To those who bless me to my face but curse me behind my back, this is for you. I love you unconditionally with the love Jesus has given me, especially for you. I came to understand what you’ve been up to, so I hurried up and went it prayer, just for you, because to me, you are Christ.

It’s Time to Speak

I’ve been teaching for decades now. If you have read anything I’ve written, you know I live and breathe the Scriptures–heavy on the Scriptures. I rarely share personal stories, but today is different. After today, I will go back to the Scriptures only. This today is a rare treat, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The Holy Spirit compels me to speak plainly, lovingly, and from the depths of my heart full of love for you. Although I wrote this, I don’t know if I am going to publish it. If you are reading this, then the Holy Spirit permitted me to publish it.

Today, I write a letter to those who smile in my face but scheme behind my back. You’ve pretended to be friends, even family. But behind closed doors, your words drip with venom disguised as concern. You cloak your gossip in prayer and call your slander “discernment.”

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:13–14

You say you care. But the fruit says otherwise. You plant doubt in others about me while appearing holy and righteous–you are not. You act as though your whispered rumors somehow glorify God. But let me be clear: gossip never carries His fragrance. It is never of the Spirit. It is always of the flesh. I know by experience, an experience I now regret but grew from. I hope you will grow, too.

“But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.” Galatians 5:15

Yes, I see you. No, not with fleshly eyes. The Holy Spirit shows me what’s operating beneath the surface. And it grieves me—not because I’m hurt by your attacks (though I have been), but because I see the darkness enslaving you. I have been there. Unclean spirits wrapped in religious robes whisper lies into your ears, convincing you that your jealousy and control are justified. They are not.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

Friend… or frenemy, it doesn’t matter. You are still loved. Deeply. Fiercely. Eternally. But this is your wake-up call. The darkness in your heart is a trespasser. It doesn’t belong there. And you have the authority in Christ to evict it—right now. Will you? Or, are you stuck in self-protection and self-promotion?

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:7–8a

I’ve Seen This Before

From my earliest days in ministry, I saw what most people overlook. Fresh out of college, I was assigned to a program working with 150 gang members—young men pulled off the streets of California, steeped in violence and survival. And yet, I saw something beautiful in them. I didn’t see criminals. I saw misdirected sons, carrying wounds instead of wickedness.

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b

We didn’t treat them as problems to be solved. We treated them like our own sons, men of dignity and destiny. We believed in them, and they rose to that belief. We created a culture of honor and transformation—without religion. Without pretense. Just truth, consistency, and love.

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.” 1 Corinthians 13:4–5

The shocking truth? I encountered far fewer unclean spirits among those so-called criminals than I do in many church buildings today. That breaks my heart. While the gang members knew they were broken, many churchgoers pretend they are not. And that pride? It leaves no room for Jesus. Only by His Grace through His Humility am I set free.

“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

When I entered ministry, serving troubled teens and their families through Abundant Life Academy, a Christian therapeutic boarding school, I refused to label the students as broken or defective. Instead, we removed the labels and revealed their true identity IN CHRIST. These weren’t troubled teens to me—they were misunderstood entrepreneurs. What they needed was opportunity, not medication. They needed a New Identity, not a new diagnosis. Religion had failed them–they needed someone to get them back to purpose and community.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

We treated them like sons of God with a mission. And guess what? Many of them still walk in that entrepreneurial calling today–with great success. Thank God someone saw them as entrepreneurs and not criminals. It’s time to WAKE UP!

Meanwhile, some of you, my frenemies, who wear the name of Christ proudly on Sunday, act more like my accusers than my advocates–I know how Job felt… And I must ask: which spirit are you operating under?

“The accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10

When Demons Wear Church Clothes

I wish I could say the worst betrayals came from outside the Church. But they don’t. They came dressed in suits and smiles, with Bibles under their arms and poison in their tongues. Some of you reading this know exactly what I mean. You’ve seen it, maybe even participated in it. I did.

You’ve prayed prayers that were really gossip. You’ve shared “concerns” that were really accusations. You’ve partnered with the spirit of Jezebel, who manipulates through fear, control, and whisper campaigns. So have I.

“But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel... who leads My bond-servants astray.” Revelation 2:20

Sometimes, I can see it coming. The spirit of Haman rises—jealous, offended, obsessed with status, plotting behind closed doors to hang the righteous. Or the spirit of Ahab—passive, enabling Jezebel, afraid of confrontation, yet addicted to influence.

“When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage.” Esther 3:5

“Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife incited him.” 1 Kings 21:25

These spirits operate in the shadows, behind veils of “Christian duty,” fueled by bitterness and masked by spiritual language. They twist Scripture, form alliances, and even feel righteous in their rebellion. But let me warn you in love: every trap you’ve laid will spring back on you if you don’t repent. I know from experience. It is ugly.

“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.” Proverbs 26:27

I no longer fight back. I don’t have to. I stand still, and I watch the salvation of the Lord. You don’t need to fear me. But you should fear the One who sees all, weighs every motive, and knows every whisper before it forms on your tongue.

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13

Confession - I’m Not Perfect Either

Now let’s set the record straight. I am not writing this letter from a throne. I’m writing it from a place of ongoing confession and repentance. I screw up daily. I hurt people without meaning to. Sometimes, I even enjoy the sting my words deliver. And that, too, is sin.

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

I get angry. I lose my cool. I judge unfairly. I speak when I should listen. I’m still in process, just like you. But here’s the difference: I don’t hide it. I don’t dress it up in fake holiness or pretend I’ve arrived. I take it to the Cross. Every time.

“Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” James 5:16a

The more I confess, the lighter I become. The freer I feel. The more I soak in God’s Grace, the more I realize: the only perfect person is Jesus. I am simply one beggar telling other beggars where to find Bread.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

So yes, I’m calling out the poison. Yes, I’m shining a light in dark places. But I’m doing it as one who has sat in the darkness and been rescued. Not better than you—just saved by the same blood.

Thank You for the Attacks

Now that I’ve laid it all out, let me say something unexpected: THANK YOU!

To every person who gossiped behind my back, betrayed my trust, misquoted me, or manipulated others against me—thank you. Not sarcastically. Not bitterly. But genuinely. You pushed me closer to the feet of Jesus.

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

You drove me into the secret place. Into deeper prayer. Into fuller surrender. The pain of your rejection became the catalyst for my healing. And through your assaults, I discovered a peace that no attack can steal. And, it is there I found true repentance. I am so sorry for every time I gossiped and slandered others.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.” Genesis 50:20

Every attempt to tear me down became a tool in God's hand to build me up. He used your arrows to chisel my pride. Your schemes became the training grounds for my humility. I have become stronger, softer, bolder, and more surrendered because of what you meant for harm.

“We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.” Romans 5:3–4

Our only hope, mine and yours, is IN CHRIST, and His hope never disappoints–it can’t.

So again, thank you. You have helped Jesus to shape me into a man of God I could never have become without the fire you ignited. And I’m still praying—for you.

“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28

Your Heart Can Be Healed

If you’ve read this far, I believe it’s because the Holy Spirit is reaching for your heart.

Maybe you’ve been part of the gossip. Maybe you’ve been manipulated or been the manipulator. Maybe bitterness has rooted itself so deep that you don’t even realize how much it’s controlling your thoughts. But it’s not too late.

“Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 3:15

Jesus wants to heal your heart. I know from experience because He is healing mine.

Not just surface-level peace, but deep, Spirit-born healing that reaches into the shadows of your life—the secret hurts, the unspoken wounds, the things you’ve tried to bury under religion or control. He does it in the secret place, where we are surrendered in His Humility.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

You don’t have to stay bitter. You don’t have to keep partnering with spirits of fear, control, offense, or jealousy. You can renounce them and send them packing. I have, and I will continue to do so. You have authority in Christ. But more importantly, you have an invitation: to come home to the Father’s love.

“The one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” John 6:37

Confess. Repent. Come into the Light. Not just for others to see you clearly—but so that you can finally see yourself the way Jesus does.

“But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.” Ephesians 5:13

This is not condemnation. This is mercy knocking on the door of your heart.

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

I’ve Moved On—And I Forgive You

To those who’ve gossiped, slandered, manipulated, and partnered with darkness against me—hear this: That was a long time ago. I’ve moved on.

I’m not stuck in the pain. I’ve left the betrayal behind. It’s all good. I’ve walked through the fire, and by the grace of God, I’ve come out free. I’m not waiting for an apology. I’ve given you over to Jesus. I forgive you.

“Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” Colossians 3:13

But let me also be clear: forgiveness does not mean access.

The gates to my heart are guarded now—not by bitterness, but by wisdom. I love you, but I will not walk with you again unless there is true repentance. Not performance. Not apology theater. But Holy Spirit-birthed repentance that results in transformation. I will know, the Lord will tell me.

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Matthew 3:8

I do not owe you reconciliation. That belongs to Jesus. If He brings us together again, it will be because He has done a new work in both of us. Until then, I will love you from afar. I will pray for you. I will bless you. But I will no longer enable the version of our relationship that allowed darkness to operate unchecked.

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’” 1 Corinthians 15:33

The Grace of God is not permission to pretend—it’s power to transform. And that’s my prayer for you and I. That we would be transformed into His image. I believe He can use this experience to transform us into His image, because for me, He has. I pray Jesus would flood your life and overwhelm every pretense, every wound, every mask–just like He is doing for me.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:11–12

There is no going back. Only forward—in Christ. And I am going. I hope you come too.

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

Closing Prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus, I lift up every person who has read this letter. Whether friend or frenemy, I place us all before Your Throne of Grace. Let Your kindness lead us to repentance. Let Your love flood every dry and bitter place. Break the power of offense, gossip, jealousy, and shame. Let Truth rise up and wash away the lies. Shine Your light into every shadowed corner. Let every heart be humbled, healed, and restored by Your Spirit.

Father, where there is unforgiveness, give grace to release it. Where there is control, bring surrender. Where there is hidden pain, speak peace. Where there is darkness, command the light to shine. I declare that every chain will break—not by might, not by power, but by Your Spirit.

Thank You, Jesus, that You came not to condemn but to save. May every person reading this run into Your arms. Fill them with Your Spirit. Overwhelm them with Your mercy. Let the power of the Cross define their future—not their past.

Amen.

“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14

Invitation to Repentance

If the Holy Spirit is stirring your heart, don’t delay. Don’t pretend this letter was for someone else. Ask Him:

Have I participated in gossip or spiritual slander?
Have I been offended and allowed it to fester?
Have I operated in manipulation, control, or religious performance?

If the answer is yes to any of these, then you’re not condemned. You’re invited. Invited to repent. Invited to receive forgiveness. Invited to be free.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Don’t wait. Jesus is ready to restore.

Reflection Questions

Take time with the Holy Spirit. Journal. Pray. Listen. Let these questions lead you deeper:

Have I gossiped or passed judgment while pretending it was spiritual concern?
Are there people I need to forgive—or ask forgiveness from?
Do I find joy in others’ failures or pain?
Am I willing to be honest about my wounds and let Jesus heal them?
Have I surrendered my identity to Jesus, or am I still performing for approval?
Do I truly believe Jesus can set me free from every lie and label?

Invite the Lord to search your heart. Let Him show you what’s there. And let Him love you through it all.

“Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23–24