MINISTERS MATTER

CANADA'S SPIRITUAL HERITAGE

I wrote a piece years ago called 'Canada's Spiritual Heritage', and in light of the problems our nation is facing, it might be good to review some of the spiritual needs our country has at the moment.

Please drop in and read this series of blogs that remind us of our past and how important the gospel of Jesus Christ was to the founders of our nation.

We need to ask ourselves this question. How can we know where we are going, if we don’t where we’ve been?

It is important that we, as Christians, know some of Canada’s Spiritual Heritage!

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision (or present revelation), the people perish."

Canada’s problems are not just because of language, culture, economics or politics. These are just the symptoms. Our problem is a spiritual one.

Canadians must know the Scripture chosen by the ‘Fathers of Confederation’ was meant to give us ongoing spiritual vision.

It is engraved into the arches of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill and continues to call our nation back to God.

What is that scripture? 

Psalm 72:8 ‘He shall have dominion from sea to sea.’

That is our national mandate.

The biblical text continues on with ‘and from the river to the ends of the earth.’

That is our international mandate.

Canada’s spiritual call and destiny is to the nations of our world! To be a light of liberty, justice and tolerance.

Canada has become a nation without spiritual vision. Why?

We have departed from the only source of vision, the Word of God.

Where did the blessing of God begin for us as a nation?

THE RIPPLE CENTRE - CALGARY

I have been in Calgary since Thursday with Pastor Kenn Gill of The Ripple Centre. They were celebrating their 2nd anniversary as an inner-city congregation and invited me to come and pour into them as a growing fellowship.

I was honoured to be part of this exciting weekend.

It is always wonderful to see people sharing life together around the eternal purposes and plans of Jesus for men and women.

I will post some of my talks over the next few days as I just arrived home and need some rest.

The topics covered justification by faith and the need for us to know what really happened at the cross of Jesus Christ and why that is important to us today to understand being 'not guilty'.

I also spoke on adoption and used examples from our family when Grace was chosen by Stephane and Kim to be part of their family. These talks were followed by assurance, abiding and values.

My role as an apostolic father is to affirm and walk alongside sons and daughters. It is crucial that leaders today walk with other leaders - every pastor needs a pastor.

I also bring an alignment in doctrinal areas to ensure the church is being built properly and people understand the fundamentals of the faith.

What the Lord did in people blew me away as story after story confirmed the word with signs following. I loved the 'open mic' times where I heard feedback on what people were really hearing as a result of what I was saying.

Tomorrow I will post Justification by Faith.

JOHN ARNOTT AND TODD BENTLEY

Sadly, we haven't heard the last of what has happened behind closed doors in Todd's life and ministry. More 'stuff' will be forthcoming and many of us will be saddened and angered by his lack of honesty. While we preach taking the world for Jesus, we would be better off letting Jesus take the world out of us!

We need biblical Christianity rooted in healthy relationships!

Regarding Todd Bentley…

I have just re-read the article about the Lakeland Revival that I wrote two months ago for our most recent edition of Spread the Fire Magazine. It was a glowing report of the wonderful healings happening there.

Now it is with sadness and disappointment that I am writing again to our friends and supporters.

You may have already heard that Todd Bentley has announced his decision to separate from Shonnah, his wife. I am deeply saddened for the Body of Christ that has been disillusioned yet again. I grieve for all the dedicated Fresh Fire Team, Roy Fields and all the musicians and for Stephen Strader, the pastor of Ignited Church and all his faithful folks who have been serving so diligently. Had any of us known what was just ahead, perhaps we would have been able to intervene before things went into crisis.

      We at TACF, Partners in Harvest and the Revival Alliance want to stand with Todd and Shonnah and try to offer godly counsel and support. We all want to see the good that has come from this ministry and the Lakeland Revival redeemed.

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 that 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 stand with him and say, “I am here for you. Don’t let anyone discourage what God is doing through you.”

  I wanted to be available to Todd if he needed advice. I had no agenda other than to see what was happening in Lakeland continue and to see Todd nurture this revival successfully.  I wish I had known that he was struggling in his marriage, but unfortunately, I did not.

