THE TORONTO BLESSING FAQ

What is the Toronto Blessing?

The "Toronto Blessing" is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit currently touching many of the major Christian church denominations, including the Mainstream churches, Evangelicals, Jews, Charismatics & Pentecostals, and Roman Catholics.

Is this the final end-time revival that we've been praying for?

This phenomenon is commonly referred to as "Revival", although many in the Church would prefer to consider this phenomenon to be a "Renewal" since primarily only the Church is being affected and not so much the world at this time, although the world is certainly taking notice of this phenomenon.
However I believe there are strong evidence in the world scene today that suggests we are living in the end-times, and therefore I would suggest that the great end-time harvest of souls into the Kingdom will occur within a short time after this present Renewal, although it is unwise to place definate time frames upon these events.
Many souls have already been brought into the Kingdom in increasing numbers during this outpouring of the Holy Spirit - please see the Pensacola Revival article also.

Why is it called the "Toronto Blessing"?

It is commonly believed that this outpouring of the Holy Spirit began at the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church (now known as Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship) in Toronto, Canada. However it turns out that this outpouring of the Holy Spirit began several years earlier in various locations around the world, but did not receive general secular exposure until after this outpouring began at Toronto during the middle of January 1994. Thereafter, this outpouring of the Holy Spirit spread to many of the mainline denominational and non-denominational churches worldwide.

So when and where did this Renewal start?

Back in 1979, the South African Evangelist, Rodney Howard-Browne, received a touch from the Lord, and under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, he experienced periods of holy laughter, weeping, speaking in tongues, and was generally "drunk" in the Spirit. He began touring South Africa with a denominational ministry team in 1980, and seven years later in December 1987, he arrived in the USA to commence Evangelistic ministry. A general outpouring of the Holy Spirit became evident on a regular basis at Rodney Howard-Browne meetings since early 1989.
This Renewal began independantly in other areas of the world since the 1980s, including my very own church, New Day Ministries of Perth, Western Australia, pastored by Phillip Howell - although a greater measure of this Renewal became evident at New Day since Rodney Howard-Browne's visit to Australia early in 1995.

Does the Bible speak of any "end-time" Revival?

Consider JOEL 2:21-32, which I will summarise here.
Let me share with you a vision the Lord has given to me, which the nature of our summer thunderstorm phenomena in Perth is used for emphasis.
During a hot summer day, the sky is blue and clear. I look towards the horizon and I see the unmistakable shapes of the white thunderhead clouds billowing in the distance. I know now a storm is approaching from the north west.
Sometime later, much of the sky is clouded over, and very dark towards the north west. I see the lightning in the distance, and I hear the thunder roar several seconds later. The air is still, there is no wind. I feel drops of rain falling on me intermittently. The rain is not heavy enough for me to be needing an umbrella or rain coat - a large drop fall on my head, then another large drop fall on my arm, and another on my back, and so on. I know that very soon, the gale force wind will blow in forcefully, and torrents of rain will suddenly descend from the cloud above, as the lightning and thunder occurs at the same moment in time.....
I believe the current phenomenon of the Toronto Blessing is likened to that "calm before the storm" when the air is calm and there are large intermittent drops of rain falling. We know the storm is coming, but it has not arrived yet - the "storm" being the massive end-time harvest of souls, the former and the latter rains together, as described in Joel 2.

How do we know that we are currently in the "end-times"?

This is another topic altogether and is outside the scope of this FAQ, but suffice to say, the signs that we are currently living in the "end-times" are many and varied today. The list I've given below is by no means complete!
The 7th Resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire (otherwise known as Europe) - REVELATION 12:3, 13:1, 17:3,7 - the beast described here represent Europe enjoying seven phases of unification and world power prior to Christ's 2nd Coming, with the final phase consisting of 10 nations (or groups of nations). This final phase is taking place today.

The rise of Germany (modern-day Assyria) to world power - this ties in with the reunification of Europe. Many nations today (including the USA) are looking to Germany for economic/political gains, however, Germany at the helm of the European Empire will soon impose world domination upon these unsuspecting nations - EZEKIEL 23:4-12, HOSEA 7:11, 8:9, 9:3 etc.
Israel's attempts at making peace with her Arab neighbours and the Vatican - I THESSALONIANS 5:1-3, JEREMIAH 4:10, 6:14, 8:11, EZEKIEL 7:25, 13:10 etc.
The increasing frequency and severity of earthquakes, storms, famines, and other "natural" disasters - MATTHEW 24:7
The rise in false religions, cults, and those claiming to be Jesus Christ - MATTHEW 24:11,24
The worldwide preaching of the Gospel - MATTHEW 24:14. The Gospel has never been preached WORLDWIDE until this century!!
For more proof that we're living in the end-times, please peruse my End-Time Prophecies page.

