When Corruption Stands Behind the Pulpit and Deception Occupies Sacred Spaces

Jeremiah 23:1–4 | Ezekiel 34:1–10 | Matthew 7:15–23 | 2 Timothy 3:1–7

My heart genuinely breaks for the sheep of God who are sitting under corrupt shepherds.

My heart breaks for those who have been spiritually abused, manipulated, mishandled, silenced, exploited, and wounded by the very individuals who were entrusted with helping nurture, protect, and lead them toward Jesus Christ.

But my heart also breaks for those who have become so disconnected from genuine intimacy with God, His Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit that they cannot discern when the very shepherd they are following is leading them away from the Chief Shepherd, JESUS CHRIST!

Not every person standing behind a pulpit has been entrusted by God to shepherd His people. Not every voice declaring “Thus saith the Lord” is speaking on behalf of the Lord. And not everything operating within a sacred space is operating under the authority and approval of the Holy Spirit.

This is why DISCERNMENT is not optional!

The Word of God warns us repeatedly about false prophets, deceitful workers, corrupt shepherds, wolves in sheep’s clothing, and individuals who use godliness as a means of personal gain.

In Jeremiah 23, God confronts shepherds who scatter, destroy, and neglect His sheep.

In Ezekiel 34, God rebukes shepherds who feed themselves while neglecting the flock. They exploit the sheep, fail to strengthen the weak, refuse to heal the sick, neglect the injured, and rule with force and cruelty.

God never called shepherds to build personal kingdoms at the expense of His people. He never commissioned spiritual leaders to manipulate His sheep into submission, exploit their vulnerabilities, or demand allegiance that belongs to Jesus Christ alone.

And let us not overlook the warning in 2 Timothy 3:1–5 concerning PERILOUS TIMES.

Paul describes a season characterized by people who are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, unholy, without natural affection, lacking self-control, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, and possessing a FORM OF GODLINESS while DENYING ITS POWER!

Church, these characteristics are not difficult to recognize in our present generation.

We are witnessing behaviors that Scripture warned would characterize perilous times. And when such behaviors enter the Church, become normalized behind pulpits, or are defended in the name of ministry, we must not confuse religious activity with genuine spiritual authority.

A title does not automatically establish godly character. A platform does not prove divine approval. A gift does not excuse a lack of integrity. And popularity does not validate sound doctrine.

Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15 that false prophets would come in sheep’s clothing while inwardly being ravenous wolves. He also taught that they would be recognized by their fruits.

Brothers. Sisters. , the fruit matters!

The doctrine matters!

The character matters!

The treatment of God’s people matters!

And the truth matters!

We must stop equating loyalty to a spiritual leader with loyalty to God.

We must stop allowing spiritual titles to intimidate believers into silence when wrongdoing is taking place.

And we must stop treating accountability as rebellion when Scripture itself requires leaders to live above reproach.

STOP GROOMING & MANIPULATING GOD’S SHEEP!

God’s sheep do not belong to the shepherd standing behind the pulpit. They belong to JESUS CHRIST!

And to those who have been wounded by corrupt spiritual leadership: what happened to you should never be minimized or excused under the language of submission, covering, honor, or obedience.

You can honor God’s Word without enabling spiritual abuse. You can forgive without surrendering healthy boundaries. And you can love the Church while refusing to participate in corruption.

My prayer is that the Lord will heal the wounded, expose deception, bring genuine repentance, raise up shepherds after His own heart, and awaken His people to the importance of knowing His voice.

For Jesus declared in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

May we become so rooted in the Word of God, so surrendered to the Holy Spirit, and so intimately acquainted with Jesus Christ that we are no longer easily carried away by charismatic personalities, religious performances, false doctrines, or spiritual manipulation.

The answer to corrupt shepherding is not abandoning Christ. It is returning to the Chief Shepherd.

We are living in serious times. Let us be watchful, discerning, prayerful, and grounded in biblical truth.

The sheep must know the voice of the Shepherd above the voices of those who claim to represent Him.

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A few days ago I heard Holyspirit say,
“This isn’t the time for my people to be passive”

A while ago, I shared with some sisters that I felt in the Spirit that this is a season of “recovery” for many of God’s ppl. I had NO IDEA Tye Tribbett was going to do a series on this as well.

Today, The Lord just reminded me…(bc normally when I don’t move and write something down or share it when God gives it to me to , I won’t remember it later)

Passive, in this context, means not acting, resisting, or taking charge, and instead letting things happen to you or accepting them without a fight 👊🏾🙏🏾

Because truth be told, some of you aren’t “waiting on God”, you’re just avoiding necessary confrontation–and sometimes you’re (we’re) the one you (we) need to be confronting.

