Is the Florida Healing Revival (Florida Outpouring) a real work of God?
By J. Flood- June 2008
Recently a prophecy titled
America – The Day and the Hour of Revival Approaches was brought to my attention. It is attributed to self-proclaimed prophet Wendy Alec, co-founder (with husband Rory) of God TV. The prophecy was posted on the God TV Web site as well as on Alec’s own Web site titled Journal of the Unknown Prophet: Legacy to a Renegade Generation. It has circulated on the World Wide Web and is embraced by numerous Christians—including some prominent Christian leaders—who apparently credit God as its source.
The prophecy describes an eminent spiritual revival in America and specifically mentions the southern United States, which is commonly referred to as the Bible Belt. It cryptically foretells supernatural visitations, a new anointing and a widespread spiritual awakening among the nation’s youth.
Some believe this prophecy (and a similar one by Alec titled
East Coast Revival) is now manifested in the Florida Healing Revival led by Canadian evangelist Todd Bentley (Fresh Fire Ministries), which is currently underway in Lakeland, Florida. Bentley’s highly publicized services are held twice a day, seven days a week.
A news report states that more than 140,000 people from at least 40 nations have attended the meetings in Lakeland. The services reach many others through live broadcasts aired on God TV and by the Internet. There are claims of healings, spiritual ecstasy and supernatural experiences.
Todd Bentley, in a 2003 teaching article titled
Angelic Hosts, stated that his goal was to "focus…on the angelic realm and how you can release angels to fulfill God’s word." He personally describes his own experiences with angelic visitors including one named Emma whom he first met during a church service in North Dakota. Bentley said Emma glided (floated) in the room with bags of gold and "walked up and down the aisles of the church putting gold dust on people." Bentley described this visitation as a release of financial and prophetic anointing.
Bentley apparently continues to be directed by angelic beings concerning his ministry including a "winds of change" angel whose New Year’s visitation reportedly launched the events in Lakeland.
After considering this evidence (weighed against Scripture) and in the opinion of others with significant scriptural insight, I unequivocally state that the so-called healing revival in Florida is not a work of God. Bentley’s ministry, with its emphasis upon mystical, esoteric experiences, visions and angel encounters, is not linked to sound Bible doctrine. It appeals to the spiritually gullible, the greedy, those influenced by false prophets, and those not grounded in the Word of God. The current event is a seductive, deceptive counterfeit movement empowered and enabled by supernatural ungodly influences. 2
Many attending and watching Bentley’s services testify of fantastic experiences, sights and sounds. Undoubtedly they
do experience the supernatural, but sadly, the source of those experiences is not God.
(Bentley’s teachings published on his Web site are also doctrinally flawed. An example of this is his teaching on so-called generational curses in which he states Christians can "catch a curse" just like we can "catch a cold" when there is a valid "cause." He lists several reasons one might "catch a curse" including negative words, disobedience to God, witchcraft curses, religion and dead works, and forgetting the poor.)
Likewise the prophetic message titled
America—despite its spiritual-sounding language borrowed from the Bible (a little truth)—is not inspired of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God does foretell an end-time harvest and latter rain as well as a falling away from The Faith. However the America message does not line up with true Bible predictions. It lifts up the efforts of man without acknowledging the finished work of Jesus. The message is a false prophecy and an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.
Why are charismatic promoters of hyper-spiritualism and the supernatural seemingly so successful? And why are the predictions of false prophets believed by so many?
The Bible answers those questions in Deuteronomy 13:1-3:
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, whereof he spoke unto you, saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them, you shall not hearken to that prophet or dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proves you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
As scripture affirms, the Lord allows false messengers and sorcerers to succeed for a time to test His people and the sincerity of their love for Him. Those who choose to follow false ways are free to do so, but at their peril. The wise will heed the warning in Deuteronomy and reject
all signs, wonders, miracles, and prophecies not based on sound Bible doctrine—even if they look real.
Regrettably many Christians have already moved away from their
love of God and properly-placed faith (in the finished work of Christ) to pursue these kinds false of systems warned of in Deuteronomy. They now embrace New Age and pop spirituality, mysticism, the practice of ancient ceremonies, the prosperity gospel, humanistic psychology, the seeker sensitive movement, the cell group movement and other false ways. Mega-churches that follow business models for church growth fill the pews with thousands on Sundays, but they serve no spiritual food. Many Christians who once knew The Way seek experiences instead of a relationship with Christ.
Much is at stake.
Babes in Christ are highly vulnerable to the influences of showy false teachers who claim to hear from God. Mature Christians too are at risk of turning away from The Faith if they choose to abandon sound Biblical doctrine for false ways. And an entire generation of 3
young people—except for a few who hear and accept the Message of the Cross—is in danger of being lost.
How can Christians avoid falling for man-made pseudo-Christian movements that pervert the Gospel?
Christians can steer clear by keeping their faith properly placed in the Lord Jesus Christ (the only Way and object of our faith) and His finished work (the sacrifice of His life and the shedding of His Blood on Calvary, which paid for our salvation and for our victorious daily living.) Placing trust in other objects in a misguided attempt to merit favor from God (i.e., church activity, good works, church membership) or seeking after "supernatural experiences" will result in a spiritual downslide ending in adverse eternal consequences (unless repentance comes).
God still heals the sick, mends broken hearts, and sets free those in Satan’s hold. And He still works miracles today. However a true spiritual move of God is a work of the Holy Spirit. It is
not a flamboyant, garish creation of men enabled by evil spirits.
When revival occurs, no one will have to ask if it’s real. As a wise saint of God has said, "When a
true move of God comes, everyone will know."
If you have questions concerning these important matters, you may contact me by e-mail at jflood77712@yahoo.com.
For the preaching of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the Power of God. - I Cor. 1:18