Hosting The Presence of God - Bill Johnson

Bill Johnson teaches on hosting the presence of God.

Jason Chin - "In My Shoes"

I saw this video that Jason Chin posted.

I liked it so much, I left a message on his Facebook wall.

Here it is:

I love the videos people like you, Todd, Pete and Thomas put out. I've really been encouraged by them. They've strengthened my faith a lot.

But when a person goes out on the streets and prays for a dozen people and no one gets healed, there are a lot of questions to be answered. And the video guys aren't usually around to answer them.

People who watch the videos get this idea that everyone is supposed to be healed every time, because that's what they see in the videos. They get a view of healing that's not really accurate.

We need leaders to show their failures, misses, mistakes, etc. I've probably posted as many failed healing stories as I've posted successes because I've had so many and I feel that people need to know it's not always going to work out the way you hope for.

Transparency in what we do is absolutely critical if we're going to be taken seriously and not seen as a bunch of delusional nut-jobs or magicians ala Chris Angel.

People not being healed is a huge part of being transparent. Yeah - it opens the discussion up to more difficult questions, but we're beginning to get some decent answers to the hard ones people ask.

Thanks for doing this. I would encourage others who make videos to do the same.

Here's a link to Jason's website; Lovesaysgo.com

Do Miracles Establish Our Identity?

After your identity in Christ is established and the miraculous life of the kingdom becomes more or less normal, at some point you'll be asked to show a stranger a miracle as evidence that you are the man (or woman) of God that you claim to be.

How do we respond to such a request?

Jesus worked miracles as part of the Father's witness to the message He carried. The miracles verified His message, not His identity. It's important to make a distinction between our message and our identity. They are not the same thing and they're not established in the same way. 

When the religious leaders demanded that He give them a sign to prove by what authority he did things, they were bringing into question His identity. He replied that they would receive no sign from Him.

Why did he refuse to show them a sign?

When His identity was questioned, He could have worked a miracle to prove who he was. When He was questioned about His identity in the wilderness, Satan asked him to turn a rock into bread as proof of His identity. But Jesus refused. He knew who He was. He didn't need to establish His identity for anyone. He knew what the Father had said of Him at His baptism. That was all the proof He needed.

When our identity is called into question, the issues we're facing are insecurity and pride. If we're insecure in who we are in Christ or if we're proud of who we are, we'll give in to the temptation to prove our identity by working a miracle. In doing so, we fall into the enemy's trap.

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Gospel of Mark says that the disciples "Went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs." (Mark 6:20)

The message we carry is to be confirmed with miracles, signs and wonders. But the miracles don't validate our identity. God establishes our identity and our identity is a matter that stays between God and us. It seems wise to avoid foolish conversations, disputes and challenges where people question our identity and demand proof of who we are by signs and miracles.

Once our true identity is established, we don’t need to be concerned with who we are, but rather who we represent. “We preach not ourselves, but Christ”. If we keep the focus on Him and not on us, the issue of our identity should never be a matter of discussion.

Agnostic + Love = Believes

Pete Cabrera releases the power and love of God on this man who was an agnostic. The encounter changed his life. Anyone can do it. Just believe God. Then go and do likewise.

Rabbit Trails

Rabbit Trail:

1. Veering off subject or off the point of the conversation.

2. A story or explanation leading no where.

3. Making statements with no real purpose just for the sake of stating them.

Example:  "Dude I just wanted you to explain how to get to Wendy's and now you're going on a rabbit trail...get to the point!"

About a week ago I transported a patient to Banner Gateway Hospital in Gilbert, Arizona. Walking to the patient's room I noticed a nurse who was limping down the hallway with an immobilizer on her foot. As we passed in the hallway I told her I wanted to have a word with her after we dropped off our patient.

After we got our patient settled in I went hunting for her. It didn't take long. I walked over and asked why she had the immobilizer on her foot. She had torn her Achilles tendon and couldn't flex her foot, which now had a permanent foot drop. The immobilizer allowed her to walk without dragging her foot on the floor.

I asked if she wanted to be healed.

She gave me a funny look.
"What do you mean healed?"
"Do you use some kind of energy healing?"