How can we recover what we are unwilling to pursue? How can we rebuild what we refuse to confront? How can we expect spiritual restoration while resisting repentance and obedience?

One of the Scriptures that came to mind is 1 Samuel 30:8, when David sought the Lord after the Amalekites attacked Ziklag and took the families and possessions of David and his men. David had every right to immediately respond because his family and valubles were in the hands of the enemy but, he paused & sought the Lord by asking “Shall I pursue?” And the Lord said, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” -1 Samuel 30:8 (NKJV)

It’s not about just moving and doing things, in this season, in haste or just bc we can or have the resources and means; it’s not about allowing pride to tell us “You’re justified–look how they handled you”; WITH EVERY REASON TO ATTACK & RESPOND, WE STILL MUST PAUSE AND CONSULT YAWEH!

[Gideon is coming to mind as I’m typing. Read Judges concerning Gideon and his army and their victory]

🔑DIVINE ORDER AND 🔑 OBEDIENCE

God promised David #recovery, but David still had to respond in obedience. The promise did not eliminate the responsibility to act.

Passivity is neglecting the obedience, repentance, faithfulness, or responsibility God has already made clear.

LET GO OF PASSIVITY‼️‼️

You cannot embrace spiritual passivity while claiming to be actively pursuing what God has called you to recover.

[“Passive aggressive” is coming to mind as well. -avoiding direct confrontation; masking one’s true feelings, and letting go of open communication—while the aggressive part expresses hidden anger or resistance through subtle, indirect actions.]

Additionally, YES, God sees the wounds of His ppl during battle; seasons of warfare; seasons of pruning–the betrayal; the hurt–HE SEES & HE CARES! Yes, the deed was injust. Yes, He even permitted it. But He ALWAYS intended to restore you. The Chief Physician ALWAYS intends to take us through a surgical examination and a recovery process.

NO! We don’t have passively sit by and take everything thrown at us just bc we love God and we’re Followers of Christ! It’s not “Well, it is what it is” or “Well, I guess I’ll just let them…” or “Such is life. I might as well give up bc what’s the use, now”

The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force‼️💪🏾🙏🏾 (ref. Matt. 11:12) -Take time to study what that actually means

THIS IS OUR SEASON OF…

💪🏾 REGAINING- Taking back what was lost, stolen, surrendered, or taken away

💪🏾RESTORATION- Returning something to its former condition or rightful place

💪🏾HEALING-Recovering from sickness, injury, trauma, or spiritual brokenness

💪🏾RETRIEVAL- Going after and bringing back something that was lost

💪🏾RECLAMATION-Reasserting rightful possession or responsibility

💪🏾RENEWAL- Regaining strength, clarity, passion, or spiritual vitality

💪🏾RESUCE- Delivering someone from captivity, oppression, or danger

💪🏾RECONCILIATION- Restoring a broken relationship or fellowship

💪🏾RECUPERATION-Rebuilding strength after exhaustion, hardship, or suffering

💪🏾RECUPERATION OF LOSSES- Regaining resources, opportunities, or possessions that were lost

💪🏾REVIVAL- Returning to spiritual alertness, devotion, and active obedience

💪🏾RECOVERY OF CONSCIOUSNESS- Becoming alert again after unconsciousness; spiritually, this can illustrate awakening from complacency

(Bc The adversary has definitely been snatching and robbing ppl of their God-given identities)

RECOVERY requires us to get up, get focused and get busy on REBUILDING what God established–that passivity and compromise allowed US to give the enemy access to contaminate & destroy.

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die…”Rev 3:2

This isn’t just about reclaiming what was stolen from us or what we may have passively forfeited. This is PARTICULARLY about becoming spiritually whole, mature, disciplined, and obedient again✝️in Jesus Christ mighty name,
AMEN 🙏🏾

I’m going to start here:

Matthew 7:21–23 (KJV)
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

What Jesus means by “knew” here is, He was never in a covenant relationship with whom He’s rejecting. There wasn’t INTIMACY.

📌Knowing God biblically always includes relationship + obedience (ref. John 10:27)

INIQUITY
This is LAW-LESS-NESS. Living as though God’s authority does not apply.

•Rejecting God’s standards
•Living according to one’s own will
•Practicing religious activity while ignoring obedience

This is why Jesus says these people did miracles but were still rejected. This is why TRADITIONS within the church are rejected as well. Jesus rebuked the religious folks for their traditional behavior while still denying the Spirit of Truth. Today, it’s a Sunday to Sunday [Sabbath to Sabbath] work for many WITHOUT operating in obedience to Yaweh [rather in or out of the temple] & allegiances are divided (idols of self & cultural “norms”).

2. SIN (which is something we do, sometimes unknowingly due to our human nature, and what we must repent for, daily–making intentional efforts to avoid yielding to our flesh over Holyspirit)
INIQUITY are different levels of rebellion.

