The Word of God

“Their would seem to be in prayer the capacity for going even beyond the Word, of getting even beyond his promise, into the very presence of God, himself.”

(E.M. Bounds, The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, Baker Books).

Here is a chapter that has no corresponding chapter in Part I on “airy-fairy” prayer. The reason is that “airy-fairy” prayer is usually divorced from the Bible. This divorce is either because the Bible is unknown to the one praying an”airy-fairy” prayer -- or because everything in the Bible is known but it is believed that nothing inside the Bible has anything to do with what is outside the Bible during the othe six days of the week that are not Sunday. This chapter is meant to correct both defects in the Christian who is new to concrete prayer.

This is also a chapter which has a word in its title that is usually highly offensive to many Christians and even many modern non-Christians as well. That word is “mysticism.” In this chapter I will be closely examining this word and examining its relationship to the Word of God, prayer, and santification. The essential reason why I am here dealing with these four items together - the Word of God, prayer, santification, and mysticism - is because I feel that if you study any one of the four, you will eventually encounter the other three. They have to be treated together, and after reading this chapter you will see why.

The Word of God

1 Tim 4:5

5 ... For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

(KJV)

As I have said before, Christianity is a bicycle and not a unicycle. One wheel is the Word of God, and the other is our subjective communications with our Head in heaven by prayer through the Holy Spirit of God who indwells us. The direction we go on that bicycle is called santification - the process of becoming as like Christ as possible. The external label that some have given to this whole enterprise is "mysticism."

Our relationship with our Head was initiated by the Word of God ...

Luke 8:11

11 ... The seed is the word of God.

(KJV)

Rom 10:17

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

(KJV)

1 Pet 1:23

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

(KJV)

And our relationship with our Head is initiated by prayer - our response to the Word of God that we hear:

Rom 10:4-10

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

(KJV)

Luke 23:42

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

(KJV)

And our connection with our Head is continued by the Word of God ...

1Thes 2:13

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

(KJV)

Luke 8:21

21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

(KJV)

And our connection with our Head is continued through prayer:

1Thes 5:17

17 Pray without ceasing.

(KJV)

It is the Living Word, our Head, who gives breath and life to the written Word, our Bible. And this breath is the Holy Spirit of God who indwells us as we read, and who was the same Holy Spirit of God who indwelled the writers of those scriptures:

John 1:1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(KJV)

2 Pet 1:19-21

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

(KJV)

Rev 19:10

10 ... for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

(KJV)

And the agency of our communication in prayer to our Head is the Holy Spirit of God:

Rom 8:26

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

(KJV)

It is from the Word of God, under the direction of the Spirit of God, that we protect our communications with our Head from hostile thought-forms from without:

Eph 6:17

17 ... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

(KJV)

Matt 4:8-10

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

(KJV)

And it is from the Word of God, under the direction of the Spirit of God, that we protect our communications with our Head from hostile thought-forms that arise from within that have been placed there by lying spirits or our own subconscious lusts:

Heb 4:12

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(KJV)

The unity of the scriptures with the prayer life is so clearly taught in the Bible, it is not really surprising that we often find them split apart in many lives. There is an Adversary out there who does his best to see to this.