Sun 8 Aug 2010
8 Signs You May Have The Spiritual Gift of Discernment
Posted by Helen Calder under Discernment, Prophetic Teaching
[85] Comments
In the early days of our ministry, the Hunk and I would often travel and stay in many places in Asia and throughout New Zealand. It seemed that no matter where we were, my intrepid husband could sail through any situation, but it was a different story for me.
- Staying in a place in Asia where strange spirits were worshipped? I would encounter them in my dreams.
- Ministering in a region or church where there were trials or strongholds? I felt them acutely.
We were often led to wage spiritual warfare or intercede through my sensitivity to the spiritual realm.
The gift of discernment of spirits is the one spiritual gift that has continually presented the most difficulties and challenges to me personally.
Because of my journey, I would like to share what I have learned with others. This article is the first of a series of three articles in which I will cover:
1. Signs you may have the gift of discernment,
2. How to grow in the gift of discernment and
3. How to exercise the gift of discernment in the context of church life
What is the Gift of Discernment?
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good… to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits…All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Cor 12:7-11)
Discernment of spirits is a gift of the Holy Spirit given to some Christian believers. It is a Spirit-given ability to distinguish whether Divine, human or demonic origins are the source of what is presented—whether it be in an atmosphere, encounter, event, or prophetic message.
What are Some Signs You May Have the Gift of Discernment?
Following are some signs that you may have the spiritual gift of discernment, from my personal study, observation and experience. You may not identify with all of them, but if you do have the gift, you will recognise some of these in your life:
1. Desire for the Gift
As with other spiritual gifts, desire is often the first sign of a gift of discernment of spirits (1 Cor 14:1).
- You may have a longing to see people set free from demonic bondage.
- You may want to be more effective in prayer and spiritual warfare
- You may have a desire for holiness
- You may simply be curious about the spiritual realm.
2. Love for God’s Presence
One of the benefits of having a gift of discernment of spirits is a heightened awareness of God’s Presence and anointing. A true discerner will have a passion for the un-grieved Presence of the Holy Spirit.
This is because—and I will continually reiterate this—the highest use of the gift of discernment is not to see what the enemy is doing, but to discern what the Spirit of God is doing.
3. Sensitivity to the Spiritual Atmosphere
You may be more sensitive to spiritual atmospheres than most other people. In the early stages of developing the gift, you may be affected adversely by the presence of any demonic activity in the environment around you.
The reality is that we live in a natural world and a spiritual world concurrently. In the Bible, when Jacob came across a group of angels, he named that place Mahanaim, meaning ‘double camp.’ (Gen 32:1-2)
Like Jacob realised, we also live in a double camp where there is constant spiritual activity, and discerners have spiritual senses that are attuned to this.
4. Feeling Different from Other People
Most people, even in church life, experience life through their natural senses. However, someone with an emerging gift of discernment of spirits can see and sense things that others do not see.
This ability can result in us feeling different, lonely or misunderstood at times, especially when starting out. It is vital that someone with a developing gift of discernment finds a safe place to journey with others who are similarly gifted and accountable in the life of their church.
5. Unusual Signs
It is not uncommon for someone who is gifted in discernment to experience unusual events or manifestations.
People who are incubating a discernment gift begin to see or feel things that others are not aware of. This may include unusual visions, dreams and sensations that alert them to what is happening in the spiritual realm.
6. Childhood or Pre-Salvation Signs
It is not uncommon to experience things relating to your gift even before becoming a Christian. Our creator-God prepares us for our calling and gifts from conception. Even when a talent or gift is misused, God can redeem it and anoint it for His use to serve Him and love and minister to others.
As a child I ‘saw’ things in the night and as a teenager was sensitive to the spiritual realm, sometimes encountering demonic spirits in my room or dreams. Later, as a fully committed Christian, God redeemed this spiritual sensitivity as a gift of discernment. I know Christians who have a gift of discernment who were drawn to New Age counterfeit gifts prior to becoming a Christian.
7. Ability to Know What Lies Behind a Person’s Words or Actions
Someone with a gift of discernment has the ability to see behind what a person is saying and presenting. You may know whether they are telling the truth or not. You may also recognise if someone is manifesting a demonic spirit and be able to identify what that spirit is.
