![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freshfire.ca%2Fffmfiles%2Fimages%2Fstore%2FCDUJV_small.jpg)
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freshfire.ca%2Fffmfiles%2Fimages%2Fstore%2FCD118_small.jpg)
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freshfire.ca%2Fffmfiles%2Fimages%2Fstore%2FCD177_small.jpg)
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freshfire.ca%2Fimages%2Fprinter.jpg)
![[image]](http://mowser.com/img?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freshfire.ca%2Fimages%2Fspacer.gif)
Full of Faith and Power - Part 1
Date: 2007-09-24
Author: Todd Bentley
Author: Todd Bentley
This is a two-part teaching entitled: Full of Faith and Power. In Part One Todd shares about the huge impact God made in his life by one initial supernatural feat that broke off a stronghold of fear gripping him as a new believer. You’ll discover the secret to real faith that was revealed to Todd through his deliverance. Then, as he shares six outrageous testimonies, you’ll realize how freedom from fear clears the way for the Lord to mature you with real faith and power so that He can accomplish much through you. Next week Todd shares a few more amazing testimonies that will stir your faith to believe God for what seems impossible. You’ll receive some keys that will unlock tremendous breakthroughs as you pray for the sick and the lost.
Our Miracles, Signs and Wonders gathering [which is a FREE] event begins this Wednesday evening, September 26th until the 29th. For more information visit our web site: www.freshfire.ca
by Evangelist Todd Bentley [as edited by Kathy Thorne]
I didn’t just wake up one day full of faith! As a matter of fact when I first got saved I was a real work in progress. I had just come out of a rough background of addiction and drug overdoses, full of fear. There were people in my town so mad at me I knew if I walked out at night there would be someone, somewhere, who would jump out of the dark to get me! But God wasn’t going to leave me in that predicament and He truly took away my fear after one amazing supernatural feat.
Here’s what happened. I was being discipled by a young Christian guy and he was telling me that Jesus would protect me. You see, I wasn’t sleeping at night because I was so scared and paranoid. I wouldn’t allow myself to nod off until about five in the morning because I had to make sure I’d actually survived the night! I had knives and a baseball bat close by under my bed because there were death threats on my life from people who really did want to hurt me and kill me.
So I said to my friend who was counseling me: “If we go outside right now and walk down there, what’s going to happen if someone jumps out of the bush at me wielding a knife because they want to do me in? How is God going to appear and do anything about it?
Well, guess what happened that night? As I was walking along with my friend, sure enough, out jumped this guy, right out the bush, lunging at me with his knife. But get this! Instead of coming within reach of me, he hit an invisible force-field—he bounced off it about two or three feet from where I was standing. A huge angel appeared in front of me.
That experience broke off my fear and, as some would say, “I’ve never looked back.” Today I am bold. Yet the kind of boldness I am talking about isn’t all about a personality trait. We’ve all seen that raw, edgy bravado on certain people because of a rough life or other circumstances. That’s not the kind of boldness I’m talking about. Rather it’s a supernatural God-given boldness.
The apostles in Jesus’ day needed that kind of boldness and they received it. So let’s take a look at how they obtained supernatural boldness to continue the mighty works of God in the face of hatred and restrictions from the ultra-religious.
Although they were already moving in signs and wonders, the disciples realized that they needed something that only God could give by His Spirit. In other words, “God, we need something that’s missing. Give us boldness!”
Now what happened next is absolutely remarkable: “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (v. 31).
When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles a supernatural anointing of boldness came on them when they spoke the word of God. Friends, this is what we need in the church today! I’m talking about a supernatural anointing that you didn’t have that comes on you, no matter what your personality type is. You get filled with the Spirit and you have a boldness you never had before. It’s not about mustering up something that’s not real or trying to be someone that you’re not.
After they received supernatural boldness, “with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all” (4:33). GREAT power and GREAT grace! Their faith was overflowing with GREAT substance (Heb. 11:1). Listen! The secret to real faith is: knowing that faith does not ultimately work to the max without boldness. Think about that. When boldness connects with faith, God’s miracles happen!
For example, we’ve seen some timid people on our missions trips pray for the sick and BOOM, when their first miracle happens there’s no stopping them. They just want to keep praying and as miracle after miracle happens, their faith and boldness grows big time. It’s hard to get them out of the crusade and onto the bus!
Miracles make people bold. But first they have to get out of the boat, and that in itself takes a bold step of faith. But each step is God’s training ground in the gift of faith.
