I used to worship the gift of poetry Father placed inside me. I also used to worship the ministry of Voices of Christ. Both became so much a part of me as IDOLS — that “doing the business” and “spreading the cause” were way more important than my personal relationship with God or my desire to see His people saved. For a long time, I was more concerned with people seeing me and getting “this message” I was pushing.
It took some strong, loving correction from a mentor for me to see that I had indeed made my gifts and the ministry entrusted to me — IDOLS. Sons of God, I had to be delivered and set free of this. I had to be “re-introduced” to my “authentic and original” destiny and purpose in Father.
I had to repent and begin a pursuit of HIS PRESENCE — not just HIS HAND through the gifting or HIS BLESSINGS through the ministry.
You may be wondering: What is meant by the phrase “original and authentic destiny” in the paragraph above? In this article, I am referring specifically to Father’s ORIGINAL purpose and intent for sending YOUR SOUL from Heaven into the earth. I am speaking of that apostolic, strategic vision creately solely by HIM for YOUR life (and minstry) that emcompasses every single “thought and plan” He has held for you according to Jeremiah 29:11.
Psalm 139:13-18 CJB says, “For you fashioned my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you because I am awesomely made, wonderfully; your works are wonders -I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but IN YOUR BOOK all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed. God, how I prize your thoughts! How many of them there are! If I count them, there are more than grains of sand; if I finish the count, I am still with you.”
I urge you to really examine and then meditate on the love of God through this passage of scripture. Somehow, we must press into Father in such a way that we really grasp this simple truth: “We were destined to be here, in this earth, at this specific time to fulfill a specific mission ordained by God alone! That mission is greater, bigger than anything we could contrive in our natural mind.”
For years, I always thought it would be easy for me to recognize idols and idol worship in my life. But I’m here to tell you, it is not always the OBVIOUS thing. If it were, the vast majority of us would run from it quickly and forcefully declare that it is not of God.
I’ve learned that idolatry can also be a subtle sin or a small fox that can really ensnare a believer as they go about their ministries DECEIVED. For many, what I’m about to share could easily become an offense; but I want you to know that it is the love of Father that reveals truth to us.
You see, in our goings and doings it is easy to become caught up in the “cause.” How is “cause” defined here? “A cause is a singular fixation on an idea or concept (often trending) that exists to push forth a specific, contrived outcome. There is a level of expectation that exists in which one believes that “this specific concept or cause” is the ONLY option to get to a specific end. I want to make it clear, however, that I am speaking solely of “human causes or plans that the soulish realm takes hold of” and runs with. It is a “cause” that may have had Christ as it’s inspiration, but somehow turned into a model molded in the thoughts and plans of men.
There was a time when I was so wrapped up in the movement of Voices of Christ and the awakening of the gift, that it clouded the purposes for which the Lord had called the ministry forth and what He actually sent it to do. As a result, the gift and the ministry were not as effective as they could have been in the realm of the Spirit.
You see, I was fixated on PROVING that “poetry was a ministry.” I was fixated on having others understand what “Voices of Christ ” was about. I was set on “SHOWING” others how powerful I perceived literary ministry to be. All of these things took their place in the midst of ministry as I forgot how to to simply “be” in the midst of what Father had called me to do. I forgot that my focus was on intercession, prayer, His presence… and ministering to the broken. I forgot that my obedience to do the FIRST WORKS would establish the other.
Instead, I let the cause, the recruiting of others, the events, the pomp and circumstance consume my time… and attention. THE CAUSE became greater than God! The DOING became greater than wanting Father’s presence to SATURATE me or the ministry.
Though Peter was called to administer Christ to the Jews — the CALL never became greater than the Gospel. Though Paul was called to the gentile — the CALL never became greater than the Gospel. Though Moses wanted to see the people freed from bondage – the CALL never became greater than the cry for holiness and sanctification. Though David was called to administrate worship in the congregation — that CALL never became greater than the pursuit of Father’s presence. Not A SINGLE PATRIARCH worshiped their gift over the message of salvation, righteousness, holiness and right standing with Father.
