The Way of Life: Experiencing the Culture of Heaven on Earth

by Bill Johnson

Answered prayer is God’s design. We suffer in the long run when we expect our prayer assignment to be fulfilled in Heaven only.

Instead of comparing ourselves with ourselves, we should have been using the original standard found in the life of Jesus so that the measure of God’s goodness revealed in Christ, demonstrated in purity and power, would have remained the same through the past 2,000 years.

This concept of unity through diversity is in opposition to the spirit of the day.

That same spirit is now working to erase the distinction between male and female.

He is the master builder, building for His intended outcome. And we get to play a part.

What is the intended outcome?

Prayer followed by action is exponentially powerful.

What are the actions that should follow this kind of prayer? They are the specific commands listed in the other commissions—heal the sick, evangelize the world, disciple nations, etc.

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There are many diseases in the world that are simply the body turning against itself. Crohn’s disease is a great example, where the colon basically eats itself. As tragic as that is, it happens all the time in the church. To reject or turn against people is a disease of greater consequence than any physical disease.

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The four cornerstones of thought in our biblical worldview are these: God is good, nothing is impossible, the blood of Jesus paid for everything, and every person is significant.

Behavior begins as an action, but matures into a reaction.

We have an obligation to the Lord and to the world around us to dream God-sized dreams that only He can fulfill.

It was in the context of friendship with God (see John 15:15) that Jesus stated four times in three chapters that we could ask for whatever we wanted and it would be done for us. (See John 14:13; 15:7,16; 16:23-24.)

I carry solutions for the death, loss, and destruction that plagues humanity. When I find them, I must take the risks necessary to see the situation changed for the glory of God. Jesus both lived and died that this might become our reality. This is the normal Christian life.

He suffered in my place on the cross. Because it was complete, I owe Him my complete trust when things look different than expected. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32) This passage is one of the most convicting and freeing verses in the Bible for me.

I am not my gift or title. I am a child of God. Period. Whenever we build our identity around our title, we turn to a performance mentality in serving the Lord. It’s just not healthy. Our own emotional, mental, and spiritual stability become compromised with this posture. We are stable only when we see ourselves as a child of God.

About mental health and obtaining stability of the mind. When you ask “Who am I?” the only way not to break down is to identify with God, not a title or thoughts about yourself.

In our environment, I know when a person truly sees their significance, as no position of service is too low.

Serving well is how we respond to really seeing our significance.

Wisdom seems to model excitement for life itself, for it always anticipates the heart of God being manifest in any given situation.

Obeying the command to pray, followed by risk-oriented actions needed to experience what He declared to be His will, enables us to discover things we never would have had the intelligence or spiritual discernment to ask for.

Both caution and fear are often called wisdom by those unwilling to live with the level of risk necessary to bring about significant advancements in our Kingdom lifestyle and experience.

Everything about us, from our minds to our emotions to our physical bodies, is designed to recognize and dwell in the manifest presence of God. Learning how to live in that reality is called maturity (see Heb. 5:12-14).

The idea of the Holy Spirit abiding with us always must affect how we do life.

Peace is the atmosphere of Heaven. I like to call peace the oxygen of Heaven. And that peace is with me constantly. But if I violate that peace through fear, anger, or other such contradictions to His nature, it is no longer a felt reality. I’m not saying the Holy Spirit left me. I’m just saying that peace no longer benefits me. It’s no longer something that I draw from and can steward well. Perhaps I could put it this way: Because He will never leave me, peace is in my account, but it’s not in my possession. I need to make a withdrawal.

All of our responses either come from love or fear.

Faith doesn’t come from striving. It comes from surrender. And that is the place of great peace.

One of the important Kingdom truths is that perfect love drives out fear.

Faith doesn’t deny a problem’s existence. It denies it a place of influence.

We are growing into a mature representation of Jesus, and process must be allowed and celebrated.

The bottom line is that mystery is a huge part of the disciple’s life.

Reminds me of the mystery of UFOs in American Cosmic and how wise people are willing to accept that something mysterious exists (that they are not ready to call an alien).

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We are governmental agents, representing another world, releasing the reality of that world into this one through agreement in purpose.

Jesus said they will know of our faith in Christ by our love for each other.

From what I understand, the atomic bomb was made through the principle of fission. That is where an atom is split, releasing an amazing amount of power. We know the reality of this fact through the bombs that were dropped in World War II. But there is a superior power that is made through the concept of fusion. That is where two atoms are merged together. And in doing so, there is a release of seven times the amount of power than there is through the splitting of an atom. Uniting is exponentially more powerful than dividing.

For when one of us gets a breakthrough, it causes a domino effect for the rest of us. One person’s victory is the victory of us all. Thinking like members of a body will help give us perspective on how this Kingdom works

It’s very hard to be angry with a person, or jealous, or even distrustful when you feel God’s pleasure over another person.

I have found that it is worth the risk to empower people, for in doing so they often rise to heights way beyond any of our expectations. Some people just need someone to believe in them in order to grow into their potential. It is worth the risk. And messes can be cleaned up. This cultural perspective can also be applied to business or even the home.

My prayer times in our home were captured by this one purpose—that my children would love God and serve Him joyfully.

When God is number one, there is no number two.

If there’s a part of my life that cannot be an expression of my love for God, it shouldn’t be in my life.

This new insight changed so many things for me. It helped me to see that every part of life is beautiful and has the potential to bring Him glory.

Merely offering our efforts unto Him sanctifies that which was previously thought to be secular, vain, or mundane.

To correct for bad behavior but not reward for the good is a perverted system.

At the center of God’s own heart is a love for beauty and pleasure. He created all things for Himself to enjoy and for His creation to delight in Him. There is no delight, beauty, or pleasure outside of Him that can satisfy the cry of our hearts.

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

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The command “do not fear” is the most frequently given command in the Bible.

When the discerning heart is used correctly, they are no longer intimidated by the opinions of others, but are instead positioned to serve that one who tends to control others by their stance on issues. The issue at hand is the Lordship of Jesus. And that really is the key to a healthy soul.