Sunday, August 17, 2008

Targeted by the Enemy

I have been reading with interest a series put together by a Pastor Friend of mine, Barry Kolb.

I commend it to you.

The question he asks is, Are You Flameworthy.

The last of the series had this excerpt:
But, let's also pray for the Christians who are being blessed; who are receiving a lot of money. Let's also pray for the Christians around the world who have great leadership positions because the evil one is coming after these men & women. So we should pray for those in adversity & also those that are being blessed.

I thought of the Todd Bentley situation. I thought of my own. I thought of many many people, great men and women of God who have been human too much. They were targets of the Enemy. It's like when God puts a man up, the enemy does all in his power to take him down. Sometimes they do. They took a bullet. Maybe a spear. Yes, they were flameworthy until they lost sight of the 4th man in the fire with them.

And, I have to admit that I didn't pray for Bentley's protection.

I think Pastor Barry's admonition to pray for such is right on the money.

In fairness, I will post what the board of Directors of Fresh Fire Ministry released on Friday. It clears things up and heads off the rumors. I appreciate an anonymous commenter in referring me to this.

August 15, 2008

From the Board of Directors

We wish to thank all of our friends and partners for the overwhelming flood of support and compassion we have received as a ministry on behalf of Todd and Shonnah Bentley. The many phone calls and emails of concern from people who genuinely love the Bentleys and Fresh Fire Ministries have been a great encouragement to all of us here during these past few days. In particular, the rallying of support and prayer for Todd and Shonnah by prominent leaders within the Body of Christ has been a beautiful indicator of the maturity and grace the Lord is bringing to his Bride.

We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisers, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.

On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors we wish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger body of Christ and to ask for your forgiveness. We are truly sorry for the pain many of you must feel and so regret that in the midst of great revival, the enemy has found a way into our camp. To those who have stood by us, we wish to thank you for what in many cases has been years of support. Thank you for your financial giving towards the vision of this ministry, and thank you especially for your prayers. For those of our partners, friends and supporters who may be struggling with the recent disclosures and finding continued support of this ministry in conflict with either conscience or conviction, we release and bless you with all our hearts and trust that God will redeem in your hearts the good that He has accomplished in your lives through this ministry. It is our sincerest hope and prayer that the Lord bless you and bring you into your fullest destiny in Him.

When this ministry was initially birthed in May of 1998, Todd had but one simple desire in his heart – to see the world come to know Jesus. Now, only 10 years later, Fresh Fire Ministries has grown to become a Resource Center that is literally reaching out to all the corners of the Earth. There have been dozens of associate ministries, scores of interns and hundreds of graduates from the Supernatural Training Center. Over 60 nations have received a combined total of more than five million dollars in humanitarian aid and we have seen well over one million conversions for Jesus Christ.

And so, the question can well be asked... where do we go from here? It is true that we are deeply saddened by these recent events, but it hasn’t shaken our faith in either God or His goodness towards us and with the help of wise and compassionate leaders within the body, we will do everything within our power to see our brother and sister healed and restored.

As a ministry, we can not forsake the vision and heartbeat upon which Todd Bentley founded Fresh Fire Ministries which is simply this:

    Matthew 10:7-8
    And as you go, Preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

While Todd and Shonnah each go through the necessary steps towards restoration and wholeness, we are compelled, with the resources with which God has entrusted us, to continue to spread God’s love and power all over the world.

There are many noble activities and endeavors in which Fresh Fire Ministries is involved, initiated by Todd, and to which we are still committed. We have the Supernatural Training Centre, our school of ministry, already in it’s fourth full year and with more than 50 students already enrolled we’re believing for an amazing year of biblical instruction, practical application and encounters with the presence of God. Many mature and gifted speakers and associates, graduated interns and teachers filled brim-full with the DNA and fire of this ministry are ready to pour revelation and passion into the hungry hearts of this coming year’s student body.

We will continue to host conferences in our region with speakers and worship leaders from around the nation whose message and mandates resonate with the vision and heart of Fresh Fire Ministries. In addition, we are committed to supporting the growing “OutPourings” across North America and around the world with our Associates, with encouragement and prayer support. In Todd’s own words, “What God is doing is bigger than one man”, and we now have a golden opportunity as the Body of Christ to pick up the baton and to run with perseverance for His glory.

