Surprised by the Power of the Spirit
by Jack S. Deere
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jack S. DeereEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1996-09-02
ISBN: 0310211271
Number of pages: 302
Publisher: Zondervan
Book Reviews of Surprised by the Power of the Spirit
Book Review: Power, Love, Power vs traditions of man
Summary: 5 Stars
Power, Love, Power vs traditions of man, May 15, 2003
Reviewer: Margo Carmichael (see more about me) from USA
Jack Deere, professor of history at Dallas Theological Seminary, took a look at some traditions of men and had the courage to say, "We were wrong."
So often, we've heard sermons on the Gifts of the Spirit. They start in I Corinthians 12, "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?" and its implied answer, "No."
We are told to "desire the best gifts," but then the preacher hurries on to the "more excellent way" of love in chapter 13. End of gifts. End of sermon.
On the other hand, Paul starts his sermon in I Corinthians 12 by saying "I don't want anyone to be ignorant about spiritual gifts." He ends his sermon, "But if anyone be ignorant, let them be ignorant."
Jack Deere says without chapter 14, we are left, sad to say, ignorant.
Paul begins by teaching on the power of the Holy Spirit, goes into the power of love, then in chapter 14, more about their power and *order of their use.* Paul does not give what many pastors today give: a command not to use them.
So we are left with many gaps. What are "praying in the spirit," "praying in the understanding," "singing in the spirit," and "singing in the understanding?"
What is the benefit of "speaking mysteries?"
Another gap is the fact that tongues plus interpretation are just as valued as what some interpret as the best gift, prophecy.
And a parallel in Jude verse 20, "be building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit." "Build up yourselves," when the sermons warn us against "selfish" gifts?
"Jesus groaned in the spirit," John 11:33, and probably does today at the rejection of his beautiful gifts.
That important chapter 14 explains the gifts more thoroughly and gives the command...
"Whenever you come together, *each* of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.... 36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order."
"Do not forbid"? Do not send them down the street to the Pentecostal church? "Commandments of the Lord"? Strong statement!
God is not casual about His gifts. Every good and *perfect* gift is from above, and so are the gifts of the Spirit. They are not just another option on a Mainline Menu, something to be chosen or rejected like Today's Blue Plate Special.
Some even say not all the gifts are for today. Yet, Paul says "...that you come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." I Corinthians 1:7
In Matthew, Jesus gives the Great Commission: teach the world "all things whatsoever I have taught you." That must include Matthew 10, "heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons..." "...until the end of the world." Matthew 28.
In Mark, the Great Commission says signs will follow believers: cast out demons, (ask returning foreign missionaries about that.) speak in tongues, lay hands on the sick and they will recover, drink poison or pick up serpents, (as Paul did on Malta--accidentally--we are warned not to tempt God) and not be harmed. Until all the apostles die out? No. "Until the end of the world."
That would be today. That would be us!
Deere explains Cessationism, the theory that the gifts ceased with the apostles, that apostles were unique, and that miracles and gifts were only for "signs" to show that Jesus was the Messiah.
And he explains why that is wrong.
He says in his second book, _Surprised by the Voice of God_ that much of the modern church loves the Bible and says they love God the Holy Spirit, but does not really want Him moving in their midst.
He says it is as if much of the church has divorced the Word from the Spirit as if the children filed for their parent's divorce and broke their parents' hearts.
And he shows how the gifts have not ceased, using Scripture and *unrevised* biographies of Wesley and others, including the surprising history of the Presbyterian Scots.
He says for the problems we live in today we need this Holy Spirit power as much as ever, if not more!
We miss out on glorious and practical blessings when we do not let God be God through the power of His Spirit. We grieve His Spirit by our unbelief.
I Corinthians 12, 13 and 14 are a sandwich of Power, Love, Power. God wants to serve us the whoooole thing.
Summary of Surprised by the Power of the Spirit
What caused a former Dallas Seminary professor to believe that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are being given today? What convinced someone skeptical about miracles that God still speaks and heals? A dramatic change took place in Jack Deere's life when he took a fresh look at the Scriptures. He discovered that his arguments against miraculous gifts were based more on prejudice and lack of personal experience than on the Bible. As soon as Deere became a seeker instead of a skeptic, the Holy Spirit revealed himself in new and surprising ways. In Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, Deere provides a strong biblical defense for the Spirit's speaking and healing ministries today. He also describes several reliable cases of people who were miraculously healed or who heard God speak in an unmistakable way. Finally, he gives sound advice for using spiritual gifts in the church. Written in a popular style, with the care of a scholar but the passion of personal experience, this book explores: the real reason Christians do not believe in miraculous gifts, responding to charismatic abuses, whether miracles were meant to be temporary, and why God still heals.Christian Living Books
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