Florida Healing Outpouring

I was watching videos from the Florida Healing Outpouring and honestly its heart breaking to see people being led astray by such teachings and claims. It breaks my heart because they worship such a weak and powerless God. They've taken God and put him in a box that they can wrap their minds around. They run to man for anointing, healing, and power when they should be running to God Himself who gives liberally to all who come to him through faith in Jesus Christ. Their faith is so weak they need to see a "miracle" with their eyes, and feel an emotional high to believe God is present and at work. They seek to live by sight and not by faith. What a surprise many of them will experience when they stand before God and say, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ and he will say to them, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."

I wish I knew what to say to these people, I wish I could open their eyes, but I'm beginning to realize that just like every other counterfeit move of God, it will soon fade away and be just a past memory. I just pray that when all this is over, the faith of those left behind in it's path of destruction will not be destroyed. I pray that they will not come out of this blaming God or doubting that he is real and powerful and at work in our hearts. I pray that they will see it for what it is, a cheap counterfeit of what the true God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob is offering to those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ. Praise be to the true living God who did not spare even His own Son, but freely offered Him up for us, that we might gain eternal life. Praise be to Him who continues to change us and make us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

05-28-2008 23:43

Christinaon08-12-2008 16:04

Why do you say that the Florida outpouring is counterfeit? God uses people to bring about His healing, just as in Acts, Peter and the followers of Christ went to the world proclaiming His Name and Glory and many were healed in His Name - Todd Bentley and all the men and women who have received the anointing of God follow in their footsteps. How can something, or anything at all of God be counterfeit? Didn't God say for us to strengthen our brothers and sisters? If what is being done in Lakeland not of God, how can the power of God hit as it does? I understand when you say they don't need to seek afar to find God's love and healing and power, but sometimes God's glory will come down somewhere and spread like wildfire, just as this outpouring is doing apparently. How can God's glory hit, and some of it be in question of whether or not it's of God - either it is or it's not.

Just clarify it for me. I know James Levesque, a minister under Todd Bentley, he's personally been to our church and have stirred us up enough to know that God is working, and we already knew that with our Pastor professing it daily, in his heart he knows God is bringing Revival. James came and taught, calling the power of God to hit and many were healed, prayed and prophecy over. If that was not of God, and what God is doing through Todd Bentley and James Levesque and all others in the world now is not of God, where does that leave us? I will gladly take any knowledge and teachings that would prove otherwise. We all know to watch out for false teachers and prophets, we do and discern it. We know God is everywhere, all the time, and nothing stops Him from bringing His glory into our lives and into our towns, other than our own shortcomings and failures, but He still loves us. He has the power and He has shown it time and again. Again, tell me why something that is obviously of God counterfeit?

PS - I am a sister in Christ and do not wish to offend you at all, only to understand where you are coming from and what I may have missed.

Zach on08-12-2008 18:55

Christina,

Thanks for commenting, I never want to cause division by attacking something that God is truly doing but please consider what I'm saying. You said, "If what is being done in Lakeland not of God, how can the power of God hit as it does?" but I would ask you in return, How do you know what your feeling and experiencing is not Satan appearing as an angel of light? Do you doubt that Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses have real spiritual experiences that they believe are from God?

I am not calling anyone a liar, I believe those who have attended the Florida Healing Outpouring and other similar churches have real spiritual experiences, but the question is are those from God. You cannot answer that based upon anything you feel in your heart, because as Jeremiah said in 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" which is why Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:24, "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect".

The reason I believe it's false is because I have seen nothing to show me it's from God. A pastor in our area attended the Florida Healing Outpouring and was declared on TV by Todd as being healed from his cancer, but he died a few week later from that same cancer. I know several people who have been to these types of events, declared healed, ran, jumped and did all kinds of things they weren't able to to for years but just a few days later were back in their wheelchairs. The body and mind are capable of doing amazing things under certain circumstances such as when adrenaline is flowing, truly God has given us amazing bodies.

Christina, I'm not asking you to blindly believe me or anyone else, but I'm begging you to be a Berean (Acts 17:10-11). Realize that we as humans are prone to deception and easily deceived and the only absolute unchanging truth in our world is the Word of God. Search the scriptures daily, test everything because even Satan can appear as an angel of light. God will never rebuke you for questioning if something is really from Him.

May God continue to give us all wisdom as he molds us more and more into the image of His son Jesus Christ.