BILL JOHNSON, MIRACLES, AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES

 

 

Miracles cannot serve as our ultimate authority, the basis of what we believe, since Satan can also perform miracles:

 

·       The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10; Revelation 13:14)

 

·       For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24; 1 John 5:19; 2 Timothy 2:24-26)

 

·       …Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:14–15)

 

The power of suggestion and deception can also produce miracle-like signs. Israel had been warned against allowing signs and wonders to reign over the Word of God:

 

·       “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 13:1–5)

 

Even if someone performs miracles and claims to be God’s prophet, his prophecies must always accurately predict what will happen:

 

·       But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:20–22)

 

However, Bill Johnson, lead pastor of Bethel Church and “apostle,” wrote that this no longer applies:

 

·       Many think that a false prophet is uncovered when a prophetic word is inaccurate, but that is not necessarily true. Study the prophecies of Agabus in the book of Acts. He was a true prophet of God, as acknowledged by the Holy Spirit, but not all the details of his word to Paul were accurate.” (Johnson, Bill. Experience the Impossible: Simple Ways to Unleash Heaven’s Power on Earth, Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition, p. 40).

 

However, many have studied the prophecies of Agabus without finding error. In contrast to Johnson, we are taught to abide in the Word of God above all else. Therefore, it is unthinkable that a so-called prophet of God might ever be mistaken. Instead, the Word of God must be completely authoritative. It must judge all “truth” claims:

 

·       For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4–5)

 

·       If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:10–11; 14:21-24)

 

·       But [Jesus] answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4; 5:17-19; 1 Corinthians 4:6: Isaiah 8:19-20)

 

If Jesus lived by every Word of the Father—the Scriptures—so must we! However, many deceivers are today indirectly claiming that their signs, wonders, and prophecies should be regarded as more authoritative than the Scriptures. Johnson proclaimed:

·       We owe the world the miraculous because, in many ways, it is the clearest illustration of God’s love for humanity.

 

Instead, the Scriptures declare that the clearest illustration of God’s love is the Cross of Christ:

 

·       but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:8–10; John 12:23-25)

 

Johnson justifies his teaching by the alleged results—the number of conversions and miracles:

 

·       The numbers of conversions in this hour are staggering. The sheer numbers of people being raised from the dead are beyond comprehension. Church planting is at an all-time high. The transformation of cities and nations is climbing rapidly. The leaders of nations and industries are turning to Jesus in record numbers. (Johnson, Bill. Experience the Impossible: Simple Ways to Unleash Heaven’s Power on Earth, Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition, p. 80)

 

However, Johnson may be correct about the great number of “conversions,” but converted to what? Besides, his reports of signs and wonders should not override the Word of God! Meanwhile, pastors of the New Apostolic Reformation declare that churches that are not characterized by miracles are practicing a dead pharisaic Christianity. However, others will regard them as “patiently waiting in faith”:

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)