This trend will surely reach our shores soon, if it is not already in South Africa. Beware and run from these type of false teachings, beloved brothers and sisters. This new ludicrous practice is part of the New Apostolic Reformation movement (NAR) as it is typical of their style of teaching. Do not be deceived, there is nothing Biblical about this latest trend from NAR. This latest pagan ritual called “soaking prayer” is nothing but a form of Contemplative spirituality, an eastern form of meditation wrapped in a nice colored paper and disguised under the banner of Christianity. It is pagan Mysticism. Dr John MacArthur says the following about NAR :

“NAR, the New Apostolic Reformation. It is not new, it is not apostolic, and it is not a reformation, by the way. It is like Grape-Nuts, it’s not grapes and it’s not nuts, it’s like Christian Science, it’s not Christian and it’s not scientific. Well the New Apostolic Reformation isn’t new, it isn’t apostolic and it isn’t a reformation. But it is a rapidly expanding movement being generated by some of the same old troubling false teachers and false leaders that have been around in Charismania for decades, always dishonoring the Holy Spirit, always dishonoring the Scripture, always claiming miracle signs, wonders, visions, dreams.”

We previously reported on NAR in an article here: Warning! Rick Joyner to visit South Africa and Join hands with Angus Buchan

Here is how Dr  John MacArthur explains Contemplative spirituality:

Contemplative spirituality is an extremely dangerous practice for any person who desires to live a biblical, God-centered life. It is most commonly associated with the emerging church movement, which is riddled with false teachings. It is also used by many different groups that have little, if any, connection with Christianity.

In practice, contemplative spirituality is primarily centered on meditation, although not meditation with a biblical perspective. Passages such as Joshua 1:8 actually exhort us to meditate: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Notice what the focus of meditation should be—the Word of God. Contemplative spirituality-driven meditation focuses on nothing, literally. A practitioner is exhorted to completely empty his/her mind, to just “be.” Supposedly, this helps one to open up to a greater spiritual experience. However, we are exhorted in Scripture to transform our minds to that of Christ’s, to have His mind. Emptying our minds is contrary to such active, conscious transformation.

Contemplative spirituality also encourages the pursuit of a mystical experience with God. Mysticism is the belief that knowledge of God, spiritual truth, and ultimate reality can be gained through subjective experience. This emphasis on experiential knowledge erodes the authority of Scripture. We know God according to His Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s Word is complete. There is no reason to believe that God adds additional teachings or truths to His Word through mystical experiences. Instead, our faith and what we know about God is based on fact.

The website for the Center for Contemplative Spirituality sums it up well: “We come from a variety of secular and religious backgrounds and we each seek to enrich our journey through spiritual practice and study of the world’s great spiritual traditions. We desire to draw closer to the loving Spirit which pervades all creation and which inspires our compassion for all beings.” There is absolutely nothing biblical about such goals. Studying the world’s “spiritual traditions” is an exercise in futility because any spiritual tradition other than that which exalts Christ is falsehood. The only way to draw closer to God is through the path He has ordained—Jesus Christ and the Word.

Resource: The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception by John MacArthur.

Here below follows some history and about the lady you will see in the video clips, Marguerite Evans. Interesting to note that she is from South Africa. Please read it and be discerning  about whether her story lines up with Scripture. Keep in mind what Paul teaches us , that women are not to be in any form of leadership in the church. 1 Timothy 2:11-12 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. (12) I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 

She also refers to hearing God speaking to her, read more here. Why is this wong ? Read here : On hearing God’s voice, the dangers of this way of thinking, and the sufficiency of Scripture and also read or listen here : The Modern Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

I have to mention also, that the true believer will recognize  the total abuse and misuse of Scripture clearly. We will address the true meanings of these verses in Psalms below, which she incorrectly applies to justify this soaking prayer trend.

This is used by her  to justify the soaking trend :

IS SOAKING BIBLICAL?

This is what the Bible says:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3

“…Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.” Psalm 4:4

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

First of all now,  note that it says Psalm so and so and not the correct use of the word namely Psalms as it appears in the Bible. The verses used to justify the soaking prayer trend are misquoted in all instances. Lets have a look at how Mathew Henry’s (shorter)  Bible commentary and Gill’s verse by verse commentary explains each verse.