If a prophetic or revelatory message is brought, a discerner can often tell whether it is anointed of the Spirit or from the speaker’s own heart.
This is not always the case, and as with other revelatory gifts such as prophecy, you will sometimes get it wrong or have incomplete discernment (1 Thess 5:19-21, 1 Cor 13:9-10)
8. Confirmation by Others and Leaders
You may have the gift confirmed through a prophecy given to you. My gift of discernment was identified through prophecy twice (perhaps this was because I was reluctant to accept it!)
However, the bottom line of the presence of any gift is that it is recognised and acknowledged by leaders in the church and that it is useful for its purpose—which is to help build up the church and bring people closer to Jesus.
When you submit what you are seeing or sensing, your leaders confirm your accuracy and your gift begins to be recognised for its effectiveness.
Whenever a gift is used to criticise or tear down a church, person or leader, you know it is being misused, or is simply a person’s hurt, frustration or agenda masquerading as discernment. Because these kinds of abuses are common and have brought disrepute to the gift of discernment, I will take some time over the next couple of posts to share how the gift of discernment can bring value to church life.
Have you experienced any of the above, or any different signs of a gift of discernment emerging in your life? Do you have any joys and challenges to share? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the box below. If the comment box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
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Are you sensitive to what is taking place in the spiritual realm? Have you ever been adversely affected by a negative atmosphere?
You may have the spiritual gift of discernment.
The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare, and can be of great assistance when ministering freedom to individuals.
And yet many who have the gift of discernment have difficulty knowing what to do with what they are feeling or sensing.
Would you like to develop your prophetic gift?
Here are 3 things that can help you:
1. Prophetic Teaching:
Enter your email address in the subscribe box at the top right hand side of this page to receive:
- regular blog posts containing teaching that will help you grow in your gift of prophecy, as well as articles on spiritual gifts, prayer, spiritual renewal and supernatural Christian living
2. Prophetic Training:
Check here for prophetic training resources and information
3. E-books to Help you Develop Your Gifts:
‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts’ is a high-value e-book specifically written to help you grow in your prophetic gifts – at whatever stage or season you are on the journey.
Check out our e-books page for more e-books related to prophetic and prayer ministry.
Related Posts:
What Is The Gift Of Discernment?
8 Ways To Grow Your Gift Of Discernment
What Are Some Signs That You Have A Prophetic Gift?
6 Tips For Exercising The Gift of Discernment In Church Life
© Helen Calder 2010 Enliven Blog
Now on team with David McCracken Ministries
Hi Daniel, I’ve written a series of posts about overcoming blockages in the gifts, you can find the first one here: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2011/10/18/11-signs-that-your-prophetic-gift-is-being-held-back/
Hope that helps – also I have written an article about how to activate your prophetic gift and many of the points also apply to discernment. It’s here: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2012/06/05/how-to-activate-your-prophetic-gift/
Hope these help
I don’t want to develop this gift, whether or not it is discernment…because it feels as if I am mostly able to feel demonic spirits. One or two in particular I believe…yet don’t want to believe…are following me even when I left home to go to college. I came across this website because I was looking for answers. I would be okay if I was feeling the Holy Spirit, which I think I do because I have been praying for lost souls everyday since my first encounter with these demonic entities. Yet I feel incredibly alone. This may sound selfish or maybe even a little childish, but I just want to be a normal college student…free from the torment of the spiritual world.
Hi again, so sorry to hear of the situation you have been facing.
What you have been experiencing is certainly not a ‘gift from God’. (God is good and His gifts are good – this includes discernment Matt 7:11) It sounds like what you are experiencing is demonic harrassment – and this is something that as Christians we do not have to put up with.
Are you involved with a church or faith group? It would be good to find someone who you can share with and who can pray with you and help you take a stand. In times like this we need each other. Also, you need to exercise the authority you have in Jesus’ Name. My articles on spiritual warfare may be helpful for you, here is the category to look through: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/category/spiritual-warfare/
I pray you find grace and strength, and are fully able to enter into the freedom that Jesus has purchased for you on the cross.
