Category: Words of Study & Instruction: Scribes & the Arts

This page features Words of Wisdom and Instruction written specifically by Holy Spirit for those in worship arts. They are designed to take you into deeper bible study, revelation and understanding concerning the secrets and mysteries of God's Word.

That They May Come To Their Senses

Posted on by Theresa Harvard Johnson
Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson
 
2 Timothy 2:26 CJB, “Also he should be gentle as he corrects his opponents. For God may perhaps grant them the opportunity to turn from their sins, acquire full knowledge of the truth, COME TO THEIR SENSES and ESCAPE THE TRAP OF THE ADVERSARY, after having been captured alive by him to do his will.”
 
Have we overlooked this command in the midst of our faith?

Have we cast it aside for the sake of self-righteousness, judgement and dogma?
 
As people of God, it can be easy to focus on the teachings of the condition of people and forget the “compassion-of-Christ” component that burns through it. I am not speaking of humanity’s kind of compassion which changes like the wind, but the kind of compassion that our Father has shown forth in pursuit of us throughout of eternity. A compassion rooted in His great love!  We must remember that the primary purpose of sharing the truth of the Gospel rests in the hope of reconciliation. It is the blazing foundation of every administration of ministry in Christ – that if a man hears the Gospel, he will turn his heart toward the Lord. Period. When we fail to grasp this truth, the scripture above infers that we should be catalysts for causing people to gain GOOD SENSE.
 
To be senseless literally means to lack a conscious reality of CHRIST. The passage also moves us to understand this reality: That it is God’s heart that NO MAN should perish if at all possible (2 Peter 3:9). But we – people of God – should never become the problem or a hindrance to this process. In truth, we are the SOLUTION to the problem men face.

The Idolatry Chart: Five Categories of Idolatry

Posted on by Theresa Harvard Johnson
Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson
 
Idolatry is one of those sins talked about in the Bible that may seem like an old outdated concept to some or point to a lot of religious activity or legalism. The truth is, it isn’t outdated and that all references to it in scripture still apply today. Idolatry is defined as “image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object.”[1] It is also defined as divine worship given to anyone or anything other than the true living God.[2] Remember, God wants to be our single most important priority. Our immersion should be in HIM, not in the created thing or another person. Anything in life that becomes greater than Him is viewed, in context with Biblical examples, as idolatry.

In the chart below, I’ve attempted to take the most common types of idolatry we see in our culture today and place them in five general categories. Then, I provided a few scriptural references alongside them in hopes of identifying places or points in the Bible for deeper study. By no means is this expected to be complete list of scripture or every possible example of idolatry. Sources are also cited.

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Ministry Integrity

Confronting Hero Worship

Posted on by Theresa Harvard Johnson
Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson
 
Introduction
 
If you haven’t already done so, I want to encourage you to take a look at the blog, “The Idolatry Chart.” In it, Holy Spirit quickened me to identify five prevailing types of idolatry that is plaguing Babylon (the world system) and our local congregations. Each of these forms of idolatry take the place of “God, our Father in Heaven” in the lives of individuals suffering from their effects. If not exposed, confronted and overcome, those affected will begin to reap corruption, deceive others and become consumed by their own deceptive world.
 
People of God, we are constantly being called to awaken to truth.

Narcissism: A prevailing problem among scribes and artisans

Posted on by Theresa Harvard Johnson
 
Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson
 
Introduction
Holy Spirit quickened me to identify five prevailing types of idolatry that plagues our local congregations and creative ministries. This article is one in a series that assists the believer in identifying specific types of idolatry, confronting them and providing insight on how to overcome them.
 
All forms of idolatry take the place of “God, our Father in Heaven” in the lives of individuals suffering from their effects. If not exposed, confronted and overcome, those affected will begin to reproduce this stronghold in the midst of ministries… duplicating it in the lives of others and create entire ministries that hover under its effects. Nearly every creative person will encounter “narcissism” in their own lives or the environment in which they seek to grow and thrive. Beware! Eradicate it!