Below is part of an article written by Patricia King at the beginning of the year, long before the current Florida Outpouring began. You can read the entire article here.

How to respond to false manifestations?

As I am writing this article, I am dealing with a situation where someone in our meetings manifested some “mixture” in the area of signs and wonders. They were helping God out. They had experienced the true phenomena of God in the past many times and yet gave into the temptation of the enemy to fabricate a sign. In this case, it was the planting of gemstones in a meeting that were not given by God. There was mixture. The true and the false can operate through the same person.

When the Lord revealed this to our team, of course we were devastated. The initial reaction was shock, pain, and in some of our team, anger. We had trusted and now felt deceived. We went back and forth at first with doubt that this could even be happening. We did not want to believe that someone had violated our trust. What about the people who came to the meetings trusting and believing? What about their innocence and the violation of that? How are we to handle situations like this? How are we to respond?

The Lord helped us through with the following insights:

1. Confrontation. We had to lovingly but firmly confront the offender. They denied it at first. We continued to pray for the Lord to give us the Word of the Lord on the situation and to give us more “evidence”. He did! The main goal in confrontation is to bring a brother (or sister) to repentance so they can be restored. This is part of the LOVE WAR the Body is in. Oftentimes individuals get hurt when they confront and the response is denial. This can produce more pain and more uncertainty. It is important to rest in the love of God in the midst of confrontation. Let His peace fill you. Never confront when you are angry for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. It is important not to jump to conclusions but to wait until you have the facts completely in place.

2. Admit Pain. We cannot deny our pain, anger, and disappointment, but we cannot let these things build walls around our hearts. I cried before God bringing my pain to Him and asking Him to keep me strong so that I could help heal the offender and the Body.

3. Rightly Discern between the True and False. We did not want to throw out the true due to seeing a manifestation of the false. We have seen the true many times over. We have had credible ministries like Joshua and Janet Mills and many others labor with us in the area of supernatural manifestations. They have been real valid experiences flowing through pure hearts. The minister who manifested the lying signs had also manifested the true. We must keep our faith strong in times like these and discern objectively.

4. Don’t over-react. It is easy at this point to want to shut down everything – especially your heart. Jesus taught us in the parable of the wheat and the tares not to react in fear or in haste. He assured us that HE will take care of it and will send angels to remove all stumbling blocks out of His Kingdom. In the meantime, we must not lose faith or trust in Him.

5. Wisdom. Wisdom from above is: pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. (James 3:17) If we ask for wisdom, God will give it. (James 1:5). Wisdom is very important. It is vital that we only proceed as the Father directs. We need to know what steps to take, what to share and what not to share, how to approach the situation, and how to respond. The Lord will instruct us if we WAIT on Him. God showed us how we could walk in love for this individual, to help them get restored and also to help the Body process. He gave us wisdom on how to uphold righteousness in the midst of an unrighteous act. He is so good and His wisdom is perfect.

6. Exposure. We are going to see exposure of the false in 2008. Jesus warns us that the things done in secret will be shouted from the roof-tops. Great wisdom is needed in how things are exposed, but there will be increased exposure coming. We must not cover things up even though we want to cover each other during a time of healing and restoration. We cover in love but we expose in truth with sensitivity. We need to walk in the integrity of the truth. We must not compromise.
7. Keep faith. The enemy desires to produce doubt in our hearts. If he can do this, he has won his battle. When the Lord exposes the false in 2008, many will fall away due to disillusionment. Beware of this. Do not close the door of your heart. Remember, the exposure of tares is inevitable. Jesus told us that wheat and tares would grow up together in the same field. Learn to rightly divide but keep your faith strong. Do not shrink back.

8. Press on. I always like to make the devil sorry he ever tried! Press on for more of God. We are pressing on for more of all that He desires to reveal. If it is of Him, we want it! Allow your love for Jesus and His Kingdom rise up in you like never before. 2008 is going to be amazing!

The heart of God is always, always, ALWAYS redemptive toward us. Even when we blow it, when we sin. Because that is the heart of God toward us, that needs to be our heart toward one another.

