THE WORKS OF THE FATHER part 2

I'm continuing pointing out a few other things that spoke to me in chapter 9 from Bill Johnson's book, "When Heaven Invades Earth". We're reading this book right now during our family reading times. It is subtitled "A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles" and it is packed full of nuggets of truth that will change us if we will begin to do THE WORKS OF THE FATHER in our daily lives. Pick up a copy of this book at the MUSIC AND BOOKSTORE link on our website -- www.loveandfire.net. God is preparing us for REVIVAL and I believe this is a must message from the heart of God. We must be operating in the works of the Father like Jesus did in order to accomplish His Kingdom work here on earth.

"Most of the Pharisees spent their lives serving God without ever discovering the Father's heart! Jesus offended these religious leaders most because He demonstrated what the Father wanted. While the Pharasees thought God was concerned about the Sabbeth, Jesus worked to help the ones the Sabbath was created for. These leaders were accustumed to the miracles of the Scriptures remaining in the past. But Jesus broke into their comfort zones by ushering the supernatural into their cities. With every miracle He showed the entire religious community the Father's business. For them to adapt, everything would have to be overhauled. It was easier to brand Him a liar, declaring His works to be of the devil and eventually killing this One who reminded them of what had to be changed." Quoted from "When Heaven Invades Earth" by Bill Johnson.

How mindful we must be of this lesson as we continue to press into God, crying out for revival in our lives and our community. We've got to put our "religiousity" to death and allow the Holy Spirit to bring life any way He desires. As leaders, we must stop steadying the "Ark" by putting our hands on it and trying to control it out of fear or some twisted sense of duty to God's Word. Instead we must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and obedient to follow Him wherever He takes us 24/7.

Continuing on with another quote from the book... "The Pharisee's error is a very easy one for us to repeat. They had no undertanding of the Father's heart. And much Christian activity exists that has no relationship to that supreme value. In this present hour we need much more than to learn how to identify our personal gifts or discover ways to be more successful in ministry. We need the Father Himself. We need His presence -- His alone. The gospel is the story of the Father wooing the hearts of mankind through His love. All the other stuff we do overflows from that discovery." Bill Johnson

"WE NEED THE FATHER HIMSELF -- WE NEED HIS PRESENCE ALONE." Everything we do for Him must be out of His heart or it is in vain. Jesus didn't waste a moment on His things, but only did that which He saw His Father do. How did He see what His Father did? He spent time with Him... in His presence... just "being" with Him... no other agenda. How else would Jesus know His Father?

If I never spent time with my son... how would he know me? That time is not always doing things, sometimes it only involves arms on each others shoulders and just smiling at each other. Resting, knowing that all is well between us and that we truly love each other and care for each other!

That's how it should be with our heavenly Father. It is in those times that we will truly know the Fathers heart... and rest assured, His heart is for people. He is in the people business and so should we be. We must be doing the works of the Father but that does not mean we no longer have to be attached to the vine. It's in the "vine-time" that we draw our nourishment that we need for the "doing-time".

God, may we realize it is not one without the other. They both are neccesary for the Kingdom to be manifested here on earth through us.


I'm going to finish out this chapter the next time I write. Have a day filled with the Works of the Father being a major part of your day... seek out such opportunities.