Customer Reviews

Experiencing The Presence Of God

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This book contains a nice collection of many of Finney's sermons. I was inspired by the first few chapters on the power of the Holy Spirit. This book can be intense at times, but Finney did preach a hard hitting message that many are not used to today. I regret that many of the messages have been abridged, but the essential information is there, and it is written in more modern terms. I recomend this book to any one who wants live a life that brings glory to God, and wants to witness with power.

Wow! What a gold mine of a book, If you are a Finney lover, this is a book you need to get. If not truly it is a must read. Most excellent!

This has to be the most confronting and challenging Christian book I've ever read. Mr Finney deals with so many issues, from how to present the gospel to the unsaved, how to have a revival, and deals with sin in Christians' lives. His teachings on sin I had never come accross before and exposed the extreme and errors to which the modern church era has taken the grace of God. This is a must book for every Christian who is serious about walking in God's presence.

It is a good worthy of being read again adn again.
Charles Finney is a spritual man whose book plays an importan
role in your life.

I cautiously write this review.
Charles Finney was probably my first major hero of the faith. His autobiography sparked such hunger in me for the living God.

Soon after reading his autobiography I bought this book and began reading. I also bought every single work by Finney that I could find, about $200 worth I think.

But this particular volume stands out in my mind. I remember I was reading it when I really hit rock bottom of my legalistic phase... and gave up. I wanted so badly to please God and for Him to be happy with me. But reading this stuff just continued to make me feel worthless and it got to the point where I really didn't know if I was saved. I felt like I hadn't repented right or enough or I was just so sinful for stuff like not praying enough, lustful thoughts, etc. I was majoring on minors, losing perspective, looking at myself constantly instead of Jesus. I placed more confidence in my commitment to God than in His commitment to me. I confused weakness and immaturity with rebellion. I stopped fighting, indulged some sinful desires, and backslid for about 6 months.

I don't know how much of that was Finney's fault and how much was mine or whatever other factors that might have been involved. All I know is that the fruit of the contents of this book was very bad in my life.

Looking back at some of Finney's work in retrospect, I feel like I don't know if I believe that what Finney says is technically wrong or false. I think that maybe Finney had a message that was anointed for a specific time and place, for a certain season- and that season has passed. I also think that it would be much different to have been present for his messages and teachings because I think the anointing would have been there and there could be a chance to actually deal with any areas of sin that surface- right then and there. But merely reading it is different.

I still greatly appreciate Finney's story, his fire and his zeal, and I honor the anointing that he walked in, but I think his theology is disastrous (at least what I've studied of it)- especially to read!

I wouldn't be surprised if some people have benefited from this book. Finney does make some good points. And I could see how maybe for a certain person at a certain place in their walk it could help. But I don't think I would ever recommend his writings to anyone, with the possible exception of his autobiography.