Rating:
“[W]hat if you grew up on a desert island with nothing but the Bible to read? [Y]ou would be convinced that the Holy Spirit is as essential to a believer’s existence as air is to staying alive,” writes Chan (p. 16). Francis Chan wrote Forgotten God to help Christians capture the necessity of the Holy Spirit.
This book will challenge you, step on your toes, but most of all will have you reevaluating the role the Holy Spirit has in your life.
Several points Chan points out:
-
1. Chan does a beautiful job in pointing out the Holy Spirit is a Person, a “He,” not an “it.” He is God; eternal & holy; omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. He has emotions, a mind and a will. He prays for us. He teaches and reminds us of what we we need to know. He applies our salvation to our lives. Chan wants these truths to lead readers “to a deeper relationship with and a greater reverence for the Spirit—that good theology would lead you to right action, genuine love, and true worship” (page 77).
2. Chan challenges believers in saying: If it’s true that the Spirit of God dwells in us and that our bodies are the Holy Spirit’s temple, then shouldn’t there be a huge difference between the person who has the Spirit of God living inside of him or her and the person who does not? (page 32)
3. The Christian life is to be lived in the power of the Holy Spirit, in obedience to Christ, to the glory of the Father. We must not quench His work in our lives, caring more for comfort than for holiness.
Chan closes each chapter with biographical stories of men and women whose lives have been transformed by obeying the Spirit’s leading. I found these stories inspiring and encouraging. There are some thoughts in this book that I struggle with, but it is a struggle where it leads me to search scripture and to evaluate the role the Holy Spirit has in my life.
Forgotten God by Francis Chan is a book I recommend!
About:
Francis Chan is senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. He is the founder of Eternity Bible College and sits on the board of Children’s Hunger Fund. His debut book, Crazy Love, has sold 300,000 copies in its first year, and has been published in over ten languages. Francis and his family make their home in Southern California.
FTC Disclosure: This was purchased by me.
