1. The original question: "Is what is happening in Lakeland Florida true revival?" has now become :"How has it come to this?". Lies, immorality and periodic drunkenness by Todd Bentley have been reported from official sources

2. Genuine, trustworthy Christian men and women are those who ARE ACTIVELY AND PASSIONATELY seeking to become more like Jesus - pure and holy. If you experience a check in your spirit, watch for a person's behaviour. Sooner or later their true self will emerge in their behaviour - either godly or ungodly. Jesus said: "a tree is known by its fruit". The outworking of a person's life and behaviour is, ultimately, the evidence of the kind of person they are.

BEWARE OF FOLLOWING AFTER PEOPLE - AND EXPERIENCES !

PEOPLE ARE FRAIL CREATURES WHO CAN FALL, AS YOU WILL SEE FROM THE NEWS UNFOLDING BELOW ABOUT TODD BENTLEY.

3. THE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS ARE REPORTED FROM TODD BENTLEY'S WEBSITE:

AUGUST 12th 2008 update:
Source: Todd Bentley's FreshFire website (FRESHFIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

"It is with considerable sadness then, that we must temper the jubilation we know you all feel with the sobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencing significant friction in their relationship and are currently separated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immorality on the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been."

AUGUST 15th 2008 update:
Source: Todd Bentley's FreshFire website (FRESHFIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

"We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life."

4. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

AUGUST 17th 2008 update:
John Arnott of Toronto Airport Christian fellowship (TACF) also reports on the TACF website:

"Todd has chosen to do something that is wrong according to Scripture, and his timing to announce it was equally inappropriate. Everyone is asking, "What happened?" "Why didn't anyone see this coming?" We are making the answers to those questions a matter of prayer, and are as shocked and saddened by what has just happened as you are. Furthermore, it has now come out that there has been some inappropriate behavior, both with excessive drinking and also with a female member of his staff. Please don't jump to conclusions or assume the worst, but this behavior is wrong before the Lord.

5. LIES WERE SPOKEN FROM THE PLATFORM AT LAKELAND

“On the financial front, Todd recently told the crowd that God had told him that there were 1,000 people who would give $1,000 and that they would be blessed 1,000-fold. Robert called Stephen Strader to confront the unbiblical nature of that appeal. It came out that Todd admitted he hadn’t heard that from God, that it was just an idea he had so that they could raise money to build a big stadium. Robert challenged them to issue an apology the following night based on that false claim of being told by God and they refused to do it on the excuse that it’s a different crowd every night".

6. AUGUST 25th 2008 Update from C Peter Wagner, one of the group who comissioned Bentley at Lakeland:

"Since this is an update, I will share some of what I know about what is happening with Bentley, but not all because some things need more verification and it is up to discernment of Revival Alliance what and when this will be revealed. Suffice it to say that there is more than I am going to mention. First of all, Todd has been removed from public ministry until further notice. He has resigned from the ministry he founded, Fresh Fire, so he is no longer a part of that board. It has become clear that he indulged in periodic drunkenness. He has no intention at the moment of reconciling with Shonna, nor does she with him. Their marriage has been torn for years by his emotional attachment with at least one other female whose physical contact went beyond hugging and kissing and holding hands. Enough said-maybe more details will be revealed later-but it was clearly immoral. All of this was skillfully concealed by lying and by swearing close associates who had observed his behavior to secrecy. Stephen Strader, for example, knew nothing of this before June 23. Apparently some of his board members did, but they did not have the ability to deal with it."

7. On the positive side, Dutch Sheets has issued the following statement:

""My assignment from the Lord is to repent on behalf of the leadership of the Charismatic Body of Christ. We have failed the Lord and His people in many ways. We must repent if we are to be trusted in the future. We, the leaders of the Charismatic community, have operated in an extremely low level of discernment. Frankly, we often don't even try to discern. We assume a person's credibility based on gifts, charisma, whether they can prophesy, or work a miracle." Read the full article here.

8. Finally, a word (from a prayer warrior) to those who are grieved and hurt through all this Todd Bentley mess:

"You watched and you believed and you may have even been healed at the Lakeland meetings. You are wondering..."how could I have been deceived? The Truth is.. you were drawn by God..you had a hungry heart and God loves hungry hearts. As a matter of fact God is drawn to hungry hearts ...like a magnet.

I talked to several people who went to Lakeland and everyone of them said, "they saw a huge hunger for God in the people." Their comments were not about Todd...they were about how everyone was ministering to each other. How people were getting healed and encouraged and touched by God in hallways, in the bathrooms. It's so amazing how God shows up in spite of everything. So, for those of you who were touched by God by watching TV or in the meetings...hang on to it! That's precious and grow in it...don't let go of that hunger.

The "Body of Christ" is in great need of deliverance, healing, and transformation. In order for that to take place the "yuk" must be exposed. I believe what Dutch sheets said in his Letter to the "Church"... really was from God. God has used him to begin the process of deliverance...he's exposing the sin in "THE BODY" especially in leaders. The fact that he asked for forgiveness...that was powerful. The flood gates are open. This is the shift, this is the shaking we've all been hearing about...this is the tidal wave so many have seen in dreams. It's going throughout the world. If we come clean before the Lord we will ride it out...if not we'll go under.

Todd Bentley is a type of what's in the Body of Christ. How many in the "Body" are living in immorality, deceit, and family infidelity?

Get ready...there's more to come and many more will be exposed. Intercessors all over the world are praying for exposure. God is answering that prayer!

Oh God, give us all a Holy dose of the Fear of God! Bring us all into repentance!"

From a Prayer Warrior - A praying mom!

In the light of all that has happened at Lakeland,we offer some much needed background reading in our Church Resources Page which contains articles on spiritual discernment

See also our sister website calling for HOLINESS in the Body of Christ today www.holiness.org.uk