While not wanting to fuel any debate with those in the seat of scoffers, I’m devoting a few additional posts on the Florida Healing Outpouring to explain why I’m not thwarted in my belief that “this is mostly God” even by reports of things like angel appearances and other Christian mystic experiences (post on this to follow) and even the matter of Todd Bentley’s violent methods. What follows is an transcription from my final point in my message Sunday where I spoke from Matthew 11:12. You can check out my earlier posts on the revival here and here. I appreciated Peter Kirk’s post yesterday on this topic of violence and the Kingdom of God so you’ll want to check that out. Peter is from Essex, UK. I especially appreciate him drawing in this quote from C.S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian.
Aslan pounced. Have you ever seen a very young kitten being carried in the mother cat’s mouth? It was like that. The Dwarf, hunched up in a little, miserable ball, hung from Aslan’s mouth. The Lion gave him one shake and all his armour rattled like a tinker’s pack and then – hey-presto – the Dwarf flew up in the air. He was as safe as if he had been in bed, though he did not feel so. As he came down the huge velvety paws caught him as gently as a mother’s arms and set him (right way up, too) on the ground.
Expect the new wine to come forcefully.
This will really stretch your old wineskin… Matthew 11:12 brings us to key point of controversy regarding Todd Bentley and the Lakeland Outpouring. “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” 99% of the church has no understanding of this verse. We gravitate toward the nice verses at the end of the chapter… come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest. But verse 12 is every bit inspired as verse 28 and verse 12 says the Kingdom of heaven is forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it. A literal rendering read “the violent take it by force.”
Many church people are rejecting the Florida Outpouring because Todd Bentley is so violent. We’ve all seen him body slam people on stage and knee people in the stomach. And he talks openly about this – he said one time the glory of God wasn’t evident in a meeting and he asked God about it and God said, “It’s because you haven’t kicked that woman in the face.” He said, “What? You want me to kick that 80 year old woman in the face.” God said, “Yes, with your work boot.” And so Todd kicked the woman in the face and just as his boot got to her nose she fell back under the power of God and God’s glory visited that meeting.
You can understand how this kind of thing is causing many to be offended and reject everything about this guy. Surely a loving God wouldn’t tell a guy to kick an 80 year old woman in the face! Are you sure? He told Abraham to sacrifice his son. “Do this Abraham – no wait, don’t… I just wanted to see if you would.” Are we sure the God who shakes nations with earthquakes is always safe and soft?
We all know God doesn’t need us to kick people in the face for them to be healed and Bentley says its not the point – the point is his obedience. Maybe Bentley operates at a great level of power because he is radically obedient. Maybe many in the church are walking in the lowest levels of God’s power in their lives because we won’t even obey a simple prompt from the Holy Spirit to give a bigger offering next week.
The Bible talks about those who have a form of godliness but deny the power. The word power is the word “dunamis” – dynamite, explosive power or force. Those who walk in this power seeing signs and wonders are often forceful, aggressive and walk in a holy violence. Part of the problem is most evangelicals have no knowledge of church history or what is happening in terms of deliverance ministry in the church globally. Nothing Bentley is doing is any different than what is normal many churches in Africa. I’ve been there a couple times… they aren’t driving foul spirits away in Africa by saying “shoo.” African Christians get in the devils face. They are kind/gentle. From what I’ve seen, Bentley is tender with children and it’s indisputable that he’s and his ministry are kind to the poor – he weeps when he talks about intimacy with Jesus. But facing a sickness or a devil, at times he comes out swinging – mostly though with strong words.
Seventy-five years ago Smith Wigglesworth was having mass revival meetings here and all over the world. Wigglesworth is one of the American revival heroes. He considered every type of sickness a work of the enemy – sometimes when he’d identify the part of the body that was hurting he’s punch the person in that part of the body. He’d grab the tongue of a stutterer and some people got upset that he was hitting the sick. He’d reply, “I don’t hit people, I hit the devil and people just get in the way.” Through his ministry people regained their hearing and sight, new limbs were created, cancerous growths disappeared and demons fled. Twenty-three people were raised from the dead at the hands of Smith Wigglesworth.
