The Resting Place: Living Immersed in the Presence of God

by Bill Johnson

Become a Resting Place for God’s Presence and Power! The key to walking in the supernatural power of the Spirit is positioning yourself as The Resting Place for God! We are familiar with the indwelling Holy Spirit—the One who lives within the hearts of every believer. While this is an incredible truth, the fullness of this reality is greater than we can imagine! Bestselling author and internationally respected pastor Bill Johnson shares the key to living a supernatural welcoming God’s Spirit to abide with you. The Holy Spirit is looking for a people upon whom His presence can rest. The invitation is extended to you—how will you respond?

Genres: Christian, Spirituality

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 21, 2019

About the author

Bill Johnson and his wife Brenda (Beni) Johnson are the Senior Pastors of Bethel Church in Redding, California. Johnson is a fifth generation pastor.

Johnson was born in Minnesota in 1951 and became a Christian as a young child. Soon after, Johnson read seven books on prayer, which significantly affected his perspective and subsequent ministry.

Bill Johnson and his wife have three children: Eric, Brian and Leah.

Johnson speaking at a conference
Bill Johnson and Beni (Brenda) began as singles pastors under his father at Bethel. In 1979, they became senior pastors of Mountain Chapel in Weaverville, California.

While pastoring in Weaverville, Johnson attended a 1987 conference led by John Wimber, founder of the Vineyard Church Movement. According to Johnson "A number of healings and manifestations broke out and I didn't know what to do with it. I didn't object to it, I wasn't opposed to it; I just didn't know how to pastor it in a way that it would continue and increase".

In 1995, Johnson attended the Toronto Blessing revival at the Toronto Airport Vineyard church. Johnson relates: "In Toronto I said, 'Lord, if You touch me again I will never change the subject.' So I went up for prayer every time it was offered. I didn't have anything dramatic happen, but I came home and said, 'I am going to give the rest of my life to this.'"

In February 1996, after 17 years of leading the Weaverville church, the Johnsons were invited to become senior pastors of Bethel. Today Johnson describes Bethel as a church where "everything we do either fuels revival or is fueled by revival." Under his leadership, Bethel left the Assemblies of God in 2006 to become a nondenominational charismatic church.

According to a recent book written by Johnson, "Face to Face with God", Bethel is "a church where supernatural encounters with God happen regularly, miracles are common, and the congregation has an infectious passion for spiritual growth." The church has approximately 1,500 members, and a School of Supernatural Ministry.

Their Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry has 1,200 students enrolled with over 370 from other countries. Johnson leads a network of churches dedicated to global, multi-generational revival, Global Legacy. Johnson has written a number of books and travels extensively as a featured revival conference speaker. Johnson is also involved with the Northern California Revival Fellowship, a group of north Californian pastors committed to revival.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Bethan Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The place of peace and rest

This book was just what I needed. It travels through the many aspects of resting and hosting the presence of Holy Spirit inviting you to come and enjoy His presence constantly.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this book and have already purchased multiple copies for others. This book is comprised of excerpts from Bill Johnson’s other books. Each entry is a brief 2-3 pages but the “WOW” factor is consistent in each reading!

[Frank Peters · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book whose title could be a bit deceiving, while the fuller description is not. It is entirely focussed on the Holy Spirit, not God in the trinitarian sense. However, from the Pentecostal tradition of the author, we are only able to living in the presence of God – The Holy Spirit, so the book is internally consistent. The contents are odd from my perspective as Pastor Johnson is so immersed in his Pentecostal in-language, thus constantly using words like “Presence” and “Anointing” in a semi-technical sense, that I am apparently expected to understand (but to be fair, is clear based on context). I never like the use of a special spiritual-language in any context, and much prefer writing that is designed to be understood by non-initiates, so this is a negative to me. The contents are also mixed in quality. There were some eye-opening nuggets of deep wisdom, which really opened my eyes. But there were also many things said, that seemed (to me) to be unnecessary extrapolations on biblical truths. As a coherent book, this one is rubbish. It is not a book! Instead, it is a list of very short essays all relating to living immersed in the presence of the Holy Spirit. For the most part each essay is entirely separate from the previous, with very little continuity. Also, each essay seems to be taken from a previous book written from the author. So, while (as said previously) the volume contains nuggets of wisdom, I cannot recommend as a book. But, for someone who has already been initiated into Pentecostal spiritual language, the book could be very valuable as a devotional supplement.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as a daily devotional with my friend and enjoyed going through it in this format, to absorb more and not rush through it. (And with Bill's writing style, I often need to reread passages to understand.) I received some new ideas and perspectives, many reminders of what’s important and impactful in a life of faith and love, and overall a beautiful, compelling, multidimensional invitation to live in the present, and to live intimately in and with God’s presence. I'm not in a spiritual/mental/emotional place to implement all the content, but I look forward to revisiting this book again in the future, after I’ve grown more in some of these areas :) 

[David Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every believer should read this!

As a pastor of 40 years, I am thoroughly fascinated by Bill Johnson's understanding and expository prophetic, teaching and preaching. I know it would scare the pants off most Baptist leaders, but if we are not being empowered by the spirit of God, then we're just carrying out a program. We need the power of the risen Christ in our families and churches. We need that power in our daily lives. Thank you for being used to the Lord to write these books.

[Karin Rosner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little more meandering and less focused than the other books I've read by him, but no less challenging. After reading, looking for rest... I find myself more restless than ever, in a good way, for more of God's spirit.

[Blessing G T Kabasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amazing Read

An amazing read. I always enjoy reading Bill Johnson’s books and this was no different. The gospel of God presented in truth and refreshing manner. Glory to Jesus for such amazing grace.

[Rubin Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a powerful read
Bill Johnson brings together a compilation in this collection of powerful insights and spiritual wisdom concerning the Holy Spirit
and our roles in this world, the church and personal interactions and its full potential kingdom realities

[Isaac Mauricio Conde Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome book

While I was reading this book the Lord spoke to me in so many ways I can’t explain. Bill Johnson release the Holy Spirit through this book. I’ll highly recommended if you want to increase the level of your intimacy with God.

[Josh Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Bill’s writing it encouraging, inspiring, and full of revelation. This book is a collection from some of Johnson’s other books but in a devotional format so that’s how I used it.

[Mariska Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book. Shed tears for a couple of times because I was reminded how Holy Spirit has been working in my life.

[Mark Lojeski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Resting Place should be if you have never read a Bill Johnson book where you start.
This is a great little book which highlights many of the things Pastor Bill brings in his other works.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Bill Johnson’s other books, and this one is a compilation, sharing bits from those. Otherwise, it’s a little disjointed and hard to delve deep into the various topics mentioned.

[Claudine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened on Audible and although there was a lot of good teaching, most was just sound bites. The “chapters” were 2 to 3 mins long.