I believe I have the gift of discernment, but I have not yet started to fully operate in it as it has not been confirmed by anyone other than family members. Even as a young girl, and before I was born-again, I could sense things about people, like I could tell their real intentions even if they seemed to be really nice outwardly. I remember when one of my cousins introduced us to her fiance, I immediately sensed he was not a good person, even though he claimed to be a godly man, and I told my mum about it. A few months after they got married, he beat my cousin almost to the point of death and he has been abusive to her ever since. At first I thought it was like a “6th sense” or intuition, but after I was born again I realised that it was from the Holy Spirit.
When I was a teenager, I used to have terrifying experiences where I would sense a dark presence in my bedroom which would sit on my chest, or pull my bedclothes tight or touch me. This went away for a while, but would come back from time to time, and once I even saw the demon that was there. It was like I was looking through a mirror, I could see myself lying on the bed and the demon was saying something into my ear. I tried to speak out loud, but couldnt, so in my head I kept repeating “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus” and it disappeared.
I also sometimes get this sense of deep foreboding, and a warning in my spirit that something bad is about to happen. Sometimes i can “hear” what the thing is, sometimes not, but I usually pray when I get that feeling. Sometimes, its almost like I hear a voice, not audibly, but quite clearly telling me something about a person or a situation that I couldn’t possibly know on my own, and it is later confirmed.
I want to understand the purpose for this gift and develop, but I’m not sure how to go about it. Do you think I have this gift and what should I do?
Hi Marian, it does sound as though you are gifted in the area of discernment, perhaps in the beginning stages. The main thing to test in terms of a gift of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of it, in other words, are there outcomes from your discernment that are helping and protecting people, benefiting the church, and so on. And perhaps that is something for you to pray about – how does God want to use your discernment to bring glory to Him and help to others? The context for the gift of discernment in the Bible (New Testament) is church life, so I encourage you to explore that whole area of being in a faith community, having the protection of leadership, sharing your journey with safe people and discovering how discernment operates in church life, as well as your life in general. I’ve written some posts that may help (see links on the above article) and also the booklet Unlocking the Gift off Discernment, which has more information.
Thank you Helen! I will definitely continue to pray and ask for God’s leading. God bless
I feel I may have this gift also. I can feel things different when I’m around someone that I just met. As though if they are from light, grey or even dark. Not by appreance, but by spirit. I have seen an apparition before, in the form of a demon, disfigured and covered face wearing my sweater. A very large man shape standing at my door in the middle of the night. I awoke sat up and starred at him and demanded him to leave by the blood of Jesus. I yelled at him and was not even afraid. He turned slowley and dissapeared into the wall and left, never to return. My dog that past away frequents me on my bed. I can feel him jump up, walk towards me and plop next to me, just as he did for 9 years that he was alive. He was a large dog do I know I’m not imagining this. I feel his presence but have never seen him. I once was dating an athiest (really dumb but thought I could bring him to God which I do believe I brought him from some of his darkness) anyway, while sleeping at him home, 2 demons started laughing and then one would wisper wierd noises. I could not see them but knew they were present and the room became very cold. I put my hand on my bf and orded them to leave and never return and told them in the name of Jeasus you are to flee from this home and leave this man to rest. They left. I held my hand over my bf and prayed for his demons to be released. He awoke the next morning and said that was the best he had slept in months and that he always sleeps good when I’m with him and he never has his usual bad dreams. I just smiled and said, I know. Sometimes I will sense someone is about to walk out of my life and sure enough, it happens. Sometimes my phone rings and i know who it is before I even look at the caller ID. I also have a gift that people are drawn to me and open up to me with their entire life story and then they say, wow, I’ve never told anyone that. This has happend for many years with many people. Even people I’ve just met for the first time. I’ve been told when I come into a room I light it up with my smile. I give that compliment to God, as it is him that works through me. What are your suggestions that I do with these “gifts” if that is what they are?
