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Bill Johnson: "Learning to Host the Presence"


by Bill Johnson
Apr 25, 2009

Steve ShultzFrom the desk of Steve Shultz:

In this article, Bill Johnson shares a great word of wisdom about "learning to host the Presence." He gives us key insight to becoming a resting place for our God, having our faith activated, and seeing breakthrough happen around us. Yes, let's all learn to host His Presence. Amen!

Here are also a couple of popular resources by Bill that will help you wear His presence and dream with God:

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tcd Wearing God's Presence Like a Glove
by Bill Johnson
Audio Teachings
$13.99
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dreaming with god Dreaming With God
by Bill Johnson
$14.99
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Blessings,

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Steve Shultz

Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The ElijahList & ElijahRain magazine

http://www.elijahlist.com

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Bill Johnson:
"Learning to Host the Presence"

Bill Johnson

One of the greatest privileges in life is to learn to be a person that God will rest upon. He already lives in every born again Believer. But He doesn't rest upon all of us. One way I like to say it is, "He is in me for my sake, but He is upon me for yours." When He is upon us, it especially changes others around us. Jesus modeled this lifestyle in the story of His baptism in water.

When Jesus was baptized, He came out of the water, the Heavens opened, the Father spoke, and then the Holy Spirit came upon Him as a dove and remained. "John testified saying, 'I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of Heaven, and He remained upon Him'" (John 1:32). If, in the natural, I have a dove sitting on my shoulder and I want to go about life without it flying away, how am I going to live? Every step would be with the dove in mind.

As we become faithful in learning how to host the presence of the Lord, it is important to understand that there is a tension between two realities: He has been given to us without measure, yet what we enjoy on a daily basis has been "measured" to us according to our faithfulness. In other words, we have access to the unlimited measure of God's presence, but He doesn't entrust Himself to untrustworthy people. All of the measurements are set up on our end of the equation. He typically entrusts us with the measure of the presence we are willing to jealously guard.

We are to become His resting place?the place from which the exploits of Heaven are accomplished. For when the Lord rests upon a person, there is actually an atmospheric shift that takes place wherever that person goes. How do you think Peter's shadow healed people? Our shadow will always release whatever overshadows us. When we learn to host the presence of the Lord, we get more breakthroughs by accident than ever used to happen on purpose. That is a possibility for every Believer every day.

One of the conflicts we face in learning to host the presence is sometimes found in the very lessons we learned from the previous seasons. Believe it or not, those principles sometimes war against the actual presence of the Lord upon us. We are to use principles to plan by, but we must learn to live from the presence. And if there's a conflict between the two, presence always wins out over principle.

For example, I may be accustomed to aggressively pursuing the will of God for my life. My key verse might be Matthew 11:12, "and the violent take it by force." Living by principle has me apply what I have learned up to this point?violent faith. But in this story, the presence of God may be leading me to "receive the Kingdom as a child" (Luke 18:17). If you live entirely by principles only, you will make assumptions in certain moments and seasons that are entirely based on Scripture, but they will be in conflict with the Spirit. In this example, both violent faith and childlike faith are Biblical. It is the Holy Spirit who knows how we are to respond in each particular season or in a given situation.

We are supposed to be well grounded in what God has said so we can discern what He is saying. It is the presence of God that gives me access to continuous ongoing faith, because faith comes by hearing, not having heard. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Learning to host the presence of God provides the atmosphere of the heart where faith becomes natural and normal.

Let's commit ourselves to become the resting place of God.

Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson Ministries

bjm.org and ibethel.org

Bill Johnson's Itinerary:

April 26-27, 2009
Your Kingdom Come
RCC - The Meadway
Tilehurst, Reading, England RG30 4NX
Contact: 0118-941-5557

April 28-29, 2009
Stockholm, Sweden
New Wine Leaders Conference - Sweden
Contact: for more info click here

May 7-9, 2009
Texas Ablaze Event
Jubilee Outreach
2931 S WW White Road; San Antonio, TX
Contact: 806-468-7179 or email: office@sfwm.org

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Wearing God's Presence Like a Glove
by Bill Johnson
Audio Teachings
$13.99
Order the CD
$7.99
Order the Download


Bill Johnson

"Living INSIDE of God Releases HIS Presence"

God has an amazing secret weapon for you in this hour - and He wants you to know all about it!

Bill Johnson shares about the power of God's Presence, as well as teaches you how to recognize and "host" His presence in a fluid, consistent manner.

You'll find how living inside of God as He is living inside of you will release HIM into every area of your life and circle of influence. Get ready to experience a brand-new awareness of the Lord!

"YOU Are the Ark of God's Presence!"

People desire God's presence for numerous reasons?
Some, however, dwell in God's presence with only one purpose in mind - RELATIONSHIP.

This transforming word by Bill Johnson opens up a fountain of living waters that will refresh you and draw you into the heart of God. You'll experience a rekindling with your "first love," as well as be reminded that YOU are His temple?the very ark of His presence!

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You May Also Call Us With Your Order- 8am to 4pm- Pacific Time, Monday-Friday
1-866-354-5245 (USA) -OR- 1-541-926-3250
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Dreaming With God
by Bill Johnson
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Bill Johnson

Forget about redesigning your living room or adding "curb appeal"? how about redesigning your world! Author Bill Johnson reveals the secrets of using God's unlimited supply of everything to transform your family and community, your job or business, the nation and the world.

You were created to be a "design star" by using your unique: Imagination, Wisdom, Creativity, Dreams.

There are rooms in your world that need your special touch?your child's classroom; your coworker's office; your neighbor's heart. There are regions in your world that need your inspiration?your community's poor; your state's policies; your nation's leaders.

God has given you a blank check to create a better world?just sign your name!

.... (more)

You May Also Call Us With Your Order- 8am to 4pm- Pacific Time, Monday-Friday
1-866-354-5245 (USA) -OR- 1-541-926-3250
(Outside the USA)
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