Lesson Two
The Person, Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
According to the Word of God
Outline by Rev. Dave Fruehauf
1. The primary work of the Holy Spirit: To bring God to man and man to God through the inspired truths of the Sacred Scriptures, the word of God.
A. The writers of the Old Testament were spokesmen of God by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
1. 2 Samuel 23:2 (Holy Spirit spoke through David) “The Spirit of the Lord (Jahwe) spoke through me, his word was on my tongue.”
2. Isaiah 59:21 (Holy Spirit was given to Isaiah to transmit God’s truth to future generations) “ ‘As for me, this is my covenant with them,’ says the Lord . ‘My Spirit is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendents, from this time on and forever,’ says the Lord.
3. Ezekiel 11:5f (Ezekiel declares the Spirit came on him for the express purpose of proclaiming God’s will to a rebellious and traitorous people) “Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and he told me to say: ‘This is what the Lord says…”
4. Micah 3:8 (Holy Spirit fills him with power and judgment) “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin…”
B. The New Testament authenticates the inspirational activity of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.
1. 1Peter 1:10-11 (Peter tells us that it was the Spirit of Christ in the Old Testament prophets who predicted the sufferings of Christ and his subsequent glory) “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”
2. Acts 1:16 (Peter refers to the Old Testament prophecy which the Holy Spirit spoke through David) “In those days Peter stood up…and said ‘Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas’” (Psalm 41:9)
C. The New Testament Scriptures were given by the Holy Spirit
1. John 162-15 (Our Savior Lord promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth) “I have yet many things to say to you more then you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”
2. John 17:20 (The apostles will be spokesmen for Christ with the same authority as that of Christ) “…I pray also for those who will believe me through their message.”
3. 1Corinthians 2:14 (Paul describes the ministry of the Holy Spirit to those who are in Christ) “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God that we may understand what God has freely given us…The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them…”
4. Ephesians 3:4-5 (The knowledge of Christ now revealed by the Holy Spirit through the apostles) “…you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.”
5. Ephesians 6:17 (Paul describes the word of God as the sword of the Spirit) “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
6. 1Corinthians 2:12-13 (Paul describes the Holy Spirits inspiration of the apostles’ teachings as including the individual words) “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”
7. 1Peter 1:12 (Peter emphasizes the guidance of the apostles by the Holy Spirit) “…they (the Old O.T. prophets) spoke of the things that have now been told you by those (the apostles) who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.
8. 1Corinthians 2:12 (Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us the understanding of what God has given us in Christ.) “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
9. John 10:3,5,7 (Jesus tells us that his Church (The Body of Christ) will not listen to the voice of a stranger.) “The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…he goes ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger, in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize stranger’s voice …Jesus said again…I am the gate for the sheep.” Note: Jesus speaks to us through the Spirit-revealed scriptures.
10. Martin Luther: “Holy Scripture is the book given by God the Holy Spirit to his Church, in which it must learn what it is, what it should do, what it should suffer, where it should abide. Where the inspired Book ceases there the church ceases; for He (Jesus) says His church will not listen to the voice of a stranger. 1542 Luther’s Works
The life-giving Spirit of God is the author of God’s own Word of life, the written Word of God which when proclaimed brings faith, trust, forgiveness of sins and eternal life to the receiver.
Soli Deo Gloria
Thursday, December 25, 2008
The Person, Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
According to the Word of God
Outline by Rev. Dave Fruehauf
September 2008
Lesson One
I. The Person of the Holy Spirit
A. Holy Spirit endowed with the characteristics of a person
1. Isaiah 11:2 “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”
2. 1 Corinthians 2:11 “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God
B. Holy Spirit acts as a person
1. Genesis 6:3 (losing patience) “My Spirit will not contend with man forever.
2. Nehemiah 9:20 (Spirit instructs) “You have your good Spirit to instruct them.”
3. Isaiah 63:14 (Gives rest) “…they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord.”
4. Zechariah 4:14 (As giver of victory) “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty.”
5. John 15:26 (As counselor to the disciples) “…the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”
6. John 14:26 (teacher) “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
7. Acts 8:29 (Commands) “The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
8. Acts 10:19,20 “…the Spirit said to him (Peter) ‘Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
9. Acts 16:6-7 (Stopped Paul and Silas) “Paul and his companions…kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.”
