The Face of the Deep: Experiencing the Beautiful Mystery of Life with the Spirit

by Paul J. Pastor

Publisher:

David C Cook

, 2020

Overview

Our daily struggles often mask a difficult question—Where is God? With fresh biblical insight, beautiful language, and an eye toward the deep wonder of God’s everyday presence, The Face of the Deep challenges readers to experience the wild, joyful mystery of God’s Spirit moving in their lives.
 
Fans of Eugene Peterson, Madeleine L’Engle, Ann Voskamp, and others will find a reading experience like few others. The Face of the Deep is rich in meaning, rooted in theology, fresh in content.  This is a book to be read again and again—a book to be lived. Includes 14 original icons inspired by the writing, from acclaimed artist Martin French.
 
 

Contents

Foreword 13
A Few Words 17

PART 1: SEVEN STARS
The Face of the Deep 23
Knowing the Spirit Who Creates

Tooling the Creators 37
Making with the Spirit Who Inspires

The Power of Prophets 51
Embracing the Spirit Who Speaks Truth

The Voice of the Mountain 69
Waiting for the Spirit Who Meets Us

From the Stump of Jesse 87
Welcoming the Spirit of Messiah

The Renewer of Earth 105
Honoring the Spirit Who Sustains

Poured on All Flesh 125
Rejoicing in the Spirit of New Things

PART 2: SEVEN LAMPSTANDS
The Dove of the Beloved 143
Believing the Spirit of Unconditional Love

The Wind of the Wilderness 161
Journeying with the Spirit of the Desert

The Birth from Above 179
Growing with the Spirit of New Life

The Flame of Pure Speech 199
Understanding the Spirit Who Speaks

The Oil of Holiness 219
Anointed with the Spirit Who Sanctifies

The Breath of One Body 241
Joining the Spirit Who Unifies

Come 261
Rising with the Spirit Who Calls
“And there was no more sea.” 275

Personal Reflections 277
The Icons 285
Acknowledgments 291
Notes 295

 

Praise for The Face of the Deep

“Out of the recent desert of writings on the empowering presence of God comes this book. Creative, thoughtful, rooted, mysterious—it pairs well for a conversation about God’s activity in the world.”

“The Face of the Deep is grounded in Scripture and steeped in awe and wonder. This exploration of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit is creative, thorough, and profound—and as much-needed as it is refreshing.”

“Paul J. Pastor has given us an icon in prose. Words spark from the pages to display with brilliant color the vitality and beauty of the Spirit. Not content to let the Holy Spirit be merely a theological confession or an experiential aberration, Pastor calls us beyond the face of the deep to experience the mystery of life with the Spirit.”

“Often while reading The Face of the Deep, I had to pause, think, and reread a passage too rich and too insightful for a single consideration. Moreover, what hooked me first to that passage were its sharp images and its stout language. I have no doubt that anyone who does not skim but attends closely to Pastor’s book will experience the same inspiring jolts.”

“A theologically rich, soul-stirring vision of what the life of the Spirit looks like. This book is a great step forward in helping us have ministries that not only preach the gospel but do so with power, deep conviction, and the Holy Spirit.”

Product Details

• Title : The Face of the Deep: Experiencing the Beautiful Mystery of Life with the Spirit
• Author: Pastor, Paul J.
• Publisher: David C Cook
• Publication Date: 2020
• ISBN: 9780830781348

About Paul J. Pastor

Paul J. Pastor is an award-winning Christian writer and author of several books, including The Listening Day devotional series and Palau: A Life on Fire (with Luis Palau). He lives beside Oregon's wild Columbia River, with his wife and three children.