Glory to Glory - Bill Johnson of www.iBethel.org www.BillJohnsonMinistries.com
 
Disk 1 of 4 - Longevity
Most kings in the OT started poorly and ended poorly. Some did things correctly, but then stopped. Hezekiah was one of the greatest revivalist, compared even to David, the greatest of Israel's kings. Yes Hezekiah ended poorly; caught up in his own blessing (showing the enemy [Babylonians] the secret place of God's blessing; showed them the treasury 2 Kings 20:15 The prophet asked, "What did they see in your palace?" "They saw everything in my palace," Hezekiah said. "There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them."). The prophet came to him and said you really blew it, but the judgment is not going to come upon you, but your children. Hezekiah rejoiced because it wouldn't be in his lifetime. Something strange happened in him to cause him to lose sight of his responsibility for succeeding generations. Throughout this word is the opportunity to repent. He could have interceded and didn't. The king should have known that decisions today affect generations away. Proverbs says a righteous man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. Too many of us have adjusted our lifestyle for the return of Christ. We then stop our military occupation of the enemy’s territory. The Lord will give us a place to occupy, not to hold, but to occupy for the purpose of advancement (one talent buried). The moment you quit advancing, you decline, and lose what you have. The safest place in the Kingdom is being positioned for advancement; responsible to whatever God has given us charge. Increasing revival is His intention (doesn't want it to stop; seasons - no). Of the increase of His government, there will be no end. God never intended the move of God to ever end.

No revival has ever accelerated into the second generation. Two exceptions: David and Solomon. Solomon really blew it at the end of his life; cost Israel 300 years to recover from his sins (allowed false gods to come into the nation thru marriages with foreign wives [wrong alliances] to have peace with other nations). There are times when wonderful people who have accelerated so much in favor that they moved into ungodly alliances because of that favor. One example of an acceleration of the move of God is when David passed the baton to Solomon. Solomon (inherited) received the (mantle) acceleration from David, and took it to the next level. Solomon initially demonstrated a humility that disregarded personal fame, gain, favor, that he could have asked for when God showed up - he chose wisdom, that creative mind of God, to be able to sort out stuff, to bring divine order into a kingdom, that would allow them to be a people of safety, blessing and prosperity. He actually sought for the kingdom first. He illustrated what it was to 'seek first the Kingdom'. Kings were the OT example of the NT apostolic office. Kings were such an abusive position in the OT. Some claim that God never intended Israel to have a king, but that's not true. The fact that God was disappointed when Israel demanded a king was only because it was not the right season (when Saul was selected), because there was not a man prepared, groomed, for the office. God had to choose the best available even though he had not been groomed for the position. When the weight of responsibility came upon Saul he crumbled. The mettle of his life was not yet tested. He had zeal, a righteous indignation when the name of God was blasphemed. He had his issues, but he started out right. When God spoke to Abraham he said there would be kings in his descendants. God defined a king as the servant of all; the apostle the least of all. The King would be the one to use his position of favor, his access to resource, military, to create a safe place for his people to prosper, exist in divine health, the living temple of God to inhabit. They were to be an example of what God could do for a nation of the world. The king and prophet were the foundation of Israel's life. David prospered as king (with the prophets Nathan and Gad). This was an OT prophetic picture of New Testament government. The thing that kept David in humility in righteous leadership is that he had a heart for the Presence of God. David went to get the Ark of the Covenant (they had been missing the Presence of God for some time, because the Philistines had stolen the Ark). The men of the Philistines contracted tumors/hemorrhoids because of the Ark (The presence of the Lord, which is a blessing for you, irritates everyone else [in very secret ways, ha]). In Israel, during Saul's days, they had no real regard for the Presence of God. David did (Psalms 132 story) and he found the Ark, and began to bring it back. David placed it on an ox cart (which is what the Philistines used). The Presence of the Lord (Ark) was never to be placed on vehicles that man made. It was always to rest on the shoulders of God's priest. The Philistines got away with it, but the people of God will never get away with what the Philistines get away with. When model our procedures after Wall Street, we get the judgment of the Lord. We don't follow the world system's approach to how life is supposed to function. When the Church takes its lead from the systems of this world, we set ourselves up for the loss of life. The ox cart stumbles (2 Samuel 6:6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. 9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?" 10 He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household. David could stand it no longer. God will provoke you to righteous jealousy, so that you finally make some smart decisions. David went back to the instruction manual, which is always a good idea, and he found in Scripture that you don't place the Ark on an ox cart, but on the shoulders of priests. (1 Chronicles 15:13 It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way." 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.) David's heart after the Presence of the Lord made the difference. People, who want to do things for God, are usually willing to take risks that God will not bless. People, who start businesses to make money to give into the Kingdom, will generally make decisions that are unwise, hoping God will bless them, because it's for the Kingdom. God doesn't need your money. Start a business because it's whom you are and it gives you a chance to step in and express the grace that's on your life. In that you will excel, and God always marks excellence with blessing. You will then have what you need to give to the Kingdom. Make your primary focus, initially, to honestly express the grace of God that's on your life. People, who try to do things for God, generally make unwise decisions because their heart was right. Sincerity works part of the time, but when you're drinking poison, even if you think it's Kool Aid, it's not blessable. You can be sincerer as possible, drink it, you will die. Sincerity doesn't keep you alive. The goal of the believer is not to do things for God, but to do things with God. Find out what He is doing; do it.