He once took a corpse out of the coffin and threw it up against the wall. The people were shocked until they saw that the deceased had sprung back to life. I’m not saying you need to rubber stamp this kind of violence, I’m saying we need to be careful to pounce on things like this so quickly as not being from God. I’m saying “the kingdom of God comes by force and forceful men lay hold of it.” The Kingdom of God is not the kingdom of the cushioned pew.
My own testimony is that I was healed when a minister hit me. I was healed of debilitating migraines in 2001 when a guy from Texas came to Church at the Gate for a prayer conference. He hit me on the forehead with the heel of his hand and said, “spirit of infirmity, be gone!” My hair would hurt when I’d have a migraine, and my wife will tell you, touching me was a no-no. So this guy hit me in the head and I haven’t had a migraine since. I don’t recommend that methodology to our prayer team people, but folks, God is God and he does what he wants.
The context of this verse in Matthew 11 on the violence of the Kingdom of God is Jesus talking with John the Baptist’s followers about John. Jesus asked them, “who did you go out in the desert to see, a man in soft clothing?” Is anyone else tired of the soft-clothing preachers who have words but don’t have any works to offer – who have “words” but the sick aren’t healed and the demons aren’t cast out? They ought to put signs out front – DUNAMIS-FREE ZONE, IT’S SAFE HERE – DEMONS WELCOME.
A couple verses later is Matthew 11:16-17. These verses are a bit perplexing. Jesus says; “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.” In other words, yours is a generation that is immature in the things of God. You are out there in the world thinking like children and this verse is about expectations and particularly how God isn’t doing what they set up for him to do. Is your church a church that dances to God’s tune or a church that tries to get God to dance to ours. I believe this to be the key issue each of us need to sort out– will we dance to God’s song, or wait til it’s over and try to get him to dance to ours?
God is not coming as we expect. He never limits himself to our expectations. He will not conform himself to our likeness, or liking. I heard Mike Bickle say once that “people are very comfortable with the Jesus in white, but not the Jesus in red.” The red is regarding the blood splattered on his garments when he returns to make war against the kings of the earth and violently remove everything that hinders love. As we near the end of the age, we can expect a great increase in the violent clash between the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness. Maybe next week I’ll preach the John 2:15 verse which talk about Jesus making a whip… 🙂 Would the Jesus you worship really make a whip?
UPDATED – Thanks to Andrew for commenting on this post and pointing us to this verse… 1 Kings 20:35f “Now a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to another BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, “Please STRIKE me.” But the man refused to strike him. Then he said to him, “Because you have not listened to the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you.” And as soon as he had departed from him a lion found him and killed him. Then he found another man and said, “Please strike me.” And the man struck him, wounding him.”
Apparently, God does tell people to hit people.
Ways & Means 
15 comments
Jun 5, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Peter Kirk
Thanks. I feel honoured but outclassed by the names I am listed among in your list of tags! I noticed after I posted on Matthew 11:12 that you had independently preached on the same chapter in this context, so I am glad to be able to read what you said. See also my new comment on my own blog recommending your post.
Jun 5, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Andrew
“Many church people are rejecting the Florida Outpouring because Todd Bentley is so ‘violent’….”
I know of this obscure little passage in 1 Kings 20, I’ll pick it up at verse 35: “Now a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to another {now pay attention here} BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, “Please STRIKE me.” But the man refused to strike him. Then he said to him, “Because you have not listened to the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you.” And as soon as he had departed from him a lion found him and killed him. Then he found another man and said, “Please strike me.” And the man struck him, wounding him.”
The Lord used his wound to get him close to the king for the purpose of delivering the I Am’s message. Most times the Father is far outside the little ‘box’ we try to cram Him in; the box of our own understanding/comprehensions.
Also, It may not be ‘violent’ but it is quite outside our little grids of what God can and will do; I speak of Isaiah 20:2-4 “at that time the Lord spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, ‘Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips and take your shoes off your feet.’ And he did so, going naked and barefoot. and the Lord said, ‘even as my servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Eygpt and Cush, so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Eygpt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.”
