This book is for the person that is distant from God but longs to get back to Him. It’s for those who have perhaps stopped praying, stopped spending time in His Word, stopped fellowshipping with believers, yet they know in the back of their mind that something’s got to change.
This book is not for the person looking for an emotional experience from listening to a motivational speaker. It is not for the person seeking a quick fix by saying a magical prayer or a pep talk to make you feel good about yourself. No! This book is for the humble follower of Christ who has lost his/her way and is seeking a renewed spirit in Christ.
James takes you step-by-step through this process (biblically) and even gives you exercises to do that are designed to help you examine yourself and see the sin in your life. This exercise was a real eye opener! He talks about sin, repentance, God’s grace and the Holy Spirit all in simple language making it easy to understand. (Thank you James!) But the part I loved the most, the part that absolutely floored me and spoke to me was about what it means that God is Holy.
I cannot articulate what happened to me except to say that now I really see, no, I have this deep sense of knowing that my place is under the Lord’s feet and that He truly is lifted up and is the Most High! This was more than a realization, it was an experience. It wasn’t outward, but inward – in my spirit.
Later on I was reminded of a “why” question I asked the Lord long ago (forget the question but I was asking Him "why" about something) and the answer I got was “I Am Holy.” I thought to myself that it didn’t make sense because it wasn’t a real answer and so I dismissed it. I chalked it up to my own imagination. Only now do I realize that I had heard from God that day and now after reading Downpour, I know what it means. Amazing!!
I highly recommend this book. If you have read it, I’d love to hear what you think about it so please comment.
I can’t promise that you will experience what I did, but if you are sincerely looking to restore your relationship with Him, then He will reveal Himself to you in this way in His own good time.
(11-18-2009 06:25 PM)boldlyproclaimingchrist Wrote: [ -> ]This book is for the person that is distant from God but longs to get back to Him. It’s for those who have perhaps stopped praying, stopped spending time in His Word, stopped fellowshipping with believers, yet they know in the back of their mind that something’s got to change.
This book is not for the person looking for an emotional experience from listening to a motivational speaker. It is not for the person seeking a quick fix by saying a magical prayer or a pep talk to make you feel good about yourself. No! This book is for the humble follower of Christ who has lost his/her way and is seeking a renewed spirit in Christ.
James takes you step-by-step through this process (biblically) and even gives you exercises to do that are designed to help you examine yourself and see the sin in your life. This exercise was a real eye opener! He talks about sin, repentance, God’s grace and the Holy Spirit all in simple language making it easy to understand. (Thank you James!) But the part I loved the most, the part that absolutely floored me and spoke to me was about what it means that God is Holy.
I cannot articulate what happened to me except to say that now I really see, no, I have this deep sense of knowing that my place is under the Lord’s feet and that He truly is lifted up and is the Most High! This was more than a realization, it was an experience. It wasn’t outward, but inward – in my spirit.
Later on I was reminded of a “why” question I asked the Lord long ago (forget the question but I was asking Him "why" about something) and the answer I got was “I Am Holy.” I thought to myself that it didn’t make sense because it wasn’t a real answer and so I dismissed it. I chalked it up to my own imagination. Only now do I realize that I had heard from God that day and now after reading Downpour, I know what it means. Amazing!!
I highly recommend this book. If you have read it, I’d love to hear what you think about it so please comment.
I can’t promise that you will experience what I did, but if you are sincerely looking to restore your relationship with Him, then He will reveal Himself to you in this way in His own good time.
I am a bit troubled by Mr McDonald's book. I looked through it, as I found an online copy of it, and found some very odd things. For instance, this is what he says on a link promoting his book:
Quote:Downpour
James MacDonald
Hosea 6 declares, "Come, let us return to the LORD ... let us press on to know the LORD ... And He will come to us like the rain." This Scripture captures the essence of Downpour , a clarion call by Pastor James MacDonald to personal revival. Using the examples of revival both in the Bible as well as in history, this book offers a clear and simple road map back to God. If you're unhappy with your spiritual life, if your love for God has grown cold, or if your desire to put Him first needs rekindling, Downpour can help you experience an absolute soaking of God's Spirit and bring about a biblical, joyful, and radical revival in your life!