How about the claims of many historical leaders,

- including Luther, who had claimed they were living in the end-times? Didn't even the apostle Paul thought he was living in the end-times? Obviously they were wrong, so maybe we're making the same mistake?
The book of Daniel contains end-time prophecies, culminating in the Great Tribulation mentioned in Chapter 12. Daniel 12:9 mentions about the prophetic words being sealed and unopened until the actual end-times, meaning, many of the end-time prophecies in the Bible will not be fully understood by men until the end-times. I believe many of the end-time prophecies in Scripture are finally being opened to understanding by those during these days who are willing to seek. Over 1/3 of Scripture relates to prophecy, and 90% of these refers to end-time events.
I strongly believe we're living in the end-times, however, even if we aren't in the end-times just yet, this should not detract from the fact that the Toronto Blessing is a genuine sovereign move of God with worldwide proportions, and there has to be a reason for this!

So what happens when we get the "Toronto Blessing"?

The "Toronto Blessing" is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit onto the Church in greater measure. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit is equated on a personal level to the "baptism in the Holy Spirit", also known as the "infilling of the Holy Spirit". "Baptism" is a Greek word which purely and simply means "to be fully immersed" - therefore "baptism in the Holy Spirit" means we're fully immersed in the Holy Spirit. ACTS 2:1-4 describes the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit onto the Church, and the following verses in ACTS 2 gives the explanation by Peter that this represents the beginning of the fulfilment of JOEL 2. It is significant that this first outpouring of the Holy Spirit occured on the day of Pentecost - the festival of "firstfruits" - from which we can know that the ACTS 2:1-4 event is just the "firstfruits" of God's outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church
From ACTS 2:1-4 - and also ACTS 10:44-46 & ACTS 19:6 - the Pentecostals had always believed that this baptism in the Holy Spirit results in the "speaking in tongues". However, we can see from Scripture that there's more to the baptism in the Holy Spirit than just speaking in tongues. Many of those who witnessed the phenomenon described in ACTS 2:1-4 thought that the disciples were actually drunk in new wine (see vs 13), and just speaking in another language is not normally associated with drunkeness!!
In EPHESIANS 5:18 we are told not to be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit. To be drunk with alcohol is actually Satan's counterfeit to being filled with the Holy Spirit!! The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not just an one-off experience, but we are as Christians to be CONTINUALLY filled with the Holy Spirit - as the context of EPH 5:18 shows.
Below are the more common manifestations that occurs when we receive the "Toronto Blessing" - the baptism in the Holy Spirit - with Scriptural references -
FALLING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT - this is when we fall to the ground because we can no longer remain standing when the power of God is on us!!! Sometimes we remain on the ground from several minutes up to several hours, our body simply cannot move very much because our flesh is corrupt and cannot stand in God's full presence!!
II CHRONICLES 5:11-14, EZEKIEL 1:26-28, MATTHEW 17:5-8, JOHN 18:5-6, ACTS 9:3-4.

SHAKING - when parts of our body, or the whole body, is shaking under the power of the Holy Spirit.
DANIEL 10:5-9, JEREMIAH 5:22, 23:9, ACTS 4:31 the last reference describes an environmental manifestation - building shaking!!.

WEEPING - when we weep, either because we are repenting from our sins, or we feel the burden for the souls not yet saved in the world.
NEHEMIAH 8:9, II CHRONICLES 34:27.

LAUGHTER - strangely enough this is the most controversial of all Toronto Blessing manifestations!! This "holy laughter" is when we are laughing, sometimes for long periods of time, when the Holy Spirit comes upon us.
PSALM 126, 16:11, 21:1, NEHEMIAH 12:43, JOHN 17:13.

A NOTE ON LAUGHTER - Many who oppose the Toronto Blessing point out that there is a difference between "joy" and "laughter" when we study the original Hebrew and Greek texts from which we have the Bible. While it is true that "joy" and "laughter" are different, it is also true that laughter can manifest from joy, just as murder can manifest from hate!!