10. Ephesians 4:30 (offended by unholy living) “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
11. Hebrews 10:29 (Can be outraged) “How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”
12. Acts 15:28 (Holy Spirit can be pleased) “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…”
13. John 16: 13,14 (Called by the pronoun ‘He’) “When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own, he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”\
C. The Holy Spirit is God
1. Genesis 1:2 (Holy Spirit active at Creation) “…the Spirit of God (Elohim) was hovering over the waters.”
2. Isaiah 61:1f (Holy Spirit to rest on the Messiah) “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord (Adonai Jahwe) is on me, because the Lord (Jahwe) has anointed me to preach good news to the poor…”
3. Matthew 28:19 (In the name of the Holy Spirit) “Go and make disciples of
all nations …in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
4. 1 Peter 1:10-12 (Spirit of Christ inspired Old Testament prophets) “…the prophets …searched intently …trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing…”
5. 2 Samuel 23:203 (Holy Spirit called God – Jahwe) “The Spirit of the Lord (Jahwe) spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel (Elohim) spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me…”
6. Matthew 12:31-32 (Blasphemy against Holy Spirit is blasphemy against God) “…anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or the age to come.)
7. Psalm 139:7-10 (Holy Spirit present everywhere) “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (only God is omniscient).
8. Hebrews 9:10 (Holy Spirit is eternal) “…through the eternal Spirit…”
9. Psalm 64:30 (Spirit of God creates) “When you send your Spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the earth.”
10. Job 33:4 (Holy Spirit created Man) “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Outline by Rev. Dave Fruehauf
September 2008
Lesson One
I. The Person of the Holy Spirit
A. Holy Spirit endowed with the characteristics of a person
1. Isaiah 11:2 “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”
2. 1 Corinthians 2:11 “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God
B. Holy Spirit acts as a person
1. Genesis 6:3 (losing patience) “My Spirit will not contend with man forever.
2. Nehemiah 9:20 (Spirit instructs) “You have your good Spirit to instruct them.”
3. Isaiah 63:14 (Gives rest) “…they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord.”
4. Zechariah 4:14 (As giver of victory) “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty.”
5. John 15:26 (As counselor to the disciples) “…the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”
6. John 14:26 (teacher) “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
7. Acts 8:29 (Commands) “The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
8. Acts 10:19,20 “…the Spirit said to him (Peter) ‘Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
9. Acts 16:6-7 (Stopped Paul and Silas) “Paul and his companions…kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.”
10. Ephesians 4:30 (offended by unholy living) “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
11. Hebrews 10:29 (Can be outraged) “How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”
12. Acts 15:28 (Holy Spirit can be pleased) “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…”
13. John 16: 13,14 (Called by the pronoun ‘He’) “When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own, he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”\
C. The Holy Spirit is God
1. Genesis 1:2 (Holy Spirit active at Creation) “…the Spirit of God (Elohim) was hovering over the waters.”
2. Isaiah 61:1f (Holy Spirit to rest on the Messiah) “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord (Adonai Jahwe) is on me, because the Lord (Jahwe) has anointed me to preach good news to the poor…”
3. Matthew 28:19 (In the name of the Holy Spirit) “Go and make disciples of
all nations …in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
4. 1 Peter 1:10-12 (Spirit of Christ inspired Old Testament prophets) “…the prophets …searched intently …trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing…”
5. 2 Samuel 23:203 (Holy Spirit called God – Jahwe) “The Spirit of the Lord (Jahwe) spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel (Elohim) spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me…”
6. Matthew 12:31-32 (Blasphemy against Holy Spirit is blasphemy against God) “…anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or the age to come.)
7. Psalm 139:7-10 (Holy Spirit present everywhere) “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (only God is omniscient).
8. Hebrews 9:10 (Holy Spirit is eternal) “…through the eternal Spirit…”
9. Psalm 64:30 (Spirit of God creates) “When you send your Spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the earth.”
10. Job 33:4 (Holy Spirit created Man) “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Baptismal Service
I had the privilege of baptizing my two newest grandchildren, Owen and Ella in the Summer of 2008. It has been a passion of mine to ensure that people understand the meaning of baptism. I am sharing the order of service to show why we need baptism and how the Word of God supports this important ritual.
Owen Dale Fruehauf and Ella Jan Fruehauf
Presiding Minister: Rev. David Fruehauf
Grace Free Lutheran Church, Maple Grove Minnesota
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Separation from God
The Psalmist, David, said “Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
The Need for a New Spiritual Birth
Jesus said “if anyone is not born again from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God…if anyone is not born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, but what is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
The Command to Baptize and to Teach
Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all people by baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and by teaching them everything I have commanded you.”
