Simon Ponsonby gets 'God inside out'

One of the most constant debates while I have been studying theology is the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Often views are polarized, on one side are the sometimes self-indulgent gnostic excesses of the extreme Charismatic, who can often chase after 'the experience' at the expense of or neglecting the necessity of sitting under the word. On the other hand, there are those who seem unilaterally focussed on the word and sometimes come across entirely cerebrally as if though they wouldn't know an experience of God if it hit them over the head. These folks are all word but no joy, power or passion. Then there is a third group who don't have a scooby-doo what I am talking about. They are the most important bunch of all but we'll come to them.

For Christians, there must surely be a place where we can stand firmly in the truth of the scriptures and uphold this boldly, but also be able to stand in the reality and experience of the presence of a loving Father God who gives good gifts to his children and power from on high to proclaim Kingdom reality now. But how are are we to do that and who will help guide us so we don't get ourselves into a pickle.?

Well, onto the stage confidently strides Simon Ponsonby's new book and says a very timely and justifiably loud "LOOK HERE". It is called 'God Inside Out' and I enjoyed reading it immensely and it is set to be a staple text on my book shelf for years to come and I'll tell you why.

1. For anyone who has already read 'More' ( if you haven't then go and buy a copy!) or attends St Aldates, you will know Simon's passion for the word and his great teaching and preaching gift, but you will also realise that he is steeped in both Church history and the work of God over many years in his own life. This shines through, particularly his love of the Puritan's , most notably John Owen, which I also share. If you have read 'More' then be warned you will find this to be a more scholarly animal with less personal testimony (though the stories he shares in the latter part of the book are amazing and the story of he tells of his son's birthday really made me smile) and it is clearly the fruit of much reading and study.

2. There is so much I enjoyed and will return to that you just have to go out and buy a copy for yourself, but if you have ever wondered which came first the chicken or the egg, Simon will answer that one for you! It's in the bible, as he demonstates. More seriously, he also explores in depth the work of the Spirit in creation, justice and compassion, through history, in sonship, in regeneration and the Spirit and power.

3. It is only in the third section of the book that he deals with the subject that seems to occupy such heated discussion among Christians. What does it mean to be baptised in the Spirit? Well, I'll let him tell you.

"There is a tension between owning what we have and pursuing more. Just as the New Testament says that all believers are already 'saints' but are still exhorted to 'become sanctified' (1 Cor 1:2), so it is with baptism in the Spirit (BIS). We need baptising with our baptism. Perhaps, rather than speak of BIS as an experience and energising power to be sought, we might better think in terms of the release of the Spirit. Though not a biblical term, I believe it conveys the biblical truth. I receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when I am BIS-incorporated into Christ. But the powerful presence of God needs to be let loose, the giant needs to awake. I need to let him be God, be the Spirit, blowing where, when and as he wills. I need more. BIS is an inside-out movement of the received Spirit within the believer-having co-joined with our spirit his charisms and character pervade exocentrically through our soul,body and outward to the Church and the world." (p.250)

The giant needs to awaken. Doesn't it just! I pray that it may be ushered in through this book and may Simon's prophetic voice unite Christian's to crack on urgently with the mission Christ has tasked us with, rather that continuously discussing what might be the most orthodox or appropriate way of doing it.

The Chapter I liked most was about sonship, probably because it plays most to my heart and my own story. The Spirit tells us we are children of a loving Father and to know that in your being is transformational. I cannot explain it any better than Simon does in concluding quote by Tom Smail:

" Within the Charismatic renewal today, there is a good deal more talk about spiritual gifts than exercise of them; more discussion about the power of the Spirit than actual experience of it. One of the main reasons for that is most people just do not have the confidence that God has accepted them and loves them just as they are as his children, and therefore will not let them be led astray by what is fleshy or demonic but will give them all that he has promised-his robe, his ring,his shoes. This confidence will not be created by repeated acts of laying on of hands, but only by an awareness of the Spirit's cry of Abba at the creative and motivating centre of our lives. This is what releases from the paralyszing fear of God and man that grips so many-and it is not a technique that we can master but a sovereign work of the Spirit which must liberate us" ( Tom Smail, Forgotten Father, p140 and p.188 in God Inside Out)

If there are any gaps, those looking for the role of the Spirit in spiritual warfare may be left wanting, but I suspect Simon would say that it doesn't say much about it in the bible-hence it is a justifiable omission. Also, the loss of the narrative style of 'More' is a shame and this has much more of a lecture feel to it. One point of note for you Simon, when you read this. Are you privvy to a few more Chapters in Galatians than I have in my bible and does that explain why you know so much more than me? (p181 para 2)

In conclusion, this will certainly go on my recommendations sidebar and is one for Andrew Whyte to cry from his pulpit and exclaim 'Sell your bed if you have to, but buy this book!' Thanks to Simon for this gift to the Church and may the church now have ears to listen to its message and it is, most certainly, a book 'for such a time as this'.