Procure God Is Good: Hes Better Than You Think Penned By Bill Johnson Rendered As File

like Bill Johnson, he is a nice guy, I've often wanted to go to Bethel and see what it is like, I've watched numerous iBethel videos and listened to lots of their music, I've bought some of their courses, and been impacted by some of their messages, I was part of a church where the pastors traveled to Bethel once a year for a booster.
So, I come from a place of knowing something about these people, and the ministry of Bill Johnson.
That said, here's what I found in the book God is Good that probably needs stating,

Firstly, it's obvious that Christians will say that God is good, So what exactly is Bill Johnson claiming that Christians don't already know Bill helps us out on pageby talking about what he sees as the apparent “conflict” between Old and New Testaments, a conflict that he describes as a theological “nightmare”.
He speaks of people who don't agree by saying “but in all honesty, I refuse to embrace their theology.
For the most part their concept of God violates all that Jesus stood for and modeled for us to follow.
And that really is the reason behind this book, There must be a better approach, ”. Now, what I find problematic with Bill's statement, is the phrase “I refuse”, He is using his will to reject their explanation, He is not laying out a rational answer, He refuses, simply because he doesn't like something, The truth is the truth regardless of how we may or may not like it,

On page, Bill quotes Luke:about the Kingdom of God being “within you” as key to his theology.
Jesus said this to the Pharisees who were not born again, and who were his critics, Jesus is the King of the Kingdom, How could Jesus be saying that His Kingdom was within his opponents, unless the translation of that verse is that the Kingdom is “in your midst”, simply because the King was in their midst.
It seems that Jesus was saying a similar thing to what is written in John:, that the Pharisees troubled themselves too much with in depth study that they missed the point that the King was in their midst.
He's saying, “stop being so nerdy, look up from your books, behold I am in front of you.
” Some Bibles say “within”, and some say “in your midst”, It's unsafe to build a theology of the kingdom on one scripture that has a dual way of being translated.


On pageBill writes “Both the Law and the Prophets were trumped by a greater message, the Gospel of the Kingdom.
One is the prevailing message while the other is obsolete, having been fulfilled, One has Heaven's backing the other doesn't, One reveals God's purpose in this present day, defining our assignment the other does not, ” God inspired the Law and the Prophets, so Bill's statement neither makes sense, nor is it backed by scripture.
This kind of thinking implies a bipolar God, On pagewe read “When He said “It is finished” He was declaring, “The appetite of the Law and the Prophets has been satisfied once and for all! It is a new day!”.
This really is a key issue, What was finished Jesus does not say, Was this an open invitation for Bill to say that the Law and the Prophets were done away with Bipolar God changed from one pole to the other He was done with the mean God story and now, He's into the nice God story He killed His Son in order to do that Bill says “The point is the presence is the Kingdom.
It really is that simple” p, “Discovering the presence of God is discovering the Kingdom” p, Bill writes of the Law as if it is a curse, I assume that Bill believes in the Rule of Law, as do most Evangelical Christians, On pagehe says “So many believers live under the curse of the Law because of taking the wrong approach to the Old Testament”.
“The Law of Moses was but for a season” pg, So the law against murder was temporary, now it is OK to murder I doubt Bill believes that.


On pageBill writes “I had missed the primary reason for His coming, Jesus came to reveal the Father, ” While it is true that Jesus did reveal the Father, the notion that this was Jesus primary purpose, is one that comes from Bill's mind, it is Bill's interpretation.
It's very close, but it doesn't quite hit the mark, The purpose is that Jesus came to give us eternal life, and we get this by becoming born again.
I already have the nature of God in me, because I am born again, I don't need a doctrine about the revelation of the Father on the outside of me, because I have that within me, because when I was reborn, the Father put his nature in me.
I am a child of God, already, I don't need to see anything other than my need for Jesus, Once I place my faith in Him, I just need to renew my mind and think like a child of God because I already am one.


OK, so we get to some juicy bits here on page,, “Everything He said and did worked to fulfill that one

assignment reveal the Father, When I realized that simple point, it changed everything”, One example he cites is the woman caught in adultery, This is a key scripture that is abused by many in the grace movement, “In the Old Covenant, she would have been stoned to death, But this is a different season, even though the Old Covenant was still in play, as the blood of Jesus had not been shed yet”.
Alright, so Bill is saying that He did not fulfill the Law, which required her stoning, Jesus sinned No. These grace people mess this passage up, The reason why Jesus cannot condemn her in that trial, is that both the adulterer and adulteress are not present.
Both have to be stoned, by the parties defined by the Law, The defined parties are also guilty, It's a mistrial, and the case collapses, Jesus cannot legally proceed. He doesn't excuse her, he does point out her sin, as Bill states, However, Jesus is not working around the Law by grace as Bill and other grace preachers allege,

In conclusion, what Bill does, is common to grace preachers, They set up this picture of Jesus who is the nice guy, letting off adultery, and skipping the nasty law.
Scripture actually portrays Jesus as a tough customer, just read Matthew, The Law is replaced with Mr Nice guy, Bill is a nice guy, However, I think God is Holy above all, not Good above all, Yes He is good, but His primary attribute is Holiness, He has absolutely no sin, and with the New Testament, the requirements just got stiffer, not lenient, The danger of this grace teaching is a rude awakening one day, Be careful.

