“But GOD…”

That’s one of the operative phrases/”Words from the Lord” for today.  In the midst of the…

• Financial crisis: the loss of investments, jobs, security
• Political confusion
• Personal & Family issues & challenges

Causing great fear, anxiety, uncetainty, strife, desperation…

“But GOD…”

Every time we discuss dire circumstances with anyone, we need to conclude our conversation with that phrase: “But GOD…”.  We do so to acknowledge that we understand that GOD is still in control; and that HE is the only One who can get us out the mess we’re in , turning things around “to work for Good” - His & ours, “because we love Him and are called according to His Purpose”.

Be abundantly blessed.  “But GOD…”!

Grace/Works

“Grace and earning are opposites, but grace and effort are not opposites. 

“When Paul tells us in Philippians 2:12 to ‘…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…,’ it is not an encouragement to return to legalism.  He follows by saying, ‘…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.’  You cannot “work out” a salvation that is not already yours.  It is not a matter of trying to earn the love and approval of God, but of experiencing more and more the presence and power of the Kingdom of God that is within you.  It is not a matter of trying to earn your salvation, but of working out a salvation that comes to us through grace, drawing from the ongoing power of grace to release in us the experience of that salvation.

“In other letters Paul emphasizes that the working out of this salvation requires some very intentional choices.  In Romans 6:13b he says, ‘…present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead and your members as instruments of God.’  In Colossians 3:10 he instructs us to ‘…put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.’  In Ephesians 4:24 he again speaks of putting on the new man:  ‘…put on the new man which is created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.’  This presenting of ourselves, this putting on of the new man are intentional choices to live in agreement with who we are in Christ, intentional choices without which we will not see the ‘working out’ of our salvation. 

–James L. Miller, friend & ministry associate, founder of Malachi Ministries Int’l, teaching & training christian pastors worldwide.

God TV & Todd Bentley

The instruction that came with this email was to consider this with an open mind.  My response follows this message.

 

Beloved GOD TV viewer,

 

In the light of many statements having been released about the LAKELAND OUTPOURING and concerning Todd Bentley’s marital situation, we sensed that the Lord has released us to write concerning this situation, so that you, our viewers would know our heart concerning this matter.

 

The first thing we feel led to do is to state unequivocally that in the same manner as the Lord instructed us to broadcast and serve TheCall gatherings with Lou Engle; to broadcast what was happening at the International House of Prayer with Mike Bickle; Rick Joyner and MorningStar; the Solemn assembly in San Francisco; BattleCry and Teen Mania with Ron Luce; Focus on the Family’s prayer event for America; the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem; and hundreds of other anointed events over the past three years, we believe that the Lord instructed us to broadcast the Outpouring services at Lakeland with Todd Bentley.

 

It was not a mistake.  It was not by mistake.  We believe it was a clear instruction from the Lord.

 

Over the past twelve years, but especially since our launch in America, we have in obedience to the Lord searched through the earth for those events and anointings that the Lord has laid on our hearts – to amplify their message and anointing to the Body of Christ in this crucial endtime hour that we live in.

 

The Lakeland Outpouring with Todd Bentley was one of those events. We received over 45 000 e-mails many, many of these heart rending, powerful testimonies from viewers across the earth of their bodies or their families bodies healed, their lives transformed and their hearts revived.  None of us have ever seen such significant fruit in all the years of broadcast.

 

Far more profound than that were the desperate cries for help. I (Wendy), would go through the live inbox and see the desperate cries from mothers, wives, sons and daughters, so many with TERMINALLY ILL husbands, wives, children, sometimes babies in arms – sensing HOPE in their situation that for so long had been without hope.  Just reading these prayer requests would bring one to tears - we are often so cloistered from the agony of people’s day by day real life agonies - and their agonies were written there.

So much so - that we both sensed that would need the word of the Lord under the fear of God to stop these broadcasts with the life changing impact they were having in homes not only in the UK and America but all across the world.  And the Glory of the Living God that was being imparted.

