LIVING FOR GOD'S PLEASURE
The fruit of the Spirit
By Derek Prime. Evangelical Press. 192 pages
ISBN 0 8524 558 5
Derek Prime has years of pastoral and preaching experience from which he draws in this book about personal holiness.
Having heard the author on several occasions, it's good to read preachers who can write as well as they speak. There's nothing stuffy or self referential about the style of presentation. He just gets on with it and every word counts.
Written with uncluttered simplicity and well observed comment from a wide range of Scriptures, illustrations and stories, the author has given the fruit of the Spirit a helpful treatment. His motivation is, as the title suggests, to generate enthusiasm among Christians to live lives which bring pleasure to God. And you can't argue with that!
I imagine that a young Christian would find particular benefit from this material with its down-to-earth realism, straightforward advice and Bible-centred wisdom.
The texts of Scripture are balanced with relevant quotations from all walks of life. You do get the impression that this particular writer, although loving stories from the past, is not living in it. All of which adds a degree of authenticity to the content.
Altogether a good book with which to introduce people to the connection between the Spirit and practical Christian living. As bizarre as it may sound, you don't read or hear much about that these days!
