Luminary Church – “How to Connect with God”

“How to Connect with God”

LUMINARY CHURCH
Sermon by John Paul Mitchell

May 25th, 2010

Copyright 2010 John Paul Mitchell www.facebook.com/luminarychurch

Luminary Church – “How to Connect with God”

Alright, welcome back to Luminary Church! Last week, we took a break to regroup
after two successful sets of talks. We also have a new motto, which is:

We are all one!

I feel this motto sends a positive message about the purpose of our church’s
mission. We are here to do a lot of things: to spread the Truth, help the needy,
counsel those who are troubled, and so much more.

However, a big role of Luminary Church is to bring about unity. Not only unity of
man with the Most High God, but also unity amongst the people of this planet
with one another. Earth is our home and if we cannot find a way to cooperate and
tolerate the differences of others, how can we possibly survive as a race of
intelligent beings?

We must realize everyone is different, that they have their different agendas, and
sometimes these agendas may even conflict with our own personal beliefs.
However, we should tolerate other human beings to a certain extent. As long as a
person’s actions or beliefs do not bring immediate or prolonged harm to others,
we should give distance to tolerate them as human beings. Just because we
tolerate a person doesn’t mean we have to agree with their chosen or
conditioned beliefs.

Now, let us discuss unity in more detail. I believe when a person has unity with
God, they are more likely to be tolerant and unify with a diverse range of people
and groups. They are able to connect more fully and bring a positive energy to
their social interactions, simply because they are connected with and tuned into
the heavenly vibrations of the One Great Power.

In this next series of talks, I will be exploring different ways for you, as a seeker of
truth, to fully connect with the Most High God. We will be discovering how to
connect with the One Great Power through meditation, prayer, intellectual study,
and selfless service.

Meditation is the most direct way to connect with God. It is by far the most
powerful way to turn off the senses, go inward where the spark of life exists, and

Copyright 2010 John Paul Mitchell www.facebook.com/luminarychurch

Luminary Church – “How to Connect with God”

to have a direct passageway into the heart and mind of God. There are numerous
ways to meditate, each with their respective benefits.

Obviously, a person should choose whichever method they are drawn to and find
most suitable. A person may change their meditation technique over time for a
more advanced or efficient technique. This is fine, as long as their objective
remains the same.

The ultimate purpose of meditation is to unite the lesser self with the Higher Self,
and to unite the spirit with the Divine Creator. Meditation is a process, one that is
advanced in stages. With meditation, a person essentially wants to harmonize
their body, mind and spirit into a unified, cooperative force.

How can a person have unity with others when they are not unified within? How
can you have a peaceful house when all its members are fighting?

The answer to these questions is that you cannot. You must harmonize all parts of
your being and all members of your house in order to achieve a peaceful state of
being.

If your body is out of sync, or feeling sluggish or infected with sickness, then it will
have a direct effect on your mind and spirit. Just like the body is strongly built and
resilient, so is the mind and spirit. All three parts of your being can withstand a
tremendous amount of stress and external pressures. But when one part is weak
for too long, it can severely impact an individual’s inner harmony and overall well-
being.

Meditation helps to bring all these parts into harmony, maintaining that peaceful
equilibrium. For beginners, it is not necessary to meditate every day. In fact, I
recommend meditating only a few times per week if you are just beginning on
your meditative journey. For intermediate and advanced practitioners, I
recommend meditating at least 5 to 6 times per week for optimal benefits.

Something amazing happens to you when you meditate successively for multiple
days in a row. I should know, because I meditated every single day for over three

Copyright 2010 John Paul Mitchell www.facebook.com/luminarychurch

Luminary Church – “How to Connect with God”

and half years. I actually recorded almost every meditation I had for those three
plus years in my meditation journal.

As you begin to meditate, going deeper and deeper, you penetrate to the true
nature of your being, to the core of your existence, to who you really are. There is
something magical about meditation. You are taken to a safe and harmonious
place, one that exists within yourself, one that God himself has stored away in
secret.

I would like for each and every one of you to go into your secret place. I would
like for you to go within yourselves and to be one with God – the One Great
Power.

Follow along closely. I’m about to give you a simple meditation you can practice
anytime, anywhere. It doesn’t require you to buy any special meditation cushion,
or any kind of clothing. It just requires you to give anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes
and to shut your eyes.

