The Arnotts Comment on Lakeland Revival
CBN.com EXPERIENCE THE BLESSING
After attending Bible College, John Arnott pursued a varied and successful career in business. It was in 1980, while on a ministry trip to Indonesia, that he responded to God’s call on his life for full-time ministry. He and wife Carol founded the Jubilee Christian Fellowship, and in 1988 founded the Toronto church. On January 20, 1994, their lives and ministry changed forever. The revival that began that day, often referred to as the “Toronto Blessing,” continues to influence churches around the world.
“Carol and I felt that we were the least qualified to lead a revival that would eventually have worldwide impact,” John says.
Since that time they have witnessed many remarkable miracles and testimonies. In
LAKELAND
In May, Todd Bentley of Fresh Fire Ministries began holding meetings to Ignited Church in Lakeland, Fla. What began as a few days of meetings became four months of twice-daily meetings that were aired around the world by GOD-TV and streamed on the internet as God moved with signs and wonders.
By August things came to an abrupt end when it was announced that Todd Bentley was separating from his wife, Shonnah, and then other inappropriate behavior was reported. John and Carol have known Todd for several years. Here are excerpts of what John has posted on the TACF web site about this:
“I have known Todd for several years and have seen God work mightily through him. I went to Lakeland to support what Todd and Fresh Fire were doing there because I believed God was moving powerfully in the lives of thousands. I also knew Todd would have many critics, just as I had had with the revival in Toronto. I wanted to be available to Todd if he needed advice. I wish I had known he was struggling in his marriage, but unfortunately I did not. We all want to provide any help we can to preserve the fruit of this outpouring. We are doing this for several reasons. First, we love the Body of Christ and the work God does through times of revival. We care very deeply about the impact of the church’s leaders and role models on the body of Christ and the world. We also care about Todd and Shonnah, the Fresh Fire Ministries staff and all who have been a vital part of the Lakeland Revival.
Let me encourage you to hold steady to your faith in God and give the redemptive process the time it requires and let’s see what God will do. Because I believe in God, I also believe that nothing is impossible with Him. He is able to take the worst situation and turn it into a great blessing. Be slow to speak out publicly and to judge prematurely. It is time to treat these people with grace, like you would like to be treated when you fall or make a mistake.
The Holy Spirit, who is perfect, must use imperfect people even in revival. Carol and I have always urged Christians to pay close attention to the issues of integrity. The scripture admonishes each one of us, ‘Watch over your heart with all diligence; for out of it flows the springs of life.’ (
) Christian leaders are held to the high standard of being exemplary in character and all other aspects of our personal lives. When a leader fails, the news spreads so quickly with those outside the Body of Christ heaping shame and reproach upon the name of Jesus Christ and the church. The enemy wants to use these failures to undo the work of the Holy Spirit if he can.To those who were blessed in Lakeland, do not allow the seeds of hope and healing that were sown into you there be uprooted by this leader’s mistakes. It was God who touched you and no one can take that away unless you allow it. I am aware that the devil wants to tempt some people to say, ‘I told you so.’ Do not allow yourself to become his instrument by using the sword of truth without mercy this way. Before you cast a stone, remember that you are not without sin yourself. This is how pride can gain a subtle hold in your heart. What you sow now, you will reap in the future.”
REVIVAL, MANIFESTATIONS AND PROPHETIC SYMBOLISM
Fresh and powerful experiences in the Lord are available to all, yet many stumble over them because they are unlike anything most have seen before. The Arnotts constantly redirect the attention of people away from the look of the manifestation and onto the fruit in the person’s life.
“We are talking about a relationship with the King,” John says. The relationship must be real. What do people learn from being on the floor? “That God is in control,” he says.
Many who’ve been to Toronto testify to a deeper intimacy and love for the Lord. Millions of people have come to Toronto to be touched and changed by God, returning to their homes on fire for the Kingdom. To experience revival in your church or community, the Arnotts offer the following suggestions: (1) Ask God to meet you with His love; (2) Let the Holy Spirit open up your past hurts and bring healing; (3) As you grow in freedom, tell others (whether they follow Jesus yet or not!); (4) Stay full of the Holy Spirit yourself - take time for soaking in God's presence; and (5) Testify to what God is doing in your life.
Whenever an extraordinary move of God takes place in the Church, questions and concerns are raised, especially in connection with the manifestations that occur, as well as the use of prophetic symbolism. John wrote Manifestations & Prophetic Symbolism for most commonly asked questions such as:
- Why do manifestations occur?
- Is there anything we can learn from them about what is taking place in a person’s life at the moment?
- How does one “pastor” a move of the Spirit and retain godly order without quenching the work of the Spirit?
- Why do some people experience manifestations of the Spirit’s power while others feel nothing?
Rather than arguing for or against the appearance of manifestations and the use of prophetic symbolism, John’s goal is to present a balanced biblical study that will be helpful to many who are puzzled by what they see and hear from centers of revival around the world.