Patricia was violated by this minister. His violation not only destroyed her trust in him, but it could have had serious consequences for her ministry and damaged her credibility with her partners. Yet her main concern was how to help heal not only the damage done to the Body of Christ, but to heal the offender as well. She and her team made a conscious decision to walk in love toward this individual and help them.

1 Corinthians 13 shows us the heart of God, because God is love:

1 If I speak in human or angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 but do not have love, I gain nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body [to hardship] that I may boast,

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I have been appalled at the tone of many of the things I have seen written on the Internet concerning Todd Bentley. I am not concerned about people’s disagreement with his theology or teachings. There are many people in the Body of Christ that I disagree with, but I am not out on a campaign to destroy them. They belong to God and it is up to Him to discipline His children, not me. I may spat with people on this or other forums, but when it comes down to it, they are fellow believers and there is a line that if I cross, I will have to answer to my Father for how I am treating His children.

Here is a piece that I came across today that blew my mind. This was a copy of an email a blogger sent to Destiny Image Publishing.

“How can you claim to be a publisher of ‘foundationally spirit-filled’, ‘biblically sound’, and ’spiritually inspirational’ books, when you published Todd Bentley’s book ‘The Reality of the Supernatural World’, which as well as containing numerous scriptural contradictions and deceptions, also contains deliberate intentional lies and false testimony?

Notably I draw you attention to the sex changes of Todd’s alleged encounter with the angel Emma from female to an unnamed male angel on page 230 of the book. (See more details here). This is appalling and indefensible and means that you knowingly publish a liar’s books - why, is the money in it too tempting for you? Or do you not care about scriptural truth, general honesty and integrity any more?”

Now, I don’t know about you, but I would beat my kid if I found out she had sent such a rude piece of correspondence out, just on a natural level. It seems that if you are the doctrine police, the rules of polite conduct no longer apply to you.

This person did not even attempt to confront Todd Bentley. They took it first to the publisher and then posted the email on the internet for the world to see, without having ever once sought Todd and tried to reason with him about the issues raised here. Contrast that with what Patricia did. Contrast that with 1 Corinthians 13.

If you think Todd Bentley’s a heretic, fine. You have that right. If you believe you are attempting to defend the flock of God, you even have a noble motive. But scripture is clear about how these things are to be done. Confronting Todd is the first step. If that gets you nowhere, he has publicly submitted to a group of elders in the Body. Take your concerns to his leadership. That is the godly thing to do.

But whatever your actions, you have to love the guy. You have to pray for him. You cannot dishonor him. Scripture says so. And those of you who continue to attack with the desire for the destruction of this man, you are going to find yourself with God opposing you. Scripture says so.

Enc: Wagner memo of June 24, 2008

To: Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic Team: Chuck Pierce, Dutch Sheets, Lee Grady, Steve Strang, Ché Ahn, Jeff Beacham, David Cannistraci, Joseph Askins, Bill Johnson, John Arnott

From: C. Peter Wagner

Date: June 25, 2008

Subject: Personal Report of Lakeland Outpouring

As all of you know, what I believe to be God-orchestrated circumstances over the past three weeks or so have brought me mainstream into the Lakeland Outpouring and the controversies surrounding it.

I am writing this from Lakeland. The night before last Doris and I attended the meeting in the tent along with 10,000 others, the largest crowd yet since meeting in the tent. It was the 82nd day of the Outpouring. Todd Bentley used his speaking time in giving the most detailed testimony so far of the “dark night of the soul” that he experienced for 18 months 2005-2007. It was a very remarkable and transparent confession of his pride during the ten years previously and details of the wilderness that God took him through to break the pride. He was very clear about his lack of discipline, his emotions out of control, his rejection of God, his dislike of reading scripture, public meltdown on the platform, memories of childhood rejection, loneliness, sexual abuse, his marriage on the brink of divorce, etc. He was so burnt out he cried 4 hours per day for 21 days straight.

