Mama Julia's Rough Guide to Glory - super long but well worth it!

I went into the central, land-filled swamps of Florida over the weekend to see a reed swayed by the wind.

I went to see the tattooed and pierced holy man, Todd Bentley, a raving young man, moving counter culturally to the religious, well-dressed church goers of the day. Born centuries after John the Baptist, this Canadian evangelist epitomizes one whom Jesus called the least in the kingdom of heaven who is greater than John the Baptist. He is one reported to release the glory of God through the manifestation of healing in his meetings.

I went to see the crowds; to be able to say, “I was there” in case it becomes recorded as a historic event on the timeline of revival history.

I went to see what Jesus had to say about the ravings of the lunatic John the Baptist; to see what Matthew 11 is all about and undeniably saw that the kingdom of God has been forcefully advancing since the times of John the Baptist. The crowds who heard the music of the hour and rejoiced in the miracles mixed with those who did not dance or rejoice in the miracles of healing taking place all around them.

I had heard the reports about this 32 year old Todd - some good, some bad. Like John the Baptist, the wild man, young evangelist faced accusers who claimed, “He has a demon.” He was quite the teenage sinner and openly admits a prison record. Like John the Baptist, Todd was in prison. He is also like Jesus in that he attracts the gluttons and drunkards, and is a friend of tax collectors, drug addicts, ex-cons, prostitutes and perverts, and all variety of “sinners.” Jesus moved in the spirit, amazed the crowds by what He did and offended the minds of others by what He said.

I went out to see the reed swaying in the wind of the Holy Spirit - having heard about the instability of the reed and the strength of the wind.

Todd’s past was dealt with early on before he was launched into ministry…and even later on. After being in international ministry for some years, Todd faced an emotional meltdown on a platform in England that was likely brought on by the haunting wounds of his youth that forced their way to the surface. His inner core being unable to withstand the pressures of constantly moving under the anointing of God and the scrutiny of men, begged for healing. At the urging of his board and fathers in the faith, Todd stepped aside for a full year to move deeply and willingly into the healing presence of Jesus. He embraced the ministry of many counselors to deal with root issues in his life – before they could manifest in sinful reactions. He is now more emotionally solid and equipped and healed than many men in ministry who have never taken time out to sit at the feet of Jesus and submit to His loving power to heal the deep inner wounds. And he has a multitude of counselors who watch over him, ready to catch him should he even hint at stumbling or should others call out for his head on a platter.

I went out to see the reed swaying in the wind of the Holy Spirit and his skin.

Thank God, our skin is no longer under the condemning old covenant of Biblical, religious law. I had read the internet accounts from those offended by the music of the hour – the worship and the joy – whose orphan spirit caused them to shy away from the glory of God to scream out old covenant accusations against a brother like, “Todd has tattoos that may mean satanic things and writing on skin is expressly forbidden in the Bible.” I had peeked at his skin and saw the markings of a bond slave of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant covering the scars that slashed deeply into his wrists and arms and soul during his tumultuous Baal-worshipping youth. I saw the kanji lettering that gives honor to the Great King, and calls for equilibrium to be found in the middle of Him. I saw the Lion of Judah, the scriptures and scenes spread out haphazardly all over his body as if graffiti artists spray painted the outer walls of the temple. But it is this graffiti that is the street art of the day and tells a story on the walls of a city and calls forth the people of the street to join the gang…the gang of Christ. The least in the kingdom has become greater than John the Baptist who focused on repentance…The least focuses on grace. The least releases the glory of Jesus and manifestations of Jesus’ presence through His healing power. The least may not look presentable or wise.

But wisdom is proved right by her actions.

The actions of Todd challenged me. Indeed, I could not help but examine my own unbelief under the microscope of Jesus, who after commenting on John the Baptist in Matthew 11, began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. Apparently, the cities that embrace the miracles are the ones that position themselves to receive a lasting revival and ongoing urban transformation.

"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
The actions of Todd challenged me to enter into childlike faith - for my own healing...and for an increase in the presence and power of Christ to move in me and through me to touch other lives. If revival doesn't last in my city, I at least want childlike faith and trust in Jesus to last in me.
... At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasureI've gone home from Lakeland, yet Todd's actions still stir me to drop the critical nature about things that are beyond my experience and reach up and out for an increase in childlike faith. Only the children can truly receive the hidden things of Jesus and believe the outrageous manifestations of His glory released through healing – Christians and unbelievers alike…freely given without condition for this is the father’s pleasure that His children be healed. Healing is scriptural. Power evangelism is scriptural. Seeing angels is scriptural. The strangest insights into the heavenly realm are reserved for little children. The wise and the learned usually miss out.

I went to see a reed swaying in the wind and the glory of God expressed in healing revivals. And I was not disappointed. I saw the glory captured on the expression of a single face that tells the story of a hundred, perhaps a thousand others who have attended the meetings.

Todd stood in the middle of two lines of people flowing past him to receive a touch of anointing oil and impartation for power; joy and passion sparkled in evident delight in his eyes as he prayed for thousands of people moving past. I walked by him and felt the presence of God as his oil-smeared palm lightly touched my forehead. Then I lingered off to the side to watch the others walk by and move back towards their seats.

One elderly man practically skipped through the end of the anointing line pushing a wheelchair with a small crowd of family members trailing behind him. The sheer joy on his face told the whole story as it suddenly dawned on me that the man was pushing the wheelchair that his relatives has brought him in. It held nothing now but a couple of folding chairs that his relatives had been sitting in. Just that one healing, that one glimpse of sheer joy mingling with the glory of God on his elderly face as he pushed his old chair along, was enough for me to believe.

I had seen more than a reed swaying in the wind. I had seen man, one of hundreds, undeniably healed as a manifestation of the presence of God’s love moving during a meeting facilitated by a tattooed and pierced, young holy man. I had glimpsed the glory of God awakening hearts to a Father who loves us enough to heal us…for He forgives all of our sins and heals all of our diseases…
Even yours!

From “Momma Julia’s Rough Guide to Glory” Julia Loren