By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
Todd Bentley can minister wherever he choses, says Rick Joyner.
You knew that it was a given that he’d be back on the road, after Todd Bentley announced plans for worldwide missions trips—outside North America, where he would be likely to be asked about his ministry, divorce and various bad things that happened at Lakeland. Bentley, with a new house and his own ministry base, could proceed on his own without Joyner’s approval.
This may be a fait accompli for Joyner. Bentley knows that he can’t wait 5 or 10 years to be “restored”, as the next big revival or two will happen and he will be yesterday’s news. If he wants to be a worldwide evangelist again, he has to go pretty soon, whether Joyner thinks so or not.
We can guess that Joyner is really reluctant to continue with this process and just wants to let Bentley go. Before Monday’s video, the last restoration video that he did was Dec. 14, 2009. Given that the last video was called “We are all in Process”, we can hopefully get some updates on how Bentley’s “process” is coming along.
The latest video was posted Monday August 16.
Bentleys’ restoration was intended to be a three step process. The local ministry, Joyner said, had “spectacular” results. “We were able to verify” that cancer victims were healed, but Joyner offers no further details, at least none that would allow this claim to be independently verified.
At 3:17 of the video, Joyner says:
“…We feel that we’re coming to a time, where it’s time to release him [Bentley] on another level and the next level is where Todd is going to be going outside [the immediate area around the Morningstar headquarters] with those from our ministry team [who] will be accompanying him. And it’s not to watch over him, every little thing he’s doing, he’s a man, not a child, but it’s just to be a watchman and to help, you know, and also to be available to help answer questions to people who may have questions and things like that. But we feel that it is time now to release Todd to other ministries that we want to know him well, we know them well, and there’s real relationship there.”
“During this phase, we’re seeking elders in the church. We’re meeting with, uh, major Christian leaders of international stature, who will, as the final phase, will in council together, determine [that] it’s time now to release Todd into ministry. Now, that’s something where we’re gonna have to trust them, and endure all the intensive questioning and everything else but that’s what we want. We don’t wanna leave a stone unturned, or miss something that cvould later be a trap Todd’s life or anyone else life.”
“Even through the most perfect restoration process, which by the way, every one of us in, you know, and been in, until we have been perfected….We believe these elders of the church are going to bring wisdom and accountability, and challenges, where needed….”
Let’s pause to parse for a moment.
“… And it’s not to watch over him, every little thing he’s doing, he’s a man, not a child…”
I had thought that was due to the fact that he had supposedly no peers to hang out with him at Lakeland that led to his drinking and falling into “adultery” [as his old ministry defined it]. Wouldn’t babysitting him for the time being be something to consider?
“….and also to be available to help answer questions to people who may have questions and things like that…”
Todd Bentley, after many webinars where he fielded questions, is not capable of answering what people might want to know?
I predict that they will be the ones answering questions, not just “helping” Todd with it.
I also bet that they will be on the lookout to stop public rebukes like the one that the Operation Save America folks staged a few months ago.
The “gatekeepers” that will accompany Bentley will also, effectively, stop most local secular press coverage of Bentley as he travels. If they can’t get an interview, or even quotes from Bentley, and are instead are directed to a Joe Bloggs of Morningstar, it’s going to make it harder for an editor wanting to see if Bentley has made amends to do their work. If the editor, say, has a shocking new revelation or local angle on the Bentley story, they might be reduced to “Bentley refused to talk to us”, which leads Christians who don’t give reporters a break to ignore the story.
“But we feel that it is time now to release Todd to other ministries that we want to know him well, we know them well, and there’s real relationship there.”
This is where Joyner gets something back for Morningstar’s grief in doing this. Want access to Bentley? It’s “friends of Morningstar first” And, you will need to become friends with us, even if you approve of Bentley, but not Joyner, to see him work at your church.
Perhaps a variant of the old Hollywood “block booking” system might be used where in order to get the star (Bentley), you will need to give space and time to other Morningstar speakers too.
