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From Deception to Divine Order: Judgment Begins in the House of God
“But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.” 2 Timothy 3:13
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What’s worse: A false prophet or a false teacher? Because believe me, we are seeing plenty of both at work in this present era of scandal, betrayal, sin, deception and God’s judgement. Throw in false apostles, a chorus of critics of the Charismatic Movement and a few Charismatic leaders attacking those who are exposing evil, and what we have, besides sin, is chaos.
Paul tells us about these dangers in 2 Timothy 3 that things will go from bad to worse. For this present generation, the bad began accelerating in the early to mid-1980s with the Kansas City prophets and culminated in the formation of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) by the end of the decade. Before then, in the 1960s and 70s, very few claimed the title of apostle or prophet. However, the 1980s ushered in a new era—one where self-proclaimed apostles and prophets reached celebrity status, complete with embossed business cards to prove their claim and platforms that extended their influence across the globe.
With this rise came a wave of false words and unchecked sin. Bob Jones, a key figure among the Kansas City Prophets, once admitted to me that he was right only 50% of the time—yet many believers continued attending the churches that were promoting these men and women, somehow not discerning the truth.
The real enablers in this crisis are the churches and ministries—especially those on television and the internet—that continue to promote these individuals. Church leadership should be the first line of defense against the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Unfortunately, it is not.
Either these leaders lack discernment, or they recognized the deception but choose to ignore it for personal gain. Such is the case according to the newly released report by Firefly Independent Sexual Abuse Investigations, on abuse by Mike Bickle and the IHOPKC leadership that “shielded perpetrators and minimized victims.” This “systemic” leadership failure puts all involved under judgment.
Judgment Begins in the House of God
Now we are in a period where the Lord’s judgment is on those who call themselves leaders in the Body of Christ, no matter what denomination. 1 Peter 4:17 says, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
It starts with leaders but will go through the Body of Christ as well. The Lord is purifying his bride. “…as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.” Titus 2:13-14.
This judgment is not just about the evil doers and charlatans, but also the sincere men and women who are unskilled in the Word yet believe they are mature and espousing sound doctrine. They have knowledge of Scripture, but often without understanding of key doctrinal issues, so they unintentionally teach false doctrine.
Jesus dealt with this during his earthly ministry when he confronted the religious leaders over their misinterpretations and misapplications of Scripture. There are many instances in the Gospels where Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said to those of old,” then he explains the Father’s meaning of specific Scriptures. In Mark 7, “he (Jesus) said to them, ‘Then are you also without understanding?’”
This is the state of much Christian teaching today. It is why there is much deception and hard for believers to learn discernment. Jesus explains one reason in Mark’s Gospel is that they are teaching out of their traditions and not the actual commandments (Mark 7). God’s purification of His Church is not only about removing the charlatans and evil doers but putting us all in a place where we can each fulfill God’s calling on our lives.
The Unveiling of Things Hidden
During this time of judgment, all things that are hidden will be revealed. Luke 12:2-3, “The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!” Side note: We are not only seeing this in the Church but also in the United States and other countries.
This trend is going to get worse. Why? Because Jesus is rebuilding his church and this is part of the process. Cleaning out the morally corrupt, the charlatans, posers and wannabes, comes before the Lord reestablishes his Divine Order and installs those he has called to serve him by serving others.
Many of the new leaders that the Lord has chosen are not yet in leadership positions while others have withdrawn from active ministry. Most fit the description in 1 Samuel 22:1-2 of David’s men before he became King as being “in distress or in debt or discontent.” Jesus is bringing Divine Order out of this present chaos. Right now it looks messy, but soon we will see his authority and ministry and power active in his church.
Learning to Discern the False from the True
Now that many of these false ministers are being exposed, how can we more quickly learn to discern the true from the false? For many believers have set under these ministries for years and did not know something evil was going on. These ministers claimed divine authority and spiritual gifts, but we now know they lacked character, integrity, and genuine spiritual maturity. The most effective deceivers are often those who are deceived themselves. When someone believes their own falsehoods, they speak with conviction, making it even easier to mislead others.
If we struggle now to discern the false from the true, what will we do when it goes from bad to worse? We will face even greater challenges when Satan sends his counterfeits with signs and wonders. Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:24 that “false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” It is therefore imperative that we learn to discern for ourselves and not rely solely on church leaders to do it for us.
To complicate matters, and I will later explain this Scripturally, not everyone who gives a false word is automatically a false prophet or teacher. And just because someone gives a word of knowledge or prophecy doesn’t make them a prophet. Many misunderstand this, but Scripture provides the tools needed to navigate these complexities.