I am working now with Bill Johnson and Che Ahn to listen to each person who is close to the situation in order to give godly counsel and confront the presenting issues in God’s love.  We are all receiving many phone calls and reading much correspondence about all these matters at the moment. Some of it is quite hopeful and some of it is not. However, I believe that God can break through.

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. They are our friends.

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. It appears to be minimal at this point so don’t jump to conclusions, but it is wrong none the less.

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. Be assured that nothing is being ‘swept under the carpet,’ but we are bringing it out into the light of God’s truth in mercy so that we can interrupt Satan’s plan to use this to discredit Jesus Christ by destroying the lives of Todd, his family and his friends.

The Holy Spirit, who is perfect, must use imperfect people even in revival. Carol and I always urge 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 flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) 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 to 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. Continue to give God the praise and thanks.

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 in 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.

Had you lived during the reign of King David would you have judged him for his moral failure? While he was in sin, God saw David’s heart and knew that he could be corrected and redeemed. His sin and God’s judgment on it as well as God’s redemption of the situation are recorded in Scripture for everyone to read.

My prayer since 1994 has been, “More, Lord! I want more of your love and power.” I want God to send us more revival with all its accompanying blessings. I want to see many more conversions, healings and miracles. More than that, however, I want to see these days led by honorable and trusted leaders who not only have powerful gifts but who are pure in heart and character.

May I enlist your prayers for Todd and Shonnah and their children at this time, that God, the Great Reverser, will miraculously turn this situation around?

Much love to you all in Jesus,

John Arnott
August 17, 2008

WHERE ARE THE SONS & DAUGHTERS?

I have edited this piece in order to make a few personal comments. The full article can be obtained at: http://www.charismamag.com/cms/news/archives/081308.php

In all my years of pastoring, I have made myself available to those who wanted help to grow in Christ alongside a spiritual father in the faith. Many have taken the opportunity and allowed me to walk with them through their failures and victories. This has been an honour for me to be invited in to 'personal territory' in people's often complicated lives. All in all, a very rewarding time for both generations.

One important observation at this stage of my ministerial life is the number of qualified spiritual fathers and mothers wanting to serve the younger generation but ask me, "Where are the sons and daughters? 'Why are we not sought out for our years of experience in walking with God and the experiences of ministry we could pass on?" Only the younger generation can answer these questions.

The Lakeland Outpouring and Todd Bentley in particular, is a prime example of spiritual fathers making themselves available but the question remains, where was the son and daughter who obviously needed their help? These men of God had promised to care for his soul. He had promised to seek them out and we all promised to pray for this whole process - it is time to pray!

The Article by Paul Steven Ghiringhelli

August 8, 2008

Leaders of the apostolic movement are scrambling for answers after learning that revival leader Todd Bentley is separating from his wife.

California pastor Bill Johnson, who with pastors John Arnott and Ché Ahn represents Bentley’s apostolic “covering” under a group called the Revival Alliance, said he was shocked by Bentley’s announcement. “This is an obvious tragedy, both for Todd and Shonnah and the move of God in Lakeland,” Johnson said. “They had problems a couple of years ago, and I got involved at that time to lend support and give counsel to Todd and his staff. In talking with Todd I was led to believe those issues were now in order. Obviously they weren't.”

The news did not come as a total surprise to the top three members of the Revival Alliance, an apostolic group that Bentley submitted himself to during a commissioning ceremony on June 23 in Lakeland. “We are all of one heart in that we want to see their marriage restored, and just as important, see their hearts get healed from these points of weakness that have been there for years,” Johnson said.

C. Peter Wagner, leader of the International Coalition of Apostles, convened and officiated at the Revival Alliance’s commissioning ceremony in June. Wagner’s wife, Doris, said he was shocked when he received the news of Bentley’s separation while he was in Asia conducting a 10-day ministry trip.

Arnott, an alliance member and founding pastor of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, said he was also surprised when he got word Monday of Bentley’s separation. “I had hoped that the previous troubles had been resolved and worked through,” he told Charisma, referring to marital problems he said the Bentleys had two years ago.