"Not exactly," I said. "I pray with people and God heals them."

That brought a smile to her face.

"I believe in God and I know He heals people." She agreed to let me pray.

I crouched down and put my hand on the immobilizer and commanded the tendon to re-attach, pain and inflammation to leave and for spirits of pain to depart in the name of Jesus. I asked what she felt.

"It kinda tingles all around my foot."

"Well, that's because God is healing you. Why don't you take the immobilizer off and try walking on it?"

"I can't. If I take it off, I'll get yelled at."

She'd seen a specialist who said there was nothing that could be done. She came to work, but had to wear the immobilizer. If a supervisor saw her walking without it, she'd have to explain why. So it was easier to leave it on. I encouraged her to trust that she was healed and take it off when she got home.

While all this was happening a small crowd of nurses had gathered in the hallway. They were curious to know more about how I did this healing. I shared a few testimonies. One woman asked if I used some kind of energy healing.

"Nope....it's all Jesus".

They wanted to know my name and how to contact me. I ran out of business cards, so I wrote my contact information on paper towels.

One of the people who saw me praying for the nurse was my partner.

A few days later at the end of our shift, he brought up the nurse and the healing encounter and asked how I got started in healing. I shared a few healing stories and told him about the dreams. Then he asked if most people stay healed or if their symptoms return. I said that most people stay healed, though some have their symptoms return. He asked if I thought he could be healed. I said he could. He said he had neck pain for three weeks that hurt whenever he turned his head. I asked if he wanted to be  healed. He said he did, so I put my hand on his neck and commanded the pain to leave. I had a sense that God would bring heat to his neck so I asked Him to increase the heat. Then I asked what he felt.

"My neck feels pretty warm."

He turned his head left, then right and his mouth dropped open.

That's totally crazy!!! I can move my head and it doesn't hurt!! It's gone!!

We celebrated his miracle. I told Him that God is always looking for people to heal because He loves us so much.

The next day we were back at Gateway Hospital. We ran into the nurse who was still wearing the immobilizer. I asked how she felt. She said that from the time we prayed, she hasn't had any pain. She has a follow up appointment with her doctor in a few days. She's expecting a good report.

A co-worker sitting next to her asked if I was the guy she'd been talking about. Apparently there was a lot of talk about healing after I left. This woman wanted to know what type of healing I did. She practices Reiki. I told her my healing comes from Jesus.

She was interested in hearing more so I shared with her some of the things God has been doing. She wanted to know if I'd pray for her to be healed. She has three bad heart valves and COPD. I knelt beside her and asked the Holy Spirit to bring His presence then commanded her heart to be healed and asked what she felt.

"It's the weirdest thing.....I feel like there are butterflies in my heart. There's this wonderful fluttering feeling. And I can see the color pink."

I told her that sometimes I see the color pink, especially when I'm praying and I say certain words, like "Life", "Healing" and "Power". I see pink lights that glow brightly, which I think is how the Holy Spirit tells me that the words I'm saying carry healing power. Not only did she feel as if her heart was being healed, but she felt like she could breathe better.

We talked about healing for about 15 minutes. I told her how to find this website and my Facebook page if she wanted to learn more. She hugged me and thanked me for praying with her. I told her I'd be back for a follow up report.

This is how God can connect you to people who need healing through the power of the testimony. When one person is healed and they testify about it, their testimony encourages others to find you if they want to be healed.

I can't said this often enough - anyone can do this. I'm not a specially gifted person. I'm just an ordinary person like you, who happens to think that God wants to heal the sick. All these stories are for your benefit. I truly believe that if you look around for people who need healing and step out in faith, God will meet their needs and make Himself known to them.

The life of Jesus in us is demonstrated clearly whenever we show mercy and compassion to strangers.

- till next time.

Miracles in Sweden

Torben Søndergaard filmed his friends as they healed the sick on the streets of Sweden.

God Doesn't Want To 'Use' You

This message was written by my friend Joel Adifon. To see the original message go here. 


The phrase 'used by God' while now commonplace in the Church and Christian circles, can often be misleading.