Soaking is a "new term" for a very old idea: eastern meditation or mysticism, which is pretty dangerous stuff.
From what I can tell in his book, Mr McDonald is really persuading people in a personal revival by using a mystic process. Does the Bible really teach a "personal revival"? Do we really need a book to point us to Christ? Is a system to follow, even if it quotes Bible verses, what God has provided for us?
I think Paul said it best:
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
If the Holy Spirit is indwelt, we are reconciled to God 100% of the time. We do not need a "revival" to "bring us back to God". We can't get "more of God" nor can we get "more of the Holy Spirit". Our lives are supposed to reflect the love of Christ even on the days when we are not on "top of the world". Feelings are temporal, but relationship with God is ongoing. It is a fallacy to believe that people can do something to improve or "restore" that relationship. When one is in Christ, there is peace and joy continually - that passes all understanding. It is the Holy Spirit that renews, transforms and changes us into the image of Christ day by day. Just read the Word and pray - you can't improve on what God has already given us 
Mr McDonald has raised a false platform and caused people to feel guilty for not "being on fire for God" - a concept which is not even Biblical.
The text that he uses as a foundation for a "downpour" is not used appropriately. Here is the actual passage:
Hos 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
Hos 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Hos 6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
The context is a prophecy of Jesus Christ, not an additional "filling" of the Holy Spirit in a downpour of "rain". This passage is not about revival, it's about salvation - to be revived or quickened to new life in Christ as a new creation [when one believes], not a "revival" when you are having a bad day
At this point, I believe that we need to explore a little deeper what Mr McDonald is actually promoting and teaching. Primarily, I see him as a conduit for charismatic/pentecostal influence. Soaking is big in that movement and is linked with being slain in the spirit and "laying at the feet of God" in silence waiting for a voice 
see this link about soaking:
http://www.crossroad.to/Q&A/church/postm...oaking.htm
From his website:
Quote:To glorify God means to manifest God’s presence in my life.
What is the glory of God? God’s glory is the manifestation of the character, the presence and the power of God. It is what emanates from Him. As heat is to fire, as wet is to water, as light is to bulb – glory is to God. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” God has given every believer the capacity to display the reality of God in their life. In fact, that is the reason He saved us. Ephesians 1:12 says we are saved, “in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” When we live in such a way that God is seen in us, we are, in fact, glorifying Him.
What I bolded in red is kabbalah - mysticism. It is of the occult. No where does the Bible teach that the power of God "emanates" from Him. The Holy Spirit is indwelt. He is not a force or power that is manifested in people or on them 
It is my opinion after what I have read so far, it appears the Mr MacDonald is fully contemplative and mystic in his approach to a relationship with God and should be avoided at all costs 
I understand your concern and if I read the few words that you did, I would probably think the same thing. We are in agreement on everything, I reject new age teachings and the false manifestations of the charismatics etc. I've read the book and nowhere does he talk about these things in the context that you present them. Just because you see the word "soaking" does not necessary mean they're talking about new age. They could be talking about "soaking" their laundry, or "soaking" in the bathtub. You just don't know until you read it. And if you really found a copy online, then I suggest you read the whole thing before you make these accusations as that is not biblical. There is absolutely no mysticism involved. And as far as revival, what he's talking about is getting us to first understand how Holy God is and far away we are compared to Him in our sinfulness. He then makes us do exercises designed to get us to examine ourselves. There is nothing he says that is unbiblical.
I know I'm the new guy and you don't know me and so you're cautious. But you can find out pretty quickly as to what I believe if you do some digging on the internet. I've got a whole blog devoted to it and "new agers" and "mysticism" are included. You would know that I have strong convictions against this sort of thing and that I certainly do not follow in the way of new agers.
