Using biblical and contemporary examples this book shows that it has always been normal for God to speak to His children both from the Scripture and in their daily experience. If you want to hear God’s voice better you will find this book inspiring and helpful many practical ways.

Deere's 1993 book Surprised by the Power of the Spirit details his journey into charismatic Christianity, and argues against the cessationist position that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit have ceased. He deals with the arguments of B.B. Warfield and John MacArthur, among others. A companion book, Surprised by the Voice of God, argues for contemporary prophecy and supernatural revelation. He speaks about his experience of the Kansas City Prophets and the ministry of Paul Cain who some, including John Wimber consider to be a Prophet.

This best selling book has become a classic receiving praise from scholars and leaders all over the world. Using the Bible and contemporary examples it makes a convincing case for the reality of supernatural power in the church and answers those skeptical of the Spirit’s power.

C. Peter Wagner said this book “is the new operator’s manual for those who want to be participants, not just spectators, in today’s prophetic movement. This book will help you put it all together, get it up and running, and troubleshoot whatever problems arise.”

Jack was raised in Ft. Worth, Texas in a broken home that did not know the Lord. When he was 17 years old, a friend led Jack to Christ. Jack began reading the Bible for the first time and fell in love with the Scriptures. He attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX, where in majored in Philosophy and started working with the ministry of Young Life leading high school students to the Lord. After graduation in 1971, he attended Dallas Theological Seminary concentrating in Greek and Hebrew study of the Bible. He and Leesa were married in 1974. In 1976, he was invited to join the faculty of Dallas Seminary teaching Hebrew and books of the Bible in Hebrew. He received both a Master and Doctor of Theology degrees from Dallas Seminary. During his tenure at Dallas Seminary, he started and pastored two churches.

In 1986 after months of concentrated scriptural study, Jack reversed his position on the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. He became convinced that all of the gifts of the Spirit were meant to be used today, including healing and prophecy. God had never withdrawn these gifts, rather many in the church had withdrawn from the gifts. Even though he had no supernatural experience of his own, Jack and Leesa along with others began praying for the sick and listening for the voice of God. Almost immediately, they saw some wonderful healings.

He left the seminary faculty at in the end of 1987 and joined the staff of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church in Anaheim, CA. He served with John Wimber at the church and traveled around the world with him doing conferences on intimacy with God and the Holy Spirit.

Jack left the Anaheim Vineyard in 1992 to begin his own conference and writing ministry. He has written best selling books, which have been translated into a number of languages He travels national and internationally doing conferences on many themes. He serves on the boards of a number of Christian ministries.

Jack is currently the senior pastor of Wellspring Church in North Richland Hills, Texas, a church he started in the spring of 2004. The mission of the church is threefold: to help people cultivate an intimate friendship with Jesus; to help people discover and effectively use their spiritual gifts in significant ways in the church; and having learned how to use these gifts effectively in the church, then to use their gifts in the market place where they spend the majority of their time.

Jack and Leesa live in Colleyville, TX. They have two grown children, Stephen and Alese.