Many people want to be used by God in ministry or to 'do His work'. Many people are still stuck under this performance mindset in which God is seen as a taskmaster they are trying to please and if they just work hard enough or do enough or be enough, they'll earn the privilege of having Him do mighty works through them.

This desire to have God work mightily in someone's life is not prideful or sinful. It is perfectly natural. It is in fact, intrinsic to our humanness, a deep longing that God Himself has placed deep within the heart of every man and woman.

This transcendent human inclination to co-labor with one larger than ourselves goes all the way back the Eden. We, like Adam, are created to participate in God's creation, to be an integral part of what He desires to be done on the earth. But without a proper understanding of sonship, this desire to serve and work with the Creator will ultimately become warped and twisted until our identity becomes attached to our work.

Our success or lack thereof will become our measuring stick in where we feel we stand with the Father. The truth is, God does not want pawns to move around on a board. The Father wants sons and daughters to whom He can entrust the deep desires of His own heart.

Jesus wants a family of brothers and sisters with whom He can freely share His emotions. Ministry and service flow from a place of allowing one's self to be loved by God, in spite of the visible flaws or inadequacies one might see.

Let God love you for who you are and be free to be yourself before Him. As a result, you will find yourself loving people for who they are and give them freedom to be themselves before you. When this happens,

You will heal the sick because you love people and want to see them loosed from the bonds of infirmity.

You will prophesy because you love people and want to see them released into their destiny by the words of their Father.

You will raise the dead because you love people and want to see them set free from the pain that the loss of a loved one brings.

 Let God love you as you are and you won't simply be a vessel to be used for His glory, you will be a son, an heir, partnering with Him to bring freedom to a broken world.

Brisbane's Teenage God Squad

The healing power of God is hitting the streets and churches of Brisbane, Australia through young men and women like Grant Shaw, who is featured in the news story.

I plan to visit Brisbane this year to teach on healing. Perhaps I'll meet them and share more about what God is doing there.

John Mellor - Revival In Scotland

This story was taken from John Mellor's Facebook page

In 2004 I was invited to Selkirk High School in the Scottish Border regions. I was the Christian representative for their annual World Religions Day. The school was anti-Christian and wanted to give the students a taste of all world religions and cults. There were JW's Mormons, Buddists, Hindus, Rastifarians.... You name it and they were there. We all faced the hundreds of students and had 5 to 10 minutes to present our different faiths.

When my turn came I stood up and declared that "Jesus is alive!" that He was present. I began with Words of Knowledge and declared...."There's a lady teacher here with shooting pains in her lower abdomen.....if you come here now I'll pray for you and you will be healed".

Well you could've heard a pin drop!

A teacher came forward and she was instantly healed. She cried out "It's real! it's real! the pain's gone!!!

I called out about 4 other students and they were all healed. One had a sprained ankle and he ran up and down the assembly hall! I was going over my time but the teachers and students cheered me on. I told them they needed Christ in their lives and then asked for permission to pray for the whole assembly to receive Jesus.

There was an open heaven and some of the other cult and religious leaders seemed quite agitated but I pressed on. Most bowed their heads and prayed the prayer to receive Christ. Afterwards at least a hundred teachers and students raised their hands in response to this. What an awesome God!!!!

They begged me not to leave and a teacher volunteered his very large home to hold a healing outreach meeting that same night. Many were again saved and healed. They begged me to come back and I did 2 weeks later held a meeting at Hawick down the road. The newspapers came and many again were healed and saved!

The biggest Scottish Sunday newspaper did a major story of a local blind man who received his sight. I don't have room to even tell a fraction of what God did.

The world is hungry to have the resurrected Christ revealed to them!!!!!

Yes, I'd love the opportunity to face Richard Dawkins!!!

ER Testimonies From Words of Knowledge

These are testimonies from Pete Cabrera, Jose Coelho and Cameron Waage about their experiences in a hospital emergency room as they released healing to the sick from words of knowledge.

Ninety Minutes With Mary

"Help me, doctor. I don't feel good."

"I know you don't feel good, Mary. That's why we're at the hospital."

