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"Take
Heed" Ministries
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Cecil Andrews, PO BOX 13, Ballynahinch, BT24 8AL, Northern Ireland. Telephone/Fax 028 9756 5511. E-MAIL - takeheed@aol.com WEBSITE - http://www.takeheed.net |
Todd Bentley remarries and re-launches
Last year as a ministry we spent much time and energy reporting on and exposing the fraudulent so called ‘Miracle Healing Crusades’ conducted by Todd Bentley in Lakeland in Florida and I don’t plan to revisit those God-dishonouring events in this article – a search of our website and those of other faithful watchmen ministries will yield all the information necessary to discover the devilish nature of events in Lakeland. The ‘Miracle Healing Crusade’ came to a shuddering halt when it was discovered that Todd Bentley had ‘entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff’ – at least that’s how the board of Mr Bentley’s then ‘Fresh Fire Ministries’ initially put out the story – subsequent revelations showed how very wide of the mark this first statement was.
Considering these revelations only came out in the middle of August 2008 Mr Bentley hasn’t wasted any time in firstly divorcing his wife Shonnah and then secondly marrying the lady with whom he committed adultery. He has gone through a token period of ‘rehab’ or ‘restoration’, call it what you like, and is now planning to re-launch himself with the help in particular of one of his ‘counsellors’ Rick Joyner under ’Fresh Fire USA’, Fort Mill, South Carolina – where his ‘counsellor’ is based.
These links might be helpful in understanding firstly the background to this particular situation as it unfolded last year and then as it has been reported in recent times -
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2008/10/the-faith-heale.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja21PK8MRak
This is how Rick Joyner has announced these new plans on
his own ministry website on
[Cecil - I have
added my own comments in red]
Todd Bentley was used to spark the Lakeland Outpouring, which
raised the faith level of much of the body of Christ. [This is a
sheer delusional re-writing of history – any true Christian with a modicum of
discernment realised that this ‘outpouring’ was not of God but was from a much
darker and more sinister source] Testimonies
of healings and miracles from it are now virtually all over the world. [Many of
the so-called ‘testimonies’ are to the effect that nothing of a healing nature
took place and in relation to all the so-called claimed ‘resurrections from the
dead’ – not one has ever been substantiated] When Todd’s marriage failed, he
abruptly stopped all ministry and virtually disappeared for almost nine months.
In the meantime, his divorce was finalized and he has recently remarried. [God’s
word teaches that a guilty adulterer who divorces and remarries is continuing
to live in a sinful adulterous state – it was biblically legitimate for Shonnah
to be divorced from her adulterous husband but anyone who then marries the
‘guilty party’, in this case Todd Bentley, according to scripture has entered
into an adulterous relationship – see Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9 – John
MacArthur in his notes on 19:9 writes ‘Jesus includes the “exception clause”
clearly permitting the innocent party in such a divorce to remarry without
incurring the stigma of one who ‘commits adultery’]
Todd has taken full responsibility for the failure of his marriage. He and
Jessa also admit that their relationship was premature and should not have
happened the way it did [only ‘premature’? – it should never ever
have been allowed to happen if wedding vows are to mean anything at all and God
tells His children to ‘let your yea be yea etc’ (Matthew 5:37) - Todd Bentley,
a so-called ‘man of God’, shredded his marriage vows to satisfy his own
selfish, sinful desires – in doing so he showed that he is not qualified for
the office of ‘elder’ according to God’s standards as set out in 1st
Timothy 3 – yes of course there can be genuine repentance and restoration of
fellowship with God for those who fall and sin in such a manner but there can
be no restoration to office – there is the state of being a “castaway” that
Paul referred to in 1st Corinthians 9:27 and that is mentioned in
the specific context of someone not being able to “keep under their body
and bring it into subjection” – John MacArthur in his notes writes ‘Paul may be
especially referring to such fleshly sins that disqualify a man from preaching
and leading the church, particularly being blameless and above reproach in the
sexual area, since such a sin is a disqualification’ and Pastor MacArthur then cross-references
this with notes on Psalm 101:6; Proverbs 6:33; 1st Timothy 3:2 and
Titus 1:6]. Both are adamant that it was
not the cause for the failure of his first marriage, nor did they begin their
relationship until Todd was convinced that his marriage was over. They have
both expressed that it was wrong and premature. They do not want to try and
cover this up even though they know many will never accept them for it. Even
so, they are married now and are resolved to make the most of their marriage,
their lives, and to continue to serve the Lord in the best way that they can. [The ‘best
way’ for them to supposedly ‘serve the Lord’ would be to recognise that Todd is
now a disqualified “castaway” where his desire for public ministry is
concerned]
My position all along has been that I will do my best to
comply with Galatians 6:1, “If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are
spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself
lest you also be tempted” (NKJV). To obey this Word, I have always felt that it
did not matter what one had done, and that it was my responsibility to help
them find the grace of God to return to the place from which they had fallen. I
confess that with Todd, I am not just doing this as a duty. From the time I
first met him nearly ten years ago, I knew that he had an extraordinary purpose
and a gift of faith for the miraculous that would be desperately needed in
these times [I defy any true and faithful believer to agree with this statement
in the light of for instance the horrendous and ridiculous claims made in
‘public ministry’ by Todd Bentley that whilst he was at a meeting being held by
another of his ‘counsellors’, Bill Johnson he was basically ‘beamed up’ into
heaven to undergo stomach ‘surgery’ to enable him then to impart God’s ‘truth’
– this can be viewed on http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/3399535/] . I
consider helping any of God’s children an honor, and helping Todd is a
privilege.