LAUGHTER SCRIPTURES - Many passages of Scriptures seems to cast laughter as undesirable, and most Pharisees uses these Scriptures to forbid laughter at Toronto Blessing meetings. Examples of such Scriptures includes
(these references linked directly to my Laughter Scriptures pages) PROVERBS 29:9; ECCLESIASTES 2:2; 7:3, LUKE 6:25, JAMES 4:9.

HOWEVER, as with all Scriptures, such Scriptures must be viewed IN CONTEXT with the surrounding passages. Viewed in their proper context, we can see that such Scriptures are actually directed at sinners and backslidden Christians, NOT at fervently Spirit-filled Christians at Toronto Blessing meetings.
Other Scripture such as PSALM 126:2 specifically expresses laughter as an outpouring of joy. Scripture is replete of references to JOY as a fruit of righteous Christian living, and rather than detracting from laughter itself, such Scriptures serves to emphasise that JOY has several manifestations - laughter is just one such manifestation, but others includes, deep inner peace, calmness during times of trouble, and a inner desire to do God's will (these are also evident among Toronto Blessers!)

But do we focus upon these "signs and wonders" mentioned above??

No we don't!! Despite what many Pharisees and other critics would have us to believe, we do not seek after these manifestations. We do, in fact, seek Jesus Christ! We lift up and worship Jesus Christ, our focus is on Jesus Christ. It is actually Jesus Himself who baptises us in the Holy Spirit - JOHN 1:33.

So how do we know that these manifestations are of God and not of Satan?

Consider LUKE 11:11-13. Here Jesus explains that if we ask the Father for the Holy Spirit then we get the Holy Spirit!! We will NOT receive a demon spirit when we ask the Father for the Holy Spirit!!
This is exactly what happens when we receive the "Toronto Blessing". We first worship God, often with music, with clapping of hands and dancing in the Spirit (JUDGES 21:21, PSALM 47:1, 98:8, 149:3, 150:4, ISAIAH 55:12). We worship the Father and the Son (JOHN 8:18, 10:30, 17:21, I CORINTHIANS 8:6). And we know that the Spirit of God moves in us when we worship Him - PSALM 22:3.
Sometimes later, we are encouraged to receive the "flow of the Holy Spirit" or "drink in the Holy Spirit". Here we are giving ourselves to God, we ask the Father for the Holy Spirit, and we are encouraged to be open to how God touches us. Sometimes we have the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit, but a lot of the time the Holy Spirit comes upon us without anyone laying hands - both methods of receiving the Holy Spirit have Scriptural precedence - ACTS 8:17 and 10:44.

Testing of the spirits.

God also commands us to "test the spirits" - I JOHN 4:1-3. The controversy around the Toronto Blessing often revolves around the testing of the spirits, claiming proofs that the Toronto Blessing is of Satan! So how do we "test the spirits"? This is certainly not done by attacking churches and individuals, nor is it done by taking Scriptures (eg certain laughter Scriptures) out of their intended context. Scripture itself reveals how we should test the spirits - consider I JOHN 4:1-3. Satan and demon spirits does NOT confess Jesus Christ to be Lord (at least not until the Great White Throne judgment day anyway!! - REVELATION 19 & 20). As I said earlier, Jesus Christ is worshipped and glorified, and most importantly, we confess Jesus Christ to be Lord - this happens before and during the Toronto Blessing manifestations. This confirms my previous point - that is, if we ask the Father for the Holy Spirit then this is exactly what we get!! - the Holy Spirit!!

But didn't Paul say that there should be "decency and order" in the Church as mentioned in I CORINTHIANS 14: verses 33 & 40

Yes he did!! At first glance it seems that Paul's instructions given in the above mentioned verses are at variance to Toronto Blessing meetings!! However, we must not make doctrines out of single verses of Scripture, but rather each verse of Scripture must be taken in context to the whole message. In the above mentioned case, we must view these single verses in the light of the whole message of chapter 14. Here Paul was speaking of edification, that is, the whole congregation should be edified (meaning, to benefit or be encouraged) when gifts of the Holy Spirit are used in the Church service. Here Paul was talking primarily about Tongues and Prophecy, and we must note that Paul was not forbidding the use of these gifts, but rather to use these gifts so to edify the whole congregation. This lesson can be applied for any gifts - manifestations - of the Holy Spirit, including Toronto Blessing manifestations. Chapter 14 is not forbidding the Toronto Blessing manifestations, but rather, for the whole congregation to be taught understanding about what these manifestations means, so that everyone can be edified! When this is achieved, then we have "decency and order" in the church!

