Here we go again, constantly reinventing itself, the 1 Project has apparently now become OneVoice27 on a global scale. I wonder what voice it is that is speaking? Well, wonder no more.
The source for that voice is found in the description on their website onevoice27.tv and revealed in this quote (with no included source):
“Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted and supplication is made. Prayer is the place of admitting our need, adopting humility and claiming dependence upon God. Prayer is the needful practice of the Christian. Prayer is the exercise of faith and hope. Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord”, (Emphases mine).
Practicing the presence of God is a Spiritual Formation practice rooted and grounded in mysticism; therefore it cannot be the voice of the one true God.
Problem areas:
The Practice of the presence of God- this is Spiritual Formation speak. In my nine years of being deeply entrenched in SF practices, readings, thinking, teachings, curriculum, etc. this practice is one of its foundational teachings and practices. Sadly, we hear quoted from so many of our pulpits the book, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, a French Catholic religious Monk who served at a Discalced Carmelite monastery 1614-12.
Vocabulary is a tell. Pay attention to the vocabulary they use and you’ll see the fingerprints of Spiritual Formation and Ecumenicism, both hidden in plain sight, the same way Occult societies hide their messages and agendas in plain sight. No new tricks or tactics here. Practicing the presence is the very same practice that Joseph Kidder teaches on pages 48 and 49 of his book, Majesty- Experiencing Authentic Worship.
“Brother Lawrence, a cook in a seventeenth-century French monastery, gave the world a phrase that well describes such a deep friendship with Jesus: the practice of the presence of God….”
Friends, when we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives each day, He fills us and we don’t have to “practice” anything-by God’s grace. We simply are enabled to hear His voice when He speaks to us.
2. The OneVoice 27 website quote itself when researched seems to originate from Matt Slick, founder of CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry) one of the oldest and largest Christian Apologetics sites. “It involves silence, stillness, patience, sometimes repeating something, and the practice of “not knowing” as the person seeks God’s presence” (CARM.org). Bible.com website affirms the quote as that of Matt Slick, the quote is also there in quotes and has his name at the end of the quote, then Bible.com promotes Brother Lawrence’s book, Practicing the Presence further down the webpage.
John Dybdahl, in his book, Hunger for the Soul when teaching Contemplative Prayer to his students writes on page 60 “Meditations a key way of practicing the presence of God”, speaks of periods of silence, “centering down” (another Spiritual Formation term for Contemplative Prayer) “to minimize distractions, take a few deep slow breaths and become conscious of your breathing. He goes on to remind us on pages 62-63 to “Begin with brief prayer for God’s presence, guidance, and protection from any evil influence”. This prayer of protection agrees with Richard Foster who says we must practice prayers of protection before entering the silence because there are evil spirits we can open ourselves to. Practicing the presence IS the entering wedge for Contemplative Prayer.
3. Who is Matt Slick? He currently runs CARM full time but was previously a Senior Pastor at a Presbyterian Church of America Church Plant. He graduated from Christ College Irvine which is associated with the Lutheran church (interesting that it was a Lutheran Chaplain who introduced me to Spiritual Formation). So, why is this important? Because this same quote on the OneVOice27.tv website is also on the Catholic SaintMathew.church website, the non-denominational FaithLife.com website, a deliverance ministry website. See also, St Michaels Episcopal Church website, St Cronan Church, Cross Creek Church, and many other church websites- all different denominations using the same quote- the same watering hole for their religious practices and teachings- ecumenism in real time- all speaking as one voice.
Note the darkened worship service and the drums pictured on bottom right of the OneVoice27website — both hallmarks of ecumenical worship. The slogan, Together, one voice — Across nations, cultures, and communities, people are uniting around one message-one person and one group at a time,” LINK. This is a counterfeit three Angels Message that is to go forth to every kindred nation and tongue. We are to be of one mind, but whose mind is it we are to have? The mind of Christ! The OneVoice27 website has the Christian language and appears to offer worship, but the streams coming out of the voice are not one, but two- one speaks of God, the other brings in pagan, spiritualism practices and a darkened worship experience focused on feelings, rather than transformative, heart changing truths. Daniel and Revelation are mentioned as points of study- to that I ask @OneVoice27
“Who is the sea beast of Revelation 13”? “Who will be destroyed in the end, or is everyone going to be saved”? “What prayer will you be teaching people to “practice”? We are told in AA 563-4 “Prayer is heaven’s ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christian character”. False worship has no sanctifying power- I know from personal experience because it in fact, grieves the Holy Spirit, the very one Who convicts of sin. This is why its many practitioners, Desert Fathers and Mothers, and present practitioners experience “The Dark Night of the Soul” that John of the Cross wrote about. In his book, Dark Night of the Soul.