The Role of Sound Doctrine
My purpose is not to address the sin in the camp—that work is already successfully being done—but rather address the doctrinal errors that make us susceptible to deception. The “unskilled in the word of righteousness” is not just a problem within the leadership of the Charismatic Renewal; it is church-wide, worldwide. It affects every denomination, just as sin exists in every denomination, so too does false teaching.
The solution to discerning true from false ministers and ministries starts with sound doctrine, but unfortunately there is so much doctrinal error today, it reminds me of what the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 5:11-12:
“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God…”
The writer of Hebrews contrasts those who are "unskilled in the word of righteousness" with "the mature, who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." This practice of discernment and becoming skilled in the Word is key to our success in discerning true from false.
We know we should judge ourselves first, and part of that is knowing whether we are “unskilled” or “mature” in the Word and our ability to discern good from evil, true from false. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:31, “But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.”
Things hidden
I want to share two scriptural principles hidden in plain sight. Understanding these two keys will transform your perspective on Jesus’ Church and aid in your developing “powers of discernment.” Failing to grasp them has led to false teachings that have misled believers in every generation and hindered the Church’s mission.
Unfortunately, many Christian leaders remain unaware of these truths. Among the most prominent are Cessationists—those who believe that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit (such as prophecy, healing, miracles, and tongues), along with the offices of apostle and prophet, ceased either after the apostolic era or when the 27 books of the New Testament were canonized. This perspective has significantly shaped modern theology, often limiting the Church’s full expression of God’s power.
The first key is Divine Order—understanding how elders and the ministry gifts are meant to function together in the Church. The second key is recognizing that the New Testament gifts were given after Jesus’ ascension, making them distinct from the Old Testament and Gospels.
Unveiling these scriptural truths can bring greater alignment with God’s design for His Church, restoring what has been lost and empowering believers to walk in the fullness of their calling and gifts.
Divine Order in the Church
Understanding Divine Order is fundamental to comprehending the Word of God as it applies to church’s governmental structure. The principle that God brings divine order out of chaos is evident from the very first chapter of Genesis. In Rabbinic thought, and under the law of first mention, Genesis 1:2 describes the world as tohu vavohu (תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ), often translated as "formless and void." However, a more accurate rendering is "chaos and empty." This interpretation emphasizes that creation is not merely an ex nihilo (out of nothing) act, but a process of bringing structure, meaning, and purpose to a chaotic existence.
Today, the church is in chaos, not because of the sins being committed by ministers at IHOPKC, Morning Star, Gateway, Daystar, and others in all denominations, but because of the unscriptural governmental structure of the church. Sin is not the byproduct of bad structure, but individual moral failings. The byproduct of bad structure, or the absence of Divine Order, is generations of believers that have not been trained to discern.
The Lord is using divine judgment, beginning with leadership to bring Divine Order out of this chaos. Without a Scriptural understanding of Divine Order, we risk repeating the same mistakes. Now it is imperative that we align ourselves with what the Lord is doing, so we are prepared for what is coming and can live the life He has called us to.
The Role of Melchizedek in Divine Order
Earlier when I quoted from Hebrews 5:11-12 “About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing,” the “much to say” refers to Jesus being made a high priest after the order of Melchizedek as mentioned in Hebrews 5:9-10. The writer intended to reveal significant truths about Jesus’ and Melchizedek, but found his audience too spiritually immature to fully grasp them.
Understanding Jesus’ priesthood “after the order of Melchizedek” is key to understanding Divine Order. Like Melchizedek, Jesus is both King and Priest. The king represents government, while the priest represents ministry. Isaiah 9:6 declares: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The priesthood represents ministry both to God and man. This role was foreshadowed in the Levitical priesthood and is now fulfilled in Christ’s ministry through his ministry gifts during the Church Age.
Restoring Biblical Church Governance
Jesus delegates His governmental authority to appointed elders who are called to oversee local churches. In Titus 1:5-9
"This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."
This doesn’t mean that elders can’t have an Ephesians 4:11 ministry gift of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher. It is just not a requirement. Another doctrinal mistake is the assumption that pastors are or should be elders. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 12:28, Paul leaves both pastors and evangelists out of the list of what God has placed in the church. The New Testament only mentions pastors and evangelists three times outside of the Gospels while apostles, prophets, and teachers are mentioned a combined total of 230 times.
God places great importance on governance—far more than many within the Church realize. Without Christ’s ordained structure, chaos and confusion ensue. Where there is no Divine Order, spiritual anarchy takes root.
