BiblioGrace

The Church Has Been Spiritually Attacked by False Movements

Over the past few decades, the Church has faced intense spiritual attacks—not just through persecution, but through deceptive indoctrination disguised as spiritual experiences. Many believers have been slowly reprogrammed, drawn away from a solid biblical foundation into accepting so-called “new things.” Through experiences like impartation, holy laughter, being slain in the spirit, new revelations, supernatural appearances, dreams, visions, and modern-day prophecies, a major shift has taken place. Things are changing rapidly, and many claim that the restoration of apostles and prophets is bringing the Church into a “new and improved” version of the body of Christ.

But where do we get the idea that the Church needs modern prophets in order to function today? This teaching goes back to early influencers like William Branham, who said of himself: “It will take a prophet to get the revelation because God has no other way of bringing out His Scriptural revelations except by a prophet. The Word always came by a prophet and always will.” According to Branham, people cannot understand the Bible unless a prophet explains it—and conveniently, he claimed to be that prophet. But this is dangerous and unbiblical.

The truth is that the canon of Scripture is closed. God is no longer giving new revelation. Scripture is complete, sufficient, and final. Therefore, the Church does not need modern-day prophets in order to grow or understand truth. God did not assign every believer a prophet—He gave us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God lives in all believers and is our divine Helper, guiding us into all truth as revealed in the written Word of God. The Holy Spirit enables every believer to understand and apply Scripture, not just a select few.

When someone says, “You need me to receive fresh revelation from God,” that is a red flag. That person is not pointing you to Christ—they are pointing you to themselves. This is spiritual manipulation and pride disguised as spirituality.

We are now witnessing an explosion of people claiming to be prophets and prophetesses. Entire ministries are branding themselves as prophetic. Personal prophecies, words of knowledge, and so-called divine downloads are spreading everywhere—through books, videos, livestreams, and conferences. You can’t scroll far on social media without seeing ads for prophetic events. But Jesus Himself warned us in Matthew 24 that false prophets would rise and deceive many—and that’s exactly what we see happening today.

The Bible gives us clear instruction: “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (1 Corinthians 14:29). We are not called to blindly accept every person who claims to speak for God. We are called to test every spirit and examine all teaching by the Word of God. “In the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).

The Church must return to the sufficiency of Scripture. We must reject the idea that modern-day prophets are necessary for our spiritual growth. God has already spoken clearly and completely through His written Word and given us His Spirit to understand it. That is more than enough.

Test the Spirits. Not Every Voice is from God

1 John 4:1 commands us to “test the spirits” because not every spiritual message is from God. False prophecies and lying spirits are not only found outside the Church but have also crept within it. This warning is given for our protection. Interestingly, God tells us in Deuteronomy 13 that even if a prophecy comes true, it may still be false because He may be testing our hearts, to see if we truly love Him and remain faithful to His Word.

Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will continue in My Word.” This is a powerful reminder that spiritual maturity means clinging to Scripture, not chasing after every supernatural experience. We must be careful when hearing “spiritual” messages, no matter how convincing they sound.

The book of Ezekiel gives us a sobering warning in Ezekiel 13:2–3: “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’ Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!’” This shows that a person can claim to speak for God but is actually speaking from their own imagination and emotions—not from the Spirit of God.

Spiritual maturity involves discernment. Hebrews 5:13–14 tells us that the mature believer, “the spiritual man” can discern all things. How? Through knowledge of sound doctrine. 2 John 9 warns us that those who do not remain in the doctrine of Christ “do not have God.” In other words, doctrine is the measuring stick of truth.

Romans 16:17–18 also commands us to take action: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

In the end, it is not signs, feelings, or miracles that determine truth, it is doctrine. A true love for Jesus will always lead us back to His Word. So test the spirits, examine all teachings, and stay grounded in sound biblical doctrine.

Faith and the Word Cannot Be Separated

The Bible tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. But it also tells us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This means our faith cannot exist apart from Scripture. True faith is not based on emotions or experiences, it is rooted in what God has spoken through His Word.

To honor and obey what God has said in Scripture is to show love and reverence for the God who said it. Our faith grows as we learn the doctrines of Christ and apply them to our daily lives. Doctrine is not a dry academic pursuit; it is how we learn to walk in truth and grow in relationship with God.

The Bible covers many subjects, and its teachings are found throughout all 66 books. We are called to study the whole counsel of God, comparing Scripture with Scripture, to understand what He has truly said. We don’t pick and choose, we gather everything the Bible says on a topic so we can stand on the full truth.

That’s why doctrine matters so much. 2 John 1:9 (KJV) says, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” According to Scripture, if someone does not continue in Christ’s doctrine, they do not belong to God.

This doctrine is not found in mystical experiences, new revelations, or private visions, it is found in the Bible alone. That’s why we must stay in the Word of God and let it dwell richly in us. Even Jesus, when tempted by Satan in the wilderness, used the written Word as His final authority. Three times He declared, “It is written” (Matthew 4). If the Son of God Himself relied on Scripture, how much more should we?

Only Christians who seek to know God through His holy written Word will truly hear from Him. Those who try to know God through feelings, voices, or visions, apart from Scripture are not following the Holy Spirit but are deceiving themselves.

God is not speaking new doctrine today. His Word is complete, sufficient, and already written. Our calling is to dig deep into the Scriptures, and to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly, guiding our faith, shaping our minds, and directing our lives.

The Need for Discernment in the Church

Due to widespread biblical illiteracy over the last few decades, many professing Christians today are unable to recognize New Age, occult, and cultic beliefs that have crept into the churches disguised under Christian-sounding jargon and terminology.

That’s why there is a great need for people who are trained in biblical discernment. An astute and spiritually mature believer is needed to clearly recognize what’s happening and to accurately identify false teachings and deception.

People should be thankful when someone has the gifting, ability, and boldness to “tell it like it is.” Speaking the truth in love is not unkind. In fact, love rejoices in the truth and does not tolerate lies or deception.

Sadly, many churches have embraced an unbiblical “anti-judging” policy. This mindset actually hinders spiritual growth and leaves both individuals and congregations wide open to the influence of doctrines of demons.

2 Timothy 2:23-26
But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

2 John 9 warns us about deceivers, and teaches us that the way to identify them is by their doctrine:
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.

To transgress here means to go beyond the boundaries that God has already set in His Word. Those who do not remain in the doctrine of Christ are not from God. This shows how essential it is to know, teach, and uphold sound doctrine. Not every disagreement requires division, but some battles are worth fighting, especially when the truth of the gospel is at stake.

Hebrews 5:13-14
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

More believers need to grow up in their understanding of Scripture. Maturity in the Word gives confidence to correct major error, disciple others, and practice sound biblical discernment. Notice that discernment grows “by reason of use.” We have to apply what we learn.

Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.

We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. But you only get out of it what you’re willing to put into it. A church that lacks knowledge will inevitably lack discernment. And that’s a dangerous place to be.

When is the church leadership going to be serious enough about their position and faith to actually help those in their churches and fellowships begin a plan to not just read through but study the Bible.

This, in part, is what the Bible calls discipleship after evangelism. When those who are more mature in the faith disciple younger believers in God’s Word leading them closer to the Shepherd, Jesus!

This lazy influence has taken away the incentive for people to hunger for and to study the Scripture on their own. Instead they are telling people to just have faith, a faith which is disconnected from the Word in its context. It is a false faith because it concentrates on self, and our will not God’s.