I loved this teaching. I know that even Joshua told the Israelites to meditate on God's word day and night. And as we think and focus on God's word, it leads us into deeper thinking, into the presence of God. It's not new age or hindu or anything like commented here. The enemy is never ever original. He high jacked what God's people have been doing for thousands of years to make it into something not glorifying God. I appreciate you and this prayer course!! Thank You!
I think it’s SO important that we get what Pete is explaining about this a type of prayer, and that it isn’t done in isolation of truly being in the presence of God, listening for HIS voice and responding in a way that honours HIM and the mission that he has given each of us.
That picture is not Jesus . One may argue that we would not be worshipping the painting but rather contemplating God , but I think it comes very close to crossing the line into a graven image … it is representing God …“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. I’m not comfortable with that . As I’m not comfortable with the wording portal and gateway ( because of its frequent use in the new age ) door would have been the biblical term . Thura Greek for door … possibly portal or entrance .
Experience is not contrary to logic. Why not look at the Bible to see what God tells us prayer is? Meditation in the Old Testament is not Contemplative Prayer. Greig misuses Ps. 46:10 and the other ones he cites. He takes them out of context and gives them a meaning not in the text.
This course is so helpful. BUT please Pete stop quoting the Message as a TRANSLATION (9:40)! Compare it with any genuine translation, and it isn't- it's 'putting words in Jesus' mouth'.
There are other areas of experience where you lose your self awareness, while still being aware of all that’s going on. We call it being in the zone. Everything just flows. But I’d hesitate to say that was God’s presence or influence, although I would thank him for it.
We are to pray and meditate on God's word, not be unaware of our surroundings. We are to be aware. I heard words like gateway and portal, a bit new-age. Nowhere in this video did I hear how to avoid hell, and how to go to heaven. I'm not here to bash you, pete. I believe that if you were to focus on the true gospel of jesus christ, really study it promote it, you may lose Alot of supporters or donations etc.. but at least you'll be focused on the true meaning of christianity. Being a Christian is about realizing you're a sinner and wages of sin is death, you cant earn your way to heaven, and to enter heaven you have to be perfect. How do you get to heaven then? Well, get to know who Jesus is, he's the son of God, jesus is God in the flesh, he came to the earth lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, he was buried, and came back from the dead 3 days later. Jesus is perfect, the very moment you believe Jesus died for your sins, was buried n came back from the dead.. you are saved immediately, born again. Jesus wraps you with His righteousness. We are saved by grace through faith in jesus christ, not of ourselves, salvation is a gift of God not of works so no one can boast. Salvation is a gift, it is a one time event not a life long process, everlasting life is called everlasting for a reason. Once you are saved you are saved forever. You cannot lose salvation once you have it. I hope whoever's sees this know the true meaning of being a christian and what to focus on while praying. God bless you all in Jesus name, amen.
@@erithtownyouth2416 however the scriptures are used outbid proper context. For example, “Be still and I lie that I am God.”, psalm 46:10 is not a prayer directive or mode, rather a conscious and aware response to the verses preceding it, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,…” We consciously remind ourselves to not fear or try to save the day in the face of nations raging and kingdoms tottering. He is God so our hearts can be stilled from fear and worry! This is not a mode of prayer. That’s just one example. …. Very concerning!!
Meditating on an icon of Christ does not line up with scripture Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or ANY LIKENESS of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Exodus 20:4. I he's contemplating whilst looking at an image and if contemplation is part of prayer and prayer is part of worship, it's wrong. He said he forgets he's looking at an image (20:20 minutes in), so the image has become God to him in that moment. This is very dangerous teaching.
@@mrfletcher7708 He's not worshipping that image. It is leading him to think about how much God loves us. His thoughts are not on the image, but on God and His great love for us. We can look at an image of a magnificent mountain view...and admire it and think God made all this. You aren't worshipping that image....you are thinking how wonderful God is who made it.
This is no different than new age Eastern mysticism the fact that you try to set it up as something different shows you know its not Biblical. This was not practiced in the first century church, this comes from the Desert Fathers who were monastics in the 4th- 5th century. Contemplative spirituality is not the same thing as meditating on the scripture. It is the same spirituality of Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholic mysticism. This is not Biblical and they are not even hiding it!!!
@@danielvanderstruis1516 We have just completed this course as a church Lifegroup and everyone found it to be edifying in Christ. Perhaps you are part of a modern Christian denomination which has forgotten that all Church's originate from the Eastern Orthodox church which knows how to be both mystical and Biblical?
Hi@@danharries1686 Yes, this is the case for Western Christianity on braking away from the Eastern Chruch but there is relatively little change in the Eastern Orthodox Church. I say this as a member of both the Anglican Protestant church and Greek Orthodox Church. As an advocate of 'generous orthodoxy' I bellieve Christians benefit from understanding the various Christian spiritualities and seeking unity.
