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| The Holy Spirit and You - Dennis and Rita Bennett
book review by Ji Song
 For those who’ve grown up in church, it is not uncommon for there to be a great deal of confusion surrounding the third person of the Trinity, God’s Holy Spirit. Being referred to as a "ghost" or being identified with the "force" in Star Wars, the Holy Spirit has often been treated as a second-class citizen amongst modern Christians.
Written in a down-to-earth style that makes reading easy, The Holy Spirit and You dissolves much of the mystery around Holy Spirit by bringing a balanced understanding of the spiritual gifts and interactions of Holy Spirit in the setting of everyday life. Supplemented with real life stories which illustrate how the Holy Spirit works through us and manifests His power and presence through the nine gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12: 7-11, the authors, Dennis and Rita Bennett, provide us with a well-rounded and practical understanding of how Holy Spirit can facilitate a fuller expression of our faith to impact today’s society.
The nine gifts are grouped under the following headings, Gifts of Inspired Speech (gifts of tongues and interpretation, the gift of prophecy), Gifts of Power (gift of healing, gift of miracles, gift of faith) and Gifts of Revelation (gift of discerning of spirits, "Word of Knowledge", "Word of Wisdom"). They are defined biblically and their purposes in the Body of Christ and their relevance in our ministry are illustrated. A section covering the baptism of the Holy Spirit is also particularly helpful, especially for Christians who have not experienced this as well as for Christians who seek a greater understanding of this event.
Overall, the book is a reminder that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s presence and his interaction with the world need not be relegated to nostalgic memoirs penned in a book called Acts, 2000 years back. It is a testimony of how vibrant the Christian life can be when we step into the supernatural inheritance that is properly ours. In addition, the writers balance their teaching by revealing how the operation of the gifts should be tempered with the presence of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control) in the life of a believer. The gifts of the Holy Spirit reveal to the world and the Body that Jesus is indeed alive while the fruit of the Spirit reveal His heart and character so that people can know what Jesus is like.
For anyone eager to learn and experience more of the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit and You is a trustworthy supplement to the Bible.
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Reflected In The Word
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 Hymns - Ancient and Modern
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 Website Review - NeedHim.org
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 Is That Really You, God?
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 Shattered Dreams
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 Inquiring of the Lord
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Here I Am To Worship - Various Artists
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 Freedom in Christ. What does it mean to you? Until only recently in my spiritual walk, it was more of a high-sounding aspiration than a reality. I knew that there was more to be experienced... read more |
 "Though stunned and saddened, our mission was still clear, our calling sure...that our worship would not be silenced by men of terror." Hence the Passion CD: Jesus' weeping and our worship. read more... |
 Seizing Your Divine Moment
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Recovering the Soul's Delight in Christ Through Fasting
When it comes to fasting, some modern day Christians might say, "Why do we need to fast? Isn't this an outdated practice reserved for ascetics? We live under grace. We don't need to prove our love for God by acts of deprivation." It's true - we do live under God's lavish, hope-giving, life-sustaining grace. To such critics I would point out that fasting is a clarifying and sanctifying experience, unique among the spiritual disciplines in its potential to help us understand what we treasure and what controls us... read more
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 What Happens During a Fast?
A holy fast has two basic elements. Abstaining from food, and spending dedicated time with God in prayer daily, either corporately, or individually.... read on
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Soul Survivor 2002: Glimpes of Glory
I bought in my first Soul Survivor CD 1996. I recall reading the CD cover, examining the worship leaders and song titles, thinking to myself, "I like David Ruis, but who are Matt Redman and Delirious?" Once I started listening to it, I felt like I was being drawn right into the event itself.
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 Created To Worship - Rita Springer
Psalm 5:11 says, "But let all who take refuge in You [the Lord] be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your Name may rejoice in You." You may be wondering, "sounds good, but how do I get there?"... click here to read more
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 The Hidden Power of Prayer and Fasting
If you have never been motivated to fast, this book will change your mind.
Click here to read the book review
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 Battlefield of the Mind
Do you feel stuck, like you can't move forward in your life? Do you feel like you are not progressing in your spiritual growth, or in other areas of your life? Then you might be interested in this book. |
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