I also confess to some selfish ambition in
wanting to do this. I had a dream two decades ago in which one of my children
had fallen into a sewage ditch and could not get up. My child was being scorned
and no one would help him. A man came along who helped my child get up and then
cleaned up. In that dream, I felt as if I would give everything that I owned to
this man who helped my child. Then I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Jim Bakker
is My child. Will you help him?” Since that time, I have been devoted to
helping any of God’s children that I could who have committed any trespass,
because I knew there were few other things that would bring the Father’s favor.
I consider this willingness to at least try to help others this way a major
reason for the extraordinary favor that our ministry, my family, and I have
received. I love Todd and am glad to help him, but I also know by doing this, I
will be doing something that means a great deal to our Father.
When we release someone to minister in the body of Christ,
we are releasing him or her to minister to God’s own children, and I personally
do not do that with anyone who I would not allow to minister to my own family.
For all that was done through Todd, and especially at Lakeland, which touched
and helped countless thousands, many were also left confused and hurt by the
way it ended. I think Todd is even more sensitive to this than I am. Although
in some ways he greatly misses being in ministry and praying for people, he
wants to be sure that when he comes back that his life and his ministry are on
the most solid ground possible so that he does not cause these kinds of
problems again. [Perhaps at this stage it might be useful to remind ourselves that
Rick Joyner was one of the conglomerate of self-styled ‘Apostles’ who gathered
in Lakeland to ‘commission’ both Todd Bentley and his then-wife Shonnah for the
great ‘ministry’ supposedly
occurring in Lakeland – a good analysis of this tragic (spiritually speaking)
farce can be read on http://letusreason.org/Latrain54.htm]
Jack Deere and Bill Johnson have agreed to be a part of
Todd’s restoration process. I asked them to be a part because I know they will
probably see things I don’t, but also because both Todd and I trust them and
know they would not sign off on something they did not really believe in.
However, both of them are going to be involved in this at a distance, and
therefore, I will be the main person responsible.
Being a believer in body ministry, I expect our
whole leadership team, and to some degree, our whole local church, to be
involved in helping Todd and Jessa. Our staff and all from the church that I
have discussed this with are very happy about them being here and want to help
them in any way that they can.
In future Bulletins, we will go into more detail about what
we’re doing and why, as well as what we think was a cause of some of the
failures Todd experienced [Look no further than Matthew 15:18-20 – Todd
Bentley needs a spiritual ‘heart transplant’ - am I being presumptuous in
saying this – not in the light of the Lord’s words in Matthew 7: 16 & 20 –
God’s discerning people “shall know” (be able to positively recognise) “false
prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves” – that
means they are not saved and are not part of the Lord’s sheep] . We will only do this for the sake of helping others avoid the
same traps. We know that trust has to be earned and that Todd will have to earn
the trust of the body of Christ for future ministry, [God does
not sanction any such ‘future ministry’ for such ‘castaways’] which will not be easy, nor should it be. Todd, more than most,
does not want to jump back into ministry prematurely, even as much as he misses
it in some ways.
I for one have been very encouraged by the expressions of
grace and genuine concern so many have expressed toward Todd in this situation.
It gives me great hope. As we have been constantly reminded, the Lord had great
patience with sinners, but He had none for the self-righteous. [Those who
will publicly proclaim that Todd Bentley is now debarred from any future public
ministry (not that he can’t be forgiven) are going to be classed as
‘self-righteous’ and not faithful teachers of what God’s Word says on this
subject] We’re all here because He had
mercy on us, [that’s true but with such mercy and privilege comes responsibility
and those in leadership forfeit any right to public preaching or elder role in
certain circumstances that are clearly laid out clearly in God’s Word and that
is the situation now where Todd Bentley is concerned] and we know we still need it. However, we also know that true
repentance and restoration [of ‘relationship with God’ – not of ‘role
for God’] can only come if we refuse to
compromise the clear biblical standards for morality and
integrity.