The worldwide elders part is interesting too…
I remember hearing, many months ago, that noted teacher Jack Deere was supposed to be the “bad cop” of those overseeing the Bentley restoration process. He was going to ask the tough questions and such. Isn’t it interesting that we have never heard from him at all in any of the statements or videos from Morningstar that I have seen?
Did Deere decide to wash his hands of all this? Does he think that there are still things that may disqualify Bentley from ministry? Joyner just introduced Deere as the 800 pound gorilla of this whole process and then…nothing. Hmmm…
The worldwide council might be problematic.
If it winds up being made up of obscure “internationally recognized” people, it will be a bad sign. And if people are “internationally recognized” they may have valid reasons to not want to spend the time to do this.
And, sad to say, would they want to risk hitching their cart to Bentley in case he fails again.
It’s hard to come into someone’s life, if you don’t really know them that well, and confront them.
As I know from my own interview with Bentley—wow, was it nine years ago now—he has been adept at not being entirely truthful. “I misled you,” he said, when I confronted him.
Todd Bentley, if he is unrepentant, could lead his questioners on a merry dance, and bluff his way through, getting that coveted
seal of approval from them.
Joyner continues, starting to talk about how co-operative Todd Bentley has been.
Here’s what I think may be a smoking gun. Do pay attention to it.
At 6:48, Joyner says:
“I was warned by just about everybody about Todd’s manipulation and scheming and everything else that he’s gonna do…Honestly, uh, we all have some of that in us, and you see it throughout the Scriptures, the best in the Scriptures have some of that. Unfortunately, and we’re trying to get rid of it, and it’s not right…. I think it was Todd’s absolute profound honesty and straighforwardness that many people took as manipulation. Crazy as it sounds, when he determined ‘I am getting a divorce’, he wasn’t trying to hide anything. He was being clear, he wasn’t trying to manipulate, and scheme…In his opinion, it was the last straw, it wasn’t going to work… Most people would try to paint the best picture. Todd didn’t do that.”
If Todd continues to have a possible problem with “manipulation and scheming”, as Joyner may be alluding to by saying that everyone has a problem here, isn’t caution wise? “And we’re trying to get rid of it” could either apply to everyone, or is a slip to mean that “we’re trying to get rid of it” in Todd specifically. The former is probably the case though.
Joyner is being disingenuous here. First, it is impossible to hide a divorce and remarriage, so Bentley’s being honest with that is no special virtue. Critics took offense, as they believed that divorce and remarriage is not allowed by the Bible. Any manipulation on Todd’s part would come in the “there’s no hope part…that’s all I could have done”. And given that Shonnah Bentley is now silent, Bentley can be freely manipulative, as there is no “other side” to look at. [She even took the stage at Ignited Church to support her husband, so my verdict is there was lots of hope. A woman who was willing to take him back after the “emotional affair” that caused his first “dark night of the soul” in 2005-2006 is truly longsuffering.]
[By the way, Joyner et. al are still working on that statement that allows divorce and remarriage> Todd’s own version, which sat on Joyner’s desk over a year ago for approval, is still being help. Captain Renaud is appropriately shocked.]
“The best of” people in the Scriptures were guilty of “manipulation and scheming”. Really? Can we have some Biblical citations where the Apostles, say, were guilty of it?
Joyner goes on to say that Bentley is more forthright and forthcoming than his accusers are. May we see him be brutally frank with himself, in depth, to his detriment, where it could hurt his ministry, in public, then? We shall see.
Joyner, at 10:27 adds:
“He [Bentley] may fall six, seven more times. If he does, I don’t care how bad it is ….If he falls, I hope to help him back up again.”
And then later, Joyner pulls out his violin. No “manipulation” of emotions here:
“If it [a major moral fall] happened to your children, and this is how God looks at it. Think about how you would feel if one of your children fell, just really made a mess of their life. Think of how grateful you would be to anyone who really got in and helped them to straighten out, and to get their feet back…”
Restoration is a very laudable thing…but when do you reach the point where you say about Bentley that what has happened in the past means that he shouldn’t be ministering anymore and should get a day job?
Rick Joyner may have good intentions…but does he have good discernment and Biblical wisdom to add to his intent?
