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When Heaven Invades Earth
Week Eight: Chapter 8 + 12
April 13 – April 19, 2008
In these two chapters, Bill Johnson gives the
antidote to the high cost of low power which has characterized the
Church especially in the West. He describes Christians as debtors to
the world; we owe them an encounter with God though supernatural
sign and wonders. He speaks of how doctrines which relegate miracles
to the time before the New Testament Scriptures were completed (dispensationalism)
are simply “an excuse to justify [their own] powerless churches”
(94). The model which Jesus presents never separates the Word of
God from the display of his power in healing, deliverance and people
receiving salvation (87). Those who are teachers of the Word are
particularly targeted in Johnson's challenge to make sure all
teaching is followed by “action that makes room for God to move” in
signs and wonders (88).
Contrary to what many have been taught Johnson
says, “God cannot be known apart from experience and ...anyone who
does not have an experience with God, doesn't know God” (89).
Teaching doctrines or even Biblical truths and precepts is not
enough. Bible study, although wonderful is not enough. Having only
this kind of knowledge without experience can lead to being puffed
up with pride for this kind of “revelation that doesn't lead to a
God encounter only serves to make me more religious” (94). Knowledge
of any kind must take us to the person of Jesus for, “Anything I can
get from the Word without God will not change my life” (93).
Fear will keep us from pursuing a deeper
experience of God and fear will prevent us from pursuing solutions
to impossible situations which require RISK. But, Jesus modeled what
mankind could become when we are in right relationship with the
Father and through his blood, made it possible for every believer to
have access to the supernatural realm of life that Jesus lived.
(138). “The gospel of power is the solution to the tragic condition
of humankind... If we really want more of God than we must change
our lifestyle so that his manifested presence will increase upon us”
(139). When we believe His Word and “radically obey his charge, He
says Amen with the miraculous” (Mark 16.20). All of God's
resources are at our disposal and additionally, to assist us in our
commission, “Angels are assigned (by God) to serve wherever we
serve, if the supernatural element is needed” (139).
It is a Spirit filled life, the anointing of
the Holy Spirit which equips us to present the world with an
encounter with God. God has promised to be with us and it is because
of His presence that we can invite Him to invade the present
circumstances that arise before us “There is an actual impartation
of His presence that we are able to make in these situations. This
is how we bring the lost into an encounter with God. We learn to
recognize His presence, co-operate with His passion for people, and
invite them to receive salvation” (salvation, healing and
deliverance) (136).
God will manifest His presence through healing
and deliverance but also in unexpected ways that may offend the mind
but they are always redemptive (141). Signs and wonders are “a
natural part of the Kingdom of God” pointing to a greater reality.
“They are the normal way to get us from where we are to where we
need to be. That is their purpose” (142). “When we follow His signs
to the greater depths in God, His signs follow us in greater measure
for the sake of mankind” (143). As we enjoy the privilege of serving
by operating in the realm of the supernatural, we become Christians
with purpose: affirmed in our identity as God's children, doing what
pleases Him as an expression of our worship (141).
“Very
truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works
that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I
am going to the Father (John 14. 12).
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