Copyright 2010 Theresa Harvard Johnson
(To understand this teaching in the context in which it was written, please read Part I. You may also check out this article: The Re-Emergence of Diotrophes)
Leaders, get ready for some folk to run. As you begin to stand in the authority of your “TRUE SELF” – the one whom God has sent — those “CASUAL BELIEVERS” who profess to stand with you will RUN. Why? Because the condition of their hearts will not allow them to stay.
Luke 18:18-23 CJB says, “18 One of the leaders asked him, “Good rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?” 19 Yeshua said to him, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good but God! 20 You know the mitzvot (the commandments) — `Don’t commit adultery, don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony, honor your father and mother, . . .'” 21 He replied, “I have kept all these since I was a boy.” 22 On hearing this Yeshua said to him, “There is one thing you still lack. Sell whatever you have, distribute the proceeds to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!” 23 But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.”
Heart conditions are revealed in the midst of true AUTHORITY and true LEADERSHIP.
This young man, tried to approach Christ “CASUALLY” — manipulatively through flattery — but he was shut down. Only the wisdom of God will show leaders in this hour how to STRATEGICALLY do this.
The question he asked “seemed” innocent enough, but there were some things in this man’s heart that our discerning King saw and it wasn’t pleasing to the Lord. This walking away was a sure sign that this young man did not want to stand accountable based on the INSTRUCTION & DIRECTIVE Jesus had set before Him. He wanted to inherit eternal life on HIS TERMS. In that one move, this man rejected the revelation of the governing authority of Christ AND the gift of eternal life.
One thing I love about this passage of scripture is the supernatural wisdom in which Christ responded. He spoke out of that place of “governing authority” — and prophesied a word of LIFE into this young man. In a matter of seconds, a goat had been identified and sent on his way. This man’s “sadness” (sin) was based on His love for the world’s prosperity, not the prosperity of His soul.
This man was able to walk away from the HOPE OF GLORY — without godly conviction for what was good or godly sorrow for what he’d lost. This is the ultimate example of how “casual” many regard the wisdom, instruction, guidance and leadership from the very ones THEY CLAIM they were sent to receive impartation from in ministry.
Again, people of God, we are seeing the “fallout” of all the half-truths and contaminated messages that are being taught over the pulpit that tells people — that GRACE is all you need (without teaching repentance and judgment); You can have what you say (without teaching obedience and righteousness); You’re blessed and highly favored (without teaching holiness and sanctification), etc. Our Christ is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle! It’s time to position ourselves in the womb of Heaven to hear what is hindering the body in this hour. HOW IS THE ENEMY GETTING IN AND HOW CAN WE GET HIM OUT?
Matthew 6:21 CJB says it this way: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “
The rich young ruler who approached Christ clearly held his “wealth and riches” in his heart; and there was just no room for Jesus.
People who approach “governing authority” CASUALLY will reveal the location of their treasure. They live in a place of thinking they are somewhere spiritually where in truth they DO NOT STAND, and many of them come to challenge your authority, glean from your fields with know plans to replant or replenish. I’ve even seen them come thinking THEY have something YOU NEED verses being a “STUDENT” ready to learn under the power of Holy Spirit.
Instead, they come with a preconceived notion of what “they need” — giving that leader no opportunity to reveal to them what Father is in fact saying they need. Jesus saw this in that young ruler.
I heard Father say this: “Beware leaders, those who attempt to approach my thrown casually have already infiltrated many ministries. I am now opening your eyes to them, exposing them and separating them from among you. I will tell you what to say and what to do to remove these goats from my flock. Seek, Knock…”
Romans 13:1-5 says, “Everyone is to obey the governing authorities. For there is no authority that is not from God, and the existing authorities have been placed where they are by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities is resisting what God has instituted; and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. FOR RULERS ARE NO TERROR TO GOOD CONDUCT, BUT TO BAD. Would you like to be unafraid of the person in authority? Then simply do what is good, and you will win his approval; for he is God’s servant, there for your benefit. But if you do what is wrong, be afraid! Because it is not for nothing that he holds the power of the sword; for he is God’s servant, there as an avenger to punish wrongdoers. Another reason to obey, besides fear of punishment, is for the sake of conscience.”
Leaders, you are suppose to be a TERROR to sin — bad conduct. Those in sin should FEAR the GOD IN YOU! This isn’t because you have any special power or authority that is unknown to them or unknown to Father; but because you are walking under the GOVERNING AUTHORITY of the Father. (Remember Miriam and that leprosy incident?) When leadership is approached CASUALLY… it’s simply confirmation that people CANNOT SEE OR RELATE TO THE GOD IN YOU! When you TEACH all they see is —“… that’s Joeseph’s son Jesus, who does he think He is.”
This “casualness” has had such an impact among the congregation that the people have grown to see FEAR OF AUTHORITY AS SIN! This is not the will of God! In this particular passage of scripture, this TERROR that is spoken of relates to a fearing the judgment of God; fearing the consequences of sin; fearing the mantle of WHO GOD IS and having honor or reverance for God.” It has nothing to do with “the person.” My God, we’ve got to get this. When you respect the governing authority of the shepherd Father has placed over your soul — you are respecting GOD! When you fear (godly fear) the LORD on the inside of your God-sent shepherd you are not fearing a MAN, but God!