Supernatural Boldness, Obedience, and Faith brings God’s Power
Truly, we need to be full of faith and boldness. Therefore I’m going to share six radical acts of obedience that brought amazing results because of these two attributes. But in sharing these testimonies I must give a warning. You know how sometimes on television someone will perform an incredible feat and then the commentator will say: “Now for those of you watching this stunt . . . this is done by trained professionals. Do not attempt to do this at home!” I say this because the acts the Holy Spirit directed me to do would have actually injured people if I had just decided to take action on my own because I thought it was a great idea. So when you read these testimonies bear this in mind. Here we go!
Stephen was full of faith and power. I want to challenge some of you. Listen. I’m a “poster child” for God’s grace! If God can transform someone like me and then work through me for His glory like He did for Stephen, He can do the same for you. Do you want to go full out for God? Or would you rather do your own thing? In simple terms, really, it comes down to this.
Church!! God wants way more for you than you just hiding out in your comfort zone. The question is: Do you want all that God has for you? Do you really want to be full of faith and power?
Ponder these questions while you prepare your heart for next week’s lesson. For some of you this is a real turning point in your Christian life. Next week I want to share a few more amazing testimonies that are sure to both challenge and inspire you! One involves going to a leper colony in Africa and another testimony involves raising the dead, (and more).
For those of you who would like to study this subject matter further I want to recommend two excellent resources [Audio CD sets]: Firstly, The Function of Miracles, which covers how to flow in the gift of healing and miracles, the breaker anointing, the corporate and individual anointing, as well as the four levels of healing. Secondly, The Fullness of God, which contains teaching on throne room encounters, life in the Spirit, and what it takes to walk in God’s fullness, as well as teaching about baptisms of power. You will be greatly blessed by these teachings.
Website: www.freshfire.ca OR Toll Free: 1.866.853.9041
We encourage you to use our material for your personal use to spread the Gospel, and to forward our messages on to friends, family, and other mail lists using the above guidelines. However, we prefer that you opt to provide a link directly back to our website ( www.freshfire.ca ) or InJesus listserve to ensure you have the most up-to-date and most current edited content. Was this message forwarded to you from another person or organization? If you'd like to share the message, first visit our website ( www.freshfire.ca ) for the freshest copy. Thank you for helping us promote the gospel of Jesus Christ!
COPYRIGHT © FRESH FIRE MINISTRIES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, or give our Partner Coordinator, Anna Curtis, a call at 1-604-853-9041 Ext.: 233, or email Anna at
Our Miracles, Signs and Wonders gathering [which is a FREE] event begins this Wednesday evening, September 26th until the 29th. For more information visit our web site: www.freshfire.ca
FULL OF FAITH AND POWER
by Evangelist Todd Bentley [as edited by Kathy Thorne]
Part 1
I didn’t just wake up one day full of faith! As a matter of fact when I first got saved I was a real work in progress. I had just come out of a rough background of addiction and drug overdoses, full of fear. There were people in my town so mad at me I knew if I walked out at night there would be someone, somewhere, who would jump out of the dark to get me! But God wasn’t going to leave me in that predicament and He truly took away my fear after one amazing supernatural feat.
Here’s what happened. I was being discipled by a young Christian guy and he was telling me that Jesus would protect me. You see, I wasn’t sleeping at night because I was so scared and paranoid. I wouldn’t allow myself to nod off until about five in the morning because I had to make sure I’d actually survived the night! I had knives and a baseball bat close by under my bed because there were death threats on my life from people who really did want to hurt me and kill me.
So I said to my friend who was counseling me: “If we go outside right now and walk down there, what’s going to happen if someone jumps out of the bush at me wielding a knife because they want to do me in? How is God going to appear and do anything about it?
Well, guess what happened that night? As I was walking along with my friend, sure enough, out jumped this guy, right out the bush, lunging at me with his knife. But get this! Instead of coming within reach of me, he hit an invisible force-field—he bounced off it about two or three feet from where I was standing. A huge angel appeared in front of me.
That experience broke off my fear and, as some would say, “I’ve never looked back.” Today I am bold. Yet the kind of boldness I am talking about isn’t all about a personality trait. We’ve all seen that raw, edgy bravado on certain people because of a rough life or other circumstances. That’s not the kind of boldness I’m talking about. Rather it’s a supernatural God-given boldness.
