"I will ascend above the heights of the clouds"

In a previous post, I spoke about the "anointing" and blatant sin. Lest any should think that perhaps I stepped over the line in illustrating this with a contemporary example, I would like to comment further.

The topic at hand certainly is someting to think about. The question not only brings up the anointing issue, but also questions about church discipline. Situations involving what some would call "wandering stars" are not easy because of the constant shopping for those he/she will be acountable to (Haggard, Cain, Traut, et al).

I wonder if Todd Bentley will eventually make it to Fort Mills for his "restoration" process with Rick Joyner. As an aside, Joyner has recently proclaimed that 2008 was the beginning if the "last-days church" era, an event that was kicked off by Todd Bentley on 08/08/08 (ohhh- spooky numbers!) at Heritage, with Joyner having at least partial knowledge that something was seriously wrong.

On 8/8/08, we had a gathering (with Todd Bentley) to celebrate this new beginning. It was an outdoor event on the grounds at Heritage and it drew thousands.
-Rick Joyner

Based on the reopening of the Bentley facebook/myspace pages, along with the ramping up of an online store featuring his book published in December I'd guess he is no more serious about setting the ministry aside than he is about leaving his current girfriend. At what point is he considered unrepentant? And if he continues in his public ministry should people be warned?

From an academic standpoint these issues are worth consideration- because they will happen again. Although Jimmy Swaggart or more recently Ted Haggard are good case studies, the Lakeland "revival" with Todd Bentley is certainly the most documented - thousands of hours of video and over 300 published "teachings."

Of particular interest is the question "can you be in blatant sin and function in the anointing?" My purpose of citing those Lakeland videos featuring Todd and Jessa is to illustrate that problem in a very real way. To my way of thinking, the root problem was arrogance. Having your girlfriend at your side while ministering seems to rate pretty high in that category.

Again, contrast the baptismal service seen in those videos with those hour-long videos of baptisims in the early days of Brownsville. Much of what you will see is to be expected- Brownsville was a revival of repentance, Lakeland was a "revival" of "kingly anointing."

Both had interesting physical manifestations. Those are not the issue. Without judging the motives of any who were baptised at Lakeland, I think we can safely say that generally most who "testified" at Lakeland stated that they were getting baptised to launch THEIR ministry, or to receive more power or something like that.

At Brownsville, there was a real humble attitude of repentance. And the general explanation of "why?" typically had something to do with obediance to the Word.

Based on this simple observation, I would have to say that there was an anointing at the Lakeland service, but it was an anti-anointing. What else could one expect?

As a side note, July 4 was about the time that things really started to fall apart at Lakeland. Cause and effect.

Another thing relating to arrogance is the alcohol use. I understand there are different takes on the alcohol issue. Although a tee-totaller by choice, I certainly believe that Jesus turned the water into alcoholic wine at Cana, not just really good grape juice, based on the "save the best for last" observation.

While at Lakeland, Bentley was ministering under the leadership of an A/G pastor. With the well-known tee-totalling stance of the A/G, I would guess that it might be somewhat disrespectful to indulge excessively - in public - while in that situation - ministering under an A/G "covering." I also have real trouble understanding those with Bentley who knew of his excessive drinking and "inappropriate relationships" with staff members of the "opposite sex" while at Lakeland, and I wonder how much Steven Strader knew or sensed. Somebody should have confronted or spoken out earlier.

As with the girfriend issue, the alcohol issue seems to be overshadowed by the arrogance problem. This was illustrated by the false prophecies given while taking up the offerings, and in so many other ways. Theologically, I think the Manifested Sons of God doctrine is the most arrogant heresy ever, well at least equal to Lucifer and his "I will" proclaimations (Isaiah 14) - and significantly enough that (MSoG doctrine) is what Todd Bentley preached on 08/08/08 at Fort Mills.

In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.
Freshfire website, August 15, 2008

And it is this arrogance that seems to continue today- while saying he will receive counsel, continuing in sin (Freshfire website finally calls it adultery) and blatantly refusing to step down from "all public ministry" at least for a season.

Is there room for a voice that will speak out against such, or do we continue in silence, hoping things will sort themselves out? Both are legitimate arguments- what do you think?

Gross Sin and the "anointing"

A while back (August) a friend of mine did a radio show entitled "God's Anointing and Blatant Sin" where he asked the question if you could function in "the anointing" while involved in blatent sin.

This is a video of Todd Bentley and his girlfriend Jessa (holding the microphone) at the July 4 Lakeland “baptisim” festival.



The video evidence suggests, as I see it, that NO, you cannot function in the anointing while living in blatent sin such as John Arnott described in Bentley's case.. It also suggests that the manifestations / anointing shown in these videos was a false anointing or an "anti-anointing." If one believes in defilement (by the laying of hands on suddenly) that it might be reasonable to suggest that those folks get rebaptised.

One of the evidences of "the anointing" in the charismatic realm is demonstrated through "manifesting" (in the bible it was often a sign of demon possession). You can see Jessa “manifest” in Part 2 of the baptism video at about 4:20.



Bentley, in defiance of his so-called restoration process, has opened up shop once again, hanging out the myspace shingle in mid December 2008.

Well, I’m sort of sorry to bring this all up. It reflects the sorry state of the so-called apostolic/prophetic church, and in spite of Peter Wagner’s promises, its inability to deal with arrogance.

Be certain of this - the affair was simply a "manifestation" of a far bigger problem. A problem which extends to the many leaders and co-workers who helped to cover the whole thing up.

Now, watch this video by David Wilkerson and I’m sure you will feel much better.



That, my friend, is the anointing.