Copyright 2011 Theresa Harvard Johnson
As a people, we must understand that in the Kingdom of Heaven we are dealing with righteousness vs. wickedness NOT right verses wrong. The spiritual understanding of righteousness and wickedness is clearly and distinctively laid out through God’s Word whereas discussions on “right and wrong“ is as subjective and unique as we are as individuals.
Father wants to bring us, His assembly, back to the basics of His Word. He wants to move us beyond simply trying to “identify” right and wrong …. and into the depth of discerning righteousness from wickedness.
This may sound like a weird post to you and perhaps a pointless subject, but I believe Father is really speaking to us through it. But Father has been showing me JUST HOW MUCH our minds are rooted into this world system. Many doctrines, theologies and even conversations about world issues that are going on within the body seem to have their root in the HUMAN CONCEPT of right verses wrong INSTEAD OF the Godly perspective of weighing everything by righteousness and wickedness.
To those rooted in the world system, righteousness and wickedness are synonymous with the right and wrong. Many are unable to see the difference; but in truth, it is the difference in this belief that separates us from the WORLD and causes the Holy Spirit filled believer to standup and walk out loud for the things of God.
As I considered how I have viewed these terms, Father led me into a place of repentance. He began to show me HOW EASY it is for us to measure “right and wrong” solely on one’s personal belief system, thoughts, opinion and what have you. When the truth of the matter is the SONS OF GOD are not to rely on these things AT ALL. We have been told over and over in the Word of God to simply FOLLOW THE WORD, TO TRUST IN WHAT GOD SAYS. Period.
So many congregations and individuals are missing the narrow road of TRUTH today because they have elected to embrace a humanistic, moral and ethical system of decision making VERSUS that of the Lord who simply TELLS US how we are expected to conduct ourselves. You see, understanding for the Son’s of God is never based on what WE BELIEVE OR PERCEIVE to be right and wrong on our own merit; but what our Father in Heaven has DECLARED to be righteous and wickedness from HIS throne.
Follow me for a minute….
As I pondered this discussion in my spirit, this question arose within me: “Prophet! Is your Father concerned with righteousness and wickedness OR is He concerned with right or wrong?” In answering this question, Father had me dig into His Word.
What is righteousness?
Psalm 119:40 CJB describes it this way, “See how I long for your precepts; in your righteousness, give me life!” In other words, the precepts of God (the rules HE has set for us to regulate our behavior and thoughts) are the guidelines for living HOLY or righteous. These RULES are generated by HIM ALONE without ANY interference from the thoughts of men. Our role in AS SONS OF GOD is simply to come in agreement with the FATHER and to walk out HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS in the earth. Righteousness gives life.
What is wickedness?
Isaiah 9:18 CJB describes wickedness this way, “For wickedness burns like fire, it devours briars and thorns; it sets the forest underbrush ablaze, with clouds of smoke whirling upward.” In other words, wickedness is the exact opposite of righteousness. It directly CONTRADICTS or MOVES AGAINST the precepts of God intentionally. It brings forth death, and hell-like damnation. It burns like fire.
What is right or what does it mean to be RIGHT from a man’s mind?
It literally means to make a conscious determination – using your ability to reason — to make WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE a moral, just or honorable decision. Remember, the scripture says that we are NEVER to rely on our OWN understanding. WE ARE TO RELY ON THE LORD! Relying on HIM… means walking in HIS PRECEPTS unquestionably. It means that we TRUST IN HIS LOVE ALONE! Think about this! Many things that some people consider to be right might be considered WICKEDNESS in the eyes of God….
What is wrong or what does it mean to be WRONG from a man’s mind?
People of God, the concept of “wrong” is about DOING ANYTHING in an undesireable or unsuitable manner that causes others to object. Think about this for a moment. Many things that WE AS PEOPLE might consider “wrong” may not necessarily equal our Father’s definition of wickedness. Come on now…
The way I set my table in the kitchen or apply my makeup might be wrong to someone. The way I discipline my children or run my household might be wrong to someone. The way the scribes dress or carry themselves in the midst of Voices of Christ might not be RIGHT to those looking in to the midst of this ministry. But does ANY OF THINGS equal righteousness or wickedness?
You see, sex outside of marriage or the issue of abortion can BE RIGHT OR WRONG in the world system depending on what you believe? But in the HOUSE OF GOD, both of these things would be weighed by righteousness and wickedness solely based on the fact that GOD DECREED THEM TO BE SIN & WICKEDNESS.
In this study, Father is simply showing us how we must consider this conversation in this present age. The world is constantly calling us to make decisions based on WHAT IS RIGHT and WHAT IS WRONG by IT’S SUBJECTIVE standards. The word subjective means to be influenced by one’s OWN personal tastes, personal feelings, influences and response to things. When you turn on the evening news or go ANYWHERE and HEAR ANYTHING born of this world system or mindset it’s always about what we “think and feel” verses what “has been written.” Such is the way of the men rooted in the earth…
Father is calling us HIGHER in our discernment, HIGHER in our intelligence, HIGHER in our godly emotions, HIGHER in our spiritual hearing, HIGHER in this very critical season we have ENTERED INTO! When we are asked to put on the mind of Christ, we must literally get rid of our intelligence, intellect, emotions, etc. and take on those that belong to our MESSIAH.
Would you rather be RIGHT OR RIGHTEOUS in your decision making in this hour? Would you rather be aware of things that are WRONG or WICKED? We’ve got to come up out of the clouds… EXPOSING the trickery that seeks to keep us deluded and caught up in DISTRACTIONS….
As spiritual beings, DISCERNMENT is our very lifeline. It is given to us by the SPIRIT purposely to enable us to distinguish been RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WICKEDNESS. And those standards are not set by men, but by God HIMSELF.
In summation, we have a perfect example of this struggle to understand RIGHTEOUSNESS VS. WICKEDNESS and GOOD VS. EVIL in the scriptures. It can be found here:
Genesis 2:9 CJB
As you know, there were TWO trees in the Garden of Eden as stated in the scripture above. We were instructed to eat only from the TREE OF LIFE. That tree represents GOD’S DIRECTIVES & DIRECTIONS FOR OUR LIVES. It was a tree of RIGHT LIVING, HOLINESS & SANCTIFICATION only by HIS standards. This tree could also be called a TREE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OR THE NARROW ROAD TREE.
I pray that Father speaks to your heart through this teaching today. In Jesus’ Name. Truly, right and wrong… is not the same as righteousness verses wickedness. But that old liar the devil… wants us to think it is.