Let us do this meditation now. I’ll walk you through the steps, one by one, until
you are able to complete this on your own. It’s very simple, so here we go.

 First – gently close your eyes. Feel the eyelids heavy on your eyes.
 Second – with your eyes closed, relax your body; be comfortable in your
skin. Breathe normally!
 Third – as you focus on your body, tense your body fully so that every
muscle is filled with pressure and tension.
 Four – let go of your body, release that tension, and let it slip away from
you, away from your body.
 Five – breathe in deep and tense your body again. Hold that tension longer
this time. Hold your breath momentarily.
 Six – release your whole body and all the stress built up in your body.
 Seven – repeat this tense and relax sequence one more time. Breathe in
deeply and tense. Breathe out heavily and release.

Copyright 2010 John Paul Mitchell www.facebook.com/luminarychurch

Luminary Church – “How to Connect with God”

 Now, as you are fully relaxed, your eyes are closed, your senses are turning
inward. You begin to focus approximately 6 to 7 blocks in the blackness of
your inner vision.
 As you focus about 6 to 7 blocks away, you begin to see a tiny silvery-white
light. It almost looks like a pin prick that it is so small. It’s very tiny!
 As you focus on this small white light, you begin to breathe in slowly and
completely. Breathe in smoothly and fully.
 As you breathe in and out, the silvery-white light begins to grow in size.
 As you take a few complete breaths, completing each cycle smoothly, you
notice the white light is a glowing ball.
 Now, as you breathe in and out, you begin to inwardly chant “aaah” when
you take the breath in.
 And when you breathe out, you silently chant in your mind “baaah”.
 You continue this rhythmic breathing, chatting “aaah” when you inhale, and
“baaah” when you exhale.
 These two syllables – “aaah” and “baaah” – form the affectionate Hebrew
title for God, which is Abba.
 Now, as you may or may not know, Abba is Hebrew for “father” – the
Heavenly Father. Abba is the same name that the Messiah Jesus
affectionately called the One Great Power.
 Now, returning back to your meditation, when you breathe in and out, you
see that silvery-white glowing ball of light increase in size. You see it grow
larger, and larger, and larger.
 Now, you are fully focused on this glowing ball of radiance. It amazes you
with great joy, on the sheer size that it has magnified to.
 What was once small is now so close to you. The light begins to consume
your being, to reach out and touch your soul.
 The glowing ball of silvery-white light is so big now, that you cannot see a
single inch of darkness anywhere around you. It is so bright and beautiful.
You are so overwhelmed with joy and a feeling of complete happiness.
 The bliss of your being jumps out of your body and you are now detached
from your body, and from your physical reality.

Copyright 2010 John Paul Mitchell www.facebook.com/luminarychurch

Luminary Church – “How to Connect with God”

 Your soul is hovering in the light; it is part of that vibrant, glowing light.
 You are still breathing in and out smoothly, and fully. It is almost like your
breathing has disappeared, where it is very silent, very subtle.
 As you breathe in and out, slowly and silently, it is like your pulse and
heartbeat have also disappeared.
 There is complete silence and you are one with the light. You are one with
the light of God. You are one with the spirit of God.

Great! Take a few moments more to complete your meditation. Or you may stay
there as long as you want.

I’m glad to see you’ve joined us here again. Remember this meditation,
remember these steps, and go to this secret place whenever you need it.

Visit your secret chamber on a regular basis, and bring yourself closer to God.
Now, you have a direct connection with the Most High God. And no belief, no
person, and no group can ever take that away from you.

Every time you meditate, enjoy your experiences and your moments that you are
one with God.

Do not look for outward confirmation of your oneness with the Great Power.
Know you are one with the Divine Creator, for he has shown you the way into his
humble abode. His place is a place of love, joy, happiness, and truth.

In closing, I’d like to add one last thing. Whenever you meditate, when you are
done, before you open your eyes, speak to God. And when you speak, give thanks
to him showing you the way, for him being there for you, and for him loving you.

After all, God is the only one that can love you truly and completely. For his love is
a wholesome love, and his love will make you whole!

Copyright 2010 John Paul Mitchell www.facebook.com/luminarychurch

Luminary Church – “How to Connect with God”

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Copyright 2010 John Paul Mitchell www.facebook.com/luminarychurch