Ahn told Charisma the Revival Alliance is “doing all that we can do to bring correction and counsel to Todd.”

Stephen Strader, senior pastor of Ignited Church, where Bentley’s revival meetings began, told Charisma the separation was for “a period of time while [the couple] both continue to receive counseling.” Strader said he only recently discovered the counseling sessions between the two had been ongoing for the past three years.

Johnson said the Revival Alliance leaders want to help Bentley heal and experience restoration. “None of the Revival Alliance members sweeps things under the carpet and ignore or deny tragedy,” he said. “Neither do we think great anointing is a replacement for character. We will now work hard to bring healing and restoration, considering it a privilege to stand with a brother in trouble, regardless of who is at fault.”

SPIRITUAL FATHERS ARE NEEDED NOW

What being a father is to a family, a spiritual father is to the ministry.

Just like we need one-on-one instruction from our dad and mom, we need the same as we grow into our ministry. Formal education is only one part of the process. We also need practical 'hands on' instruction as we do our ministry.

How do ministers learn?

1. The worst way is by trial and error in the University of Hard Knocks. UHK.
2. The best way is sitting at the feet of a seasoned man/woman of God who mentors you.

This is the missing link in the learning process for most of us in ministry. Without mentors we create a climate of insecurity in our leadership. We tend to isolate ourselves from outside help, especially our peers. We become competitive, lack trust in others, and, we are suspicious of the motives of those who serve with us.

This is a nasty journey leaving most ministers paralyzed. At this point it is hard to reach out to a spiritual father or mentor yet one is really needed.

We need meaningful relationships that will lead to being mentored. We must walk with openness and honesty and be willing to be transparent in a climate of love and acceptance.

Healthy relationships provide us with knowledge and wisdom as we spend time together and learn from one another. What grows is confidence, honour, respect and more effective ministry.

Spiritual fathers love their spiritual offspring. They see fruitfulness, character, gifts and provide wise counsel to sharpen vision, values and the sharing of the gospel to others.

Find yourself a man or woman you can trust and talk to them about mentoring you in the next season of your life.

At Mission O, Ministers Matter!

Mission O is a monthly gathering of ministry leaders from the National Capital Region. We build friendships over breakfast and share our spiritual life together. Our meetings conclude with personal prayer and ministry to each other. barry@missiono.ca

Mel Davis, One of Canada's Spiritual Fathers.

These are notes from a meeting I attended a few years ago where Mel Davis, an apostolic leader in Canada for many years, shared the differences between spiritual fathers (or mothers) and religious instructors.

1 Cor 4:14-16 says, "I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." NKJV

The first point was that spiritual fathers beget spiritual children and welcome intimacy, where instructors stay aloof and distant.

SPIRITUAL FATHERS CONTRASTED WITH SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTORS

A spiritual father stands with you in difficulty. A spiritual instructor puts his ministry before yours.
A spiritual father teaches you to trust yourself. A spiritual instructor is concerned with controlling you.
A spiritual father enjoys the successes of their sons. A spiritual instructor is threatened by that success.
A spiritual father enjoys passing on the baton. A spiritual instructor fears losing control.
A spiritual father desires to help, demanding nothing in return. A spiritual instructor looks for a payback.
A spiritual father teaches you to be a father. A spiritual instructor is unable to teach you to become a father.
A spiritual father knows who is a son and who is a brother. A spiritual instructor simply wants a following.
A spiritual father gives up his life to serve. A spiritual instructor invests in his own ministry.
A spiritual father's authority comes from learned discipline. A spiritual instructor is often undisciplined.
A spiritual father has learned to marry mercy with truth. A spiritual instructor doesn’t know the difference.

A spiritual father is someone who is with us during our lifetime. They prepare the way for us to succeed from our new birth in Christ and our first steps into ministry. They are not threatened by our success but rejoice in our doing more than they did.

All through scripture we find evidence of those who cared enough for the next generation that they poured themselves into their sons and daughters. It is the Jesus model of ministry that each of His disciples followed and we see in the life of Paul and Timothy.

Did you have a spiritual father or mother? What did you experience?

At Mission O, Ministers Matter!