And they think tatoos are unorthadox! Atleast Bentley’s ‘hinderparts’ are covered! I hope this opens some eyes to the fact that God does not change; even though we do. Much love.
Jun 5, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Steve Hickey
Andrew – The 1 Kings 20:35 verse really hits the bulls-eye, thanks for finding it and sharing it. In fact, I’m going to add it to the text of this post.
Even so I can hear people saying “that’s Old Testament and you don’t see that stuff in the New Testament.” But as you remind us, God does not change.
Jun 6, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Bret
As I have watched the revival from the internet, I personally have seen a lot of good things and actually not to many questionable things. The whole “violent” thing does disturb me a little bit. We do know that many things in the bible that were done by apostles and prophets were sometimes “different” from what the natural mind would find “normal”. (Whatever normal is)
I personally don’t find people questioning things or wondering about things a bad thing and I certainly would not find that not all of these people are “scoffers”. I find the question and wondering quite scriptural. “Test the Spirits” the bible tells us in 1 John 4:1 and from what I’ve seen Todd Bentley does acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh and that he (Jesus) is Lord. As far as the people quoting the scripture (as a negative) from Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone one who calls me Lord” I would say let the Lord be the judge of that, after all, God will not mocked.
Back to the violent thing. The scripture used in Matthew 11:12 I see in a different context. I don’t see this scripture as a justification for violent acts whether used for good or bad. Quote – “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it.” (NIV) I don’t see in John’s life, in Jesus life in the disciples/apostles life any violence (Other than when Jesus chased out the money changers) used in ministry or in spreading the gospel. I do see violence against the gospel, against John, Jesus and the disciples/apostles. This is the context is see Matthew 11:12 in, violence against Jesus/the gospel/the church. All of these men were certainly bold in their faith and ministry, but not violent. I believe to put this scripture in “context” you have to look at the life, actions and fruit of the ministry of Jesus, John and the disciples/apostles. There certainly will be a day when Jesus in red will come.
Regarding Andrew’s verse in 1st Kings 20:35 this act was not done to anyone else, it was an act to be done against the prophet himself. The same with Jonah being thrown overboard, this was an act against the prophet himself. Even Abraham & Isaac was all within Abraham’s life and offspring and not against anyone else. We do know that God, in the old testament, wanted complete cities and peoples destroyed but that is out of context of what is being talked about here.
Jun 6, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Steve Hickey
Bret – I should clarify again who I’m talking about when I refer to those in the seat of scoffers. I’m not referring to good-hearted people who are honestly testing the spirits and searching something out Scripturally – these folks are genuinely open-minded and emit a grace toward either view. They are not passing judgment on disputable matters even after they form their own conclusions.
The scoffer however already has fixed and negative judgments and has gone public with those judgments with a heart to tear down those with an opposing view. Mainly, when I refer to those in the seat of scoffers I’m refering to a few hugely popular but mean-spirited websites. These people are fully anonymous (I believe staying in the shadows is a form of darkness). Being anonymous, they are therefore unaccountable. They are unfruitful and unloving. They are hurting good people, hindering the work of God, sowing fear and doubt in the Body of Christ. As you know, I’m tired of them. I believe they love a good fight about Jesus more than they love Jesus.
I do appreciate your comments regarding what I’ve written on the issue of violence and the Kingdom of God.
Jun 8, 2008 at 12:30 am
Robert Ricciardelli
Steve,
I think it is a stretch to use scripture out of context to advocate violence. And since when does results equal righteousness, humility, patience, love etc. There is no question God is touching people in Lakeland, but He is touching and healing people in a greater flow all over the world, no thanks to mans devices. Todd has helped increase expectancy of God’s power, so have some of the testimonies.
There is no question there is a mixture and we are always to be discerning mixture and results should never be the criteria… I am friends with Stephen Strader, but besides the Hank Handegraph type people that are scoffers of anything supernatural, there seems to be no tolerance for people like me that have valid questions.
Judgment goes both ways and those who have questions should not be labeled as Pharisees, or the “revival police”. We have investigated the 20 plus “raised from the dead” claims as we want to report them to the media, and they cannot be verified, but were only called in, or sent in from an email. This is not repsonsible reporting, and leaves many questions, which also adds to the claims of hype and embellishment.