In short, SIN means:
•To miss the mark
•To fall short
•To make a mistake or error
Picture an archer missing the target.
📖Ref. Romans 3:23

Sin can occur through:
•weakness
•ignorance
•temptation
•human failure
Example: Peter denying Jesus (Luke 22:61–62). This was sin, but Peter repented. He made a turn AWAY from the mindset & whatever else that caused him to deny The Truth, The Way & The Life ✝️

⚡️INIQUITY on the other hand is
☠️Perversity
☠️Moral distortion
☠️Pre-meditated wickedness
☠️Twisting what is right
☠️A bent or twisted heart condition.
‼️Iniquity is deeper than sin.
It is sin that has become a pattern or nature‼️

Another key fact about INIQUITY is that those who are in it, often times don’t see that they’re in error bc PRIDE has them blind & deaf to their “good works” & abuse of God’s grace…

IF SIN isn’t repented of, then INIQUITY is developed while excuses, lies/deception continues to feed the behavior as it grows & spread 🖤Repeated sin hardens the heart, producing iniquity. Untreated, spiritual cancer looks like what we see cancer do in the natural. Another example Holyspirit gave me was, HIV/AIDS. ☠️☠️☠️

CONCLUSION:
Along with divided allegiances, Jesus is addressing THOSE PRACTICING LAW-LESS-NESS‼️‼️Those who are habitually practicing spiritual works but, lives without submission to God’s authority. They have religion without righteousness. A form of godliness and denying His Spirit/power (Ref. 2Tim3:1-5; Titus 1:16)

THE SOLUTION is a simple challenge: repentance + surrender + true relationship with Christ.

What does “the mercy of God” really look like?

THE MERCY OF GOD LOOKS LIKE RELATIONAL LOYALTY—

God’s mercy is shown through His covenant commitment to us. According to God’s Word, mercy is not just emotional kindness. Its deeper than that–It is faithful covenant love that God continues to show us–even when we fail.

God’s mercy towards us #reflects His loyalty to His covenant, His undeserved kindness & His faithfulfulness [despite the adulterous behavior of His Bride]. Exodus34:6 Lamentations3:22

Noted: “His mercy endureth forever”means:
✅️God’s covenant love is perpetual, unending, and beyond time.
✅️Not temporary mercy.
✅️Not conditional kindness.
✅️Everlasting covenant loyalty.

In connection to what I read recently in 1 Corinthians 10, just bc something was done, for years, doesn’t mean God approved it and was pleased with it. God can use ANYTHING & ANYBODY but, He doesn’t approves everything & everybody!! He’s been patient and has been giving us time to MAKE ADJUSTMENTS 🙏🏾✝️ TIME IS MERCY

God’s patience is expressed through the biblical concept of long-suffering. [Slow to anger; Delayed wrath]

God does not react quickly with judgment.

Exodus34:6 #Numbers14:18 #Psalm103:8

📖“The Lord is not slow concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (Ref. 2 Peter 3:9)

1. God delays judgment
2. God gives opportunity for repentance
3. God remains faithful even when people fail— His patience is not permission to continue sinning‼️

God gives us all time to repent. That’s His love & patience towards ALL — even towards those who mock Him, curse Him, and disrespects Him to His face!!

He’s giving The Church time to change her adulterous [Babylonian] behavior–COME OUT!! The Lord loves ❤️ us soooo much and so unconditionally & it grieves Him to pass judgment but, He wouldn’t be God if He was a liar & didn’t honor His Word. Therefore, many are translating His grief through lament, warnings, intercession 🙏🏾 travailing for His impending judgment…

Perfect example:

“The Book of Jeremiah announces impending, inevitable judgment on Judah and Jerusalem—primarily through the Babylonian invasion—due to deep-seated idolatry, covenant infidelity, and social injustice. Jeremiah describes this judgment as a devastating “boiling pot” from the north, a “roaring blast” or “destroying wind”, and a, destruction akin to shattered pottery.”

✝️Judah — Symbol of God’s Covenant People
In Jeremiah, Judah [name meaning “God be praised”] represents:

• God’s covenant community (those who claim relationship with Him).
• A people entrusted with truth but falling into idolatry.
• Religious culture that outwardly worships but inwardly rebels.

Judah becomes a warning about covenant unfaithfulness:

1. Idolatry
2. Political alliances instead of trusting God
3. Religious hypocrisy

✝️Jerusalem — Symbol of the Spiritual Heart or Center of Worship ; Often interpreted as “foundation of peace” or “city of peace.”

