Let's Talk About Spiritual Formation

[Johann]

Effectual Prayer

Prayer is not an expiation for sin. It is not a penance. We need not come to God as condemned criminals; for Christ has paid the penalty of our transgression. He has made an atonement for us. His blood cleanses from sin.

Our prayers are as letters sent from earth, directed to our Father in heaven. The petitions that ascend from sincere, humble hearts will surely reach Him. He can discern the sincerity of His adopted children. He pities our weakness, and strengthens our infirmities. He has said, "Ask, and ye shall receive." Many of the human family know not what they should ask for as they ought. But the Lord is kind and tender. He helps their infirmities by giving them words to speak. He who comes with sanctified desire has access through Christ to the Father. Christ is our Intercessor. The prayers that are placed in the golden censer of the Saviour's merits are accepted by the Father.

Every promise in the Word of God is for us. In your prayers, present the pledged word of Jehovah, and by faith claim His promises. His word is the assurance that if you ask in faith, you will receive all spiritual blessings. Continue to ask, and you will receive exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think. Educate yourself to have unlimited confidence in God. Cast all your care upon Him. Wait patiently for Him, and He will bring it to pass.

We are to come to God, not in a spirit of self-justification, but with humility, repenting of our sins. He is able to help us, willing to do for us more than we ask or think. He has the abundance of heaven wherewith to supply our necessities. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." God is holy, and we must pray, "lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."

We are to pray in the name of Christ, our Mediator. Our petitions are of value only as they are offered in His name. He has bridged the gulf that sin has made. By His atoning sacrifice, He has bound to Himself and His Father those who believe in Him. His is the only name under heaven whereby we may be saved.

God is our King, and we are His subjects. A mere knowledge of His will does not set aside the necessity of offering earnest supplications to Him for help, and of diligently seeking, by obeying His law, to co-operate with Him in answering the prayers offered. Thus His kingdom is established in our hearts.

"Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let them return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." We are to seek "first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." We are to be ready to receive the blessing which God will bestow upon those who seek Him with the whole heart, in sincerity and truth. We must keep the heart open, if we would receive of the grace of Christ.

In our prayers we are not to preach a sermon to the Lord. We need not tell him the history of our lives. We can tell Him nothing with which He is unacquainted. He knows our inmost thoughts. Every secret is open before Him. Nothing can be hid from Him. High-flown language is inappropriate in prayer, whether the prayer be offered in the pulpit, in the family circle, or in secret. Especially should one use simple language when offering public prayer, that others may understand what he says, and unite with his petition. God hears the prayers that are offered in the family circle, if they come from devoted hearts. Jesus says, "Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." Do not neglect secret prayer. "Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

We are not to be so overwhelmed with the thought of our sins and errors that we shall cease to pray. Some realize their great weakness and sin, and become discouraged. Satan casts his dark shadow between them and the Lord Jesus, their atoning sacrifice. They say, It is useless for me to pray. My prayers are so mingled with evil thoughts that the Lord will not hear them. These suggestions are from Satan. In His humanity, Christ met and resisted this temptation, and He knows how to succor those who are thus tempted. In our behalf, He "offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears."

Many, not understanding that their doubts come from Satan, become faint-hearted, and are defeated in the conflict. Do not, because your thoughts are evil, cease to pray. If we could in our own wisdom and strength pray aright, we could also live aright, and would need no atoning sacrifice. But imperfection is upon all humanity. Educate and train the mind that you may in simplicity tell the Lord what you need. As you offer your petitions to God, seeking for forgiveness for sin, a purer and holier atmosphere will surround your soul.

When you pray for temporal blessings, remember that the Lord may see that it is not for your good or for His glory to give you just what you desire. But He will answer your prayer, giving you just what is best for you. When Paul prayed that the thorn is his flesh might be removed, the Lord answered his prayer, not by removing the thorn, but by giving him grace to bear the trial. "My grace," He said, "is sufficient for thee." Paul rejoiced at this answer to his prayer, declaring. "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." When the sick pray for the recovery of health, the Lord does not always answer their prayer in just the way they desire. But even tho they may not be immediately healed, He will give them that which is of far more value,-grace to bear their sickness.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed." - The Signs of the Times 18 nov 1903

[JoeMo]

I always pray to God as my Daddy who loves me and wants nothing but the best for me. Since I view prayer as a conversation rather than a one-way "Christmas List", I always wait for an answer. I not only ask for the usual stuff; but I tell Him about my day, confess my sins, thank Him for forgiveness and grace; and the great ideas He gives me at home or work, and tell Him how much I love Him - that He is the best Daddy ever! He usually gives me a big hug; and tells me He loves me, too. He lovingly forgives my sins and encourages me to turn from them; and that He will help me whenever I ask. He is so good!

[Johann]

Do you find any of the sentiments in the Spiritual Formation in the quotation above?

Have the teachers at Andrews or elsewhere tried to catch the attention of people impressed with Spiritual Formation to give them something that is better than the ancient Mysticism?

