Rod of the Spirit: A Journey Into the Spirit-Filled Life

by Danny Lovett

Book Overview

Rod of the spirit offers a fresh and innovative approach to the study of the Holy Spirit.The reader will be challenged to an ever deepening relationship with this One that He will "abide with you... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0972571965
• ISBN13: 9780972571968
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: 21st Century Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Learn what it means to be Spirit-filled

Danny Lovett's book, "Rod of the Spirit," offers a comprehensive look at the ministry of the Holy Spirit throughout the ages. Lovett's book provides in-depth descriptions of the Holy Spirit, how Christians experience Him, and how to ensure the fellowship continues. This book appeals to all people ranging from new believers to even the most mature Christian. The goal of Lovett's book is clearly to inform people of the importance of the third person of the God Head - the Holy Spirit. Throughout the book, he shows the power of the Holy Spirit within the church and the individual. Furthermore, he shows how the Holy Spirit ministers to each and every one of us. It is clear that Lovett wants his readers to respect the Holy Spirit and to harness His power. In the first Chapter, Lovett reveals how the Holy Spirit is revealed in the Old Testament. This is important because He is not called out by the name "Holy Spirit" like in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit is actually referred to as a rod throughout the Old Testament. Lovett does a great job correlating the rod to the Holy Spirit and even explains that His purpose is to offer guidance, powerful assistance, and loving reproof. Lovett also explains that much of the modern day church does not rely upon the works of the Holy Spirit. Although this seems to be true, Lovett should have provided additional evidence of how people are slipping when it comes to harnessing His power through fellowship. In the second Chapter, Lovett changes his focus to the power of the Holy Spirit. He makes a strong point that people have the innate desire to become powerful and successful and that the Christian world is affected by this struggle. Lovett emphasizes the powers of the Holy Spirit by expounding upon the process of sanctification. Similarly, one of the greatest powers of the Holy Spirit is to be the shepherd of the Christian flock. Chapter 3 is essential in assuring the Christian that God will be with us through every step of our journey. Lovett does a nice job validating this fact by showing how Jesus told the disciples that He would send a comforter to be with them while he was gone. That comforter, of course, was the Holy Spirit. Lovett explains that the comforter serves to comfort and counsel those he resides within. Lovett concludes the chapter by assuring that the Christian life is created and sustained by the Holy Spirit. As a result, we are assured that God is with us no matter what. Lovett changes gears in Chapter 4 by explaining the results of walking with the spirit. The Christian is assured that as a result of walking with the spirit, we are saved / sealed and are, therefore, sons of God...heirs to eternal life. Also, another result of having the spirit within us is having the ability to effectively witness to other people. This is an extremely useful point that Lovett provides the reader because he or she needs to understand that the Holy Spirit will work through them. Final

How the Holy Spirit Works

This study sheds new light on the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christians everyday life. Another reason for writing the book may be Danny Lovett's "desire for every child of God to understand and experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit of God...." (16). In the first chapter of Rod of the Spirit, the writer explains how the power of the Holy Spirit measures up to what we truly believe is powerful in this world. He discusses the differences between earthly power and spiritual power. He compares how the Christian church has been powerful in the past and how we need a powerful witness today just as much as we have in the past. He discusses how to appropriate the power of the Spirit by loving and knowing God. And finally he discusses some of the current conditions found in the church today and some of the misconceptions concerning the Holy Spirit. In the second chapter of the book, the writer begins by saying that in a world of technological development, we would hardly even want to think about a seemingly uninteresting rod. But apparently, there is much knowledge to be gained concerning the symbolism involved in the more than 250 mentions of a rod in Scripture. For instance, the rod was a symbol of authority, defense, and of demonstrative power. It was used to prod, and guide. It was a method of physical correction. In this section of the book, the writer draws some parallels to these physical uses of the rod......spiritual parallels to the Holy Spirit's authority and demonstrative power. His guidance and protection. The third chapter is concerning the practical problem of not having the Lord Jesus here to physically lead us as the disciples did during Jesus' ministry. How was God to lead Christians? "The disciples had to learn quickly that Jesus would no longer walk with them in His physical form. They needed to learn to depend upon another power" (57). To illustrate that the Holy was going to be with the disciples, he told them to go out without anything except a rod. No money, no food, no extra pair of clothes....just a rod. Upon returning from a journey, the disciples are questioned about their needs being met, `were they lacking anything?' Remember, they were told to take only a staff or rod! No, they responded that they had lacked nothing! "The physical rod was the instrument Jesus used to teach the disciples the importance of leaning upon the spiritual staff, the spiritual power of the Holy Spirit" (66). In the fourth chapter, the results of living in the Spirit of God are discussed. How some professing Christians can live by the Holy Spirit, but not walk in the Spirit. A large part of walking in the Spirit is walking with Jesus day-by-day, reading your Bible as the desired words of God, and praying, which is discussed in further chapters. In a subsequent chapter, Lovett discusses how people of God walked with God and accomplished God's purposes. For Moses, the rod was either raised as a sign of the p