RESTORATION
by Todd Bentley
PART 1 of 2 

I want to begin this week's lesson by sharing what happened last year to an 18 year old young man who was killed in a vehicle accident in Uganda when he was thrown from the back of a truck. Three others were also killed.

In sharing this amazing testimony, I'm aiming, right off the bat, to knock out unbelief. Bam!


RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A LITTLE CHILD

First of all, this story is directly connected to the prayers of some of the children who were rescued by Fresh Fire and now live at the Uganda Jesus Village (UJV) in Kampala in the care of a mama-children who have witnessed the power of God and who believe in miracles. Here's what happened.

The 18 year old who was killed was the biological son of one of the UJV mamas.

When the mama was notified of her son's death she was grief stricken, and she told the eight children in her care about what happened. After hearing this shocking news, all of the children-one of whom is just five years old-prayed for a long time that evening that her son would be raised from the dead.

By the time she got to Gulu where her dead son was-he had been in the morgue there for one day-her older (grown-up) children had everything ready for the burial. Now when the workers at the morgue came to do what was necessary so that he could be taken away for burial, he was sitting up motioning to them! He had come back to life! Right away he was taken to the hospital. Presently his injuries continue to heal and he is walking with a cane. Talk about the ultimate restoration! We thank Jesus for that!

You know, when we get around people who believe in the power of God, just like the children at the UJV, miracles happen. Look. If we want to walk in the greater works too, if we want to see the mighty restorative works of the Lord, then we need to receive the kingdom of God as a little child would-"Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it" (Luke 18:17). Unbelief has to go!

A NEW ANOINTING FOR GREAT DELIVERANCE

That young man was delivered from death! Wow! The Lord told me there is going to be a release of the anointing, a new anointing for deliverance. How? By increasing the authority of the spoken word, the power and preaching of the word, and it's not only going to bring deliverance from demonic bondage, it's going to bring restoration.

Speaking of demonic bondage, if you're ever in countries like Africa, India, Ethiopia, Mexico and South America, where there is a lot of demonic bondage, you'll easily see demons manifesting. You'll see the fruit of darkness. For instance, we've seen some people bound and literally shackled hand and foot with chains because they are so demonized. Still, no matter how dramatic the bondage, we've witnessed amazing deliverance-miracles over and over-and many were instantaneous! One main reason for this is because when witchdoctors and the occult are involved, the demonic is clearly identifiable-"there it is"-and we can deal with it.

But on the other hand, in America, we see less of a manifestation because the demons tend to hide in the spirit of religion! Now don't miss this. The Lord told me that the spirit of religion is the greatest devil-that's the spirit Jesus dealt with in Israel. It always has a form of godliness that denies the power of God (2 Tim. 3:5) and it always hides under the guise of religion.

Despite that, no matter where the demons try to hide, God spoke to me about the anointing that's going to set the captives free-the anointing that both removes the yoke and the burden-by the work of the Spirit and the work of the anointing. Listen! There's going to be an anointing of great deliverance-not just "deliverance," great deliverance-as God sends forth His word; and the very authority and power of the spoken word will deliver people from destruction.

Remember, Jesus spoke the word and cast out spirits with the word; in the instant that someone would hear the word of God, the anointing on the word would set that person free from perhaps years of bondage.

Having said that, I realize that there are some good models and some good courses that teach and train on deliverance and healing. We thank God for it all. But we're going to see God's power come swiftly and there will be instantaneous deliverances."For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 Jn. 3:8). A meaning of the word destroy is to loose and undo. Yes, Jesus wants to loose and undo us from the works of the devil!

DELIVERANCE IS CONNECTED TO THE ANOINTING ON PRAISE

So, the phobias, the fear, the rejection, the eating disorder, whatever is in your mindset that's plagued you or your family, generational curses, addictions-whatever that one thing is that you've struggled with over the years-the Lord told me there's going to be a release of the anointing that's going to bring deliverance. Not just from demonic bondage. I'm talking about the strongholds, mindsets, belief systems, insecurities, and fear . . . those people in your family-sons, daughters, drug addicts-situations you've been praying about, things that have burdened you. Your cry is being heard by the Lord who delivers! God is breathing on Psalm 40.

