Review-Book Report of Hosting the Presence by Bill Johnson

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Review/Book Report of Hosting the Presence by Bill Johnson Get on Amazon

1. Briefly write what the whole book is about and why the author has written it. (Imagine the author will read this and would say, “Yes, this is the main point of my book and the problem I wanted to fix.”)

Bill Johnson says it best, “Our true nature and personality will never come to fullness apart from His manifest Presence. Learning to host Him is at the center of our assignment, and it must be our focus so that we can have the success He desires before Jesus returns.” (p. 28). This book was written because many people are striving for significance through our works (religion) but losing our purpose (intimacy). 

The Church needs a fresh revelation of God’s goodness - the Good News needs to be a revelation of God’s goodness and as we host His presence miracles attach themselves. If everyone hosted His Presence, there would be a corporate anointing, unity would be seen in the church, His people would be known for being free in love, honor, and power. Jesus needs to be our prototype example of how we are 

to minister in this Kingdom now.

2.   Briefly outline the major points of the book as the author presents them.

Introduction:  

1. Thesis: Learning to host Him is at the center of our assignment, and it must be our focus so that we can have the success He desires before Jesus returns. 
2. Intimate friendship with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Adam willfully gave Satan domain by choosing to eat of the tree which resulted in the Fall of Man. Fear entered a land of intimate love. Jesus willfully  took back the King’s domain by willfully climbing the tree of condemnation and giving the keys to the kingdom to His people. This resulted in the Presence of God to return to the Earth as Heaven invades with our partnership to host His presence.

Anticipating the Coming Kingdom:

1. Moses goes face to face with God in Ex. 33 and glows. The people asked him to put a veil on his head because they couldn’t handle his reflection. 
2. Saul is anointed king and fails to host the Presence of God. 
3. David teaches Israel how worship hosts the presence. Gideon is a model of when we are less, we make room for God to do more.

The Perfect Prototype

1. Jesus is baptized and the Holy Spirit descends as a visible dove. 
2. Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come on them - the kingdom rushes to earth as an invisible wind. This is the climax of God’s story as Heaven invades earth.
3. All the sinlessness and righteousness of Jesus is now available to followers of Jesus. As a dove is pure white, so we are to be holy. Our holiness becomes our identity as we delight in the One who is holy. 
4. We release his Presence through the Word, acts of faith, prophetic acts, touch, compassion and worship. 
5. We discover His presence as we fully trust, deeply repent, speak in tongues, incorporate creativity/obedience into our prayer-life, balance prayer to worship 80% worship to 20% intercession, and read the Word for pleasure and more of His presence.

1. Thoughtfully explain at least 2 main strengths (or points of agreement) with the author AND at least 2 weaknesses (or points of disagreement) with the author.

Strengths:

1. The Big Picture is presented very well. I appreciate how the book started in Genesis, wove its way through the Old Testament, narrowed in on Jesus and the disciples, and gave examples of the last 100 years. If Hosting the Presence is the #1 purpose for us on earth, then it needs the support of the Bible and history. 
2. The theology is refreshing. I often read through Scripture with the aim of completing the task of evangelism to every unreached people group (All Nations). Reading through Hosting the Presence and seeing the focus of restoring lost intimacy as the focus of our purpose and from that All the Nations will come running to the Presence is so refreshing.

Weaknesses:

1. More context for understanding Jesus as a boy being sought out would help. This is a difficult text to understand, but it would help the reader to know that a 12 year old was just months from being considered an adult. It would also help to see that Jesus did take up his Father’s trade as a carpenter and did honor is parents through that choice of working the trade for some 17 years. 
2. More stories from Bill Johnson would be well received! Releasing His Presence through the “Shadow” (p. 166) could have included the story shared in BSSM of the lady at a gas station who couldn’t stop laughing or the time Bill Johnson was buying a cell phone and the person near him fell over because of the Presence.

4.   In what way did this book impact your life as a revivalist?  How will you be different?

This is a book I will treasure and re-read during the next few months. There are a lot of practical steps I want to take and incorporate into my life. 

First, I want to study Acts 2 - I agree this is the anointing that we has been promised. This is THE Kingdom we the prophets spoke about coming to not just the Promise Land but to All Nations!

Second, I want to tattoo WIFD (What is Father Doing) on my heart. I want the brainy agreement to lead me to spend time in the Word and in conversational prayer with our Father in anticipation he will speak to me daily. 

Third, I plan to daily start my Jewish day waiting for His Presence before I go to sleep — inviting Him into my dreams and partnering with Him ALL day long.

Fourth, I will read the Word for enjoyment - definitely not to just complete an assignment. I will expect the Father to speak to me daily.

Last, I want to study the lives of revivalists to look for examples of how they invited and manifest His Presence. I will look for audio books of revivalists that I can listen too when I walk to class.

I think I will be different because I struggle with first things first. I am busy doing good works, but not prioritizing my relationship with the Father. This will change.