Confronting Jezebel (discerning and defeating the spirit of control)

By Steve Sampson    £7.99     ISBN 1 85240 361 6

Don’t read this book if you prefer to think that there are no serious problems in the Church. It makes quite disturbing reading to have the truth revealed about the devastation done by people with controlling personalities. Steve Sampson explains how manipulation, intimidation and domination work, how authority can be abusive and how we can recognise a Jezebel spirit.

This book is very biblical and is illustrated by many real life examples. I found that reading it shook me out of complacency, revealing hard truths, but it does finally give some answers. It finishes by giving positive steps to becoming mature as Christians, escaping from self-centredness and living on a higher level.

Recommended **** (4 stars)

Copyright 2006 - Liz Griffin

Islam, Israel and the Church

By Marcel Rebiai     ISBN 1- 85240-453-1    £7.99

As a Bible believing Christian who would like to know more about the truth of the Middle East crisis I have often wondered which voices can be trusted. I suspect that politicians and journalists are censored for fear of causing more trouble. This new book is written from the standpoint of a man who lives amongst Jews and Arabs, loving them in the name of Jesus and trying to help them.

The author has studied the subject of Islam for 15 years and I was amazed how much I still had to learn about Islamic belief systems and exactly why Jerusalem is claimed by both Arabs and Jews as their own. Marcel brings a strong challenge for the Church from the authority of God’s Word as well as for Israel and Islam. As Christians we cannot be complacent, self righteous or detached about what is going on. By our own beliefs and opinions we could be drawn into a passivity which does not resist evil and does not stand up for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Highly recommended     ***** (5 stars)

Copyright 2006 - Liz Griffin

Preach the Word! (the call and challenge of preaching today)

A compilation of talks given by some of today’s most respected preachers and Bible teachers in the United Kingdom.

General editor  Greg Haslam - £24.99         ISBN 1 85240 443 4
 
This hard back book might seem expensive but it is actually very good value indeed.
With 50 chapters it’s like having a whole library of books rolled into one, with 20 famous Christian speakers at their best, sharing their passion about God, the power of the spoken word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and all sorts of stories, both funny and inspiring.

I couldn’t put it down. It gives a fascinating insight into how anointed preachers receive their messages from God and then communicate them in a way that touches people’s hearts and changes lives. Anyone who preaches will be thrilled to read this book but so will those who sit and listen to preachers. I know I will be wanting to re-read this book many times in the future. 
 
Highly recommended ***** (5 stars)
 
Copyright 2006 - Liz Griffin

Authority in Heaven Authority on Earth (binding and loosing, principalities and powers and defensive spritual warfare)

By Tom Marshall          £7.99               ISBN 1 85240 439 6

This book is not light reading by any means but will seriously equip Christians for overcoming evil. In the cosmic conflict between God and Satan Tom Marshall teaches about cities and thrones in Scripture and where the power structures are in spiritual terms. He explains the mysteries of inner cultures belonging to organisations and what a corporate spirit is. He teaches us how to occupy the higher ground through the victory of Jesus on the cross.

He teaches how to pray for our cities and be effective in spiritual battles, knowing our authority to accomplish the will of God.

I found the chapters on the subject of binding and loosing and recognising spiritual attacks to be really deep teaching.

Recommended             ****                (4 stars)

Copyright 2006 - Liz Griffin

Standing in the Gap (Understanding intercession)

By Johannes Facius £5.99 ISBN 1 85240 438 8

I found this book so clear and easy to read with no spiritual jargon yet it helped me to understand the difference between intercession and prayer for the first time and what Apostle Paul meant by praying continually.

It is very biblical and has good teaching on the sacrifice of fasting.

The discussion questions which follow each chapter are really good if you want to have a useful tool for a house group study.

This book teaches how intercession has the unique power to change the course of nations and how it is linked with the activity of angels.

Johannes Facius explains how we seem to have lost the significance of corporate prayer in the Church today and yet this was so important at Pentecost and in the early church. God’s Glory is connected with our unity. Some other wonderful topics covered are learning to hear the voice of God, what is meant by prophetic prayer, finding the burden of the Holy Spirit and understanding God’s purposes for Israel.

Highly recommended ***** (5 stars)

Copyright 2006 - Liz Griffin

Visions Beyond the Veil (God’s revelation to children of heaven and hell.)

By H.A.Baker £5.99 ISBN 1 85240 278 4

I am sorry I missed reading this book for so many years as I understand it is a classic book which was reprinted in 2000. Perhaps it should be compulsory reading for every Christian who wants to experience the reality of God’s presence for themselves. Not that it is a ‘how to’ book by any means. It is quite simply a straightforward testimony account of how God moved in a very powerful and miraculous way in a group of orphan children in China. It shows what can happen when the Holy Spirit is truly given permission to be completely in control of a situation.

What impressed me most of all in reading this book was not the beauty and wonder of the visions they received of heaven but the way these children responded and their lives were changed. They lost all fear of death and demons and became evangelists, prophets and preachers even at the young age of anything from 6 to 18.

They didn’t only receive visions of heaven but of the battle between God’s kingdom and the powers of darkness, the end times on earth and the return of Jesus. Although uneducated and new to the Christian faith, their revelations were completely in agreement with the written Word of God.

Chapter 9 is about a beggar boy lying in vision at the feet of Jesus and being used to bring a message straight from the Lord to all in the room. It brings home the reality of how God must have given revelation to His prophets over the ages and how, as they were seeing in the Spirit and speaking it out, others would have been able to record everything in writing.

Highly recommended ***** (5 stars)

Copyright 2006 - Liz Griffin