"I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD" (Ps. 40:1-3).

Verse 3 speaks of a new song, praise to our God . . . many will see it and fear. Many will see what? The praise! The new song! They're going to see it and fear; they're going to hear it. The deliverance is connected to the anointing that's on the praise, the high praise, and when we reach those realms of high praise, there's going to be deliverance. God said, "This year I'm taking people, not just out of the pit, I'm taking them out of the horrible pit, years of trauma, years of abuse. Whatever it is, He's going to begin to hear your cry for deliverance and bring spontaneous supernatural intervention.

I don't know why, but whatever the reason, prophetically, God has an appointed time. We sometimes hear incredible testimonies of people who just seem to go from outer darkness and then they get set free. Then, for others, it seems like it takes 25 years to unwrap the grave clothes, and they're still working it out. In fact, some believers are always in a season of inner healing. I mean, they're always wounded and offended and need an inner healing. Where is the victorious triumphant church?! So I tell them to get that victim thing off their head and win some souls, get back to that, and preach the gospel!

CONQUERING IS A MINDSET

God told me that conquering is a mindset-"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57). In fact, victory is a key word for this year. However, our circumstances often don't reflect that, and there are times when we shrink back. In the day of battle, we sometimes turn back because the last time we went for it things got too hot, and now we're not so eager to run out there again. One way or the other, we walk with a mindset! What's yours?

There have been times when I've shared some hair-raising stories-situations that have happened on the field-and all some people can say is: "Man, that's why I don't go to the nations." Or, "Todd, when I hear stories like that and about some of the stuff that comes against you in retaliation, I just want to stay neutral. I'm not ready for the battle." But there's something in me that goes, "Yeah! Bring it on!"

You know what? We've got to think victoriously . . . "we are more than conquerors" (Rom. 8:37). "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). We have been given power and authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt us (Luke 10:19). With a mandate like that, do you really know who you are? Better yet, do you really know who Christ is in you?! What kind of Jesus is living on the inside of you?

I say that because there comes the day when we just have to get our soul in check. "I'm going to hope in God. Get it together, soul. No more wallowing!" Hey! Just kick your soul's butt! "What do you think you're doing, soul? Do you know who you are? Did you read your Bible lately? What do you think you're doing, mountain? Do you know who you are, mountain? You shall become a plain!" Talking to your soul like that brings it in line with your destiny!

TO KNOW YOUR AUTHORITY IS TO KNOW YOUR IDENTITY

Taking my life as an example, as God began to shed light on my destiny, one of the first scriptures He ever gave me was Luke 1:76-79. So I asked Him how that applied to me, and He said: "That's your call-to preach the gospel, prepare the way of the Lord, preach the gospel of repentance/the remission of sin. I've called you not only to be light in the midst of darkness, but to bring light for those that are in darkness, and to set the captive free."

Wanting to comprehend what it all meant, I asked the Lord, "Is that really who I am?" and God answered, "Not only is that who you are but if you want a real revelation of who you are then read every scripture that has the phrase 'servant of the Lord.' Study every chapter, every scripture reference to the ministry of the servant of the Lord because as the Father has sent Me, so I send you (John 20:21). It's the same call; it's the same anointing: 'as the Father has sent Me, so I send you also.'"

Therefore, out of respect for what God said I started to read through every promise, and the day I got a revelation of the gospel of the kingdom-understanding who I was, what God called me to, who Jesus is, and who Jesus is in me-everything changed. I could move ahead into ministry, confident in Christ, and therefore my expectation was full of faith that God's power would truly flow through me. After all, He created my call! Friends, it's time to get back to the simplicity of the gospel and our call.

Next week we're going to examine what it takes to co-labor with God for complete restoration. I want you to be encouraged because right now God is tuning our souls for real victory. We've been hearing about "suddenlies"-now we're walking in them!

by Todd Bentley