Psalms 23:1-6 (Gill)

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,…. Or “pastures of tender grass” (t); this is one part of the shepherd’s work, and which is performed by Christ, Eze_34:14; by these “green pastures” may be meant the covenant of grace, its blessings and promises, where there is delicious feeding; likewise the fulness of grace in Christ, from whence grace for grace is received; also the flesh and blood, righteousness and sacrifice, of Christ, which faith is led unto and lives upon, and is refreshed and invigorated by; to which may be added the doctrines of the Gospel, with which Christ’s under-shepherds feed his lambs and sheep, there being in them milk for babes and meat for strong men; and likewise the ordinances of the Gospel, the goodness and fatness of the Lord’s house, the feast of fat things, and breasts of consolation: here Christ’s sheep are made to “lie down”, denoting their satiety and fulness; they having in these green pastures what is satisfying and replenishing; as also their rest and safety, these being sure dwellings and quiet resting places, even in the noon of temptation and persecution; see Son_1:7;

he leadeth me beside the still waters, or “waters of rest and quietness” (u); not to rapid torrents, which by reason of the noise they make, and the swiftness of their motion, the sheep are frightened, and not able to drink of them; but to still waters, pure and clear, and motionless, or that go softly, like the waters of Shiloah, Isa_8:6; and the “leading” to them is in a gentle way, easily, as they are able to bear it; so Jacob led his flock, Gen_33:14; and Christ leads his, Isa_40:11; by these “still waters” may be designed the everlasting love of God, which is like a river, the streams whereof make glad the hearts of his people; these are the waters of the sanctuary, which rise to the ankles, knees, and loins, and are as a broad river to swim in; the pure river of water of life Christ leads his sheep to, and gives them to drink freely of: also communion with God, which the saints pant after, as the hart pants after the water brooks, and Christ gives access unto; moreover he himself is the fountain of gardens, and well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon; and the graces of his Spirit are also as rivers of living water, all which he makes his people partakers of; to which may be added, that the Scriptures, and the truths of the Gospel, are like still, quiet, and refreshing waters to them, and are the waters to which those that are athirst are invited to come, Isa_55:1; and in the immortal state Christ will still be a shepherd, and will feed his people, and lead them to fountains of living water, where they shall solace themselves for ever, and shall know no more sorrow and sighing, Rev_7:17.

Note , nowhere does it say one must lay down physically. Rather, it has this meaning ” by these “green pastures” may be meant the covenant of grace, its blessings and promises, where there is delicious feeding; likewise the fullness of grace in Christ, from whence grace for grace is received; also the flesh and blood, righteousness and sacrifice, of Christ, which faith is led unto and lives upon, and is refreshed and invigorated by; to which may be added the doctrines of the Gospel, with which Christ’s under-shepherds feed his lambs and sheep, there being in them milk for babes and meat for strong men; and likewise the ordinances of the Gospel, the goodness and fatness of the Lord’s house, the feast of fat things, and breasts of consolation: here Christ’s sheep are made to “lie down”, denoting their satiety and fulness; they having in these green pastures what is satisfying and replenishing; as also their rest and safety, these being sure dwellings and quiet resting places, even in the noon of temptation and persecution” 

Psalms 4:4 (Gills)
Stand in awe, and sin not,…. That is, stand in awe of God, and his righteous, judgments; be afraid of him, and tremble before him; make him your fear and your dread, and go on no longer and proceed no further in sinning against him. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, render it, “be ye angry, and sin not”: which are the words of the apostle, Eph_4:26; referring to this place; and which doubtless is the reason of these versions. There is an anger that is sinful, when it is without a cause, or exceeds due bounds, and is not directed to a good end, and is productive of bad effects, by words or deeds; and when it is soon raised, or long continued; and there is an anger that is not sinful; when it arises from a true zeal for God and religion; when it is kindled, not against the persons, but sins, of men; and when it is continued to answer good purposes; as the good of those with whom we are angry, and the glory of God, and the promoting of the kingdom and interest of Christ;

commune with your own heart upon your bed: when retired from men and business, and you are at leisure to think and meditate then reflect upon your actions, seriously consider them; ask your heart some proper and close questions; examine narrowly and thoroughly the principles on which, and the views with which, you act;

and be still; cease from all your rage and fury against me, against the Lord, and against his people; or “say in your own hearts” (q), as follows.

Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psa_3:2.