"Doctor...I'm in a lot of pain. You gotta help me."

"I'm sorry Mary. I know you're in pain."

"You don't know, doctor. You have no idea how bad it hurts."

We arrived and took our place in line behind another crew at the registration desk. As we waited in the emergency room hallway for a bed, Mary struggled to get off the gurney. In her weakened condition it was easy to resist her attempt with one hand. She quickly gave up.

I've been haunted by memories of Mary for a month now. Images of her thin, emaciated body seem forever etched in my mind. It's easy to forget most patients if you try. But not Mary. We picked her up at a mental health unit where she'd been vomiting coffee-ground emesis for two days.

Her hospital gown seemed to wrap around her gaunt frame for ever. I can't recall transporting anyone so malnourished. It wasn't just her size. It was everything.

Her eyes were dull and lifeless and she couldn't seem to focus on anything. When she spoke, her mouth barely moved. Her tongue was dry and cracked. Her lips were a sickly blue. Her matted hair looked as if it hadn't been washed in a month. Her fingers were bony with raw, cracked skin on her knuckles.

"I need to go home, honey."

"Mary, please lie on the bed and wait. They'll have a room for you soon."

"When? It's been so long. I can't wait any more."

"They'll have a bed soon."

"Honey, you gotta take me home, now. I don't feel good."

"Mary, please be patient."

"I hurt honey, real bad. My back hurts so bad. I need a pain pill."

"I'll ask the nurse to get you something for pain when they get you a bed."

The nurse's station was busy. It was shift change. I overheard one nurse tell her replacement that they'd been slammed with ambulances in the last hour and had no beds left.

When an uninvited guest comes to a party and there are no chairs left, one solution is to ignore them until someone leaves. We were the uninvited guest.

Mary's restlessness couldn't be soothed. Every few minutes she tried to get off the gurney or begged us to take her home. She was terribly confused, having no clue who we were or where she was. After a patient left the ER, the crew in front of us descended on the now vacant bed.

"Doctor.....I need a pain pill. I hurt real bad."

"I know you hurt Mary, and I'm sorry."

Closing my eyes, I laid my head on the rail of the gurney and prayed silently, commanding pain to leave. I felt absolutely useless, trapped in what seemed like a hopeless situation. "Holy Spirit, bring your peace upon her."

"You don't know, doctor. You don't know how bad I hurt. I can't stay here. I need to go home."

She tried to get off the gurney. I held her in place. Minutes seemed like hours.

A nurse came over and asked what her story was. I gave him what I had. He asked if she had an IV. I told him no. She was so dehydrated, that her veins were completely collapsed. My IV attempts failed. He brought an IV tray over to the gurney and tried to find a vein to draw blood from, but had no luck.

He was as frustrated as I was. He didn't like parking us in the hallway for an hour but there was nowhere else to put her. He had other things to take care of so he left.

I had nothing else to do but wait. After an hour in the hall, another crew arrived. It was the same crew that was waiting for a bed when we arrived.

"I need to go home, honey. I can't stay here."

"Mary, you're very sick. You need to stay in the hospital."

"No, honey....take me home. I can't stay here. My back hurts so bad."

 "I know you hurt Mary. The nurse will give you something for pain when we get you in a bed."

"You don't know. You don't know how bad it is. I need a pain pill."

Mary's cycle of confusion and my time of testing continued for another half hour until a room finally opened up. Ninety minutes after we arrived, we moved her to the bed and gave report.

I've heard of long ER waits in urban hospitals. Legend has it the wait can be as long as two or three hours. I can't imagine working in a system like that. I also can't imagine how Mary came to be in this condition living at a mental health hospital.

In just 90 minutes, Mary had the opportunity to test just about every aspect of my character. Patience, politeness, professionalism, compassion.....and my willingness to pray. I'll probably never forget her, though I wish I could.

In eternity, I'll re-live this event one more time. And I'll get a chance to see things through Mary's dull, unfocused eyes. In that day, everything will be clear and sharp. Every thought exposed. Every detail revealed. The motives and intentions of my heart laid bare.

I can't help but wonder what that will be like.