When you grieve the Holy Spirit for so long, you feel the void of the Holy spirit- of course it will be a dark night… a very dark one indeed. “Is there such a thing as Sanctification or are we waiting for Jesus to change us when He returns? What hope have you for the sinner, those deep in the throes of addictions or demonic possession, “Howbeit this kind goweth not out but by prayer and fasting” Matt 17:21. Contemplative Prayer, The Silence, Practicing the Presence, have no answer for such things but rather deepen its trenches and strongholds. Your answers matter. Your teachings matter.
Will you continue to drink from Harlot’s golden cup of abomination and pour it out for others to drink or seek the pure teachings from the Bread of Life who gives life instead?
“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. We cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils” (1 Cor 10:14-20).
“Whenever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God’s blessing is not bestowed”. (GC) Conversely, “Whenever the Word of God has been faithfully preached results have followed that attested its divine origin The Spirit of God accompanied the message of the servants and the word was with power. Sinners felt their consciences quickened. The “Light” which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” illumined the secret chambers of their souls and the hidden things of darkness were made manifest. Deep conviction took hold upon their minds and hearts. They were convinced of sin and of righteousness and of judgment to come. They had a sense of the righteousness of Jehovah….” GC 88.461.1
Real revival involves repentance: “To these also the gospel was to be presented. THEY WERE TO BE CALLED TO REPENTANCE. The wonderful truth that through Christ alone could remission of sins be obtained was to be made plain. While all Jerusalem was stirred by the thrilling events of the past few weeks, the preaching of the gospel would make the deepest impression.” – {DA 820.4}
Where is the call to repentance in this “Movement”, “One Voice 27”?
OneVoice27 has the backing of:
We are on the verge of a false revival within our church! OneVoic27 is not the voice I choose to listen to or with which to become one. I choose the voice of God and the same doctrine that Jesus taught. He never changed His father’s doctrine, and nor should we,
“Jesus answered them, and said, my doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether I be of God or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:16-17).
What Jesus wants is a revival in us: a changed heart, a changed mind, that leads to a changed character. This is His promises being worked out in us- righteousness by faith.
“The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” James 5:7. So the Christian is to wait with patience for the fruition in his life of the word of God. COL 61.2 The Latter rain, ripening earth’s harvest represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming Son of man. But unless the former rain has fallen, there will be no life; the green blade will not spring up. Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no seed to perfection” (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 506, LDE 183.3).
Two revivals friends!
One feels good but prevents the falling of the latter rain in one’s life and has nothing to do with the three Angels Message. The other convicts, shapes, and molds in us uncomfortable ways, but promises showers of blessings for a people who are prepared to receive its refreshing, and then share the everlasting gospel with others to advance the kingdom under His voice.
We are promised,
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).
We can have this assurance when we are rooted and grounded in the word of God and have not itchy ears. We will then know His voice and be able to distinguish it from the voice of another and become one voice with God.
Dear friend, whose voice do you choose to follow today?
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Stephanie Bowers Griffin MSN, RN, PHN, was thriving as an Emergency Room nurse when she came under the influence of the Spiritual Formation movement. Under the guidance of a Spiritual Director, Stephanie became heavily involved in its teachings for nearly nine years, and was well on her way to becoming a Spiritual Director, herself.
However, after nearly three years of training and enrolling in a Master’s in Spiritual Formation Degree, God intervened! After being delivered from the depths of this false revival and its mystical practices, Stephanie now reveals a deep understanding of its dangers and false teachings in Silence No More.
