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When Heaven Invades Earth
Week Four: Chapter 6
March 2 – March 8, 2008
“In
order to see the kind of breakthroughs Jesus had, we must embrace
what he embraced – the Holy Spirit” (67). This is Johnson's
introductory statement to present the material in this next chapter
which is all about the Holy Spirit. He presents us with stories he
describes as “the normal Christian life” which sadly, are far from
the life most Christians live. He diagnoses our lackluster life as
problematic for it is the result of not following the leading of the
Holy Spirit. Although Jesus said that John the Baptist was greater
than any other who came before him he also promises that those who
are least in the Kingdom are greater than he (Matt. 11.11). It is
because “the baptism in the Holy Spirit makes a lifestyle available
to us that not even John had access to” (71).
Just
as the Israelites entered a new way of life when they crossed the
Jordan into the Promised Land, we are given access to a new
lifestyle of power through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But
Johnson says, if we only settle for the gifts of the Holy Spirit
instead of pursuing God's purposes of dominion and ushering in the
Kingdom, we have settled for living on the banks of the river and
tolerating the presence of the devil in our lives (72). The King's
domain becomes evident through the Holy Spirit's work.
The
Holy Spirit is inseparable from the Kingdom of God and the mark of
the domain of the Holy Spirit is liberty. “Those who learn how to
work with the Holy Spirit actually cause the reality of His world,
to collide with the powers of darkness that have influence over a
person or situation” (73). And the Holy Spirit always wins! This is
what Johnson is talking about when he says, “He'll give us His
baptism of fire if we will give Him something to burn”(72). We must
follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and challenge the darkness in
order to see his fire ignited and his light driving out darkness.
When
we learn to value the greatest gift we have received, our
relationship with the Holy Spirit, we will develop a new intimacy
with God which will result in the ability to minister in power. God
has promised, “I will be with you” to all his servants. We are no
exception and it is His presence with us in the person of the Holy
Spirit that makes the impossible, possible. “If He is invited to a
situation, we should expect nothing but supernatural invasion” (74).
Johnson describes the presence of the Holy Spirit as “the
anointing,” a tangible expression of the Spirit. It is a substance
which comes with the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and can be
released into our surroundings – even raising dead people to life
again. We can be vessels carrying this anointing when we overflow
with the power and presence of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is able to
flow through faith and compassion which is not self centered or
introspective (75).
The
question Johnson challenges us with is, “Are we willing to follow
the Holy Spirit into uncharted territory, off the map of our comfort
zone and into the unknown?” Even though we may not understand Him,
he will always lead us into truth but to follow Him we must be
willing to “go beyond what we know” even if it seems unreasonable
(76). Like Jesus , we must be completely dependent upon what the
Father is doing and saying and recognize the presence of the Holy
Spirit above all.
Just
as Jesus often healed after being moved with compassion, one way of
detecting the leading of the Holy Spirit is to sense his compassion
and recognize his affection for another person. This can be a door
opening for supernatural ministry. “Loving people is Christ's
agenda, and surrendering my own agenda makes me available for His”
(76).
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