Heidi Baker and the Extreme Prophetic Movement- 2 “Soaking, In More Ways Than One”

Have you ever before heard of “Soaking Prayer”? No, its not prayer performed in a bathtub full of suds, but, I guess it could be under the guidelines of the Extreme Prophetic Movement? If you want to learn more about soaking you can order a “Soaking Kit” for about $50. That in and of itself is a “Soaking” of a different kind altogether!

Soaking first came about at the Toronto Blessing and if that doesn’t send out red flags I don’t know what will! That is where Rodney Howard-Browne came up with that Holy Laughter craze many years ago. Not to be outdone by that laughter movement comes the soaker movement. What is soaking? It is resting in his love. Although Soakers don’t say so that is a biblical statement and one that Brother Dave Norris knows well. “He will rest (quiet) you in His love” Zeph. 3:17.

I had to ask myself why the soaker movement didn’t cite the text Zephaniah 3:17 but maybe that’s because they didn’t know what that verse said to begin with. Perhaps they hadn’t soaked enough? If you desire to get trained in soaking techniques that will cost you even more money. The kit is just the opening to that Pandora’s box of Eastern Mysticism. Why do I say that? Soakers believe that when they are doing that they find the Holy Spirit hovering over them like the Goodyear Blimp. I always thought He indwelled me? Then, as you are soaking, you are to use your mind’s eye (New Age Movement term) to visualize what you require at that moment. A Canadian soaker has issued their definition of what actually happents-

Soaking can be compared to making pickles. The Greek words bapto, means to dip, and baptidzo, means to immerse. In making pickles, a recipe called for the raw fruit to be dipped in boiling water to blanch or sterilize the cucumber (bapto), “to dip in and out quickly.” Then it called for the cucumber to be immersed (baptidzo), i.e., soaked in the brine and the pickling solution for several weeks. What happens during this soaking time is that the marinade or the pickling solution soaks deep into the flesh of the cucumber until it takes on the flavor of the pickling solution so that it no longer tastes like a raw cucumber. This is what we mean by soaking. May you be so marinated in the presence of the Holy Spirit, soaking in the River of God, that you no longer “taste” like your old, raw nature any longer, but you have taken on the flavor of the Holy Spirit. “Pickle us, Lord, in the marinade of the Holy Spirit. Soak us in your wonderful presence until we become more and more like you.” I think I’m going to be sick!?

Heidi Baker is said to have performed her best miracles after soaking as her website maintains that she has caused the blind to see, the deaf to ear, and the lame to walk. Quite remarkable is it not? Yet when her husband became ill and lost nearly forty pounds coupled with heart problems she shipped him off to Amsterdam to be treated? Why could she not heal him? Perhaps she hadn’t soaked long enough? I find that surprising since she claims to be a long term soaker.

Whenever she speaks she seems to use that same soaker approach charging $139 dollars for her seminars plus food costs on top of that. Paul said, “When I preach the gospel I may present the gospel of Christ without charge so that I will not abuse my authority in the gospel” 1 Cor. 9:18. Maybe if Paul had engaged in soaking prayer he might have felt differently?

I find Heidi Baker’s approach to ministy akin to Simon the Sorcerer. Like those under the sway of Baker, people claimed that, “Simon had the great power of God” Acts 8:10. In effect, Simon had merely “soaked” the citizens of that day with his parlor tricks. Now, though, he wanted to add the power of the Holy Spirit into his stack of tricks and thought that could be achieved by purchase power. He offered the apostles money- “Give me this power also” Acts 8:19. Yes, the money factor always seems to enter into these Prosperity Preyers sooner or later.

Peter said, “Your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money” Acts 8:20. Is Heidi Baker in the ministry for money? Is she “soaking” her followers with non-biblical approaches? of course she is but then the Extreme Prophetic Movement BELIEVE in extra-biblical revelation especially when it benefits them financially. Perhaps anyone that gets involves with “soaking” deserves to be soaked?

Heidi is also a faculty member of The Global School of Supernatural Ministry, and, no, that is not where Harry Potter attended. It is headed up by Apostolic Leader Randy Clark and one of the other faculty members is Patricia King whom many attibute to be the founder of the Extreme Prophetic Movement. At this Global School you can take subjects such as Healing, Prophecy, Inner Healing, FINANCES (surprise, surprise), Spiritual Destiny, and Market Place Ministries. First year tuition runs about $5,500 and second year costs are around $3,800.

I would like to comment on the Spiritual Destiny subject matter. “But you are those who forsake the Lord, who forget My holy mountain, Who pepare a table for that TROOP, and that furnish the drink offering unto that NUMBER” Is. 65:11. In Hebrew, the word for troop means fortune while the meaning of number is fate or DESTINY, which were all pagan gods. God said, “You did evil before My eyes and CHOSE that in which I do not delight” Is. 65:12. Spiritual “destiny”?

Heidi and her husband does wonderful work within their orphanages with very needy children but it is the doctrine which they also teach that is ever so deadly. In the future I will be posting more on this movement and in particular on its founder, Patricia King.