Todd wanted to personally say
the following:
It has been a long while since I have spoken publicly and openly. I am sorry
for the hurt and confusion that my decisions have caused the body of Christ. It
has been a true season of brokenness, hiddenness, and a long process
of grieving.
As many of
you now know, my previous marriage has endured years of unresolved conflicts. I
apologize that it has ended in divorce, and I take full responsibility for my
part for the ending of the marriage. I realize that my silence and decisions
have caused many of you to feel hurt, confused, and offended. The reason for
the silence was for my need of healing, creating a restoration process under a
team of qualified leaders, much needed rest after the Lakeland Outpouring,
repentance, and the divorce process.
I have now relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina and have
entered into my restoration and healing process under Rick Joyner, Jack Deere,
and Bill Johnson. I am confident of this one thing—that God is faithful to His
promise and my hope is to be fully restored, strengthened, healed, and to learn
from all the mistakes I have made along the way
.
Thank you friends and partners for your continued prayers,
encouragement, and love. I am committed to the work of the Holy Spirit and
confident that the good men around me will help me be restored first as a man,
as a husband, and ultimately to fulfill God's call on my life. [I am
struck firstly by the total absence of any expression of contrition or regret
for the shame he brought upon the name and glory and honour of God and then
secondly by the absence of any expression of regret for the hurt inflicted upon
Shonnah and the children and his failure to recognise that in the light of the
clear teaching of scripture he is still (despite this recent marriage) in an
adulterous situation and that there can be no ‘call’ to future public ministry]
Those of you who were touched by the Lakeland Outpouring do not
lose your encouragement. What happened there was from God, and Todd is a true
servant of God. [Examined under the spotlight of scripture these statements are just
plain wrong] He has made some mistakes, and
he is trying to get his life back in order, and you can be confident that he
will. Throughout the Bible, many of the greatest heroes in it also made some of
the worst mistakes. King David, possibly the greatest hero in the Bible after
Jesus, made one of the most horrible mistakes, not only committing adultery,
but murdering the husband of the woman he committed it with. God knew that was
going to happen with David when He called him, and He loved David before,
during, and afterward.
One of the remarkable events in the Bible is that the Lord
then used Bathsheba to bring forth the heir to the throne, Solomon, and she is
part of the genealogy of Jesus. [There is no doubt David
committed some very grievous sins demonstrating that even the ‘highest in the
land – a King’ can fall foul of Satan’s snares and temptations and our
omniscient God used, but clearly would never have approved of, the ‘fruit’ of
that sin for His own eternally decreed purposes – However the difference
between David and Todd Bentley comes down to a matter already referred to
earlier – the matter of ‘the heart’ – David is referred to as someone who
“walked in integrity of heart” (1st Kings 9:4 – this does not mean
he never sinned but it was not an ongoing pattern of life for him and there was
clear evidence of subsequent genuine, Holy Spirit inspired contrition and
repentance on his part as expressed in Psalms 32 & 51) and when both the
public teaching and personal living of Todd Bentley over many years are
examined in the light of God’s truth they expose someone who has not “walked in
integrity of heart”] It still stretches me, but we need stretching in the grace of God.
At the same time, we must balance it with how God hates divorce, and it is one
of the scourges of our times that is tragically hurting many, many people.
Marriage is under such an assault now because it is so important. However,
legalism will not overcome lawlessness. This situation and similar ones that
almost every church and family are now being faced with is one that we need
answers for. We cannot run from Him, but must run to Him with our need.
Many of Todd’s friends and former partners have asked if and
how they might help to rebuild and establish Fresh Fire USA, [I am
reminded by these expressions of the words of Joshua 6:26 “Cursed be the man
before the Lord who riseth up and buildeth this city, Jericho” – in August 2008
the ‘walls’ of Fresh Fire Ministries collapsed according to the Sovereign
permissive will of God and any attempt to rebuild them will I believe have the
‘curse’ OF God resting on them] which
has recently relocated from Abbotsford, BC Canada and is now based at Heritage
International Ministries in Fort Mill, SC. Donations can now be made to Fresh Fire
USA at the following address:
Fresh Fire USA
C/O MorningStar Fellowship Church
375 Star Light Dr.
Fort Mill, SC 29715
Make checks out to Fresh Fire USA, or if you would like to donate by credit
card to help in rebuilding Fresh Fire USA, call 1-800-542-0278, and tell the
operator that you want to make a donation to Fresh Fire USA.
