Customer Reviews

Surprised by the Voice of God: How God Speaks Today Through Prophecies, Dreams, and Visions

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I have been a Christian for over forty years. I have always been taught and believed that God speaks today ONLY through the Bible. In a gracious and loving way, Dr. Deere makes the inarguable case for a God Who speaks in MANY ways today, even as He has since the Creation. I can't find words to express how important this teaching has been to my personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus. The potential for growing intimacy and open, two-way communication with my loving Lord fills me with hope, encouragement and excitement. I am in full-time Christian ministry (pastor of a small evangelical congregation) and I desperately needed this fresh word from God. It has been humbly and articulately presented in a very down-to-earth, yet intelligent fashion by this gifted and devoted brother in Christ. All who have--or LONG to have--a passion to KNOW the Lord Jesus, MUST read and prayerfully consider the teachings of this tremendous book.

I was taught that God only speaks through his Word. Period. It was up to us, as reasonable beings to read, understand and discern the will of God. Thus, God's will was reduced to Scriptural principles to follow. It was a safe way to live the Christian life. It was all so reasonable. It was all up to me to read. It was up to me to understand. It was up to me to discern Gods will. Evidently, those who hear God's voice were to be locked up in rooms with padded walls where men in white coat would take care of them.

Then I read Surprised by the Voice of God and my theological world was turned on its head. Subtitled, How God Speaks Today Though Prophecies, Dreams, and Visions, this is a thoughtful analysis of how God speaks to us today. Now, I know that some of you reading this review are saying: That Pastor Bob has just went over the deep end. Perhaps I have. But if going over the deep end means having a closer more intimate relationship with my God, so be it. But before you slam this review, go to your local Christian bookstore and speak a peek at Chapter 17, Confessions of a Bible Deist. Go ahead, the clerk will not mind. It is Deeres contention in that chapter that much of evangelical thought (his included) has more incoming with deism than Biblical Christianity. The deists worshiped human reason, the Bible deists of today worship the Bible. With a lawyers wit, Deere thoroughly examines evangelical theology and presuppositions in light of the Word of God.

It is a delightful, life-changing read. Put this one on you A-list.

I just finished reading Surprised by the Voice of God for the second time and it won't be the last! As someone coming from a similar church background as Jack Deere, I found it extemely helpful that this was foremost a biblical treatment of the topic and THEN the author's opinion and experience. I also appreciated the balance of instruction on how God speaks and the warnings of possible "Prophetic Pitfalls." I consider this an essential book for anyone who desires to hear from God.

How long we have cheated ourselves of being open to the workings of God's awesome Spirit in our lives. This book isn't a showcase for shenanigans. Indeed not. It is an honest and benevolent description of how we can experience the encouragement, comfort and joy of the Holy Spirit. I very much admire how Mr. Deere admonishes us all to keep in the Word, and how he provides guidance on how to test false spirits and false prophecies that spring from pride and self-interest. God is working in a dynamic and loving fashion in His Spirit. Open yourself to exploring that blessing. Mr. Deere's book lovingly shows you how to do so.

I've read both this book and his previous one, and find in them a well researched, well balanced, and well reasoned approach to the impact of the Spirit in the modern church. I approached this study with a great deal of skepticism, and was impressed by his depth of research, as well as balanced criticism of the traditional biblical research which denied that any of the Spirit's supernatural influences have a place in the church. I've found most of the criticism I found of his books online to be either out-of-context quotes or biblical quotes, or from people who seem to have strong prejudices against even attempting to examine this issue to see if there is truth. Overall, Deere strongly emphasizes - repeatedly - the pre-eminence of scripture over revelation and prophecy, and that the Gifts should all lead to the building up of the body or the reaching of the Lost for Christ's glory. To be honest, it is hard to discount his arguments, in that his main point is that the Spirit can and does have a real work in the life of the Body - and isn't simply a vague "doesn't really have any impact in a Xian's life" force. It is obvious from any in-depth research of scripture and historical Xianity, that Christ and the apostles all supported and believed in an active role for the Spirit in the Church. I myself am going to seek that role in my own life.

If you are on the track of getting to know God and learning to hear his voice...this book is for you. Jack Deere has the wonderful background of being Baptist and Manuscript oriented and then getting holy spirit baptized and being one with the Holy Spirit as well. Bapticostals tend to have a great perspective and balance on these things and Jack Deere is a great example of this. I highly recomend.

Any Christian should take the time to read this Spirit-inspired book. And believe me, you'll have to budget some time! I read this book over several weeks, because sometimes a single paragraph could provide you with so much hard-hitting insight that you'll have to sit back and digest it for a few hours, maybe while reading relevant passages in the Bible and praying. Realising that the Lord isn't the absent God many religions teach Him to be, will change your life ( spiritual and day-to-day ) for ever. Go buy this book, sent a serious prayer for guidance and insight to our Father, and start reading - it will be one of the best things you ever did!

In keeping with Deere's usual style, here he is faithful to Scripture and relevant to ministry. Rather than deal with technique, Deere focuses on developing a relationship with the Lord and knowing His voice in that relationship. The book offers a biblical and historical survey of the voice of God and notes the means by which God speaks: i.e., the Bible, experience, supernatural means, and natural means. Topics covered include (1) "Learning the Language of the Holy Spirit", (2) "Facilitating Prophetic Ministry", (3) "Prophetic Pitfalls", (4) "Dream and Visions" and (5) recognizing the voice of God. This book contains many good practical guidelines for facilitating prophetic ministry.

Not only is Dr. Deere a good teacher, he's also a good writer. This book is full of insight, and is certainly worth more than one reading - just like his first book. Yet it's easy to read, entertaining and hard to put down, so much that I've endured a few blurry-eyed mornings due to having stayed up reading too long! Apologists like Deere, Fee and Grudem make a strong case for Charismatic/Empowered Evangelicals to be the biblical norm and the New Testament model.
It should be said that the previous reviewer's interview snippet is highly misleading. The internet is full of witch hunters, prowling like lions, seeking to devour whom they can by ruining reputations. The false accusation that Deere "doesn't know what the Gospel is" is an old one. Look up the Vineyard Position Papers on the www for the full story. We should examine and weight all the evidence (and put it in situational context in this case!) before judging someone. Personally, I think Deere showed great restraint. Someone else might have socked the questioner with a punch in the nose!

To be a fair person one should act fairly. Calling a book a "perversion" and citing an article from an antagonistic source is only half the story. It would be objective to cite the answer to that antagonistic source and let the reader who chooses to "check it out" to make up his own mind. Such is the case at hand. The antagonstic source is a paper published by a group strongly opposed to Jack Deere. Mr. Deere answered the claims of that article at this source. www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5951/PP2.html

It may be that "a reader" did not know of the above source...or, since he searched enough to find one type of article--he just agrees with it. Either way it is still not a "balanced" review.

Check it out and you will see that the small section of quotes listed in the "review" are very misleading.