Lakeland Outpouring - My Experience

Controversy is always  at the center of any change or transformation.

Wherever  controversy exists - there is always the true mixed with the false; the traditional being challenged with the non-traditional; orthodox patterns being replaced with unorthodox; the common routine worship activities give way to new less acceptable forms or styles; and the ancient combined with the future. The ministry at the Lakeland Outpouring under the direction of Rev. Todd Bentley is controversial. Just point your favorite search engine toward Lakeland Florida and Freshfire Ministry. You will have plenty of information to sort through.

So what is the controversy?

To start with is some of the teaching which speaks of angelic activity involved in establishing the direction of the ministry along with being involved in the acts of healing;  worship which can assault the senses in which it is diff cult to determine what is the activity of man verses the move of the Holy Spirit; extreme faith provoking actions by Todd afflicted on others who come forward for healing prayer in obedience to the Holy Spirit; along with occasional experiential teaching lacking theological substance are to name a few issues.

Just the place my wife and I want to be!

The birthing of what might be the next move of God not only in America but in the world. Thanks to God TV this outpouring has attracted and influenced the Christian Body in over 240 Nations. (By the way, where is TBN??) One of the nights we attended (July 7&8, 2008)    over 3000 International Christians were in attendance. Excitement and anticipation filled the arena as people (including my wife) started lining up hours before the doors opened to the main portion of the auditorium. Even the downpour during a thunderstorm did not deter (including my wife but I had different thoughts) the crowds from attending.

The meeting started right on time. For all you old timers the meeting had the feel of the early Jesus 76, 77 rallies out in the cornfields of Mercer, Pennsylvania. The difference being the lack of uniformity in the people. Early Jesus rallies had the left overs from the hippie generation. We all looked and dressed alike. Here in Lakeland there is an international crowd, young and old, all seeking after the presence of God. The diversity is refreshing  .

The Worship service can best be described as high energy and contemporary.

It is a blend of songs birthed in the revival along with the choruses well known throughout the Body of Christ. Roy Fields  did an amazing job at leading the people into the presence of God. It was dynamic and spontaneous. The scripting of the service did not interfere with what the Spirit of God's leading. After an 1 1/2 hours of praise and worship, people were open and ready to hear and obey whatever the Lord has to say through the preaching of the Word. Todd Bentley was the speaker. His message was clear and direct. He used multiple examples throughout his life of how the gift of faith operated in ministry. It is this demonstration of the gift of faith that has drawn so much criticism from others. It challenges the traditional and rational aspects of our faith. God moving in a new way from the litergy the charismatic and pentecostals have documented in their manuals of acceptable demonstrations of the Spirit.

Yet I can understand the criticism.

If you attended the July 8 meeting alone one would have an entirely different opinion concerning the outpouring. The Worship Leader was a young lady (I am not sure of her name right now) with alot of zeal (not sure there was much knowledge with that zeal though). Her music was LOUD and Repetitive, did I say LOUD and Repetitive.  Her portion of the service lasted 2 hours. For over 25 minutes she sang the same phrase over and over as she ran from one side of the stage to the other dancing with arms flailing and jumps in all directions (she really should make an aerobic DVD for Christians). Not my style of worship. (Although if you asked my 19 year old daughter, she may have an entirely different opinion.)

The speaker for the night was inexperienced and at times was uncertain in his thoughts. He spoke more of Todd Bentley ministry along with the activity of the Winds of Change Angel impressing his own life then of Christ. His message practically had no scriptural content. Very disappointing! The basis of his message was based upon his experiences with angels and his pursuit of the supernatural. (yet he was sincere)

The night ended in ministry. Benny Hinn style - people who were touched from God were brought up from either side of the platform after they passed through ministry screeners. Although no creative miracles occured, we were glad to be there. Over 7-10 people gave there heart to the Lord Jesus. To close the service all the pastor's were invited to the front to have a prayer of impartation of the Holy Spirit to take the passion they experienced back to their churches and countries.

JULY 9, 2008

Well we just returned from the meeting this evening. Again the meeting was very different than the other two nights. It was announced tonight by the  Apostolic Leadership overseeing the Freshfire Ministry that Todd was taking several days off to get some well deserved R&R. The same worship leader started the service. Thank goodness someone must have spoke with her concerning last nights craziness. Tonight she was more appropiate and rather drive people into an emotional frenzie,  she led people into worshipful experience. It must be a Lakeland Outpouring phenomenon - to sing a chorus over and over for 30 to 40 minutes and then go do the same thing with the next song. The emotionalism of the previous night was replaced by a sincere expression of passion after the presence of God.

