On his Twitter and Facebook accounts today, Brother Bernard commented on my new book, The Holy Spirit: A Commentary. In addition to serving as the general superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church International, he is the chancellor of Urshan College and Urshan Graduate School of Theology, where he is also professor of biblical studies and apostolic leadership. In addition to his undergraduate and graduate degrees, Brother Bernard has earned the J. D. from the University of Texas and the D. Th. from the University of South Africa.

I deeply appreciate his comments, which follow:

I read The Holy Spirit by Dan Segraves, new book from Word Aflame Press, pneumatology (doctrine of Spirit) from Apostolic perspective, biblical theology, well written, easy to read, thorough.

[archive]

Proverbs 8:19 (NKJV) — 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.

The fruit of wisdom: What could be better than fine gold and silver? Yet wisdom’s fruit is superior to either. Wisdom is not just an inert quality; it bears invaluable fruit in a person’s life.

[archive]

 

Proverbs 8:18 (NKJV) — 18 Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness.

Genuine riches. While wisdom is more desirable than gold, silver, and rubies, by her a person can receive riches and honor. In particular, she grants the truly durable riches, which include such things as peace, joy, and love. By contrast, earthly, material riches will not last.

James 5:1–3 (NKJV) — 1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.

[archive]

When I stepped out on our front porch this morning to retrieve our weekly order of Blue Apron meals (which Susan and I highly recommend), I noticed a second box. I knew what it was when I saw the return address. The box contained six hardbound copies of my new book, The Holy Spirit: A Commentary!

 

I have been posting about this book for some time. It began in the latter part of 2018 when I was in the process of writing. I announced the completion of my work in the spring of 2019 and kept you up to date throughout the editing process.

During the last few days, I posted about an interview with Kaleb Saucer and plans to make the interview one of the seminars that will be available at the upcoming seventy-fifth general conference of the United Pentecostal Church International.

A few days ago, I posted a review of the book written by Stan Gleason, assistant general superintendent of the Western Zone of the UPCI and pastor of The Life Church in Kansas City, Missouri.

Now that the printing of the book is finished (it will also be available as an ebook), it should soon available at pentecostalpublishing.com, as a Kindle download at amazon.com, and as an Apple Book.

I pray the book will be a blessing to all who read it.

[archive]

Proverbs 8:17 (KJV 1900) — 17 I love them that love me; And those that seek me early shall find me.

Mutual respect. Wisdom will not reject any who love her. On the other hand, she will not force herself on those who do not love her. As a magnetic field attracts iron filings, so wisdom will attract those who love her.

The word translated “early” has the connotation of “dawn.” We must not wait until we have exhausted all other possibilities before we turn to wisdom; we should go to wisdom first.

[archive]

 

Proverbs 8:15–16 (NKJV) — 15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.

Healthy civil governments rely on wisdom. Wisdom is necessary for a healthy and successful civil government characterized by justice.

It is the responsibility of believers to pray for those involved in civil government. The aim of these prayers includes the ability to live in quietness and peace and the salvation of those in authority.

1 Timothy 2:1–4 (NKJV) — 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

[archive]

Stan Gleason is the senior pastor of The Life Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He also serves as the assistant general superintendent from the Western Zone of the United Pentecostal Church International. He earned the degree Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Urshan Graduate School of Theology. His book, Follow to Lead: The Journey of a Disciple Maker is available at pentecostalpublishing.com [English and Spanish], as a Kindle download on amazon.com and as an Apple Book. An accompanying small group leadership kit is also available.

I am grateful to Brother Gleason for his review of my new book, The Holy Spirit: A Commentary. Here it is:

---

In his well-conceived and brilliantly presented work, The Holy Spirit, author Daniel Segraves brings a unique Oneness Pentecostal hermeneutic to the Word of God. He has done all the hard work yet offers a user-friendly breakthrough treatment of every mention of the Holy Spirit in Scripture. In his thorough manner, Segraves situates Old Testament references to the Holy Spirit as God in action, but that something better is coming. Later, he contextualizes the Holy Spirit references in the epistles that something better has definitely come. But what was anticipated by the prophets in the Old Testament, and its profound impact on New Testament believers is inextricably linked together in this author’s treatment of what came in between: the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit, as initially evidenced by speaking with other tongues. Segraves’ scholarly unpacking of this holistic Biblical understanding clearly reveals that the Holy Spirit is not a person or a separate consciousness of God but rather God progressively revealing Himself in action. As a lifelong reader of the Bible, I can testify that many Scriptures have taken on new meaning while reading them through the interpretive lens Segraves has thoughtfully presented. I enthusiastically commend this presentation to your library.

---

The Holy Spirit: A Commentary will soon be available in hardback and as an eBook at pentecostalpublishing.com. It will also be available shortly as a Kindle download and Apple Book as well.

[archive]

Yesterday I was interviewed by Kaleb Saucer, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Division of Publications of the United Pentecostal Church International. We talked about my newest book, The Holy Spirit: A Commentary.

The interview lasted about an hour and will be edited to a finished twenty minute video which will be available in various venues, including on this blog. The plan includes offering it as an online seminar for the upcoming general conference of the UPCI, which will celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the merger between the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ.

It was a delight to talk with Brother Saucer. I enjoyed our conversation, including the laughs we got over a forgotten train of thought!

[archive]

Proverbs 8:14 (NKJV) — 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.

True counsel is found in wisdom. People need counsel. True counsel imparts strength, not weakness.

But not all counsel is of God. Humanistic psychology is inadequate for spiritual needs and often incompatible with the Scriptures. Unhealthy counsel does not consider the spiritual nature nor effect a cure. It offers no standards of right and wrong, no basis for moral judgment. It endorses non-biblical standards of behavior and often offers scapegoats for people’s actions instead of emphasizing one’s moral responsibility. It has no uniform convictions.

Counseling is important and useful when it is based on the true wisdom of God’s Word. But ungodly counsel has no place in the Christian’s life. Spiritual, emotional, relational and mental health is promoted by meditating on the Word of God, serving God faithfully, fellowshipping regularly with the body of Christ, and consistency in prayer.

[archive]

 

 

Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV) — 13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

The first step of the fear of the Lord. The Book of Proverbs elsewhere defines the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. According to this verse, then, the first step toward the attainment of either is to hate evil. As long as we are fond of the knowledge of evil, either through a desire for respectability in the eyes of the world or through ignorance of its dangers, we will never gain wisdom. We should hate evil because it is an affront to God and a snare to humanity. Wisdom hates pride, arrogance, evil ways, and the perverse mouth.

We must allow the Bible to identify evil, for our human judgment is faulty. If the decision as to what is evil is left to us, we will often excuse evil as good and call good evil.

[archive]