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p.1 Mystics - children of another Jesus
Mysticism in the church has increased because of certain well known and unknown men promoting it. Now there is a book called The Christian Mystic: About the Book: “ Daniel Lovett had a Divine visitation by the Lord Jesus Christ in 1998. Jesus floated into his room while he was praying and commissioned him with this calling: to show people what he was really like. The book The Christian Mystic pulls together many amazing stories of Jesus encounters, Happy Theology, and Spiritual Practices that will fuel this next Great Awakening !” Underline mine An experience can be real and still not from God. This is the case for Mr. Lovett. As the Word says Paul was the last to see Jesus on earth. He came to save him and appoint him to an apostolic position To see Jesus means one is an apostle like Paul which then means Paul was incorrect. Does God commission a person today to show us what Jesus was REALLY LIKE? Or does he point to his Word for us to have knowledge of this? What is a mystic ? of or relating to ancient mysteries (as the Eleusinian) b) : constituting or belonging to something occult or esoteric -- used of rites, observances, religions, and comparable matters c) of a fraternal order : having a ritual known or practiced only by initiates of or relating to mysticism, mystics, the mystical experience <~ state> <the ~ way> 4. a) : baffling or incomprehensible to the understanding A mystic is someone who pursues - initiates a search for personal contact and intimate encounters with God and the spiritual realm. The experience introduces more revelation which when accepted supersedes the written word. So Mysticism is not practiced as a doctrine but as a method of contact and experience. Mystical experiences are the key to the occult and can reshape and adapt itself to any belief system, including Christianity. The Gnostics also spoke of gaining knowledge through experience. There were early church mystics that ignored Scripture and leaned on their experiences. Seekers withdrew to the deserts to be removed from the world forming ascetic communities. These communities formed the basis for what later would become known as Christian monasticism. The goal in practice for the monastic was union with God. Mystic means the same as mystical....mystic union with God. The bible teaches our becoming part of the body of Christ by a spiritual birth and the Holy Spirit indwelling us and conforming us to the Sons of Gods image, it’s called sanctification. In his book “A Christian mystic” Daniel Lovett says, A Christian Mystic is a friend of God. God confides in his friends. God trusts his friends with the secrets of his heart. Isn’t that beautiful? quoting John 15:12-17. Why would anyone who is a Christian, a believer in the biblical Christ want to be called a mystic, do they not understand what that term implies? Masons and other occultists, new agers are mystics. The Bible does not contain the word mystic or mystical for a believer, nor imply it. We are called to be spiritual, and there is a huge difference between the meaning of these two words. Being Spiritual is not the same as being a mystic. The Bible does not call us mystics but does call us friends with God so what he is saying is false. Abraham is called the friend of God (Jms. 2:23-24), he was no mystic Jesus made it clear You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you .” (John 15:14-15) It was made known by what He spoke, and to us by what is written. We identify ourselves as willing servants followers of Christ Jesus who was not a mystic. It is the New Age Movement that teaches Mysticism from a mystical Jesus. Believers in God throughout the Bible are not called mystics but spiritual when they walk in His ways. This carries the meaning of living life by the Word of God, to be conformed to Jesus by the written Word, through the power of the Holy Spirit, not by seeking experiences which mystics thrive on. God is not revealing to us newer revelation that is not found in Scripture by having experiences in the spirit realm, but giving us understanding what the Scripture means. And Scripture will interpret and coincide with Scripture, it is organically integrated. Jesus said, " These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.” (John 16:25) So something hidden or secret is not there, yet mystics teach of a secret knowledge, to extract the deeper things in the Word and learn by experience. Lovett says, “Welcome to Your Awakening! In his book “A Christian mystic” Lovett quotes the Passion translation –“ the Scriptures reveal as the Creator and whose Spirit fills all things everywhere.” This is not a Christian view of God. God is not within His creation. William Branham, another mystic taught this and the same spirit is at work in the mystics of our day. God lives within humanity only. This can only take place when a person believes in the gospel, receives the Holy Spirit who then has a renewed image of God that He made us to be in. Only people, not all creation has God within. Hinduism and other religious systems teach