When it was over, God restored everything related to his staff, his marriage, his ministry, and his newly-refined personal character. This was a very remarkable and touching presentation. There was no hint of victimization or wanting a pity party. It was a confession of his own sin and the consequences he paid for disobedience. Doris and I were very touched by this, and we were thankful to God for a window on Todd’s character that we didn’t expect to be so wide open to us

Let me remind you that Doris and I have been very close to other similar outpourings, especially the John Wimber signs & wonders phenomenon of the late 70s and 80s and well as the Argentine Revival of the 80s and 90s. We believe we have paid our dues in terms of the ability to discern truth from error and also in receiving severe and often painful criticism for some of the judgments we made in supporting those two movements. As we observed and participated in the meeting in the tent, we became very nostalgic about Wimber and Argentina, even noting some physical resemblance between Todd and Wimber. His accuracy in words of knowledge reminded us of both John Wimber in the past and Robert Henderson in the present. The worship time was similar to the worship we experience in Freedom Church in Colorado Springs except on a larger and more exuberant scale. We saw or felt nothing that would cross the lines we have previously experienced in high-profile revival. We have learned that God-driven revival is often messy, tending to pull some out of their religious comfort zones, but at the same time opening gates for new seasons of the movement of God.

All this was in preparation for last night, June 23, when we held a ceremony of apostolic alignment for Todd Bentley. As you will see from the document I will attach, the gist was that Todd would be aligned with Ché Ahn, Bill Johnson and John Arnott, representing Revival Alliance, who would then commission him as the evangelist to lead the Lakeland Outpouring. A few of us met with Todd personally before the service, and we found him to be a wonderful individual. Doris and I had never met him before. I explained to him what the ceremony would be like, and he agreed. I thought that it was interesting when he wanted to change one thing I had written in this document, because I could then run a quiet test of his humility and his respect for authority. Keep in mind that this was Todd’s ministry and Todd’s meeting. However, he had delegated the leadership of the ceremony to me. I suggested that his change was not wise, and he immediately accepted my decision. We were on the same page! In fact, we like each other!

The scenario was that I took the podium and called around me Todd, Ché, Bill and John. I then called to the platform a number of apostles whom I had chosen to stand behind us: Stephen Strader of Lakeland FL, Karl Strader of Lakeland FL, Jeff Beacham of Sydney, Australia, Rick Joyner of Ft. Mill SC, Doris Wagner of Colorado Springs CO, Sharon Stone of Burton, England, Paco Garcia of Chiclana, Spain, Clarice Fluitt of Monroe LA, Richard Maiden of Scottsdale AZ, Michael Maiden of Phoenix AZ, Joshua Fowler of Orlando FL, Barry Boucher of Ottawa, Canada, and Wesley Campbell of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Unfortunately Bishop Bill Hamon had to cancel because of a travel problem. I then read the paper I am attaching and, despite several requests, I even desisted from telling a joke! When I finished, I handed the microphone to Ché and he was in charge.

Ché, Bill and John laid on hands and anointed Todd with a special new “Be Revived” oil that Chuck Pierce (who was in Africa) sent for the event. Todd went down under the power of the Spirit and the three prophesied over him, commissioning him as the evangelist to lead the Lakeland Outpouring. Then most of the backup apostles prayed and prophesied as well. The power of the Holy Spirit was so heavy on that event that you could almost have cut it with a knife!

It was quite evident to those present that this was a groundbreaking event. A serious public problem had been growing in the body of Christ revolving around concerns about Lakeland from respected leaders. Even “schism” had been mentioned frequently. Because of the extensive media coverage through GOD TV, it was much more than a private or a trivial matter. Something was called for to set things in order, and this is the stated role of apostles. We are now in a place in what I see as the Second Apostolic Age that apostles can agree publicly to bring alignment. The seventeen apostles involved in this event represented three distinct apostolic streams: ICA (10 were ICA members), Revival Alliance, and Morningstar. Even though we are not networked formally, we believe in and support each other and we stand together when a crisis such as this one comes along. I may be wrong, but I cannot recall an event of this nature in the recent history of the church.