Bill (pastor over 30 yrs; senior 27 yrs) has been on a quest to find these principles of longevity. Why did some kings make, and others didn't? Some pastors today don't carry the torch any longer. Bill wants to sustain the fire; not to keep things the way it is, but to fuel it for the purpose of increase. In NT: Peter went from foot-mouth disease, to the Anointing. John 20 born again. Let me give you the milestones or the timeline in Acts to help us understand things: Acts 5 is about 5 years after Pentecost; chapter 10 coincidentally about 10 years later, Ch. 20 twenty years. As you look at the unfolding events understand they didn't happen in one week. We see in Acts hurdles the Church overcame, over time. And every time they overcame a hurdle, passed a test, they entered into a new realm of Anointing, and an increase in revival. Acts 2 was a great start, but Acts 8-10 was superior; an acceleration. Acts 8 Saul is converted and becomes Paul (5-10 years after Pentecost). It was about 13 years after Paul's conversion that he entered into his ministry. We're talking about another generation. There are patterns in Acts that provide strategy, wise insight, as to how we position ourselves for the increase. There are Sauls being converted today. E.G. Todd Bentley is very gifted - the anointing on his life is just getting plain scary. Some of the miracles that happen on a normal basis for that guy are just amazing. Twisted cripples get healed. Todd is a modern day example of a Saul conversion. Saul was a religious leader, but Todd was heavy into sin, prison, drug addictions, etc., God sovereignly visits him and transforms his life. What happened in the first 100 years of church history, is supposed to be multiplied in the millions in the Last Days of church history. Paul was the prototype of what was to become the norm in the Last Days. Advancement, increase, advancement, increase ... 

The way you sustain a move of God is that after testing, refine your focus and increase the power. Acts 1 - you're going no where until you get what I promised; what is it, you'll know it when you get it Acts 2 - 120 people told to go somewhere and pray until they got - to pursue the unknown; didn't know what it would look like until it came. When they got it, Peter said this is that. Peter, the guy who had denied Christ only days earlier, preached boldly. Observers said this guy has been with Jesus (that's our goal). Be happy - you're destined to be happy. They ate their food with gladness ... the Lord added to their church daily. Looking for a domino effect around us - in our town. Is it affecting society around us? Is it awakening those who have no church connection? Acts 2 is the first wave of fruit. Acts 3 Peter and John heals lame man. Look at us - Peter wanted him to look at him. I can't explain it, but there are times when I can look in someone's eyes, and I know they will be healed (even sometimes on the other side of the room). There is something that rests on the person. When I see it, I jump all over that. I think Peter is looking for that thing here. You can find need everywhere looking for the realm of possibility. This one was positioned for the miracle somehow. I'll position that person in the aisle, and if I can just get them to act - take an action, jump, push your injured arm against the wall - take some course of action - usually healed before they do anything. Walking because the guy was physically healed, leaping because he was emotionally healed, and praising God because he was spiritually healed (Jesus' One-Step Program). Strained tension between two realities. The more you become aware of the hand of God on your life, the more you will recognize you are a source of grace for someone else. Look at me - they'll look away, full of shame, guilt, don't believe they can be healed. Every surgeon have turned down this 80 year old lady because of the intense pain - I said, Jesus will take your case. Look at me - Jesus will take your case. It's not an egotistical thing - you don't want ever to be the point of focus, but there are times where you are the delivery boy. Now to look at me. Once the miracle takes place, quit looking at me, all I did was deliver a package Somebody else paid for. The result of this miraculous healing is persecution. Power is released and it brings opposition. They don't mind you feeding the poor, giving clothes to the poor, sending aide, these are all things people will applaud you for doing. And we must do them, and I love doing them. But as soon as you operate in power, you have drawn a line in the sand, and intentionally, or unintentionally, you have forced people to make a decision. Because now they cannot exist without a conclusion. If they admit it is God, then they are obligated to surrender. If they will not admit it's God, then they are obligated to fight against you, because you are a conviction to them (and when resisting, it's uncomfortable). Now the religious system is scrutinizing their respected leaders, and the Church is nervous. Jesus said go into the entire world and preach the gospel, and no one has gone anywhere (still in Jerusalem and it's getting hot and heavy in Jerusalem). Acts 3 - starting to get some flack. Acts 4 arrested and threatened, and commanded not to speak. Peter spoke boldly and said they had to obey God, not them. Peter and John just intensified their focus - they had a chance to water it down. On the other side of this hurdle, is another breakthrough in the realm of power. In church history, whenever there has been an outbreak of the Spirit, such as laughter, falling, shaking, healing, deliverance (maybe all the above), people start talking. People start putting pressure on them; families are divided over the issues, start going to other churches, start spreading rumors (at Bill's church, someone called the denominational headquarters every day for a year; note - Bethel Church voted to withdraw from under the AG authority last year to criticize and complain). There are strategies groups form to stop this movement, because it's outside how they understand God to operate. Acts 4:29 After the threats, Peter and John refined their focus, increased in boldness, and ended up with greater power, more fruit - this process occurs all thru Acts. Peter prays we're getting attacked because of your display of power, so increase our boldness. The temptation has always been to water down, so that we don't become offensive (keep enough of the authentic so that we feel good about what we're doing). Greater boldness releases greater power. Acts 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Peter had already been complimented earlier for boldness, and now he is asking for more. Ok God, time to take it to another level. You've heard it said, higher level, more devils. I want you to know there is a level where there are no devils, because you're above the snakeline. There is a point on a mountain where snakes can go no higher. We could careless about the devil's strategies. Acts 4:31, the place where they prayed was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (again). Give us boldness, so they we will extend our hand to heal. They experienced a one-house earthquake.

