Experiencing the Spirit: The Power of Pentecost Every Day

Very well written on how to live a life led by the Holy Spirit.

The insights I received from the latest Blackabys' book were such that I had to teach them in an adult LIFE group class. The gift of the Spirit at Pentecost following on the heels of the gifts of the Cross and Resurrection gave me a greater understanding of the love of God for us. The role of Christ and His sending of the Spirit to be our guide, comforter, teacher helped all of us to appreciate more God's design for our lives. The power of the Spirit stands in marked contrast with ours. If we live our lives from our own resources, not only do we miss the joy of living in His presence, but none of our accomplishments have any eternal significance. A strong study--hope they finish a student accompaniment soon.

Experiencing the Spirit by Henry and Melvin Blackaby is a wonderful book which will teach you how to experience the power of Pentecost every day. Believers are supposed to have the same power as Yeshua (Jesus) as a result of the Holy Spirit coming to Earth to empower us. First century belivers had such power, but modern day Believers don't . . . at least most of them don't. The Blackabys explain why not and what to do to change that. One quote I loved from the book: Christians are "theological belivers, but practical athiests." HOW TRUE! Painfully, sadly true. The key to change is by focusing on your relationship with the Holy Spirit, not the gifts of the Spirit. Gifts only come from relationship -- and only if your motives are correct. God's spiritual gifts are not for your benefit, but for His benefit -- so He can accomplish His will on earth. Finally, you need to realize that although we have certain gifts and talents, a lot of times God will use your weaknesses -- He will use you in areas where you DON'T seem gifted -- in order to grow you and to show His glory. This is an excellent book.

Experiencing the Spirit The Power Of Pentecost Every Day Henry & Melvin Blackaby Multnomah, 2009 ISBN: 9781590529119 Reviewed by [...], 0.3/09 5 stars Inspiring... We rarely allow the Holy Spirit to unleash His power in our lives. The Lord has work for us. Too often, we attempt to serve on our own terms, using our talents. The Lord wants to work through us supernaturally. When we serve only with our talents, we tend to think we accomplished something on our own. We forget to give the glory to God. When we allow Him to work supernaturally through us, we know it was not by our efforts but by the Lord's. Our natural talents are important and should not be ignored. We should develop them and use them for God's glory; however, some of the best speakers are those without that natural-born talent. For God uses the most unlikely people. Henry and Melvin Blackaby back up their statements with scripture and logic. Experiencing the Spirit is well written and easy to understand and read. Readers will recognize the name Henry Blackaby from his previous book Experiencing God. When I see a book with the name Blackaby on it, I know it is filled with God's blessings.

I was prepared to recommend the latest effort by Henry and Melvin Blackaby sight unseen! I trust their ministries so much that I felt confident in endorsing "Experiencing the Spirit" without receiving a reviewer copy in time to read it. But I am thrilled that I do not have to do that! The book arrived in barely enough time to read before reviewing today, but I felt it wouldn't be good stewardship to recommend the title to you without having read it. And the book is such an engaging read that completing the task was not in the least bit difficult. But don't let the size of this book fool you. It is packed with Biblical insight and wisdom that challenges the reader to think and act outside of the finite mental boxes in which we've placed the power of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in and through us in the same manner (and with the same power) that turned the world upside down when He first inhabited all believers at Pentecost! What a terrific book to read just in time for the Easter season. Every Christian library should have a copy of this wonderfully inspiring non-fiction title!

What role does the Holy Spirit play in your life? How can you be more sensitive to the Spirit's leading? What does the scripture reveal about the Spirit of God? These are all great questions, and ones that believers naturally grapple with as they grow in their relationship with God. Henry Blackaby, author of the bestselling EXPERIENCING GOD, answers these and other great spiritual questions in his latest book. Written with his son, Melvin, EXPERIENCING THE SPIRIT invites readers on a journey to understand the Holy Spirit's work in our lives in a profound and moving way. The Blackabys begin by offering an accessible but solidly scriptural look at the Bible's mentions and descriptions of the Holy Spirit --- explaining both who the Holy Spirit is and the misconceptions that people sometimes have of Him. In the process, the authors reveal how the Spirit's presence in our lives is indispensable. We need the Spirit working in our lives if we are going to walk into all that God has called us to do and be. Drawing from the rich theological background he established in EXPERIENCING GOD, Henry Blackaby explains how the Spirit helps raise our awareness of the personal assignments that God has for us. He shows how the Spirit illuminates those areas where God is already moving and we can come alongside His work. One of the most interesting arguments that the Blackabys make is that while it's important to pay attention to the natural gifts that you've been given, it's essential not to depend wholly on them. At a time when everyone seems to be emphasizing discovering their strengths and gifts, the authors argue that trusting on your own gifts can be detrimental and short-circuit the work God wants to do in and through you. They believe that the Holy Spirit will often call people to things that they're naturally not good at and place them in a position where they're even more dependent on God to come through. The argument is presented in a scripturally-based, logical way that is worth considering and offers a healthy, balanced perspective to the issue. The Blackabys write with steady hands both in their theological framework and their ability to communicate in an easy-to-read fashion. Readers who have been put off by overly-sensational writings about the Holy Spirit will be encouraged by the authors' down-to-earth tone and approach. EXPERIENCING THE SPIRIT doesn't include any fluff or emotionally driven stories. Rather, the Blackabys are clear that the Holy Spirit's role is a powerful one --- empowering us to fulfill our purposes of glorifying God. This book is highly recommended to anyone who has been through the classic EXPERIENCING GOD study or those who want a deeper understanding of the Spirit's role in their life. It is great for personal reading, a morning devotional, a book club or a study group. --- Reviewed by Margaret Oines