Florida Healing Outpouring with Todd Bentley: 3

Tonight, 5-29-08, I was back in the Xtreme Encounters Overflow Room watching Todd Bentley do his thing. He was having faith for canceled surgeries. I fully believe that Todd heard this from the Lord, but it will also lead to some very real documented healings. There where a few canes given to him, a brace and lots of people saying “I couldn’t do this, and now I can” moments, but there seemed to be a focus on things to come. This should make the next few days very interesting.
Something that was really wonderful to watch was Todd blessing pastors. This was not the normal “take the fire home” kind of blessings, as these happen every night, this was a call to those who were about to through in the towel. These were pastors who where ready to close shop, give up the ministry, do to illness in their lives. These were pastors who need a miracle.
Todd’s desire to contend for these leaders was amazing. He prayed harder than I have seen him pray in at least a week. Just listening to him, I could tell that he had a desire to see these people restored. There was no pride in “look what God just did in Lakeland,” there was only a plea for the Kingdom not to loss these faithful leaders. This attitude just flows from Todd Bentley and is always refreshing to see.
Something happened during the night that surprised me, though. He began to give his testimony, again, when he went to part that I had never heard before. He said what he first asked of God was His presence and that everything else he does in ministry flows from this. Todd has regularly stated that he spends 4 hours a day, in the presence of the Lord, preparing for each night’s meeting. So it should not surprise anyone, including me, that he has said this, but what surprised me was this was the first thing he asked for.
I know there are several people out there who are asking for other’s mantels. I have been around a few as they did this, but I wonder how many of them are seeking the Holy Presence and letting everything flow out of it? I have been near people who are “contending” for a city, or for revival, or even for a healing ministry. Should we though?
Why do we ask for A.A. Allen’s and Finney’s mantels, to be able to touch the world like C.S. Lewis, or even for those gifts the living have; like that of Joan McFatten, Benny Hinn or Todd Bentley. I don’t think it is wrong to seek these and I even believe God gives them out, but I wonder how many people seeking them have much of the Presence in their lives. I know I have to little of it (Outside of meetings, where Holy Spirit always seems to show up, either in an XE meeting or watching God TV) to begin to think I could carry such a gift. I know some people who are asking are walking in a place of continual presence, I bless them and their request; but, I think, there are some who need to put first things first and pursue the Presence of the Lord.
I appreciate the fact that Todd said this, because it is a confirmation that I am on the “right track” with decisions that I have made. The biggest is devoting more time to my relationship with God, and less time to God TV. The second is not being stressed about if the signs are following, because I know that as I get more Jesus, there will be a steady increase in the wonders around me. The last thing is, I am not ready for a mantel (any mantel) and thus need to seek more of the Lord.