The Fallacy of Hierarchical Church Leadership
Most Protestant and evangelical churches operate under a pastor-centered leadership model, even when an elder board is present. Meanwhile, the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican traditions maintain hierarchical structures led by popes or bishops. These models represent a deviation that hinders the Church’s ability to function according to God’s design.
This widespread lack of understanding of the Scriptures has undermined the divine safeguards designed to protect and guide the body of Christ. While the reasons for God allowing such deviations remain complex and beyond the scope of this discussion, His ultimate purposes will prevail.
These hierarchical models create opportunities for ambition to overshadow servanthood, allowing individuals to seek positions of ultimate authority. Whether intentional or not, this structure can replace Christ as the true head of His Church, opening the door to deception, sin, and doctrinal compromise.
If the Church has accepted this unscriptural model, it raises a critical question: What other errors have crept into its teachings and practices? It is imperative that the body of Christ returns to the biblical framework of governance, aligning itself with the Divine Order established by God. Only then can the Church operate as the unified and powerful force it was created to be.
The Main Ministry Gifts Jesus gave His Church
A careful analysis of Ephesians 4 provides a deeper understanding of how the ministry of Jesus operates through individuals during the Church Age. This understanding equips us to discern true ministers from false ones and allows for correction when true ministers err or go astray.
As I said under the Things Hidden section—the first key is Divine Order—how elders and ministry gifts function together in the Church. The second key is recognizing that the New Testament gifts were given after Jesus’ ascension, distinguishing them from those of the Old Testament and the Gospels.
Let’s deal with the second key first:
Ephesians 4:7-10 “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
This passage clearly establishes that these ministry gifts were given after Jesus’ ascension. This distinction is crucial, as it separates these roles from Jesus’ pre-ascension ministry, including His calling and anointing of the original twelve apostles. It also confirms that a New Testament prophet operates under New Testament principles regarding calling, mission, and accountability.
Pre-ascension versus post-ascension
Understanding the timeline of Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost is essential for interpreting Ephesians 4:11-16 accurately. This context addresses misconceptions, such as the belief that apostles and prophets no longer exist, or that New Testament prophets are infallible.
Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (v.12) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (v.13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (v.14) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (V.15) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, (v.16) from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
Key points from Ephesian 4:11-16
The fivefold ministries function as a unified entity to fulfill a divine purpose and are inseparable.
These gifts are given “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” (v. 12).
1. They remain active until we attain unity and spiritual maturity (v. 13).
2. They serve to protect believers from false doctrines and deception (v. 14).
3. Their purpose is to help believers grow into Christlikeness (v. 15).
4. They contribute to the proper functioning of the body of Christ (v. 16).
Addressing Cessationism
Cessationists argue that the roles of apostles and prophets ceased either at the end of the first apostolic age with the death of the Apostle John or with the completion of the New Testament canon. However, Ephesians 4:11-16 refutes this claim, demonstrating that these gifts are given until the Church reaches full unity and maturity, which has not yet occurred.
The First Key—Divine Order
Divine Order—understanding how elders and the ministry gifts function together in the Church. Elders serve as gatekeepers, ensuring that ministry gifts operate within biblical guidelines. They are to safeguard the church by bringing correction as it says in Titus 1:9
“He (the elder) must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
While apostles and prophets primarily have translocal influence, they should remain connected to a home church. The apostle Paul wrote about the relationship between apostles and local church elders in several of his letters, demonstrating their distinct yet complementary roles in church leadership. Paul himself did not govern churches directly, but appointed elders to oversee local congregations (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).
Paul's letters, especially to the Corinthians, are significant for understanding how elders and apostles are to relate to one another. Paul offered advice, instruction and correction and helped maintained doctrinal purity. He did this not as someone with authority over a local church, but as a spiritual father.
This Divine Order allows for safeguards, feeding the sheep and equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.
So what’s worst, a false prophet or a false teacher? The false teacher, by far. Their teachings become doctrines and spread to an entire congregation or if the teaching goes viral on the internet, the entire planet. The false prophet, even with the same internet access has much shorter reach.
The best example of false teaching producing worldwide false doctrine is the pastor/pope models of church government. It has impacted all of Christianity.
Conclusion/Summary:
The Church is undergoing a season of divine judgment and purification, as false apostles, prophets, teachers, and corrupt leadership are being exposed. The chaos we see today is not just the result of individual moral failings but a deeper structural issue—a departure from divine order and sound doctrine that we see in New Testament Scriptures. Many ministries have promoted self-proclaimed apostles and prophets who lack both biblical integrity and spiritual maturity, leading many believers astray.
