Acknowledgments
Over the years I have learned a strange truth. There were times in which I felt I had a fresh, original revelation over certain Scriptures. Then as time went by, I would read a book written from the 18 th century and there would find the author had written the same truth or revelation. Here I had thought I was the only one who had found it!
Many others went before me speaking the truths within this book to the people of God. The words from Ecclesiastes are appropriate here: “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, ‘See, this is new’? It has already been in ancient times before us” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10).
I want to acknowledge the influence of these who have helped me in writing this book. I owe much to the writings of John Chrysostom, Andrew Murray, A.W. Tozer, Watchman Nee, C.S. Lewis, Roy Hession, Chuck Smith, Gayle Erwin and Zac Poonen. Then there are also the books and papers written on the lives of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine and scores of early church fathers that gave me much understanding on the subject.
This book first started as a teaching series I did during our leaders gathering in India. Teresa Chupp, my executive secretary, oversaw this project from transcribing the 14 hours of teaching to final editing. Thank you, Teresa, for the months you spent working on this project.
Thank you, Luci, Erica, Teressa, Heidi, Kim, Tricia, Cindy and David Mains for your involvement in the project.
And to my wife and children, thank you for your prayers and help. Without your devotion to the Lord and your example, I could not have taught this series nor published this book.