We Have Soaked,” Now What?” : 2

My last blog asked, “Now what?” The short answer we came to is we most go out. There is no hope of revival in a small group unless we draw people in. There is no hope of a “new evangelistic wave” if we do not reach the lost. There is a difference in the two, but both will only come to Xtreme Encounters with us going out.
How should we do this? Well the number one thing is make sure we bring the glory with us. The “open heaven” over Lakeland is producing the large number of salvations everyday. How can we produce similar results in Albuquerque? Worship seems to be a huge key. I have proposed that corporate worship is a key, but that personal worship is a bigger key.
We will go out in groups to witness, but we must also be bold and do it one on one. We must step out of our box and talk to our cashier or the lady needing help reaching something up top. We must talk to the young couple eating dinner next to us in the dinner. Or, as I have started to do, make ourselves available in place where people come often. But, none of this will do any good, if the glory doesn’t go with us.
Feeling that worship is a key to this, I have rededicated myself to my personal worship. I have begun to contend for the ABQ Outpouring by spending 2 hours a day on my face before the Lord. I am continuing to walk the local park, praying and laying the ground work there for an open heaven. I continue to receive form Todd Bentley and the Florida Outpouring.
I am able to devote a lot of time to doing these things, because I have not yet been blessed with a job. Even without a job, I still have several obligations. I take care of my son, it is taking him to and from school (and all day, now that summer break has started). I keep house, and I have been helping some of the regulars at Xtreme Encounters work through some things. With these things and a nightly 4 hours of glory has resulted in my devotional time falling short. My personal study has lacked.
As I looked at this, I began to think about my wife. She has a Monday – Friday 8-5 job (which makes my life style possible). I began to worry about her spiritual life. My wonderful wife has a call to lead worship. She has been trained as a pianist and has a wonderful voice. She was just beginning to really reach into that call when God TV began their nightly broadcast. Then life went on hold. We watched for three weeks without one night off.
We need to connect with what is happening in Lakeland. I am grateful to God TV for the broadcast (and have sowed into them every chance I get… please, if you are blessed through God TV give to them, if you are blessed through a web cast, bless them that bring this food to you), but I must lead my family into a healthy relationship with the lord.
So, what next? That is the question. My family is now focusing on our relationship with the Lord. We are beginning to explore our forms of worship in our house. We are now pursuing our personal relationships with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit with renewed fever. We desire to see this break loose in our neighborhood, in our city and in our state. There does not seem to be enough hours in the day, to do it all.
Therefore, we will not soak Fresh Fire and Ignited Ministries every day. We are now going to soak it Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are going to Xtreme Encounters’ weekly service (Saturdays @ 2pm… interested leave a comment and let me know) and hanging out with Todd Bentley and crew that night as well. We are going to be sensitive to the guidance of the Spirit and if we feel a need to be there on an “off night”, we will be there.
Life went on hold to receive impartations from those who are giving it in Lakeland. It is now time to take that out and do locally what must be done for that to happen. There is much good still to come from the Lakeland Outpouring, many people (even those close to me) still need to receive from this. There are many who have yet to experience the Glory that flows from the pool that is found in Florida. I bless Fresh Fire and Ignited Ministries for all they do, and will continue to stand in support of their call with prayers and finances. But, it is now time to see it here in Albuquerque and I will do all I can to reach it. Every night has been time well spent; I am grateful for the blessing and opportunity to do it, but it is time to scale back, make room and time for my local obligations and take the anointing out.

We’ve Soaked Todd Bentley and the Florida Outpouring: NOW WHAT?

We have decided to return to a regular services today (Saturday, May 24, 2008). Todd Bentley is great and we will continue to be an overflow room, but we are not in Lakeland, we are in Albuquerque and we need to be doing the Father’s will, here. One of the first steps in this, is to begin drawing the Holy Presences for ourselves.
We started with a simple prayer, and then we went into worship. This was an hour and half with a mixture of live and CD worship. It is amazing how powerful the Holy Spirit can move through both forms. There is several accounts of people getting healed from reruns or recording of the Lakeland Revival. This idea seems to be holding true, with “canned” worship music.While live worship is always the way I preferred to come into the presences, I seemed to find myself listening to CD to soak (or even clean house to). Today though I could really feel the weight of the Holy Spirit enter the room, and His joy spread through the faces of those in our home group.
So the “sermon”, all though more of a group discussion, was “What now?” We have sat, soaked and become saturated with the anointing of the revival for over a month; the question is “what now?” This is actually a discussion I think many of who have been watching God TV and the Lakeland Revival need to start asking. If you are part of an established church, how can you take what you got and apply it with your church identity, then move out into your field.If, however, you are a small overflow room/home group (like us) how does this anointing and what has been received, shape what you are to become? How does this shape what you, as individual, are to become? This is the question facing us know. This is the question that I am facing. The honest answer is I am not sure. The honest answer that we (and I on an individual bases) is “I don’t know.”
Let me end by saying: We are still blessing the Outpouring and what Fresh Fire and Ignited Ministries are doing. There seems to be no stopping this Outpouring now or any time in the near future. We will continue be an overflow room and open our doors to those who care to join us and “get you some.” These thoughts are based on the idea that we are called to go into all nations and make disciples. We are not doing this if all we do is watch the Outpouring. We are now at a tipping point; we can stay saturated and do nothing or we can take the transferable anointing and continue to transfer it. We, at Extreme Encounter, are choosing to “go out.”

Hell

The Xtreme Encounters group was talking a few days ago, when the subject of Heaven and Hell came up. It was pointed out by those close to me that I have had three separate vision of hell. So the inevitable question was asked. “What is Hell like?” Let me make it clear, this is what I have experienced only. These were visions that lead to an ultimate revelation for the lost. Until this happened, I had a mental understanding that Hell was real and could say “you really don’t want to go there.” Now my thought is Hell is real and I say “I don’t want you to go there.” This is what I saw in three visions.