This new ‘ministry’ will only get off the ground if people are gullible and undiscerning enough to give it support – may the Lord reign supreme and prevent any repetition of the dishonour brought in the past to His name by Todd Bentley.
Cecil Andrews – ‘Take Heed’
Ministries – 10th March 2009
APPENDIX
Earlier in this original article I wrote ‘He [Todd Bentley] has gone through a token period of ‘rehab’ or ‘restoration’, call it what you like, and is now planning to re-launch himself with the help in particular of one of his ‘counsellors’ Rick Joyner… This new ‘ministry’ will only get off the ground if people are gullible and undiscerning enough to give it support’.
Today I received an email that included a report on the latest situation concerning Todd Bentley and Rick Joyner. The compiler of this report is someone that I would classify as a ‘conservative Pentecostal’ and whilst I would disagree with some of his doctrinal understandings in relation to ‘gifts of the Holy Spirit’ his report nevertheless contains much practical wisdom. I pray it will be helpful in alerting people to the ongoing spiritual dangers posed by all those identified in the report, many of whom we as a ministry have also warned about over the years. This was the report –
KUNDALINI
WARNING - Urgent - 14th January 2010 - by Andrew Strom.
I just saw the video of Rick Joyner announcing that Todd
Bentley is back ministering every night at Morningstar in North Carolina and
now they have so-called "revival" manifestations eerily similar to
Lakeland. They also announced that they are streaming these big meetings every
night on their new TV channel - and they are greatly promoting the whole thing.
Now I am a tongues-speaking Pentecostal myself - but can I ask a simple
question here please? What kind of "spirit" was it operating in the
Lakeland revival - when the leader and main focal- point of the meetings (Todd
Bentley) was having an adulterous affair behind the scenes? Was it truly the
"Holy" Spirit that was anointing something so sensual and unholy? And
now that Todd divorced his wife and married his mistress - are we supposed to
welcome him back and this "anointing" with him? What is going on
here? Rick Joyner has been warned very specifically by high-level ministries
not to do what he is doing now - bringing Todd Bentley back into the limelight.
And yet it seems he does not care. Apparently the "manifestations"
are all that matter.
So what exactly are these 'manifestations' if they are seemingly at home in
such an unholy environment? Are they from God at all? (I am talking here about
the violent "jerking", uncontrollable laughter, bodily contortions,
drunkenness, 'portals', strange "angel"
encounters, etc.) Why do we not see such an 'anointing' in the Bible? Why
aren't Jesus or the apostles promoting these manifestations if they really are
true Revival? Why instead do we
see these things all the way through the New Age and Hinduism, etc? Do we not
realize that many false religions have their own version of "laying on of
hands" that results in these very types of manifestations? This 'spirit'
is not in the Bible - but it is all the way through Kundalini-type Hinduism!
Don't you think this should alarm us?
WHAT is
KUNDALINI?
If you search for Kundalini and Shakti on the Internet, you
will find that multitudes of people in the New Age and Eastern religions still
experience these powerful manifestations. Often this is with the help of a
Guru, who touches them on the forehead so that they can experience a
"Kundalini Awakening".
As researcher Robert Walker wrote in 1995: "The meetings which mystic
Hindu gurus hold are called 'Darshan'. At these meetings devotees go forward to
receive spiritual experience
from a touch by the open palm of the hand, often to the forehead, by the guru
in what is known as the Shakti Pat or divine touch. The raising of the
spiritual experience is called raising Kundalini… After a period when the
devotee has reached a certain spiritual elevation they begin to shake, jerk, or
hop or squirm uncontrollably, sometimes breaking into uncontrolled animal
noises or laughter as they reach an ecstatic high. These manifestations are
called 'Kriyas'. Devotees sometimes roar like lions and show all kinds of
physical signs during this period. Often devotees move on to higher states of
spiritual consciousness and become inert physically and appear to slip into an
unconsciousness..."
And as the guru Shri Yogănandji Mahărăja wrote: "When Your body begins trembling,
hair stands on roots, you laugh or begin to weep without your wishing, your
tongue begins to utter
deformed sounds, you are filled with fear or see frightening visions… the
Kundalini Shakti has become active.
In China there is a popular Kundalini-type movement called 'Qigong'. When a
Chinese Qigong spiritual master spoke in the USA in 1991, the San Francisco
Chronicle reported that many in the crowd began to experience "spontaneous
movements". The master told his audience, "Those who are sensitive
might start having some strong physical sensations - or start laughing or
crying. Don't worry. This is quite normal."