A wise person weighs everything out before coming to a conclusion but the problem is you have not fully researched this. You must read the book to understand what he's talking about. Context counts no matter what book you're reading.
I was very disturbed by the list of sins that he catalogises in page 107.The ones that disturbed me most were feeling helpless, feeling rejected, feeling stupid.Being overly quiet was also a sin to him as was being opiniated.Other sins which he classified and caused me to raise my eyebrows were loner, self-sufficiency, self reliance,self-confidence, anxiety, impatience, restlessness, anxiety and sadness.
Most of these will be felt by us at various points in our lives and to think that these aare sinful and need to be repented of in order to receive Gods blessings as that author puts it seems really wrong to me.
I worry about what people who are naturally prone to depression and psychological disorders might go through after erading this.Such people
who naturally will tend to self condemn do not need someone to go round telling them things that will only reinforce that self condemnation.
And is being self confident and self reliant a sin??? Is being a loner really a sin? Some people due to circumstances will be feeling anxious and or sad.Why would they need to repent of that as it was bad when its merely a perfectly human reaction to circumstances.
So according to MrMacdonald when Jesus said Mat 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
That was something Jesus had to repent of? I guess he would accuse Jesus of having sinned there.
Or when Paul wrote
Rom 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Rom 9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
And right before it, it says:
In the first chapter, we looked at God on the throne, a picture of holiness. We discussed the importance of seeing God in His rightful place, high and lifted up. Only when we see God and His infinite standard of holiness do we begin to open our hearts to the reality of how far short all of us fall (Romans 3:23)
The purpose of this chapter has been to help us get low enough to see sin in the mirror. Nobody sees personal sin from "high on their horse." We have to get low to recognize the way sin is clogging the arteries of our relationship with God. We need to give God unlimited access, full permission to shine His light into every dark corner of our souls. Do the surgery, God. Get it all.
He is not talking about circumstances (which change) and emotions (which change). Those things refer to a lifestyle - who you are. Also, all of those things were not sins - at the top of the page it says "A picture of brokenness". He also says he lists "sins and things believers deal with every day." He did not say all of them were sins.
(11-18-2009 10:01 PM)boldlyproclaimingchrist Wrote: [ -> ]And right before it, it says:
In the first chapter, we looked at God on the throne, a picture of holiness. We discussed the importance of seeing God in His rightful place, high and lifted up. Only when we see God and His infinite standard of holiness do we begin to open our hearts to the reality of how far short all of us fall (Romans 3:23)
The purpose of this chapter has been to help us get low enough to see sin in the mirror. Nobody sees personal sin from "high on their horse." We have to get low to recognize the way sin is clogging the arteries of our relationship with God. We need to give God unlimited access, full permission to shine His light into every dark corner of our souls. Do the surgery, God. Get it all.
He is not talking about circumstances (which change) and emotions (which change). Those things refer to a lifestyle - who you are. Also, all of those things were not sins - at the top of the page it says "A picture of brokenness". He also says he lists "sins and things believers deal with every day." He did not say all of them were sins.
I find it interesting what you quoted. I wondered if you can find any Scriptural support for this kind of perspective from a believer. When one becomes a believer, they are fully in the light. Does Scripture really say that we are "to shine His light into every dark corner of our souls"? God already knows our hearts.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
All it takes is a simple prayer to repent. When we confess our sin, He forgives us. We do not need to envision God on His throne as if He is unreachable and untouchable [again, a mystic kabbalistic perspective]. We are the righteousness of God in Christ. God views us as His children, through the blood of Christ, not as sinful rebellious children who need to grovel for favor and forgiveness.
Do you really believe that sin "clogs the artries" of relationship with God? If so, we can never be "released" from that because we sin all the time. We can never have a "pure" relationship with Him because sin will always be in the way.
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Mr McDonald seems to excel on what "we" can do to get right with God, when it is God who has provided for that in Jesus Christ. It's all about Him, not us.