 

We both kept a very close pulse on the revival since the start of its broadcast - we had first hand knowledge of the enormous criticism, persecution and reviling that Todd Bentley was receiving (often we were second contenders for it) but it was Todd Bentley and the Fresh Fire team who received the terrible weight of this.

Todd ministered each day as the revival continued but was consistently and unrelentingly criticized, maligned, persecuted - the attacks grew increasingly violent - and the heartbreaking thing was that so much of it came from the Church.

 

At the same time, Todd was facing a second wave of attack. This was from the covens, the warlocks - we heard firsthand concerning some of these assignments. The enemy had heard of the great honoring of the Lamb and was determined to destroy it - BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE AND AT ANY COST.  And the cost was Todd Bentley.

 

Was it because Todd was vulnerable and certain areas of his life were not surrendered wholly? Yes – like so many of us - in all probability.  Was it because the character of Christ was not yet formed in him in the equivalent measure to his gifting? Yes - like so many of us - in all probability.  Could it be the case that there by the grace of God go YOU AND I… Yes - In all probability.

Some of the areas in our lives are watertight and have been honed and refined and polished by the Lord while still other areas in our lives are often still in desperate need of attention.  We are an ongoing work and we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  Well - all ministers who preach should ensure their lives are in order, you may be saying.  Yes - we and our board and our minister peers across the globe agree wholeheartedly.  And yet, beloved - unfortunately, THERE ARE TIMES when satan comes unawares and targets a vulnerable area whose weaknesses only become apparent under the most enormous and unrelenting pressure brought to bear.

 

We believe, and of course this is just our personal opinion, that the revival stirred up the satanic realms in a manner that has rarely been seen and with a violent wrath.  It is difficult to understand the degree of spiritual battle that comes against a leader. We have learned we need to protect the move of God with greater prayer for leaders, including ourselves. The body of Christ is growing in greater transparency and accountability, and this too should be a subject of prayer.

 

Should all of us wait till we are as perfect and as watertight as can be and mature in every area - that of course, would be the safest course of action, but the truth is that most of us would be 90 years old!

The Lord who made us and knows that we are as dust and yet looks on us with His great mercies and compassions knows this and He, the sovereign God of heaven and earth, still chooses to take a GOD-risk on you and I every day of our lives.

 

Oh that even under the most intense pressure that we would choose HIM.  That we would love HIM.  That in times of intense duress and temptation that we would follow HIM.  And let it be so - even more in all our lives, but beloved - let us not forget so many of those who walk in ministry across the earth today with such COURAGE and FERVOR and lay their lives down for HIS CAUSE at great cost to themselves - Todd and Shonnah sowed their lives to sow the seeds of revival and we believe became a supreme target of the enemy.

 

On the June 23rd, Todd actually spoke openly and with great vulnerability of his and Shonnah’s previous marriage challenges and how they had faced those challenges and the Lord had begun His work. He did not try to hide their struggle but shared their ongoing journey.  As Rick Joyner so wisely put it –

 

“In marriage, I have learned there are those who admit they have been through times when they wondered if their marriage would make it, and then there are liars. Relationships are hard, and the closer they are, the harder they can be. I tell everyone that I give premarital counseling to that the Lord has ordained their marriage in order to kill both of them! That is true. It is also worth it! The greatest gift He gave to man was marriage and family. However, to have a marriage that is good, both will have to die to themselves. If either one does not make the commitment to lay down their life for their mate and their family, then what was meant to be heaven can be hell.”

 

It is an ongoing walk - and we all are ongoing works. But the Lord said something to us some years ago - He said - When you hate sin because it HURTS ME - then it will lose its grip on you. When you hate sin because it displeases ME - its hold diminishes.

 

The Lord also shared with us that someone can be deceived in an AREA of sin but it does not necessarily mean that in every area of his or her life or ministry, they were walking in deception as some critics of the revival may lean to believe.  And who is to judge that the Lord does not hold the violent unleashing of criticism and faultfinding and tearing down and divisiveness of the heresy hunters, as severe a sin as separation in a marriage?  We will find out before the judgment seat in eternity.

