5. A review by Ron White, Ed.D.
In this book Frank Tunstall (Emmanuel College class of ’63) presents a powerful, in-depth portrait of the broadly-based job description of the Holy Spirit. He wrote the book for that purpose – to show the many-faceted roles of the Spirit. In doing this, he captured the core, I think, of the Spirit’s ministry when he wrote the Spirit makes His “home in the human temple, with His primary mission being to teach people about Jesus.” Dr. Tunstall adds, “The singular curriculum of the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ, making Him known in the church. Everything else the spirit does in some way grows out of that role.” Then, he brings it home with this statement: “As we grow in our awareness of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will also grow in our confidence for spreading the Lord’s Great Commission around the world.”
Yes!
This book is a comprehensive and thoroughly Pentecostal must-read, but without academic language. You will come away with a fresh, new appreciation for the job description of the Spirit both in your life and in the church, as well as in the world to come.
President of Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs, Georgia
Now for an excerpt from the book:
Peter was a strong leader who understood the principle of gospel confrontation that motivates people to make a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decision about following Jesus. Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received from the land. Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God” (Acts 5:3-4).
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died! “Young men came forward, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him” (Acts 5:5-6). Then, “about three hours later, Sapphira came in, not knowing what had happened.” Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” (Acts 5:8).
Yes,” she said, “that is the price” (Acts 5:8).
Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also” (Acts 5:9). In the moment of Peter’s speaking, she fell down and died too, and the young men buried her beside her husband.
One can easily imagine the news of what happened spread rapidly in Jerusalem and “great fear” seized all who heard about it (Acts 5:11, KJV). The Greek words translated as “great fear” communicate the idea of exceeding alarm. The city was terrified…
“You have lied to God”….
Who is this Holy Spirit? The Apostle Peter made clear the Spirit is God, and His job description includes holding divine power, life and death power. It is one of the strongest affirmations in the Bible of the Deity of the Holy Spirit in the Triune Godhead.
What is the extent of the Holy Spirit’s power? Deeper than the mutual lies of Ananias and his wife was Satan’s direct involvement in the plot, and Peter discerned it. Satan had set this couple up to test the Holy Spirit. Satan had been this involved in a similar plot against God when he made his entrance into the Last Supper and possessed Judas, urging him to carry through with his betrayal of Jesus. In Judas’ story, Satan was testing Jesus, trying to goad Him into doing something prematurely, like sending Judas to his grave with a word. But that would have shut down the Father’s plan to save the world; hence, Jesus tolerated Judas.
In the Ananias story, Satan was tempting the Holy Spirit. Peter spoke God’s answer to Ananias: “Satan has filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit” (Acts 5:3). Yes, this scenario was more than lies being told by a couple in the infant church wanting to get praise and acclamation. It was also a Satanic test (Acts 5:9), and the couple were willing pawns eager to cooperate. They simply did not believe Peter, or the Holy Spirit, would know the difference.
The story also shows how the Holy Spirit talks to people, shares information, and gives instructions. Peter obviously did not know the facts until he discerned them by the Holy Spirit; then Peter confronted Ananias first, followed by his wife. The Holy Spirit established in those moments His claim as all-knowing Deity; the Spirit is God and cannot be deceived.
A new Spirit was in the earth, capable of reading minds and discerning spirits, and the Holy Spirit was leading the believers in the Early Church. Jesus Himself identified the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17). In the church, discerning of spirits is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10). The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira also put the fear of God in the religious establishment, so that the temple leaders handled Peter and the other apostles carefully, lest the same judgment should fall on them.
Some might think this was a harsh penalty, but not so. The Holy Spirit cannot be lied to and is not to be trifled with. If Satan had won that round, the Holy Spirit would have been proven as limited and weak, and no match for Satan’s schemes. Peter too would have come through as a weak leader who did not know what was going on behind the scenes. Satan would have seen to it that the full story would have come out as public information, and to Peter’s embarrassment. Peter would have been greatly shamed for giving praise to God and honor to a couple for a gift that was wrapped in a lie. Failure here would have been a heavy blow to the Early Church. Instead, the news of the two deaths spread like wild fire, and the church kept growing. It also meant Holy Spirit protection for the apostles; the religious leaders did not want to face Peter and then fall dead at Peter’s feet!
The Need to translate this book into Spanish:
Our Hispanic brothers and sisters must be able to get this book in their language too. Any pastor who encourages his church to make a gift toward translating and printing The Job Description of the Holy Spirit into Spanish will receive a free copy of the book. (If only 80 churches across the church give $100 each, we will be able to retain a qualified translator and publish the book in Spanish, and the pastor will get the book.)
You may click on the hyperlink below to order your book.
The church check should be made out to Great Command Ministries, Inc. and designated as an offering for translating the book into Spanish and mailed directly to:
Great Command Ministries, Inc.
10840 NW 32nd Terrace
Yukon, OK 73099
You can order your book or books today by Clicking Here on this Hyperlink.