The Spiritual Union with the Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The Apostle Paul says “all of us who were baptized in Christ Jesus were baptized into His death…We were buried with Him so that, as Christ was raised from the dead with the same glory as the Father, we too will live a new life.”
The Water as Symbol of Saving Grace
The apostle Peter tells how God used water in the Old and New Testaments as a symbol to signify salvation: “…God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also…not the removal of dirt from the body but the response of a good conscience toward God. Baptism saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Today, Owen and Ella will become born again children of God. Their new spiritual relationship with their Heavenly Father is described by the Psalmist, David: “You brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast…From my birth I have relied on you.” This new relationship with their Heavenly Father must be nurtured and encouraged by teaching them the Word of God, teaching them how to pray and how to worship the Lord as they grow in maturity. This is preparing them for the time when, with the help of the Holy Spirit, each one will make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
The Prayers, Promises and Commitment of the Parents and Sponsors
The Presentation for Baptism by water and Spirit in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Closing Pastoral Prayer
Owen Dale Fruehauf and Ella Jan Fruehauf
Presiding Minister: Rev. David Fruehauf
Grace Free Lutheran Church, Maple Grove Minnesota
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Separation from God
The Psalmist, David, said “Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
The Need for a New Spiritual Birth
Jesus said “if anyone is not born again from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God…if anyone is not born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, but what is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
The Command to Baptize and to Teach
Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all people by baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and by teaching them everything I have commanded you.”
The Spiritual Union with the Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The Apostle Paul says “all of us who were baptized in Christ Jesus were baptized into His death…We were buried with Him so that, as Christ was raised from the dead with the same glory as the Father, we too will live a new life.”
The Water as Symbol of Saving Grace
The apostle Peter tells how God used water in the Old and New Testaments as a symbol to signify salvation: “…God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also…not the removal of dirt from the body but the response of a good conscience toward God. Baptism saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Today, Owen and Ella will become born again children of God. Their new spiritual relationship with their Heavenly Father is described by the Psalmist, David: “You brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast…From my birth I have relied on you.” This new relationship with their Heavenly Father must be nurtured and encouraged by teaching them the Word of God, teaching them how to pray and how to worship the Lord as they grow in maturity. This is preparing them for the time when, with the help of the Holy Spirit, each one will make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
The Prayers, Promises and Commitment of the Parents and Sponsors
The Presentation for Baptism by water and Spirit in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Closing Pastoral Prayer
A NEW SPIRITUALITY Ancient Mystical Practices Enter the Church
Rev. David Fruehauf
Contemplative prayer, mantras, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, the silence, sacred space, labyrinths, meditative techniques, mystical spirituality, the Cosmic Christ, centering prayer, lectio divina, Christ consciousness – new terms which reflect the mystical spirituality that has entered many churches, seminaries, Christian youth organizations and many of the books sold by Christian bookstores. Several major Christian publishers are printing books by authors advocating the new spirituality.
Not many years ago, the conservative Church was warned about the emergence of the New Age movement. By the 1990’s, most Christians forgot about the earlier ominous threat to the Church. Quietly, New Age spirituality permeated Western culture. It has now found its way into the Christian Church. In many churches, mystical meditative practices are introduced as a supplement to traditional preaching of the Word and worship. These beguiling teachings are easily found on certain televised programs of TV evangelists.
These meditative techniques were introduced as ways to draw closer to God. By faithfully learning and practicing, one could actually reach the “inner light” and eventually hear God speaking in the mind in a personal way. This beguiling invitation brings eager participants! Who wouldn’t want to draw closer to God and, after awhile, even hear Him speak directly through your mind? Some popular Christian leaders are deeply involved and have drawn many into these deceptive experiences.
But is it the Light of Christ that is seen? Is it the voice of the One True God that is heard? Are the physical sensations (some quite dramatic) felt in the physical body the work of the Holy Spirit or are these personal spiritual experiences the work of deceiving spirits?
The Church is warned: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” 1Timothy 4:1. And further, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” 1John 4:1.
Identifying spiritual lies of those outside the Church is not so difficult. But when deceptions come from within the church, especially by admired leaders, it is more difficult to discern the hidden lie or deception mixed with the Truth.
