Is Todd Bentley of Fresh Fire Ministries a biblical teacher? Was the Lakeland, Florida revival biblical?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Todd Bentley is a Canadian speaker who rose to prominence in 2008 during the Lakeland, Florida revival, where large crowds gathered to witness his dramatic claims of healing and supernatural manifestations. As the revival grew, NBC investigated reports of miraculous healings but was unable to verify any of them, which stands in sharp contrast to the openly performed and verifiable true miracles described in the Bible (John 9, 11:38-44, 12:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:6). Shortly afterward, Bentley admitted to an inappropriate relationship with an intern, stepped down from ministry, divorced his wife, and later married the intern, making him disqualified as a spiritual leader (Titus 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:2). These events define much of the public attention he continues to receive.

In addition to his sordid personal life, Bentley also promoted practices that contradict Scripture’s teaching about the spiritual realm. He spoke of interacting with the dead, an occult practice God calls an “abomination” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). He also claimed to receive messages from an angel named Emma and described leaving his body to travel spiritually. The fruits of Bentley’s life show him as a false prophet, which believers are warned of in the Old and New Testaments (Deuteronomy 18:21-22; Jeremiah 23:16; Matthew 7:15-20; 2 Peter 2:1). Believers are to test all such things in light of Scripture (1 John 4).

Jesus warned of false prophets and taught that we can recognize them by their fruit (Matthew 7:15–20; 24:11). Bentley’s teachings and conduct fail these biblical tests, showing that neither he nor his ministry can be trusted.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Bentley frequently describes interacting with the dead through visions and communications, treating such experiences as spiritually beneficial. Scripture presents these practices as pagan and as crossing firm boundaries that God has established. For example, in Deuteronomy 18:10–12, God warns His people, “There shall not be found among you anyone who. . . inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD.” Inquiring of the dead is an occult practice, and Bentley’s actions fit well within that area.
• Bentley’s visions come from his imagination rather than being grounded in Scripture. God warned His people of false prophets (Deuteronomy 18:21-22; Jeremiah 23:16).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The miracles described in the New Testament were public, verifiable, and undeniable even to their critics. When Jesus healed the man born blind in John 9, the man’s neighbors, family, and the religious leaders all confirmed that he had truly been blind from birth and was now able to see. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead was so public and verifiable that the Pharisees sought to kill Lazarus to counteract the impact of it (John 11:38-44, 12:9-11). Paul said that more than five hundred people witnessed the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:6). All this sharply contrasts with the claims surrounding Todd Bentley’s ministry, where witnesses, medical documentation, or follow-up investigation could not verify supposed healings. The New Testament presents miracles as displays of God’s power that validate His messengers. Bentley’s lack of confirmed healings is strong evidence against his claims.
• Christian leaders must be above reproach in their conduct. Paul says a pastor must be “the husband of one wife”(Titus 1:6) , which means faithful in marriage and free from sexual misconduct (1 Timothy 3:2). Todd Bentley’s admitted affair with an intern, subsequent divorce, and later remarriage violate these standards and disqualify him from pastoral ministry. No one is above that test.
• First John 4:1 warns believers to “test the spirits” because false teachers often present themselves as bearers of spiritual truth. Believers must reject any message that contradicts the gospel or leads people away from Christ. Bentley’s teachings about angels, out-of-body experiences, and communication with the dead indicate a man who fails this test.
• Jesus also warned that a person’s fruit reveals the truth about their ministry. In Matthew 7:17–18 He says, “So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.” Jesus applies this directly to spiritual leaders in verse 20: “Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” When Bentley’s teachings, lifestyle, and unverifiable claims are held up to this standard, there is simply no good fruit. That is, his life does not reflect the work of Christ, and thus neither he nor his ministry is biblical or trustworthy.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

A vibrant pink on the inside and light green on the outside, the Venus Flytrap is beautiful. Insects are attracted to it, get close and—snap! They’re trapped. Christians shouldn’t be naive enough to think that we don’t face such traps ourselves. Many so-called Christian leaders claim great spiritual power and seem to perform miraculous healings. They draw large crowds, but Scripture tells us to look beneath the showiness. If we find an ungodly personal life and unconfirmed miracles, we can know it’s a spiritual trap by a false teacher.

But being attracted to such showiness may reveal more about us than about the false teacher. In God’s word, we already have everything we need to believe. Yet many of us still “seek for a sign,” a flaw for which Jesus chastised the Pharisees (Matthew 12:39, 16:4). In doing the same, we fall prey to wolves in “sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15). The reason pastors like Todd Bentley focus on the supernatural over the gospel is that they have an audience for it.

What this means for believers is that we must be immersed in the signs that God has already recorded in His word. Sink deeply into that each day, and you won’t be trapped by the lies of the false teacher.

UNDERSTAND

• Bentley’s immoral life disqualifies him as a biblical leader.
• Bentley’s teachings and practices contradict Scripture, marking him a false prophet.
• Lakeland revival claims lacked verifiable miracles and true spiritual fruit.

REFLECT

• What standards do you use to discern truth from deception?
• How does reflecting on leaders like Todd Bentley challenge you to rely more on God’s Word than on signs or miracles?
• How do you guard your heart and faith from being swayed by impressive but unbiblical spiritual claims?

ENGAGE

• How should we test a teaching or revival against the Bible to determine if it is genuinely from God?
• What lessons can we learn about the difference between public spectacle and authentic, Christ-centered ministry?
• How might we respond when a leader shows fruit that contradicts Scripture, while still ministering to those who are drawn to them?