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Breath of Life: Rediscovering the Holy Spirit and Following His Lead
Just who is the Holy Spirit really? What is He about? And how does He impact the life of a Christian believer? The work of the Spirit is celebrated throughout the Christian world. And rightly so. But too often that talk gets sloppy. The Spirit is reduced to anything in the Christian life that's spontaneous, informal or just weird!
In this short and engagingly-written book, Orlando Saer takes us right back to the beginning to rediscover what the Spirit is about. He shines the light of the Bible itself into our confusion and leaves us overwhelmed with gratitude for this precious Pentecost gift.
In this short and engagingly-written book, Orlando Saer takes us right back to the beginning to rediscover what the Spirit is about. He shines the light of the Bible itself into our confusion and leaves us overwhelmed with gratitude for this precious Pentecost gift.
144 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2017
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 8, 2020
Succinct introduction to the work of the Holy Spirit.
Saer helpfully shows our need for the Holy Spirit from what is lost at the fall in Genesis 3. In particular we need the words, life, power and heart only the Spirit can supply.
Saer begins looking at the Old Testament and the backstory for the Spirit, then looks at the gift of the spirit at Pentecost. Following this his chapters show how the gift of the Spirit brings God’s life (ch 4), God’s words (ch 5) God’s power (ch 6), and God’s heart (ch 7) to God’s people.
I found Saer’s critiques of pentecostalism and charismatic theology on second blessing and gifts of the spirit clear and decisive yet generous and warm spirited. His asides throughout the book answering contemporary questions about the Spirit’s work (words of knowledge, baptism in the Spirit, praying in the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, signs and wonders, fruit/s of the Spirit) were Biblical and answered with a pastoral heart.
I loved seeing the slogan from Friday Night Lights (Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Loose) used to great effect in ch 7. I found some of Saer’s illustrations laborious and superfluous to the flow of his arguments, while others (card to daughter, UV lamp) to be very helpful.
I found there to be a lack of discussion on the person of the Spirit in his relation to the Father and the Son. I also found there to be a lack of discussion of holiness. We do call him the *Holy* Spirit. Chapter 6 and 7 would be strengthened with more teaching on Galatians 5 and the first half of Romans 8 on how the Spirit leads us to holiness and gives us power to stop gratifying the flesh.
Overall this is an accessible book for all Christians to spur them on to keep in step with the Spirit. I will be recommending this to those not willing or able to read JI Packer’s longer work, Keep in Step with the Spirit.
Saer helpfully shows our need for the Holy Spirit from what is lost at the fall in Genesis 3. In particular we need the words, life, power and heart only the Spirit can supply.
Saer begins looking at the Old Testament and the backstory for the Spirit, then looks at the gift of the spirit at Pentecost. Following this his chapters show how the gift of the Spirit brings God’s life (ch 4), God’s words (ch 5) God’s power (ch 6), and God’s heart (ch 7) to God’s people.
I found Saer’s critiques of pentecostalism and charismatic theology on second blessing and gifts of the spirit clear and decisive yet generous and warm spirited. His asides throughout the book answering contemporary questions about the Spirit’s work (words of knowledge, baptism in the Spirit, praying in the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, signs and wonders, fruit/s of the Spirit) were Biblical and answered with a pastoral heart.
I loved seeing the slogan from Friday Night Lights (Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Loose) used to great effect in ch 7. I found some of Saer’s illustrations laborious and superfluous to the flow of his arguments, while others (card to daughter, UV lamp) to be very helpful.
I found there to be a lack of discussion on the person of the Spirit in his relation to the Father and the Son. I also found there to be a lack of discussion of holiness. We do call him the *Holy* Spirit. Chapter 6 and 7 would be strengthened with more teaching on Galatians 5 and the first half of Romans 8 on how the Spirit leads us to holiness and gives us power to stop gratifying the flesh.
Overall this is an accessible book for all Christians to spur them on to keep in step with the Spirit. I will be recommending this to those not willing or able to read JI Packer’s longer work, Keep in Step with the Spirit.
July 29, 2021
The best helpful resource on the Holy Spirit (outside the Bible of course). But Saer’s book is saturated with accurately used Scripture so he is constantly pointing you back to what the Spirit has revealed about Himself in the Bible.
Saer concisely and clearly covers the role and work of the Holy Spirit in a way that is encouraging, convicting, and also drives you to worship!
You don’t have to have an M.Div or even a high school diploma to be able to understand and be helped by this book! This is a definite gem to have on hand to share with others or read with others who are confused about things of the Spirit.
Saer concisely and clearly covers the role and work of the Holy Spirit in a way that is encouraging, convicting, and also drives you to worship!
You don’t have to have an M.Div or even a high school diploma to be able to understand and be helped by this book! This is a definite gem to have on hand to share with others or read with others who are confused about things of the Spirit.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews