Part 1 of this book, ‘Enabled to Be,’ explores both the biblical identity and the developing characteristics of the Christian, inspired by the beatitudes in Matthew 5. This is the foundation for part 2, ‘Equipped to Do,’ in which Dennis highlights different ways in which God calls us to emulate the life and works of Jesus in our own individual circumstances. He is convinced that we are not born again to sit patiently in ‘God’s waiting room’ until we ‘go home’. We are enabled and equipped to step out in faith to make a difference while we are here on earth.

He believes passionately that the gifts of the spirit are the contents of the toolbox God has provided each of us with for our part in his kingdom coming and his will being done on earth as it is in heaven. Furthermore, that the actions and fruit of such endeavours not only confound the idea that the Christian life is boring, but also result in the fruit of the spirit being displayed through us as our character is moulded to become increasingly more like that of our Saviour.

He loves to quote scriptures like Matthew 10:7-8, Matthew 28:18-20, and John 14:12 to provide both inspiration and encouragement for us all to realise how much we have been blessed through the amazing grace of God both to be and to do.

Dennis Acott retired to Norfolk in July 2018, with his wife Cathy, after several years of lay ministry involving using and teaching about spiritual gifts, especially the gifts of healing. This accelerated after Dennis was dramatically set free from M.E. in May 2008, following which they founded their ‘Eagles 4031’ ministry, receiving invitations from churches in the UK and France as well as opportunities for memorable trips to India and Colombia as part of other teams. The itinerant aspect of their ministry has reduced considerably in recent years after accepting an offer to join the leadership team of The Way Christian Fellowship in Hunstanton for a season, but their passion for this ministry is unabated.

Customer Reviews

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2 reviews

Dr Jonathan Squirrell

Like two sides of the same coin, Dennis Acott’s book presents who we are in Christ before he tackles what we can do as a result of knowing our spiritual identity. He thereby marries identity to activity whilst differentiating between them, and shows how both are needed for an authentic Christian experience. After all, knowledge without action achieves nothing, and endless ‘doing’ with no understanding of how God views us is unsustainable. All coins have two sides. Part one tackles spiritual identity by examine the Beatitudes of Matthew 5. Much of this may be familiar territory, but in reading this first half in one sitting it’s impossible to miss the cumulative effect of these challenges to contemporary ways of living. 21st century church has frequently imbibed many values from outside. As a result, there may be little to distinguish us from others of no, or different, faith. But Jesus tells us how blessed we are when we live His way. The second part of the book examines what the Godhead has already done in equipping, and thereby blessing, followers of Jesus. Starting with Christ, and including spiritual gifts and fruit, and other aspects of outworking our inner faith, the reader is left with no other conclusion than this: we are blessed, at least in part, to be a blessing to others; and being such a blessing is possible. In other words, the high calling to which Christ calls us is enabled by God. We are called and blessed and empowered to share both calling and blessing with those around us. Full of Scripture and peppered with anecdote and testimony, Dennis presents a readable and practical encouragement to contemporary church: live the New Testament way and experience New Testament transformation.
Gill Tanner

This is a well written and thoughtfully crafted book. A mirror is held up to the reader of his own journey with Christ Jesus and his teaching. By an in depth study of the beatitudes, we discover the sequence of maturing in the believers life, and we are given the opportunity to apply the teaching as we honestly search are own progress to a truly blessed life. The second section of the book shows us how we apply this blessing in all that we become in Christ. This will result in action to be a blessing to others, using the many gifts we have been given through the Holy Spirit, poured out in our lives through the death and resurrection of Jesus. I recommend this book to all who want to become more Christlike and more effective in serving him, carrying and releasing the kingdom.