For Christian Prayer

The Apostasy

 

 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some

   will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits

   and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).

 

   Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will

   not come unless the falling away comes first (2 Thessalonians

   2:3a).

 

   They will turn their ears away from the truth, and be

   turned aside to fables (2 Timothy 4:4).

 

Apostasy has always troubled the Christian community, instilling doubts and lies and pulling the weak and undecided seekers from the ranks. The Great Apostasy, as the name suggests, is a much stronger form of heresy, and we may expect its influence to be strongest in the end of the church age. To be certain, we are experiencing such a time as the Bible describes, for it appears we are surrounded on all sides.

     The Great Apostasy has come into our lives by way of human flesh and blood, and in most of the cases, the agent appears quite harmless. Deceiving spirits and demons influence these apostate laborers, and they are most assuredly our friends, relatives, co-workers, and others close to us.

 

   For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten

   Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish

   but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

 

     The Buddhists, Zen practitioners, and contemplation groups who look within the heart without the benefit of the blood of Jesus Christ have always been thought of as seekers of truth. Love of others seems to be at the center of their peaceful pursuit of harmony, peace and brotherly love and while spiritual consciousness is certain, the benefits remain in question. A spiritual link with a spiritual world is a good thing, but which world, and in which direction will it take the seeker?

     The Bible tells us, “some will depart from the faith,” and will it be for building up or tearing down or—worst of all—a neutral void, falling into the pit of the bowels, into a black hole of nothingness?—like a senseless pursuit of a blank stare, which will do little except take these seekers further from life in Christ. The fear of eternal damnation and separation from God helps to conform the Christian practitioner, while the occult wanderer is not drawn away into hellish behavior but rather a false sense of peace and joy, having found the metaphysical illusion of inner oneness with the self.

      Loving God with all one’s heart is not loving the god within the heart, your contemplative self! If you are to look into the heart, Christ’s blood must be there to guide you upward and into relationship with God. We are not good men and women by virtue of this blood; we are perfectly holy men and women by this blood and able to love others by God’s accepting us and empowering our ministry goals (Hebrews 10:1, 14: “The law ... can never ... make those who approach perfect ... For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”)

   

     Sitting in the void of contemplation does not empower us with relationship with God, nor does it prepare us to illuminate others; it empowers a peaceful nothingness. Seeking the inner self darkens the mind and opens a spirit world in this realm without the hope of the eternal kingdom of God to come within us and, by this pathway, come into others.

     All the years of practicing these fallen arts with such temporary rewards should cause these seekers to look with enthusiasm and hope upon the structure of the tabernacle. Yes, there is the message of Life within the heart, the true “Light of the world.” It is Jesus they will find in these pages. He is hope, life, and purpose and brings His reward with Him—not a void or vacuum but the joy of the Lord and the peace of God.

     None of the ancient mystics but one rose from the grave. His body never saw corruption, nor could death hold Him down. “His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption” (Acts 2:31). Over five hundred witnesses were there and shall be in heaven for cross-examination, who saw the Holy Christ ascend to the heavens many days after His death upon a Roman cross.

     This is the One and only hope of the New Age seeker. Come, come over here and see where He is staying; it is not far from the place where you go to look for truth. You look into the hara, the belly, the focal point and the place from where you climb up the other way.

 

   Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the

   sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way,

   the same is a thief and a robber (John 10:1).

 

    Not only is His way easy for seekers like you, but there is spiritual power in this way. God’s Holy Spirit is alive and active in the life of the followers of Jesus Christ, and He releases this power into the life of the ones He trusts. One of the benefits of the new life is the Bible— for illumination of truth and power for its application, which is the true secret of joy and purpose: giving yourself by this power to others for true life in Him.

     You may be advanced in the arts of spiritual perception, and you may have had some understanding moments. Yet I daresay your quest has been empty of lasting peace and joy. I can presume this because of my own experiences in this discipline many years ago. You and your fellow inward gazers have seen about all there is to see after barren years of looking within. You watch each other in hopes of finding the next path to purpose that will not fail.

     I challenge you to come over here and see where Christ Jesus is staying, so that His true spiritual power may help you across the great divide. Do you think about the ones you may have influenced? Some of those lost in the apostasy may well be your responsibility, and I charge you with the quality of their eternal existence if the exhortation is appropriately placed.

     Will you choose for them, choose where they will spend eternity? It is almost certain that you hear and understand this call better than they. Come along inward as He made you to come, and find Peace and Joy in Christ Jesus for lasting purpose. Then together we may hope to reclaim those that are lost (Luke 15:4; 19:10).

     Jesus is the name given to Him by the Father, the name above all names. He is the Lamb, the bright and morning star. The one who is called Jesus Christ, it is Him—by His blood—who wants to come into your heart, hara, or belly and come in today if you will take His free gift of life. All you need do is to say these words from your heart and mean them:

 

1. I have sinned, and I turn from this life of sin.

 

2. I accept Jesus Christ, His blood sacrifice, as cleansing of my sin.

 

3. I choose to invite Him into my heart (hara) by my faith.

 

If you have prayed this simple prayer and believe in its truth, you are saved and will live eternally with Jesus Christ. Here are some of the responsibilities of this commitment:

 

- Get a Bible and start reading it every day!

 

- Find a good church—Calvary Chapel, Evangelical Free Church, Baptist, among others.

 

- If you were raised Catholic, than go to mass, read the Bible, attend study groups, and fellowship with others who have made the same decision.

 

- Take part in fellowship in the church weekly.

 

- Join a Bible study, preferably gender specific.

 

- Talk to God, as in the above material...pray.

 

- Congratulations, and welcome to the family of God.