Surprised by the Power of the Spirit: A Former Dallas Seminary Professor Discovers That God Speaks and Heals Today

No one can surpass Jack Deere in his exegesis of biblical text. Written in a highly readable style Surprised by the Power of the Spirit is investigation of how God speaks and heals today. Unlike many charismatic writers, Deere rejects the anecdotal approach to proving the power of God. Although Deere punctuates his book with anecdotal stories, he pursues a relentless investigation of the Scripture and with lawyer like skill, deals with objections with a keen wit. Case in point: When Deere talks about establishment of a healing ministry within the local church, he points out that the most common objection is not theological, but emotional- people worry how they will look if they pray for the sick and those prayers are unanswered. Deere retorts: Worrying about how we look when we pray for the sick is not a very effective way of getting our prayers answered. Then, he follows up with an exposition of Scripture, followed by his personal experience. It is a very effective way of communication. I would be hard pressed to find fault with this book without resorting to theological nit picking; it is simply that good. If you have serious questions about the efficacious of gifts of healing in the contemporary church, read this book. Deere has a way of dealing with the questions, fears and misunderstandings we may have about the power of the Holy Spirit. His humor and ability to laugh at himself is appealing. If you are a serious Bible student who has not been presented a serious case for discovering how God speaks and heals to day, this is the book for you.

I read this book back in 1994 just after my wife and I had been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Our personal experience of the Holy Spirit had made believers out of us; a pesky quarter-sized "mosaic" verruca that my wife had tried to rid herself of for years withered away two weeks after she had received prayer to receive the fullness of the Spirit. I experienced an unusual number of opportunities in the following days to give some kind of Christian witness or other. So we were ready to learn more.And learn we did! Jack Deere's book answered intellectually what we already know was true experientially. Deere begins with his personal journey from his professorship at Dallas Theological Seminary, a bastion of cessationism, through some rather amazing experiences, to understanding that the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit are still for today. In the latter part of his work, he shifts his approach and turns to the intellectual issues. He forcefully demolishes the cessationist position of John MacArthur, one of the leading proponents of that view, and answers in a very satisfactory way the objections raised by its advocates. (By the way, the reader should not ignore the footnotes/endnotes, especially in the later chapters of the book. Some of Deere's most powerful insights are found in the fine print.)In my opinion, the most valuable quality of Surprised by the Power of the Spirit is the void that it fills within charismatic/pentecostal literature. For far too long, charismatics and pentecostals have been treated by other traditions within Christianity with a degree of supercilious diffidence. Indeed, many have emphasized emotionalism at the expense of sound biblical exegesis. Jack Deere brings to the charismatic/pentecostal camp a brilliant, penetrating mind that will be of great value in presenting a scholarly, intellectual apologetic for the continued existence and operation of the gifts of the Spirit.

Jack Deere has written a compelling and enjoyable apologetic in defense of modern day signs and wonders. As a former Dallas Seminary professor, Deere is uniquely qualified to argue his cause with a thorough knowledge of, and sincere empathy for, the cessationist view. I particularly appreciated his adept handling of B.B. Warfield's cessationist arguments. Deere also brings Scriptural insight and Biblical balance to Pentecostal and Charismatic views. His blend of confessional storytelling, along with sound theology, is a wonderful mix resulting in a great literary contribution.

If you have been raised with legalism, this book will change your life. I consider it to be my my first step to spiritual freedom. My wife and I have literally given away cases of this book to friends. They were also blown away by the power of God released through this book. This is a must read. Blessings in Jesus.

Jack Deere's book was recommended to me in June 1995. A few days later I saw it on a bookstore's bookshelf and bought it for mine - but there it remained for over a year. That was my loss! This book is one of the most balanced theological books I have ever read, on any issue. Using a wonderful blend of narrative testimony and theological explanation, Deere recounts his shift from a theological professor who believed that the so-called charismatic gifts (such as tongues, healings, miracles, prophecy) had ceased with the deaths of the first-century apostles, to someone who now believes that these gifts are not only available to the church today, but should be actively encouraged and used. The book takes the reader through the same process of experience and Biblical investigation that Deere went through as he grappled with the issues of charismatic experiences and spiritual gifts. It is an insightful book, Biblically based, clearly reasoned, humbly written, and worth every penny. It should be read by every Christian.