Adopting Monica

En route to the call I pulled out my phone and Googled the diagnosis we got from dispatch as my partner drove. I’d never heard of NDMA encephalopathy. Wikipedia said it’s a rare autoimmune disease, typically affecting young women, often associated with ovarian tumors. The onset is usually gradual, with altered mental status, seizures and eventually coma. The long term prognosis is good if properly diagnosed and treated.

Monica lay in bed, her facial muscles in a constant state of twitching. She was unable to respond to me. Her father and mother introduced themselves and began to tell me about her condition. Monica’s father is a paramedic instructor from a small town in Texas. They brought her to the Mayo hospital in Phoenix because it’s one of the only hospitals in the Southwest with the ability to diagnose and treat her condition.

As I shook hands with her mother, I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful necklace draped around her neck. Dangling from the necklace was a gold cross.

As people wandered in and out of the room, her nurse gave me report. From an envelope, she pulled a stack of papers that were stapled together and handed them to me.


"Here”, she said, “You need to give these to the people who will be taking care of her where she’s going”.

I asked what they were. She explained that for the past 4 months, all of her nurses in the ICU had been recording every significant event Monica had gone through. They took turns writing notes and compiled them into a journal to be kept with her during the course of her stay. As I read the notes, I smiled. They recorded all of her procedures, every seizure she had and every change in mental status.

I noticed that Monica’s finger nails were painted. It looked fresh. An attractive pink stripe pattern adorned each nail, except for the middle finger on her left hand, which was bare.

“Who did her nails?” I asked.

“We all did!” one of the nurses replied. The room had quickly filled with nurses, techs and others who wanted to see her off.

“I see you left one finger without polish…nice touch.”

“Of course....that’s for the pulse ox probe.”

Thick nail polish can impede the pulse oximitry sensor, which makes those annoying alarms go off. So it’s wise to remove the nail polish on one finger. They thought of everything. I can’t recall ever seeing a group of nurses who became so involved in the personal life of their patient. It was like they’d adopted her as a sister.

We carefully moved Monica to the gurney and got her covered and belted in for the trip. The loving people from Mayo bid her farewell as we rolled her to the elevator. Her mother was riding with us. Inside the ambulance, I handed her one of my cards and asked if I could pray for her daughter. She was overjoyed. “By all means, please do!”

I closed my eyes and placed my hand on her shoulder and declared life over her. I immediately saw in the spirit, Monica sitting up with her eyes open talking to her mother, as if nothing was wrong. I commanded sickness to leave and for her immune system to be healed. We both prayed for this lively young woman trapped in a broken body.

I told her mother what I saw and suggested that it probably indicated a good outcome. I shared with her some of the visions I’ve seen during prayer and a few of the dreams I’ve had about my patients.

She smiled and told me that the nurses at Mayo had been having dreams about Monica ever since she arrived. In the dreams, they would talk to her as if she was perfectly healthy. They believed the dreams indicated that she was able to understand everything they said, in spite of how things looked outwardly. They also believed that she would recover and have no long - term complications. The dreams were one reason why they had such a keen interest in Monica and why they treated her like a sister.

We arrived and transferred her to the bed. Her mother and I took turns giving report, but it didn’t take long. The nurses were familiar with Monica and her condition. She’d been admitted there for 8 days in February, but she became unstable and had to return to Mayo. They’d also fallen in love with her and anxiously waited for her return. As the nurses fawned over their newest patient and long lost friend, I washed my hands and quietly left the room.

I love the way that God orchestrates His plans; bringing strangers together to provide hope and healing through something as simple as a dream.

This call gave me hope for our healthcare system. It was refreshing to meet people who sincerely cared about their patient and all of her needs. I meet a lot of people who aren’t able to show genuine compassion. Because of that, many of the calls I go on don’t have a happy ending.

I seldom share those stories. I prefer to focus on the positive. Unfortunately, the sad stories far outnumber the happy ones. You don’t get a true cross section of the kind of things we see. And if I’m going to be transparent, I owe you an occasional glimpse at the darker side of the job.

The next story I’ll share will be quite different from this one.

- till then