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

by Bill Johnson

It’s interesting that there are many people who would never steal or commit adultery, yet have no problem ignoring our need for Sabbath rest. It’s in the same list of commandments. Health in our spirit, soul, and body is profoundly connected to our obedience to His commands.

I discovered a long time ago if I’m not having fun, I need to reevaluate what I’m doing. That’s not to say that everything we experience in life is fun. It isn’t. But there’s always joy to be found in the journey, as joy is an expression of the Kingdom of God (see Rom. 14:17). And the Kingdom is always at hand—joy is always within reach.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Prov. 13:12).

You could probably build a table by using a crescent wrench as hammer, but it’s not according to design, and would no doubt take longer with many mistakes. The point is, our basic trust must be in the one who designed us for pleasure—His and ours.

It becomes the butterfly that lands on the person of rest, who is not frantically driven by their own needs or agendas but instead becomes increasingly hungry for God and His Kingdom—His divine order. This really is another way of practicing “seek first the kingdom of God…and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33 NKJV).

Undeserved?

Our first ministry is to God. He has made us a dwelling place for His Spirit.

We do not live with the false mindset that life is divided into the “sacred” or the “secular.” Rather, God is involved in and valued in every area of our lives. The Holy Spirit lives in us, so everything we do and everywhere we go is sacred.

Jesus promised signs would follow believers and they would do even greater works than He did. Miracles did not stop with Jesus and the apostles. Because of this, we owe the world an opportunity to experience the power of God and an invitation to salvation because Jesus sent us into the world, just as the Father sent Him, with the power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing is impossible with God. We do not pursue a relationship with God just so we can perform signs and wonders. The Holy Spirit gives

Generosity is a form of honor. It confronts our poverty mindsets while changing the way we interact with the world. No longer anxious because we mistakenly believe provision is scarce, we are confident that God multiplies resources and is eager to rescue and prosper people.

It’s easy to see how people get radical over ideas like this.

This is an interesting idea.