S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Since the 1990s there has been an increased focus on mysticism within various segments of Christianity. Bordering on the esoteric, these mystical experiences broaden the division between a "factual...

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July 01 2013 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Steven Best Supporter Former mil intel analyst, chiropractor & Bible Teacher

This is a definitive explanation of the term "soaking prayer", and not meant to be a critique of its practice in any way. Originally the "word of faith" movement, under Kenneth E Hagin Jr., Kenneth Copeland, and others, highly stressed Mark 11:23-24. Jesus words: "… does not doubt in his heart," and "believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you," were identified as key elements in obtaining miraculous results in prayer, especially in laying on of hands for healing. To many of his followers, this also meant you would only lay hands on, or pray over someone one time, and then must be satisfied in your heart he or she was healed. To go back and do it again would indicate a lack of faith, or a wavering of faith, which was seen as forbidden in James 1:6-7.

However, over time, despite the fact that in large gatherings, many seemingly miraculous testimonies were given, the fact that more sick people walked away in the same condition as they had arrived, than seemed to be healed, was clearly evident. Hagin, in several books I read, suggested the single biggest hindrance to healing was doubt, just as Jesus had said in Mark 11: 23-24. For this reason, he felt, it was necessary to overcome one's natural tendency to doubt, by meditating on God's words, day and night – especially concentrating on Scriptures, which he saw as pointing to God's will for Christians to be well and not sick. This was referred to by many of his followers as "soaking in God's word." After decades of ministry, Hagin, himself, lamented in his writings that Pentecostals were still not seeing anything close to what happened in the apostolic age, reasoning there was some missing element, which he thought could be the "former and latter rains" (James 5:7). This he described as an end times out pouring of the Holy Spirit upon the earth, similar to what happened during the apostolic age, which he felt we should earnestly pray for.

Fast-forward another two or three decades, to Bethel church in Redding, California, pastored by Bill Johnson, an independent but former Assemblies of God minister. In conferences around the world, Bill talked about how the people of his congregation had become weary praying for sick people and not seeing them recover. After prayerful meditation, he was reading Mark 8:22-26, and was impressed by the fact that Jesus prayed for the blind man more than once. After discussion with fellow leadership, they began praying for individuals for more extended times. This could mean laying hands on and praying over someone for more than just a moment or two, say, perhaps, for thirty minutes or an hour or even more. At the time, they termed this activity as "soaking prayer", in that they were soaking the person with sincere, extended prayer, with the idea that, if there were some signs of improvement, extended prayer could result in further advancement. According to Bill, they began to see more and more of what they saw as clear manifestations of God's miraculous healings. 

Encouraged by this, they began setting up prayer teams to pray around the clock, from their homes or wherever, for particular people with serious or long-term chronic illnesses. Once again, he said they were encouraged by the results they saw. One example he gave was of a church member, who was suffering from multiple sclerosis and confined to a wheelchair for over eight years. After several months of such praying, he said he was astounded when the fellow came walking into the back of the church one day, completely normal. Randy Clark, Heidi Baker, and many others associated with these ministries teach the same basic idea, of continuous focused prayer, laying on of hands, prayer teams, and extended periods of time for "soaking" the sick individual in "prayer." Over time, the terminology has extended to "soaking in the Presence", "soaking in His love," and similar expressions.

September 21 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Janice Lunch Supporter

God’s way of prayer is to speak to him in your conscious mind. You seek Him by praying and asking for help in your time of need or guidance.

Satan’s way to open his door is to come to you in a hypnotic state through the subconscious mind. He always changes and twists things. He comes in through the back door. If you seek God through listening, music, trying to hear a voice, or feelings to prove to you that there is a presence in the atmosphere. The only presence in the atmosphere will be a lying Spirit.

When we received Christ we received his presence inside of us. There is no more need to feel anything more. He is always with us wherever we go. 
Soaking is about listening and feeling. The lord described to us in the Bible how we should pray. Our father which are in heaven and etc. Matt 6:9-13. It is talking to God directly and then ending it at amen. It is not about getting an answer right back, and waiting to hear his voice, like a two way conversation. That’s why amen is used in an ending to the prayer.

It’s not a listening prayer. God has already spoken to us in his word. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand it and to guide us through our conscience and spirit. It is only through his word we will know the truth and not other forms.

There is only one form of prayer in the Bible and that is speaking to him and he speaks back to us through his word, the Bible. That is our only reference for truth. If we are trying to hear other wise, like a still small voice it could be anything. That’s why we have to judge everything by his word. God’s word is sufficient for our daily bread and will show us his will for our lives. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are not about feelings. We do have our own emotions and feelings, but the scriptures speak of not allowing our emotions to direct our life. The fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, long suffering, and self control. 

Soaking only brings feelings and encounters that are outside of God's plans and will teach us to want more. It will also lead us to experience the kundalini spirit, which is a force and energy that gives out waves of electricity making you think it’s the Holy Spirit. The more you do the more he will give you. Then it becomes addictive. It even gives jerks, shakes, weeping, Holy laughter, etc. 

Walking with God is by faith alone and not expecting to see or feel anything. 
Here is a link about the Holy Spirit vs the unholy spirit. Read it for yourself. If you read it by phone, turn it sideways so you get the full article. The kundalini is infiltrating the church. Please don’t be deceived. Https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.discerningtheworld.com/2012/06/23/the-biblical-holy-spirit-vs-the-false-unholy-spirit-of-fire/amp/
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NShnozCe1QI

Let us be sober and think on these things

December 26 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report