@Rob,
Nothing that you’ve quoted is evidence showing Satan’s inability to do this type of dental work if God does not.
Yes, you’re right Hopesome, guess it would have been better to say that a tooth is a more complex life form than gold…
Lot’s of wisdom in your posts, a lot of it beyond my ken, but what I catch, at least some crumbs, is good, and sometimes it makes me painfully aware of ..things.. Bless you.
Does he come to divide a household in order to sift the wheat from the chaff – and for you to then know the difference !
My daughter does not agree with me on some things nor does my son – thank the Lord for that,we would never learn from each other otherwise and we would all be clones! I don’t abandon them though ………… or my walk with him, the father. I hope that once the wheat has been shown and the chaff taken that love will bring forth a new harvest of hope and that our paths, though diverse, will meet again at some point and we will rejoice…… so far that has been the case ………
Therese you are a blessing to one who is in need – thank you ……… I have had a tough week of newness and oldness clashing and have been trying to move into the one whilst leaving the other behind! – just about made it I think ……….
..tears in my eyes..what a hideous thing is that chaff..But at least it’s getting easier to see the difference now, there is a separation taking place I believe..that gives me hope too.. Much love to you sister.
Rob,
Isaiah 14:12-15
“How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ Instead, you will be brought down to it’s lowest depths.”
Thus we have the counterfeit “morning star”. Yes power can fade away.
I think Todd Bentley has a favorable view of himself. He seems to have this arrogant assumption that he can reach the superiorty of heaven, no matter what he does.
Thanks Therese
..our last posts crossed..I’m very glad if you’ve been encouraged in any way Hopesome, I sure wish you joy in that ‘newness’!
@Susan
yes he is the counterfeit to the real Morningstar.
Correction, the real Morning Star.
@Susan
haha oops yes the real Morning Star
Rob quoting “they’re called signs and wonders bc they make you wonder”. Oh PLEASE. I have heard that at so many times at the occultic NAR meetings. Do you ever have anything genuine to say. And the people that got “gold” caps did not get healed. They just got some flaky fake miracle in their mouth. The devil can do alchemy. Burn your korans!
——–
Interesting article vs so-called “prophets” aka Bentley talking to Abraham in heaven!
http://www.lilbourncofc.com/Articles_files/A-%20How%20does%20God%20speak%20to%20us%20today.pdf“.
@laws
anything I say is genuine to me, sorry its not genuine to you.
I hope u weren’t serious about burning Korans
I meant, you repeat a lot of buzzwords, stuff you picked up is all. Signs don’t EVER make me wonder! I just get happy.
And in Acts 19 they burned all their “korans” aka evil books. So here we see Christians burning spiritual books! How not PC! Only the Bible gives life and light.
I’ve had a few computer glitches. I’ll apologize in advance if some of my comments appear repetitively and disorganized.
@laws
and what is wrong with repeating a phrase that i agree with? And most of the stuff I say is my own thoughts and convictions not just others. God gave us a brain for a reason, not to be like robots going around just quoting from the Bible.
In regards to Acts 19. It was the sorcerers who burned their own scrolls after coming to Christ. It was a sign that they were no longer going to read and believe what they had. Big difference in Christians burning the Koran, what good does that do?
“not to be like robots going around just quoting from the Bible”.
Hmm I bet you meant “not to be like
robotsidiots going around quoting the Bible”.Ya, you’re unique. Just like everyone else ….
@laws
oh yes cause everyone who quotes the Bible is an idiot. Talk about putting words in someones mouth
The Bible can and has often become an idol for many, a replacement for a real encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ.
I’ve never seen the Bible (an idol for many?) lead anyone astray. However, I’ve seen too many fooled by so-called “experiences” which were wishful thinking at best and sometimes demonic, such as with Bentley.
You people make me sick to my stomach.Can’t you people see a charlatan? What’s wrong with you all.Do you just throw away logic and common sense and take up with the “anything goes because God is in it mentality”?? No wonder the world laughs at us…we deserve it!!
the Bible can’t heal anyone, save anyone or set anyone free… If you think it can then you are mistaken
The Bible the ‘Law’ led the Pharisees astray, no doubt.
