Copyright 2009 Theresa Harvard Johnson
Our writing is ministry. It's not a great talent or some cool thing we do with words. When we received Jesus into our hearts — we invited the HOLY SPIRIT into our lives, and gave him PERMISSION to move in and through us. We became AMBASSADORS of Jesus Christ — completely outfitted with assignments to continue His work in the earth.
It troubles me that so many of God's people forget this. Instead, they pursue their own selfish goals and use the gospel to build personal empires, fan bases and followings. My Jesus, my Holy Spirit has become a business, a show… a stance of charisma. If people follow me, O LORD, let them follow the example of Jesus Christ that they see. Let it be your mission, YOUR VISION that they search for, seek after and imitate… and let it be YOUR LOVE on the inside of me that draws them — not the perception of what can be obtained in the natural. I pray this is your position as well.
Joshua 1:5
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
1 Kings 8:57
May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us.
John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever– The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.
My heart breaks. The Spirit of the Living God grieves, and the true prophets lament and cry out concerning what they see and what they hear from the mouths and lips of the people of God, and those He so desperately draws. When your pen HITS THE PAPER in this new life that you are living in Jesus — everything you do and say IS SEEN first by Holy Spirit.
When we move away from God's will, HOLY SPIRIT doesn't depart. He is there … oppressed by our flesh, and longing to rise in you with one simple phrase from your heart, "LORD, I REPENT for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" My prayer today is that we learn to fear God! That we learn what it means to WALK IN FEAR of HIM….
It is HOLY SPIRIT who guides us when we ALLOW HIM. But it is the will of man that silences him. Can you imagine taking Holy Spirit into the bed of fornication? Into the crack house? Into the night club? Into the places where many lie on God and say He said things that He didn't say?
Well, people do it everyday because they have no fear, no reverence of the Lord God, Jesus or His Spirit. When you write for God one day and write for the devil the next — THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING! You are taking the Holy Spirit into your sin, your compromise, your entertainment …. the darkness of your soul. The sad part is that He is not going to do a work; He instead becomes your silent judge.
Every time you entertain, live outside of the word, and DO WHAT YOU THINK and not what God wants… then, you are ABUSING the Holy Spirit!
How dare ANYONE… abuse and misuse the Spirit of the Living God! In a man's mind …. many things are justified, allowed and approved. Many things are over looked, brushed aside and swept under the rug. The Spirit of the Lord is rising in me now…. as I type this HE IS SAYING:
"Can you SEE ME! Don't you know that I am IN YOU! You take me with you to your kitchen table, in your car, to Walmart to Macy's …. WHEREVER YOU GO! Yet, you many don't hear me … see me… or even want my presence. I cannot GO AGAINST YOUR WILL. I Go where you go …. but I do not do what I see you do! I desire you to stand in agreement with me! Don't you think I SEE AND HEAR those hidden things in your heart! I am with you constantly … as THE FATHER SENT ME and JESUS RELEASED ME IN YOU!"
Repent Church! Nothing… absolutely nothing is hidden from the Father. Sanctify your hearts! I pray that my heart is sanctified daily …. as it is DESPERATE and WICKED in and of itself! I need and you need the cleansing power of our Helper – Holy Spirit! Let your pens be a reflection of JESUS! You cannot have it YOUR WAY — without a price. Is what you want worth the risk? WHERE ARE YOU TAKING THE HOLY SPIRIT?
We forget sometimes that as imitators of Christ, people are SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW us. Why? Because they are drawn to the light. Your light must shine so brightly that darkness is overtaken.
Philippians 3:15-17 says:
15So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also. 16Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that. 17Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you.
Scribes? I beg you to hear the prophet this morning …. and seriously consider this question. God is not playing with us. Jesus' intercession is fervent, and the Holy Spirit will not tolerate abuse. While he can never depart from you — He can be silenced.