When you see videos of these "kriyas" or other Kundalini-type
manifestations, you would often swear that you are watching a modern "Impartation"-type
church meeting. (And I say this as someone who believes strongly in the gifts
of the Holy Spirit. I just don't believe in "alien" anointings
infiltrating the Body of Christ! There is a big difference between Kundalini
and the real Holy Spirit).
Since 1993-4, I believe a foreign spirit has been allowed to invade the church
- first through Rodney Howard-Browne's ministry – then Toronto, then the
Prophetic movement (which I was part of at the time) and on into Lakeland and
many other ministries and movements. I urge people now to "test the
spirits" just as we are commanded to in Scripture. Do not let just anyone
lay hands on you. This is a powerful spirit and it has the backing of a lot of
big-name ministries. In fact, these men and women are the very ones responsible
for allowing it to spread right through the body of Christ. And one day they
will be answerable to God for doing so.
We are specifically warned in the Bible that the Last Days will be a time of
"seducing spirits," false prophets, 'lying signs and wonders,' and
that we always need to watch for "angels of light" masquerading as
the real thing. Why does the modern church not take these warnings seriously?
Aren't we living in the very days that the Bible warns about
Right now I need to do something that I have never done in such a way before. I
have never before published a list of ministries or movements to watch out for.
But this time I have to. This sickness has gone on long enough. I urge you to
cut yourself off from the following ministries and their tainted
"anointings" my friends. Even though some of these people say
"good things" at times, it is simply not worth having any involvement
with them due to the
tainted anointing that they endorse or minister in themselves. Here is the list
–
(1) Todd Bentley.
(2) Rodney
Howard Browne
- the so-called "Holy Ghost Bartender."
(2) Rick Joyner or anyone connected with
Morningstar Ministries.
(3) John Arnott & any connected with TACF
(The "Toronto Blessing").
(4) Peter
Wagner of the
'New Apostolic Reformation' who claims
to be head of a worldwide network of 'apostles' - who publicly
endorsed Lakeland and will soon preach at Toronto TACF alongside
other "false anointing" advocates.
(5) Mike Bickle and IHOP Kansas City (- I lived
nearby for over
two years - and know how much they are into all this stuff. Mike
Bickle promotes it in his book).
(6) Bob Jones - the Kansas City prophet whose
ministry is utterly
tainted by it all.
(7) Patricia
King and
anyone else from 'Extreme Prophetic.'
(8) John Crowder & anyone connected with
"Sloshfest."
(9) Bill
Johnson of
Bethel church, Redding - who says some good
things but publicly endorsed Lakeland and promotes the "false
anointing" very strongly behind the scenes.
(10) Heidi
& Rolland Baker of IRIS Ministries - who do good work
amongst the poor in Mozambique - but who have also carried
and promoted this tainted anointing for years.
(11) Randy
Clark, Wes & Stacey Campbell, and other key
figures from the "Toronto blessing."
(12) The Elijah
List - and
almost anyone featured on it.
Of course there are a huge number of lesser-known preachers
and ministries who carry or endorse this Kundalini-type "anointing"
around the world. But I have concentrated here on the most influential that I
know of. It really is an enormous issue in the church. I urge anyone who is a
supporter of any of the above ministries to really check them out thoroughly.
If you find (as I have) that they carry or endorse this false Kundalini spirit
in the church, then please stop supporting them in any way - and whatever you
do, don't let them "lay hands" on you!
I am putting everything on the line to be "naming
names" like this. But I believe it is that serious. How on earth did we
get to the point where "kriyas" just like Hinduism are spreading
through the church?
Please forward this email to everyone you know, blogs and
boards, etc. These people are trying to "relaunch" this whole thing
right now. Help us get this warning out. To see a video showing
"kriyas" and other Kundalini-type manifestations, please click on the
Youtube links below –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyW1UFzS2LY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaNiuRWHZrY
Please send feedback on this article to- prophetic@revivalschool.com
God bless you all
Andrew Strom.
Once more I would highly commend the book ‘True To His Ways’ by Ruth Davis that can be purchased via her website – either as a ‘hard copy’ of the book itself or for a lesser cost there is an ‘online’ version of the book that can be purchased and downloaded. Details can be found on http://www.truetohisways.com/order.html
Cecil Andrews – ‘Take Heed’
Ministries – 15th January 2010
APPENDIX 2
The undernoted link will take you to video of Todd Bentley ‘performing’ on stage on 13th January 2010 – what a blasphemy that this discredited and disqualified false ‘healer’ has been allowed back to once more to sully and to disgrace the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5njqlILARp4
Cecil Andrews – ‘Take Heed’
Ministries – 30th January 2010