So why these Toronto Blessing manifestations?

Many of these manifestations are just reactions by our corrupt flesh to the more intense presence of God. When the Holy Spirit moves in a greater measure upon individuals, our sinful corrupt flesh can expect to react, often quite violently! These reactions to our flesh involves both the body and the mind. The Holy Spirit is often trivialised in our minds as some kind of "Casper the friendly ghost!", however, the total truth is that the Holy Spirit represents God Almighty Himself, indeed, the Holy Spirit IS God!! The Holy Spirit is known as the HOLY Spirit for a very good reason!! - He IS God who's holy beyond human measure!!
However, many of these manifestations can be used by God to teach us about what is God doing in the world today and will do in the near future, indeed, it turns out that many of these Toronto Blessing manifestations have a PROPHETIC function for the whole Church. And when the Prophetic meanings of these manifestations are explained to us, then we all can be edified even if we all don't experience these manifestations! It's worth noting that multiple Prophetic interpretations does apply to many of these manifestations. Here is a list of manifestations, with why each manifestation might be occuring, possible Prophetic meaning of the manifestation, and Scriptural references where appropriate.

The Fruits of Revival.

It's one thing to experience the Toronto Blessing during a church meeting, but how about when in the outside world?, or in 12 months time? It is certainly true that "we shall know them by their fruits" - MATTHEW 7:20 Here below is a list of the fruits of all Revivals in history - and also of those who experiences the Toronto Blessing.
Repentance - LUKE 24:47-48

Respect for Scripture - ISAIAH 66:2

Jesus is exalted - JOHN 16:13-14

Love for the Church - JOHN 13:34-35

Love and concern for the unsaved - ACTS 1:8

Healing (physical, emotional, spiritual) - ISAIAH 53:5, I THESSALONIANS 5:23

Empowerment for ministry - ACTS 13:1-4,
I CORINTHIANS 15:9-10

Unity among believers in differing denominations and also of differing ethnic backgrounds - I CORINTHIANS 12:11-14, EPHESIANS 4:1-6

So how about the expulsion of Toronto Airport Vineyard Church (TAV)from the Association of Vineyard Churches (AVC)?

During past revivals throughout history, there had also experienced splits in established churches. For example, during the revival of the 1700s (Wesley and Whitefield), the Anglican church experienced a split, resulting in the formation of the Methodist church (for their new "methods" of conducting prayer meetings!) However today there still are Anglican and Methodist churches, they're still both Christian churches - and both had experienced the Toronto Blessing today!!
ACTS 15:36-40 gives an account of the split between Paul and Barnabas, resulting in both individuals parting on their separate ways conducting separate ministries. However, both Paul and Barnabas were still true Christians, and both doing God's will in their separate ministries.
Splits in the church may seem undesirable to the human mind, however, such splits resulting in the establishment of different churches with different emphasis does actually lead to an more effective worldwide work of God! We must realise that UNITY does NOT mean that we are all the same and doing things all in the same way! But rather, UNITY implies COMMON PURPOSE even though we achieve them differently. I CORINTHIANS 12 speaks of the Body having many different members, but all working together under Christ for a common purpose. Our unity is in JESUS CHRIST! A fruit of this current Renewal concerns the fellowshipping of Christians from different churches, we no longer tend to ask the question "Which church do you come from?", but rather we tend to ask, "What Christ is doing in your life?"
Regarding the TAV/AVC split, this is not a matter of who is "right" and who is "wrong", but just as in the above mentioned cases, it's more of a matter of "differences of administrations". The AVC emphasises the planting of churches worldwide, whilst TAV have become more as a "refueling station" where Christians from all over the world come to be renewed and refilled with the Holy Spirit. I have studied the statements from the leadership of both TAV and AVC, and despite the feelings of some members, neither leadership have forbidden fellowship between TAV and AVC by their members. They are both respected as genuine Christian churches, both following DIFFERENT PATHS for a COMMON PURPOSE under Jesus Christ. THERE IS STILL UNITY IN THE CHURCH