In this book Frank Tunstall (Emmanuel College class of ’63) presents a powerful, in-depth portrait of the broadly-based job description of the Holy Spirit. He wrote the book for that purpose – to show the many-faceted roles of the Spirit. In doing this, he captured the core, I think, of the Spirit’s ministry when he wrote the Spirit makes His “home in the human temple, with His primary mission being to teach people about Jesus.” Dr. Tunstall adds, “The singular curriculum of the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ, making Him known in the church. Everything else the spirit does in some way grows out of that role.” Then, he brings it home with this statement: “As we grow in our awareness of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will also grow in our confidence for spreading the Lord’s Great Commission around the world.”
Yes!
This book is a comprehensive and thoroughly Pentecostal must-read, but without academic language. You will come away with a fresh, new appreciation for the job description of the Spirit both in your life and in the church, as well as in the world to come.
President of Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs, Georgia
Now for an excerpt from the book:
Peter was a strong leader who understood the principle of gospel confrontation that motivates people to make a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decision about following Jesus. Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received from the land. Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God” (Acts 5:3-4).
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died! “Young men came forward, wrapped up his body, carried him out, and buried him” (Acts 5:5-6). Then, “about three hours later, Sapphira came in, not knowing what had happened.” Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” (Acts 5:8).
Yes,” she said, “that is the price” (Acts 5:8).
Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also” (Acts 5:9). In the moment of Peter’s speaking, she fell down and died too, and the young men buried her beside her husband.
One can easily imagine the news of what happened spread rapidly in Jerusalem and “great fear” seized all who heard about it (Acts 5:11, KJV). The Greek words translated as “great fear” communicate the idea of exceeding alarm. The city was terrified…
“You have lied to God”….
Who is this Holy Spirit? The Apostle Peter made clear the Spirit is God, and His job description includes holding divine power, life and death power. It is one of the strongest affirmations in the Bible of the Deity of the Holy Spirit in the Triune Godhead.
What is the extent of the Holy Spirit’s power? Deeper than the mutual lies of Ananias and his wife was Satan’s direct involvement in the plot, and Peter discerned it. Satan had set this couple up to test the Holy Spirit. Satan had been this involved in a similar plot against God when he made his entrance into the Last Supper and possessed Judas, urging him to carry through with his betrayal of Jesus. In Judas’ story, Satan was testing Jesus, trying to goad Him into doing something prematurely, like sending Judas to his grave with a word. But that would have shut down the Father’s plan to save the world; hence, Jesus tolerated Judas.
In the Ananias story, Satan was tempting the Holy Spirit. Peter spoke God’s answer to Ananias: “Satan has filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit” (Acts 5:3). Yes, this scenario was more than lies being told by a couple in the infant church wanting to get praise and acclamation. It was also a Satanic test (Acts 5:9), and the couple were willing pawns eager to cooperate. They simply did not believe Peter, or the Holy Spirit, would know the difference.
The story also shows how the Holy Spirit talks to people, shares information, and gives instructions. Peter obviously did not know the facts until he discerned them by the Holy Spirit; then Peter confronted Ananias first, followed by his wife. The Holy Spirit established in those moments His claim as all-knowing Deity; the Spirit is God and cannot be deceived.
A new Spirit was in the earth, capable of reading minds and discerning spirits, and the Holy Spirit was leading the believers in the Early Church. Jesus Himself identified the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17). In the church, discerning of spirits is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10). The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira also put the fear of God in the religious establishment, so that the temple leaders handled Peter and the other apostles carefully, lest the same judgment should fall on them.
Some might think this was a harsh penalty, but not so. The Holy Spirit cannot be lied to and is not to be trifled with. If Satan had won that round, the Holy Spirit would have been proven as limited and weak, and no match for Satan’s schemes. Peter too would have come through as a weak leader who did not know what was going on behind the scenes. Satan would have seen to it that the full story would have come out as public information, and to Peter’s embarrassment. Peter would have been greatly shamed for giving praise to God and honor to a couple for a gift that was wrapped in a lie. Failure here would have been a heavy blow to the Early Church. Instead, the news of the two deaths spread like wild fire, and the church kept growing. It also meant Holy Spirit protection for the apostles; the religious leaders did not want to face Peter and then fall dead at Peter’s feet!
The Need to translate this book into Spanish:
Our Hispanic brothers and sisters must be able to get this book in their language too. Any pastor who encourages his church to make a gift toward translating and printing The Job Description of the Holy Spirit into Spanish will receive a free copy of the book. (If only 80 churches across the church give $100 each, we will be able to retain a qualified translator and publish the book in Spanish, and the pastor will get the book.)
You may click on the hyperlink below to order your book.
The church check should be made out to Great Command Ministries, Inc. and designated as an offering for translating the book into Spanish and mailed directly to:
Great Command Ministries, Inc.
10840 NW 32nd Terrace
Yukon, OK 73099
You can order your book or books today by Clicking Here on this Hyperlink.