Finally, the subtitle "He's better than you think", How does Bill know what I think What I do think is that this particular teaching is misleading and dangerous.
Hence the one star. I read some of the previous reviews and was sold, until I started reading the book, Talk about an anti climax, just another book telling you how God affected this man's life, The font was off putting as well, Then I turned to the back cover and discovered this man is a 'senior leader of Bethel Church, he interprets the Bible in the way he sees fit.
Another one for the recycling bag, God is better than we think so its time to change the way we think about Him, God is good. More than a positive thought, theological concept or Biblical statementwhat you do with these three words defines your reality and determines your destiny.
In a world of fear, disease, crisis, torment, uncertainty, and hopelessness, what you believe about Gods goodness reveals how you will respond to the trials and circumstances of everyday life.
Your view of God impacts everything!Respected pastor and bestselling author, Bill Johnson presents a new groundbreaking series that calls believers to build their lives on one unshakeable foundation: the assurance that God is good.
Learn how to:clearly discern the difference between the will of God and the enemys plans, confidently pray for breakthrough, believe for miracles, and have faith for God to move, no matter what comes against you.
find rest in Gods unchanging character and embrace the value of mystery even when prayers arent immediately answered.
discover Gods goodness in both Old and New Testaments, encounter Jesus Christ as perfect theologythe One Who reveals a good Father, partner with Heaven to release supernatural solutions to a world in chaos, Build your life on the solid foundation of Gods goodness and experience new realms of supernatural thinking that bring Heaven to Earth, changing the atmosphere around you! Very encouraging and certainly makes one think
Bill Johnson is an excellent communicator and I really enjoy listening to him.
He writes as he speaks There is a complete study to this book with videos, The study was so fantastic, I bought the books and gave them as gifts, My daughter loved it! Bill helps readers understand the nature of Gods goodness which is good all the time.
If its not good, its not God, Bad stuff results when the devils been allowed to get in, Thats my simplified explanation! The concepts Bill presents are really revolutionary, Reading this book I realized I open the door to the devil when I choose rebellion have my own way.
Its helped me become accountable for my choices, And, making God choices, Im experiencing Gods wonderful goodness in my life, Write your review here There are hidden depths to be discovered in this book, I thought I knew how and what he would write, Wrong. I didn't. I was pleasantly surprised. Excellent. Bought it hardback because it was cheaper!
A great book, may buy a second copy! We need to know this truth, and Brother Bill pours out the truth of God's goodness, here.
One of the things I have felt strongly about is that in the days we live in, there will be an intensified war over the subject of the goodness of God.
Those outside the church will question his goodness outright, while many within the body of Christ will question God's goodness in subtle ways.


Many Christians have hit deep disappoints, so messages that help point us back to the divine goodness of our Father is incredibly important.
This book has many nuggets that cause me to underline them and ponder them over and over, Bill has great perspectives that make you think and rethink,

I wish at times that Bill Johnson would dig into some of the difficult Scriptures that people get confused with, like the book of Job, but it's clear that dissecting those subjects in a deep manner is not what forms his unique identity and calling.
In addition, his simplicity on how he sees things can be very refreshing, I am learning and that knowledge can just puff us up if its not connected to heart experience.
In addition, our desire for depth in theology can remove a child like faith that embraces mystery but pursues relentlessly.


I appreciate Bill's focus to trust no matter what and keep his eyes fixed on God's goodness.
It is an example for all of us,

This book will challenge those who do not think healing is for today or those who have given up on growing in healing.
It is certainly a challenge to live a life that believes in the miraculous, But it must have a premise that lives in the eternal goodness of our Father,

Here are some thoughts that I highlighted and am pondering:

Saying God allowed a terrible thing to happen is pretty much the same as saying He caused it.

It's not the belief in His goodness that threatens us, It's our definition of this goodness that has brought much debate and sometimes conflict and turmoil into the family of God.
p.
Creating doctrines of no miracles today not only contradicts His Word, it is a sneaky way to avoid responsibility.
p.
His brief teaching on Ephesians:is insightful on the power of our prayers and the impact of our imagination in relating to God.

We will know our mind is renewed when the impossible looks logical, p.
I was challenged when he addressed how the church pushes most great promises in Scripture to the millennium, removing us from experiencing great manifestations of the kingdom right now.

God's people are to be known for their hope, p.
The one with the most hope will always have the most influence, p.
Speaking to today's culture, he says, unsanctified mercy has taken the place of true mercy, p.
The church experiencing many parallels that Israel faced in the dessert was very spot on,
One of the best quotes I pull from this book is one that resonates with my heart to see God restore our relationship capacity in the church:

It's a Father's kingdom.
In other words, all conversation about kingdom is about family, And once we've left the subject of family, we've left the subject of kingdom, p.

More insights:

It's a theological crime to change the intent and message of the Scriptures in order to make me feel comfortable with my ministry experience.
p.
What we don't know is sometimes as important as what we do know, p.
Bill Johnson mentions his father getting cancer and passing away, a story that brings me to tears every time I read or hear it.
How Bill and the rest of his family responded to that sickness and loss is an incredible testimony of engaging God's goodness in the midst of it being challenged in what you see.


I've been challenged to my core regarding the goodness of God, in many situations and trials that have come in my life.
Some challenges have gripped me so deep I wasn't sure I could make it, But leaning deeply into the simplicity that God is good and the devil is bad, has anchored me to a deeper trust.
I don't blame Him or claim Him in regard to the storms in my life, but I look to use everything that happens in my life for God's glory.
I appreciate that Bill is living a life that dwells in God's goodness, takes responsibility to spread that goodness, while undoing the works of the devil all around the world.
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