Back in 2008 with many involved in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), the Lakeland revival was going on – with Todd Bentley being recognized as a New Breed (little god) on earth. This theology came out of the New Order of the Latter Rain (NOLR). (That is the sonship spirit, the power gospel and the kenotic Christ.)
‘Prophet’ Paul Cain (a heavy advocate of the NAR), announced he was now seeing the fulfilment of what the NOLR prophesied about the New Breed when he prayed for Todd Bentley. (Cain was involved in the NOLR.)
The NOLR raised its ugly head at the Lakeland revival, with many pushing the idea of a civil war in the church (noted by Charismatic journalist writer Lee Grady), Christ’s returning for this end-time revival (Wendy Alec), enforcing the end-times Apostolic/Prophetic government to establish their militant Joel’s Army (Wagner and Co.). But where was the ‘New Breed’ who Todd Bentley claimed God was raising up?
Compounding this deception, from 2008 onwards many Christians were astonished to see Bethel members and students trying to walk on water and walk through walls. Since that time, we’ve noticed that most of the uploaded YouTube videos and teachings are no longer available.
However, we have managed to find Bethel pastors teachings and
promoting these New Breed practices in their pulpit and books.
SONSHIP HERESY
Again, we need to stress that this assumption we are ‘little gods’ comes through this demonic spiritual ‘baptism’ promoted by these false teachers. If Christians embraced the NAR false ‘Full/Power Gospel’, they were encouraged to receive this second baptism to manifest their supernatural heavenly power here on earth, making them ‘little gods’ or ‘christs’.
With this ‘baptism’ comes the denial of Christ being fully God and fully man – as they confess that because he became just a man who emptied himself of divinity, filled with the Spirit to do these works, we can too.
Through their misreading of scripture, they now sees themselves as greater than Jesus – because of Christ’s claim that we are called to do ‘greater things’ than He did. Just like Christ the Son, we as sons (through the second baptism), can now operate in the supernatural to manifest His kingdom here on earth. Undergirding this false identity as ‘sons’ is the idea that we are ‘little gods’, which is taught at Bethel.
This means their focus is not about making true disciples but raising up the New Breed. As we are about to see, they have redefined ‘good works’ and ‘greater works’ to mean ‘supernatural works’ – not the biblical good works of loving and serving neighbour through their penitent faith in Jesus Christ. You know they are pushing the false kenotic Jesus, false sonship spirit and false power gospel when they twist this scriptures like this:
“Truly, truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12
BETHEL TEACHING THAT WE CAN WALK ON WATER & THROUGH WALLS.
Kevin Dedmon is not only a Bethel pastor, he also teaches at the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. He openly advertises that he is responsible for the majority of the bizarre practices of Bethel. In the YouTube video below, the comment reads: “Kevin Dedmon blasts us with a huge dose of faith, and a momentum for breakthrough.”
In the video, Kevin Dedmon twists the classic NAR passage in John 14:12, to talk about how some young men at his son’s youth group tried to walk on water like Jesus. Kevin Dedmon then tells the story of how individuals tried to walk through walls like Jesus did.
Although he attempts to make this funny, this is actually serious. We do not know how long Bethel has taught this – but we do know they have been teaching what you are about to witness below, for over a decade.
“They’re going to start off with what He did before they go on to the ‘greater things’.”
Source: Destiny Image, Free Audio Book Preview ~ Born to Create ~ Theresa Dedmon, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TJXbb0bc14, Published Jun 17, 2016. (Accessed Jan 21, 2018.)
[TRANSCRIPT COMING]
BETHEL PASTOR DESCRIBES HOW SHE TRIED TO WALK ON WATER.
One such victim of Kevin Dedmon’s teaching is his own wife: Theresa Dedmon (creator of Destiny Pants).
She also writes about her attempts to do these ‘greater works than Jesus’. At the 21:10 mark from her audio book, Dedmon is talking about doing these ‘greater works’. She claims, “I have tried walking on water in my bath tub, though I haven’t yet gotten a toe to float, it doesn’t mean it’s not possible. It only means I haven’t experienced it yet.” But notice the legalism of this false gospel, false Jesus and false spirit:
“What bothers me isn’t just that we fall short of what Christ did
but that we don’t go after more.”
She acknowledges that “we fall short of what Christ did” with her false beliefs. This false gospel has impacted on her assurance that she can have peace with God through Christ’s finished work of the cross.
Source: Destiny Image, Free Audio Book Preview ~ Born to Create ~ Theresa Dedmon, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TJXbb0bc14, Published Jun 17, 2016. (Accessed Jan 21, 2018.)
By putting the emphasis on John 14:12, she has made her peace with God impossible. This is because she is relying on her works to be the governing assurance in her relationship with God. One can only despair when they fail to live up to such a works-based form of righteousness – something we noticed with people who were influenced by Bethel ‘supernatural’ success stories.
This false gospel cannot save her and the Apostle Paul makes it very clear that if anyone preaches another gospel, they will be eternally damned.
KEVIN DEDMON – THE MAN BEHIND BETHEL’S MADNESS.
Kevin Dedmon has this to say about himself on his website (Jan 21, 2018):
“Kevin has been in pastoral ministry for over 30 years and has a B.A. in Biblical Studies and a M.A. degree in Church Leadership from Vanguard University.
He taught revival Kingdom theology, Treasure Hunts and healing in the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry for 13 years. He was also on the leadership team of Bethel Church during that time, where he developed Treasure Hunts, Firestarters, HomeFire and activating church members in evangelism as well as training new believers and new members in a revival supernatural lifestyle.
Kevin has also authored the following books: The Ultimate Treasure Hunt, Unlocking Heaven: Keys to Living Naturally Supernatural, The Risk Factor, T.N.T., Firestarter curriculum and HomeFire curriculum.
Kevin, along with his wife Theresa, spend their time speaking at conferences and churches, writing and developing curriculum in which people are equipped, empowered and activated in miracles, healing and prophetic as a normal lifestyle of the believer.”
Source: About, KevinDedmon.Com, https://www.kevindedmon.com/about/, Accessed Jan 21, 2018. [Archived]
Here is how he used to advertise himself (note: NAR Apostle John Wimber used to push the NOLR Power Gospel by emphasising his personal teaching known as ‘Power Evangelism’ – Bethel is now calling it ‘Supernatural Evangelism’):
“Kevin has been in pastoral ministry for over 25 years and has a B.A. in Biblical Studies and a M.A. degree in Church Leadership from Vanguard University. Kevin oversees the Firestarter Class, which equips and empowers newcomers and new believers to live as revivalists – healing the sick, prophesying, and supernatural evangelism. He is also the director of Bethel Church’s Firestorm ministry, which sends teams to local churches for the purpose of demonstrating the revival culture of Bethel Church, as well as imparting, empowering, and activating the church to live naturally in the supernatural, so that the atmosphere in both the church and the community is transformed. Kevin also speaks at conferences and churches world wide, focusing on healing and supernatural evangelism. He also teaches revival theology in the School of Supernatural Ministry, and trains new believers and new members in a revival supernatural lifestyle in his Firestarter’s class at Bethel Church. Kevin is the author of The Ultimate Treasure Hunt, and Unlocking Heaven: Keys to Living Naturally Supernatural.”
Source: About, KevinDedmon.Com, https://www.kevindedmon.com/about/, Accessed Apr 17, 2010. [Archived]
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Categories: Bethel "Church", Fresh Fire Ministries, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)