Note nowhere does the verse say we are to lay down and do soaking prayer laying down. In fact Gills says “commune with your own heart upon your bed: when retired from men and business, and you are at leisure to think and meditate then reflect upon your actions, seriously consider them; ask your heart some proper and close questions; examine narrowly and thoroughly the principles on which, and the views with which, you act;” 

Psalms 37:7 (Gills)

Rest in the Lord,…. Or “be silent to the Lord” (p); be still, and know that he is God; quietly submit to his will, and acquiesce in all the dispensations of his providence: it does not design a stupid indolence, or a stoical apathy, that we should be like sticks and stones, without any concern at the hand of God upon us; nor an entire silence under afflictions; we should own that they are of God, and that we are deserving of them; we should pray to him to sanctify them, to support under them, and deliver out of them; we should bless his name that they are no worse, and that they are any ways useful to us; and we should speak to others of the divine goodness experienced under them; but this stands opposed to an arraigning or murmuring at the providence of God, and intends a patient bearing the hand of God, and a resignation of will to his will; for it follows,

and wait patiently for him: for the enjoyment of him, help from him, and deliverance by him;

fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass; this explains the sense of Psa_37:1; it being often an additional uneasiness to the people of God under affliction, when they observe the prosperity of men that go on in a sinful way, and have all or more than heart can wish; and whatever they contrive and devise, though wicked and criminal.

Note nowhere does the verse say , “find a comfortable place to lie down. Allow the busyness of your thoughts to quiet down. Invite the Holy spirit to soak you in His presence. Pray and surrender yourself to the Holy Spirit – mind, body and soul.”  But Gill does explain “Rest in the Lord,…. Or “be silent to the Lord” (p); be still, and know that he is God; quietly submit to his will, and acquiesce in all the dispensations of his providence: it does not design a stupid indolence, or a stoical apathy, that we should be like sticks and stones, without any concern at the hand of God upon us; nor an entire silence under afflictions; we should own that they are of God, and that we are deserving of them; we should pray to him to sanctify them, to support under them, and deliver out of them; we should bless his name that they are no worse, and that they are any ways useful to us; and we should speak to others of the divine goodness experienced under them; but this stands opposed to an arraigning or murmuring at the providence of God, and intends a patient bearing the hand of God, and a resignation of will to his will; for it follows,” 

Psalms 46:6-11 (Mathew Henry)

Come and see the effects of desolating judgments, and stand in awe of God. This shows the perfect security of the church, and is an assurance of lasting peace. Let us pray for the speedy approach of these glorious days, and in silent submission let us worship and trust in our almighty Sovereign. Let all believers triumph in this, that the Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob, has been, is, and will be with us; and will be our Refuge. Mark this, take the comfort, and say, If God be for us, who can be against us? With this, through life and in death, let us answer every fear.

Note it does not say “The aim of soaking prayer is to put oneself in an attitude of stillness, focusing on Jesus without an agenda.”  but Gills explains it, “be still”; not that they should be like sticks and stones, stupid, indolent, and unconcerned at the commotions that were in the earth, and be unaffected with the judgments of God, and be wholly silent and inactive; but that they should not be fearful, nor fretful and impatient, or restless and tumultuous; but be quiet and easy, resigned to the will of God, and live in an assured expectation of the appearance of divine Providence in their layout. And “know”; own and acknowledge that he is God, a sovereign Being that does whatsoever he pleases; that he is unchangeable in his nature, purposes, promises, and covenant; that he is omnipotent, able to help them and deliver them at the last extremity; that he is omniscient, knows their persons, cases, and troubles, and how and where to hide them till the storm is over; that he is the all wise God, and does all things after the counsel of his own will, and makes all things work together for good to them; and that he is faithful to his word and promise, and will not suffer them to be overpressed and bore down with troubles. Who further says for their encouragement, and is to be hearkened to in it,

Here is the rest of the background  of the ministry of Marguerite Evans (Source quoted below) 

Marguerite Evans is the USA Coordinator for Soaking Prayer Centers.

“We’ve got two kinds of events that I’m working on. One is ‘Introduction to Soaking Meetings’ where people can come for an evening, hear what soaking is, and then have a time of doing it,” she says. “We also do ‘Soaking in His Presence Weekends’ where we teach the core values of hearing God’s voice, the heart of the Father, dealing with the issues of the heart and flowing in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF) has been known as being the center of what has been called “The Toronto Blessing.” TACF is also responsible for developing the concept of ‘soaking prayer,’ which is quiet time spent with God either by sitting or lying in silence – while soft worship music plays in the background.