The apostles in Jesus’ day needed that kind of boldness and they received it. So let’s take a look at how they obtained supernatural boldness to continue the mighty works of God in the face of hatred and restrictions from the ultra-religious.
THE SECRET TO REAL FAITH
In the Book of Acts Chapter Three we read how the apostles were displaying God’s power and then in Chapter Four how resistance and persecution broke out against them. They were forbidden to speak, to preach, or to teach in the name of Jesus. So they went to the Lord in prayer: “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus” (Acts 4: 29–31).Although they were already moving in signs and wonders, the disciples realized that they needed something that only God could give by His Spirit. In other words, “God, we need something that’s missing. Give us boldness!”
Now what happened next is absolutely remarkable: “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (v. 31).
When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles a supernatural anointing of boldness came on them when they spoke the word of God. Friends, this is what we need in the church today! I’m talking about a supernatural anointing that you didn’t have that comes on you, no matter what your personality type is. You get filled with the Spirit and you have a boldness you never had before. It’s not about mustering up something that’s not real or trying to be someone that you’re not.
After they received supernatural boldness, “with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all” (4:33). GREAT power and GREAT grace! Their faith was overflowing with GREAT substance (Heb. 11:1). Listen! The secret to real faith is: knowing that faith does not ultimately work to the max without boldness. Think about that. When boldness connects with faith, God’s miracles happen!
For example, we’ve seen some timid people on our missions trips pray for the sick and BOOM, when their first miracle happens there’s no stopping them. They just want to keep praying and as miracle after miracle happens, their faith and boldness grows big time. It’s hard to get them out of the crusade and onto the bus!
Miracles make people bold. But first they have to get out of the boat, and that in itself takes a bold step of faith. But each step is God’s training ground in the gift of faith.
Supernatural Boldness, Obedience, and Faith brings God’s Power
Truly, we need to be full of faith and boldness. Therefore I’m going to share six radical acts of obedience that brought amazing results because of these two attributes. But in sharing these testimonies I must give a warning. You know how sometimes on television someone will perform an incredible feat and then the commentator will say: “Now for those of you watching this stunt . . . this is done by trained professionals. Do not attempt to do this at home!” I say this because the acts the Holy Spirit directed me to do would have actually injured people if I had just decided to take action on my own because I thought it was a great idea. So when you read these testimonies bear this in mind. Here we go!
At our crusade in Ethiopia several years ago sheer boldness came upon me when a totally demon possessed man came up onto the platform with a knife in his hand raring to stab me to death! The gift of boldness hit me and I ran up to the guy, went BAM with my belly, and knocked him to the ground. Then I jumped on top of him doing the “Matt Hughes!” [Hughes is a professional martial arts fighter and former UFC Welterweight Champion known for his extreme strength and “ground and pound”—Wikipedia, the free internet encyclopedia].
He manifested a demon and was yelling at me in a demonic voice so I just yelled back at him in tongues. Simultaneously the power of God intensified and my Dad and I pinned him down. Then we cast the demons out.
Now I’d never gotten violent like that with anyone before in a crusade. Yet, I was then, and am now, ever-ready to stand unflinchingly against the enemy. And it’s all because I saw God’s power manifested years earlier when that guy jumped out of the bushes at me. That initial feat and God’s continual support has marked me, causing me to be unafraid and bold.
Do you know what makes a person bold? It’s what they’ve seen—God’s power manifested. It makes them bold, it makes them strong.
I’ve been led to do some crazy looking things in the gift of faith that took real boldness. One time I was in a meeting that was just dead. So I asked God how He wanted to bring a breakthrough. He showed me an older lady right in front of the platform worshipping Jesus and the Lord said to kick her in the face! Unconvinced, I felt to tell the Lord what He already knew: “I have these big biker boots on. You want me to kick this woman in the face?” Clearly I heard God say, “Yes.” So, with no one knowing what was about to happen, I went up to the edge of the platform and BAM my boot went right out at the exact moment that she fell under the power of God. In fact the power of God caused everyone on the platform to get knocked down. There were miracles that followed.
So I asked God, “What was that all about?” The answer was: obedience.
I was in another meeting (in North America) and a man came up for prayer because his heart was enlarged four times its normal size. He had just come from his doctor with the news that the swelling was out of control and basically he could just go home to die. I had such compassion for him. He was young and he had a family. What could I do? So I enquired of the Lord and He said to punch him in the heart as hard as I could!
