I’ve just read the following on the web page of www.God.tv in response to the revelation that Todd Bentley of the Lakeland Revival has filed for divorce following an affair with a member of his team and bouts of binge drinking.“Was it because Todd was vulnerable and certain areas of his life were not surrendered wholly - Yes - like so many of us - in all probability. Was it because the character of Christ was not yet formed in him in the equivalent measure to his gifting? Yes - like so many of us - in all probability. Could it be the case that ‘there but for the grace of God go I’… Yes - In all probability.”
If the ‘rich young ruler’ were a Salvationist then he would probably be considered the holiest soldier we knew! He had been obedient to his ‘soldier’s covenant’ (in his case the law), he tithed his income and was punctilious in his duty to the local Corps. If Jesus had carried out an appraisal of this man it would have contained just once comment ‘he lacks only one thing!’
There’s the rub – entire sanctification is exactly what it says on the tin – entire. Even when we give 99.9% of what we have, what we hold back invalidates the rest of our surrender.
When we hold back even 0.1% we place ourselves at risk! This is especially so for Christian leaders. Let’s pray for Todd and for Future Fire Ministries and for the Lakeland Revival and let’s make sure that we leave no unguarded place – this is war and in war there are casualties on both sides!
Love and prayers, A
