Bővebb ismertető
Introduction
The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life. I didn't like the title the first time I heard it. After all, life isn't always wonderful. And life for those who are filled with the Spirit isn't always wonderful, either. The apostle Paul is proof of that. But the Spirit-filled life is wonderful—especially compared to the alternative.
I know all about the alternative. I spent the early years of my Christian life struggling. Call it carnal; call it fleshly; call it whatever you wish. It was anything but wonderful. In fact, my experience on the other side of the equation motivated me to write a book about the Spirit-filled life.
In preparing for this project I read everything I could get my hands on that had to do with the Holy Spirit. You will find several of these sources noted throughout. Books on the Holy Spirit generally fall into two categories. They are either highly experiential —with great application—or purely doctrinal with little to carry with you on Monday morning.
This is not a criticism. These writers have accomplished exactly what they set out to do. Praise God for the motivation we gain through the testimony of others! And where would we be without the men and women who thrive on minutiae, those who labor diligently to discover how all the parts fit together?
The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life is a literary attempt to wed experience with doctrine. That is nothing new. Luke did that when he wrote Acts. There we find the experience of the early church supported by apostolic sermons, quotes from the Savior, and references to the Old Testament. It is a lesson in theology presented in the form of narrative.
You will notice that some of my conclusions are slightly out of the mainstream of evangelical thought. I have done my best to support these conclusions textually without turning this book into a commentary.
I'm not sure what role this book will play in your pursuit of the Spirit-filled life. I do know that many years ago a man wrote a book about his quest, and it turned me upside down. After I read