Category: Article History

Copyright 2013 Theresa Harvard Johnson

INTRODUCTION

Over the past couple of years, I’ve experienced a strong Holy Spirit led transformation in my heart. I’ve learned to walk in a level of forgiveness and love for others that quite honestly I never thought possible. I’ve learned to recognize the dust-shaking-moments that used to cause me such frustration and with Holy Spirit’s discernment; I even learned to put the enemy under my feet quickly and seek God alone for the healing of my soul.

I’ve grown to understand the importance of godly boundaries and the fall-out from boundary breaking.  I didn’t know until this last season in my life, that I could look at those I once regarded as enemies to my soul; and experience nothing but true forgiveness, love and compassion toward them. Have I arrived completely in this area? Absolutely not. But I can tell you this, I am nowhere near where I used to be; I am at peace with where I am, and I am excited about what God is doing in my heart right now.

I am walking the intricate paths of not only receiving Father’s apostolic grace, but learning to extend it. I want to share a part of my journey with you.

Copyright 2013 Theresa Harvard Johnson

Psalm 46:1 CJB, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

This morning I awoke in intercession for scribes. I saw, heard and felt the depth of discouragement raging over many of them as they were pummeled into hopelessness. As I prayed, I could see hosts of angels dispatched to war on their behalf. It was such a battle because the discouragement was intense. It was then that I heard the voice of the Lord shout: “Arise! Arise! I am with you! I am with you! I have come to renew your SURE HOPE!”

 

As I sit here now, I am reminded of the days I have spent in discouragement concerning my own scribal ministry. I wasn’t gazing on the past; rather, I was remembering just how far God has brought me. For several seasons, I was on a rollercoaster. It was as if I would take one step forward and be pushed five steps back within myself. I often wondered if God was truly with me — that’s just how bad those setbacks were. Then, just before I was ready to throw in the towel and give up on this “scribal thing” God would make it known that he was “my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” 

And I was in trouble — at risk of losing my SURE HOPE.

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(I strongly encourage you to read this uplifting article, “I Declare That Your Name Is Joseph!”)

Copyright 2012 Theresa Harvard Johnson

 

I am an invisible girl, sitting in an invisible chair;

People walk by me, never noticing that I am there.

They can’t hear my invisible screams as I rise or see me my invisible stand;

and when I reach for an embrace, they slip through my invisible hands.

Copyright 2013 Theresa Harvard Johnson

We can celebrate the lives of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight. As they move through an intense journey of healing, we can have a hand in helping them heal, to fully recover.

How? Well, those reading this can make sure that these young women do not remain a news headline with spectators waiting for “what happens next” or regurgitating every gory detail from their ordeal that the news media feeds us or pours out. Every one of us can celebrate them by doing our part in making sure that children, our most precious cargo, are protected from the sick minds of child sexual predators.

According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention here in Atlanta, one in four girls and one is six boys are sexually abused by the age of 17, and only one in 10 will ever tell. In an article published in the Journal of Pediatric Health written by Gail Hornor, 80,000 cases of child sexual abuse were reported in 2008 alone. Officials, however, believe that this number is far greater because children are afraid to tell.  

SIDEBAR: I am blessed to serve with the fabulous organization, VOICE Today Inc., which exists to end child sexual abuse. For quality and excellent tools, resources and information on child sexual abuse prevention for your organization, faith-based institution or outreach initiative, please do not hesitate to contact me directly or reach out to VOICE so that I can tell you more. Watch this powerful video on the left. In addition, Angela Williams, the founder and my sear sister, shares her personal testimony in the book, From Sorrows To Sapphires. Read the latest book review here.

If you had the opportunity to prevent the type of heinous crime that engulfed the lives of Berry, DeJesus and Knight from happening to your child, your neighbor or the child of a co-worker would you take it? Most of us would like to think that we would. But the truth is this:

• The news headlines will dissipate.
• The perpetrator, Ariel Castro, will be sentenced.
• Berry, DeJesus and Knight will spend years healing from this unimaginable tragedy, and those reading this article and following the story;
• Will remember it only as a moment in history when these women were found.

Copyright 2013 Theresa Harvard Johnson

(I strongly urge you to read Part I of this article before digging into this part. This article is written specifically for seasoned leaders who have been seeking the Lord for strategies to keep order within the ministries entrusted to them. It identifies a subtle attack that the enemy is using in this hour to bring division and distort authority in the midst of core leadership groups. Christ maintained the proper relationship with his disciples – with each one of them, outside of the son of perdition knowing their boundaries and navigating humbly within them. It is with this respect and honor that I share, what the Lord has been teaching me personally in this area. You may also check out this series: The Devastating Effects of Approaching Leadership Casually and The Re-Emergence of Diotrephes)

 

In the previous post, we began examining blatant disrespect. Now, we’re going to go deeper. Please bear with me as we cut through to the root of this issue. I want to be sure that understanding comes and that there is no room for the adversary to jump in with another Gospel. Pride and false humility will tell us quickly that, “We don’t need this.” Yet, I am learning daily that I am never too mature in my spiritual walk to be reinforced in the foundations of the Word.

 

Matthew 7:12 CJBsays, “Always treatothers as you would like them to treat you; that sums upthe teaching of the Torah and the Prophets.”

Take some time to really meditate on this passage of scripture that Christ quoted in a confrontation with the elders and priests in the temple. We are going to go deeply into it near the end of this post. This fresh revelation that Father is bringing from it has blessed me so much. I pray that it blesses you as well.

You see, as we discuss this subject we must address that there is this prevailing place of entitlement among the Body in which some “mentees, spiritual children and students” demand that they are treated with respect – but they care so little about how they treat those who lead them. These same mentees, spiritual children and students demand grace and compassion in the midst of their maturation process, but fail to extend the same courtesy to those who lead them.