TESTIMONIES - REVELATION 12:11

First Time Experience In The Toronto Blessing

Now here comes the exciting bit!! Glory!! I have received numerous testimonies as to how the lives of churches and individuals have changed for the better since experiencing the Toronto Blessing. I guess the best testimony to give is that of the author - in this case, myself!! I don't have enough disk space on this server for me to give EVERY one of my testimonies, so I'll just give one of them - so do enjoy and be blessed!!
Soon after my church had embraced this Renewal or the Toronto Blessing, we were blessed by an visit by Robert Hopkins from Michigan USA for a series of Revival meetings in Perth during June 1995. Mr Hopkins was used mightily by God to fan the flames of Holy Spirit fire in my church, and we had been in an state of "Toronto Blessing style" Renewal ever since. I will share with you one personal experience at these Revival meetings.
After much dancing during our Praise and Worship time, and after enjoying a solid square meal of the Word of God as preached by Mr Hopkins, we were told to clear away our seats and we were to stand in the middle of the hall. Almost immediately, people began falling to the ground under the power of the Holy Spirit (some spontaneously, and some after the laying on of hands), and it wasn't very long before the floor became covered with people laying under the power of the Holy Spirit, with many of them manifesting in holy laughter, shaking, and other such manifestations. This was actually the first Toronto-style meeting that I have been to, and so I didn't know what quite to expect.
Anyway, the prayer team, which included my very own pastor from my church, came and prayed for each of us who remained standing, and nearly all fell to the ground. It was my very own pastor who came to me, and as soon as he came near to me, I fell straight to the ground, he did not even touch me at all!! I had been "slained in the Spirit" many times before, but what happened to me this time turned out to be an much deeper experience! Firstly I began to laugh, I had this overwhelming urge to laugh, and I was in holy laughter for a long time - this was the first time I was ever really given over to holy laughter to this magnitude. And my whole body was paralysed, I could not move at all, I was it seems pinned to the ground. All of these experiences were new to me at that time!! The sense of joy in me was overwhelming, as was the sense of peace in me!! It was an most awesome experience for me!! I was on that ground for probably at least an hour, more like 90 minutes I think - this was by far the longest time I had spent on the ground!!
And afterwards I went to get myself up off the ground, but still could not move very much, I was totally drunk!! I felt so unsteady on my feet, and I saw an old friend of mine sitting nearby, so I literally staggered towards her and sat down next to her!! It was so good to be talking to her, and by the time we finished talking, I was sufficiently sober enough so I could walk out and drive back home - by then it was near to midnight!!
And from that night onward, my whole perspective on life had changed. I was no longer interested in the secular things, I had no desire for the secular things that I had desired only just six hours earlier prior to this Revival meeting!! I just wanted more and more and more of God!!!
I feel so much closer to God these days. All I want to do is praise and worship the Lord, and read the Bible, and Christian books and magazines, and pray, and pray in the Spirit, and listen to Christian videos and tapes, and listen to Christian CDs, and to glorify God in all that I do, and to be with God's people, and to tell everyone about Jesus, and just to be simply whereever God is!!

My desire for worldly things is getting less, my desires for the things of God is increasing. I'm experiencing miracles in my own life. Joy and peace is in my heart. I praise God for the beginning of each day.

I HAVE RETURNED TO MY FIRST LOVE. GLORY!!! HALLELUJAH!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?

You're welcomed to be included in my Mailing List where I regularly post articles giving SCRIPTURALLY BASED replies to common arguments used against the Toronto Blessing. Such articles are normally posted every 4 to 6 weeks, and opportunities exists for anyone to email me if one desires for particular concerns to be addressed in this List.
To subscribe to my Mailing List, do email me at gregga@nettrek.com.au
In the SUBJECT LINE type the words "TBD", and in the main body of the message, just type the word "subscribe" (all without the "quotation marks" of course! *grin*) More details available at my Apologetics page in the Toronto Blessing Debate section
Otherwise, you're welcomed to email me privately at the above mentioned email address, particularly if you have specific questions/concerns regarding the Toronto Blessing. Testimonies also welcomed!! Unless otherwise requested, a selection of your queries, comments and testimonies will be included in the
Toronto Blessing Scrolls.

THE TORONTO BLESSING IS A GENUINE MOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON THE CHURCH TODAY

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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