People of God, do you see?
I thank my Father in Heaven that my eyes were opened. In this hour, we have many people with MINISTRIES but very few that are undergirded by the Spirit of the Lord. It may have been a God-vision, but somewhere along the way THAT VISION was taken from God and molded by men’s hands. It happens daily!
I beseech you to evaluate your ministries in this hour. Are you more concerned with people understanding your “cause, attending your functions, saying how much you’ve blessed them or how they were blessed” or are you focused on them being introduced and/or saturated in His presence? Are you more concerned with getting a specific point of view across and running a campaign FOR YOUR CAUSE; or are you focused on revealing Father’s heart and mind for a people through what you’ve been called to do.
There’s a difference. You see our AUTHENTIC AND ORIGINAL DESTINY is to show forth the GLORY OF GOD — not our own swag or the persona of charisma. The Father must be GLORIFIED through the SON IN US! No matter the gift, the ministry or the call — this is and always will be the bottom line. AND NO MATTER how men twist it, God’s GLORY will always shine through His vision for reconciliation and restoration. We are in a corporate walk to GET to this end.
The one thing that keeps me focused on PURE MINISTRY is this: At the end of the day the only thing that matters is the condition of my soul and the soul of my brother before a Holy God. Do we KNOW HIM?”
Father said this to me a long time ago: “Prophet, never worship the gift or idolize what I’ve sent you from Heaven to earth to do! Stay alert for the enemy is cunning and desires to sift you as wheat.”
1 Corinthians 10:7 CJB says, “Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were – as the Tanakh puts it, “The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to indulge in revelry.”
IDOLATRY CAN BE DEFINED THIS WAY: The worship of any image, IDEA or object, as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God.
You see, Father called me to hold up the apostolic-prophetic banner over scribal ministry. Yet, that banner is His love. It is HIS COMPASSION. More than teaching about the ministry of the scribe, MY LIFE AND MINISTRY must demonstrate HIS PRESENCE. The gift, the message, the cause…. not of it matters if it is VOID of His will.
We must learn to listen with our SPIRIT verses listening with our SOULS. It’s not difficult identifying when others are walking in this form of subtle idolatry when you’re tapped into Holy Spirit. He will alert you that something isn’t right — even if you can’t pin point that thing. When an IDEA has become a place of idolatry that leader or that ministry will become FIXATED on that idea… and try to SELL that idea to you, their congregations and anyone else who comes their way.
Don’t miss that last statement. Father showed me this so clearly!
When Holy Spirit is leading the way on the inside of you, the only fixation in the midst of WHATEVER IDEA YOU HAVE will constantly and consistently convey the HEART AND MIND OF GOD for the salvation, maturing and nurturing of souls. Why? Because the Lord’s primary goal in everything is simple: Reconciling his Kingdom. People of God, the condition of the bride and the message of being reconciled will always rest at the forefront of ministries that are being led SOLELY by God.
Those following a “cause,” however, tend to teach, breath, live and eat information and knowledge about that cause and that message. They lead you out of intelligence and intellect that is unrenewed. There’s also a deep rooted area of pride hidden in the midst and an intolerance for those who will (and have been sent) to challenge them spiritually. They will eagerly enter a battle of intellect, however, only INTERCESSION can move them into the reality of this subtle trick of the enemy. PRAY!
We are all at different places in God. I thank him deeply for being able to move me out of this trap and keep me out. I know without a doubt that I HAVE NO AGENDA in the midst of Voices of Christ — but to see Father’s people rise to His vision. The only thing that helped me was having a rended prayer life and being surrounded by wisdom and godly counsel. The leaders around me walk in HOLINESS… and DEEP, DEEP LOVE for Father. They have no problem identifying and confronting sin. Don’t forsake loving correction… even when you don’t understand it. Sometimes, the Word of the Lord is simply to be received… and Holy Spirit will work it out in us.
If the Lord leads you, please read the previous blog about “Beware of the Traveling Salesman.” It is directly related to this message.
Copyright © 2011 Theresa Harvard Johnson
(Revised 2012)
