|
Forward
The Reformation isn’t over! There are still “Luther”
types in pivotal places in Christ’s Body, calling us all to welcome the
restoration of “the faith once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).
Pastor Joey Johnson is one of these honest-to-God souls who is willing
to pay the price for speaking aloud—for nailing “theses” into the door
of the Church at large—messages that stir us to think biblically and
clearly about what makes the Church truly “The Church.” Every century
since Luther’s time, increased recoveries
of NT vitality-released-through-Truth have occurred.
From the earliest Reformers’ recovery (a) of the great foundational
truth of “Justification by Faith—Alone,” through recovering the Church’s
sense (b) of global mission, (c) of the believer’s call to practical
sanctification, (d) of our call to evangelistic passion, (e) of our
assignment to bold prayer for
revival (with expectancy), and unto the recovery (f) of a balanced sense
of passion for the invigorating, overflowing work of the Holy Spirit of
power immersing God’s people for witness, works and ministry—the
Reformation continues!Now, in Century 21, more and more voices from
every sector of the Church are being emboldened to speak out on the need
for fresh fire from on high—for a full-orbed openness to the Holy
Spirit’s working, gifting
and empowering at every dimension of faith and life
certified in the New Testament. Traditions born of fear and
interpretations begotten either in prejudice or by tunnel-visioned
approaches to God’s Word are being laid aside. Fresh breezes spreading
fresh fire unto the blessing
of multitudes and the salvation of souls all over the
world: evangelism and church health follows in the wake of the pure,
unrestricted works of God the Spirit.I first met Bishop Johnson when he
joined me in one of my mentoring weeks—(45 pastors at a time, one full
week—over 2500 participants have joined me over the past few years,
representing more than 50 denominations).
I found a brilliant scholar, a passionate, historic
evangelical, and a budding revivalist—willing to risk reputation by
confronting tradition. I honor this man, not because of his boldness
alone—I most honor his balanced pursuit of the Holy Spirit’s renewing,
empowering work in his life and in his congregation’s ministry. He is no
iconoclast, but neither is he without the will to confront encrusted
habits of
5Foreword thought or
traditions of man. And here, in this book on the Holy Spirit, this
devoted shepherd to the Flock of God sets forward a forthright call to
all of us—call to “wade in the water;” to answer Ezekiel’s inherent call
to all who will respond to the ever-spreading, ever-deepening stream of
the Spirit flowing from heaven (Ezek. 47).Take time here. But most of
all, open you heart—indeed,
lift it up with open hands, invoking the Holy Spirit’s
freshness in your heart.He—the Holy Spirit—is endlessly creative. And
there’s a strong starting place outlined here, in describing eight ways
He is ready and willing to work among us and through us all.
Jack W. Hayford, Chancellor
The King’s Seminary
Los Angeles, California
From Denomination to
Reformation:
An Introduction to Biblecostalism™
|
