[Editorial Note: John and Debra Moore are not only friends and family to us, but John tells people I am a spiritual father to him. I fully endorse and commend John as a prophet of God, a skilled and anointed thinker, speaker and writer. He is also a successful rancher near Miles City, Montana. Together they have two adult children and five grandchildren. This prophetic word will resound to the heavens with encouraging and inspiring truth for Christians and non-christians. Used by permission of author.]
Tebow Time – The 11th Hour and Matthew 20
“And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?'” Matthew 20:6
Denver Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow is presently the most recognized Christian in America. The focus on him and the Broncos’ series of last-minute wins requires us to ask if there is prophetic relevance to the Tebow phenomenon.
The first prophetic word I gave that garnered any national attention involved football. In 1997 I released a word involving (again) the Denver Broncos and their stars, John Elway and Terrell Davis. That word involved the 1998 Super Bowl, which Denver won. It was a significant win because Elway had taken the Broncos to the Super Bowl three other times and lost each by record margins. What brought attention to my word was not only that it came to pass but it confirmed a word Bob Jones had given earlier in Toronto though I didn’t know about Bob Jones’s word until my word had been released. (And please, don’t write me about that 1997 word because I don’t have a copy. It was on a computer that crashed.)
So, what’s the message behind the Tebow phenomenon?
What I see is going to offend a few, but…
…Tim Tebow is the Anti-Todd Bentley.
There you have it. Now let’s look at it.
For the two or three people on this list who don’t know or remember who Todd Bentley is, he was a dramatic,
controversial young revivalist who had a prison background, numerous tattoos, earrings, and fantastic claims — some undoubtedly true — of supernatural spiritual encounters. He was rushed to the forefront of ministry by those who saw him as the fulfillment of prophecies and presumptions regarding a “Lazarus” or “Joseph” generation.
The Lazarus and Joseph generation predictions began as early as the late 1980s — perhaps decades earlier — and predicted the rise of a generation of young people who would usher in an End Times harvest by radical obedience and powerful displays of spiritual power.
One young prophetess once told me, “Every time I see a young person with tattoos and piercings I know there is an End Times warrior in the making.”
For whatever reason, the cultural bent in the church at that time seemed to insist that the End Time workers be birthed from a spirit of rebellion. The Lord choosing the weak and despised I could understand. Him picking the orphan and the outcast I could understand. But, rooted in the charismatic/prophetic viewpoint was the insistence that this End Time Army look like escapees from a 1950’s carnival side-show.
What the charismatic/prophetic world demanded at that time was someone who would stand us and say, “Look at me. I’m not religious.”
Todd Bentley certainly filled that bill. But, there was a problem because:
Rebellion, which is negativity, can only produce worldly success.
Our daughter was a standout high school athlete who competed under numerous coaches in four sports. For two years she and her teammates played for a particularly negative basketball coach. This young man never had a good word to say to the team. He berated them, insulted them, and repeatedly devalued them as a team and as individuals.
As a parent I didn’t want to intrude, but finally I had to challenge him on his coaching philosophy. “Well,” he told me. “When anyone tells me I can’t do something, I get mad and I do it just to prove them wrong. That’s what I want my team to do.”
Trying to prove someone wrong is working toward success through negative motivation. One might reach the mountain top through negative motivation but one won’t stay there long. Jesus taught that it is not merely what we do or don’t do, but what is in our hearts. Doing or not doing something might fulfill the Law, but our motivations display the nature of the spirit we possess.
Being motivated by trying to prove people wrong is carnal, worldly, and at it’s root, Satanic, because it is rooted in self and draws attention to self. It is as the Luciferian “I wills” of Isaiah 14:
“I will ascend into heaven…
“I will exalt my throne…”
“I will also sit…”
“I will ascend above…”
“I will be like the Most High.”
This is the same spirit as saying: “I’ll show them.”
“I will prove them wrong.”
Todd Bentley came along when much of the church was trying hard not to be religious. Books were being written about the “Pharisee Spirit” and the “Spirit of Religion.” This anti-religious spirit was negative and Luciferian. It focused on permissible rebellion and acceptable disdain. Drug references and a drug past seemed to be prerequisites for ministry, tattoos were expressions of liberty, and wild supernatural claims were immune to scrutiny. The point is not whether Todd Bentley was called by God and used mightily — he was called, he was used — but was he prepared properly for primetime exposure. No matter what Todd’s motivation might have been, and I don’t presume to know, the motivation of the church culture at the time was wrong. An “anti-religious” spirit is nothing more than a new religious spirit.
Rebellion is witchcraft and witchcraft produces delusion.
