Before I start, I want to give some background on my journey and how I think the way I do. I have been outside the “church” from 1998 to 2023, which is 25 years, which is a lifetime for some. I have watched what is going on from the outside looking in. I went to some meetings and conferences but generally kept away. I was going to write that the Holy Spirit said the Move of God would start in my nation, and to be honest, it was to hide my calling from you all. But I am correcting my writing because this morning, the thought came, “I didn’t say that the Move of God would start in Scotland”. This is what he said, “You have to take this Move of God that God has given to you to the people”.

I remember the day I walked out of the church, and I asked God about the calling of my life and how he would do it. The Holy Spirit answered you’ll be like Job. Like Job, God is taking me to the place of being nothing so that he can be everything in my life. Before God can use someone, He has to reduce them to nothing; that is the work of the cross. My only ask of my sermon index brothers and sisters is that you keep me in your prayers.

With that, I am very careful in what I believe and who I will listen to and read. Now, I will touch some of the holy cows, so speak; you may get mad with me but know before I start, I am not trying to do that intentionally. I will try to show you what has crept into the church; it’s not anything new; it has happened in the past, in previous Moves of God. I will highlight the Holiness movement. I am not doing this to attack anyone; it is more about protecting what will come.

So let's start; I will begin with someone who some would say is Charismatic; he may move in Charismatic circles.
During the Lakeland Revival 2008, Tod Bently said the following in a meeting: a move of God is coming to the youth in Scotland. It is clear that there is a spiritual force at work with this young man from Scotland.

See the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8O_7WJIx6c

This ended up with some workers from Fresh Fire Ministries coming to the area in Scotland where I live. I went to two of the meetings; the first meeting was held in Fraserburgh, which saw a mighty move of the Spirit in 1920. It was called the Fisherman's Revival. You can read more about it here if you’re interested.

https://ukwells.org/revivalists/fishermans-revival-1921

Now, the meeting in Fraserburgh was really weird; everyone seemed to be seeing Angels, and there were lines of people coming up to confess what they were seeing. Now, this man got up to preach. He was sharing a testimony; he said he practised “soaking prayer” and had been seeking to see the spiritual world opened to him. Then, one day, it opened up, and since then, he was assigned an angel who would visit him and speak with him.

As he spoke, I began to pray in tongues/with my mind for the man under my breath, Jesus help this man. While I was praying, he started stuttering and stammering, and at that, the people began to laugh at him; then suddenly, he stopped stammering and declared that my angel was standing at the back of the room, and he said he was telling me to you the people that we should be seeking to see Angels. I was no longer after that; I got up and left.

What I witnessed in Fraserburgh ended up with me looking into “soaking prayer.” He believed this was the way to see and experience the spiritual realm, leading me to look at contemplative prayer to learn more about it. This then helped me immensely as when I started to read the Holiness teachings, I saw the exact same thing as Tod Bently and his Cohort’s practice, not by everyone, but there were those who did.

Here is a statement by Tod Bently on Twitter to confirm what he is practising:

True and pure contemplation lies in focusing on receiving from the union we have with Christ. We wait in reverent expectation that we will receive. Many refer to this as contemplative prayer, a deep love and communion with the Triune God.

https://twitter.com/IamToddBentley/status/1755008269972590674

Tod Bently is a Mystic; he practises contemplative prayer to get union with Christ, so he says.

Here is another video that highlights what has come into the church.

https://sermons.love/patricia-king/1527-patricia-king-what-is-a-mystic.html

The guy here is James Goll, or James W Goll as he calls himself now; listen to what they say.

“The new age is the old age in new clothing,” says James.

The Desert Fathers and Christian Mystics – the lord will reveal to you through the hidden streams of the Desert Father and the Christian Mystics.

He then went to Franciscan Monastery, and for a year, all he read was the Desert Father and the Christian Mystics. The Quakers and Shakers are mentioned as they would Quake and Shake; when I heard that, I thought about what you saw in the first video of Tod Bently and the Man from Scotland.

_________________
Colin Murray

I knew Bentley was counterfeit 20 years ago. Then there's this:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/january/todd-bentley-charismatic-preacher-investigation-misconduct.html

How ironic that a liberal, ecumenical publication has taken the "moral high ground" in this matter (rightly so, in this case).

Colin said:
"This is what he said, “You have to take this Move of God that God has given to you to the people”."

Because you will likely not read the entire quotation below, here is the main scripture and my question: where is this "move of God that God has given you"? It's an easy thing to allow ourselves to be puffed up, especially if we see ourselves as something - ironically within a context of telling people we we are nothing, or being made nothing. Let those who think they stand, take heed lest they fall. The Lord will not give a man a move of God, because to even say that is to touch the ark, as it were.

“Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” (1 Corinthians 4:18-20)

The context below is crucial, but again, the nature of my post will likely cause you stop reading before even this point, and I know you will see these words as persecution, opposition, the devils message, and just another naysayer seeking to cause you to doubt the calling you believe you have, and some dispensation of the the Spirit entrusted to you.

The infiltration of the enemy into the charismatic movement is not new revelation dear brother, especially not Bentley. "Soaking" is an IHOP founding principle as well, they even tried to create a music genre around in many years ago. It is pervasive everywhere, and has been for hundreds of years.