“A lot of people come to Toronto for the power, but they don’t realize the foundation is intimacy and dealing with the issues of the heart and from that, power flows,” Marguerite says.

The aim of soaking prayer is to put oneself in an attitude of stillness, focusing on Jesus without an agenda.

“It’s a time where all your prayer requests and all the things on your mind are put to the side,” she says. “It’s a time when you say, ‘Lord, I come to You for Your heart and not for Your hand.’ Soaking is really about resting in the Father’s love.”

HOW TO SOAK

Find a comfortable place to lie down. Allow the busyness of your thoughts to quiet down. Invite the Holy spirit to soak you in His presence. Pray and surrender yourself to the Holy Spirit – mind, body and soul.

FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO MINISTRY

Marguerite is originally from Pretoria, South Africa where she owned and operated her own business in the fashion industry and coordinated corporate functions. In January of 2000, her life took on a new direction as she felt
the call of God to leave South Africa for the first time to attend the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship School of Ministry.

“One night, I was lying on my bed, minding my own business, and I felt the Lord say, ‘Go to Toronto, now!’ Two hours after lying on my bed, I had an application form; I completed it and I sent it in,” she says.

As Marguerite followed God’s leading, she left South Africa to attend school in Toronto and soon realized that her life would change drastically from then on.

“The Lord obviously had other plans because I never went back to South Africa. I visit, but it was never on my mind that I would ever live in North America,” she says.

After graduating from the Toronto School of Ministry, Marguerite was asked to stay on as staff at the school, then later moved on to work in the Revival Department of TACF and then the Counseling department.

“The program at Toronto focuses on getting from head knowledge to heart revelation as to who God the Father is,” she says. “They really go deep into dealing with the issues of the heart.”

Her experiences in Toronto led to a deep hunger to see people’s lives transformed by God. Marguerite has a heart for people to know that as children of God, we are carrying His presence and through cultivating intimacy with Him, His power can flow freely from us, touching people’s lives and changing the spiritual climate.

A REVELATION OF GOD

Marguerite grew up in a small town and in a very conservative church.

“I did not know that I had to give my life to the Lord,” she says.“Growing up was just really, really hard with my family situation; my parents got divorced, my father died – there are a lot of details there, but in a nutshell, I was very rebellious. I did not know who I was, and I was very insecure.”

After leaving home to attend school in a neighboring city, Marguerite somehow found herself sitting in church every Sunday.

“I started going to Hatfield Christian Church, and I would just end up there on a Sunday evening. I know now that it was the Holy Spirit that got my attention at some point, and I went there,” she says. “I would not even think of church during the week, but on a Sunday for some reason, I just thought of it.”

After while, Marguerite asked a lady for prayer at her church, which led to Marguerite accepting Christ as her personal Lord and Savior.

“I got filled with the Holy Spirit, I made a commitment to the Lord, and my life turned around. That was a key turning point in my life,” she says. (Source used http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/bios/marguerite_evans061308.aspx )

Here below is an article and video clips from Stand Up For The Truth placed with permission from Amy Spreeman. Thank you !!

SOAKING: THE TRENDY APPROACH TO A HOLY GOD. 

By Amy Spreeman

Put the bath salts away; this is a different kind of soaking. The “Soaking Prayer” isn’t found in the Bible, but it was designed to empty your mind and experience the Holy Spirit. It was developed by the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, now known as Catch the Fire Toronto. This group also gave rise to the “Toronto Blessing” and many aberrant practices such as holy laughter, making animal sounds, and being drunk or paralyzed in the Spirit.

CBN frequently promotes this style of experiential contemplative prayer:

Watch this short video clip Here !!

Here is an article about Soaking Prayer titled, Soaking: the Trendy Approach to a Holy God, posted today by  Kevin Kleint over at  Honor of Kings, and reprinted with permission:

We Need Quiet Time

Before I get into this too deep, let me state that I am an avid believer in spending quiet time with God. We live in a world full of chaos and distraction. Anxiety and ”eye candy” continually compete for our attention and we constantly have to re-focus our attention on heaven. Without this precious time with the Master, we’re prone to wander aimlessly, and listen to every voice BUT His.

Personally, I have to get up early in the morning before anyone wakes up, otherwise “quiet time” just doesn’t happen. I’m sure those of you with young kids know what I mean.