Jerusalem represents:

• The spiritual condition of the people
• The heart of worship
• The seat of leadership (kings, priests, prophets)

📌Jeremiah’s prophecy shows:
You can have the Temple, the city of God, and religious identity — yet still be spiritually corrupt. The people believed religious association guaranteed safety, but God exposed their idolatry and injustice.

An altar is a place of sacrifice, covenant, and spiritual allegiance. Its where something dies so covenant relationship may live.

It symbolizes a place of worship

If you’re going to create an altar, prepare for the fire!
➡️An altar without fire is incomplete.
➡ Fire validates the offering

An altar always answers two questions:

1. Who is being honored?
2. What is being surrendered?

With that said, what happens when The Refiner’s Fire 🔥 comes in??

1. The sacrifice is consumed and
2. Separates pure from impure

Bc the altar is where immpurity is exposed, mixture is removed, authenticity is tested and motives are purified;

If an altar of Baal (false god) is created vs a holy altar sacrificed to God [one that produces a “sweet aroma”/worship to Him], IT WILL NOT ENDURE THE TESTING OF THE REFINER’S FIRE (Holyspirit/Yaweh)

“These men have set up their idols in their heart…” -Ezekiel 14:3

The physical structure of an altar & what’s placed on it and offered as a sacrifice, symbolizes our heart–the inner place of surrender, covenant, and worship. The Greek meaning for “heart” is inner self; conscience. It is the control center of allegiance and worship.

🔥The altar determined the spiritual condition of Israel.
🔥The heart determines the spiritual condition of a person.

Idolatry begins internally before it manifests externally. This is why The Fire of God is necessary & so powerful! Fire in the heart:
🔥Tests faith
🔥Burns away impurities and motives &
🔥Strengthens what is genuine

The altar of the heart must endure refining. What remains and endures the power of God, reveals purity. (1 Peter 1:7)

Leviticus 6:12-13 is a symbolism of how the continuous fire signifies constant, unceasing worship, atonement, and the perpetual presence of God, ALONE among His people–

When one set up an altar, it’s not just a structure, yall! It’s a prophetic picture of THE HEART!
The bow/kneeling to that physical altar mirrors the inner altar bc
➡️The altar of the heart determines the authenticity of worship.
➡️Whatever sits on the altar (table) of your heart, is what you truly worship‼️

📖“The true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth…”-John 4:23-24

Quoted from a sister/friend while we were in conversation this AM:
“The enemy doesn’t mind if we’re doing good things, as long as we’re not obeying God” #ironsharpensiron ✝️❤️

Bc disobedience to God is an open door/gateway for Satan. He loves when we do & say ANYTHING God didn’t say do–regardless of how innocent it seems.

“OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE” – GOD

So while we do things & it seems good, get applauded and it gets much recognition from ppl, God will not accept it‼️ (Ex. He rejected Cain’s offering)

Them: “They have a good heart” or “They had good intentions”

God: “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked above all things, who can know it? , I the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

(Amplified version) “The heart is deceitful above all things
And it is extremely sick;
Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives“I, the Lord, search and examine the mind, I test the heart,
To give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds”

So everytime we claim “their heart or our heart was in the right place” in doing something, God’s saying, “I’m the judge of that!” (This really checked me this morning 😮‍💨☺️) Bc our heart is deceitful! We do things w/ the belief “it’s good so God will honor it” but, if it’s not in obedience to God, wholly & with the heart towards Him with faith IN HIM (meaning, it’s gotta be in His Will), HE WILL REJECT IT!!

And it’s why many are more tired, more worn & depleted than they should be; yoked and entangled in things they shouldn’t be in; lacking more than God promised us to have–bc some of us are using God-given time & energy to do everything else EXCEPT what He said to do! [Then looking for Him to bless & multiply it] smh–NO HE WON’T!

I heard someone say on the radio yesterday, The Promise Land is ours–but, there was a fight against giants in order to claim [take territory] and possess it! This fight we’re in is against our flesh–bc The Adversary knows how to suggest things, present them as good, to get us to agree to do what he’s saying & AGAINST what God says. (No new tricks). We must know how to model Christ, crucify this flesh & resist the enemy.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” -James 4:7

“Submit” in this verse means to place oneself under God’s authority, aligning one’s life with His will as a conscious, decisive act

However we don’t always do that & be right there, calling evil “good” & good “evil”–bc of our heart conditions. [There are grave consequences for that too, if we don’t repent]
Jesus says, “IF you love me, you’ll keep MY Commandments.” (John 14:15) It’s not about doing “GOOD THINGS” it’s about doing GOD’S THINGS🎯💯

🙏🏾May the fire on the altar of our heart be ignited & burn 🔥 passionately [even more] as our fuel & driving force for doing all that He called & assigned us to do–NOTHING MORE. NOTHING LESS 🙏🏾❤️✝️AMEN