Personal Observations from Lakeland

I was only in Lakeland for a few hours and had to leave the meeting right after the ordination. I also try to keep in mind that “we see in part.” Even so, the following is a little more from a personal perspective about what is happening in Lakeland.

When I first heard about the outbreak in Lakeland, I felt that it was the beginning of something very significant and maybe the beginning of what we have been waiting for. When I first watched some of it on God-TV, I became even more excited. After being there for just a few minutes, I was even more so. This is a major impartation from God, and it will have significant consequences for what is about to unfold.

I wanted to go to the tent before many people did so I could get a feel for the place, but there were already thousands worshiping, praying, and fellowshipping there long before the meeting was to start. The place was charged with expectation. I saw many people I knew, and everyone I saw seemed more alive than the last time I’d seen them, even people from our own congregation at Heritage. I took a seat on the second row to kind of absorb the atmosphere. The quickening was so strong that I decided if nothing happened from the platform, it was well worth coming to just sit in that quickening atmosphere.

[note the repeated claims to 'feeling the atmosphere' as compared to testing the spirit by the word of God.

Regardless, even if it was God there among them in great power (which is was not) but even if it was, it still does not follow that the criticisms re Lakeland are still not valid, and it still does not make a false prophet a true prophet or a false apostle a true apostle, or the doctrine and impartation of demons the doctrine and impartation of the Spirit of God]

They came to get me to sit on the platform, and it was interesting how the anointing seemed different there. It was still good, but different.

[but the true anointing is the Spirit of God!  How can it then be different? Note again the emphasis on feelings and appearances]

Even so, I enjoyed seeing Todd and a number of other friends I had not seen in awhile. When Todd came over and put his arm around me, it was a hug, but I also felt that I kind of needed to hold him up. He is under the kind of anointing that does stagger you and actually makes you feel drunk, which is why they thought the disciples on the Day of Pentecost were drunk with wine.

[No, they did not think the disciples were drunk with wine on the day of pentecost because they staggered around. They thought they were drunk as they were noisy declaring the wonder of God in many tongues early in the morning]

Under this kind of anointing, I knew Todd might not be able to do some of the in-depth teaching and preaching he is capable of, but I don’t think that is really the purpose of Lakeland anyway.

[Todd capable of in-depth teaching and preaching?! We have yet to see that in ten years - but the Spirit of God is given to enable one to speak the word boldly and to lead into all truth. An 'anointing' that does not enable one to expound on the word of God is not from God!]

Probably the greatest revival in church history was The Welsh Revival of 1904 – 1906, and there was no significant message that came out of it other than God moving and awakening His church, which it did around the world.

[No significant message?!!!  But deep repentence and many TRUE salvations which affected Wales for years afterwards. Both these factors missing at Lakeland. Furthermore it should also be noted that some of the physical manifestations so delighted in at Lakeland and the focus of the Lakeland outpouring happened in Wales, but the leaders clearly thought these to be from the enemy - pp the book 'War on the Saints' by Jessie Penn Lewis]

The Azusa Street Revival was different—it was about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Even though the main theme of Lakeland seems to be the healing and miracles, I think it may actually be about something more, but more subtle.

[yeah, your promotion and dominion, Rick, and leading the church into great apostasy. It certainly aint about Jesus]

In studying Azusa Street and the writings that came out of the early leaders of the Pentecostal Movement, I occasionally happened upon a remarkable belief that many of them had. They were convinced that what they had received was the true baptism in the Holy Spirit, but many were still looking for another baptism to come—the baptism of fire. As is typical of this type of thing, even with the baptism in the Holy Spirit before it came, there was not much definition given to what they thought the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire would be like. Many were expecting another element (the fire aspect) of the baptism, but I never read where any thought that they had received this aspect.

