Costi W. Hinn

First sentence: Years have passed since I was saved and began studying the Holy Spirit with the curiosity of Sherlock Holmes, but one trend continues to be prevalent: the Holy Spirit is quite possibly the most used and abused member of the Trinity.

Costi W. Hinn's newest book is Knowing the Spirit: Who He Is, What He Does, and How He Can Transform Your Christian Life. He writes with great balance--balancing practical application and theology. Both are key, in my opinion. This one does address the elephant in the room issues surrounding the Holy Spirit. Because there is such a broad spectrum of "Christian" believers who have strong opinions about WHO the Holy Spirit and WHAT he does. Hinn's approach is bible based, always. He goes beyond what this denomination or that denomination teaches. He goes beyond the experiential 'knowing' to see what the Word of God says--in both testaments--about the Holy Spirit. He also isn't trying to please everyone--surprise, you can't. Hinn stays grounded in the Word of God and what more can you ask for in a book. Yes, he tackles some difficult topics in this one.

I definitely enjoyed this one. I found it informative and well written.

His recommended bible study/bible application tool for reading passages.

Sin: Is there sin to confess or avoid?
Promise: Is there a promise God is making that is specifically for me?
Example: Is there an example in the passage that I should follow?
Command: Is there a command I should obey?
Knowledge: Is there knowledge about God that deepens worship and my relationship with him?

Favorite quote:

When it comes to the Holy Spirit, we need to make sure everything we believe lines up with Scripture. I’ve often heard this quote attributed to Charles Spurgeon (though I can never find the original source) that says, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”… (altro)

First sentence: As I was writing this book, events in the year 2020 unfolded rapidly: the pandemic, cultural upheaval, dramatic battles in the church, the American election. To say that it was a wild year is an understatement.

More Than A Healer is a fantastic read. I rarely check out books from the library and say I NEED to own that book, but, with this one I'm tempted. It is SO wonderful. Is it just about healing? No. It is a look at WHO Jesus has revealed himself to be in the Word of God. It is a close look at the Jesus who actually IS as opposed to the Jesus that we might imagine and reimagine in our heads. Sometimes imaginary Jesus makes his way into the pulpit as well. Imaginary Jesus definitely invades bookstores as well.

This is a good old-fashioned meet the real Jesus book. There are nine chapters.

He Is Healer
He Is Peace
He Is Savior
He Is Hope
He Is Comfort
He Is Good
He Is Love
He Is Justice
He Is Sovereign

Each book is PACKED with spiritual truth and insight and heavily saturated with the Word of God. And by that I mean it is written in light of Scripture and with close attention, dear reverence for Scripture. I do not mean cutting and pasting only. The Bible IS relevant whether people want to admit that or not. The Bible has truth--some of it comforting and reassuring, and some of it HARD and uncomfortable.

I think one of the important thing he stresses is that you should be meeting Jesus in the Word of God and not blindly accepting and following a second-third-fourth hand Jesus. Anyone can say "Jesus said..." or "Jesus says..." but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are getting Jesus right. OR interpreting his words, his meaning correctly. It is unfortunate that it's commonplace to read our own meanings into Scripture instead of studying what the Word actually meant and means.

I see this as a book to refer back to again and again.

I think my favorite chapter might just be He Is Peace. I love, love, love the Alistair Begg story he shares!… (altro)

First sentence: Just a short while ago, I had the chance to sit with one of my living heroes. Dr. Steven J. Lawson probably wouldn't like my choice of words because he doesn't view himself as heroic. But his advice rings in my ears every time I share the story of how I left the prosperity gospel. "Telling your testimony is fine," he explained. "Paul the apostle did it. Many others have told their testimonies too. It can be helpful. But don't be one of those people who make sin look so good that people want to go out and do it!" His voice elevated with passion. "And it needs to point to Christ and glorify God! Storytelling for the sake of storytelling doesn't do much good. The gospel must be the focus."

God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel is a fantastic read. The first half is mostly memoir. Costi Hinn sharing his testimony--his story. This involves sharing his family's background, their rise to fame, AND it also includes a history lesson on how the prosperity gospel came about and prospered so to speak. He shares his doubts and questions. He writes of how he and his wife came to leave that theology--that false teaching--behind. The second half is mainly theological. Both sections are fantastic. The second half goes above and beyond: it is practical, informative, thought-provoking. It seeks to explain, to expose, to teach.
Hinn's goal was for the book to "glorify God and communicate the gospel," and in my opinion he succeeded in this. He differentiates between the true gospel and the false gospel of the prosperity preachers. His zeal comes through, but it's zeal tempered with much love and compassion.

I would definitely recommend this one.… (altro)