Mysticism
2: the belief that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth, or ultimate reality can be attained through subjective experience (as intuition or insight) [Merriam-Webster.com].
Scripture tells us that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth, and ultimate reality (the Kingdom of heaven) can be obtained through personal experience. In fact, Jesus defined eternal life this way:
Joh 17:3 AMP And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.
We either believe him or we don’t. Some define eternal life as what we get after the body dies, and that heaven is the afterlife for those who are believers. These are not really scriptural concepts, however. They are traditions of men. Eternal life is having a right relationship with the giver of life; God. The Kingdom or realm of heaven is not just somewhere we go when we die. It is something that may be experienced by everyone who believes in Christ and thereby is born of the Holy Spirit.
Joh 3:3 AMP Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.
Notice the double emphasis; “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you.” He is really wanting us to receive this understanding. The Kingdom of God, also known as the Kingdom of heaven, also known as the heavenly realm, cannot be experienced unless one is connected with God by being born of the Holy Spirit.
This realm is not to be confused with what anyone can experience through occult practices such as magic. It is true that there are spiritual experiences that are not of the Kingdom of heaven. The purpose of this article is not to go into details about different spiritual realms, though such is scriptural (look up, “third heaven” in Scripture – meaning there must be a first and second heaven for there to be a third level). But I want to emphasize that no one has experienced the Kingdom of God unless he is born of the Holy Spirit, even if he’s had “spiritual” experiences.
Why am I bringing this up? To say that believers should know more about the spiritual realms than any other people, because those born of the Spirit alone have access to all of the spiritual realms that God has created. We have access, according to Scripture, all the way up to the highest heaven, where his throne is above all others (Matt 5:34; 23:22; Heb 4:16; 12:2; Rev 1:4; 7:11, 15, 17; 8:3; 12:5; 14:3, 5; 19:4, 5; 21:3).
In spirit, we can soar to the highest heights, having been given access through Christ, the Lamb who was slain. This is great news!
But, we do not have to wait until our body dies to experience God and the heavenly realm. Any man born of the Holy Spirit can perceive the Kingdom of God and experience the Kingdom of heaven within right now.
Luk 17:21 AMP Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you].
In this way, the scriptural Christian message is actually mystical. Christ did not come and give us religious instructions to make us follow some set form of ritual religion. That is why instructions for outward worship practice of the Christians is not mentioned in the New Testament of Scripture. Scripture leaves worship open in outward form, because it is no longer about mere outward form. It is about being connected to God, for real (in reality), and worshiping thereby in spirit and in truth.
Joh 4:19-26 AMP The woman said to Him, Sir, I see and understand that You are a prophet. (20) Our forefathers worshiped on this mountain, but you [Jews] say that Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary and proper to worship. (21) Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither [merely] in this mountain nor [merely] in Jerusalem. (22) You [Samaritans] do not know what you are worshiping [you worship what you do not comprehend]. We do know what we are worshiping [we worship what we have knowledge of and understand], for [after all] salvation comes from [among] the Jews. (23) A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers. (24) God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality). (25) The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming, He Who is called the Christ (the Anointed One); and when He arrives, He will tell us everything we need to know and make it clear to us. (26) Jesus said to her, I Who now speak with you am He.
Are you experiencing God? Are you exploring the Kingdom of heaven and all of the creation of God? All one needs do is surrender to the Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6) and receive the Holy Spirit he sends when we ask (Luke 11:13; John 14:26), then seek to explore, asking for the Holy Spirit to lead, protect, empower, teach, etc.
There is no adventure like this adventure! There is no life like this life! Don’t miss out, come and be a part of this wonderous journey!