Father has been showing me that there is a distinctive difference between “fearing a cruel leader” and “fearing a loving or godly leader” — one represents a demonic type of fear rooted in ungodly control; and the other is rooted in “the fear of God” and is a position of respect and honor for authority. Fearing God in your leadership is HEALTHY! Why? Because it keeps the lines of GOVERNING AUTHORITY within the boundaries that Father has set for it.
People DON’T WANT BOUNDARIES anymore! They want lasciviousness in the midst of the sanctuary. They want a man-made equality! They want preferential treatment like the Pharisees and scribes of old! They want, they want, they want….
Father gave me this example to share:
My children are NOT my parents! I was given charge over them by the Lord to RAISE THEM UP and prepare them for their destiny in the Lord. Even as adults, that RELATIONSHIP is supposed to shift, but it will still be there. We forget, people of God, that the setup of the family system (the way the scriptures outline it) is a picture of the setup of Governing Authority on so many levels. My husband and I represent Christ and the Church. Our children are representative of our flock. As parents, we shepherd them as God has revealed to us — meeting our children where they are, just as Father meets us. In that relationship, there is a level of GODLY FEAR that our children SHOULD HAVE FOR US when they are in SIN. Without this fear, chastisement ceases to exist.
Here me in the spirit: “The world system has programmed our children to think that chastisement, in any form, is bad. It has programmed our children to think that tough discipline is abuse. It has programmed them to think that every aspect of their discipline is NEGOTIABLE. As a result, many parents APPROACH RAISING THEIR CHILDREN CASUALLY! AND MANY CHILDREN respond to their parents and other authority figures CASUALLY. The end result is this: GOVERNING AUTHORITY is underminded.”
I often tell the people of God that many of the things we see politically is really a REVEALING of satanic strategies set up to undermine the church — beginning in our homes. THE STRATEGY IS TO DESENSITIZE you to FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES that quite frankly, very few people teach on today. Most address the problem, but they NEVER GET TO THE ROOT or EXPOSE THE STRATEGY.
People of God, we have BEEN SET UP by the enemy in this hour. I pray that those who can, really grasp what Father is saying here. What we are seeing on the foundational levels of our lives is a direct reflection of what is taking place in the church.
In truth, all of this CASUALNESS is an attempt to RAPE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN of it’s FEAR OF THE LORD. I pray that we get this! The fight for same sex marriage, the break down of families, the fight concerning abortion — all of it has a core root which SCREAMS: “DESTROY THE FEAR OF THE LORD IN THE HEARTS OF MEN BY DESENSITIZING THEM TO GOVERNING AUTHORITY.”
CASUALNESS is designed to undermine the very system of authority Father has put in place to give the Body its STRENGTH and its POWER! No one wants to serve a leader who lacks the respect and loyalty of his people! Did not the adversary try to do this with Christ — by putting ungodly FEAR into some of the disciples and scattering them? He wanted the mindset of the people to rest on this: “Who would fear a God who cannot save himself from crucifixion?”
The truth of the matter is, “It’s in the foolish things that Father reveals his might!” But casual approaches, and casual responses will NEVER allow the people of God to tap into this truth. Where there is no reverence, people of God, there is no ORDER and very little breakthrough.
The mind set of the children, the students and even the congregation can become one in which things taught, released or shared in counsel that is truly from God has no weight with men. When Christ spoke to the young ruler, he perceived the authority in which our Lord spoke to be an offense to Him.
Exodus 20:18-20 says, “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with FEAR. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die. Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning. The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.”
Who would ever think that God would come in a thick darkness, as a lightening storm. As I considered this, Father said to me, “Beloved, I had to come in this way to the people. It commanded their respect and their authority. Would I have come gently, this rebellious nation would not have received me.”
Leaders, get ready to come IN YOUR AUTHORITY in this hour. When you do, expect a “CASUALNESS” in the response of some, but an aligning in the hearts of others — as they begin to see the GOD IN YOU.
You see, the people in this passage of scripture feared God. They FEARED him with the reverance that is DUE Him from a sinful people. Remember, when we DO GOOD there is no reason to FEAR GOVERNING AUTHORITY. When you are in sin — there is a NEED TO FEAR — because you have chosen judgment. BUT GOD, sent an advocate… a picture of Christ for the people who was able to go before God on their behalf.
Today, we have an advocate in Christ who has in turn delegated GOVERNING AUTHORITY to leaders in the earth.
Leaders, those assigned to us are sitting under our governing authority at the command of God, and we must WALK in that authority — unbending to the desire for CASUALNESS. Those boundaries of leadership (that place of distance) — in the Church and on the job are there far a reason.
People of God, don’t look at the messenger; and surely, don’t miss what Father is saying to the Church in this hour. This stronghold must be broken… and it begins with us.