Forgotten God

So I just finished the book “Forgotten God” by Francis Chan.  I really enjoyed this book.  I dog-eared a ton of pages- but it’s a library book so I figured I should write out the things I want to remember/think about more.  So this is more for me- but hopefully someone else will get something out of it too. 

The premise of the book is about how we neglect the Holy Spirit.  The subtitle is “Reversing our tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit”.  One of the first points made was if you were on a deserted island and only had the Bible to read- how much would your thoughts on the Holy Spirit differ from thoughts in our churches today.  He stated that he thinks that you would be shocked at how uninvolved the Spirit is in our everyday lives- if you read the Bible the Spirit is seen as a powerful, very present person that influences every part of our every day lives.  He wrote “I’m tired of living in a way that looks exactly like people who do not have the Holy Spirit of God living in them.  I want to consistently live with an awareness of His strength.  I want to be different today from what I was yesterday as the fruit of the Spirit becomes more manifest in me.”

In another part of the book he talks about how there’s nothing worse than insecurity.  How so many people live in fear of what will come next.  However being absolutely sure that “the most powerful Being in the universe adores you as His own child” is extremely comforting.  This is something I have latched onto recently.  I am His child- He loves me- He is well pleased with me.  This also relates to another part of the book where he talks about being known.  We talk so much about trying to know God- instead of focusing on the fact that we are known by Him.  “It’s breathtaking to picture almighty God saying “I know Francis Chan.  He’s my son, I love him!” Are you confident this is what God would say if I asked him about you?”

Another part of the book talks about repentance.  Comparing two different responses people can have to Jesus.  The first being “Sweet!  Jesus, do you want to join the party of my life with this sin, that addiction, this destructive relationship, and we’ll all coexist together?”  And the second response being “Sweet Jesus, You are the best thing that has ever happened to me!  I want to turn from all the sin and selfishness that rules me.  I want to let it go and walk with You.  Only You.  You are my life now.”  That part really stuck home with me- I spent a good part of my life trying to fit Jesus into my life, letting Him coexist with my sin.  Only since turning and letting it all go have I experienced what it means to walk with Him.

Farther into the book he talks about how we all have things we are good at and if we do only those things we may do well but it will be us doing it on our own.   We need to step out and rely on the Holy Spirit.  “I want people to look at my life and know that I couldn’t be doing this by my own power.  I want to live in such a way that I am desperate for Him to come through.  That is He doesn’t come through, I am screwed”  This stepped on my toes.  I haven’t done something like that- where I was truly relying on Him, not on myself, where it is totally obvious it’s not me- it’s Him.

The last passage I will talk about is about fruit in the believer’s life.  In the past year or so I have been really convicted about the lack of fruit in my life.  I pray for the fruit of the Spirit in my life and talk about the super powers that the Holy Spirit gives us with Izzy.  But do I have more kindness & faithfulness than others.  I have the Holy Spirit- I should look differently.  He talks about God wanting to do more than “help out a bit”.  “He wants to completely transform us.”  “When we exhibit the peace that surpasses the world’s understanding, that’s when the world notices.  That’s when people say “Your Lord- He is God!”  I want to live a life like that!

He ends the book with a prayer.  Come, Holy Spirit, come.  This is my prayer- I want to live a Spirit filled life.  I want to be different.  I want my life to bring Him glory!!

There is a lot more to this book than I highlighted here.  It was really an eye opening book for me.  I would love to talk about it with anyone if you’re interested!