Acts 5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."  Big, pricey part of the move of God: The more God manifests Himself, the more exacting He is of us when there is sin. There are things you can get away with in Acts 1 that you die for in Acts 5. The environment sets the standard. The greater the manifestation of His presence, the more immediate His response is to things out of order. To err in this kind of Presence (in OT in desert, and in Acts), is to do so in deliberate rebellion to deviate from the will of God (His will and Presence was so obvious). This is a frightening story. Great fear fell on all - YA! If I'm Peter, I would probably warn the wife what just happened to her husband. There is an unholy compassion that perpetuates a lifestyle of sin. This is a major test for the Apostles who were setting a course for this mass of people (tens of thousands of believers). Peter did a most difficult thing in not warning her, and then watches the Lord take her life. There was not an ounce of pleasure in anyone's heart in that room. This hurdle is one of the most difficult ones to cross - the hurdle of unholy alliances unholy compassion. Bill has watched unholy compassion come to the believer that has sinned in the church, giving them a support system that isolates/insulates them from leadership who is trying to bring them to repentance. It's almost impossible for a leader to bring correction to another believer who is surrounded by other believers that are insulting them from the dealings of God. If a leader can pass over this hurdle of unholy alliances thru unholy compassion, they will step into a realm of anointing that is absolutely unprecedented. Acts 5:12 Verse 13 persecution: the people were afraid to attack. These are progressive steps into revival, some 5 years later than Pentecost. When they came to this church, they came to surrender. Believers 'increasing added' ... incredible breakthrough. Peter's shadow healed - Jesus never even did that one. Acts 5:15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.  ALL HEALED - What do you get on the other side of the hurdle of unholy compassion (note: people who justify homosexuality today is a good example) - you not only get increasing numbers holding the church in high esteem, you have a breakthrough in miracles where ALL are healed. The question is not what does God want to do on the earth. The question is who will align himself to His heart so closely, that He can trust to them the measure He desires to release. Who will carry God's will? Only character and extreme faith can carry what God intends to do.

Acts 6 - first sign of internal problems, and it came from the blessing of the Lord. Every single wave of tests, new circumstances that came their way, provided an opportunity for an acceleration in the move of God, or a setback (demotion). When the complaint arose, they delegated menial tasks. Apostles continued in prayer and ministry of the Word (refining of the focus). Bill used an example of a sniper, who said, if you restrict your view, it's amazing how much you can see. Bill: When you refine your focus, it's amazing the amount of detail in life that becomes clear to you. You see more when you refuse to be distracted. Three areas of distraction: devil will distract you (with the world for young believers); I may no longer be tempted to rob a bank, but I will get impatient, and talk myself into believing something is of the Lord, when it's not. I'm learning to discern the desire that have been approved by God, and those that haven't. They compete for our affections and time. God, you said I could have what I ask for, carte blanche He approves all the desires of my heart, but soon He will prune us. The hardest distractions of all the ones God sends (good distractions). Bill, I want double your anointing, and I say, so do I. I can't give twice what I have. Elisha was to watch Elijah when he was taken. God sends a chariot of fire between them. Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind. The chariot of fire was the distraction, the test. People can excel in the prophetic, be a person of God even when distracted by the chariot of fire, but no believer can carry the double portion anointing if he is distracted from his assignment by the God-sent blessings. The mantle of Elijah had to go up, so that it could pick up the double portion of the Lord, so that when it came down, Elisha could pick it up with the blessing of the Lord. Distractions are from the devil (persecution), our own desires (Ananias and Sapphira), and the blessings of God (Elisha, watch the man of God when he is taken). God-sent distraction - another sign to make you wonder. You can justify it easily - I just wanted to give praise to what He is doing. No problem, you're just not ready for what you've asked for. Look at the fruit: Acts 6:7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Addition, increasing addition, multiplication. Every hurdle is an access into another realm of God, but it will cost.

