Blow My Mind

It's all about Jesus. He is so amazing.
Every time I read the news about Lakeland,
my heart melts and tears blur my sight.
I want to go to Lakeland again.
The glory of God is resting upon that city!
And it's never going to leave!
Oh how I want You to do the same thing in Taiwan, Lord!
If no one goes, I will go! If no one speaks, I will speak!
If no one acts, I will act! If no one prays, I will pray!

Read this letter below. It is long, yet historic:

LAKELAND OUTPOURING APOSTOLIC ALIGNMENT
June 23, 2008
C. Peter Wagner

A warm welcome to those of you who are present in this tent and to you who are watching through GOD TV. You are about to witness an event which could well have historic implications not only for the Lakeland Outpouring but also for our nation and for many other nations of the world. Prophets have been telling us for years that God is about to launch an extraordinary spiritual awakening with signs and wonders, and for over two months Todd Bentley has been leading one of the more obvious fulfillments of those prophecies. This is an exciting place to be right now!

My name is Peter Wagner and I am President of Global Harvest Ministries based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I have served the body of Christ in apostolic ministry for many years, and currently I preside over the International Coalition of Apostles which brings together over 500 recognized apostles.

I have the honor of being assigned to preside over this momentous occasion, and I am humbled as I approach the task with an enormous sense of awe.

=========================
Holy Spirit, I invite Your presence,
Your power, and Your direction
=========================

This is a ceremony celebrating the formal apostolic alignment of Todd Bentley. My first desire is to lay a biblical foundation for what we are about to do.

I will begin with a scripture that has been a central text for those of us who are in the stream of the contemporary apostolic/prophetic movement, Ephesians 4:11-12:

And He Himself [Jesus at His ascension] gave some
To be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists
And some pastors and teachers,
For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.

The word “equipping” is a translation of the Greek katartizo which literally means “aligning,” as in setting a broken bone or a chiropractic adjustment. It means putting things in order so that the body functions as it was designed to function. This is one of the responsibilities of apostles such as those whom you see on the platform, and that is the reason we are present tonight. For example, Paul wrote to Titus, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking” (Titus 1:5).

Speaking of Paul and Titus, their relationship is a biblical prototype of apostolic alignment. The same would apply to Paul and Timothy. The apostolic alignment of Timothy and Titus with Paul was a principal factor in allowing God to develop and fulfill His complete destiny in both of their lives.

But Paul himself was also apostolically aligned. Soon after he was called to join Barnabas and his colleagues in Antioch for the then controversial ministry of planting churches among Gentiles, he traveled to Jerusalem to bring a gift for famine relief and also to align with some of the apostles. I want to use the experience that Paul had on that occasion as the text for the protocol for tonight’s alignment and commissioning of Todd Bentley. It is found in Galatians 2:9 which tells the story of one of Paul’s visits to Jerusalem:

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars,
Perceived the grace that had been given to me,
They gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship,
That we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Todd is following Paul’s example by inviting to the platform three apostolic pillars of today’s church: Ché Ahn of Pasadena, California, Bill Johnson of Redding, California, and John Arnott of Toronto, Canada, Todd’s native land. They represent an apostolic network called Revival Alliance.

Notice that the apostles in Jerusalem “perceived the grace that God had given to Paul.” “The word “grace” is charis, the root of charisma, meaning “spiritual gift or gifts.” In Paul’s case it was the gift mix necessary to carry the gospel to the Gentiles. In Todd’s case it is the gift mix necessary to lead the Lakeland Outpouring.

I have a question for the three apostles: Do you perceive the grace of God given to Todd Bentley as an evangelist to lead the Lakeland Outpouring? [Answer: “I do.”]

I have a question for Todd Bentley: Do you recognize the apostolic authority of these three men in your life and ministry, and do you desire to establish an apostolic alignment with them and with Revival Alliance? [Answer: “I do.”]

With this affirmation we will move to a formal commissioning, equivalent to “offering the right hand of fellowship” as the three apostles did to Paul in Jerusalem.

This commissioning represents a powerful spiritual transaction taking place in the invisible world. With this in mind, I take the apostolic authority that God has given me and I decree to Todd Bentley:
• Your power will increase.
• Your authority will increase.
• Your favor will increase.
• Your influence will increase.
• Your revelation will increase.

I also decree that:
• A new supernatural strength will flow through this ministry.
• A new life force will penetrate this move of God.
• A government will be established to set things in their proper order.
• God will pour out a higher level of discernment to distinguish truth from error.
• New relationships will surface to open gates for the future.

==================================================

Che Ahn: It’s a miracle that all of these distinguished apostles would all be able to make it all together… with our international commitments, that’s a miracle in itself.

Bob Jones prophesied that this Outpouring (and you Todd) would go to a whole different level on June 22 and this is the 23d.

Isaiah 22:22: God is giving the keys of David. He is opening doors that no man can close.

I also think it is significant we have 3 generations coming together. God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You know, Todd, we're old enough to be your dad and Peter Wagner is old enough to be your grandfather!

Recognizing that God has chosen you and appointed you to bear much and lasting fruit in this Lakeland revival, and revival around the world; recognizing that He has called you as an Ephesians 4 evangelist and a revivalist, moving in signs and wonders; knowing that you have walked in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Jesus in every way; bearing fruit in every good work; and growing in the intimacy and knowledge of God, we as your brothers and your friends who have a deep love for you, Shonnah, your whole family, just esteem you.

We are here to support you. We are here to commission you in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit -- with special oil from Chuck Pierce. It's called "revival oil." Chuck could not make it but he sent this Fed Ex for you (he's in Africa).

So, we anoint you, and commission you in Jesus Name. (Todd falls under the power of God… the three apostles lay hands on him on the floor)

John Arnott: We bless you today, Todd Bentley. You're a friend. You're a man of God. You're a man of prayer. You're a man of the Spirit. You love the anointing. I would say that it's not just the Lakeland Revival, but the whole world goes into revival. And your leading an amazing charge. Multitudes are getting in behind you and saying, "Come on. I'm going to go with you." And so we bless all of that.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for raising up this young man to lead such a mighty charge around the world, and to partner with God TV and all that has happened here in the last several months now. We bless it in the Name of Jesus. We stand with you and we encourage you, and we honor you.

Bill Johnson: When David wanted Uriah killed, he sent him into battle and then withdrew from him. As a company of people, we refuse to do that. Many revivals throughout history have been cut short of their intention of God's destiny and attention over individuals because of jealousies and fears that get stirred up in the people of God, and we refuse to do that. We shape the course of history by partnering with you, giving honor where it's due.

You welcome the glory as well as anybody I have ever seen in my life. I long to learn from you in that and I bless you. I pray with the rest of these that the measure of the glory would increase. That Moses would no longer be considered the high water mark when the glory shone from his face, but instead, the revelation of the goodness of God would change the face of the church, and that He would use your voice, He would use your grace, your anointing to alter the face of the church before this world. That the goodness of the Lord would be seen once again. I pray this over you in Jesus' Name.

Transcribed by Rhonda Boyer
Edited by Pastor Stephen Strader
*******************************

Jesus, You messed me up again.
I want nothing more than to be with You.

Johnny