If the first DVD sold well, Verna Linzey was going to be included in the second DVD of a second group of Charismatic/Pentecostal leaders. She was selected to be interviewed in part due to the success of her book, The Baptism with the Holy Spirit which has been used, and still is from what I’ve been recently told, as a textbook in 100 Bible schools/colleges mainly in the Far East.

The Hollenweger Center had a scholar write a scholarly review of the book and they published the review. That greatly helped in the promotion of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y26dXu2pYtk

Verna Linzey’s PneumaReview.com Author page

This teaching series on “The Baptism with the Holy Spirit” explores the biblical and theological foundations of the experience known as the baptism with the Holy Spirit or the reception of the Holy Spirit as confirmed by speaking in tongues. In the process of explaining the experience, Verna Linzey relies heavily on biblical resources. Thus, the presentation comes both from personal experience and from biblical research. The variety of discussion is significant, moving from the nature of the Holy Spirit Himself through the experience of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Verna Linzey then shows the workings of the Holy Spirit through the Old and New Testaments. Finally, Verna Linzey, in showing how to receive the Holy Spirit and the necessity and results of receiving the Holy Spirit baptism add the practical application that will apply to everyone.

Listen to all 19 teachings:  https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/vernalinzey

Special thanks to Jim Linzey, Verna’s son, for preparing this introduction to the lecture series.

Indivisible is about the struggles of a military chaplain, Darren Turner, who served in Iraq and had close encounters with death. With the gradual onset of PTSD through numerous explosions and deaths, separation from fellow soldiers preceded separation from his own family as anger and inner isolation took over his life. Through counselling, prayer, and time, he gradually came to terms with his experiences and re-gained control over his life. He finally reintegrated with his wife and children and was invited to re-enter the Army chaplaincy.

Indivisible has so many applications to daily living that it is being heavily promoted to the Church and Christian families. It has the support of military personnel and the Church. Sony Pictures has recently authorized publication and release of a series of devotionals to tie in with scenes and themes throughout the movie. Indivisible Devotions has daily applications to spiritual growth, ‘Digging Deeper’ questions for personal application, and prayers with each devotional.

I had the privilege of pre-screening Indivisible several months ago, but saw it again on opening night at a local theatre. I also had the privilege of being one of the contributing authors to Indivisible Devotions. Seeing Indivisible again in the theatre was like seeing it for the first time. I personally felt as though I were re-living my own experiences in the chaplaincy. I believe it induces viewers to grapple with their own feelings and struggle in a new light, giving them hope to overcome their own trials.

Indivisible was released Friday, October 26, 2018. Information about the movie and the devotions can be found at the official website: www.indivisiblemovie.com

Reviewed by James F. Linzey

A New Handbook on the Pentecostal Experience

Verna Linzey’s new book, according to scholar James D. G. Dunn, is a “restatement of classic Pentecostal convictions on baptism in the Spirit and speaking in tongues.” Russell P. Spittler calls this book “a new handbook for those interested in the Pentecostal experience.” Dunn, Spittler, and nearly two dozen other international scholars commend it to the Christian church worldwide. Recognizable names to Heritage readers include, William W. Menzies, Frank D. Macchia, Wonsuk Ma, David G. Clark, Maximo Rossi, Jr., Don Meyer, Vinson Synan, and Allan Anderson.

The work differs from most other books on the Pentecostal experience, writes Spittler, in his foreword, in that it includes pastoral counseling and practical advice for those seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The scope of the book makes it an ideal gift for those who are asking questions on the Pentecostal doctrines and experiences, as captured in the front matter: “The variety of discussion is significant, moving from the nature of the Holy Spirit Himself through the experience of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and explaining speaking in tongues. The book then shows the workings of the baptism and speaking in tongues through the Old and New Testaments. Finally, the chapters on how to receive the Holy Spirit and the necessity and results of receiving the Holy Spirit baptism add the practical application that will apply to everyone.”

Perhaps Wonsuk Ma, [then] academic Dean of Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, sums up the most important value of the book: “May the Pentecostals become more Pentecostal through the revival of the spiritual baptism, and for this prayer, this is an excellent book ‘for the rest of us!'”

Verna M. Linzey has ministered worldwide for more than 50 years. She is also the author of the hymn, “O Blessed Jesus.” She is the [widow] of retired U.S. Navy chaplain, Bible teacher, and author, Stanford E. Linzey, Jr.

Reviewed by Wayne Warner

This review originally appeared in the Summer 2004 issue of Assemblies of God Heritage and is used with permission.

Stanford E. Linzey, Jr., The Holy Spirit in the Third Millennium: Handbook on the Holy Spirit: A Guide to the Spirit within. (Fairfax, Virginia: Xulon Press, 2003), 214 pages, ISBN 9781591604372.

Linzey aptly subtitled this text as a handbook; it is written for those who desire a straightforward “how to” book. He has divided it into two major parts. The first part is composed of nine chapters that expound on the practical aspect of the infilling and manifestation of the Holy Spirit. The second part is a dialogue of fifty-three commonly asked questions and Linzey’s answers to them.

With masterful storytelling, Linzey opens each segment with an illustrative narration of the principle that he is about to elaborate. These anecdotes, from his extensive experience in ministry, provide the backdrop for the theological position that he reinforces with Scriptural evidences. The text engages the reader through vivid imagery and powerful dialogue. His approach is down-to-earth and at times folksy.

Doctrinally, Linzey posits a finished-work position in contrast to a classical Pentecostal position of second (or third) blessing. There is no need to tarry; there is no prerequisite holiness, or standard of right living, that makes the believer ready to receive the Holy Spirit. The believer receives the Spirit by grace; the right living is a result of the enabling power of the Spirit.

Linzey makes the distinction between being baptized with the Spirit and the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit–specifically the gift of tongues. Linzey prefers the term “manifest” because all believers have the Spirit at conversion (p. 42). He teaches the reader and the people in his anecdotes, that they have already received the Spirit at conversion. The message of the book focuses on how to break out of the trap of wrong thinking that has bound the Christian and now inhibits the manifestation and blessings of the Spirit. The reader will notice that the text weaves several ideas throughout the book and revisits, almost verbatim, the same dialogue. This technique emphasizes Linzey’s primary message–every Spirit-filled believer can speak in tongues. He iterates, “this should be the normal spiritual experience…” (p. 71). Moreover, it is not that every believer must speak in tongues, but that they get to speak in tongues.

The question and answer section of the text explores the most common objections and exceptions to the phenomena of speaking in tongues. Linzey succinctly answers and belays the fears and objections of many believers, both the Pentecostal and the non-Pentecostal.

The aim of the book is not to be a systematic theology of the Holy Spirit, but it delineates pragmatically Linzey’s theological perspective. He defends his insistence on the ability of every Spirit-filled believer to speak in tongues through his presentation and his interpretation of Biblical proof texts.

Reviewed by John R. Miller

Preview The Holy Spirit in the Third Millennium: books.google.com/books?id=V4hQq5DgHGIC