Nine O'Clock In The Morning

by Dennis J. Bennett, Rita Bennett (Foreword), John L. Sherrill (Introduction)

An Episcopal priest, a spiritual wilderness, and a couple who shared the fire that led to a longed-for renewal This now classic story tells how the Charismatic Movement began and swept into churches across America. Father Dennis is still hailed as one of the central figures in the early renewal movement. Nine O'Clock in the Morning is Father Dennis's testimony that God can and will release His power to His people if we allow Him to truly become the King of our lives. When, in 1960, Father Dennis Bennett announced to his congregation that he had experienced a new outpouring of God's Spirit ... the renewal movement can be said to have begun. 1973 Yearbook of the Encyclopedia Britannica Today's generation needs the power of the Holy Spirit to protect them from a secular culture which promotes life without God. Nine O'Clock in the Morning , Dennis Bennett's classic work on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, will change the lives of young and old alike. I highly recommend it. Paul F. Crouch, President, Trinity Broadcasting Network I commend Nine O'Clock in the Morning to you as a testimony to what God is doing today. John L. Sherrill, author of They Speak With Other Tongues

Genres: Christian, Religion, Nonfiction, Theology, Memoir, History, Faith

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Fergus, Weaver of Autistic Webs]

When I was twenty, and again at thirty, I had a mystical experience like Bennett does here. It was wonderful, and for many years in the wilderness afterward, I wanted to take Heaven by storm.

I repeatedly stuck my ingenuous neck out.

Unfortunately, unlike the padre, I was bipolar. So my road has required a more unrelenting self-discipline and adherence to my meds schedule.

Then, like Bennett and every other Christian newbie, I had to enrol in the School of Hard Knocks. The only way to see God. In submitting to them we know peace.

Folks, the devil will always have his due. Now, nearly 75, I'm quite happy when I can see "through a glass darkly." If peace is there, it all becomes clear.

Constant disciplined devotion is key.

But what would you say if YOU awakened one morning to find your world miraculously transformed? No - I’m not saying you’ve turned into a giant cockroach, like Gregor Samsa.

No nightmares here.

Heaven forbid.

But as a matter of fact, Heaven DIDN’T forbid Dennis Bennett, a perfectly plain Episcopalian man of the cloth, from suddenly - after making the acquaintance of some rather ‘pneumatic’ friends - being Born Into the Spirit.

Let’s think rationally, you say. Couldn’t happen to me, you say.

Well, a wonderful Canadian indigenous artist of the seventies sang loud and clear…

God is alive -
Magic is afoot!
Magic is alive -
God is afoot!

No joke. These things happen.

And you may laugh.

But the fact remains: dull, dour and respectable Dennis Bennett spiritually went ‘off his rocker.’ And lived to talk perfectly RATIONALLY about it.

Up close and personal. While his fellow dour presbyters dove into damage control mode. The hawks closed ranks.

No preaching here - guaranteed.

If this remotely interests you, it’s really sorta a FUN read. It all takes place in the button-down suburbia we cringe to think of. Something’s living here, all appearances notwithstanding.

Cause it’s the Holy Spirit that’s alive and well in these well-lit streets and on these pages. But this Spirit is no one-day wonder. Seeing Him is bliss at first. Then it's time to knuckle down to hard work.

Following Him, every day of your life for the rest of your life is a long, hard slog... to One Ineffable End.

Old age, they say, is no place for sissies - even less though when you’re following the Spirit home till the end of your days.

So taking heaven by storm at first does indeed rightly call for damage control!

That said, reading this book seems at first like one nondescript man’s trip Far Beyond the Blue Horizon. That's because he's finally Seen.

He's changed.

So it’s a good book about a good man who meets the Good Lord out of the blue - bared soul to fiery Spirit.

And who knows?

One day, with a little serendipity, it could happen to you, too!

[Jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memorable book as a new christian. Through this book I asked the Lord to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. It changed my life and was so wonderful waiting upon the Lord and then it was just wonderful!!

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tremendous book! I finished it in a weekend. It tells the story of the beginning of the Charismatic Renewal. This happened in 1960 through an Episcopalian priest who spoke in tongues, and then traveled the world helping others experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Excellent read!

[Chris Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of this book. It was given to me as a tool to help search my exploration on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

While the first half was enlightening and, a large portion was just a diary of the author’s travels. Some encounters were quite interesting, but many were ordinary and didn’t advance the journey (at least mine).

I do recommend this book for those wanting a deeper explanation and who are, like myself, not Evangelical or Charismatic in their faith.

I do find myself much closer to Christ after reading this and will further my search for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in a day, but spent a lot of time reading, so I can't really judge. It seemed to go quickly. It's a well-written book detailing the attempted charismatic revival of an Episcopal church on the US West Coast— a church that was hostile to the change, and forced the pastor to resign and charismatically revive another church a bit further north. Very interesting view on spiritual gifts from a traditionally-minded, devout pastor. Well worth the read.

[Mike Jorgensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was assigned to me in a class I was taking. I did not care for it (as my rating suggests.) I found it to be poorly written on the whole. It is a sensationalist narrative with lots of frill and salesmanship. It felt a bit like sitting through a pitch to buy a timeshare, except instead of a timeshare, it is charismatic theology. It could have been an interesting 30-page read, but definitely not worthy of a book.

