Sam Storms - The Singing God: Feel the Passion God Has for You...Just the Way You Are

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THE SINGING GOD by Sam Storms
Published by Passio
Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group
600 Rinehart Road
Lake Mary, Florida 32746
www.charismahouse.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NAS are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., publishers. Used by permission.

People and incidents in this book are composites created by the author from his experiences in ministry. Names and details of the stories have been changed, and any similarity between the names and stories of individuals described in this book to individuals known to readers is purely coincidental.

The quote is from The Pleasures of God: Meditations on Gods Delight in Being God by John Piper, copyright 1991, 2000 by Desiring God foundation. Used by permission of WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. Any third party use of this material, outside of this publication, is prohibited. Interested parties must apply directly to Random House,Inc. for permission.

Copyright 1998, 2013 by Sam Storms
All rights reserved

Cover design by Lisa Cox
Design Director: Bill Johnson

Visit the authors website at www.enjoyinggodministries.com.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012917858
International Standard Book Number: 978-1-61638-972-7
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62136-264-7

Portions of this book were previously published by Charisma House, ISBN 0-88419-537-6, copyright 1998.

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication.

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Printed in the United States of America

Gratefully dedicated to the ministry staff at
Bridgeway Church, with whom it is a blessing
to labor in the pursuit of Gods glory

Contents

by Mike Bickle

I T IS A special pleasure for me to recommend Sam Stormss book The Singing God. I have known Sam for over twenty years and worked closely with him at Metro Christian Fellowship and Grace Training Center for seven of those years. During that time I have come to enjoy Sam as one of my favorite preachers in the body of Christ today. His messages regularly challenge my spiritual life and increase my understanding of the beauty of God. Sam has a rare and unique insight into the dynamics of Gods kingdom, especially the emotional makeup of Gods own personality and His remarkable capacity to enjoy His people.

The reality of a singing God who is filled with abounding passion and who delights in His people, yes, even broken people, is the central theme of this book. Sams skill and knowledge of the Word of God, together with his expertise in church history, have provided him with the tools to speak with persuasion and clarity about this vitally important issue. He esteems the reality and power of our emotions, which reflect the very image of God Himself, without crossing the line into unbiblical emotionalism. He brings us into the embrace of Jesus, who longs for intimacy with us, without bringing us into a weak sentimentalism in our approach to God.

This book is deeply rooted in the scriptures and in Sams profound experience of the Lord in his own personal life. Anyone who desires to grow in their passion for Jesus needs to experience the warmth that comes from grasping the beauty and splendor of Gods emotional makeup. Although it may sound strange to some, God really does have feelings for His people. This book explores in a fresh and revealing way how God experiences inexpressible delight over His children and how you can be touched in the depths of your soul with this life-changing reality.

I can also happily recommend this book because I know the fountain from which Sam drinks. As a close friend and former colleague, I have watched his unwavering commitment to biblical orthodoxy and scholarship together with his warm devotion to the person of Jesus and fascination with the unparalleled beauty of the Son of God. Sam is a man who seeks to live and equip the church for a life in the Spirit that is rooted and anchored in the Word of God and the realities of everyday life.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to make the first commandment first in their life.

MIKE BICKLE
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Prologue

F OR AS LONG as he can remember, the little boy had heard people talking about the Great King. Everywhere he went, he listened with rapt attention as they spoke of how big He was and how beautiful and strong. The mere thought of meeting the King would set his heart pounding within his chest. His mouth would dry up, and his palms became sweaty. Still, he knew that if he could only see this Great King, his questions would all be answered, his fears forever relieved, and his life made full. But he didnt know where to look.

Then one day, quite without warning, the little boys eyes were opened. It was light, brilliant, effulgent light. At first he recoiled in fear. Yet he felt irresistibly drawn forward, ever closer to the light. He had never before seen such a scintillating blaze. The sun was a filthy blotch of black coal compared to this glorious beam.

Something inside said it was the light of the Great King, the light of His eyes and of His countenance. Cautiously, but determined, he followed the light to its source. There, upon a throne, sat the Great King. It was a throne of such grandeur and glory that the little boy stood stunned and speechless. He was not alone. At its base had gathered a multitude of others who had also seen the light. They too were in awe of this great and mighty King.

Driven by childlike curiosity, he extended his hand and touched the throne. Just as he thought, it was gold. Yet somehow, for all its wealth and worth, it still seemed beneath the dignity of the One who sat upon it.

Peals of lightning and claps of thunder sounded forth, filling the air with the echo of His commands. The little boy had never heard such sounds, nor had he seen such a sight.

From the throne the Great King ruled the worlds. His word stood fast. None dared speak against Him. None dared challenge His decrees. Neither a hand was raised to thwart His will nor a word spoken to question His purpose.