We are praying for the leaders and asking the Lord to burn up all that is not of Him.
Jun 8, 2008 at 6:18 am
Steve Hickey
Robert – I’m thankful you commented. Of course I don’t think the verses I’ve used are out of context. For sure they aren’t apples to apples in terms of talking about hitting people while praying for them. But they do provide a context for God asking people to do violent things. They show God doesn’t just touch people “spiritually” or “emotionally” or even gently, he, at times, rocks us physically. My point was simply to put out some context in the broader scope of deliverance practices, church history and Scripture because people really need to think about their view of Jesus and God here at the end of the age. He’s beautiful and terrible simultaneously.
On a few occasions in these posts I’ve stressed there are a half a dozen things I’d change about this revival if it were mine, body slamming those coming for prayer is right there at the top. I don’t like it either. But, for some reason, I find it more tolerable and understandable than others. Matthew 11:12 is not being used out of context as it speaks of the Kingdom coming with violence. That means there are moments when it isn’t going to be pretty. Those who “spiritualize” this verse lose me.
Man can still screw all this up and I’m expecting, as you are, for a number of the greater claims to healing – new limbs, organs, raised from the dead to be followed up with some validation. I’m disappointed a bit to hear you say none of the 20 resurrections can be verified – I’ll stayed tuned there.
It’d be great if the Lord would keep this revival pure and burn up all that isn’t of him but I’m more inclined to see him take a wheat and tares approach and let the two grow along together. We do need to pray for Strader and Bentley that God would shelter them from undue and unfair attack from the cessasionist camp and release wisdom to shepherd this outpouring.
Regarding the scoffers, did you read my comment right above yours? You certainly don’t fit the bill of a scoffer – first, you give out your name. Thanks!
Blessings to you!
Jun 8, 2008 at 8:18 am
Robert Ricciardelli
Thanks Steve,
I am not a scoffer, but have been involved to bring truth to the masses. My newsletter goes out to 60,000 people each week, and I have many more that tap into it from around the world. The reporting of claims are being reported as fact and I am not talking about claims from Lakeland, these are claims from emails and phone calls. None of these claims happened from Lakeland, but there was an ownership of them, because someone sent them in. In some cases the person never even mentioned Lakeland, but wanted to just share what God has done. Charisma reporters and a few others like myself have tried to get these verified and cannot. At one point, I was told that is God’s job and not the ones reporting these invalidated and now some have been found out to be fraudulent claims.
We actually had offered to help, because any news of a resurrection in my opinion is world news if it can be validated. But then when the totals continued to mount which led to hype and embellishment, they began to ask us to stop asking questions. Hmmmm?
Friday night, Todd said that God said there were 1000 people that were to give $1000, and they were to receive a 1000 fold blessing. The one hour drama on this giving subject was so deceptively evident that it was embarrasing to watch. On top of that, those that would give that money were able to come to the platform to be recognized.
I know that there is mixture, I know that God is still touching depite the deception and manipulation of people, but results do not equal righteousness. Remember Jannes and Jambres producing snakes to come against Moses. God is a great God and a person could be in a Satanist cult meeting, and if they cried out to the Lord, He would answer. So platform, performance, and man’s devices aside, God is pouring out to the world in an amazing ways.
There is far too much of mans negative influence and character that is far from Him, for me to endorse Lakeland. But I will endorse a God who will touch people, and is touching people in the midst of deception, manipulation and the marketing of His glory. I will continue to pray for all of us who represent Him, and represent each other to the world.. Blessings
Jun 8, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Steve Hickey
Robert – Thanks again! I hadn’t been thinking along these lines until your comments but I suppose one of the enemies of this revival could easily send in a false resurrection report just for kicks and just to see if Todd adds it in with the rest, then stand up publicly to say its all a sham and disgrace this move of God. One would wish a praise report was something you could just take at face value but I suppose, as this progresses, they’ll need to delay reporting until some basic validations are received.
The offering debacle you speak of that happened on Friday would be added to my list of things I don’t like – I’ve seen this in Africa and in other places. I have said before that Bentley and this revival pass the “money test” but for sure even that could change with more overdone offerings like you described.