[debbym]

i see the recent popular spiritual formation that is questioned, as a way to feel at peace with God, and with yourself, and with lifes struggles,... without repentance, without forgiveness, without self denial, without obedience.

when you just have this wonderful powerful experience emotionally, and you discipline yourself to maintain that level of feeling to keep or to keep renewing that presence you experienced, that satisfies you... without any confession, or realization of your condition as a sinner, then you are not on Holy Ground.

The spirit convicts of sin, and reveals the righteousness of God, and reveals that the evil one who rules the darkness of the world, is judged and condemned. if the spirit you are involved in does not do these things, then question the experience.

[JoeMo]

Quote:

when you just have this wonderful powerful experience emotionally, and you discipline yourself to maintain that level of feeling to keep or to keep renewing that presence you experienced, that satisfies you... without any confession, or realization of your condition as a sinner, then you are not on Holy Ground.

As one who has worked to live in His presence always, you cannot do so without being changed. You cannod dwell in His holiness without your evil nature peeling away layer by layer. You become so everwhelmed by His presence that you think of Him constantly rather than thinking about the sins your not gonna commit today.

Quote:

The spirit convicts of sin

Read the scripure you are paraphrasing here:

Quote:

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me: Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more(John 16:8-10)

Jesus is talking directly to His disciples. Notice the word THEM when He is talking about conviction of sin. He's talking about unbelievers - not His disciples! His disciples are already converted. This is proven in the next phrase where He says "YE shall see me no more". He doesn't convict believers of sin - He convicts unbelievers. Believers have had their sins taken away - they are reconciled to God.

[JoeMo]

Once we are believers, the "old man" of sin is dead. It is the devil who "convicts" us of sin, so we will feel unworthy and hide from God, like Adam and Eve did. Christ didn't die for us to MAKE us worthy; He died for us because in His eyes, we ALREADY WERE worhty! His love is AMAZING!

[Restin]

From looking into the Spiritual Formation movement for awhile now, some ideas are coming into focus that I think resolves my confusion. Those in favor of it say how it's a step further and deeper in becoming closer to God. They use ordinary words such as "contemplation" and "centering" to describe our taking some time to be with the Lord in our minds.

But those opposed are scaring me because it seems they're condemning any personal time out with God, any mental communion or focusing on my relation with the Lord. In other words, "don't think." The common words we SDA have used since the pioneers has now become fraut with dangers. Same words, but what do they mean, now?

What is "emerging" for me is that this "Spiritual Formation" is, perhaps deliberately, a confusion of words. All the words start out as good things to do, and the same as we SDA always have done. But if you keep going into this, along comes a subtle change. It all seems to start out with innocent new depth on the old worship styles, then progresses into those mystic occult practices, even Wicca methods, that we've been warned about all along.

I was a New Ager in the past, and was charmed by animism, pyramids, light prisms, special places, and that which seemed so natural and fresh. But I'm glad I know about the New Age methods, as this "Spiritual Formation" is sounding more like it the more I know about it.

I need to tread very cautiously through this forest. There be dragons in some of them there hollows.

[JoeMo]

Quote:

I need to tread very cautiously through this forest. There be dragons in some of them there hollows.

There might be ... but there also might be a pearl of great price burued in the meadow in the middle of the forest...

[Gail]

Quote:

I was a New Ager in the past, and was charmed by animism, pyramids, light prisms, special places, and that which seemed so natural and fresh. But I'm glad I know about the New Age methods, as this "Spiritual Formation" is sounding more like it the more I know about it.

I think that is the point.

[joeb]

i see the recent popular spiritual formation that is questioned, as a way to feel at peace with God, and with yourself, and with lifes struggles,... without repentance, without forgiveness, without self denial, without obedience.

when you just have this wonderful powerful experience emotionally, and you discipline yourself to maintain that level of feeling to keep or to keep renewing that presence you experienced, that satisfies you... without any confession, or realization of your condition as a sinner, then you are not on Holy Ground.

The spirit convicts of sin, and reveals the righteousness of God, and reveals that the evil one who rules the darkness of the world, is judged and condemned. if the spirit you are involved in does not do these things, then question the experience.

Great post. It shows that you really understand the principles, and the questions to ask, involved in this area.

[Restin]

I appreciate these answers. We, as SDA in these weird times, need to study carefully into these themes that seem so close that they could "deceive the very elect."

And, JoeMoe, I liked that about the pearl in the forest,too.

[debbym]

we have no power to resist the designs and temptations of the enemy of God. We are born with a nature that yields to the enemy.

we can only stand kept by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

there is no doubt there are errors to pull us down if we are not anchored.

[debbym]

i found this and really liked it. it is profound on spiritual formation.

[olger]

Thanks Deb. Boy, has he been there!

[Reddogs]

i found this and really liked it. it is profound on spiritual formation.

That's a good one to check out..

[thx4mercy]

Yes, Rick Howard's talks and his book, "The Omega Rebellion" are very informative...coming from someone who knows the difference and knows all about the good feelings that the experiences of SF bring.