Vision one:
NOTHING! I have recently heard the phrase “deprivation tank” and that seems to be accurate. When sharing this vision I start by telling people to imagine being locked in a closet, with all seems sealed with black tape, and being sound proof. Then take away all sensation of the floor and walls. In this vision I was left alone with only my thoughts and how I ended up there. I knew there was something missing. I knew that I had lost God. I knew that things could have been different. I knew that I was offered a better way. I was left with these thoughts over and over. I was alone, completely alone. There was nothing there but me. The revelation I received from this what it feels like to lose the presence of God in one’s life. After this vision, I began to reach out to be a friend. I do not ever want to feel lonely, but I also will try to keep people from feeling that way.

Vision two:
This was torture. What I felt was pain. More pain than I have ever felt in my life. I have experienced six surgeries and something called a “Wound Vac” (ask and I will share more on that) and never have I felt anything like this. The heat was hotter than flames and there was no relief. If you stand outside in the heat you will begin to “acclimate” to the heat. My whole time in this vision I NEVER stopped hurting, I never stopped feeling the heat and I never had relief from this torture. After this vision I understood, no one “gets used” to the torture of Hell. It is always bad and there is no end.

Vision three:
There was no loss, there was no pain and I knew that I was okay. By far, this was the worst vision of the three. I saw faces of the damned. I saw them reach out for help. I saw the torture they experienced. I knew their loss. My heart broke as saw them.

I came out of the last vision knowing what it means to “go to hell.” I came out knowing that I would not stand by and let this happened. A person can not talk to me for more than 15 min before I know if they are saved. A person who is not saved can not talk to me for more than 10 minutes before I have offered to pray for them. If you are reading this and have not asked Jesus to be your savior, pray now! Hell is very real and with out Christ you WILL go there. If you are saved, it is up to you to get the word out. Do not let another day go by with out offering Jesus to your friends and family. Know that Hell is real is but Heaven is, too. You have eternity ahead of you, even not making a religious choice is a choice. Are you ready to bet your forever on your current choice?

More Todd Bentley and Florida Outpouring

Okay everyone in the internet world, here is another up date. If you’re new to my blog, welcome. If you are new to the Florida Outpouring you may be asking, “what is this about?” The answer is simple; God has shown up in power and it is spreading around the world. There are voices that are chiming in on both sides of the “debate,” but I say look at the fruit and line up with scripture.

I have yet to see anything that cannot be backed scripturally happen on the God TV broadcast. I, like many of those who speak against Todd, have NOT been to Lakeland Florida nor have I ever seen him live. I can not therefore speak to what it feels like there. I can not speak to what happens before or after the cameras are turned off. I am not hunting his past. I am not searching his early teaching and messages for inconsistencies (though I have seen several of his DVD teaching and the message seems to be consistent; his image has changed but the voice is the same). I am only watching what is being put out now. If you want to know what I have seen read my previous posts.

Tonight I saw testimony after testimony of salvation. I will be the first to say the fruit is nice, but what is the point? What is the point of laughter, shouting, running, falling out, tongues or even healing? The point is salvation. A power encounter with the Holy Spirit will force people to admit there is a God and make a decision on what to do about it. Tonight the fruit is simple, salvation. The fruit is there, I ask anyone reading this who disagrees to answer two questions:
1) Why would the devil give Jesus credit?
2) Why would the devil help people give their heart to Jesus?
I can not find a reason for this.

I am now challenged to go do the stuff. I have watched long enough. I have seen, one, born deaf child healed and I am determined to reach more. The time of the harvest is now and I am now going to work the field.

Florida Healing Outpouring with Todd Bentley

I wanted to point out that last night, once again, the Florida meeting was not all about Todd Bentley. In cased you missed it, during the God TV broadcast, there was a point when Todd started calling revival to hit the United Kingdom. There was a pastor from England who had started to see revival brake out in his church. He had left the revival in the hands of a Fresh Fire associate to come to the States and “get him some.”