[who cares what some of the early leaders of the pentecostal movement said as there was marked errors, apostasy and heresy and counterfeit spirits then. Shall we all join the Klu Klux Khan and have homosexual sex with young boys because Charles Parham did?  What matters is what the word of God says and the baptism of fire that Jesus spoke of is being used completely out of context by Joyner and is not related to a further empowerment of the church]

Of course, the theology of this is debatable,

[so why even mention it?]

but I have expected a baptism of fire to come upon the church that would so consume the Laodicean lukewarmness that the church would be radically transformed by it. I have prophesied it in a number of ways which has been sown throughout my writings and messages, mostly as a great passion for the Lord. I saw that this passion for Jesus would be so contagious that anyone who got close to it would be infected, and once infected could never be cured! It was a fiery love for the Son of God that would come upon the church so that she would truly do everything she needed to do to be a worthy bride prepared for the coming King. This fire would also make His messengers like flames of fire burning with passion for His gospel and His purposes.

[But Lakeland's fruit leads them to reject, despise and trample upon the word of God, as well as elevate lying false prophets and apostles, and rob the saints blind of their cash - so how can this be of the Spirit and reflect true passion for Jesus? As if you love Jesus you will love and obey His word. Joyner et al don't love and obey the word and contradict it. And more than that, they blaspheme and lead others to blaspheme. Some passion for Jesus!]

I know that Lakeland is mostly about healing and miracles, which are crucial aspects of the Lord’s ministry that are being reawakened in the church and imparted to many there. Even so, I felt fire when I was there. I am not yet saying this is it, but I think one thing that is being released there is at least a preparation for a coming baptism of fire upon the church.

[In one sense Joyner is right, but not in the twisted way he mentions it. Scriptural baptism of fire is the baptism of judgment. There is an end times delusion that is sent as a judgment as 'even the very elect' do not love the truth and exchange the truth for a lie - just as they do at Lakeland. The place where the false prophet and the beast will end up (the apostolic prophetic movement) is the lake of fire - that is their baptims of fire!]

We may not be able to give the true definition of this until it has come. At the very least, those who come to Lakeland with an open heart will leave with a renewed fire in their heart for the Lord.

[Which Lord, as if you have a passion for the Lord Jesus Christ, you do not tolerate blasphemy or apostasy, nor will you worship another Jesus of these apostle's making!]

The Lakeland Revival has already become a major infusion of zeal for the Lord that is impacting a large part of the church in a very positive way. For too many years, almost every Christian leader was saying “the Lord is about to do something.” Now almost everyone I talk to is saying “the Lord is doing something!” Where there has been hope, it has jumped into faith and expectation, and where the Lord finds this He will do wonders.

Todd has an amazing depth, maturity, and wisdom for his age, but he is still young.

[It is not mature to repeatedly lie, brag or boast or tell far fetched tales. Todd shows the maturity of a 12 year old boy, and an immature one at that - and his stories are shallow far fetched inventions. If Joyner is trying to say that the young age of 32 is an excuse to do the despicable things Todd has, or to falsely prophesy, it is not!]

He might say some things wrong occasionally and say or do things that are hard to understand. His tattoos are real hard for some people to take,

[no they are not. Their picture's content and the fact that he has got them years after conversion is cause for concern, and the fact that he has lied several times about when he got them!]

but those tattoos seem to be the very thing that have attracted many, especially the emerging generation, to him and his message.

[and also the reason people refuse to 'judge' him and make excuses in a kind of anti snobbery]

I have heard numerous reports of people who have become almost addicted to watching the revival on God-TV because they were channel surfing and were so captivated by Todd’s appearance when that they could not stop watching. Then they started listening. Now they are on fire for God.

[So being addicted and captivated by one man's appearance is supposed to be a good thing?!  Addiction or captivation by any one preacher is not a good thing, even if they are genuine servants of God]

Even those who would never get a tattoo at least view him as a genuine person with no facades.

[Ha ha ha ha! Rick, you cannot be serious. Even the unconverted can see Todd is a brazen liar who is far from genuine!]

My opinion of Todd for the years I have known him is that he is one of the most genuine people I have ever known, still untainted by religion, but one of the greatest lovers of God and His truth.

[One of the greatest lovers of truth and one of the most genuine people?! Oh please, Rick, how much did Todd or C Peter Wagner pay you to say that! What did Wagner promise you or threaten you with? If Todd loved truth, even a little, then he would not lie repeatedly and not contradict the word of God repeatedly.}

He is also deeply compassionate, and is greatly touched by people’s infirmities, which is always the foundation of a true healing ministry. Todd is the real thing, and he has many very real people around him who are true friends of God.

