A Final Lesson From a Child

I finally finished reading Bill Johnson's book When Heaven Invades Earth (Treasure House: Shippensberg, 2003). Today I completed a recommendation form for our friend Alayne, who hopes to study at the Bethel Institute that Johnson's church in Redding, California runs. Pam, another woman we know, is considering going to Bethel next year as well. Thanks again Greg Vadala for this book!

There is so much in this book for reflection. Like some of my other recent reads, it challenges the cessationistic system that I was raised in, but moved away from ten years ago after experiencing the power of God in more felt ways. If we have the same God as in the first century, then why aren't we seeing at least the same powerful works of Jesus and the first century church, if not even more? 21st century Western Europe and North America needs to see the power of God as much as the first century A.D. world did. It seems that cessationism is a theological justification for a lack of spiritual power experienced in certain theological circles.

Anyway, I'm going to copy the final couple pages of Johnson's words here, as I can't copy the whole book. Here goes (pp. 187-189).

REACHING THE MAXIMUM

It has never entered the mind what God has prepared for us while on this earth. His intent is grand. Instead of limiting ourselves by our imagination and experience, let's press on to a renewed hunger for things yet to be seen. As we pursue the Extravagant One with reckless abandon, we will discover that our greatest problem is the resistance that comes from between our ears. But faith is superior. And it's time for us to make Him unconcerned about whether or not He'll find faith on the earth.

The Kingdom is in the now! Pray for it, see it first, and receive it as a child. It is within reach.

A FINAL LESSON FROM A CHILD

In a recent meeting on the coast of northern California we had a remarkable level of breakthrough in the miraculous, especially for North America. Deafness, blindness, arthritis, and many other afflictions were healed through God's saving grace. There were between 40 and 50 healings in the meeting of about 200 people, as Jesus once again demonstrated His dominion over all things.

One notable miracle happened to a three-year-old boy named Chris, who had clubfeet. He had sores on the tops of his feet where they would rub on the carpet in his effort to walk. When those in attendance were released to pray for the sick, several from our team gathered around this child. Immediately, God began to touch him. When they were through praying, they put him down on the floor. For the first time in his life his feet were flat on the ground! He stared in amazement at his feet, reaching down he touched the sores. One of his little friends whispered to him, "Run!"

He suddenly took off and ran in a circle exclaiming, "I can run!" Needless to say there was much rejoicing in the house that night.

We returned home and watched the video of that evening over and over again. We were so thrilled with the miracle that it took us awhile to notice that Chris was intently trying to tell us something. My wife, who was holding the camera, had asked him, "What happened to you?"

Looking in to the camera, he answered saying, "Jesus big! Jesus big!" [Bold print mine]

In our excitement, we unknowingly changed the subject and asked about his feet. Those who saw the miracle gave us the details. But as we watched the tape, we heard his testimony, "Jesus big! Jesus big!" The only thing we can figure is that he had an encounter with Jesus who came and healed him.

CONCLUSION

This story, like all others contained in this book, is about the goodness of God. It is the testimony of Jesus. The book of Revelation reveals this principle. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." [Rev. 19:10] A testimony prophesies what is possible again. It declares another miracle is now available. It illustrates to all who will listen, the nature of God and His covenant with mankind. All He looks for is someone who will add his or her faith to the testimony given. Because He is no respector of persons, He will do for you what He did for another. Because He is the same today as yesterday, He is willing to do again what He did long ago.

Two weeks ago after Chris's miracle, I showed his video to our church. Our people were very encouraged. The next day two of our young men went to the mall and saw an elderly woman with a cane. When they asked to pray for her, she wasn't interested, until she heard Chris's story. His testimony prophesied God's goodness to her, and she became hungry for prayer. As they laid hands on her, the tumor on her knee disappeared. By a word of knowledge, they told her that God was also healing her back. When she touched her back, she discovered that the tumor she hadn't told them about was also gone.

On another Sunday, I taught on the power of the testimony, and used Chris's story as an illustration. There was a family visiting from Montana with a similar need; their little girl's feet turned inward at about 45 degrees, causing her to trip over them when she ran. When her mother heard the testimony of Jesus healing the clubfeet, she said in her heart, I'll take that for my daughter! Following the service she picked up her child from our nursery and discovered that her daughter's feet were perfectly straight! The testimony prophesied, the mother believed, and the daughter was healed.

His invasion continues, and will continue without end!

"Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end." [Isaiah 9:7}

"The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever." [Revelation 11:15]