Copyright 2012 Theresa Harvard Johnson
I’ve been praying about some things I’ve encountered through the ministry Father has entrusted to me. In the midst of this prayer, I’ve asked Him to pour the “weight” of His heart upon me as I continue to grow and mature, never allowing me to forget my journey, vocation and the reason I’ve been called. I pray this over those Father graces me to mentor or cover diligently in prayer — that they walk in compassion, never forgetting the grace that has been extended to them. Today, as I waited on Father to speak to my heart, He simply said: “Prophet, let me tell you about false maturity among the congregation. It is a snare for my Sons in this hour.”
As always, Father showed me myself. There was a time in my life when I “thought” I was in a spiritual place of elevation in which I was not. I was, however, high on ego, stiff with pride and steeped in always-being-right as my husband would say. While I would have never admitted it openly, I had something to prove and was walking in foolery while I attempted to prove it. Today, I am thankful to God – yet again – for the leadership in my life at that time that cared enough for my soul to tell me: “Theresa, you might be a called prophet of God but you need teachability and wisdom.”
I was un-teachable. I had a cubby hole for every relationship in my life and absolutely no discernment concerning allowing Father vs. me to put those relationships in their place. I didn’t know when to be a student in the presence of a teacher; or when to be a teacher in the presence of students. Authority only had a textbook meaning to me; and I was quickly becoming my own God.
1 Peter 2:1-3 CJB says: “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, of all deceit, hypocrisy and envy, and of all the ways there are of speaking against people; and be like newborn babies, thirsty for the pure milk of the Word; so that by it, you may grow up into deliverance. For you have tasted that ADONAI is good.”
Maturity is defined in the Word of God as not only moving from a place of milk to meat in our “understanding” of the Word; but into a place of walking in the secret wisdom of Lord concerning the “fruit of wisdom.” Maturity is not a natural growth process like physically rising up from age three to age 21 or from being saved one year or 20 years.
Maturity is a place of existing in the “wisdom of the Lord” and being able to “lean into His understanding” in a way that is profitable not only to your SPIRITUAL growth; but the SPIRITUAL growth of others. It is a “Kingdom-increasing” wisdom – one in which the heavenly realm is being enlarged through your obedience. At least this is what Father taught me through my Damascus road experience in this area. I was a hot mess. Only my husband and God himself could really give the full effect.
You see, I knew I was a prophet. But to make matters worse, I thought I had “fully arrived” in that office. I didn’t understand that even in this call that there was still a learning-curve – valleys of the shadow of death that I would have to walk through. I suffered from what I have come to call the Jonas-complex – full of attitude and perspectives that focused on me and not my God. I was walking FULLY in false maturity.
But again, I stand here now thankful for God’s grace and mercy. That same grace and mercy is extended to you. He wants to lovingly BREAK YOU. In the midst of that breaking He wants to TEACH you. In the midst of that teaching He wants to see you WALK it out in humility and power. Don’t let your breaking process last as long as mine did! Surrender now!
What are some of the signs of false maturity? Well, here are the signs Father shared with me.
- I loved my opinion or perspective MORE than I cleaved to God’s word. In other words, my own understanding ruled! I had definite opinions about certain things and no matter what the Word of God said or what I heard my mentors, spiritual parents or pastors teach – I held on to my perspective, unable to give it up. I had the audacity to justify WHAT I THOUGHT and draw other people into these senseless, time-wasting debates and had the nerve to think I was fully functioning as a prophet. The truth is that the call was on my life, but I failed to be a good steward over it.
Proverbs 3:5 CJB, “Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding.”
John 17:17 CJB, “Set them apart for holiness by means of the truth — your word is truth.”
- I rested in deep denial. No one could tell me anything. If they did, I’d have to go pray about it or tell them “my spin” or “perspective” on what they were sharing. I also “thought” God was telling me the exact same thing He was telling them. The trouble is, even when God was speaking a similar message I was unable to discern that it was for me. There’s that Jonah-complex again.
1 Peter 5:5 CJB, “Likewise, you who are less experienced, submit to leaders. Further, all of you should clothe yourselves in humility toward one another, because God opposes the arrogant, but to the humble he gives grace.”
- I had an inability to take EVERY aspect of the Gospel seriously. The parable of the marriage supper of the Lamb really fits in this one. You see, some things in the Word were serious to me and some were not. I was always accusing people of “being too deep” – when in fact, a true pursuit of intimacy WILL CHANGE YOU! You will truly BECOME A STRANGER to the world! Only those who understand YOUR THIRST will be able to discern where you are! Come on people of God. A man who isn’t thirsty or who doesn’t know what it’s like to be without food cannot possibly grasp what thirsty and hungry truly mean!
Luke 12:19 CJB, “Then I’ll say to myself, “You’re a lucky man! You have a big supply of goods laid up that will last many years. Start taking it easy! Eat! Drink! Enjoy yourself!“‘
Listen, people of God, I could extend this list. But these are the three points that Father shared with me that MIGHT help you with identifying where you are. Every believer is charged by the Lord with getting to a place of SUCH MATURITY in their walk that Matthew 28:18-20 is their driving force!
We have been called to MAKE TALMID (students) of all nations and IMMERSE THEM in the REALITY of Father, Son & Holy Spirit! This “making process” according to 1 Peter 2 which was shared above includes ridding ourselves of any places of SELF-DECEIT, self-deception.
It is about learning and teaching others to THIRST for Father, to be consumed by HIM fully until we walk fully in the character of Christ. And don’t miss the last part of the scripture shared from 1 Peter 2. It says, “…so that by pure milk, you may GROW INTO DELIVERANCE.”
If there is no thirst for pure milk, there will NEVER BE growth in the deliverance or the working out of one’s salvation with FEAR and trembling. I know many people RIGHT NOW who are still bound by the chains of darkness and they BATTLE TO BE FREE. But because their pursuit isn’t desperate enough they remain in bondage. This is how DEEP this false maturity runs.
We must pursue immersion… not religion…
Holy Spirit, do what you were ordained to do on the inside of us. Convict. Heal. Deliver. Set free.
Part II: Breaking False Maturity (ARTICLE)
