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The antichrist spirit has a goal for the Church--embrace Jesus apart from the anointing. Without the anointing, He becomes a safe religious figure who is sure not to challenge or offend us. Paul described this deceptive possibility as "having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" (2 Tim. 3:5)."
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Bill Johnson |
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Jesus heals the whole person.
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Bill Johnson |
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Busyness is an enemy of true Kingdom experience.
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Bill Johnson |
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The transformation of a person is the end product of the study of Scriptures. We live by every word that comes from His mouth.
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Bill Johnson |
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Many people criticize those who long to experience more in God, but I don't trust the ones who don't. We are not going to be kept free from deception by abandoning experience. In fact, the ones who do not hunger more for God are already deceived.
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Bill Johnson |
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The measure we are aware of our need for Him is usually the measure we become aware of Him. It really is all about the Presence. It's about hosting Him.
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Bill Johnson |
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Seeing a Kingdom culture established on earth is the dream of God, and it must become the dream of His people.
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Bill Johnson |
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Rule with the heart of a servant, and serve with the heart of a king. This is how Jesus used His authority.
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Bill Johnson |
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We have delegated authority to establish His Kingdom wherever the sole of our foot treads. But the fact is, while God calls us "kings," the degree to which we walk in that position is a matter of potential."
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Bill Johnson |
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Reaction to error almost always creates another error.
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Bill Johnson |
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that He is committed to meeting our needs, but not our wants. That concept comes in reaction to those who have taken the wonderful Gospel and made it a self-centered lifestyle, in which we use the name of God, along with His principles, to get what we want. While that is a tragic misuse of Scripture, so is the concept that God cares only for our needs. He is not the director of an orphanage, guaranteeing us three meals a day and a cot to sl..
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Bill Johnson |
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Evil often thrives in the absence of an authentic righteous standard.
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Bill Johnson |
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Faith is focused entirely on God and exists because of Him. Faith is active, and is completely dissatisfied with theories and ideals that cannot be proven, that do not bear fruit. It derives its life from the voice and nature of God. It is unto God, to bring Him pleasure and glory. Such a life is anything but a comfortable life of caution. It is bold, brave, courageous and risky.
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Bill Johnson |
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Unfortunately, pulpit ministry has long been seen as the measure of true devotion to Christ, or worse yet, it has been seen as the measure of spiritual maturity.
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Bill Johnson |
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Instead, I hope to raise the value we place on the call of God, in whatever way that call manifests in someone's life. The dentist, the lawyer, the housewife, the mechanic and all the rest are called by God to do what they do to more fully express who He is in a functioning and healthy society.
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Bill Johnson |
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I realize that true success is not measured in the number of people who attend church on a Sunday, as good a thing as that may seem. Success in God's eyes is seen in the impact the message of the Kingdom has on how people think and live in my city, region and nation.
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Bill Johnson |
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Many fear signs and wonders because of the possibility of deception. So, in order to prevent any opportunity of being deceived, they replace displays of power with religious traditions, Christian activities, or even Bible study. They often become satisfied with knowledge. But, when this happens, who is deceived?
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Bill Johnson |
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wheelchair in the mall and bringing healing. Learning how to find people at work where you invade their space and minister to them. You go to the poor parts of town and feed people. Giving words of knowledge and prophetic words to the waitress. We do all these sorts of things that are very strong and bold externally. We have to train in that element because the overt ministry helps to displace powers that have influenced our cities. Once yo..
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Bill Johnson |
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are really divine opportunities to inject the presence of the kingdom. But there has to be a long-term invasion by the covert, a subtle invading of the system so we have the Daniels and Joshuas in their place. These people are making decisions and gaining the hearts of the kings. For example, the school system is a really difficult area or has been thought to be. Most closed heavens for the believer are between the ears. Because we have tho..
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Bill Johnson |
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Worship has become a primary part of life. It's wonderful when it's in the corporate gathering. But it's shallow when it's only corporate. My personal life must be one of continuous worship to experience the transformations that I long for. We always become like the one we worship.
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Bill Johnson |
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We cannot use the political spirit in one situation and think we can be free from it in another. The political spirit uses the fear of man and manipulation to get people to support a particular way of thinking.
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Bill Johnson |
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God doesn't have to try to do supernatural things. He is supernatural. He would have to try to not be. If He is invited to a situation, we should expect nothing but supernatural invasion.