There was a notable prophetic dimension accompanying the event. Around a month ago, Bob Jones prophesied that on June 22 the outpouring would increase so much that it would appear that the revival would really begin at that time. Of course no one knew that June 23, the day after June 22, would be the date of Todd’s apostolic alignment which could well be the event to release increased spiritual power. Parenthetically both June 22 and June 23 broke previous attendance records in the 10,000-seat tent.

There is a great deal more to say, but I will leave it as it is for the moment. My paper, “Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic Alignment,” which I am sending you will fill in many details. Although I am writing this primarily to you who are mentioned above, I will also send it to some others to whom I feel responsible for a report of Todd’s alignment and commissioning.

Blessings,

Peter

C. Peter Wagner

President, Global Harvest Ministries

Chancellor, Wagner Leadership Institute

CPW/jmc

P.S. on June 25. Last night was Todd’s day off, so Ché Ahn took the service. Among other things, he used Chuck Pierce’s “Be Revived” anointing oil to personally anoint the 1,000 or so pastors as “carriers of fire” to their churches. Forty-seven nations were represented in the meeting. He admonished them to receive it here in Lakeland and then give it away!

Dear Friends,

We have had several people write with great concerns about the current move of God that has been stirring in Lakeland, Atlanta, Dallas and other areas of our nation. Let me share some things with you. I actually believe this letter would be worth reading as you continue praying for us in Africa.

We have made our way into Northern Nigeria. Continue to pray for us. Life here is what you may have imagined in Africa: tin roofs, raining, hazy mountains in the distance and bugs buzzing. When we got five miles from the Compound in the rural area of Kafanchan at the Throne Room Trust Ministry, International Prayer Village, you could feel the tangible Presence of His Spirit. I love being here, even though the surroundings are not what I am normally accustomed to; the food is different, and well, yes, there are many different creatures. The main issue is this: in the midst of this environment, I am not afraid of being infected by malaria or getting dysentery because I am in a different land. The people here are some of the most gracious in all the world.

I see that some individuals view “moves of God” this way: they see all the dangers, they are afraid that they will have a demon transferred to them, they analyze every move and shake and scrutinize doctrinally everything that is happening. This may be the only way that some can process their relationship with the Lord and the Body of Christ. I know that many would not like to be here in northern Nigeria in this rural area, nor would they like to be wearing the kingly, African traditional clothing that I am wearing this evening. Some of us are more adventurous than others. Some need to fully test the water before they swim. Personally, I have found that there is great joy in watching God’s people express themselves, work through their issues, learn to discern both good and evil and continually mature in Him.

I was just in Zambia. We saw a great reconciliation of the nation and people with the ex-President. This man had a great reproach from his terms in office. However, God in His grace chose to bring him forth, humble him and forgive him, and use him to change a nation. From a political standpoint, many would have wished he would have stayed estranged from the Body. However, I chose to go with the Spirit of God above political party divisions and reconcile him back into God’s Kingdom plan.

We at Glory of Zion International have chosen to number ourselves in intercession with what is happening in Lakeland and other places throughout the world. Some have written asking me to reject Todd Bentley. GZI does not have a philosophy or mindset to reject anyone. We watch, pray, and then try to communicate what the Lord is saying to help the overall Body of Christ advance.

I have seen others get offended because key leaders commissioned Todd as a modern day evangelist. We at GZI have no problems with this. Please know that we are living in an age where the Apostolic gift in the Body has come into a new position and era of authority. I was very excited to read Peter Wagner’s report (you may go to our web site to read this) on the commissioning service in Lakeland. I admire Ché Ahn, Bill Johnson, and John Arnott. I can now rest in Him, knowing that if things get way out of sync, they can help Todd make adjustments so the Spirit can keep moving.

We will continue to pray that the Lord raise Evangelists all over the world who can reach the harvest fields today. Yes, they may look different than Billy Graham, and they may have experienced some unusual happenings that perhaps will be better communicated as they grow in the Lord. But overall they are stirring the Body of Christ, leading people to the Lord, and doing the works of Jesus.