As I was just about to wind up and hit him, the Lord said: “Real hard.” So I took my hand and went BAM, right into the guy’s heart. He hit the ground and got up, convinced that his heart was supernaturally healed!
In those same meetings a man came forward for prayer who was missing one of his lungs. The Lord told me to drill him as hard as I could into the lungs! I did, and his lung grew back. (I have the doctor’s report and the x ray.)
We had a meeting in a word-faith church; not much was happening. Everyone was wearing a suit and the appearance was ‘real proper.’ I looked around thinking: God, you promised me revival. Immediately I heard God say: “‘Leg-drop’ the pastor.” That’s what He said to me! Meanwhile the pastor was lying on the ground. Then the Lord told me to leap off the platform and just jump in the air and leg-drop him. God, you’ve got to be kidding, I thought. He said, “No! Make it real. I want this to be a real leg-drop.” So I ran along the platform jumping in the air and BAM, I leg-dropped this pastor. All of a sudden, row after row of people fell under the power. People ended up rolling around on the floor in holy laughter, drunk in the spirit.
Later when I was sitting in the green room the pastor came in all serious and he said: “Did you leg-drop me?” I said, “Yeah,” and then he said, “That was the greatest thing ever! I didn’t feel a thing!”
[By the way, the Wikipedia definition of leg drop is: The wrestler spins 360° while they jump and land their leg across an opponent’s chest, throat, face, or head.]
Another time we were in a meeting in Africa. I was standing in faith exerting my authority, feeling led to pray only for those who were crippled. But after praying for about two hours and not seeing one crippled person healed, I was thinking, God, I need a breakthrough, nothing is happening! That’s when God said: “That’s because you didn’t take that young girl’s crippled legs and bang them up and down on the platform like baseball bats!” So I said, “What!?” Then He told me to go over to a certain young crippled girl who was paralyzed from the waist down. “Grab her legs and start hammering them up and down on the platform like baseball bats.”
What could I do but obey. Instantly God’s power came. She was healed and then more crippled people started getting healed one after another! All it took was getting one breakthrough to crack things wide open.
He manifested a demon and was yelling at me in a demonic voice so I just yelled back at him in tongues. Simultaneously the power of God intensified and my Dad and I pinned him down. Then we cast the demons out.
Now I’d never gotten violent like that with anyone before in a crusade. Yet, I was then, and am now, ever-ready to stand unflinchingly against the enemy. And it’s all because I saw God’s power manifested years earlier when that guy jumped out of the bushes at me. That initial feat and God’s continual support has marked me, causing me to be unafraid and bold.
Do you know what makes a person bold? It’s what they’ve seen—God’s power manifested. It makes them bold, it makes them strong.
I’ve been led to do some crazy looking things in the gift of faith that took real boldness. One time I was in a meeting that was just dead. So I asked God how He wanted to bring a breakthrough. He showed me an older lady right in front of the platform worshipping Jesus and the Lord said to kick her in the face! Unconvinced, I felt to tell the Lord what He already knew: “I have these big biker boots on. You want me to kick this woman in the face?” Clearly I heard God say, “Yes.” So, with no one knowing what was about to happen, I went up to the edge of the platform and BAM my boot went right out at the exact moment that she fell under the power of God. In fact the power of God caused everyone on the platform to get knocked down. There were miracles that followed.
So I asked God, “What was that all about?” The answer was: obedience.
I was in another meeting (in North America) and a man came up for prayer because his heart was enlarged four times its normal size. He had just come from his doctor with the news that the swelling was out of control and basically he could just go home to die. I had such compassion for him. He was young and he had a family. What could I do? So I enquired of the Lord and He said to punch him in the heart as hard as I could!
As I was just about to wind up and hit him, the Lord said: “Real hard.” So I took my hand and went BAM, right into the guy’s heart. He hit the ground and got up, convinced that his heart was supernaturally healed!
In those same meetings a man came forward for prayer who was missing one of his lungs. The Lord told me to drill him as hard as I could into the lungs! I did, and his lung grew back. (I have the doctor’s report and the x ray.)
We had a meeting in a word-faith church; not much was happening. Everyone was wearing a suit and the appearance was ‘real proper.’ I looked around thinking: God, you promised me revival. Immediately I heard God say: “‘Leg-drop’ the pastor.” That’s what He said to me! Meanwhile the pastor was lying on the ground. Then the Lord told me to leap off the platform and just jump in the air and leg-drop him. God, you’ve got to be kidding, I thought. He said, “No! Make it real. I want this to be a real leg-drop.” So I ran along the platform jumping in the air and BAM, I leg-dropped this pastor. All of a sudden, row after row of people fell under the power. People ended up rolling around on the floor in holy laughter, drunk in the spirit.