The pharisees ADDED to God’s word. Go read matthew (for your first time) … Stupid Elijah List heresies
@laws
I don’t read this so called ‘Elijah list.’ And I have read Matthew, a lot.
Yes the Pharisees added to it, but they also took what was there and used it against Christ. I don’t appreciate your judgements about what I believe. Sure we disagree but it doesn’t make you any better if you are right and i am wrong, or vice versa.
Seems like I hit a nerve.
I’ve actually known people who have been healed and set free after following biblical commands. I never saw the same thing with those following Bentley’s alternate gospel though.
BTW, Bentley’s been having encounters with an angel of light (his own testimony). If Satan masquerades himself as such, maybe Bentley’s following ………?
@Laws
I have heard Todd preach THE GOSPEL many many times. Like i said before the gospel is the gospel no matter what other doctrines are followed. The gospel of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection and his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and salvation to all those who believe, that is the pure gospel, nothing added nothing taken away. I have heard Todd preach this, despite his angel claims.
Jesus gave us two NEW commandments, love God and love your neighbor. All of the other commandments and laws are fulfilled with these two things. They go together, you cannot follow one without the other. In the same way, you cannot keep any of the other commandments without following these two. If you seek to follow and obey the ‘law’ without following these 2 then you just become like the Pharisees. How many of us think that we are loving God because we are following all the rest? It is the opposite. If you love God and love your neighbor, all the rest will come. Many of us have it out of order. We don’t follow commandments to prove our love to God or others, we love God and our neighbor first and in doing so we will naturally follow the rest.
“You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.”
John 5:39-40
sry my first post was meant to be @Sean not @laws
“I have heard Todd preach THE GOSPEL many many times. ”
Not just many? But “many many”. PS: what did the devil tempt Jesus with? The talmud? And I know many many of bent-ley’s tattoos are sigils.
Looks like I touched another nerve. Good thing that I’m not a dentist.
Your own statement correctly notes that following the scriptures in truth leads to Jesus. The pharasees’ problem was that their additions to the scriptures and their lack of following them in certain aspects. Had they been truly obedient, they would have accepted Jesus.
To be sure, Bentley has preached certain elements of the true Gospel. However, his additions such as his deviant teachings on angels has made his alternate gospel different from the true Gospel (completely different in God’s view). This is why Joyner, Bentley and their followers such as yourself downplay the Bible (eg. calling it an idol). Those who read and follow it in truth are set free from the lies that they preach. The more scriptural truth that people receive, the less money for their grubby pockets.
Anyone can preach the gospel:
and be convincing when they do!
Anyone can place themselves ‘in the gospel’ and like an Actor play the part to perfection!
Mr Bentley plays the part and places himself in the part and then gifts us a part of who he is ‘in that place’ OF ‘GOSPEL’ – AND NOT WHO THE FATHER IS.
Counterfeit –
We have some very good ‘actors’ now don’t we
who learn the part ‘off by heart’
Rob;
I wonder when you walk into that Morningstar Building is it possible you ‘come under the spell of it all’
and then walk out (no disrespect meant here!) with part of your mind brainwashed with whatever phenomenon lurks there to ‘trap’ you -
there is such a thing as the spirit of SLOTH -
which some seem to dwell in ……………………..
and SLOTH lives ‘off the fat of the land’
Mr Bentley seems awfully self satisfied ‘most of the time’
Ephesians 6:12
Not flesh and blood are we struggling against but
(version I have read) – evil spirits in the heavenly places…………..
Well
MorningStar seems to sit in a ‘heavenly place’ does it not, according to Joyner, Jones, Bentley and ……………….
What was that again ( evil spirits in the heavenly places!!!)
Versions in their difference can be amazing ‘right’
Worth a thought
11Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
12The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
13Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
14Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,
15Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
16Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?