Let me share with you a personal experience. When Pam and I were in the Baptist Church in the early ’80’s, we were in a “move of God.” The Fullness Movement had touched the Baptist Church in the late ’70s, led by Jim Hylton, Ras Robinson, Jack Taylor and others. We had had some incredible meetings at our church. Many had gotten saved, gotten right with the Lord and filled with the Spirit of God. I loved this time. Pam and I both reminisce over it and call it “the Glory Days”. Then James Robison had his annual meeting and invited John Wimber to minister. Many of you remember our story of Pam’s barrenness. You can read about it in two or three of the books that we have written. We were told by all of our leadership how this “move” had gotten way out of hand, and now that John Wimber (who had no Baptist roots), was invading James Robison’s meeting, we should all stay away from these gatherings. (You should know that John Wimber and Peter Wagner helped revive signs and wonders in the ’80s.) Well, I heard God very clearly tell Pam and me to go in January, 1984 to the James Robison meeting where John Wimber was speaking. While we were there, the Spirit of God fell on my wife and sovereignly filled her. His power knocked the clots out of her uterus and He dramatically healed her. When the Spirit of God fell on Pam she said, “You were right! There are demons everywhere, but I AM HEALED!”

This was not about John Wimber. This was not about Baptists. This was not about controversy. This test was ours! The situation was about us following God without fear so He could reward us with an incredible blessing. Pam became pregnant two weeks later and continued to be pregnant for the next 10 years of our life. We had six wonderful children. I’m so thankful I listened to the Spirit of God and did not let religious fear rule us. There were others with us that were not touched at all by the meetings. As a matter of fact, they did not appreciate at all the way John Wimber ministered. However, in the midst of his ministry, the Spirit of God ministered to us and changed the course of our lives.

I am honored that God brought me into alignment with Peter and Doris Wagner after I embraced the move of God that had been stirred by he and John Wimber. We have now been together for 17 years. During that time, I have continued to get the best God has to offer from the revivals in Argentina, Toronto, the “Laughter Movement”, Brownsville, and any other fresh breath of wind that blows. I have many friends who have great cautions over experiential manifestations and extra-Biblical sensational happenings. I heed those friends’ voices and listen carefully. This does not keep me from experiencing what God is doing. I love what Bishop Bill Hamon says, “Eat the meat and spit out the bones and you will find yourself nourished.”

Recently, I have been pondering the first several verses of Genesis. In the midst of a wreck and ruined, chaotic, without-form earth, the Spirit of God began to hover. Once the Spirit began to hover, God could speak into the earth realm and pull forth creativity. He did this for six straight days. But notice God’s order: He didn’t try and set in order the sixth day before the first day. He didn’t try to place the fourth day before the second day. Little by little, as the Spirit hovered, order came and man was offered a new position as a result. That is how I view every move of God.

What I would encourage you to do is to keep discerning by the Word and the Spirit, but to be open to see the Lord move in a new way. The disciples could not understand why the Lord would go to Samaria and visit with the woman at the well. However, because of His love and boldness to break a religious standard, a whole city was saved (John 4). The Lord is preparing to save entire cities today.

Thank God that Jesus talked to this woman - a person with a past, a Samaritan, and a woman. He was not afraid of His reputation being marred. Recently, a letter from one of the major Bible churches in Denton went out to leaders in our city on the doctrine of women and how they should have a subservient role in the Body of Christ in public ministry. Prior to this letter going out, I had invited Cindy Jacobs to minister at Glory of Zion on Sunday, July 6. I want you to know that I have been a champion for women ministers throughout the years. I am so very excited to have Cindy with us on July 6th because women are welcome to minister in Denton, Texas. I would never shut the door of ministry for her to come into this city because of man’s opinion.