The Luciferian spirit of rebellion draws attention to itself and detracts attention from God. But, the “world” loves this spirit because it is the spirit of the world.
For example, it is common for some young athletes to arrogantly proclaim “It’s not bragging if it’s the truth.”
What a delusion!
If it is not the truth then it is a lie. It is only possible to brag about what is true. Modesty is deflecting attention about one’s true accomplishments. If a person does great things, then blows his own trumpet about his accomplishments, then he is bragging. But, if a person blows his trumpet about things he hasn’t done he is not bragging, he is simply lying.
Bragging is forcing attention upon one’s self. The fact that the accomplishments are true is not the point. Anything that artificially draws attention to self — whether tattoos, piercings, or the recent fad of long hair and beards to represent a Nazirite vow — is by nature selfish. When attention comes our way through legitimate accomplishment, then we are simply presented on a stage that allows us to address the world. And how we do so is vital.
Bragging is saying, “I did it!” Humility and modesty is giving glory to God and credit to others.
The Tebow Example
When Tebow is interviewed after a last-minute win the first thing he does is give thanks to “my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.” The second thing he does is give credit to his coaches and teammates.
This is a Kingdom approach. It is an Anti-World approach.
Tebow is a home-schooled son of missionaries who was “Mr. Football” in high school in Florida and brought national attention to the accomplishments and rights of home-schooled students. In college he was part of two national championship teams for the University of Florida and became the first player to win the Heisman Trophy as an underclassman. It was a surprise when Broncos drafted him in the first round of the NFL draft because he does not fit the mold of the prototypical professional quarterback.
An NFL quarterback is supposed to be 6-5, 225 pounds, and pass with precision from the “pocket.” Tebow is about 6-3, 240 pounds, runs like a fullback, and “throws” the ball instead of “passing.” He is the product of a collegiate-styled “option” offense where the quarterback leaves his protection and has the options of running, passing, or handing off.
The prototypical NFL quarterback is similar to the church’s past example of the perfect pastor who stays in the pocket (behind the podium) and throws spiraling messages to his receivers, the congregation. His is also protected by special rules — as are NFL quarterbacks — that exempt them from the treatment received by running backs and lineman. Tebow’s style of play does not demand special protection and privileges. He is likely to be bloodier and dirtier after the game than anyone.
Eleventh Hour Miracles
What Tebow does do, and he does it like no one else, is will and inspire his team to miraculous last minute victories.
There are 60 minutes of play in an NFL game. Coming from behind to win in the final three minutes is analogous to the 11th- Hour workers in the vineyard.
But the real miracle in Tebow’s play is not his passing or running, but his ability to inspire others to believe. This is the fruit we must see in the End Times church.
Tebow never relies on negative motivation. More than anyone else in sport today, he has the right to say “I am going to prove my detractors wrong.” But he doesn’t say it. He doesn’t say it because he doesn’t believe it. He is not motivated to prove others wrong. He is motivated to do what he believes God created him to do, do it with all his heart, then give glory to the one who gave him the gifts and give credit to the others who helped make it possible.
Tebow is not the prototypical professional quarterback. He is a football player who plays quarterback. In the same manner the church must quit fussing over titles and simply be “Christian.” It is not important if we are a “prophet” or a “pastor.” It is important that we be a “Christian” who happens to be a prophet, pastor, evangelist, apostle or teacher. Or layman, or bishop, or elder, or whatever.
In the Public Eye
It is very likely that Tim Tebow has never heard of Todd Bentley and there will be those who will protest my using the two as a comparison. But when you are in the public eye the rules change. So, Tebow has become the “anti-Todd Bentley,” (my words) while probably not knowing who Todd Bentley is by simply being himself.
The public eye is a large one. If you choose to draw attention to yourself when you are in the public spotlight you will receive scrutiny beyond anything you ever imagined.
Tebow takes responsibility for his position but he deflects attention by giving thanks to God, his coaches and teammates.
This infuriates the “world.” The worldly system of self-aggrandizement loathes accomplishment accompanied by humility. It believes accomplishment comes only through “self-confidence” and not by hard work, teamwork, and confidence in a source larger than yourself.
Tim Tebow is a believer who has been prepared for his stage. His motivation is to glorify God while being who he is, namely, a football player. And he plays to win. He is superbly human and being human, he will fail. He will stumble. But what he will not do is beat his chest in victory or blame others in defeat. He is, presently, not only the most famous Christian in America, he is probably the best example of a Christian in America.
Contact John L. Moore at:
lazytl@johnlmoore.com
http://www.johnlmoore.com
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