I hope the validations and verifications of several of these major healings and resurrections are forthcoming.
I love this sentence in your comment… “So platform, performance, and man’s devices aside, God is pouring out to the world in an amazing ways.”
Jun 10, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Florida Healing Outpouring - Is Todd Bentley a New Age Mystic? « Gate Post
[…] the more controversial points – the Angel Emma, Third Heaven Experiences, is this Kundalini, Violence and the Kingdom of God. It would be easier to say nothing, there is even some potential in my own circles that I’m […]
Jun 19, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Cary Young
Todd bently
Jul 10, 2008 at 9:33 am
ABC Nightline features Todd Bentley and Florida Healing Outpouring « Gate Post
[…] and the Seat of Scoffers part three Florida Healing Outpouring – Todd Bentley and the Angel Emma Florida Healing Outpouring – Todd Bentley, Violence and the Kingdom of God Florida Healing Outpouring – Todd Bentley, the manifestations of the Spirit or Kundalini? Todd […]
Jul 21, 2008 at 1:16 am
Ginowan777
Brother Steve,
I really think you’d better take another look at Matt. 11:12 one more time.
First of all Jesus is not giving us a directive concerning the Kingdom, He is referring to John but not only to John but all those who like John fell into that time frame. probably speaking of the Old Testament Prophetic Age.
“From the Days of John the Baptist until now” the now being Messiah’s Day the time Jesus was talking. All or almost all the Old Testament prophets were extreme to the max in fulfilling their God given assignment. Calling down fire, beheading prophets of Baal, etc. John himself living in the wilderness, eating little hoppey things, I wouldn’t touch, wearing his camels hair garment which quite possibly was worn bristle side inward toward the flesh, to possibly remind him of his unholiness??? (Overcoming the flesh by the flesh, a rather violent activity) The greatest of all the Old Testament prophets according to the word of Christ, yet the least in the Kingdom, according to Jesus,is greater than John.
John the last of the Old Testament prophets, the last of that great age. The same Jezebel spirit that tried to kill Elijah before his time; killed john working through herod’s lovely wife and daughter, thus bringing and end to “the Old Testament prophetic age” ushering in the New Covenant Age.
Again I stress Jesus never told anyone to take the Kingdom or anything else by force. He did tell His followers to “Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).
He also told His followers in Lk. 12:31-32 pretty much the same thing He said in Matt. 6:33 with a very important add-on; “Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom.” Much better than taking something, just receive what the Father so graciously has chosen to give us. He gives us His Spirit, He gives us the Kingdom.
But that’s not all. Why would Jesus give Peter the keys of the Kingdom, if we have to kick open the doors? With the keys you unlock doors not kick them open!
According to Ern Baxter Peter first used those keys in Acts 2:38 and opened up the Kingdom to the Jews who heard his first apostolic address.
Then Peter went with John to Samaria and they laid hands on the new believers who had been baptized but had not yet received the Spirit and they received.
Later Peter took those same keys to a Gentile’s house and his whole household was saved, receiving the Spirit and going to the waters of Baptism.
The keys Acts 2:38: (1) repent (2) be baptized for the remission of sins (3) and you’ll receive the promise God gave the Fathers, the gift of the Spirit.
Peter in a very short time opened the Kingdom up to the Jews, the Samaritans, and then the Gentiles. He was starting the fulfillment of Jesus’ command to witness first in Jerusalem, then in Samaria, and to the remotest parts of the earth.
Where am I going with this? To Paul’s word in Rom. 14:17; The Kingdom is not in outward stuff, food, drink, luxury cars, and big houses, but the Kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy, in the Holy Spirit.
The Kingdom is not righteousness, peace, and joy those are the evidences in the lives of believers of their life in the Kingdom. The Kingdom is in the Spirit. The Spirit is a gift, the Kingdom is a gift. We don’t take the Kingdom nor do we have to advance the Kingdom by force. The Victory is already ours IN Christ, we figt from a position of Victory already won for us that is why Paul called us more than conquers.
The guy who popped you on the head when you got healed spoke out the name of Jesus.