The ministry was done by Craig Hinsley. He declared that tonight was a transition night for the revival. He planted some initial seeds concerning the Kingdom of God. He felt that the Florida meetings were the forerunner which would ignite a reformation in the church in general. This reformation was to be expressed by having Christians from every walk of life become a demonstration of the Kingdom of God through the action of love. He ended the service by having everyone who wanted an impartation of the Spirit come forward for prayer.

Even though the three nights have been different - the common denominator is the presence of God.

Pastor's should re-evaluate there ministry - there is a  generation of people  who will not rest until the passion for His presnece it satisfied.

If this revival is to be sustained in Lakeland, it will require the establishment of Biblically patterned leadership - the Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher, and Evangelist to be identified and commisioned to working together in unity.

Lakeland Revival Forerunner

Over the past several weeks I have been watching the Lakeland Florida Revival on God TV. The other night was historical in the making. Revivalist Todd Bentley was recognized and anointed for ministry in signs and wonders to an even greater dimension by a group of men and women who have International Apostolic or Prophetic Ministries. It included Rick Joyner, John Arnot, Che Ahn, Stacey and Wesley Campbell, Carl Strader, Steve Strader, Peter Wagner, Bill Johnson along with several other leaders from Australia and Europe. You can watch the service on You Tube -

The night was historic in the sense Apostles and Prophets are coming together in one voice to recognize and acknowledge a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a Holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." Eph 2:19-22

Todd Bentley recognized the historical significance of the event by stating,

"I am no church historian, but I do not know of any other time in history, since the book of Acts, have so many different apostles and so many different prophets and movements and leaders [been represented],” Bentley said of the capacity crowd. “This is so much bigger than [anything else] ever before. The devil is shaking in his boots because the apostles are gathering and the prophets are gathering."

As of this writing, over 215 nations have been represented at the revival. Of the 9000 individuals who attend the nightly meetings, include both the seekers and slanderers. The Internet has plenty of dissenting voices concerning this revival. The Book of Acts is clear in teaching that when the Word of God is preached with signs and wonders following - you will either bring revival or you will be reviled. Acts 17:1-7

What has caused individual Christians from all over the globe sacrifice their time and money to attend the meetings in Lakeland? Although Todd is entertaining - he is fair to mediocre preacher. His theology is controversial. His ministry program is simple and straight forward. He has no pentecostal pedigree. He has had no formal training in a recognized seminary. Is he pre-trib or post-trib? His past is somewhat shaded. And what about all those tattoo's? I bet he even has some piercings.

So what is the attraction???

Again we can turn to the Book of Acts -

"Now as they [Sanhedrin - the faithful religious of the day] observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them - AS HAVING BEEN WITH JESUS" [emphasis mine] The next verses is more revealing, "And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply." Acts 4:13,14

Todd's ministry is producing amazement - He has been with Jesus. God's presence is the secret to his success. People no longer want pretense or just program on Sunday mornings. There is a heart cry that is coming from the Body of Christ throughout the world. The same cry that captured the heart of Moses. From the day Moses went up to the mountain (Exodus 19:15,16) and the Lord's Presence along with His Glory appeared like a consuming fire - his heart and nature were forever transformed. The very definition of reality was no longer limited by time and space. Moses by faith and obedience brought New Covenant realities into Old Covenant constraints. He was no longer synchronized with the thinking patterns of his generation. He was now synchronized to see the unseen impossibilities of God's Glory become demonstrated to the Hebrew people by the miraculous action of His presence. [Exodus 33 and 34]

In every move of God there are forerunners.

Todd Bentley is a forerunner. These are the individuals who forsake all after being touched by the tangible essence of God's presence. They live out-of sync with the rest of the world. Instead of being followers, they become leaders. Their voices challenge the main stream status quo thinking of the church. They disrupt the customs and manners or liturgy established by the last move of God.

Just look back at the birth of the Charismatic Movement. Traditional Pentecostal Churches initially rejected the leadership and their teachings. Churches throughout the country were divided and eventually split. Wounded Christians were everywhere. Traditional church leaders easily accused the movement as false and misleading due to the conflict it produced in the Body of Christ. Yet today, as we look back, it is easy to see it was a legitimate move of God. Sometimes we act and think God has exhausted His creativity or is limited to the preferences established by the last move. How wrong we can be.

The Lakeland revival is producing some of the same conflicts. Many times this can re-open old wounds that have healed with time from the last move of God we went through. God's presence is not static but dynamic in its expression. It is a progressive revelation of His infinite Nature. Last years program models will not reach next years generational children.

Do not disqualify the forerunner because he is challenging your paradigms. The forerunner may be the very voice of God which if heard through spiritual ears, may position your ministry or life to be one of the next generals working the harvest. For last year general's, the forerunner needs the father's to speak loud and clear. So the mistakes made during the last move of God do not spoil the fruits of present outpouring.

So what is the attraction?

