Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. Mysticism is nothing new. It has been around as long as man has. In fact, it was part of the temptation by Satan in the garden (Gen 3:5). It is also a description of man’s sinful nature (Gal 5:20 “sorcery” pharmakeia - magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it - Thayer).

2. Mysticism is defined as the mystical doctrines or spirit belief in the possibility of union with the Diving nature by means of ecstatic contemplation; reliance on spiritual intuition or exalted feeling as the means of acquiring knowledge of mysteries inaccessible to intellectual apprehension. (OED 1888).

B. Mysticism at Colossae

1. Defrauded Them of Their Prize

a. The over-arching message by the false teachers at Colossae was that Christ was not alone sufficient for truth, worship, revelation, authority, and spiritual growth.

b. But Paul responded with the imperative, “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize.”

c. They were not to allow anyone (“let no one”) to bring in false teaching whether a false teacher outside the church or a professed Christian within the church.

d. Paul did not want the Colossians to be “defrauded of their prize.” The Greek word for “defraud” is katabrabeuō which means to be a judge or umpire at the Games and specifically one that disqualifies a contestant rather than awards.

e. Paul implication here was that he did not want any of the believers to be persuaded by these false teachers and thereby disqualified from the sufficiency in Christ. A true believer is never disqualified from the sufficiency in Christ. However, an immature or deceived believer may not fully comprehend that He has been fully filled with Christ (“complete”).

2. Self-Abasement

a. How did the false teachers attempt to disqualify the Colossians from the sufficiency in Christ? They did this by trying to attract Christians with some of the element of Mysticism, namely, false humility, angel worship, visions, and arrogance.

b. Self-abasement (tapeinofrosu,nh| - tapeinophrosunê) is used most often in the NT in a good sense. In the NASB it is often translated as “humility” and refers to the Christian virtue which sees the believer’s lowly worship toward God (Act 20:19), the believer’s lowly character (Col 3:12), and the believer’s lowliness in serving one another (Eph 4:2).

c. But here it is “delighting” (thelō) in humility. In one strong sense, the moment you begin to exalt your humility, you’ve lost it.

d. In the various forms of Gnosticism and of the Mystery Religions, false humility sometimes was exhibited in following asceticism, that is, self-imposed disciplines such as fasting, abstaining from foods or certain common activities, and “self-abasement and severe treatment of the body” (Col 2:23).

3. Angel Worship

a. The worship of angels was prohibited by God in Exo 20:4, “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.”

b. Yet in mystical forms of Judaism such as Merkabah and Kabbalah there was an exaltation of angels. Angels were the communicators of visions and secrets mystical teachings.

c. Gnostics believe angels are needed to guide humankind through the spiritual journey necessary for salvation, and the archangel Michael can offer protection from the spiritual evils encountered along the way. (Debra Kraft, Gnosticism & the Worship of Angels).

d. Gnostic Leader Valentinus believed the afore mentioned angels were called “guardian angels.” He believed that the mystical experience of gnosis was a spiritual union with angels in the “bridal chamber.”

4. Visions

a. The word “visions” is not in the Greek text. However, the context warrants its use. Literally, it would be, “while standing on things (“visions”) which he has seen and continues to see.” The Greek word embateuō for “stand on” lends to that context.

b. [Embateuō]…only in Col 2:18, in a warning against dependence on ecstatic, non-rational visions; perhaps examine in detail, investigate (what one has seen or claims to have seen in ecstasy); or more probably take one's stand on, base one's authority on (what one has seen or claims to have seen in ecstasy); a second-century inscription leads some to see it as a religious technical term for the second step of an initiate into a mystery religion as he entered an inner sanctuary enter into mysteries. (Friberg).

c. Mystical Judaism known as Merkabah which began 100 years before Christ, was preoccupied with visions. The Hebrew word merkabah means “chariot” and describes the groups preoccupation with visions, particularly Ezekiel’s vision of the God’s “chariot-throne” in Ezekiel 1. Their protocol for seeing visions was fasting and repetitious reciting of hymns and prayers to achieve a trance state.

d. Kabbalah, which literally means “receiving” in Hebrew, is an esoteric religion. It focuses on all of the Old Testaments visions (Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel, etc.)

e. Gnosticism is based on revelatory visions from which the Gnostic Scriptures were written (Gospel of Judas, Gospel of Mary etc.). Accounts of visions are recorded in those writings. In addition, Gnosticism’s achievement of gnosis is a trance-like vision with the rebirth of the initiate from his vision or contact with God (the God within).

5. Arrogance

a. These false teachers had “inflated” (phusioō - to puff or blow up, i.e. bellows, 1Co 13:4) egos concerning their false knowledge (1Co 8:1; 1Ti 6:20), false visions, false spirituality. and false status.

b. They are without cause to be arrogant because their knowledge, spirituality, and status are fleshy.

c. They are false teachers with deluded and fleshly minds (Rom 1:21-22, 28).

II. DEVOID OF CHRIST (Col 2:19)

A. The problem with these false teachers was that they may mention Christ, they were devoid of Christ. They did not “hold fast” (krateō - seize, grasp, or embrace, Act 3:11 cf. Act 2:24; Heb 4:14) to Christ, the head (Col 1:18).

B. Christ is head of the church because He is its Savior (Eph 5:23) and Sovereign (Eph 1:22-23). But Christ is also the church’s Supply. Christ is the sufficient supply for all believers, who are connected together by Christ the head (Eph 4:15-16).