Later when I was sitting in the green room the pastor came in all serious and he said: “Did you leg-drop me?” I said, “Yeah,” and then he said, “That was the greatest thing ever! I didn’t feel a thing!”
[By the way, the Wikipedia definition of leg drop is: The wrestler spins 360° while they jump and land their leg across an opponent’s chest, throat, face, or head.]
Another time we were in a meeting in Africa. I was standing in faith exerting my authority, feeling led to pray only for those who were crippled. But after praying for about two hours and not seeing one crippled person healed, I was thinking, God, I need a breakthrough, nothing is happening! That’s when God said: “That’s because you didn’t take that young girl’s crippled legs and bang them up and down on the platform like baseball bats!” So I said, “What!?” Then He told me to go over to a certain young crippled girl who was paralyzed from the waist down. “Grab her legs and start hammering them up and down on the platform like baseball bats.”
What could I do but obey. Instantly God’s power came. She was healed and then more crippled people started getting healed one after another! All it took was getting one breakthrough to crack things wide open.
YOU’RE GOD’S MAN, YOU’RE GOD’S WOMAN!
Friends, these testimonies are meant to stir up your faith. All it takes is one sold-out ordinary man or woman wanting to be filled with supernatural boldness, full of faith and power, walking in obedience, to make a difference for God in this world. Just look at the apostle Stephen. He was an ordinary man with an extra-ordinary love for God.“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business . . . And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit . . . and Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:3, 5, 8).
Stephen was full of faith and power. I want to challenge some of you. Listen. I’m a “poster child” for God’s grace! If God can transform someone like me and then work through me for His glory like He did for Stephen, He can do the same for you. Do you want to go full out for God? Or would you rather do your own thing? In simple terms, really, it comes down to this.
Church!! God wants way more for you than you just hiding out in your comfort zone. The question is: Do you want all that God has for you? Do you really want to be full of faith and power?
Ponder these questions while you prepare your heart for next week’s lesson. For some of you this is a real turning point in your Christian life. Next week I want to share a few more amazing testimonies that are sure to both challenge and inspire you! One involves going to a leper colony in Africa and another testimony involves raising the dead, (and more).
For those of you who would like to study this subject matter further I want to recommend two excellent resources [Audio CD sets]: Firstly, The Function of Miracles, which covers how to flow in the gift of healing and miracles, the breaker anointing, the corporate and individual anointing, as well as the four levels of healing. Secondly, The Fullness of God, which contains teaching on throne room encounters, life in the Spirit, and what it takes to walk in God’s fullness, as well as teaching about baptisms of power. You will be greatly blessed by these teachings.
Website: www.freshfire.ca OR Toll Free: 1.866.853.9041
ORDER OR SUPPORT/DONATE:
http://www.freshfire.caToll Free: 1.866.853.9041 | Online:
We have an abundance of Spiritually Rich Resources in our secure online Bookstores. Please visit today. Thank you for your continued support!PARTNERSHIP INFORMATION
If you would like to learn more about partnering with us, please take a moment to watch our online partner's video on our website located in our NEWLY designed Media CentrePartners@freshfire.ca .MESSAGE FORWARDING AND REPRINTS
Duplication and re-transmission of this message permitted provided that the contents of this message are not altered in any way, and that all information remains intact including titles, subtitles, links, reference to author, credits, and this copyright information. Permission otherwise required. If you are an organization wishing to use our publications for mass mail outs, please contact us first to ensure you have the latest information, and so that we may assist you.We encourage you to use our material for your personal use to spread the Gospel, and to forward our messages on to friends, family, and other mail lists using the above guidelines. However, we prefer that you opt to provide a link directly back to our website ( www.freshfire.ca ) or InJesus listserve to ensure you have the most up-to-date and most current edited content. Was this message forwarded to you from another person or organization? If you'd like to share the message, first visit our website ( www.freshfire.ca ) for the freshest copy. Thank you for helping us promote the gospel of Jesus Christ!
COPYRIGHT © FRESH FIRE MINISTRIES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, or give our Partner Coordinator, Anna Curtis, a call at 1-604-853-9041 Ext.: 233, or email Anna at
