Hidden Man

This was Kenyon's last book, published after his death by his daughter, Ruth. It is one of Kenyons' best. The real YOU is the Hidden Man of the heart, the "Christ in you." If you are born-again your true identity is your "sonship." Kenyon stresses the need to develop this "spirit man" within, by reading and meditating on God's Word. Kenyon points out that the ancient civilizations were highly conscious of the spiritual dimension of life. But through the centuries Man has become more and more ruled by his "senses." He no longer believes the Word, but something that thrills his senses..."signs and wonders." (p. 60-61). Kenyon says the solution is to "meditate in the Word and become doers of the Word, [so that] our spirits slowly but surely gain the ascendancy over our sense-ruled mind" (p. 61). "When we fearlessly act upon the Word and joyfully cast our every care on Him, our victory is as sure as the rising of the sun" (p. 136). "If God is for you, and you know it, you become utterly fearless" (p. 185). See why this is a great book? It's talking about YOU! The real you, in Christ. Kenyon really loved God and his fellow believers. And his writings even today are ministering to our hearts. That's why he is a "Christian Superhero" to us. He really developed the "Hidden Man" of his own heart! You will really love this book!

"Hidden Man" gets its title from 1st Peter 3:4 "but let it be the hidden man of the heart..." According to biographer Joe McIntyre, Kenyon worked on this book during the last 2 years of his life. I believe this is the most comprehensive book he ever wrote. It's a study on the recreated human spirit and as a result all the major elements of his thought are discussed: the believer's secure position in the Heavenly Father's family, praying in the name of Jesus, revelation knowledge vs. sense knowledge, the new creation's complete identification with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection & its implications in our daily walk, the God kind of agape love, legal and vital justification to name a few. Along with the good stuff he occasionally gets carried away and drifts into the Jesus-the-Pattern-Son territory, which has proven to be a harmful presupposition to hold. But I suppose he was countering Nietzsche's Superman (or Overman) with his own God's Superman term. Someone wrote in another review that Kenyon comes off as a favorite uncle that really believes in you, and I agree - he lets the Word tell the believer who he-she is in Christ. And "Hidden Man" is full of the Word. Although I think Kenyon confused some of the eschatological already-not yet aspects of the Kingdom of God, one doesn't have to agree with him on everything he taught to get super-stoked by him. The book is over 50 years old yet its heavy leaning on the Word prevents it from getting dated. Another quick note: Kenyon loved poetry and it wonderfully permeates his writing style. As a matter of fact, his writing style is so unique that it amazes me that some would dare to plagiarize him and think they'd get away with it (Hagin and Billheimer come immediately to mind). I love it & it's a good pick-me-up when I revisit it from time to time. Its short chapters make it user-friendly & I'd recommend it, albeit with the Sample-Son qualifier.