[Matti Hernesaho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suomennettu nimellä "aamulla kello 9"

Episkopaalipappi Dennis J. Bennettin kertomus episkopaalisen karismaattisen herätyksen alusta 1950-luvulla. Innostava, Pyhän Hengen täyteinen kirja.

[Carey Oster · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who wants their mind opened to the truth of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and see it happen in a "high church" fellowship -- this is the book for you! I could not put it down and have had several friends read it too. Very good book!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of how the Charismatic movement began, as toldby an episcapalian priest who saw his church transformd by the power of the Holy Spirit.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

the time the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost. this is the story of a denominatinal minister and his search for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, one from the 'Jesus freak' days :)

[Forbes · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was required reading while I was student at a Pentecostal Bible College. To be fair, Mr. Bennett is a good writer, and story-teller. To be critical - his arguments are very weak, and he depends largely upon loose interpretations of God's Word, and his own personal experiences, to try and prove his case. As far as I am concerned, this is a propaganda piece. I am not dismissing Mr. Bennett's account - the events may well have transpired as he recalls them. What I dismiss is that his experiences were of the Lord, and warranted by the Word of God. I read this book when I was still a Pentecostal, and have since read many books on the topic of tongues ("Hold Your Tongues" by Frank McClelland) and the baptism of the Holy Spirit ("Joy Unspeakable" by Martyn Lloyd Jones, and "Charismatic Chaos" by John MacArthur), which, in hindsight, make me feel like I wasted my time reading this particular book.

[Rosy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captivated me when I found it in my Grandad’s bedroom 40 years ago. Today I read the same copy again — now it needs a rubber band to hold it together. I thought I had read it several times over the years, but now I’m not sure: only the tone and general concept were familiar. Most definitely food for thought — and prayer. I looked up one comment thread on what happened to the charismatic renewal movement since the early 70s.

To say anything else would be a bit personal and very lengthy.

[Chantel Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spiritual Revival!

At a recent spiritual retreat, one of the pastors recommended this book to our group. He told us of the great healing miracles that had happened and how after reading it how his prayers for healing really got to work. I was intrigued so felt that I should read the book. How heart warming it was to read about so many people receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the great things that happened. If it happened to those people around the world in the late 50s and 60s - I believe that revival needs to be happening again as we approach 2020!

[Becky Schommer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a number of books about evangelicals who discover the richness of engaging in the Sacramental traditions, but this was a wonderful glimpse into the reverse… a Sacramentalist who discovered the power and joy of the charismatic movement. Charismatic renewal seems to have “cooled off” in our country, but the Spirit continues to move. Though this is an old book, it is a refreshing reminder of what was, is, and always will be. I wasn’t captivated by Bennett’s writing, but the Spirit has never required eloquent words to make Himself known.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a DNF. This doesn’t seem Biblical as God describes our heart as deceitful. Fake and exaggerated reactions to the Holy Spirit “working”. It seems that people start chasing out an emotional experience vs God. Agree to disagree with this persons personal accounts and what I as a Christian should “want” to experience.

[Jeden samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book

Very interesting book i read it in 2days recalling my own experience with the holy ghost. I would recommend it to anyone who is seeking to experience the baptism of the holy spirit.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

The guy's experience was interesting. The message comes off a little black and white to me with regard to the Holy Spirit with a lot of "what" and very little "how". Not really what I need right now and basically made me even more confused.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most wonderful book on the Holy Spirit.

[Mary Ellington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book.

[Simon Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is apparently a classic. I found it instructive at many levels, and affirming of my own journey and trajectory.

[Michelle Ule · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast, enjoyable read of Reverend Dennis Bennett's introduction to the charismatic movement in the early 1960s.

A good place to start for those interested in speaking in tongues.

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

An encouraging testimony of the work of the Holy Spirit in and through Dennis Bennet, an episcopal priest, in the 60s.

[Joan Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this wonderfully inspiring timeless book about 35 years ago and just reread. Recommend it highly to any seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus.

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a kind of beginner's book for people who've never been exposed to the movement of the Holy Spirit, or for people who don't believe in it. Written about events in the early to mid 60's, it is definitely an introductory primer. Bennett does a good job of showing the excitement of this new knowledge and also the marvelous effects the Holy Spirit has on the lives of believers and those they know. I feel the book needs some kind of explanation of how the Spirit first moved in the lives of those who started things going for Bennett and the others he writes about. Also, some follow-ups on the people whose lives have drastically changed as a result. So for me, I consider it kind of a half and half book.

[Justin Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this out of historical curiosity in the Charismatic renewal within the mainline churches. It's written much like any other Pentecostal testimonial - full of enthusiasm and positivity, but failing to rigorously examine itself or show any vulnerability about struggle or suffering. When a tragic death occurs to the author, he just skims over it in a few pages, choosing to focus on the "new things" God was doing through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Episcopal Church. Personally, I'd have been utterly devastated. That said, I still think its a fascinating read even if it felt like reading one of my mom's old Guideposts magazines. I'm extremely interested in the lasting effects of the Charismatic Movement within the Episcopal and other mainline churches. What happened next?

[Deanna Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Experiences of the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" during the 1960s. I first read this book in the 1970s. Now it seems to be a historical review of the renewal that occurred in the main line denominations during the 1960-1970s. Wondering if this renewal is occurring somewhere today.

[Ben Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great testimony of the work of the Holy Spirit.

[Candy Tumlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing testimonies of others receiving the Holy Spirit.

[Freedom · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGHLY recommend to anyone seeking God.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book