However, God is not merely removing the corrupt; He is restoring His Church. This process involves raising up new leaders who are truly called and equipping believers to discern truth from deception. The foundation for this discernment is sound doctrine, as spiritual maturity is essential to resisting false teachings.
As believers, we must take responsibility for our own growth in the Word and cultivate discernment. The days ahead will bring even greater deception, and we cannot rely solely on church leaders to safeguard us. The Lord is calling His people to align with His divine order, embrace His truth, and prepare for the next move of His Spirit.
Thanks for reading,
Blessings
Rick Fox
🚨 False teaching is a clear and present danger! 🚨
Believers must stand against deception and defend biblical truth without compromise. Watch my sermon, “A Call to Defend Against Error.” 📺👇 #Cessationist #DefendTheFaith https://t.co/5Z4squmlOq
I am a #continuationist because of #solascriptura; you are a #cessationist because of #experience, #emotions, and #tradition. Cessationists cannot make their case on scripture alone; they will always bring in experience. They are more experience-based than Charismatics.
There will be a new website for the Statement on Spiritual Gifts eventually, but if you are interested in getting an update when available, there is an email sign-up available here: https://t.co/DVW2IoXvBz
#Cessationism #Cessationist #Theology #Christian #Christianity
I call Mike Reid, Tony Miano, and ALL their defenders and promoters to either publicly defend and promote this 👇 woman endangering, woman humiliating, marriage invading filth...or to publicly repent.
#TonyMiano #MikeReid #G3Conference #G3Ministries #Cessation #Cessationist #CessationistConference #JoshBuice #ScottAniol #TomBuck #VirgilWalker #MikeRiccardi #JustinPeters @JoshBuice @virgilwalker @ScottAniol @TomBuck @G3Conference @PastorMikeReid @MianoAE
https://t.co/phmqh2zt3r
CHARLES #SPURGEON - "For the hour is coming, and it may be even now is, when the Holy Spirit shall be poured out again in such a wonderful manner ..when his kingdom shall come, and his will shall be done on earth even as it is in heaven." #Cessationist #AzusaStreet #Charismatic
Is cessationism heresy?
Read the rest to find out! ➡ https://t.co/t0FXbWS76A
@alandidio @danielkolenda @cfanusa @nationsorlando #cessationism #cessationist #gifts #spirit #HolySpirit #heresy #CharismaMag #charismamedia #Alandidio
Those of us who are cessationist in our theology we should not shy away from explaining why.
#Cessationist
@G3Conference Here are themes you can discuss for 3-days, build the faith of believers, and win souls for Jesus. You those Paul describes as having a form of godliness but they deny the power of God #cessationist #bibledays #biblefaith #bibleresults
@G3Conference Of all the things to hold a 3-day conference about, it is to limit God and destroy the faith of believers in God. I trust you all were praying for protection against COVID-19. That was a miracle. The audacity of #cessationist to tell God what he can't do anymore is ungodly
@G3Conference 1/3 "Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages)." Hebrews 13:8 #Cessationist #HolySpirit #g3conference
![Joyfull425's tweet photo. @G3Conference 1/3 "Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages)." Hebrews 13:8 #Cessationist #HolySpirit #g3conference https://t.co/GZXawDwU6n](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GF1uk2xWAAAnYAB.jpg)
I tremble when I see these ads selling seats to a #Cessationist road show conference.
I pray that these men know just how Holy the ground is that they have decided to walk on.
This #Cessationist campaign is a terrible idea and will just divide the Body of Christ even more than it already is.
The devil smiles and claps !
The saints of God in 70AD (or was it when John died. No, it was when the Canon was closed?), I guess? 🤷
#christianmemes #charismatic #reformedmemes #jesuschrist #memes #wholesomememes #cessationist #jesus #God
A CRY FOR US ALL ⚡️
🔥A Return To First Love
All leaders & all ministries.
Regardless what side you take or don't take to #ihopkc #mikebickle
Regardless if you are a #cessationist or a #continuationist
Regardless if you are #calvinist or not.
Regardless if you are into #deliverance or not.
⬇️⬇️⬇️
I’m in earnest and I repent
I'll remember and return
Do the things I did at first
I’ll be zealous and I’ll repent
I’ll remember and return
Do the things I did at first
We encourage our #CBTSeminary friends to check out the new #Cessationist documentary which covers the miraculous gifts and the operation of the Holy Spirit in our day.
You can order a DVD, purchase it on Amazon, or watch it on demand through this link:
https://t.co/X3a6yDNv7j
We got to @leslanphere during the making of the #Cessationist movie long before it was cool. Check out his interview as he takes us behind the scenes of the making of this documentary. https://t.co/fG48CDUKEi
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