Todd Bentley

[Jim Watt]

*"TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE" MINISTRIES*

*Jim & Marie Watt*

*PO Box 25116 -- Federal Way WA 98093-2116*

*Tel: 253.874.4265 -- Email: jmbetter at gmail.com*

*Web: www.2rbetter.org
*

*TODD BENTLEY & LAKELAND, FLORIDA -- 2008.07.02*

Friends -- Yesterday I mailed a response to an inquirer concerning William
Branham. God mightily used him in the healing ministry. As long as he stuck
to this calling, God used him. When he slipped out of it into a "teaching"
ministry, things went awry.

Some have asked further response from me concerning him. Please look at my
suggestion that is on Wikipedia. There Ern Baxter gives a full report on his
6 years with Brother Branham, and answers your questions more adequately
than I could.

Following my report on Branham, a number of you have asked if I might give a
report on Todd Bentley and the Lakeland, Florida meetings. I have friends on
both sides of the camp, as well as some like myself somewhat in the middle.
I am enclosing a very positive evaluation by a pastor from Redding,
California, who I esteem very highly, and of course take his input very
seriously. As he notes, all revivals in history have their pros and cons.
Wesley was so disturbed with wildfire in the 1738 Methodist Revival that
went on for the next 50 years, that he complained to God about this. God's
response was: "If I can put up with some wildfire -- shouldn't you be able
to do so also?"

Both Wesley and Finney gave very strong exemplary leadership in their
respective revivals. But both experienced a great deal of wildfire in their
meetings at the same time. I have been led of the Spirit to make a personal
commitment to pray daily for Todd Bentley. I continue to hold God's word to
Jeremiah concerning all ministries, including my own: "Therefore thus says
Jehovah, If you return, then will I bring you again, that you may stand
before me; and if you *take forth the precious from the vile,* you shall be
as my mouth" (Jeremiah 15:19a, ASV 1901).

Following is the very loving, wise and discerning evaluation by a friend of
Todd Bentley:

Church history is loaded with successes and failures. For some reason this
is especially true with the activity of revival. In time, all revivalists
become heroes of the Church. But they are not always valued in their day by
their peers. My grandfather once told me, "Not everyone liked Wigglesworth."
We love Wigglesworth today, but mostly because he is dead. We encounter his
offensive ways in books, not in the same meeting we're attending. And when
the Church becomes exposed to someone who is different, or even ministers
differently, the insecure tend to criticize and reject him. Many of us have
determined to change this bad habit. Some of the members of the Revival
Alliance went to Lakeland, Florida, to commission revivalist Todd Bentley
and welcome him into our network of networks. We refuse to leave our friend
alone to face the opposition and criticism that has been leveled at him
these past few months.

John Arnott, Che Ahn, and I were involved in the commissioning. Peter Wagner
helped to spearhead the event. Peter's involvement was significant because
he witnessed the difficulties that John Wimber went through when he helped
to initiate a great move of God in the early 80's. Peter then watched John
Arnott go through the same opposition some years later. He didn't want to
see that same course of action affect another great move of God, or another
great man of God.

I rarely make my letters and e-mails known publicly. Actually, this is the
only time I remember doing so. But because of the effect sharing has had on
our church, it was recommended I pass this on to you. I was asked: "How in
God's name can you endorse Todd Bentley?" This is my response:

Have you spent time with Todd? Do you know him? Have you watched him with
his wife? Or have you seen how he treats his kids? Have you spent any time
with his staff? Have you been to his ministry? Has he been to yours? Have
you laid hands on him and prayed? Has he laid hands on you and prayed? Have
you grieved over tragedy together? Have you celebrated victory together? Has
he sought your counsel? Has he traveled a great distance just to meet with
you privately for advice? Have you ever received his counsel? Have you been
in the room when God has shown up on him and used him in stunning miracles?
Have you seen him operate in the word of knowledge or the prophetic? Have
you met with his council of elders? Have you personally benefited from his
gift? Has he benefited from your gift and ministry? Has he ever honored you
for who you are in God? Has he partnered with you as a friend? Have you
sacrificed for his welfare, or that of his family? Have you sought God with
him? Have you ever worshiped the Lord with him?

I didn't think so. I have.

And I'll continue to support those who I have walked with in life and
ministry. He's my friend. More importantly, God calls him friend. And if you
and I were ever friends on that level, and people hated you and turned
against you, and started web pages to tear down your ministry, and
criticized you to your friends, and wrote against you in Christian
magazines, and criticized you on the radio and wrote e-mails to other
conference speakers and authors, I'd still be your friend.

By the way - rcriticism in the form of a question is not a question. But to
respond to your statement, "How in God's name can you endorse Todd Bentley?"
It's easy. I do it in God's name.

 Todd is a good friend, but more importantly, he is a friend of God. I've
met very few people in my life who are hungrier for God and will take
extended periods of time just to seek Him. God has entrusted him with an
extraordinary outpouring for a reason - He can trust him to do whatever He
says, regardless of the opinions of others. He is bold - amazingly bold. The
miracles are legitimate and increasing. The Church of America has asked for
a great revival. God wonderfully placed this move in a package that few
would have expected, just to see if we're as hungry as we say we are.

Thanks for your loving support of this ministry!

Much love,

Bill Johnson

Bill Johnson Ministries *<newsletter at bjm.org> *

Subject: July 2008 E-Newsletter


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