Like changing the way one prays. Instead of speaking a prayer from the heart, sit quietly in complete silence. Let your thoughts drift away. Begin to repeat a word or short phrase in your mind over and over and over again until your mind seems to empty itself of all distractions and thoughts. The conscious mind is now in an altered state. Practicing this spiritual discipline, going deeper into the altered state of consciousness, will eventually lead to the “inner light” experience and eventually to hearing a voice in the mind. The spiritual director will lead you. It may be a pastor or other leader in the church. This is “the silence” called contemplative prayer taken from ancient mysticism, first brought into the early Church by the desert fathers and practiced by Christian mystics throughout the centuries. Now, it has moved into the evangelical, mainline and Catholic church bodies.
Do you see the deception in contemplative prayer? Does scripture tell us to go into silence, let our thoughts drift away by repeating a word or phrase over and over until our consciousness is altered? Going to the state where one will see the “inner light,” hear a voice in the mind and perhaps see and hear human-like spirit beings speaking? The answer is absolutely NO! Prayer is speaking to God and the Word of God is God speaking to us. Believers read and think about God’s Word to understand the revelation He has given us about Himself and to find the instructions for living.
There is another purpose for bringing spiritual disciplines like contemplative prayer into the church. These techniques, used to contact spiritual beings, are practiced by other world religions. Some of these teachers and practitioners of mysticism in the church want to unite all religions (called interspirituality) on the common ground of mysticism for the purpose of ending all wars, bringing peace between nations and ushering in the golden age of prosperity.
Closely allied to this “second reformation” is the new church on the block, the Emerging Church. Sometimes called “The Emergent Church,” leaders of this movement wish to redefine the very fundamentals of historic, biblical Christianity. The Scriptures are not presented as the source of Truth and the norm for Christian living. Rather, spiritual truth is subjective, coming out of inner spiritual and life experiences. A contemporary leader in the Emerging Church movement describes this new wave as people wanting to know God not know about God and wanting to experience the “beyond” in the “within.” Experience is considered faith’s most fundamental activity. This new paradigm for the emerging church says that if you experience God, you will have the right teaching. Mystical practices of meditation become the “sacraments” of the new church where each one arrives at his or her own personal truth. The Bible is then understood and interpreted from one’s own viewpoint and spiritual experiences.
Doing “church” becomes an informal discussion between individuals sitting in a “coffee house” arranged setting. The “pastor” moderates and may comment occasionally. Selected sections of scripture might be discussed and interpreted by one’s own “inner light” experiences. Faith is being exercised. There are no creeds or statements of faith. Each one is on his or her own personal spiritual journey, ever changing and growing “deeper.”
Jesus Christ is the Word Incarnate, “the Word become flesh,” John 1:14, not the ideal and example of a person on a mystical journey. He came as the divine Son of God to give His life as a sacrifice, an atonement for the sins of the world. Jesus told us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him John 14:6. He said the Word of God is Truth and that we are made Holy by believing and following what it teaches, John 17:17.
In these Last Days before Christ’s return, the Church was told that deceptions (truth mixed with lies) would come from within the Church. Search and know the Word of God. Christ has given the Holy Spirit to guide and keep us in the full Truth of the Word, John 14:26. Some may depart, but Christ promised that the “gates of Hell will not overcome His Church, Matthew 16:18.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: Pastor Dave Fruehauf was ordained in The Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod and is currently listed on the AFLC roster of ordained clergy. He received the Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary and the Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. He is currently a part-time pastoral counselor in a local church.
Pastor Fruehauf will be conducting a week long morning seminar this summer during the Family Camp at the ARC in Osceola, Wisconsin.
Contact Pastor Fruehauf at dcfruehauf@msn.com
Contemplative prayer, mantras, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, the silence, sacred space, labyrinths, meditative techniques, mystical spirituality, the Cosmic Christ, centering prayer, lectio divina, Christ consciousness – new terms which reflect the mystical spirituality that has entered many churches, seminaries, Christian youth organizations and many of the books sold by Christian bookstores. Several major Christian publishers are printing books by authors advocating the new spirituality.
Not many years ago, the conservative Church was warned about the emergence of the New Age movement. By the 1990’s, most Christians forgot about the earlier ominous threat to the Church. Quietly, New Age spirituality permeated Western culture. It has now found its way into the Christian Church. In many churches, mystical meditative practices are introduced as a supplement to traditional preaching of the Word and worship. These beguiling teachings are easily found on certain televised programs of TV evangelists.
