Book Review: SUN STAND STILL By Steven Furtick

The cover of this book comes with the byline: “What Happens When You Dare To Ask God For The Impossible”. 

Pastor Furtick’s writing style may not come across as pleasant particularly for readers who belong to Gen X or earlier. Nonetheless, SUN STAND STILL comes packed and loaded with a battery of truths to re-awaken our ho-hum Christian mind. 

Here is a sample for the uninitiated reader: “I’m not writing to calm or coddle you. With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places of insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years. In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential.” 

The chapters of this book are as follows:
1. Welcome to Audacious Faith
2. Prayer That Stops the Sun
3. Page 23 Vision 
4. The Sun Stand Still Lexicon
5. Ignite the Ordinary
6. Wave Jumper
7. Tiny Babies, Giant Faith
8. The Surcharge of Sacrifice
9. The Simplest Systematic Theology Ever
10. Hear. Speak. Do.
11. The Solid Ground of Audacious Faith
12. Mistake into Miracle
13. When the Sun Goes Down
14. Pray Like a Juggernaut
15. Permission to Pray Practically
16. Sweet Southern Audacity
17. Push While You Pray
18. From the Promise to the Payoff
19. Ten Dimensions of a Sun Stand Still Prayer
20. In the Middle of a Move of God

The theme of this book is presented seamlessly from start to finish and pivots around Joshua’s Sun Stand Still prayer and the Page 23 vision from Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (written by Pastor Jim Cymbala). 

Along the way through this book, the author managed to sneak-in theology in his characteristic lingo. So, just when you thought that Christian literature has peaked, Pastor Furtick is pushing the limits and expanding the boundaries of writings in Christendom.

Here are just some examples of the theology-simplified:

• Hearing the Word initiates faith. Speaking the Word activates faith. Doing the Word demonstrates faith.

• Twelve Audacious Faith Confessions: 
1. I am full forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation. 
(Romans 8:1-2; Ephesians 1:7-8; 1 John 1:9). 

2. I act in audacious faith to change the world in my generation. 
(Joshua 10:12-14; John 14:12). 

3. I have no fear of anxiety; I trust in the LORD with all my heart. 
(Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7).

• Prayer is the arena where our faith meets God’s abilities. …

Two of my favourite excerpts are as follows:-

“How did God choose to accomplish the redemption of the world? By His grace – and through the willingness of Jesus to sacrifice His life. How will God accomplish the impossible vision He has planted in your heart? By His grace – and through your willingness to sacrifice your life for the sake of Jesus. I’m not suggesting that you’ve got to work really, really hard for God to work in you. That’s heresy. Grace is something God works in you. And by that grace, He works faith out of you.”

“Your vision should never be limited to who you are or what you think you can do. The size of your vision isn’t even determined by who God is. The scope and impact of your vision will be determined by who you believe God is – and whether you have the courage to respond accordingly. If you’re going to have a Page 23 vision and Sun Stand Still prayers, you’ve got to have the right idea about who God is to you and what He wants to do through you.”

Read this book and feel the excitement of living in the Kingdom of God as Pastor Furtick  narrates his real life encounters and firm grasp of theology in his down-to-earth let’s-get-going style. Blessed reading!

STEVEN FURTICK is the founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, named by Outreach magazine as one of the top ten fastest growing chruches in the nation. 

Learn more about the Sun Stand Still Movement at www.sunstandstill.org


Please feel free to check out 2 of my favourite Christian bookstore and resource locations:

• The Ink Room 

• SKS Book Warehouse   

Book Review: ENEMY ACCESS DENIED By John Bevere

The title to this book, “Enemy Access Denied”, comes with this byline: “Slam the devil’s door with one simple decision”. It was previously published as “The Devil’s Door” by Charisma House. 

True to form, this book by John Bevere is backed by an arsenal of Scripture passages and verses, giving us an informed and well-balanced presentation of the truth of God’s Word. There is a lot of ground being covered. But as I soldiered on to the end, I have been richly rewarded with a better understanding of God’s heart, especially with regards to uncompromising obedience. 