17The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. ————pay attention to the words barns. 1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;—–There is more than ONE Day of the Lord spoken of by Joel, the other is distinguished by the ‘The GREAT Day of the Lord’. a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? ——These are the Reapers, an army of Angels who will harvest the Tares.—–The Northern Army is a different army altogether and not of the Lord unlike His Reapers an Angelic army who serve the Lord of Hosts.—–Please listen carefully! There will be a great Revival and the Lord promised that His Spirit will be poured on ALL flesh!!!!! And this harvest of wheat will be gathered into His Barn, but only after the Harvest of the Tares are taken out FIRST, the ‘Workers of Iniquity’ who are plants of the Devil and they are fully aware of it, they also get paid for this service. 23 he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. —-Please also understand that there are several time lines in the book of Joel and I have picked out our time line, the harvest of the Tares and the Great world wide Revival that will occur after the Tares are removed. The Holy Spirit will be poured out ‘ON ALL FLESH’! and not on some flesh like it was on the day of Pentecost.
There is more scripture on the Harvest of the Tares and the Lord’s sovereign protection on the Wheat when The Reapers come for ‘them’-the Tares. Next time you study the book of Psalms please look out for some of these passages. The Lord delights in choosing the foolish things of this world and He has chosen a high school drop out and an outcast in this world as well as an outcast of the church to declare this to one and all. I am not a prophet nor am I anyone special. Truly I am one of the scattered sheep that Ezekiel prophesied about. ‘In the latter days you will understand this’ as Ezekiel said. I have wounds deep ones as many of you, His sheep have. Most sheep suffer and have many problems emotional and physical but our spirits grow stronger though outwardly we perish and at an unnatural rate. ‘Those who seek to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer’.
@Naxus
“The Holy Spirit will be poured out ‘ON ALL FLESH’! and not on some flesh like it was on the day of Pentecost.”
now your’e talking!
Ok; take that one step further – if its not flesh that we are up against but spirit and the spirit is poured out on all flesh then we are looking for him to take that spirit that ‘tempts ‘in and through our flesh…………. The battles that ensue come into play as the Lord moves among ‘them’ ie; us, (his power against the principalities and powers that may dwell in us)- some in the carnal nature just love the carnal and the enemy’s henchmen will do all they can to prevent the carnal being taken from their ‘spirit’ why, because it ‘delights them!’ The spirit of ………….. is what we are up against – so who will ‘take the spirit nations’ and bring them under the authority of the Fathers heart…………… For you to do battle against any ‘sprit’ you have to be protected from every nuance and intention of those spirits otherwise you can fall prey to them yourself………………… If Todd is not clean then he ‘can easily fall prey’ – However what was the foundation of spirit – is Todd a willing participant of their nations or was he captured by them – If he was captured by them in his weakness then – mercy shall be given in good measure – if he was a willing participant from the onset of their inherant will to mislead a people, nation, culture etc., then you are dealing with a nest of vipers that know no bounds in their attempts to take authority over every nation known unto mans…………. Jesus takes spirit (s) because he knew what they could and do -do unto us………… thats when he says your sins are forgiven (ie you where unwhittingly captured ) to those who ‘set out to deceive and capture then ……………….. each according to his ‘evil (if you like!) shall it be metered out unto him…………… why – malicious intent – ie; search my heart of God………….
We suffer for a cause – but we suffer because of a foundation that has enabled suffering ………. when he takes your foundations – the suffering ceases and the father moves in and clothes you in his garment that protects you from the enemy ‘furthering suffering your life………………. We are on a journey from the sufferings of man into the peace- of love, compassion and ‘real hope’ of the Father who literally protects us …………………. the otherside is trying to bring in its version (s) in order to take authroity over truth and to confuse us when a genuine ‘shows up’…………. Naxus we are all ‘basically’ in the same boat!! in different versions of it maybe! but nevertheless in the same boat……………….. and we have all ‘dropped’ out of ‘something along the way’…………… Its not about the things of the world we are denied ie education, profession, etc., but about our willingness to search for him in our search to lay down mans ways and criteria for ‘success’
and take up his –
He is gentle and generous when he has to be and the opposite when he needs to be – his wrath though attacks those spirits that want dominion over our life ……………
-