In John 16:7, Jesus told His disciples that it was necessary that He leave so that the Comforter may come to them. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity. There is much confusion today, both inside the church and out, in regards to who the Holy Spirit is and the role He plays in the life of the believer. It would be almost impossible to calculate the number of books that have been written on the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. You can add one more to that list. Dr. Charles Stanley, pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta has a new work entitled “The Spirit Filled Life: Discover the Joy of Surrendering to the Holy Spirit”. Arguably this is Dr. Stanley’s most personal work to date.

It is very clear that Dr. Stanley wants his readers to have an accurate biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit. Through proper use of Scriptural context and personal experiences, Dr. Stanley helps the reader navigate topics such as common misconceptions about who the Holy Spirit is, empowerment, discernment, the Holy Spirit’s role in gifts, and the capacity for real life change. I found two chapters especially insightful. Chapter Five: My Life as a Branch deals with our need to connect to the master vine in order to bear the fruit that demonstrates our belonging to Him. In Chapter Twelve: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Dr. Stanley explains why a second baptism of the Holy Spirit is unscriptural. Best chapter in the book. If you are looking for a book that provides a no-nonsense explanation of the Holy Spirit, this is the book. Packed full of explanation and application, yet written in a personal conversational tone, this book is a winner.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”