These meditative techniques were introduced as ways to draw closer to God. By faithfully learning and practicing, one could actually reach the “inner light” and eventually hear God speaking in the mind in a personal way. This beguiling invitation brings eager participants! Who wouldn’t want to draw closer to God and, after awhile, even hear Him speak directly through your mind? Some popular Christian leaders are deeply involved and have drawn many into these deceptive experiences.
But is it the Light of Christ that is seen? Is it the voice of the One True God that is heard? Are the physical sensations (some quite dramatic) felt in the physical body the work of the Holy Spirit or are these personal spiritual experiences the work of deceiving spirits?
The Church is warned: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” 1Timothy 4:1. And further, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” 1John 4:1.
Identifying spiritual lies of those outside the Church is not so difficult. But when deceptions come from within the church, especially by admired leaders, it is more difficult to discern the hidden lie or deception mixed with the Truth.
Like changing the way one prays. Instead of speaking a prayer from the heart, sit quietly in complete silence. Let your thoughts drift away. Begin to repeat a word or short phrase in your mind over and over and over again until your mind seems to empty itself of all distractions and thoughts. The conscious mind is now in an altered state. Practicing this spiritual discipline, going deeper into the altered state of consciousness, will eventually lead to the “inner light” experience and eventually to hearing a voice in the mind. The spiritual director will lead you. It may be a pastor or other leader in the church. This is “the silence” called contemplative prayer taken from ancient mysticism, first brought into the early Church by the desert fathers and practiced by Christian mystics throughout the centuries. Now, it has moved into the evangelical, mainline and Catholic church bodies.
Do you see the deception in contemplative prayer? Does scripture tell us to go into silence, let our thoughts drift away by repeating a word or phrase over and over until our consciousness is altered? Going to the state where one will see the “inner light,” hear a voice in the mind and perhaps see and hear human-like spirit beings speaking? The answer is absolutely NO! Prayer is speaking to God and the Word of God is God speaking to us. Believers read and think about God’s Word to understand the revelation He has given us about Himself and to find the instructions for living.
There is another purpose for bringing spiritual disciplines like contemplative prayer into the church. These techniques, used to contact spiritual beings, are practiced by other world religions. Some of these teachers and practitioners of mysticism in the church want to unite all religions (called interspirituality) on the common ground of mysticism for the purpose of ending all wars, bringing peace between nations and ushering in the golden age of prosperity.
Closely allied to this “second reformation” is the new church on the block, the Emerging Church. Sometimes called “The Emergent Church,” leaders of this movement wish to redefine the very fundamentals of historic, biblical Christianity. The Scriptures are not presented as the source of Truth and the norm for Christian living. Rather, spiritual truth is subjective, coming out of inner spiritual and life experiences. A contemporary leader in the Emerging Church movement describes this new wave as people wanting to know God not know about God and wanting to experience the “beyond” in the “within.” Experience is considered faith’s most fundamental activity. This new paradigm for the emerging church says that if you experience God, you will have the right teaching. Mystical practices of meditation become the “sacraments” of the new church where each one arrives at his or her own personal truth. The Bible is then understood and interpreted from one’s own viewpoint and spiritual experiences.
Doing “church” becomes an informal discussion between individuals sitting in a “coffee house” arranged setting. The “pastor” moderates and may comment occasionally. Selected sections of scripture might be discussed and interpreted by one’s own “inner light” experiences. Faith is being exercised. There are no creeds or statements of faith. Each one is on his or her own personal spiritual journey, ever changing and growing “deeper.”
Jesus Christ is the Word Incarnate, “the Word become flesh,” John 1:14, not the ideal and example of a person on a mystical journey. He came as the divine Son of God to give His life as a sacrifice, an atonement for the sins of the world. Jesus told us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him John 14:6. He said the Word of God is Truth and that we are made Holy by believing and following what it teaches, John 17:17.
In these Last Days before Christ’s return, the Church was told that deceptions (truth mixed with lies) would come from within the Church. Search and know the Word of God. Christ has given the Holy Spirit to guide and keep us in the full Truth of the Word, John 14:26. Some may depart, but Christ promised that the “gates of Hell will not overcome His Church, Matthew 16:18.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: Pastor Dave Fruehauf was ordained in The Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod and is currently listed on the AFLC roster of ordained clergy. He received the Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary and the Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. He is currently a part-time pastoral counselor in a local church.
Pastor Fruehauf will be conducting a week long morning seminar this summer during the Family Camp at the ARC in Osceola, Wisconsin.
Contact Pastor Fruehauf at dcfruehauf@msn.com
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