Please Colin, realize that the enemy is just as pervasive in getting men to think they have a special and unique calling to dupe them into proud and self righteous alienation of anyone that questions them, as he is in outright deception and false teaching. He masquerades as an angel of light, and for those who seek to follow Jesus, tempts them along the lines of good things that inwardly are ravenous, because to tempt them to do evil outright in the form of obvious sin is useless.

All who are born again have a high calling in Christ Jesus, to fellowship in His suffering, and walk with Him humbly with no thought of self, especially some great work we are supposed to do in His name. The greater work we are called to is based on His redemption, redeemed men and women walking with Jesus, in this world as He walked, in fellowship with the Father through Jesus the Son, by the Holy Spirit. Godliness with contentment is great gain, materially and otherwise, and until we are content to truly be nothing in the eyes of the church and world, content to live simply and only for Jesus and following Him, we have not yet begun to understand the mystery of Godliness - God manifest in the flesh - our mundane, daily existence being transformed into a glorious and sanctified existence through obedience and faith. A simple, single eyed love for only Jesus.

Revival is simply a lot of individual people realizing the worth of Jesus, and leaving all to follow Him anywhere He leads them.

To truly be called is to place even the calling in the death of Christ - because the consciousness of the calling is to still be focused on self. Before God will use a man, the calling the man may see upon himself has to die. Resurrection is always preceded by death, most significantly in this context.


“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Corinthians 4:1-21)

Chris,
It's also quite grievous to me the amount of legal representation these things tend to accumulate. The letters to the Corinthians are rebukes to the charismatic movement from top to bottom, "and that before unbelievers".

These are big business enterprises. Of course legal representation occurs. The "front" is the ministry. American churchianity is a for-profit enterprise that begins with venture capital and ends with tax exempt dividends a plenty. The money changers in the temple are alive and well (until the tables are turned on them).

Chris,

It's sad that, like Pharaohs expulsion of Abraham for his deception with Sarah - the world is the one expelling the professing church from itself. Rather than us coming out from the world, the world is telling us to leave because even it's standards are higher.

Chris

Thanks for the article.

I choose Tod Bently as he is an easy target that we can all agree about, before digging a bit deeper. I read the article and noticed the name I mentioned later in the post James W. Goll.

https://sermons.love/patricia-king/1527-patricia-king-what-is-a-mystic.html

In it, you’ll see him speaking about his journey – it started with a dream – this led into the desert father and Eastern Orthodoxy. He then spent some time in a Franciscan monastery for a week and read the book that he found in there.

The real issue is that the Charismatic movement has been infiltrated, and dear brothers and sisters are being misled.

_________________
Colin Murray

Hi Colin,
could you elaborate on

"I have been outside the “church” from 1998 to 2023, which is 25 years, which is a lifetime for some. I have watched what is going on from the outside looking in. I went to some meetings and conferences but generally kept away."

As I understand it, the church is the the "ecclesia", the called people of God from the world. Did you not have committed fellowship all these 25 years? Didn't you miss fellowship? Is the command to fellowship with brothers and sisters not anchored in the bible?

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Doesn't God prepare his people within a fellowship? Did you stay away from God's people for all these years and then go back to them with your calling?

As for me, I had similar experiences, I confronted the elders in my church for invoking this Toronto stuff. I stormed out of meetings in heated anguish because of counterfeit manifestations of the Spirit and I had been kicked out of a fellowships for being too pentecostal, but I always maintained fellowship wherever possible. I need brothers and sisters, I cannot and will not be without them.

Quote: Ironically within a context of telling people we are nothing.

When I say "I am nothing", I mimic Paul, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

God has to bring you to that place; when you look at yourself and see no good thing, you see weakness, you see lack, you're scared, your unclean, your unworthy, I can’t speak in front of people and you cry out to God - Father “I am nothing” – I can’t do it.

Then you see that Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. The Spirit then begins to open up the New Covenant, and you see it in scripture: he promises, “I will do it”.

That, my brother, this is the cross – that you write about.

_________________
Colin Murray

What we need to remember is that while We are nothing, Jesus is everything! and Jesus is living in us and we are in him , so we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We can’t do anything without him and he won’t do anything without us..

_________________
Mike

Colin,

I knew you would stop there, right where you quoted me. That's why the important bits are later in the post (if you read it I actually questioned how far you would make it), because it would take something other than knee jerk reaction to get any further, and you would have to be free of the bondage I mentioned later to take anything past that quote with anything other than a resistant mentality, not seeking understanding or mutual benefit in the conversation, just throwing back at me that the cross I write about is the one you know experimentally.

God is bringing us all into a place where we don't even look at ourselves, at all. Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith - no longer I, but Jesus.

You may be right in the last analysis - maybe you are the mouthpiece of God for the next world sweeping revival as you say, and I'm just a hypocritical naysayer dabbling in things to high for himself. That's the risk we run in seeking to be obedient to the Lord isn't it, the risk of being wrong.

But the proof is in the pudding, as it were. So if you find yourself lost in the way, remember my words dear brother, because as far as I am obedient, they are not in fact my words.

As you requested, and since long before when you were still seeking an experience of sanctification (interestingly, you being led one way, and myself another, yet somehow by the same Lord) - you have been in my prayers.