Rebuilding the Real You: The Definitive Guide to the Holy Spirit's Work in Your Life

by Jack W. Hayford

Rebuilding the Real You, Jack Hayford’s landmark teaching on the Holy Spirit, unfolds a clear picture of the process by which the Holy Spirit works in the life of the believer. For anyone who has experienced times of brokenness, the book is a handbook on restoration, enabling the reader to identify and effectively deal with obstacles, walk fully and fruitfully in Spirit-filled life, and rejoice in God’s faithfulness. Containing life-transforming dimensions of renewal and personal restoration, Rebuilding the Real You equips the reader with the tools necessary to rebuild their soul, restore their hope, and remove their shame. With a help like that, you can live every day with confidence, assured of God’s Word triumphing in you.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 1986

About the author

Jack Williams Hayford (born June 25, 1934) is an American author, Pentecostal minister, and Chancellor Emeritus of The King's University (formerly The King's College and Seminary). He is a former senior pastor of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California and was the fourth President of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. He is widely known for his past involvement in the Promise Keepers movement and for being a prolific author and songwriter, with over 600 hymns and choruses in his catalog. He is the author of the popular 1978 hymn "Majesty", which is rated as one of the top 100 contemporary hymns and performed and sung in churches worldwide.

Reviews

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

We did a Life Group study of this book. Our group leader gave us additional extensive outlines each week to enhance our understanding of the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. We received greater understanding of God--especially of the Holy Spirit!

[Julie Edberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completed this book with a group, discussing its relevance to our lives as followers of Jesus. Jack Hayford does an amazing job in drawing the parallels between Nehemiah’s leadership in rebuilding of the wall and gates of Jerusalem and the work that the Holy Spirit does in guiding us in recovering what is wounded or broken in us.

I found it most interesting that even once we do all of the work to rebuild our walls, repairing all of the brokenness of our lives, we still must attend to the gates that represent the entry and exit or self-control in our lives.

With opposition from the enemy, the building continues with a sword in one hand and a hammer in the other. Isn’t that how we are guided? Continue on doing the work of God while wielding the Sword (word of God)!

I highly recommend this book!

[Colm Alton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a good book in looking at how the Holy Spirit restores our lives. While I agree with the principal of this book, I’d be hesitant to recommend it because I am wary of his hermeneutical method which is relying on God to reveal the types and symbols in the book of Nehemiah in relation to the holy spirits work in our lives. He seems to say because this was a method the apostles used we can too. However this seems to me to not take the authority of the apostles seriously and could lead to endless interpretations in the bible which would create confusion which I don’t think God intended.

[Lana Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Rebuilding the Real You" centers on the Book of Nehemiah and the historical and Biblical significance of the restoration of the wall around Jerusalem. Hayford shows the relationship of that rebuilding to a Christian's growth. He targets a new believer, but the principles are relevant to any Christian as they grow in Christ.

This is an amazing book. I read it slowly and drank in the information. It is a comforting and encouraging read with practical application.

[Charlie Einkauf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have come to understand this to be a text that could be hotly debated in some circles as to whether or not it is an accurate interpretation of Scripture. Therefore, I approached Hayford's book with shields up. However, I cannot ignore the movement of the Spirit as I read through this book. Hayford brings a powerful message in a quick word. This book is short and to the point. An excellent read.

[Kathy Hogeveen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an answer to prayer. I have been on a journey of discovering how exactly to allow the holy spirit to lead my life as it is my desire to abandon my life fully to Jesus.

The verse Nehemiah 6:3 "And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” has stayed with me for years as I have struggled to stay focused on putting God first in my life. I believe that this is a phrase we should carry with us throughout our day. When we are confident that the thing we are doing is exactly what God wants us to do, we must refuse all distractions.

This book equates the book of Nehemiah with the rebuilding of our own lives through the Holy Spirit as we commit fully to the Lord. Amazing visuals for us to hang on to as we allow the Spirit to do the work that we cannot do on our own.

Jesus said in John 14:15-26 "15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. "

Be done with self help - allow the Spirit to lead as our triune God intended.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book by Jack Hayford. I loved his teaching on dealing with sin and the importance confession plays in allowing the Holy Spirit to purify my life.

I love this quote...

"He who has come to help you see your life rebuilt will also come to see your life advanced into His purposes."

...because God has been speaking to me for at least a year and a half about moving forward. The Holy Spirit is the One in charge of that!

[Elaine Beachy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book in teaching women's Bible studies in my home a couple years ago. It's a study in the book of Nehemiah, where Hayford shows how, after we're born again, the Governor Nehemiah is a type of the Holy Spirit Who works in the rebuilding of the broken down walls of our lives. Very revealing and healing! Lives were changed in my Bible study during the weeks we used this book!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring

The author compared the book of Nehemiah to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, rebuilding and restoring the broken.

Know the Word of God, have faith in God to perform His Word...these are only 2 of the tools vital to one seeking healing.


"He who as begun a good work in you will complete it."

[Dave Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Jack Hayford examines the book of Nehemiah and mines it for the Divine wisdom that we can use for clearing away all the junk in our lives and restoring our lives to their fullest extent. A must read!

[Jon Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Teaching

Nehemiah is one of my favorite books of the Bible. So practical for everyday life. Jack Hayford’s take on it blew me away. The parallels are so easy to see and apply in my life. Wow great read.

[Candy Tumlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

very understanding of the greatness of Gods work in taking our surrounding walls that have been broken down and rebuilding them with the graces of God.

[Bob Snook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book with lots of wisdom and insight

[Alicia Eskew]

Read this book decades ago, and still recall the impact of the book of Nehemiah on my past and present. Beautiful truths found here.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A study of the Book of Nehemiah.

[Lisa Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This was an excellent book. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for help or feeling like their world has caved in. Filled with hope, wisdom and truth.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gave me a different view of the book of Nehemiah :) Good read!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book once I got past chapter one. There was quite the slow start to this book, but if you can hang in there for a while it definitely gets better.

By the end of chapter two I was ready to move on to the next page because the writing was just drawing me in and pulling me along. If I could have read all night I would have finished this book in a day. Alas, life has other demands that must be attended to so it took me a few days to finish it.

This book is basically about rebuilding your personality in Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit. Jack Hayford uses the book of Nehemiah to show how the Holy Spirit wants to work in our lives and how Satan tries to stop Him.

The writing is excellent and very relevant for every Christian today? If you're not a Christian, Hayford has a section of the book designed specifically to help you make a decision for Christ. This book I highly recommend!!!