What is “Soaking”?

In it’s most basic form, “soaking” is the practice of finding a quiet place to spend time with God, emptying your mind of all distraction and attempting to get into contact with the Holy Spirit.

For most, it rarely remains at this basic level.

During my stint at the Elijah List (2001-2008), the practice of “soaking” grew immensely in popularity among the “prophetic” church, and continues to grow now.  Usually, the “soaker” has a “soaking” CD playing in the background that is conducive to the “soaking” experience. Most of the time, these CD’s have music playing, with a “prophet” or “prophetic person” either speaking, “prophesying” or singing with the music. Elijah List contributors such as Todd Bentley, Stacey Campbell and the Kansas City prophets (Mike Bickle, Bob Jones, Paul Cain, etc.) have released entire “worship” CD series created for this very purpose.

To the spiritually young and immature, the practice of  “soaking” seems SO RIGHT. They think: “Who wouldn’t want to get in contact with God’s Holy Spirit? What better way to experience the Presence of God? The people who practice it prophesy a LOT and they seem so ‘spiritual’, this MUST be the right way to do things …… Right?”

Unfortunately, Wrong.

The Marketing of Deception

Soaking has been marketed as a ‘shortcut’ into the presence of God, delivered a la carte without the need for personal prayer time or study in His word. Let’s take a look at a recent article by Gary Oates and I’ll show you what I mean …

The key is where your focus is – on the things of God or on things of this world.

Bible reading and prayer are not enough. We must take time alone with Him, not asking for anything but more of Him, more of His fullness, more of His Presence in our everyday lives.

God releases power through us as we dwell in intimacy with Him. The natural outworking of His Presence is miracles.

How do we “soak”? We soak like a sponge. Put a dry sponge in a bucket of water and slowly the water permeates the sponge. This is the same as soaking in God’s Presence. The more we soak, the more we become filled with His Spirit.

I’m often asked, “What do you do in your time of seeking His Presence?” I don’t have a set formula. In my life, it varies from time to time, but the basic components are as follows:

First, I go into a private room, lock the door, and get on the floor before the Lord. It doesn’t matter whether you sit or lie down. What’s most important is the attitude of your heart.

Second, I repent of any sin in my life and I receive God’s forgiveness.

Third, I worship the Lord in both my native language (English) and in the language of the Holy Spirit.

Fourth, I do the vital prayer of Romans 6:13 that has transformed my life: “…present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

Fifth, I begin to recall experiences with the Lord (i.e., healings, miracles, provision) where He has manifested Himself in wonderful ways. This creates more of an expectancy and awareness of His Presence as I relive these times.

I tell the Lord: “God, I want more of You, more of Your Presence, more of Your fullness in my life. Fill me with more of You.” I may repeat this statement many times as I wait on the Lord and focus on Him.

Then, I get quiet and that’s when I begin to hear His voice. Many times, I begin to have visions and supernatural experiences.

The key here is learning to wait in solitude. I cannot overemphasize the importance of waiting on the Lord until I experience His manifest Presence daily. I don’t come out of that private room until I have experienced His Presence.

During our soaking times, we position ourselves to receive impressions, nudges, quiet whispers, pictures, angelic visitations, and supernatural revelations. Here is a partial list of what to expect:

• Dreams (Job 33:14-16; Genesis 28:10-16)
• Visions (Daniel 7:1-3,9; Acts 16:9-10)
• Trances (Acts 10:9-17, 11:5)
• Out of body experiences (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)
• Angelic visitations (Luke 1:57,11-17; Acts 12:7-10)
• Being transported in the Spirit (Acts 8:39-40)

Experiencing the true intimate Presence of the living God will radically change your life. People describe His manifest Presence in different ways. To some, it is heat, electricity, or shaking. To others, it is lightness, peace, or weeping.

Experiencing the manifest Presence is not the goal but the gateway to the supernatural realm. It’s the beginning. We go into the spirit realm where we can see Him, hear His voice, walk with Him, and be empowered by Him.

Isaiah 64:4 says God “acts for the one who waits for Him.” The Amplified Bible states,“God…who works and shows Himself active on behalf of him who [earnestly] waits for Him.” He’s waiting on us to wait on Him.

