Rob King and Eric Ferris invite you to have an easygoing conversation about the Holy Spirit. With clarity, deep insight and clever wit, they help us to take steps toward a faith that embraces the possibilities God has for us on this side of Pentecost.
Vincent Bacote, Ph.D., director, Center for Applied Christian Ethics; associate professor of theology, Wheaton College
An inspiring and helpful resource! For a topic that we often want to avoid rather than engage, Rob King and Eric Ferris demystify the Holy Spirit and provide a healthy framework for understanding how to truly live in the Spirit.
Effortlessly moving between biblical wisdom and practical stories, The Spirit Within puts into words the longing we have for more. Its honest about whats confusing and clear on how to move forward. It is accessible for believers at every point in their faith walk and doesnt alienate people based on their theological background. Its a tall order to write a book about the Holy Spirit thats encouraging, informative, challenging and invitational. These authors have pulled it off, and if we put into practice what they teach, well be a stronger and more powerful Church.
King and Ferris accomplish an incredible feat in the pages of their new book. Masterfully blending their own thoughts into one voice, with almost seamless execution, they offer fresh insights that help us delve deeper into our understanding of the Holy Spirit. Their winsome prose, coupled with their rich theological dialogue, make The Spirit Within a satisfying read from cover to cover.
Rev. Jason Brian Santos, Ph.D., mission coordinator for Christian formation, Presbyterian Mission Agency, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A)
Rob and Eric invite followers of Jesus to wrap their arms around Gods whole Jesus-gift. Written in an everyday, relatable style, The Spirit Within warmly and humorously guides readers to recognize, to engage and to depend on Gods Spirit for abundant living and empowerment for Gospel mission.
Joel Willitts, Ph.D., professor of biblical and theological studies and practical theology, North Park University
Copyright Page
2019 by Rob King and Eric Ferris
Published by Chosen Books
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.chosenbooks.com
Chosen Books is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2019
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-2049-0
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
Scripture quotations labeled AMP are from the Amplified Bible (AMP), copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Scripture quotations labeled CEB are from the COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.CommonEnglishBible.com).
Scripture quotations labeled CEV are from the Contemporary English Version 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations labeled CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible, copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016
Scripture quotations labeled GNT are from the Good News Translation in Todays English Version-Second Edition. Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations labeled KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations labeled M ESSAGE are from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled NLV are taken from the New Life Version , copyright 1969 and 2003. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled TLV are taken from the Tree of Life Version. 2015 by the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society. Used by permission of the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
Cover design by Darren Welch Design
Authors represented by The Steve Laube Agency
Dedication
To Stephanie, DAnn, Jenna, Michael, Peyton, Courtney, Erin, Caleb and Katie.
Contents
Cover
Endorsements
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Foreword by Jim Burns
Authors Note
Acknowledgments
1. The Quest for More
2. I Know a Guy
3. Defusing the Fear Factor
4. The Promise and the Package
5. Living Confidently
6. Living with Clarity
7. Living in Good Company
8. Growing More Like the Person God Created You to Be
9. Surviving and Thriving
10. Looking Good, Living Better
11. Walking on Water
12. Living in the Right Direction
Epilogue
Appendix
Notes
About the Authors
Back Cover
Foreword
I try to read at least one book a year on the Holy Spirit. This is almost embarrassing to write, but I need that gentle reminder regularly that the Holy Spirit of God actually dwells within me and that I have access to His comfort, counsel and power. Books and messages on the Holy Spirit tend to help us find our way when we have lost our compass. The Spirit Within is that book for me this yearand one of the best, well-balanced books I have ever read on this subject.
As a brand-new 21-year-old youth pastor, I worked for John Wimber at a church called Yorba Linda Friends. John later became the leader of the Vineyard movement, which will go down in modern-day Church history as one of the greatest movements of God in the twentieth century. His kids were in my youth group. I shared meals and life with him. And yet, he would say, it was not until he became totally open to the fullness of God through the Holy Spirit that he saw God work so strongly in his own life and then around the world. The Spirit Within reminds us that we have access to that same powerful Spirit within our lives.
Rob King and Eric Ferris have a most remarkable ministry at Vineyard Cincinnati Church. When you walk on the campus, you sense the presence of God in a beautiful and vibrant way. These men and this church demonstrate what the Vineyard movement calls the radical middle. When it comes to living our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit, these are leaders and a church that live out these words: Who says we have to go to one extreme or the other? To neglect the Spirit of God in our lives is to neglect what Jesus called the greater things. To be reckless with the Holy Spirit and turn the Spirit into a carnival sideshow is also not right. The right way is to lean into the power of the Holy Spirit and not be afraid of the Spirits work in your life and your church.