God is like a force, that he indwells all things (living and not living) panentheism/ pantheism. Ray Yungren relays in the book The Mission of Mysticism, which states: [O]ccultism [New Ageism] is defined as the science of mystical evolution; it is the employment of the hidden (i.e., occult) mystical faculties of man to discern the hidden reality of nature; i.e., to see God as the all in all. " The book “A Christian mystic” has this Disclaimer: Everyone featured in this book shares the same Theology. And yes, “Our Theology has a bunch of holes. Two in his hands, two in his feet, and one in his side.” —Tim Wright p.8 … clever, but as we will see there is no application for this, as it has as many holes as Swiss cheese.. If doctrine is used it is implemented by an allegorical interpretation of Scripture. Like Roman Catholicism, the bread that changes into his body, which is a different body because his body is at the right hand of God in heaven, this is considered a form of mysticism. Mystics do not speak what God speaks, nor mean what God means. They argue that “Christian mysticism” is different from other forms of mysticism because it is focused on Jesus Christ, however adding his name to a mystical concept does not make it Biblical, because there is no Christian mysticism. Mysticism is a religious practice in which people search for truth, knowledge , (Collins English Dictionary). The Mystic’s view leads to understanding that all things are connected, it leads to interspirituality and understanding our divinity which translates to be New Age occultism and Eastern mysticism. As we will see, in order to know God intimately, mysticism or its practices must be employed. “We are all in the process of discovering who Christ really is and our identity “in” Christ! ALL of you are on a journey toward Awakening and encountering Jesus for yourself. As the Scriptures say, “Every eye will see him ”.4 And, “they shall all be taught by God.”5 The scandalous truth of the Good News is that you are as close to God as Jesus is! For the Scriptures teach us that Christ has ascended and brought you with him! You are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms !7 As we will see the mystics have an alternate interpretation that fails miserably. This is because they do not know the meanings in the Word, but just use the words to make their own theology which verifies their experiences. Lest take this portion by portion: We don’t discover who Christ “really is,” we are not in this discovery process. If you do not know who Christ is then you have not understood the gospel and you are not saved by Him. He is God, the Son of God in flesh. We encounter Jesus by the gospel who shows us who He is (God in the flesh) and who we are (sinful). Our identity: We who are believers were sinners in rebellion to God, now made at peace with God through his Son by His work on the cross. It’s called the gospel whom sinners are saved by. We become servants, priests and friends. Lovett believes we can see him now. That this scripture is not about when he returns. It is made to be something we experience now, and be repeated. To a mystic this is a spiritual awakening, an enlightenment, a gnostic knowing. Every eye will see him, is meant to be a literal seeing at the second coming as He returns in his glory to establish his literal kingdom on earth. Rev 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.” Lovett says: “We were all created to enjoy intimacy and real relationship with God. Of course this can and will include an actual face to face encounter with Jesus! I suppose that historically this has happened for most when a person passes on from their physical body. But as you will see, encountering Jesus doesn’t have to wait until then… especially during an Awakening such as this !” The Bible says as long as we are in this body we walk by faith not by sight and our faith is in the written Word. He mixes the Old Testament model of Moses and others to be the New Testament way, it is not. 1 Cor. 13:12 “ For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face” then is not now, but future. 1 Jn. 3:2-3 promises that “ When He is revealed we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” When he returns then we are transformed, glorified, not before. We are not glorified now? Our hope is “ looking for the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ ” (Titus 2:13). Nowhere does the Bible say it is to take place now.” In fact it says “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing” (1 Peter 1:8) Lovett makes this a now experience, as he claims there is an awakening taking place unlike anything other in history. Are we seated literally with Jesus in heaven now? No, we are not in two places at once. The ascended Jesus is placed at the Fathers right hand in heaven, as our representative in heavenly places. What this scripture means is that what God began in us is in his eyes already completed. In the same way it is written Rom. 8:30 whom He justified, these He also glorified.” We have been justified and we will be glorified. Because we are now being sanctified as live for him