PRAYING ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?

PRAYING ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?

He said, before he became a born-again minister, he used to do different forms of “Far Eastern” meditations. These include types of “New Age” meditations and “Contemplative Prayer,” which has “infiltrated Christianity.” However, he discovered he was not praying to the biblical God of Jesus Christ, but to deceptive “demonic spirits.” But the Holy Spirit persuaded this minister to shares what he learned from the Bible about discerning deceptive spirits and about praying according to the Bible (John 14:15-17; Hebrews 4:12).

THE BIBLE ALERTS YOU TO SPIRITUAL DECEPTIONS

The Bible,, reveals that we are in spiritual warfare “against powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” And vital parts of our offense and defense include “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” and “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,” according to the biblical Word of God (Ephesians 6:12-18).

The biblical Word of God instructs believer to study to have a correct understanding of God’s written Word (2 Timothy 2:15). For “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the servant of God^[^a^] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). And “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Therefore, the people of God are told, to study God’s Word and “trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding… And He shall ^[^a^]direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

THE BIBLES TEACHES YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT COMMUNICATING WTTH GOD

God of the Bible employed a born-again minister to share what he learned about praying according to the Bible. Brian Flynn, now a minister and director of One Truth Ministries in Minneapolis, shares what he learned about praying according the Bible and being freed from spiritual deception.

Brian said: “Eleven years ago I walked away from the life of a New Age medium and gave my heart to Jesus Christ. As a medium, I performed psychic readings and, through meditative practices, contacted spirit guides. At the time, I did not realize these guides were demonic. Now as a Christian, I no longer have to chant, go into altered states of consciousness or perform rituals to find the peace and truth I found through the Lord and his Word.”

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER IS SEEN AS ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING TO CHRISTIANS. After having been converted by the Word of God, Brian said he was shocked to learn that the Far Eastern technique of meditation had “infiltrated Christianity through…a practice called contemplative prayer.” He said this technique involves: “repeating a word or phrase over and over again until reaching what is called “the silence.” (According to articles by Lighthouse Trails Publishing, contemplative prayer may use biblical names and phrases as mantras that are more attractive to Christians, rather than “om” and other Eastern mantras). Sometime instead of a word or phrase, the breath is focused upon, thus the name “breath prayer.” The goal?–Reaching an “altered state of consciousness” in order to communicate with God.” Brain said, “Contemplating God’s word is a good thing. But the contemplative prayer I speak of is not.”

In light of his understanding of contemplative prayer and the Word of God’s, Brain ask: “Why would God put me in a position to fend for myself in this unknown spiritual realm surrounded by spiritual beings that are not in cooperation with God and his way? He would not.” (2 Corinthian 11:14; 1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10)). Brain adds: “As a former New Age medium, I know the difference between Eastern meditative practices and biblical Christian prayer. Sadly, too many in the Christian community do not.”

OBEYING THE BIBLE DELIVERS US FROM ALL EVIL

Jesus said in the Bible, in the last days “there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24). However the Lord prayed for all who would believe him through the message of the Bible (John 17:20). Furthermore, the Lord said “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).

Are you one of the Lord’s sheep who hear and obey his biblical Word?