Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit

A good read that may change your life.

The book is about the Holy Spirit and how He does not occupy the place of honor that He deserves in the lives of most of us. Honestly, most Christians will pray to God the Father in Jesus name, but how many people consider the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives and His role in the church in general? If you read this book with an open mind it will help you to thoughtfully consider the Holy Spirit's role in your life and the church. The book is well thought out and is thought provoking. If you have ever wondered about the third (but equal) person of the Trinity, this book may help you grasp some concepts. But, let's admit up front that a full and complete understanding of an infinte Creator God is not possible by a finite creation like man. But this book may help clear up a few things for some of us.

10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

If you seek truth, this is a MUST read!

What a great book. Easy to understand. Thought provoking. Motivational. Inspires change. After I started reading for the 1st time, I ordered 3 additional copies to give to close friends who seek a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. I am a Baptist, and so excited to learn more about the Holy Spirit.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Great Book!

This is an excellent follow up to Crazy Love. I'd also recommend that you buy "When God Stopped Keeping Score," which is an intimate look at the power of God in forgiveness. It's on sale here on BN. It is an eye opening book.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Great Follow Up to Crazy Love

Pastor Chan does a wonderful job of showing us our need for the Holy Spirit. Imagine how much more powerful the church would be and glorified our God would be if more of His children would yield to the Spirit. Natural giftings can only take us so far and, at the end of the day, lead those around us to tell us how wonderful "we" are. How wrong is that?

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

WOW

Francis Chan does it again. I think it is amazing how he has allowed God to work through him. A must read for any believer in Jesus Christ and the trinity.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

awesome book

Francis Chan has written yet another book that is so inspired by GOD. This book is just as amazing at Crazy Love!!!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

very challenging...

Typically the Holy Spirit is one of those "forgotten subjects." Like tithing or faith exhibited through works, it's not a popular subject from either pulpit or book. So if anyone was going to find the "lost morsel" and bring it to light, it's Francis Chan.

Right now, I don't even know how to describe Francis - he was a pastor of a local LA church, I suppose now he is a book author, a husband, a father, a Calvinist, a public speaker, a prophet, a sounding board for resolute doctrine and a very funny and likable guy.

In Forgotten God, Chan makes a case that the true "power" and "tapability" (my own word) of the Holy Spirit is often left unaccessed, by both Christians and the Church. Chan writes,

"You are most likely familiar with the fruit passage in Galatians 5 which says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, (and) self-control." You may even have the list memorized. But look over those traits right now and ask yourself if you posses each to a supernatural degree. Do you exhibit more kindness and faithfulness than the Mormons you know? Do you have more self-control than your Muslim friends? More peace than Buddhists? More Joy than atheists? if GOD truly lives in you, shouldn't you expect to be different from everyone else?"

Francis is one of those voices who can look at scripture and find the "obvious" point we have all been missing - he finds some prophetic way to see something new in the same text we have all been reading.

Chan tells a story about how two Jehovah's Witness knocked on his door one day to share their message - Francis "gently" told them that he found their message offensive because they believe that Michael the arc-angel is also Jesus. Francis shared that Jesus is so much more than an angel, to which the JW's assured him that Jesus/Michael is the only one. Francis then read Daniel 10:13 to them that says "Michael was only one of many chief princes." Francis went on to say that he could not believe that honest bible study had led to their conclusions. He accused them of being spoon fed and instructed them to read the bible for themselves.

And I think I would offer the same advice, but to all of us.again Francis Chan

""I left that conversation feeling a bit proud of myself because I stumped them and got them to question their beliefs. Yet I couldn't help but wonder whether I was fair to them. Had I ever sat down with the Bible and sought after its self-evident truth? Or had a passively ingested what I heard from other people, much like my front-door visitors?"

Forgotten God will challenge you to beak open the word and unlock the truth that the power of God resides in you - and that power and gifting is available to you today. And if you do not possess it to a 'super natural degree' may you hunger and seek after it all the more

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Back to the way things should be!

Francis Chan has such a great heart after God! I love the way he brings forth scripture and purity about the Holy Spirit. Something that the church has ignored because of doctrinal differences that is such a powerful tool and blessing from God! Great inspirational book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Seems very Biblical; novel topic

The Holy Spirit is definitely something that my denomination doesn't focus on, and Rev. Chan provides a good overview, with plenty of Scripture to back up his points.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Powerful book!

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Fantasic book

Another great Chan book which brings you back to biblical basics. He is definitely on fire and on target.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The second of Chan’s books is arguably the best of the thr

The second of Chan’s books is arguably the best of the three. In this volume, Chan tackles a subject that has divided the church for centuries—God, the Holy Spirit. The author reminds readers that while most Christians of the evangelical stripe have no issue with God, the Father (Creator of all things), nor God, the Son (Savior of the world), we have a great amount of difficulty wrapping our minds around the Spirit of God who indwells us.

After addressing the extremes—the Holy Spirit is some magical power that expresses Himself the same way all the time in every Christian (represented by the strictest of Pentecostal believers) versus the Holy Spirit is there, but you don’t give more than a passing nod lest you become too charismatic (or “a charizmatick” as my mother-by-law would put it) as represented by my own Baptist upbringing. Both of these views is inadequate because they are reactionary to one another. Historically, my Baptist roots would warn me not to put too much emphasis on the spiritual side of things—accompanied by shallow emotionalism and “getting carried away.” On the other end of the spectrum, those who are reacting to my conservative reaction are so “spiritual” that they neglect the practice of real worship.

Chan’s book is a much needed call to remember that we are one with the Spirit when we are one with Christ. It is a balanced view of what we should view as living the Christ-filled life. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to (1) learn more about who the Spirit of God is and what He does; (2) make the Christian life their path; or (3) truly follow Jesus in daily Christian living. After all, we cannot do what we are called and expected to do in our own strength—we must have the Spirit.

Read this book. (five out of five reading glasses)

—Benjamin Potter, May 23, 2012

[This is a review of the Nook version of this book.]

Highly Recommend! Very needed theology

This is a very important and needed theological subject that has been explained very simply and beautifully.

Heart Warming. Awesome book, haven't finished reading it yet but

Heart Warming.
Awesome book, haven't finished reading it yet but it is definitely a reality check on how much of a difference of a difference on how I have been blind to the Holy Spirit, Really moving and uplifting book. Thanks Rev. Chan

An Enjoyable, Succinct, and Necessary Treatise on a Seemingly Forgotten Topic.

Chan is poignant and confronting in this accessible selection. Necessary reading for the modern minister, but a most beneficial read for the layman as well. Chan explores the role of the Spirit within the Trinity, within the Church, and within the individual; shining a light on a shadowy figure we thought we knew. Much like shining broad daylight into a dark closet we rarely visit, Chan's discourse almost looks new, but feels wholly familiar. Be warned, this is a challenging read in that one cannot simply put it down and continue about life unscathed. Well worth it.

Exposition for application

In this book, Francis Chan expounds the often-neglected doctrine of the Holy Spirit. He presents what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit and His work in the Christian's life. This is not a dry theology book, but a challenges to Christians to commit to live in the Spirit, which means growing in their relationship with God and contributing to the ministry of the church.

The reason I gave this four stars instead of five is that Chan brushes past the issues of when the Believer receives the Holy Spirit and the exact nature of spiritual gifts (e.g. whether tongues, prophecy, etc. are for today) with little or no exposition. I understand that he is trying to avoid controversy and focus on application, but these seem like fairly important issues when it comes to how the doctrine of the Holy Spirit should be applied.

Great Read

Challenging. Insightful. Refreshing

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