on earth. This glorification is a future position, not now. As it says 2 Tim. 2:11-12 “ For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him .” We did not die with him literally, as we were not born yet into this world, and we are not yet at the side of Jesus in heaven literally. We are not two places at the same time. Isa. 54:13 “All your children shall be taught by the LORD” This will take place in the Millennium when Christ is literally here ruling in his kingdom from Jerusalem, Israel. One of his guests on his program is Brain Simmons (another mystic whom he agrees with wholeheartedly) Lovett says “ interesting I woke up this morning of this interview with the scripture on my mind as he is so are we in this world, it’s the very scripture that Brian Simmons brings up and then it was on my heart asking him about being glorified … This is what mystics often do to justify their made up theology, take a few words out of context. 1 John 4:17 “ Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.” We are to show Christ by our love as we are continually changed into his image. What it does not mean we are by nature or by our works just like him. Again, to say we are just like him in nature means we do not sin. 1 John 1:7-8 “ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us .” All this mystical interpretation creates division, and fragments everything that has been delivered by the written Word in its true meaning. To make this clearer we read further in context 1 John 4:18-19 “ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” What gives us boldness on judgment day that we have done our works in his nature, in love, obeying his will. We are being sanctified, made to be like him in our character, in righteousness - holiness. We cannot have any confidence on the day of judgment without being cleansed by the blood of Christ. This will gives us confidence, not having fear. The dichotomy to what is written God always spoke and had what was said written down for man to obey, this is his model for our instruction and spiritual development. Mystics do not adhere to the word and will go beyond it and allow themselves to be influence by dreams and visions that reinterpret the Word. He turns to his own dream as if it supersedes what the word says on the last days. “I recently had a dream about the Awakening breaking out all over the world. In my dream I saw the earth from a distance and a flame of glory - one who was lit up with the glory of God and the love of Jesus - aboard a plane that flew across the Atlantic landing in a city in Europe. The flames spread. The city awakened. I was then shown America. My gaze was focussing on the Eastern part of the country and the flames were sparking up and spreading everywhere, some regions glowed with more intensity than others. I was aware that this was happening everywhere! “I have come to set the earth on fire. And how I long for every heart to be already ablaze with this fiery passion for God!” — Jesus, Luke 12:49 TPT This awakening is what the New Age movement has been speaking and prophesying of, you will not find this word or this concept in the Bible. BTW, flames are spreading, but they are not the flames of the revival he is referring to. Again he misrepresents the Scripture. Jesus speaking v.49 " I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled !” Luke 12:49-50 Not “ And how I long for every heart to be already ablaze with this fiery passion for God! As the Passion Bible adds to the Scripture by its reinterpretation. Scripture upholds and interprets Scripture and as 2 Thess. 1:8 explains this fire in no uncertain terms “ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:7 “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” Fire is about judgement in Scripture, not blessing! (Rv.8:7) Again his mystical interpretation is by his dream and is leading him away from the truth in the Word. “The kingdom of God has been advancing. The leaven of Christ’s kingdom of love is permeating the dough of this earth.11 The rock who is Christ is replacing all the kingdoms of this earth and will become a mountain that fills the whole earth.12 The Scriptures are true. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end! Leaven is not a good thing, it represents sin. He describes a progressive advance while the Bible speaks of Tribulation period in both the Old and New Testament coming on the earth before his kingdom can begin to be established for people to be under his rule. Again key parts of Scripture are replaced with a very different conclusion to the end of the ages. “Christ is replacing all the kingdoms of this earth and will become a mountain that fills the whole earth.” Lets read where this is found Dan 2:44-45 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” What it utterly destroys is the kingdoms of the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold (Dan 2:45) its not replacing them but removes them off the earth and only his kingdom is here. Again a Tribulation takes place to accomplish this, Lovett eliminates this from his equation.
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