 

One of our greatest grievings has been to see how many in the church backtracked to protect their own reputations. We have been truly refreshed by several close ministry friends with their uncompromising love of truth and lack of a man pleasing spirit that has arisen in the church in the light of the Lakeland aftermath. They have given us fresh courage when we grew weary.

 

So beloved friend, do we at GOD TV refute the Outpouring?  NO.  We are presently planning to broadcast other offshoots of Lakeland in both the United Kingdom and America, including revival meetings in Dudley, England.  We have determined in our hearts to follow the Lord with all our might as courageously and as boldly as we can, to reject the pressures to bow to a man pleasing spirit but instead to humble ourselves under the Fathers leading.  For HE is our all in all.   He is our great desire.

 

Finally, dear friends, while we defend and rejoice in the many ten thousands that God lifted and healed, we also know that there were dear souls, sheep, who were scattered as a result of Todd’s personal choices. The Bible says that “hope deferred makes the heart sick” and this is the last thing GODTV would want to see happen. We are praying for any that stumbled and believing that the Lord will restore them to Himself.

Remember: this was never about Todd Bentley. It was always about the Holy Spirit and the fact that God loved you and I. It was GOD who touched our lives.

 

One thing, we felt impressed upon our hearts thirteen years ago when we first launched this ministry. That the Father will allow none of us - whether in ministry or as a viewer to hold idolatry in our hearts for any man.

For the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit alone are to receive our worship.

 

We continue on the road to maturity.
We continue our efforts to serve an end time spiritual army.

We continue to try each day to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of the ONLY one who is worthy of ALL adoration…of ALL HONOUR…of ALL WORSHIP.

 

Remember also, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Let’s turn our eyes toward Him and away from our trust in man.  He who sent His only begotten Son…the Great Father of Compassions…to Him alone we bow.  Personally we believe that the best is yet to come.

 

For our King and His Kingdom,

Rory and Wendy Alec

 

 

Thanks.  I did attempt to read this with an unbiased mind.  Regrettably, despite all their efforts to set the record straight, not once did they reference the erroneous doctrinal planks in the foundation of Todd’s ministry…which in my opinion had as much (or more) to do with his downfall than the spiritual attacks because of the ministry being so effective for God.

 

My conviction is that when a believer lives in error &/or disobedience, they step outside the protective covering of the Grace of God, & right into enemy territory where he can be picked off like a sitting duck.  Unfortunately they are not only in denial of all this; but they also are willfully stepping out into the same dangerous arena by making a bold, in-your-face, & egregious decision to continue disseminating this tainted ministry for more believers to be poisoned & perish.   

 

God have mercy on them.  My sincere hope & prayer is that they will see the error of their ways, repent & recant.  Otherwise, I cannot conscientiously pray for their protection & blessings since they are walking in disobedience to scripture. 

 

Let me re-iterate here what the Lord spoke so strongly to me three years ago: “We must Implicitly Obey Absolute Truth without Rationalization…for rationalization leads to Deception.”  2Thess. 2:10-11.  First we must “Fear God”.  Then we must “Love the Truth”.  Then we must “Implicitly Obey the Truth…”.  If these conditions are not met, we stand vulnerable to all forms of deception & error.

 

A testament to this is Higher Dimensions church of Tulsa OK.  When we lived there, & our son was a student at ORU & running their sound system, it was a huge church.  I heard today on the radio that at one time it had 6,000 members.  I also heard that they have now shut their doors because so few people have been attending.  Why?  Because their pastor, Carlton Pearson got into the error of ‘Universalism’.  It wasn’t the attacks of the enemy that shut down the ministry.  It was that he willfully stepped into enemy territory & got devoured…and because enough God-Fearing believers Loved the Truth, decided to Implicitly Obey the Truth, and left to be pastored by someone who would stand for, and preach the Truth!.

 

And that’s my opinion!  (…and personal convicton)

 

Mike