It is God's presence and manifest glory. "Then Moses said, I pray you, show me your glory!" [Exodus 33:18] People are seeking for God's presence to be in and manifested in their lives. After 10 years of the seeker sensitive approach to church growth and ministry, God is again on the move. This in no means discredits the seeker sensitive movement. It just demonstrates that being seeker sensitive is not an end in itself. It is part of the whole nature of God. Do not build your mansion there. Just learn to camp and pick up when the cloud of glory begins to move.

His desire is for intimacy.

Christians need to be re-introduced to His presence to have a passion for Christ. Without His presence penetrating and coloring the fabric of our lives, our passion becomes centered on the peripherals or most recent program. Instead of going from glory-to -glory, we go from program-to-program or Sunday-to-Sunday limping by the disabilities of our own limitations.

Starting from today - take time to be with Jesus and be in His presence. Let the Spirit of God invade the mundane and common expression of your life. The heart cry of every man and woman can only be fulfilled when we enter His presence. Intimacy with God the Father starts in the secret place of stillness carved out in the mundane. It is usually the most overlooked or undervalued treasure in Christian living. For in intimacy one learns of the covenant promises which form the foundation of miraculous living.

If you are struggling with the events that are occurring in Lakeland do not rush to judgment. God always enters the human stage by the unexpected. For the reasons you disqualify Todd Bentley's ministry may be the very reasons God has chosen him.

Do Not Rush to Judgement 

“God always shows up in the most God-forsaken places.” -Alan Roxburgh

Maybe that is why God chose Todd Bentley to be the forerunner. His life had not been tainted or influenced by a well-meaning but powerless church without intimacy in His presence. Churchanity's culture of uniformity to the status quo was not his benchmark for measuring success. He was one of the God-forsaken places. Todd's present ministry gives me hope that Lord will once again show up and impart His Presence and Glory in God-forsaken places and structures the world has abandoned.

Dr Mike Pelechaty

Update on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 09:02AM by M.J. Pelechaty

See what Chuck Pierce is saying about the Lakeland Outpouring --

Destiny Calls

The Call of Destiny

In each of our lives, in each season of our life, there is a call to destiny. At times its imperceptible. At other times the burden of the call is overwhelming. Has anyone ever asked you, "What's your call in life?" How do you answer that question? If your like most of us, the answer will always be framed in adjectives that describe what activity that defines or consumes most of your day. Answers range from "I am a carpenter," or "I build widgets for my company," and it could even be, "I am the Senior Vice President of my Company in charge of Plant Operations." Each of these answers have one common denominator - they are worded to proclaim our significance to each other. The subtitles in all these responses is to tell someone else why we are important.

This question was asked by Jesus to His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"  The disciples answered by saying that He was either John the Baptist or Elijah the Prophet. It was not the answer Jesus was waiting for from His disciples. So He asked the question a second time but rather than being rhetorical, He posed the question to Peter. This time Peter responded, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

Peter's answer to the question was different from the other disciples. Instead of defining Jesus'  ministry significance  by what He what did, he defined Jesus' by who He was and not what He did. What a frame shift. A unique perspective from His disciple. One that has tremendous implications.

I often come into contact with ministers and physicians throughout my day. I have found one thing in common with both occupations - they define themselves by what they do rather than who they are. Their response are, "I am the Senior Minister in charge of Evangelism at local church USA," or "I am a Doctor of Medicine at local hospital USA."

The basic problem with their response is the lack of understanding purpose. Purpose is destiny's call upon your life. So when you retire from what you do, you know who you are. Too often retirement results in an individual having a purposeless life. You ask, "Now what do I do?" The cycle continues.

The question I would ask is,"Who are you?"

 What is your destiny? Or what is your purpose? For the Christian faith that is an easy question. Your purpose is more than what you do. Your purpose is universal. Colossians 3:3 states, "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Your purpose is defined by who you are in Christ. Your calling in life is not to an occupation, activity, or location. It is to a person - to the Lord Jesus Himself.

The question I would ask is, "Who are you in Christ?" 

Let's look at one more passage - Genesis 4:14 "“Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”  After Cain murdered Abel, he realized the loss of his purpose, "and from your face I will be hidden." He understood purpose. His definition of who he is was defined by his relationship with God. His loss of relationship with Jehovah resulted in becoming a wanderer on the face of the earth. A wanderer has lost his purpose and significance. Their activity is random. Wanderers have lost their way or definition. They are willing to accept any convenient identity that might pay the bills. A wanderer doesn't know where he is going, where he came from, and doesn't care what he does for there is no directive purpose prioritizing life's decisions.

How have you defined your purpose? Is it in your projected career path? What will happen to your purpose if you would loose or were unable to perform in your chosen career? For most of us that is at retirement. In that season of your life destiny's call is -

"Who are you in Christ?"