Neither would I, Robert Heidler or any leader that is aligned with me, shut the door to Keith Miller or Todd Bentley to come to Denton to minister what the Spirit of God is doing in their lives. We consider it a privilege that God has opened the gate for Spirit-led ministry to come into Denton. We are glad that He “needs” to come to Denton just like He “needed” to go to Samaria. You are always welcome to come to Denton. As a matter of fact, you might “need” to come here to gain your next release from the Lord. You can go to Keith Miller’s meeting. You can come to our Firstfruits Gathering. You can come be with Cindy Jacobs on Sunday, July 6. You can come to Tuesday Morning Prayer. You are invited to come any time and you will not be rejected as you come into this city.

Keep praying for us. We will be home on Tuesday.

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce

On June 23, 2008, Todd Bentley was commissioned by apostolic group, Revival Alliance, and brought into formal affiliation with this group. Revival Alliance is an organization of revival leaders that includes Bill and Beni Johnson, Che and Sue Ahn, John and Carol Arnott, Georgian and Winnie Bannov, Randy and Deanne Clark and Roland and Heidi Baker. The video below is the first of four on You Tube showing the entire ceremony. Click on the video, go to You Tube and watch them all. C. Peter Wagner, head of Global Harvest, presided.

Bill Johnson explained the motives and discussion that lead up to this event in is his sermon Sunday, June 22, at Bethel Church in Redding, CA. The sermon is available here at the Bethel website as a video for the next few days and is entitled, The Loyalty of Bethel. It is also available on their podcast.

Revival Alliance is the result of a prophetic word that Bob Jones gave to Heidi Baker regarding an alliance of 12 revival leaders. Heidi contacted those Bob saw in the vision and Revival Alliance was born. The leaders of Revival Alliance is determined to give themselves away for the benefit of others. The goal of this group is to stand together, explore together, and stay accountable together; basically to live and die for each other.

In the original vision, Todd Bentley’s ministry was part of the alliance, but Bob said that at that time it was not the time yet to include Todd. When Bill Johnson asked Bob Jones if now was the time, Bob said, “It’s time because of his enemies.” Because of who is opposing Todd, it is important for them to rally around him.

Pastor Johnson makes it clear in his sermon that for him, when a man of God is being shot at, that is where he wants to be to stand with them. He wants to throw his hat in the ring with people who are making a mess of the kingdom of darkness. It is not the time to jump ship when someone is facing a hard time. That is when you rally around them and give the enemy multiple targets to shoot at.

Xtreme Encounters has been an Overflow Room for the Florida Outpouring since April 21. We have made a decision that, although we are a small ministry, we will stand with Fresh Fire Ministries and see this thing through. We want to see the good fruit that we see (people have been healed and saved in our ministry as a result of the encouragement we have received from the Outpouring) spread, not just in Lakeland, not just in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where we are, but all over the world.

This is a video of Heather Clark’s warfare dance at the Lakeland Outpouring on June 2, 2008, I believe it was. I cannot believe the uproar I have seen in the blogosphere and on You Tube over this. For the record, I believe it is an awesome piece of prophetic worship. Heather just released a new album of live worship from the Outpouring and you can find it here (it’s really good!)

Heather has offered an explanation of the meaning behind the dance for those who do not understand prophetic worship:

The fact is I left the key board with the single intent of just dancing before the Lord. I was on the STAGE cause I was leading worship. And as a matter of a fact I was wishing that the camera was not on me. At first I was trying to move around back and forth so that they couldn’t catch me. As I danced I felt in my heart a call to the body of Christ to rise up as the army of God and take hold of the promise land that is ours, standing against every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ.

So let’s break this down for a moment. I will watch on the video and go through. First part, dancing energetically around the stage, stomping and spinning. Here is my response to that
There are some scriptures that use the word “rejoice” (gul) that have the meaning - TO SPIN AROUND UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY VIOLENT EMOTION, USUALLY REJOICE OR FEAR, be glad, joy, to go around in a circle.

Psalm 9:14, “I will rejoice in Your salvation.”

Psalm 13:5 “But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”

Psalm 16:9 “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.”

