Union with God
What is Mysticism?
“A spiritual discipline aiming at union with the divine through deep meditation or trance like contemplation. The experience of such communion as described by mystics. Any belief in the existence of realities beyond perceptual or intellectual apprehension….” The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
The root of both words is mystery, which means to shut the eyes or mouth, something that is secret.
Our born again experience is our initiation into the mysteries of God. Jesus declares in John 3:3 that, “no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
In Matthew 16:16 Peter, after he was asked by Jesus “Who do you say I am?” declares “you are the Christ the Son of hte Living God.” and Jesus replies that he is blessed…forthis was not reveled by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
In 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 it states “No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of god. We have not received the spirit of hte world bu the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
The mystery of God is christ” in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” Colossians 2:3.
What is meditation?
The word meditation means to reflect or ponder deeply on scripture. There are many references to it in the bible for example Joshua 1:8 states, …. Psalm 1 the promise of blessedness comes to those whose delight is the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night.
The Jewish practice of meditation consisted of repeating scriptures verses, which produced a soft murmuring sound as they deeply reflected on God’s word. True Biblical meditation actively engages and focuses the mind while the occult and new age practice of meditation often mindlessly repeat mantras or a secret name continually until a trancelike or hypnotic state is self-induced.
What is a miracle?
A miracle is an event that appears unexplainable by the laws of nature and so held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God.
The American Heritage Dictionary of hte English Language
The mystics that we have chosen to study all believed and walked in the miraculous. they were the revivalists, reformers and miracles workers of their day.
What is the difference between meditation, contemplation/contemplative prayer, and soaking?
The term soaking began with the soverign move of God’s presence in Toronto, Canada. Because of the visitation of God, His manifest presence was so powerful that people would fall under the power of it before anyone even prayed for them! After praying for people, the prayer servants would continue praying and soak them in more of God’s presence. People came dry and thirsty and were refreshed and soaked in God’s presence just as a dried out sponge is soaked in water. Soaking has become a term for sitting or relaxing while worshiping or absorbing the presence of God that comes from the atmosphere brought while listening to the music. Most Christians concept and awareness of God’s presence is external to themselves. In John 7:37-38 Jesus declared. “If anyone is thristy, let him come to me and drink. Whoever belives in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
As belivers who have been indwelt by the promised Holy spirit we have hte privilege of continual access to His presence. Augustine said that he had lost much time in the beginning of his Christian experienced by trying to find the Lord outwardly rather than turning inwardly. Trul, we often fast, strive after, and pray for somethign that we already possess!
Mystics learned how to live in God’s presence internally and express the reality of that internal experience externally to the world.
Is God in everything?
God only comes to dwell with us when we give ourselves to Him and are born again. God loves everyone and is their Creator, but before we are saved we are dead in our trespasses and sin and separated from the life of God. Jesus died so that we could be reconciled to God! That is why the world so desperately needs to come to Christ and be saved. The New Age deception is that man is already divine within. The Bible states that God has placed eternity within the heart of man. The question is: Where will that eternity be spent, with our loving Heavenly Father or separated from Him forever?
If I was previously invovled in the New Age, Buddhism, or TM what practice should be avoided?
Avoid the practice of mindless repeating of a word or phrase. Unfortuantely some practices of Eastern Msticism crept into some of hte early desert fathers, and their teachings. Jesus warns not to be like the pagans with their vain and repetitious babbligns. Another pratice to avoid would be the harsh treatmentof hte body and extreme fasting. Also to be aoided are the new age pratgices of visualizatio and guided imagery. The whole focus of contemplative prayer is total abandonment to God. When we make thigns happen, we are hte ones in control.
Meditation and Contemplation
The goal of biblical meditation and contemplative prayer is for our soul to come into a practical experiencial union with God. Even though the Bible exhorts us to pray without ceasing, most Christians are only aware of God sporadically. The practice of meditation and contemplation enables us to refocus our soul (mind, will and emotions) and redirect our love back to God.
Meditation(thinking and Praying His Word)
1. Pick a Bible verse and read it slowly.
Begin by selecting a small portion of scripture. I will use Psalm 16 as an example. As you read the verse “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge” (Psalm 16:1 NIV) begin to reflect on what the words mean.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it.
As you were reading verse 1, the world “refuge” may have seemed especially significant to you. The Holy Spirit will often highlight a word or phrase as we read.
3. Pray it Back to God
You might pray that God would be your refuge so that you would always feel safe in Him. Often He will bring fresh insight and reveal truth from His word, perhaps the need to come to Him in deeper trust.
4. Focus on God (be open to His Voice)
As you center your focus on the Lord, you will begin to be aware that you are in His presence. As we come to Him we know by faith that we are in His presence. Sometimes, God will communicate His presence in a picture that momentarily comes into our mind or in a feeling of love or peace. Be open to whatever He wants to say or do, but don’t try to make something happen. If your mind wonders, simply reread the verse and refocus on Him.
Contemplation/Contemplative Prayer
(Being quiet as you love and listen with your heart)
1. Use a Bible verse to help you focus on God
(Use the steps for meditating to focus your mind)
2. Slowly read the words until you are aware of being in His presence.
3. Pause and quiet yoru mind as you focus on God inside of you. “The kingdon of God is within you” (luke 17:21) God dwells inside your heart; find Him there.
4. Keep yoru mind quiet and your heart listening.
When we love someone, we are happy just to be with him. We don’t need an exchange of words to communicate with those we know and love deeply. “Be still and know that He is God” (Psalm 46:10)
5. If your mind wanders, return to your scripture verse to help your mind and heart refocus on God
As we begin to practice contemplative prayer, we might just take a small pause in quietness as we meditate. We are so used to doing all the talking! Being still and listening positions our hearts to wait quietly in His presence.
