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There seems to be an ever increasing movement in the denominational religious organizations on finding, experiencing or practicing the presence of God. This movement is growing in volume and sweeping many people away in it's falseness.
One very popular book that has aided in this movement is The Practice of the Presence of God by a roman catholic monk in the 17th century man who calls himself brother Lawrence. (His real name is Nicolas Herman.) He was part of the Carmelite roman catholic order and they were heavily influence by Theresa of Avila. She is known to take that group of the roman catholic faith in a more unbiblical mystical directions. Both Lawrence and Theresa practice the same zen type meditation mindfulness of eastern religions. God's Word instructs us to meditate, but that meditation is on the Word of God.
Many professed 'evangelical' Christian's are reading and following the info in this book as well as passing it along. To see why the roman catholic faith is unbiblical and dangerous, see our link HERE.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils 1 Timothy 4:1
This book is not of God, it is the doctrine of satan because it involves mysticism as well as other unbiblical teachings and the author of the writings is of the pagan roman catholic organization that teaches a false gospel and mysticism.
Definition: belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation or self surrender.
(Mysticism is any spiritual means to attain God that is outside the holy bible.) He does not have a biblical testimony of repentance, regeneration (born from above), nor teaches any obedience through the Word of God. His testimony is one of coming to the 'knowledge of God' by seeing a leafless tree...and that therefore is the foundation of his faith.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
Nowhere do we see Lawrence using the Word of God in his writings of this book, so the faith he has came through a knowledge whereas God says faith comes through hearing His Word.
The general idea of the book is that a person is to 'enter into themselves' (through meditation) as Lawrence says, and form a unity with the presence of God through their heart. This can happen through either imagination or by the understanding. Here is his quote:
"1. The Presence of God is an applying of our spirit to God, or a realization of God as present, which is born home to us either by the imagination or by the understanding." pg 77 (The Practice of the Presence of God with Spiritual Maxims)
Continuously he states how we are to follow our heart to God where as scripture tells us that we are to follow our mind.
Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is wicked above all things yet all through the New Testament we are told it is through their minds that people are blinded (2 Corinthians 3:14) and warnings that their minds might be corrupted from the simplicity in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3), to be renewed in the spirit of the mind (Ephesians 4:23) and to have a mind like Christ (Philippians 2:5) and many more.
God's Word teaches us that there is one mediator between man and God, Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5) whereas Lawrence teaches people it's a matter of having the knowledge of God and giving your heart to Him in constant worship. Yes, Christians are to pray unceasingly but the worship Lawrence teaches is a heart worship; an inward mystical relationship with God but God's Word teaches us what true worship is:
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Lawrence teaches a love only through the heart but Jesus says:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
The pagan roman catholic religion teaches penance, a self inflicted suffering as a retribution for sins and Lawrence teaches this as well.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9)
Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins and to practice the sacrament of reconciliation (penance) negates the cross of Christ.
He also teaches that we are to worship in spirit and truth (which is biblical John 4:24 but he doesn't state that in the book) but he shows how to do that through is flesh (heart) and his own beliefs because none of it lines up with the Word of God.Worshiping in spirit means we are spiritually born again in Christ Jesus (John 3:3) we are then a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) able to worship God. Worshiping in truth means we live by every Word of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4) through His Word, the bible (2 Timothy 3:16).
This book is dangerous as it has some correct statements throughout it, just enough to snare a weak Christian and take them down a dangerous path away from the truth of God if they are not discerning enough to compare it to the Word. Again, there are no scriptures referenced through the entire book...that should be warning enough.
In Romans 8:8 God says we cannot please Him in the flesh and this seeking the presence of God is a fleshly experience that people are striving for and it's not modeled in the New Testament Church in any way. Please see this article on seeking the presence of God is unbiblical.
The fact is, we seek God through His holy Word and His spirit...not through man made mysticism.
Do not be swept away by mysticism, just study God's Word and seek Him through His truth.
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To God be the glory.
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