Psalm 21:1, 31:7, 32:11, 35:9, plus 35 more references.

PART 2 GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH MY HEAD DOWN. I have heard some complain that my head was down… that’s cause I didn’t actually want to be seen. I would have done the same dance before the Lord if I was at the back of the church. I felt an intercession and a warfare type dance forming in me.

PART 3: FEW ROBOTIC MOVES AND THEN SOME ARM SWINGING. This was was 2 things. um, well one I was catching my breath and trying to just wait on the Lord if I should go into what I was feeling which was to call the body to war. At THIS POINT, teh dance went from being me before the Lord to me before the people because there was a “message” to it. In order to receive that message, the people had to see it. The second thing was me transitioning into the prophetic part. A picture was coming to me of like being in a battle field.

PART 4: Robotic moves. I am a modern dancer and so for me those types of movements are very militant and “strong”. They require a lot physically and in my mind I am thinking of the armor of God, blocking the arrows of the enemy, shield of faith.

PART 5: Around 2:05. I do some grabbing motions. In my mind I am praying and speaking to the enemy with motions saying “give that back. That’s mine” There are places where the enemy has come like a lion seeking whom he may devour and there are things in our lives that have been robbed. As the body it’s time to take them back.

PART 6: Up to about 2:19 this is if you are watching the same youtube as me…I am doing some more grabbing. Very strong violent type motions. I am thinking “The Kingdom of God suffers violence and violent take it by force!”

PART 7: About 2:39. I hit my own wrists and then open my hands. I am praying for the chains to come off the body of Christ that they would be set free.

PART 8: from there i go into pulling motions again. I am pulling back that which the enemy has stollen and sometimes that’s a hard fight so I am doing it with tension in my arms.

PART 9: more robotic stuff, hide my head. i am thinking that when we fight we need to not only be offensive but defensive and remember the armor of God. The helmet of Salvation to protect our minds. I am doing shielding motions.

PART 10: I walk away and mean to end… you can believe this or not but when I turned around and put my hands together I THOUGHT I was going to do one more pulling motion and my hands came together in the shape of a gun and I felt the Lord “blessed be the Lord my God who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle!” Maybe if it would have been a sword motion it may have been less offensive. It was a modern way of saying/praying that the enemy will be taken down as we use the “sword” of the spirit (only I used a gun but meant the same thing)

I know my eyes look very intense but like I have said before I wasn’t out picking flowers. I felt like I was in a mime type word for the body of Christ saying we are in a very intense battle of light and dark. It IS a battle zone out there and we must be aware of the enemy’s schemes. I felt like I was “hunting” out the places where the enemy tries to hide and firing against them.

I meant it completely symbolically. I didn’t think I was shooting people. I didn’t “see” any demons. I didn’t even think that the motion was specifically pegging off some spirit. I just meant it like - this is the posture that we should have. To be aware of the enemy.

Then I go crazy and it’s like the victory after a war.. “the horse and rider thrown into the sea!” It was a celebration of our victory in Christ.

So sure, I’ll give you this… it’s not like your regular church dance. I am sorry that it offended you. I think with a little explanation it could have been better received by some of you. The bible says that when we speak in tongues in public there should be interpretation so that the body can be edified. Art can sometimes be like that. It’s a language that not everyone understands and with interpretation it can edify and without it… well you see the results.

I could have toned it down a bit and got the same message across and I will be more aware of this in the future.

And about it being on the stage and drawing attention… if someone had a prophetic word they would not stand in a room of 1000 people and whisper it. They would go to the mic and speak it loud so all could hear. If the word is visual, it would need to be seen.

My heart is never to draw attention to myself and off the Lord but my heart is to call the body to a place of greater awareness.

As for my doctrine and beliefs they are on my website for anyone to read. Do i agree with everything that people believe that I minister with? no. Not the pentecostals, the baptists, the methodists, the vineyard, the renewal churches…. we’re not going to find anywhere someone/something that we completely agree with. I think that Lakeland consists of very hungry people, desperate for God, seeking a touch a miracle a healing. They seem to be finding that in Lakeland.

