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When Heaven Invades Earth
Week 10: Chapters 14 and 16
April 28 – May 3, 2008
Bill Johnson describes the Church as being in a state of war and the
declared enemy is satan. “We were born in a war. There are no
timeouts, no vacations... the safest place is in the center of God's
will... the place of deep intimacy” (156). In chapter 14, Johnson
outlines “Biblical Principles of War,” strategies that will inform
and equip us, giving us the edge in overcoming our enemy:
1.
OBEY - He leads us only into a
battle we have already been prepared to win. When in the center of
His will, we face only situations we are equipped to win; the safest
place is obedience.
2.
CLOSET TIME - Intimacy with God
is our strong suit. Never allow anything to distract you from this
point of strength.
3.
BE COURAGEOUS - When we refuse
fear, the enemy becomes terrified.
4.
SUBMIT - “Therefore, submit to
God and the enemy will flee.” Submission is the key to personal
triumph. “Our main battle in spiritual warfare is not against the
devil. It is against the flesh” (155).
5.
KNOW WHO YOU ARE – The Church is
on the attack. We are here as military representatives from heaven,
not to hide away in terror waiting for Jesus' return. The victory is
already won!
6.
LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES/USE YOUR
AUTHORITY - First, God makes us strong and then He stirs up the
enemy against us because “He likes to see the devil defeated by
(us), those who are made in His image, who have a relationship of
love with Him by choice. We are His designated authority” 155), and
He rejoices to see us enforce the triumph of Jesus.
7.
WORSHIP - Praise honors God. But
it also edifies us and destroys the powers of hell!
Chapter 16 encourages the Church to be
the kind of leavening agent in the world that is not passive but
aggressively looking for, and even arranging, God orchestrated
opportunities to influence our communities and see His Kingdom come
“on Earth as it is in heaven.” Instead of entrenchment in survival
postures that see perseverance as the greatest virtue, we are
challenged to move in overcoming faith. “When the main goal of our
faith is keeping us safe from the devil, our faith becomes inferior
to what God expects.” Leaven has a subtle but “overwhelming
influence...in any setting into which it is placed. God has planned
to put us into the darkest situations to demonstrate His dominion”
(166).
We are presented with two Biblical
examples of Kingdom leaven - how one person can and did make an
unprecedented difference in a dark place. Daniel, although suffering
great losses, intentionally turned from bitterness and instead
aggressively pursued holiness, took risks in partnership with the
Holy Spirit and eventually caused the greatest monarch of his time
to repent. He “was victorious because of his devotion to the One who
is great!” (167).
“The presence of the Kingdom saves the
lives of people who have not earned it through personal obedience.
Such is the power of righteousness – it protects those around it”
(169). Just as this principle operated in Daniel's life, so too,
because of personal holiness and obedience, Joseph saved not only
his family from starvation but a whole nation of unbelievers. Like
them, God's people must find a heart to see others succeed” (171),
regardless of weather they conform to our standards or are saved.
“Any gospel that doesn't work in the
marketplace, doesn't work. Jesus invaded every realm of society. He
went where people gathered... Where does life take you? Go there in
the anointing and watch the impossibilities bow to the name of
Jesus... For massive worldwide revival to reach its dominating
potential, it must be taken out of the four walls of the Church and
launched into the marketplace. Quietly, powerfully, decisively
invade through service; and when you run into a person with an
impossibility, let them know the reality of heaven is within arm's
reach!”(170-3).
“The
superior potential of this generation has nothing to do with our
goodness, but it has everything to do with the Master's plan of
placing us at this point in history. We are to be the devil's worst
nightmare” (154).
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