This testimony was awesome and was give while several pastors from England stood below waiting to “get some.” Then, Todd stood back and sent the unknown pastor to impart. Filled with power and faith the pastor complied and anointed the crowd. Person after person “dropped” as they received. Todd just stood, watched, laughed and shook his head in the glory. It was a beautiful sight.

For those who are questioning, is the God? The answer does seem to be yes. The fruit is mass salvation, the man is doing his best to “practice what he preaches”, and there seems to be a real push to show it’s not “Todd’s show.” Now, there seems, to be a stronger push to show that this is a “transferable anointing”.

I, for one, say thank you to God TV, Fresh Fire and Ignited ministries for all the effort to show there is more to this than a prolonged Benny Hinn healing service. It is a world wide, with testimony after testimony coming in. The man power that is needed to sort through this and present it must be enormous. Thank you to all of those wonderful people that make it possible for us, worldwide, to be able to hear about the manifestations in all of the “overflow rooms” out there.

Update from Xtreme Encounters: (Healing in the Park)

I saw a powerful healing today but first, once again Todd Bentley is on my mind. I saw something amazing over the weekend in the Florida Outpouring that has really excited me. There has been a shift from the stage to a focus on God. The first time I noticed was Saturday. During worship the apparent jet vapor formed into a cross. The worshipers’ attention shifted from Roy to the signs and works of God.

Then Sunday Todd was on stage and God was in the crowd. There was at least twice when God was moving and the whole auditorium was turned to see what God was doing. The God TV cameras also moved from the stage to the signs and works. There are two things that excite me about this: first the crowds are not Todd-focused; second Todd/Roy are not “me centric”. The first seems to be based in the fact that there are thousands of Pastors and Church Leaders who are going to “get them some” and bring it back. Also, Todd has done an excellent job of passing on the fact that this not about him, it is only about God and His Glory. This is easy to say, but it shows a person’s character when they have to walk the walk. Roy showed his character when he stood on the edge of the stage to see the sign. He did not try to “pull the people back into worship” or “draw focus to God” by calling them back to the stage. He seemed eager not to miss what God was doing.

Todd seems to have this same passion. Yesterday when the crowd turned, Todd stopped what he was doing to honor what God was doing in the crowd. There was such an obvious eagerness to not miss what God was doing, it was amazing. He did not speak louder, he did not get more outrageous, he did not draw attention to a new healing and he did not call out a word from God. He stopped and eagerly looked for what God was doing. I believe that this hunger is a “Master’s” Key to seeing this in Albuquerque and in any town. We must pay more attention to what God is doing, than to the “show” before us.

I credit Bill Johnson of Bethel for showing me this: 2Ki 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven (KJV). All my life I was told Elijah went up in a chariot of fire with horses of fire. I believed them because I watched the show and not God. The chariot was cool, but God was working in the whirlwind. The stage stuff is cool, but God is working in the crowd and this is important. I just wanted to credit the faces and voices of the awaking with showing amazing character as God moves from the front and into the people.

Okay, now the healing. I have been contending for an open heaven in a local park for the past 60 days. About 3 months ago I started having a reoccurring dream of revival in the park. It is something small that grows into a full out pouring. Once I understood God might be showing me something, I began to walk and pray around my park for an open heaven. Today I saw my first break through!

I meet a lady playing in the park with her 1 year old daughter, on today’s prayer walk. I heard her say “If only you could hear me.” There was a note of desperation in her voice that just struck a cord with me. I walked over introduced my self and offered to pray. I was told “I am not a Christian and I don’t believe there is a God.” My answer was, “That’s okay. You let me pray and if nothing happens, you have one more example that God is not real. If, however, God is real and will restore her healing do you want to miss that?”

She agreed there was no harm and allowed me to pray for her. A simple prayer for the child’s ear to open led to the girl screaming and mom screaming, “What did you do to her?!” I prayed, “Peace in Jesus’ Name,” and the daughter received peace immediately, and so did Mom. The child seemed to respond to sound. The mother snapped her fingers near the child’s ear and the girl turned her head in that direction. A car passed and she seemed to look toward the sound.

After a few “tests,” mom was on her cell phone with dad. “Your daughter can hear! I am taking her the doctor to check her out now. Get there! I don’t care, get out of work and meet me there!” She didn’t take time to say bye or anything; which is great, because I love being part of the nameless, faceless generation. I am now praying for Holy Spirit to connect them with someone who can explain that this miracle was worked by the power of God and share the love of God with them. If you are a believer please join me in this prayer. Healings are great, but salvation is always the goal!