C. It is Christ who only sufficient because God only cause believers to grow in and through Christ.

D. Self-abasement, angel worship, visions, and anything having to do with mysticism is not only insufficient in sanctification, but unbiblical, erroneous, and sin.

III. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Angel Worship Today

1. Angel Therapy - Doreen Virtue

a. Welcome to AngelTherapy.com!

b. Visit daily to explore messages from the angels, videos, angel pages, blog articles, events, courses and more. You can also use my free angel numbers and oracle card web apps. Enjoy and Aloha! Love, Doreen Virtue

c. You have guardian angels with you right now. These angels are pure beings of Divine light who are entirely trustworthy and who want to help you with every area of your life. The word angel means “messenger of God.” Angels carry messages between the Creator and the created, like Heavenly postal carriers.

d. "Angels love everyone unconditionally. They look past the surface and see the godliness within us all. They focus only on our Divinity and potential, and not on our “faults.” So angels aren’t judgmental, and they only bring love into our lives. You’re safe with the angels, and you can totally trust them." (https://www.angeltherapy.com/meet-the-angels)

e. Also:

1) Bible Studies on angelology

2) Holy Spirit and fruit of the Spirit

3) Let Go and Let God...trust God

4) Chakra Clearing Meditation

5) How to Hear Your Angels

6) Get to Know your angels

B. Visions Today

1. Much of the movement is actually antichrist. Stories about visions of Jesus in charismatic circles are really terrifying to me. Some have proclaimed Him dressed as a fireman. Others have seen Him 900 feet tall. Others meet with Him regularly in the bathroom. Some have seen Him dancing on the garbage dump. Others have seen Him sitting in a wheelchair at a convalescent home. Some have taken long walks with Him on the beach. And so it goes.

2. One Charismatic author says, Shortly after the Holy Spirit revealed Himself, I saw Jesus. And then I asked the Lord to take me to His secret place. I was lying in the grass and I said, Jesus, would You lie down next to me? We were right there looking into each others eyes. The Father came, too, and reclined next to Jesus.

3. Sappy emotionalism, bizarre fantasy, having absolutely nothing to do with Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Delusions? Probably. Lies? Surely. But they do not find their source in the Holy Spirit. But its not just those bizarre images like you read in Heaven Is for Real, supposedly a four-year-old went to heaven and came back and described Jesus, and Jesus horse, and Jesus being shorter than Michael. I mean, thats bad enough, but even worse are the heresies concerning Him. (Mac Strange Fire)

C. Mysticism Today

1. Graves Chapel to hold Introduction to Contemplative Prayer Contemplative prayer is an ancient Christian form of meditation. In the contemporary world, full of things that worry and distract from contemplation, prayer offers an opportunity to still and quiet the mind and focus on Gods presence. Graves Chapel 104 Bluff Mountain Road in the Graves Mills community of Madison, will present Living in the Presence: An Introduction to Contemplative Prayer by Rev. Jane Piver (retired Episcopal priest) on Wednesday mornings starting Aug. 23. The classes continue Aug. 30, Sept. 6, 13 and 27 and Oct. 4 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided during the last hour. For those unable to attended all sessions but can be there for most, the first one is the important one as an introduction to contemplative prayer.

2. Go deep, Dcn. James Keating told the gathering of around 300 deacons at the Sheraton Grand Phoenix FOR THE REGION 13 DEACON CONFERENCE AUG 19, adding that the life of a truly effective deacon is marked by being led by the Holy Spirit, having an intimate marriage, and a deep, spousal love for God in contemplative prayer. (Catholic Sun)

3. Eastern Orthodoxy - Hank Hannegraph

a. Theoria - Vision Contemplative Prayer

b. Christian contemplation, from contemplatio (Latin; Greek, Theoria[1]), refers to several Christian practices which aim at "looking at", "gazing at", "being aware of" God or the Divine.[2][3][4] It includes several practices and theological concepts, and until the sixth century the practice of what is now called mysticism was referred to by the term contemplatio, c.q. theoria.

1) Christianity took up the use of both the Greek (theoria) and Latin (contemplatio, contemplation) terminology to describe various forms of prayer and the process of coming to know God. Eastern and Western traditions of Christianity grew apart as they incorporated the general notion of theoria into their respective teachings.

c. The central practice is contemplative prayer, in which a meaningful word or a short sentence, is repeated with full attention. It is distinct from vocal prayer (the recitation of words) and, strictly speaking, from meditation (a form of mental prayer, also called methodical prayer, based on discursive reflection).[note 1] Three stages are discerned in contemplative practice, namely purgative contemplation,[6][7] contemplation proper, and the vision of God.

D. True Spiritualty Today

1. The Holy Spirit has an accurate view of Christ, always truthfully presenting the glory of the Son. Any Holy Spirit-filled preacher will be Christ-dominated, Christ-dominated, and present Him in an accurate, and exalting, and truthful way. (Mac Strange Fire)

2. It is a matter of sound theology, but it’s also a matter of preeminence, and it’s also a matter of the gospel clarity. So where you see any deficiency in the nature of Christ, or the prominence of Christ, the preeminence of Christ, or the gospel, this is not the work of the Holy Spirit.

3. Show me a person obsessed with the Holy Spirit [Christian mysticism, visions, angel worship, contemplative prayer], and I’ll show you a person not filled with the Holy Spirit. Show me a person obsessed with the Lord Jesus Christ, never tiring of learning and loving Him, entranced by His magnificent glory, and seeking to obey Him and be like Him, and I’ll show you a Spirit-filled person. That’s what a Spirit-filled person looks like.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516