Copyright 2012 Theresa Harvard Johnson
Back in 2005 when I finishing my first instruction manual, The Scribal Anointing: Scribes Instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven, I had a powerful visitation from the Lord. I was on the brink of planning a county-wide poetry slam when Father woke me up in the middle of the night and said plainly, “Beloved, I have not called you to do this. Shut it down.”
I had volunteer teams set up; a city permit approved; flyers going out; vendors in place; Christian writers group in the area on board; local news media coverage organized; and a list of poets ready and waiting. I had even invited a famous Georgia writer to join us and perform through storytelling for the children and youth. It was on, until Father turned it off.
I was four weeks from the event, and terrified of the fallout. In counsel with my pastor at the time, he said to me: “Always remember, it’s better to follow God than yourself. Only he knows your destiny Theresa and plan he has for you. Either way, I will support your decision.”
I followed God’s directives for me.
One afternoon after making the final cancellations Father gave me a vision. He presented two people before me. I couldn’t see their faces but I knew they were young adults who were hungry and on fire for God. I was like a scribe watching and recording. These two young people were standing before the throne room of God in the very presence of our Father.
Then I heard Father address them. People of God, I want you to visually imagine this scenario in the spirit realm. He asked each one of them the following questions and wouldn’t move to the next one until He had received a response. The questions were in the following order and released as follows:
- Beloved, is my precious Spirit living inside you? Answer: Yes, Lord.
- Is the same precious Spirit living inside you also living inside your brother next to you? Answer, Yes Lord.
- Beloved, have I given you gifts to do my work? Answer: Yes, Lord.
- Are the gifts inside you mine or yours? Answer: Yours Lord.
- Do you own your gift or are you just a steward over it? Answer: No Lord, they belong to you and I am a steward over the gift.
- Am I one with you Beloved? Answer: Yes, Lord you and I are one as you were one with Christ.
In this vision, there was a long pause. Then the Lord had the two young people face each other – eye to eye. Then he said, “If you and I are one, then why would I ever have a need to compete against myself? Why would I ever call you to compare yourself against yourself? Are we not one Body? A house divided cannot stand.”
Immediately, my vision shifted to one physical body. Even now, people of God, take a look at your PHYSICAL BODY in the mirror. Can you imagine your physical right hand trying to out-do the left? Well, Father was showing me that this is what we do when “put ourselves in competition” with one another. We fall into the sin of comparison and division; and attempt to force God to choose one powerful gifting over another powerful gifting.
It makes absolutely no spiritual sense when we realize that FATHER HIMSELF through Christ is the true vine and we are the branches. It calls into question all the things that “we do” in the name of the Lord.
It causes us to face this simple truth: “God would never compete with himself! He would never compare himself against himself.” But let me tell you something …that old man called the flesh would. Can you imagine Holy Spirit comparing His gifts to the gifts of Christ or either one of them comparing their gifts to the gift-giver and gift-owner God? Silly isn’t it?
I know this is a difficult message for those rooted in this stronghold to embrace. Even now, there are minds “thinking through” scenarios and circumstances when this is okay. They are looking at their favorite cooking show showdowns and seeing such innocence in the intent. But I tell you, innocent acts born of Babylon are never without motive or consequence.
2 Corinthians 10:12 CJB says, “We don’t dare class or compare ourselves with some of the people who advertise themselves. In measuring themselves against each other and comparing themselves with each other, they are simply stupid.”
Please note that “stupid” means to act without wisdom or to act as a fool. It is used throughout the Torah, the Wisdom Books and the Prophets. It is not used as name-calling or in terms of a person’s capacity. Rather, it is speaking into an action or behavior.
Matthew 7:2 CJB says, “For the way you judge others is how you will be judged — the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure to you.
We see this scripture as one to justify being “judgmental.” In fact, when we enter into comparison we are also placing ourselves as judges over gifts, talents, callings and ANOINTINGS. The spirit of comparison is very subtle, but it is not limited to being judgmental about lifestyle choices and behavior. The “way you judge” is significant! Please understand that comparison is a WAY OF JUDGING and by that measure YOU WILL BE JUDGED.
You see, righteous judgment is DISCERNMENT and discernment is simply distinguishing good from evil – not a test of talent or skill or determining who is better or best.
There are so many scriptures we could discuss to bring this biblical truth forth in this hour, and we could take this discussion so much further. But I want to seal it with Galatians 2:20 CJB:
“When the Messiah was executed on the stake as a criminal, I was too; so that my proud ego no longer lives. But the Messiah lives in me, and the life I now live in my body I live by the same trusting faithfulness that the Son of God had, who loved me and gave himself up for me.”
People of God, I don’t care how much “social Christianity” twists this and tries to make it okay, sin will still be sin… and the truth of God’s Word will still stand. We are ONE in Christ – living, moving and breathing. And there is no way that my Father would pick one child out of himself and choose that child over another.
Romans 2:11 CJB, “For God does not show favoritism.”
Listen, people do a lot of things in this life. We pit flesh against flesh, son against son. FOR ME, I had to drop out of everything that had to do with competitions. My journey required something different. To this very day, I have been unable to hold contests or competitions because of my measure. I absolutely couldn’t participate in anything that could bring division among those I was leading who already had so many issues of self-worth to overcome. Today, I understand that people have different views on this. This is also the reason why I decided to take this conversation (from my book) and expand it here in an article for those willing to consider that “there is no competition in Heaven.”
Luke 16:15 NIV, “He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”