Our missions department is progressing, as previously mentioned, with our major African crusade. With close to 100 team members in attendance, excitement is beginning to build and team members have responded that they are still believing God for the most amazing missions trip ever! Our Uganda Jesus Village in Kampala is forging ahead with the recent acquisition of 35 acres of land 30 minutes drive from our present location. Two of the 15 homes planned for the property are nearing completion, and the expanded village, when finished, will house almost 150 orphans rescued from war torn northern Uganda.

So whether in our Children’s Home in Africa, in our Supernatural Training Centre in British Columbia, in the revival meetings and outpourings spreading around the globe, or in taking teams to minister compassion and practical assistance to the poor in the far corners of the Earth, we have been and still are committed to bringing love, hope and a demonstration of the saving, healing, delivering power of the Gospel to a world in need.

Thank you all once again for your prayers and support. We bless each and every one of you in whatever decision you must make. Please know that our heart in all of this is to see the name of the Lord vindicated, and we take great encouragement from Psalm 23 and the Lord’s promise that He will “lead us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Together we look to the mercy and wisdom of our loving Father and we remain as ever, your brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Fresh Fire Board of Directors


A few weeks ago I spent and evening one on one with one of Bentley's board members at Wheaton College. He had no clue anything was going on. He had just been there at the Lakeland revival.

Todd has demonstrated a truth we all must be aware of from 1st Corinthians:
12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.


Todd perhaps didn't see the "Way-Out" sign. It's easy to miss it when darkness sets in.

HE was a target, he was put in the flames, just like us all, and he will be restored. It will take time.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

1 Thessilonians 5:17 - prayer really should cover everything.

While we're at it, pray daily for our Pastors and church workers, especially those involved in worship. Satan hates worship to God, so I would imagine those people get attacked quite often and quite hard - even by other "christians".

I'll pray for you G - do the same for me.

2 Chronicles 15:2 - And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.

Cease not to seek the Lord.

Selah

Anonymous said...

And so now Todd is being placed on a sort of leave, but given the group promoted him fully in all the other mess, continues the mess, plans more mess and called all sorts of evil from Todd Bentley good. One would have to be seriously deluded, to embrace anything with the name “Fresh Fire Ministries” on it. The group is a money racket and under delusion, that promotes all manner of unbiblical things.

What bothers me about Fresh Fire’s take on this unpleasant (and unfortunate) personal business is the way they still see this whole Lakeland thing (although I wasn’t hoping for different): “we so regret that in the midst of great revival, the enemy has found a way into our camp.” Indeed?! A great revival that the enemy broke into?? Not a fleshly piece of hype that went on for over a hundred days that eventually exhibited its fruit in its main leader? No: To redouble their efforts: “We will continue to host conferences in our region with speakers and worship leaders from around the nation whose message and mandates resonate with the vision and heart of Fresh Fire Ministries.
Oh goody! Yep, keep it going by some other front man. (I’d lose the sodomist, tattoos and piercings maybe next time. Just a friendly hint.)....shiver..

Ron McK said...

Gene
I think the church targets these people by putting them on a pedestal. The higher the pedestal, the more dangerous it is.

Why are we so desperate for big men, given that we have such a big Holy Spirit.

Anonymous said...

We are all sinners. Pastors, teachers and leaders will be far more accountable to God because they are to be sanctified in Him and of one accord. I will trust in God.

To those who thirst to be the 'salt and light of the world', Never give up and pray for those who fall short. Share the truth,
the light and the way.
Our God is bigger than this! He never promised it would be easy.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! Leave Todd to God, pray for him and go forth to be the salt and light of the world.

Anonymous said...

Your comment about Barry Kolb's words about the need to pray for leaders, pastors, givers to the ministry of the Gospel brings to mind something I heard about 15 years ago from Pastor Messmann of ft. Worth, TX. He was on a plane sitting next to a man who seemed to be in meditation and prayer. So Pastor Messmann assumed he was Christian, started a conversation with him, and discovered the the man was actually a "Satanist" worshiper, and said he was praying that Satan foul up every Christian leader and pastor, lead them into sins of adultery and corruption, etc. !!!! Pastor Messmann then asked a group of prayer warriors to pray that God's Holy Spirit and Christ protect him and keep him in a life of holiness and faithfulness . God does! YES! pray for Christian leaders, pastors, people of faithful stewardship, that God be glorified through their service and through their life actions!
H.A.H.