(11-18-2009 10:01 PM)boldlyproclaimingchrist Wrote: [ -> ]And right before it, it says:
In the first chapter, we looked at God on the throne, a picture of holiness. We discussed the importance of seeing God in His rightful place, high and lifted up. Only when we see God and His infinite standard of holiness do we begin to open our hearts to the reality of how far short all of us fall (Romans 3:23)
The purpose of this chapter has been to help us get low enough to see sin in the mirror. Nobody sees personal sin from "high on their horse." We have to get low to recognize the way sin is clogging the arteries of our relationship with God. We need to give God unlimited access, full permission to shine His light into every dark corner of our souls. Do the surgery, God. Get it all.
He is not talking about circumstances (which change) and emotions (which change). Those things refer to a lifestyle - who you are. Also, all of those things were not sins - at the top of the page it says "A picture of brokenness". He also says he lists "sins and things believers deal with every day." He did not say all of them were sins.
Right after that quote, he has a chart to check off with a long list of "sins". The chart is entitled: "A List of Specific Attitude Sins to Confess - Sin in the Mirror, A picture of Brokeness". In that list of sins are included: sadness, anxiety, depression, fear, feeling helpless, feeling rejected, feeling stupid, feeling worthless, insecurity, loner, over quiet, passivity, restlessness, self-reliance, withdrawal.
He prefaces that chart with this:
Quote: page 106-107
A List of Specific Attitude of Sins to Confess
1) We've learned that sin is both attitude and action. On the next page is a list of sins that includes things believers deal with every day .....
Go slowly, asking God for total honesty and refusal to play games or pretend anymore. Are you with Him right now? Get on your knees and say, "Show me, God. I want this cancer removed, and I know that must begin with accurate diagnosis. Show me my sin as You see it and be as specific as You need to be. Help me to be honest with myself and before You."
http://books.google.com.gi/books?id=CRNR...utput=html
Please show me in Scripture that we need to ask God to remove sin as a cancer and for Him to be specific? Or to "get right with Him"? This so reminds me of the flagellation periods of monks who would beat themselves for their sins.
Right after that quote, he has a chart to check off with a long list of "sins". The chart is entitled: "A List of Specific Attitude Sins to Confess - Sin in the Mirror, A picture of Brokeness". In that list of sins are included: sadness, anxiety, depression, fear, feeling helpless, feeling rejected, feeling stupid, feeling worthless, insecurity, loner, over quiet, passivity, restlessness, self-reliance, withdrawal.
oh poor me
oh poor us, Godhelp us all
if this is your demand
who can be saved
who can be redeemed
i feel stupid often
i am a loner, sort of hermit even
i am very quiet or very talkative
oh need i say more
okay serious now
what kind of stupid list is that?
I am sorry but i don t buy that.
As if real (biblical) sin ain t enough to take care of.
EMJE(and get real
James takes you step-by-step through this process (biblically) and even gives you exercises to do that are designed to help you examine yourself and see the sin in your life. This exercise was a real eye opener!
Strefanash: this is the giveaway.Spiritual exercises. Dont you know that Ignatius Loyola who founded the Jesuits in the 16th Century also produced a set of spiritual exercises designed to produce the selfsame thing?
And why are they useless? for those who walk in the flesh have their mind set on the flesh and cannot submit. The next verse says we are in the Spirit if we have the spirit of Christ but that does not mean that we can submit, it means that we can be BOUGHT to submit - a difference I take to be subtle but crucial
The nature of sin is such that none of this will be of any use. It is either direct communion with the Holy Spirit who convicts us of his unutterable holiness as he knows it we can bear it (if we could not bear it it would likely kill us, for he is indeed holy and terrible) or it is nothing at all
I wont touch ANY spiritual "how to" book with a barge poll, and neither am i fooled by the claim "biblical". he has taken verses out of context and turned them into a method we can operate. that very fact that he has turned them into a method we can operate shopws he has taken these scriptures out of context.
there is no "the spirit is like the wind who blows where he wills" here, indeed he is nicely domesticated.