The chapters in this book are as follows:
1. The Devil’s Door
2. Sacrifices That Ensnares
3. Obedience – Not Sacrifice
4. The Mystery of Lawlessness
5. No Witchcraft, Except …
6. The Strength of Rebellion
7. The Strength of Obedience
8. Grace That Misleads
9. The Fight of Faith
10. Humility – the Road to Success
11. Arm Yourself
12. The Blessing of Obedience

Chapter 5 (“Grace That Misleads”) delivers an urgent and chilling wake-up call to modern Christians as it challenges us to grasp a balanced understanding of God’s goodness and severity. 

In it John Bevere reminds us that: “Many Christian circles have overemphasized the goodness of God to the neglect of His holiness and justice. This swing to the extreme left has caused many to lose their taste for the whole counsel of God. … The grace of God is not merely a cover-up. Yes, it covers, but it goes beyond that – it enables and empowers us to live life of obedience. … 

Just saying you have faith does not prove you actually do. How can faith be real without corresponding actions of obedience? Hear the words again” “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). Perhaps the day will come when the church will proclaim this scripture as loudly as it has Ephesians 2:8-9. Then it will be zealous, not floundering in a dangerous, lukewarm condition. …

Scripture speaks of two groups of people who expect entrance into the kingdom of heaven but will be denied:
1. Those who give their lives to Jesus for selfish purposes. They are more interested in blessings than the Blesser. From the start they are deceived because the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life choke out the Word they hear and confess. (See Luke 8:15)

2. Those who convert with sincere motives but later lose their salvation. This group (which I believe is smaller than the first group) walks away from obedience to His lordship.”

This book is gripping and provides uncompromising Scriptural insights which will spur us to deepen our understanding of the whole counsel of God’s Word and to align our will more and more with His will. Blessed reading!

Book review: Limitless by Nick Vujicic

“Limitless” is Nick Vujicic’s first devotional which draws on materials from two of his previous books, Life Without Limits and Unstoppable.

As explained by Nick, the title “Limitless” refers to God’s limitless love and power. This is a powerful devotional because it is a collection of his personal testimonies of his faith walk with God despite the challenges of having no arms and legs.

The struggle he has faced would resonate with readers of his books. For example, this is his take on unanswered prayer:  “I prayed to God that I would wake up with arms and legs. Those prayers were not answered. I grew angry and then depressed. Thoughts of suicide drove me to make an attempt on my own life, but I stopped short when I realized my death would burden my loved ones with guilt and grief. Over time, I came to understand that God has not brought me into the world without limbs to punish me. Instead, He had a plan for me, an incredible plan to serve Him by inspiring and leading others to lives of Christian faith.”

There are 50 chapters in this 163 pages devotional and I think it would be really useful to read 1 chapter several times for a week before moving on to the next chapter. Through repetition and constant renewal of our mind based on the same chapter over a week, I think readers could potentially assimilate the truth and wisdom of God’s Word concerning, inter alia, our faith in Him, and receive a greater insight / revelation of God as God in His limitless love and power.

At the end of each chapter there is a useful recapitulation which summarizes the lessons learnt and comes forth as apples of gold in setting of silver. Consider chapter 3, for example, where Nick wrote: “Whatever circumstances you face, God will use you for His purposes. It may be years before you understand what that purpose might be. In some cases, you may never know the full extent of His plans or why He allows some things to happen to you. That’s why it is necessary to put your faith in action by knowing God is with you and by knowing that even though bad things may happen, they do not change the fact that He loves you.”

This devotional is a great help for us to overcome personal limitations by deepening our faith in and walk with our limitless God. After reading it, you may, well, wanna bless someone else with a copy of “Limitless”. Happy reading!

For more information on Nick Vujicic, please click on the following links:

* NickVujicic Home Page

* NickVujicic World Outreach Web Series Trailer

 

TRANSFORMED BY WORSHIP by Kong Hee

(Source: City Harvest Church news bulletin, October 11 - 12, 2014)

The Tabernacle in the Old Testament is a pattern of what is in heaven and it outlines how the believer can enter into the Presence of the LORD in today’s context.