Next hurdle: Stephen (one of the deacons; went from serving meat to great miracles). New level of persecution beyond threats, then beatings, now we want to kill you. Boldness goes for the jugler, and sometimes going for the jugular causes you to lose your head. Before Stephen dies, he says that he sees the Son of God, STANDING at the right hand of God. All other verses say Jesus was seated at the right hand of God. In this moment, for the first martyr of the Church, Jesus stood up off His chair to welcome home the first to shed his blood for the faith. The Lord doesn't cause persecution, but He causes power and holiness that attracts it. 1 Timothy 2 is a strategy to stop persecution - pray for your leaders. Acts 9:31 - all the churches had peace. The multiplication had started to have an effective on society. It had an effect on those who didn't serve God, almost 10 years after Pentecost. Refine their focus; increase their boldness, greater demonstrations of power, fruit that remains (cities transformed). Verse 31 transformed cities, and they multiplied and multiplied.

Highlights:
Increasing revival is His intention (doesn't want it to stop; seasons - no). Of the increase of His government, there will be no end. God never intended the move of God to ever end.
There are times when wonderful people who have accelerated so much in favor that they moved into ungodly alliances because of that favor.
The presence of the Lord, which is a blessing for you, irritates everyone else. 
The Presence of the Lord (Ark) was never to be placed on vehicles that man made. The Philistines got away with carrying the Ark on an ox cart, but the people of God will never get away with what the Philistines get away with.
When the Church takes its lead from the systems of this world, we set ourselves up for the loss of life.
God will provoke you to righteous jealousy, so that you finally make some smart decisions. David went back to the instruction manual ...
People, who want to do things for God, are usually willing to take risks that God will not bless. People, who start businesses to make money to give into the Kingdom, will generally make decisions that are unwise, hoping God will bless them, because it's for the Kingdom. God doesn't need your money.
The goal of the believer is not to do things for God, but to do things with God.
There are patterns in Acts that provide strategy, wise insight, as to how we position ourselves for the increase.
What happened in the first 100 years of church history, is supposed to be multiplied in the millions in the Last Days of church history.
Paul was the prototype of what was to become the norm in the Last Days.
The way you sustain a move of God is that after testing, refine your focus and increase the power.
The more you become aware of the hand of God on your life, the more you will recognize you are a source of grace for someone else.
You don't want ever to be the point of focus, but there are times where you are the delivery boy, and they have to look at you and believe what you say. Once the miracle takes place, quit looking at me, all I did was deliver a package Somebody else paid for.
But as soon as you operate in power, you have drawn a line in the sand, and intentionally, or unintentionally, you have forced people to make a decision. Because now they cannot exist without a conclusion. Acts 4:29 Peter and John refined their focus, increased in boldness, and ended up with greater power, more fruit - this process occurs all thru Acts. 
The temptation has always been to water down, so that we don't become offensive (keep enough of the authentic so that we feel good about what we're doing).
You've heard it said, higher level, more devils. I want you to know there is a level where there are no devils, because you're above the snakeline.
Acts 4:29 response to persecution: Greater boldness releases greater power.
The more God manifests Himself, the more exacting He is of us when there is sin.
There is an unholy compassion that perpetuates a lifestyle of sin. Acts 5: This hurdle is one of the most difficult ones to cross - the hurdle of unholy alliances unholy compassion (like those today who would justify homosexuality).
The question is not what does God want to do on the earth. The question is who will align himself to His heart so closely, that He can trust to them the measure He desires to release.
Every single wave of tests, new circumstances that came their way, provided an opportunity for an acceleration in the move of God, or a setback.
You see more when you refuse to be distracted.
People can excel in the prophetic, be a person of God even when distracted by the chariot of fire, but no believer can carry the double portion anointing if he is distracted from his assignment by the God-sent blessings.
Refine their focus; increase their boldness, greater demonstrations of power, fruit that remains.