I'm sorry but i am not in the least impressed
In that list of sins are included: sadness, anxiety, depression, fear, feeling helpless, feeling rejected, feeling stupid, feeling worthless, insecurity, loner, over quiet, passivity, restlessness, self-reliance, withdrawal.
Stref: yes, these are sins. i think it mistaken to make a dichotomy between theses and "biblical sins". these attitudes all stem from pride and unbelief and my life has been made a desert because of them (ie I wrecked my life in these ways, i was no innocent victim of my sin nature)
But even so my earlier comment stands
Go slowly, asking God for total honesty and refusal to play games or pretend anymore. Are you with Him right now? Get on your knees and say . . . .
the fact is we have not got the honesty to do so, and as for confession, most of it is what i call reportage. it is not honest, so it is pointless, if it starts from me it is flesh and is indeed a mind game.
what remains? the one on one conversation, as i have repeatedly said
(11-18-2009 06:25 PM)boldlyproclaimingchrist Wrote: [ -> ]This book is for the person that is distant from God but longs to get back to Him. It’s for those who have perhaps stopped praying, stopped spending time in His Word, stopped fellowshipping with believers, yet they know in the back of their mind that something’s got to change.
This book is not for the person looking for an emotional experience from listening to a motivational speaker. It is not for the person seeking a quick fix by saying a magical prayer or a pep talk to make you feel good about yourself. No! This book is for the humble follower of Christ who has lost his/her way and is seeking a renewed spirit in Christ.
James takes you step-by-step through this process (biblically) and even gives you exercises to do that are designed to help you examine yourself and see the sin in your life. This exercise was a real eye opener! He talks about sin, repentance, God’s grace and the Holy Spirit all in simple language making it easy to understand. (Thank you James!) But the part I loved the most, the part that absolutely floored me and spoke to me was about what it means that God is Holy.
I cannot articulate what happened to me except to say that now I really see, no, I have this deep sense of knowing that my place is under the Lord’s feet and that He truly is lifted up and is the Most High! This was more than a realization, it was an experience. It wasn’t outward, but inward – in my spirit.
Later on I was reminded of a “why” question I asked the Lord long ago (forget the question but I was asking Him "why" about something) and the answer I got was “I Am Holy.” I thought to myself that it didn’t make sense because it wasn’t a real answer and so I dismissed it. I chalked it up to my own imagination. Only now do I realize that I had heard from God that day and now after reading Downpour, I know what it means. Amazing!!
I highly recommend this book. If you have read it, I’d love to hear what you think about it so please comment.
I can’t promise that you will experience what I did, but if you are sincerely looking to restore your relationship with Him, then He will reveal Himself to you in this way in His own good time.
Hi Carol, I have been a Christian for most of my life, but at one stage (quite a long stage, sadly) I wandered away. He never let me go. It was strange, looking back on it, but it seemed that suddenly I started noticing books in the library ( I went there every week) about God. I started taking them out, and thinking. Then my baby was born - a red haired boy. Only God could know that particular silly secret wish. I started to read the Bible again, I began to want to go to church. I found a good small church.... to cut a long story short I realised that God knows me: I cannot hide anything from him, and that there is nothing I can do except Be still and know that He is God.
I was blessed in that He lead me to sound teaching and good books, but over the last 8 years or so I realised that books can cloud our thinking, that like advertising copy they can "seduce" us, that methods and 10 point steps, and lists can confound us and put a barrier between us and God. The barrier keeps us from reading the Bible. I know you will say that you read the bible and study it, but if you read it based on someone else's ideas, their ideas, right or wrong are between you and what God is saying to you in his word.
When I was reading "help" books, often the author/s would say "God told me to write this book" or some such indication that they were divinely inspired. I became very uncomfortable with that when I learned that God does not want us to add to his word.
Trust God Carol, His Word is true.