Wigglesworth, right or wrong in some of his actions did everything in the name of Jesus.
Bentley kicks a man in the stomach never once using the name of Jesus.
As the man with colon cancer is bent over in pain Bentley proceeds to tell the man sometimes you have to drive the demons out.
Jesus always drive out demons with His word, Paul commanded them out.
Since when did that change, do you really think a demon hurts when your punch or kick some poor soul? The same is true of “Bam” do demons flee when you “Bam” them or command them to leave IN His?Jesus’ name?
I
My thoughts for what they’re worth
jkblessing <
Ginowan777 http://ginowan777.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/drunk-in-the-spirit-does-it-glorify-god-or-th/
http://www.himwepreach.podomatic.com/
Jul 21, 2008 at 3:15 am
Jerry Sorrow
Read Matt. 11:12; as many times as you desire but it in no way tells New Covenant believers to take anything the Father has chosen to give us by force. Jesus spoke to them of the Old Covenant Prophetic age which ended with the death of John. A time when almost all the true prophetic men performed what to us whould be strange, many times quite violent acts. John himself was an example from another light, John with his camel’s hair garment some scholars say turned bristle side in toward the skin could have been one who by violence against his own flesh tried to obtain the Kingdom, just a thought. But that all changed for those in Christ.
Graciously, the Father has chosen to give us not only the Holy Spirit but in doing so He gives us the Kingdom of God. Plain and simple God is a Giver, He gives us the Spirit and the Kingdom. We can’t earn them and we definitely can’t take by force what the Father so freely gives those who receive His Son.
Lk. 12: 31-32 Amplified Text
31. Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also.
32. Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!
NOTE: We are told here and in Matthew’s Gospel to seek the Kingdom and that the Father’s good pleasure is to give us the Kingdom but where as many teach does Jesus or any other New Testament writer tell us we must take the Kingdom by force? It just ain’t there!
Paul the great apostolic writer said something in Rom. 14:17 that many of us have not caught. He tells us where the Kingdom is to be found and what is the evidence of the Kingdom in the lives of those who believe. If we grasp what Paul is saying then we’ll not get caught up in so much Kingdom speculation as to the timing or the place of the Kingdom, and we’ll gain a greater understanding of the evidence of Life of the Spirit in the lives of those who believe. Quite simply Life IN the Kingdom is Living Life in the Spirit.
Rom.14:17 Amplified Text
17. [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Rom. 14:17 NKJ
17. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Jul 22, 2008 at 10:34 am
The Dominical Latter Rain of Papastolic Prophepostleism” | Sheeple Blog
[…] But signs keep emerging that all is still not well within the ranks of the self-appointed Elder’s of the Charismatic Movement. Robert Ricciardelli (Charsima Magazine Author and card carrying member of the Wagner International Constipation….errr…I mean Coalition of Apostles) recently made an appearance on Jason Clark’s Blog where he left the following comment (Thanks to Dan-O for sleuthing this out): Truth is there are very few people being healed in Lakeland. I have worked with Charisma Magazine editor Lee Grady in discovering how many false reports have been released as facts. These are our brothers and sister involved in this, but this move of God has been a move of men with God still touching some who come to seek Him… Robert Ricciardelli (Jason Clark Blog) “… The reporting of claims are being reported as fact and I am not talking about claims from Lakeland, these are claims from emails and phone calls. None of these claims happened from Lakeland, but there was an ownership of them, because someone sent them in. In some cases the person never even mentioned Lakeland, but wanted to just share what God has done. Charisma reporters and a few others like myself have tried to get these verified and cannot. At one point, I was told that is God’s job and not the ones reporting these invalidated and now some have been found out to be fraudulent claims. We actually had offered to help, because any news of a resurrection in my opinion is world news if it can be validated. But then when the totals continued to mount which led to hype and embellishment, they began to ask us to stop asking questions. Hmmmm? Friday night, Todd said that God said there were 1000 people that were to give $1000, and they were to receive a 1000 fold blessing. The one hour drama on this giving subject was so deceptively evident that it was embarrasing to watch. On top of that, those that would give that money were able to come to the platform to be recognized….” (Robert Ricciadelli: Stevehickey Blog) […]