Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Do not pre-judge Review: It is often the practice of many mainline evangelicals to ignore any book whose sole purpose is to talk about the Holy Spirit. Sometimes this is because of a lack of understanding, sometimes due to an association with fringe movements. Do not pre-judge this book. Cymbala has put together an excellent admonishment to the church as a whole to become right with the Spirit. Admonishing both the cemetary churches (those who are dead spiritually) and the insane asylums (those that practice unbiblical "manifestations"), Mr. Cymbala makes a strong and convicting argument for the renewal of the church through the recognition and acceptance of the Spirit of God.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: A Great Check Up Tool For the Local Church Review: Jim Cymbala is at it again in this excellent book on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This series is a refreshing addition to all of the books on the mechanics of church growth. Reading some books makes one almost forget that the future of the church actually is in God's hands.My Wednesday night small group is now going through this book together. We had a long discussion on Cymbala's chapter of cemetary or insane asylum. We looked at the poor ways many churches react to our nonChristian culture and the extremes many churches go to with regard to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This was a difficult, but healthy discussion for our church.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Inspiring Book - Must Read Review: Just a clear and inspirational writing on how much we need the power and filling of the Holy Spirit. This is a wonderful wonderful book. It may be the best of the three. I'm sure that if you liked any of the other two Cymbala books, you'll love this one.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Fresh Power to Ignite Your Soul Review: Like its predeccesors Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire and Fresh Faith, Fresh Power will stir your soul and cause you to say, "YES! That's what I need!" Fresh Power is a fresh look at the timeless and essential work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian's life. It is not some new twist on the Holy Spirit for the contemporary church, but a refocusing on the same Power who has always been available to every Christian just as He was to the apostles and all the believers in the first church. This Power changed lives by the scores and it is still changing lives when believers turn to the Him and allow Him to work in and through their lives. Cymbala once again fills his book with testimony after testimony to affirm these truths he is sharing, and these testimonies are as compelling as the stories recorded in Acts. This is the same Power who causes non-believers to stop and take notice, "Wow, there IS a difference when Christ enters a life." This is the Power who causes a fellow Christian to be able to say, "If she could get the victory then I know I can too! I surrender control to You, Holy Spirit." Every day God offers us Fresh Power through His eternal Holy Spirit ....read this book and you too will shout "YES" to His offer to fill you to overflowing with His fresh Power!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Fresh Power to Ignite Your Soul Review: Like its predeccesors Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire and Fresh Faith, Fresh Power will stir your soul and cause you to say, "YES! That's what I need!" Fresh Power is a fresh look at the timeless and essential work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian's life. It is not some new twist on the Holy Spirit for the contemporary church, but a refocusing on the same Power who has always been available to every Christian just as He was to the apostles and all the believers in the first church. This Power changed lives by the scores and it is still changing lives when believers turn to the Him and allow Him to work in and through their lives. Cymbala once again fills his book with testimony after testimony to affirm these truths he is sharing, and these testimonies are as compelling as the stories recorded in Acts. This is the same Power who causes non-believers to stop and take notice, "Wow, there IS a difference when Christ enters a life." This is the Power who causes a fellow Christian to be able to say, "If she could get the victory then I know I can too! I surrender control to You, Holy Spirit." Every day God offers us Fresh Power through His eternal Holy Spirit ....read this book and you too will shout "YES" to His offer to fill you to overflowing with His fresh Power!
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Follows the trend Review: Pastor Cymbala follows the great work he started in the previous books, which I read. In this book though, it seems he stumbles so much over, and becomes preoccupied with, the diety of the Holy Spirit. It's so much easier to say the Spirit of God, the One true God, rather than his constant struggle to place a difference between 'God the Holy Spirit', 'the Spirit of Jesus', etc. . . make it simple pastor. . it's only one Spirit. . the Spirit of God. . and it was all made manifest in Jesus the Christ.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Follows the trend Review: Pastor Cymbala follows the great work he started in the previous books, which I read. In this book though, it seems he stumbles so much over, and becomes preoccupied with, the diety of the Holy Spirit. It's so much easier to say the Spirit of God, the One true God, rather than his constant struggle to place a difference between 'God the Holy Spirit', 'the Spirit of Jesus', etc. . . make it simple pastor. . it's only one Spirit. . the Spirit of God. . and it was all made manifest in Jesus the Christ.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: You'll be blessed! Review: Sit back, relax and be ready to be CHANGE for the better!
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: A wholehearted ¿Amen¿ to the main idea of this book Review: The main idea of this book is that Christians need the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. And with this sentiment this writer gives a wholehearted "Amen." But, unfortunately, when the subject of the need for the Holy Sprit comes up today Christians in more traditional churches back off due to being afraid that the excesses seen in charismatic circles is what is being promoted. But Cymbala manages to promote the need for the Holy Sprit but at the same time rebukes charismatics for their excesses. He writes, "While some churches such as I have been describing might be referred to as cemeteries ... others on the other side of the spectrum are more like asylums. We have some horrendous abuses going on in the name of the Sprit of God. Many in the so-called charismatic movement have done bizarre things that are not only outside New Testament teaching but actually contradict it" (pp. 26,26, ellipse in original). But the need for the power of the Spirit in the lives of all Christians is illustrated by Cymbala when he discuss how there seems to be little different between the behavior of Christians and non-Christians today. For instance, the rate of divorce among Christians is actually higher than among non-Christians! (p.22). Cymbala also discusses how the Church seems to be having little impact on the surrounding culture. But he doesn't just decry such problems but presents examples of how things can change. Cymbala himself is the pastor of a large church. And he relates many stories of people whose lives were changed by the power of the Holy Spirit operating in his church. But he isn't promoting just his church but relates how people have been changed by the Spirit outside of his church as well. One of the most amazing stories he tells is in regards to "the Son of Sam"-the infamous serial killer in New York City in the late 1970's. His real name is David Berkowitz. He tells the story of Berkowitz's childhood and how he grew up to be the hated-filled killer that he was. But then Berkowitz was converted by the Holy Spirit and is now serving God in prison. Such changes in a person require more than just the initial experience of salvation. As Cymbala writes, "Just as forgiveness can ONLY come through Christ's work on Calvary, daily living for the Lord can ONLY be done through the Spirit" (p.159, emphasis in original). Overall, this is a very good book. The stories of changed lives are very encouraging and are worth the price of the book itself. But most of all, the overall message of the need for more of the Sprit in the Church at large and in the lives of each and every Christian is much needed today. The one deficiency in this book is the use of the NIV for most of the Scripture quotations. As I relate in detail in my book "Differences Between Bible Versions," the NIV is not a very reliable version of the Bible. So I would suggest when reading Cymbala's book to have a more reliable version like the KJV or NKJV on hand to compare Scripture quotations. But with that one caveat, I would highly recommend "Fresh Power."
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Good, but "Chicken Soupish" Review: This book is worth the read. There are countless examples/testimonials of the work of the Spirit in leading to life changing transformation. There are countless examples and insight from the text of Acts interwoven with stories. I found the stories to be similar in nature and at times overshadowed the wonderful textual examples...because of that it took on a "chicken soupish" feel at times. I have read all three of Mr. Cymballa's books. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire is still by far the best. This book is better than Fresh Faith although I have given them the same rating. It is difficulty to maintain the power and effect that first books often have, and Mr. Cymballa's last two have definitely fallen short of the original mark.
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