MIKE BICKLE (IHOP) IS IN OPEN REBELLION TO GOD!

Any pastor or leader who claims to have had a "revelation" that trumps the word of God is a false teacher. (Luke 6:46; Romans 13:2; Proverbs 17:11, 30:6).

The procedure for dealing with accusations within the church is clearly laid down in the New Testament.

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. (1 Timothy 5:19).

If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17 cf. Deuteronomy 19:15-19).

Bickle's refusal to submit to church discipline is causing all kinds of problems and is no doubt prolonging and exacerbating the pain for all concerned i.e. the alleged victims, the IHOP congregation, and his own family. This blatant rebellion reveals that Bickle is unfit to be a minister of the gospel.

Bickle's practice of refusing to defend himself against accusations based on 1 Samuel 24:5 is in clear rebellion to New Testament directives on how to deal with charges within the church. 1 Bickles' claim that David refused to defend himself against Saul is false. David refused to physically harm Saul or to take revenge, but he did defend himself verbally against Saul's accusations. (1 Samuel 24:9-15). The apostle Paul defended himself against the accusations of the Jews (Acts 26:2), and he gave a sustained defense of his apostleship in 2 Corinthians 11:1–12:13.  Paul did not take the passive attitude "God will defend me" by refusing to answer the various accusations against him. 

Bickle is fond of quoting 1 Samuel 24 and 26, calling attention to his alleged conversation with Michael the Archangel and the "black horse of accusation" to protect his own position and to pre-empt allegations. By using dishonest scripture-twisting methods, he demonizes his alleged victims and causes untold damage to the body of Christ. 

Bickle: "Satan’s most effective weapon in the end times is accusation and he turns whispered innuendoes into hostile accusations that destroy lives and relationships.. the church is approaching the most glorious and challenging hour in history with the dragon (black horse) breathing on many to accuse and betray each other.” 3

Bickle teaches about "David's anointing". He has frequently referred to the "End-Time David generation" and the "Tabernacle of David". Ironically, Bickle's deviation from the explicit Word of God regarding Matthew 18:15-17 is more akin to Saul's rebellion. There is an interesting parallel in 1 Samuel 24. Saul deviated from the clear word given to him by Samuel and attempted to blame others. (1 Samuel 15:3,13-15).  Saul's deviation from the word of God resulted in his rejection as king. 

And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

Independent investigations?

The Roys Report: "Jesi Stanley, an attorney and former member of IHOPKC, wrote that Stinson is not a 'neutral 3rd party.' '(IHOPKC) literally retained one of the most prestigious, aggressive, and expensive defense law firms in Kansas City, and nationwide,' she said. '. . . These victims are going to be completely railroaded.'” 4  

The Roys Report: "Third-party investigations have become increasingly common as churches and Christian institutions continue to be rocked by scandal. But how can you tell if an investigation is truly independent—or just another attempt to cover up?"  5 

IHOP has refused to name the attorney they have hired in place of Stinson LLP to investigate this matter. This secrecy is highly unusual and suggests a lack of transparency on the part of the IHOP leadership. Ben Anderson, a former IHOP staff member, recently posted the name of the attorney he believes IHOP has hired on Facebook.  Apparently, the attorney he named is friends with IHOP executive leaders and it is claimed that she does in fact attend IHOP's Forerunner Church. Shortly after Anderson posted this information the attorney in question deleted her Facebook account. If this information is correct, the investigation is critically compromised with IHOP leaders holding all the cards! In other words, it is not a third-party unbiased investigation. It has been observed that any attorney hired by IHOP would have a fiduciary duty to the client, and as such the investigation cannot be neutral due to a pre-set bias. 

Michael Brown's assurances of fair play are not to be trusted, and his advice to those involved not to post on social media and further suggestions from others not to even look on social media are disgusting. Isn't this what cults do? 6  

This whole fiasco is a shame and a disgrace. Bickle and his wolf pack have dishonoured the name of God. (Romans 2:24; 2 Peter 2:2).

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:17).

Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad. If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death. (1 Samuel 2:22-25).

And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is not cleansed or rained upon in the day of indignation. The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 22:23-31).

1. King David: How to Respond to Mistreatment (I Sam. 24 & 26) – mikebickle.org
2. Notes Bickle Sermon.pdf(Review) - Adobe cloud storage
3. Apostolic-Prophetic Movement - Wikipedia
4. IHOP-KC Hires New, Unnamed Law Firm to Investigate Alleged Abuse (julieroys.com)
5. How to Judge 'Independent' Investigations | The Roys Report (julieroys.com)
6. Timeline of events and resources on Mike Bickle scandal and the evangelical leadership culture of ‘cover-up’. (churchwatchcentral.com)

Update

IHOPKC Report Discounts Bickle Abuse Allegations; Whistleblower Fires Back (julieroys.com)