Isaiah 55:11
"so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do."
Some years ago, I was frustrated by my poor performance as a follower of God. I had been a Child of God for some forty years. I had faith and was exerting much effort into growing closer to God. I memorized and studied scripture and read numerous Christian books. I had hundreds. But I was not growing in my faith. I was not becoming a better person. I concluded that God would not be pleased with me on judgement day.
So, I began to search for writings of those who had suffered for their faith. Was there something in their faith that was so precious and powerful, that they would never let go of it... even in intense persecution? Maybe such a person could guide me.
After much reading, I settled on the book "Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ", written in 1685 by Jeanne Guyon (ISBN-10: 0940232006, ISBN-13: 978-0940232006). This book has had greater impact on my life than any other, except scripture. She spent many years in prison for writing it.
Before reading Guyon's book, I had approached the Bible as a source of knowledge. But Guyon approached scripture as a point of contact... a point of contact for fellowship with God. Her approach tapped into power. Mine did not.
I have read Guyon's book for many years. So far, I have read the first three chapters over forty times. My thought processes underwent many reversals as I studied her experience of "fellowship with God" through scripture. Through many years, I compiled scriptures which prove this "fellowship with God". Then I condensed them into a form that can be distributed inexpensively and read quickly. These scriptures are in this book. They are authoritative.
I believe that the reason for which this book has been written is to bring about a Great Awakening... that this awakening will spread through laymen... laymen who walk by the Spirit... laymen who repeat the words of the Father and pray.
I am a layman. My training is in the field. I have never attended a religious school of any kind. In college, I took some Classical Greek, since Greek is the original language of the New Testament. That training has been helpful in understanding the scriptures. I am not an expert in Greek and have no seminary degree.
In this book, I have nothing to offer you, other than what I have received. I submit it with a prayer... I pray for a Great Awakening. Will you join me?
Jim Phillips