Spirit Rising is worth reading multiple times. I just completed it for the second time and anticipate reading it again. I appreciate the manner in which Jim Cymbala stresses the need for Christians to be controlled by the Holy Spirit without venturing into the realm of different denominational stances, etc. His teaching is based on Scripture and not a particular human doctrine. I believe that his message is crucial to every Christian who wants to see God at work in our daily lives and in our churches. Just before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He told the early disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before doing anything else. How many churches do everything else and then ask God to bless what they have done? Many times, in our humanity, we get it all backwards. I recommend you read this book with an open heart and mind. I believe we would see much more happening for God's glory in our churches. The Holy Spirit is waiting for us to seek Him.

Spirit Rising talks about the Holy Spirit and the work of the third person of the trinity. "The Holy Spirit is God's agent on earth" author, Jim Cymbala says. He: "chooses people for ministry assignments;" "searches out the deep things of God to make them known to believers;" "makes Christ a living reality to the believer;" is "coequal with both the Father and Son." We can struggle to be like Jesus but unless we give our lives to the Holy Spirit, everything spiritual will remain a struggle.

The author tells of many testimonies of miracles done by the Holy Spirit. My favorite is the story of Roma Black. I wonder what happened to that hit man. Is he a person who will no longer kill? Are there murders that this nation will never experience because of him? How could there be any other outcome after the Holy Spirit climbs in the car with you. But this tells the story of Roma.

The author's need to pray for Pakistan demonstrates one way the Holy Spirit works–Pastor Cymbala felt possessed by a need and unable to let it go. He says that the way to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit is to obey His voice when it comes. Pray to be sure it is Him, but do what He wants when you are sure. We must succumb to the Spirit, letting His direction be all we want, taking time to hear His voice.

Pastor Cymbala leads a charismatic church, but anyone who wants more of God will find Him here no matter what the reader's church denomination. My prayer changed after reading this book.

I received this book from NetGalley.

First of all I thank the Lord for using Pastor Cymbala...

Without the leading of the holy spirit this book would not have come to fruition.

My prayer is that the church of Jesus Christ today be filled with the holy spirit to a new level.

Oh how we need to tap into the holy spirit and this book is an illustration of such biblical principles.

I read this book along with doing the DVD Series Study by Cymbala called "When God's Spirit Moves"! The book enhanced the study and went deeper into the testimonies and explanations. Wonderful BOOK, wonderful STUDY! Both were such a blessing to our Tuesday Morning Bible Study Group here in North Carolina!

It is unfortunate that there aren't more churches that are experiencing the working of the Holy Spirit in their ministry. I believe we are grieving the Holy Spirit in not commiting ourselves to Him and the result of such a commitment is what is evident in the work of the Brooklyn Tabernacle as todl in thus book.