As stated, that does not mean Todd could never stumble or make mistakes.  He could just like any of us. I think Todd is a lot like the Peter, who would either walk on water or drown trying. He will press the limits, and like Peter, be used for some of the greatest breakthroughs, but at times need a severe rebuke.

{So Todd may need a sharp rebuke at some point in future? What would you rebuke him for, if everything else so far - the lying and blasphemy and false teaching and false prophecy is not enough for you to rebuke him, let alone sharply? If repeated lying and blasphemy and false teaching and false prophecy is only viewed as negligible tiny and small by your movement, then what is serious?!]

And err, Joyner, I thought you said any critics were ‘religious’ naysayers blah blah judgmental and all that – but who is to rebuke him, and by what criteria, if it is wrong to be judgmental and critical?]

People with that nature do make mistakes, but they are also the ones who do the greatest exploits, and it is obvious that the Lord really loves people like Peter. If Peter had not been there on the Day of Pentecost, there probably would not have been a harvest of three thousand souls, but maybe only twenty.

[But Todd is nothing like Peter. Peter though he got it wrong sometimes and could be impetuous was not an intentional greedy, manipulative liar and deciever]

Todd has been sent to offend the religious spirit and to be an offense to the complacent, and thank the Lord it is working.

[Ah! Here we go again, those who criticisie Todd because the evidence betrays him as not a man of God who should not be associated with in any shape or form are merely 'offended'. Yes blasphemy does offend me very much, as do Todd's arrogant boastful claims to the exclusive messianic promises and attempt to kick Jesus off the throne. But I am not complacent, and was not complacent before Lakeland started.

Note this claim about him being an offence is a frequent excuse used by the apostolic-prophetic movement for those who sense problems to leave behind your mind and not listen to those problems, not discern, and leave behind all critical thinking and just go with the flow. But if all critical thinking is to be lost, I ask again how can Todd be sharply rebuked?]

Todd came to Concord, North Carolina last week to do a one night meeting. The arena was packed to overflowing with eight thousand people, and reports were that there were as many turned away as who got in. There was gridlock on Hwy 49 for over six miles. When the police drove up and down the road, telling people to go home because no more could get into the arena, crowds poured out of their cars just to worship on the side of the road. That sounds like true revival to me.

[or hype. I tell you what, thousands throng to see Sai Baba. Is that true revival too?]

Usually your greatest strengths can also be your greatest weaknesses, and Todd is vulnerable. Everyone has blindsides, and though I appreciate Todd seeking covering from those he thinks can help him stay on track, no amount of human covering can keep us from making mistakes. It is also hard to be on stage every night for as long as he is and not occasionally say or do something wrong or foolish.

[Granted, everyone makes mistakes of some sort at times, but if Todd says huge whooping heresies in his speech it shows his true heart and mind and spiritual state as a true servant of God would not make these type of mistakes. If he claims the spirit commands him to pummel someone, then there is a major issue with his prophetic abilitty. Furthermore the bad and dangerous things that Todd says and does and prophesies are repeated often and even written on his site and long before Lakeland at that.  They are obviously not mistakes from tiredness as they have been said so often. The lies are frequent and premedited.

Furthermore, if Todd makes mistakes then he should publically confess them and retract them]

If Todd does something foolish, it will probably be in front of an international television audience.

[If? If?  Joyner you are really taking the mickey]

He has many critics that are waiting like packs of wolves to jump on anything they can.

[Todd has many critics because he is so dangerous and false.  If Todd really cared about truth, andif he really loved Jesus, he would listen to this criticism and instead of covering up the trail as he has done either confess it or sort it out.  The critics are not wolves and never have been as they do not savage the flock, rather they as good shepherds attempt to guard the flock from the wolves which are false prophets and teachers as scripture clearly indicates.

Also I ask Joyner yet again how they can criticise Todd and not be wolves, whereas others who criticise Todd are wolves = dual standards and hypocrisy].

The more that power is released, the more vicious these attacks will become.

{if the true power of God was being released at Lakeland and Todd was a true prophet, none of the people that I know would be blogging in a negative way about this or him.

