Customer Reviews

Passion for Jesus: Cultivating Extravagant Love for God

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I have always been an avid reader. Since my conversion that has only increased. I am always reading one or two books at a time. The senior pastor at the church I attend says that I have the best library on the East coast. I say all of that to say that I have read hundreds and hundreds of Christian books. And many of them I have enjoyed. Some of them I would recomend to others. But only a hand few would I hold out as must reads. Passion for Jesus is one of those books.

I can still recall the first time I read this book. I had just been exposed to Bickle's minstry. I picked up a copy of the book and settled down to read it one afternoon. At one point I was lying on my bed reading when some of the truths I was reading hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks.

As I read the reality of actually knowing Jesus, in contrast to knowing about Him, was revolutionary. The core of my being shifted, and I have never been the same. I am now consumed with the noble quest of knowing Christ Jesus, like I know other persons, but more so.

You may have noticed I haven't said much about Mike. That's because Mike points to a greater reality, a greater Person. This is as it should be.

Passion for Jesus rocked my world. And since that fateful day I have bought cases of this book and given them away to dozens and dozens of friends, family members and enemies. And as a result, I have seen numerous lives affected, I have seen numbers of individuals set ablaze with a fire that burns from another world, from another age.

If you have a inkling that there is more to life than what meets the eye; if you have heard about Jesus, but you have a suspicion that there is a deeper reality - a deeper knowing; if you want to actually set out on a path to the greatest experience you have ever known - which is an experience with a real Person, buy and read this book.

Buy three copies - one for yourself, one for a friend and one for someone that you don't like but you want to be a blessing too. And none of you will ever be the same.

You can have and develop a Passion for Jesus. This book is a good sign post to start the journey.

Mike Bickel bluntly points out that some Christians focus on perceived success but the heart of the kind of Christian God seeks is one who loves Jesus passionately! The passion the author has for Jesus is contagious. As he describes his own spiritual journey he explains how prayer used to be a drugery for him and how that changed. He talks about the transcendent nature of God. He is OTHER than anything He created and He created it all. Intimate worship reveals more of Who He is.

To know God is the ultimate pursuit of any created being. We were literally born for that purpose. There are so many insightful truths on myriad topics related to the core of this book that they cannot all be addressed in a review.

He tells us that throughout eternity we will increase in our appreciation of God as He reveals more and more of Himself to us. In chapter 12 he lists 12 expressions of God's beauty. Like the rest of the book, the material is presented with a freshness I've never read anywhere else and I read extensively. This is an anointed book that will refresh you and renew your passion for Jesus.

"Passion for Jesus" is the story of Mike Bickles's foray into the heart of God. This book is a great primer for his subsequent book entitled, "After God's Own Heart - Becoming a David Generation" Having read and studied both, I would encourage any reader to read them in the sequence published. Why? Because it helps us all to have a sense of the author's travail on his journey through the same process...full of human failings and triumphs along the way. No prima donna preaching here!

Mike Bickle's Passion for Jesus fans the flame of your love for the Savior! He maintains that intimate relationship with God doesn't just happen. As with all deep relationships, it results from intentional, purposeful pursuit of relationship. It comes from an understanding of the character of God and our Bridal identity in with the Son.
He shows how the Song of Solomon illustrates the Bridegroom's love for us our our response to this lavish love.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone desiring to fan the flames of their love for God.
Pat Taff

I do recommend this book to anyone who want to get closer to God to read this book and not only once, but read it again and again. God bless.

This may have been Mike Bickle's first but it just so happens I read 'Pleasures of Loving God' and 'Seven Longings of the Human Heart' prior to this. It's a fun biography of Mike's early life, and covers wrong concepts about God's character that we've picked up from organized religion. Intimacy with God, enjoying God, revelation, transformation - are other topics covered. Life-changing!

This is Great, a must read to encourage a passionate relationship with Jesus because of His great Love for you, Jesus want you.