Spiritual Knowledge

Spirituality festivals, (formerly known as new age fairs), have become increasingly popular and mainstream over the years.  These events seek to encourage people to discover or nurture the spiritual dimension to life and to embrace it.

I was at a particular spirituality festival as part of a team offering prayer in the name of Jesus, and generally to engage with people about the way of salvation in Christ.  There were many spiritual ‘therapies’ on offer – Reiki, Yoga, Psychic readings etc.  A young man came over to our stand and was willing to talk and let us pray for him.  He brought with him a large book called ‘The Knowledge Book’, which he claimed contained truths from all the religions but was not religion itself, but that you could reach a state of enlightenment through it.  Another man I spoke with said that he practised meditation and was having conversations with a being which was ‘Light’ whilst in these meditations.

Many people are seeking various forms of spiritual ‘knowledge’ and feeling they are in touch with ‘the light’ without knowing the real identity of it.
We are told in the Holy Bible – God’s Word – that satan transforms himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11 v14).  We are also taught to ‘test the spirits’ (1 John 4 v1).  Yet we can only be protected from spiritual deception through following the Lord Jesus Christ and growing in discernment. 

A particular point to note is that people who promote or practice alternative spiritualities may talk about being spiritual but not religious. ‘Religion’ is equated with something rigid, ritualistic, or unspiritual judgemental people. Yet the practices being promoted in the spiritual marketplace have their own rituals and teachings – their own sets of dogma. For example, those who decide to practice Buddhist mediation, if they are serious about it they will encounter teachings about ‘the noble eight-fold path’. Those who practice yoga, if they want to do it properly, will need to learn specific postures (‘asanas’) and breathing techniques and understand the goal of yoga. So being ‘spiritual’ is not without it’s own rules.

Why is satan working overtime to draw people into being ‘spiritual’?  Why are so many people born and raised in Western society developing an Eastern mystical mindset?  Why are English people becoming Buddhists?  There is a bigger picture to this and it has nothing to do with some generic ‘conspiracy theory’, but it has everything to do with the spiritual battle of good and evil. We are told in the Bible that there will be deceptions in the ‘last days’, and ultimately a drive to replace worship of the one true God who created us, with a counterfeit. So the infiltration and popularity of eastern mysticism is to condition the mind to receive a future deception.  Have you read through the book of Revelation in God’s Word recently?  Take a moment to read this:-
Rev.13 v11-17  After you read it, then continue to read the rest of this post below.

The scripture verses above make reference to a beast which will entice people into false worship.  This would not so easily be done without some form of preparation to make people’s minds susceptible.  A Bible-believing faithful Christian who is vigilant would not be easily fooled.  However, people who become adept at yoga, or the ‘mindfulness’ of Buddhist meditation and other spiritual methods of ‘enlightenment’ are halfway to being prepared for this future large-scale deception.  An atheist who tries Reiki for a health problem would more than likely start to have spiritual experiences.  A Christian who undiscerningly gets into yoga (it happens) can start to experience finding it hard to pray or study the Bible like they used to, or some other interference.

A particular website has a helpful web post about this global spirituality preparation:-
New Spirituality for an Awakening Planet? The article is slightly old, but the information is no less significant.

So what should our response be?

• Keep ourselves guarded and girded in Truth, and be in fellowship with like-minded people of faith – are you nurturing your relationship with the Lord Jesus in prayer and Bible meditation/study? Read John’s gospel ch.15.
• Pay attention to what’s going on, be educated and sharpened in awareness – but don’t be drawn into compromising Truth. Read Ephesians ch.5:11
• Pray for those who don’t know Christ and ask God to give boldness for sharing truth in love with them.
• Receive prayer ministry and repent if you have participated in any forms of spiritual practices which are not prescribed in the Bible.

Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints – and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel

Ephesians 6v11-19:-

The only sure defense against deception is not through relying on our own intellectual ability to spot falsehood, but through abiding in the One who laid down His life for ours sins and rose again, and keeping hold of His words. Let’s praise His name confidently! Let’s keep on being filled with the Spirit of Christ.

May we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.