Within the Tabernacle resided the Altar of Incense, a picture of worship and prayer. It is positioned in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.

Each time the priest entered into the Holy Place, he was commanded of the LORD to take a handful of incense and sprinkle it onto the burning coals of the altar. As the incense burned day and night, the perfumed smoke passed through the veil and into the Holy of Holies, as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

The fragrance, mixed with the presence of God, would fill the Holy Place, saturating the clothing, hair and even the skin of the priest himself. The fragrance of God’s presence would then be carried by the priest to others in the Outer Court.

Today, as believers in the New Covenant, when we enter into the presence of God and offer Him our worship, our love and our adoration; we must come away with our spirit, soul and body so permeated with the fragrance of God that we will be “…to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing …the aroma of life leading to life…” just like how it’s described in 2 Cor. 2:15-16.

WORSHIP ALWAYS TRANSFORMS US

The goal of worship is to be transformed into the image of the One who is worshiped. In Luke 9 is a beautiful account of how Peter, John and James went up to the mountain to pray with Jesus. As Jesus spent time with His heavenly Father, His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white and glistening (Luke 9:28-31; Matt. 17:2). Jesus was transfigured by the presence of God.

In the original Greek, the word transfigured is the same word as “metamorphosis”, which means to change from one form to another. It is the same word used to describe the transformation of a caterpillar in a cocoon into a butterfly. So during His time of worship unto God, Jesus was metamorphosed from a human being into a glorious spiritual being.

The same word is used in another verse …”But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the LORD.” (2 Cor. 3:18)

This verse tells us that what happened to Jesus – when He was worshiping His Father – can also happen to us. For that to happen, based on 2 Cor. 3:18, we must know four things:

1. We must worship God with the REAL “US”

To worship with an “unveiled face” is to come before God without any masks – open honesty. Real change and transformation of our lives cannot take place without us being truly honest and open in the presence of the LORD.

2. We must look into the GLORY OF THE LORD

Introspection alone is not going to bring about the transformation we need in our lives. To that effect, even spiritual activities such as prayer, reading the Bible or Christian books would not change us either. It is only when we see the glory of God in Jesus Christ, then only will true transformation take place.

So, during prayer, when we see Jesus, we will be changed; as we read His Word, when we see Jesus, we will be changed.

3. We must expect the Holy Spirit to work in us

When we are looking at His face, the Holy Spirit is doing a deep inner work within us. In the Old Testament, during the plague in the desert, when Moses lifted up the bronze serpent on a pole, his message to the people was “Look and live”. Today, Jesus has already been lifted up on the Cross as our Savior to give us eternal life. So Paul’s message to us here is, “Look and be changed”.

4. We must allow the change to be PROGRESSIVE

Whatever glory we can see in God becomes the new platform to greater levels of glory to be revealed to us. As we spend time in worship looking at God’s nature, we will be adjusted to that nature – we become more loving, more forgiving, more faithful, more patient – from glory to glory!

The transformation is not instantaneous and there are no shortcuts; but as long as we hang in there with Christ, we will never fail. We are changed from “faith to faith” (2 Cor. 10:15) … “from strength to strength” (Ps. 138:3) … “from grace to grace” (1 John 1:16).

By the by, as we worship God, the Bible says that we will be changed “until Christ is formed in us” (Gal. 4:19).




Preaching the gospel of Christ in a way that’s both progressive and heartfelt, Dr. Kong Hee is a highly sought-after conference speaker worldwide, and his messages minister to millions of people around the world who are inspired to become true ambassadors for Christ wherever God has placed them. Kong is also the founder and senior pastor of City Harvest Church – a thriving, contemporary congregation in the heart of Singapore. His international TV program, Alive! With Kong, encourages millions around the world each week. For more information on Kong’s ministry and materials, please visit konghee.com. 

http://edition.konghee.com/