The Way of Life by Bill Johnson

Author:Bill Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780768451405
Publisher: Destiny Image, Inc.

Chapter Eleven

FRIENDS BUILD WITH ETERNITY IN MIND

One of the strongest ways of illustrating and releasing the culture of His world into ours is by how we do relationships. Jesus said they will know of our faith in Christ by our love for each other. Listen to those words: They will know. One of the most profound tools of evangelism ever is this simple truth. Love each other well. Not only does it bring strength to one another and glorify God, it draws people to Christ. Could it be any clearer? I don’t think so. The impact we are to have on revealing the culture of Heaven is in part by how we love and serve each other.

Relationships done well also attract the presence of God. He said He would be with the two or three gathered in His name. In attracting His presence, we automatically attract the reality of His world into our environment. They are inseparable. This is, in part, a fulfillment of the commission we have to see His Kingdom come.

A wonderful African proverb comes to mind in light of this subject: “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to far, go together.” That is so true. It is common to see short spurts of success and breakthrough throughout the Church. These successes are often accomplished by individuals who have good hearts, great faith, and exciting zeal. But the breakthroughs often don’t last, because there is no community on board to sustain them. They went fast, but they weren’t able to go far. Our successes in life, in many ways, depend on community. People loving people. My approach is this: If the vision for my life doesn’t require the help of others, it’s too small of a vision.

All Kingdom realities are realized and sustained through family. The Scripture says, “Our Father…for yours is the kingdom” (Matt. 6:9-13). Any time we leave the concept of family, we’ve left the subject of Kingdom. The family of God is His target, and that family is community. And by implication, they are in fellowship with one another, which is communing. Fellowship is the exchange of life, one member to another. We need each other to become all that God intended.

The reality is that we cannot get to where God wants us to go on our own. Sometimes He will not even speak to us about a matter. It’s not punishment. God is not giving us the cold shoulder or the silent treatment. Sometimes He wants us to rediscover what He has already spoken to us. But then there are times when we are to learn to receive from another member of the Body of Christ. He is emphasizing that we are members of one body. Consider David, who wanted to build a temple for God. In Acts 2 David is called a prophet, so that only adds to our understanding that he hears from God brilliantly. But God wouldn’t give him any direction for this dream that was in his heart.

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