(Posted this year on the Elijah List: “Soaking: The Key to Intimacy with God”)

The Supernatural IS Real

I am NOT a non-spiritual, close-minded person and I am NOT a cessationist … not at all! Nor do I believe in a “distant” God that ONLY speaks through the written Word (although that IS our primary source). He is very willing to speak to His Children. But God is a purposeful God, and when He speaks, there is a reason behind it, and it will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS line up with His written Word.

Having said that, I find a very serious danger in Gary Oates’ (and the prophetic movement’s) approach to spending time (or “soaking”) in the Presence of God, here’s why:

First and foremost, it is NOT the supernatural byproducts of  “soaking” that Gary has listed above that are a danger to the young christian.

Read through the article again.

How much of it emphasized the Word and Prayer? Not much … in fact, the Word and Prayer are “not enough” according to Gary.

Now, compare that to the amount of space dedicated to promoting the supernatural and the “touchy-feely”, experiential possibilities that might happen during a person’s time with God.

Clearly something is out of balance here.

To say things like “Bible reading and prayer are not enough” belittles the very elements that are needed to safeguard your communication and experience with  God.

We must realize that we have an entire generation of youth (and older) who are desperately, and recklessly, seeking supernatural encounters from ANY source (just watch the news and look at your TV guide). Additionally, new converts often have an extreme hunger to experience God in a very “real” way.

Personally, I think hunger for God is a BEAUTIFUL thing. But we cannot assume that, just because they go to church (even a “prophetic” church), that their foundation in the Word and Prayer is strong. In fact, of the 7 years that I spent working for the Elijah List and going to the Vineyard, very, VERY few had a strong knowledge of the Word.

I need to ask, if a person doesn’t know the Word, how is he/she going to recognize the Voice of the Almighty? How is he/she going to differentiate between the “Touch” of the Holy Spirit and the touch of another spirit?

It’s simple …. They won’t.

A Soaker’s Defense

Most of the time, if they have any scriptural knowledge at all, advocates of “soaking” will bring up scriptures having to do with “waiting on God” to defend their practice. For example, they have used the following:

Psalm 59:9 “I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God [is] my defense.”

Psalm 62:5 “My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation [is] from Him.”

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew [their] strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

When they use these scriptures, they are blatantly taking the Word of God out of context. Go back and read the surrounding verses (or the entire chapter), almost every time the writer is telling people to wait for God to defend them against their enemies. And we SHOULD wait on God to defend us … He is our Salvation!

We MUST understand this: waiting on God, at least from a scriptural perspective, has nothing to do with your prayer life. It has to do with God and His willingness to fight for us!

Let me reiterate, there is GREAT value in spending quiet time with God, but the “soaking” approach and “scriptural” defense of those who practice “soaking” is weak at best.

Who Am I to Judge?

First … before you throw up the “Judge Not” scriptures as a (flimsy) defense, read my series entitled “Judge Not … Or Just Do It”.  After you read the series, I hope you will understand that you have been duped (we all have) … now continue reading.

We are to judge fruit. In fact, Jesus told us:

Matthew 12:33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by [its] fruit.”

Matthew 7:20 “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

I’ve seen this fruit time and again.

Because people desire a “have-it-your-way” supernatural experience, they are prone to seek supernatural fulfillment through carnal (sensual) means. Trained by the world (and from the pulpit) to pay attention to, and feed, our “senses”, they feel they’ve encountered “the Spirit of God” when their senses are tickled by ANY supernatural force.  Because it makes there senses “feel” good, they are very reluctant to even remotely consider that they have been deceived.

It never fails. Every time, those who try to empty their minds and have little or no foundation in the Word will open themselves up wide for deceiving spirits. Convinced that they are more “spiritual” because they are hearing voices, “manifesting” and feeling things, they leave behind the tools that are their very lifeline to God …. the Word and Prayer. Those “prophets” who promote soaking should know that only those with a solid foundation in the Word of God and prayer will be able to discern between the Voice of the Good Shepherd and the voice of another.

Remember This:

If you market an experience-driven method of reaching out to the supernatural, promising supernatural encounters at the expense of a solid foundation in the Word (and calling it “intimacy with God”), you will destroy whoever acts out your method.

It’s always best to stick with what works. Supernatural things MAY happen, but they will always be a result of spending the time with the Lord in the methods He gave us long ago … the Word and Prayer.

 SOURCE: Honor Of Kings

Thoughts? You can email the author, Kevin Kleint at kevin@honorofkings.org

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