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Bill Johnson |
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out
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Bill Johnson |
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Oftentimes religious circles are known for extreme control of the people, situations and environment around them. Control then becomes the issue of the hour. Studying the Scriptures without letting the Holy Spirit teach us puts us in control. He always takes us to Jesus. Going to the One the Scriptures point to puts Him in control. In other words, when the Bible is an end unto itself, it gives us a measure of learning, but no personal trans..
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Bill Johnson |
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Billy Graham is credited with saying, "Ninety-five percent of today's church activities would continue if the Holy Spirit were removed from us. In the early Church, ninety-five percent of all her activities would have stopped if the Holy Spirit were removed." I"
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Bill Johnson |
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I'll never forget the Sunday that the Lord informed me that it wasn't my service, and I couldn't do as I pleased. (Planning is biblical. But our diligence and vision must never include usurping the authority of the Holy Spirit. The lordship of Jesus is seen in our willingness to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. He wants His Church back!) But
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Bill Johnson |
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When God creates peace, it is based on the presence of a Person called the Prince of Peace. That peace also has a military effect: "And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet" (Romans 16:20). Outside the Kingdom of God, peace is the absence of something, whereas in the Kingdom of God, it is the presence of Someone."
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Bill Johnson |
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The anointing to heal and bring deliverance will be of no value in Heaven. These graces must be used here and now as part of the package of tools used to bring the nations to Jesus. After all, He is called "the desire of the nations."Everyone desires Jesus. They just don't know it. We must become like Him more fully so that the harvest becomes all that God desires and has provided for."
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Bill Johnson |
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Any revelation from God's Word that does not lead us to an encounter with God only serves to make us more religious. The Church cannot afford "form without power," for it creates Christians without purpose."
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Bill Johnson |
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JESUS, THE MODEL TEACHER, never separated teaching from doing. He
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Bill Johnson |
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It's apparent that we speak the word, and the Father does the works--miracles!
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Bill Johnson |
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Bible teachers are to instruct in order to explain what they just did, or are about to do. Those
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Bill Johnson |
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Those who restrict themselves to mere words limit their gift, and may unintentionally lead believers to pride by increasing knowledge without an increased awareness of God's presence and power. It's in the trenches of Christlike ministry that we learn to become totally dependent upon God. Moving in the impossible through relying on God short-circuits the development of pride.
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Bill Johnson |
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Teaching MUST be followed with action that makes room for God to move.
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Bill Johnson |
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Our culture has castrated the role of the teacher. It is possible to attend college, get a business degree, and never have received any teaching by someone who ever owned a business. We value concepts and ideas above experience with results. I
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Bill Johnson |
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People of little character can often have positions of leadership in the church if they have personality. Paul
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Bill Johnson |
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But it is illegitimate to allow fear to keep us from pursuing a deeper experience with God! Embracing such fear causes a failure to the other extreme, which is culturally more acceptable, but significantly worse in eternity.
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Bill Johnson |
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We must get our minds set on spiritual things because as long as we fill our minds with what's happening in the natural, we restrict our effectiveness.
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Bill Johnson |
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salvation was not the ultimate goal of Christ's coming. It was the immediate target...the marker in the lane. Without accomplishing redemption, there was no hope for the ultimate goal--which was to fill each born-again person with the Holy Spirit. God's desire is for the believer to overflow with Himself, that we might "be filled with all the fullness of God." (Eph. 3:19). The"
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Bill Johnson |
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to follow Him, we must be willing to follow off the map--to go beyond what we know. To do so successfully we must recognize His presence above all.
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Bill Johnson |
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Anything I can get from the Word without God will not change my life. It is closed to insure that I remain dependent on the Holy Spirit. It
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Bill Johnson |
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Many have made the mistake of thinking that Christians are to be the heads of all corporations, governments, and departments. As good as that may sound, it's actually a fruit of the true goal. Christlikeness--excellence with humility--is the real goal. Promotion comes from the Lord. If we spent more time developing a Kingdom heart, we'd have more people in key places of leadership.
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Bill Johnson |
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WHETHER OR NOT we believe that Heaven is open does not negate the truth that it is. Our thoughts do not alter the open heaven over our lives; instead, they determine whether or not we partake of this reality. Jesus Christ secured an open heaven for every single Spirit-indwelt believer. This is a fact. The question is: Do our minds agree with this fact or do they entertain a lie?
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Bill Johnson |
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There will always be generals in the army. But a private in the New Testament army has access to more authority than any of the generals of the Old Testament army did. Jesus made the point by saying that "he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he [John]" (Matt. 11:11)."
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Bill Johnson |