I, for one, would hate to see you “tone it down.” It was great and there was a tremendous anointing in it. Rarely have I seen so many religious spirits manifest through one four minute dance. Heather has been called every name in the book on the internet over this. Thanks, guys, nothing like a little hatred to make the world just want to flock to the church.

Again, her response on another site:

Well, everyone…. Thanks for your thoughts. It’s interesting to listen to everyone sit on the seat of judgement yet NOT ONE of you has emailed me, contacted me, asked me a single question about the dance. Thanks for jumping to conclusions though!

Many people feel justified in what they are doing because they are contending for the faith or contending for doctrinal purity. But scripture is clear about some things. Jesus said, “If your brother sins AGAINST YOU, go and show him his fault, JUST BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU.” (See Matt 18:15-17). Paul said in Gal 6:1, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.”

When Peter was in error and promoting false doctrine in the Galatian Church, Paul confronted him. He did not write letters about him to the apostles in Jerusalem, he did not publish his discernment of Peter’s doctrinal error abroad. He got in Peter’s face and solved the problem. He wrote about it after the fact that others might learn.

When there was a contention over Paul’s preaching to the Gentiles, which many Jewish believers believed to have been heresy, the Council at Jerusalem had a meeting with Paul and asked him to explain himself. They did not write to all the churches about Paul before they had spoken with him.

James writes about wisdom.

James 3:13-18

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Think about what you have seen on the Internet. Think of the tone some of it has taken. What kind of wisdom is it demonstrating?

There is no license in scripture for the current Jump Shout Boogie - Jump to conclusions, Shout at the brethren and Boogie all over the Internet to share your “discernment.” The Body of Christ can do much better than this.

The video is of Jeff Lewis conducting Power Evangelism Training at Ignited Church. Jeff is the guy doing the street evangelism at the Florida Outpouring. Jeff leads City Taker Ministries and is a maniac for Jesus.

Jeff has trained 6,400 people so far in Power Evangelism. He really, REALLY believes in the need to preach hell to people. The Law brings with it the knowledge of sin necessary for true conviction and life-changing repentance. The anemic gospel that much of the church has been preaching produces a true conversion rate of 10 - 15% (I personally think he’s being rather generous with those numbers) and produces anemic, carnal converts.

These guys are out on the streets six days a week in Lakeland. They are committed to seeing the city touched. The City Takers website has some really good training materials and materials to use in evangelism. Their college campus survey is awesome! The premise for the campus is to engage the student in the survey by offering them 5 bucks if they can name all ten of the commandments. You can talk to a college student all day on that one! They will bring ALL their friends to you (just make sure you bring lots of CASH for this one!)

Here’s a video of Jeff showing what practical ministry on the streets of Lakeland looks like.

This is really good stuff. If you have a desire to impact your city, go through the training on Jeff’s site, print up some surveys, grab some tracts and go for it!

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The Outpouring in Florida is spreading! In the early days of this revival, five pastors from Ireland came to the Outpouring to “get some” and take it back to Ireland with them. The Lord has been answering their cries for “MORE!” Elim Christian Center in Belfast has been in extended meetings since their pastor, Brian Madden returned from Lakeland. Now, this church is claiming that they, too, are seeing people raised from the dead.

This is from the June 20, 2008 edition of the Belfast News Letter, which claims to be the oldest existing English language newspaper in the world. You can see the entire article here.

AN ELIM Church in Belfast is claiming that a teenager came “back from the dead” after a serious car crash.

The case is being linked into an international Pentecostalist healing phenomenon, which began in Florida.

Dozens of people are now flocking nightly to services at the church in Tigers Bay, north Belfast.

Members say that 18-year-old Andrew Duffin was dead for 16 minutes on a hospital operating table, but revived after his father, who is a Christian, sent out a prayer appeal through American preacher Todd Bentley

This is Andrew Duffin. He said that at the time of the accident he did not believe in God. He has since changed his opinion on that.