Update from Xtreme Encounters:

Friday, May 02 2008 was an awesome day for us in XE! First I want to back up to the beginning of the ten day of anointing sent out of the Great Florida Out Pouring, lead by Todd Bentley and Fresh Fire Ministries. Todd was quoted as saying there will be ten days of anointing and each day would be different. Towards the beginning of these he announced that Friday would be a day for Harvesters/Evangelists, but there would be a special anointing for children and those who are called to children. This led to the great adventure of getting Rahab to Florida to receive what is being given out.

But what was also amazing was that Todd was also saying bring your children. If you can’t get them here, then set them in front of the television, because God is going to have a special anointing for them. My son has been placed in front of the television every night God TV has broadcasted. Some nights he fell asleep to it, or was made to lay still and try to sleep (he does need to go to school). Because I understand a seven year old boy’s need for constant stimulation, I allowed a Game Boy to come with him some nights. Because I understand the need for love, we played board games and watched some nights. Most nights, though, he was asked to watch and be quiet.

Side note, for the last 5+ years I have had a constant surgical hernia. Each surgery has only lead to new opening that spreads until I look the same as I did before hand. This has affected my ability to wrestle and ruff house with my son, which at times makes him sad. Fortunately my family is usually near young men who fill that need for him. Now back to my regular scheduled blog!

Friday it was felt that it was time to release healing into my body. It was felt that there was glory anointing and faith for me to be healed. Let me stop the wondering now, I was not fully healed. However, I saw more progress last night in prayer than ever before. My sight is smaller, and has shifted into a more natural position (this is better results than any prayer group has achieved and I now believe I am in a season for progressive healing). This is not was exciting, it was my 7 year old son who amazed me.

Todd Bentley had not yet prayed for the children, when our home group had joined to pray for me. I had “assumed the position to receive” (hands out, eyes closed) and felt small hands on me. I looked down and my son was praying his heart out. Under the glory I laid down on the floor and saw my some go radical. He called out demons and I felt them leave. He called on God to heal his dad in Jesus name. Some memorable phrases where “Jesus I saw you heal blind people, deaf people, people in wheel chairs. If you can do that, you can heal my dad.” “My dad doesn’t have to go there for you to heal him. You are God and you can heal him right here!” “Dad I need to ask you a question. I have faith for you to be healed. Do you have faith Jesus can heal you?” My 7 year old son GETS IT!!

Todd said for a week that God was going to pour out an anointing on the children Friday. Friday night my son showed signs he had received, even before Todd had prayed. He not only prayed for me for an elder lady in our group and for his mother’s foot. Both of these also seem to be progressive, but there was notable improvement in these ailments as well. I asked him if he was okay with not seeing completed healing and he said, “Yes. Even Todd has been praying for the same person for a couple days. The guy with cancer.” My 7 year old son GETS IT!!! The biggest thing about this he, as well as I, is giving all credit to Jesus. “Jesus heal my dad.” “Thank you Jesus” and I just repeat that as well, thank you Jesus.

Hello World

There is only one true God who is the eternal King, Creator and Redeemer of all that is. He is perfectly holy, just, loving and truthful. He has revealed Himself to be eternally self- existent - one being in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

The Bible to be the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God.

Humankind was created in the image of God to know and enjoy Him, yet we willfully rejected the Lordship and glory of God for which we were intended. Because of this, sickness, death and judgment entered the world and now creation experiences the effects and consequences of sin.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin, Mary, and is God's Anointed One, empowered by the Holy Spirit to inaugurate God's Kingdom on earth. He was crucified for our sins, died, was buried, resurrected and ascended into heaven, and is now alive today, in the presence of God the Father and in His people. He is "true God" and "true man."

We are saved by God's grace, through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Anyone can be restored to fellowship with God through repenting, believing and receiving Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The Holy Spirit, convicts, regenerates, justifies, and adopts us as we enter the Kingdom of God as His sons and daughters.

In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live holy and minister super-naturally. The baptism of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 1:4-8 and 2:4 is poured out on believers that they might have power to be witnesses.