Also, the criticism are not ‘attacks’ in the sense Joyner means it, let alone is it ‘vicious’.  Fair comment on false prophecy is fair game.  Truth is not vicious, or vicious attacks. Joyner is being slanderous about the critics in an attempt to undermine their character as he cannot udnermine their words.]

We really need to discern between the voice of the true shepherds and the voice of the accuser of the brethren, who will use any inroad he can to get brethren to accuse other brethren.

[here we go again, the critics who dare to say anything about Todd outside of Joyner's or the apostles sanction are of the devil!  Besides which asking Joyner to discern is a bit like asking a blind pathological liar what colour shirt you are wearing]

Historically, the most vicious of all attacks have come from threatened church leaders, especially the leaders of the previous move of God. This is a terrible tragedy that we really need to pray will get broken this time.  

[I wondered when this would come. Joyner is claiming that the critics are jealous! No, we are not. What are to be jealous of - an  immature, greedy apostate liar whose destiny is the lake of fire? Yeah, I am really jealous of that!

I do not feel threatened by Todd, just as I do not feel threatened by other heretics like Joseph Smith, the pope, though I will warn of him and his doctrine and the spirit behind him. How can light be afraid or threatened by darkness?]
   
The Breakout at Heritage

The Lord continues to move in a very powerful way at Heritage. Every night is different, but every time we have thought that we might be in a bit of a resting place, it seems to go up a level. We are experiencing remarkable acts of God every night. Usually it happens in the meetings, but often some of the greatest things still happen after the meetings, in the parking lot, or in almost any place at any time. This is really keeping us on our toes and is quickening people to be far more sensitive to the Lord.  

After school let out and our kids went off for the summer, we did not know if the Holy Spirit might leave with them, since they were the fire-starters and carried a lot of the fire. However, we can now say that the Holy Spirit stayed. It is a little different, and we look forward to the kids coming back to school, but the Lord is still moving powerfully. Even in the most laidback meetings it is still more intense than our best ones just a few months ago. We are also still experiencing significant miracles every night.

Many are stopping by to stay a day or two with us at Heritage on their way to or from Lakeland. Most of these are now carriers of the fire, so we are getting really blessed by them too. 

Even though we are having the greatest move of God we have ever had in many ways, we continue to hear from the Lord that what we are experiencing now is just the beginning, and it is not yet even the full birth of what is to come, which we are expecting this coming fall. That is why we have moved our Harvest and Worship & Warfare Conferences to September 18-24, and from what we have been shown, this will be a very important time. We would love for as many of you as possible to join with us. If you are planning to come, it would be a good idea to register as early as you can, especially if you want to stay in a room at Heritage.

To prepare for this next level that we have been shown is coming, we are calling for a 40-day consecration fast beginning this Sunday, June 29 through August 7. We were shown these 40 days that would end on August 8 in a dream, but since Todd Bentley is scheduled to be with us August 7, we decided to end the fast on that day, and prepare a feast on August 8.

We would appreciate any who want to join with us in this fast in any way that you feel led. There are many kinds of fasts—from a fast of nothing but water or juice, to fasting from desserts, television, or just about anything else. You might want to just take a day, or a few days during this time. We only ask that you do something to consecrate your heart to the Lord, and use the time to seek Him and pray for a true “Great Awakening” of the church. You can also sign up for this fast on our website so that we are praying for each other too. 

If you are still looking for a place to spend your vacation, or any part of it, we would love for to come visit us at Heritage. I also highly recommend that if you can, go to Lakeland. What is happening there is already making history, and it is still building. If you can’t go to Lakeland, pray for them. Many are experiencing an impartation, and many miracles are taking place with those watching it on God-TV, so if you can’t go, watch it on TV. Also, you can web-stream our meetings at Heritage, and we now have archives for our web-streamers so you can download the meetings at your time of convenience. 

These really are the times we have all be dreaming of. They are already better in some ways than we were expecting, but the promise is that they are yet to get even much better. There is just no end to the goodness of God. Regardless of whether you can make it to Lakeland, Heritage, or the other places that are now experiencing a breakthrough, you can meet with Him right where you are. Let us not be like the cripple who was sitting by the healing pool, waiting for someone to come stir the waters, when the King Himself was standing right next to him!”

All Todd Bentley and Lakeland articles here