Hi there, Bozley, and thank you for leaving your note. I encourage you to read all the comments and my answers on this post, as you may receive some more help from them. The best answer I can give to your question is to encourage you to go carefully through my article on 8 ways to grow your gift of discernment, and especially at this part in your journey to focus on numbers 1-4. You can find the article here: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/09/13/8-ways-to-grow-the-gift-of-discernment/
Hi Helen,
I came across your website looking for answers about the gift of prophesy and came across your article on “the gift of discernment. Is it possible to have 2 gifts? One of “discernment” and one of “prophesy”? As a child I could always sense things and as an adult I sense them more. I know when there is a demon around. I strongly sense when God’s presence is around. I too have had dreams when demons have visited me and then manifested and were holding me. I have learned how to address those situations with the name of Jesus and have learned how to take authority over it. My spirit is very sensitive to the spirit . I often have very strong urges to pray, like my spirit has picked up that for some unknown reason, i need to stop what I am doing and pray until I feel a release from the Lord. I also sometimes know things before they happen, like when someone is going to have a baby before they know. I have even had a dream that came true. I am really seeing God to find out what are my gifts and to become properly trained to use them for His glory . Any direction you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
i believe i have the gift of discernment, ill give some examples that led me to believe this ill start with old to new, well it all started when i started feeling the presence of the Lord very strong, wen i would go up during an alter call and they would pray over us… then i would feel His presence during worship.. praying in the spirit…. i just would feel him more and more, and then one time i was evangelising and two people out of all the people we evangilised to i felt a strong presence of the Lord i just thought the lord was saying help this guy tell him about me… another time i was walking home and there was this def kid crying i was walking by but i felt the strong presence of the lord, i thought it was the lord pulling me to him, i thought to myself what do i say he wont hear me so i just gave him an invitation to church.. next more recent i was watching tv and it showed the girl volunteering for the elderly, and the thought came to my head, i should volaunteer,, then again a really really strong presence of the lord… so i said said u want me to volunteer.. and the feeling got stronger… now yesterday i was job hunting, and i was pulling up to a place where i thought i had a chance for employment but as soon as i parked i had a gut feeling like no… so i thought to myself y? so i went anyway and it turned out the manager remebered me from another location where he had hired me but couldnt due to failure to pass backround check… now another time my sister broughth this movie called seance and it was demonic, and before we put it on i felt again the gut feelin like NO… but i watched some of it then turned it off because it seemed to be doing some sort of activity here at the house, thats another thing i believe the house we just moved into is haunted.. late at night i can sense evil spirits… sometimes to strong through my whole body… even one time i felt as if it was on top of me… so does this look as if i have the gift? and what can i do to fully manifest it.. and use it for the LOrds glory?
Hi David,
Much of what you mention has to do with sensing the Holy Spirit’s Presence and His guidance. This is amazing, and I encourage you to cultivate this intimacy with Him.
As far as sensing evil spirits, you may have a discernment gift, but remember the fulness of its operation is in its fruit (outcome). A spiritual gift should be used to bring glory to God and to help people. So ask, ‘What does God want to do in this situation?’ You are His agent!
If there is an ungodly presence about you house, you can pray and command it to go. You may find it helpful to have another Christian agree with you in prayer – there is power in agreement. (read Matt 18:18-19)
Hi! I’m young and I think I have the gift of discernment. I will sense that a demon is watching me in a room or in the hallway. I can also sense if its angry because I get a bad feeling. I get dreams all the time about demons. One was were a demon was trying to hurt me and another was when it broke my arm. I also can sense if a person has good intentions of not.
But how can I develop my gift? How can I use it on a daily basis?
Hi there, thank you for leaving a note, you may find the other posts I have written are helpful in developing a gift of discernment, for example start here: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/09/13/8-ways-to-grow-the-gift-of-discernment/
Remember that a gift of discernment is given to strengthen and protect the church, and to have good, Godly fruit, like setting people free, breaking through in touch situations, overcoming in spiritual warfare, and so on. So this is what you can look for and expect if you have a gift. You can also expect your ability to see in the spiritual realm to sharpen your ability to sense God’s Presence with you – I encourage you to look back at previous comments, as many people have asked questions about discerning the demonic realm.
I have been told by a couple of people that I have this Gift of Discerning of the Spirits. I can sometimes feel an Evil Presence on people, I constantly have dreams of rebuking demons out of people and I never know who the people are in my dreams. I am never afraid in my dream but just forceful with making them leave. I dreamed of a little girl that was posessed and a month later my step daughter had to be prayed over to remove a evil spirit. Could my Dreams be a sign of be being like a person that would exercise demons out of somebody or is this just this particular gift? I have had lots more things happen but too much too type, lol. Thank you for reading this and for any information you might could share…
Hi , im so happy to stumble on this site , for whatever reason that is I don’t know but since I was a little boy I know I was spacial but could not understand it , for some people Im weird but I never let no one discourage me , even if would try to forget about it just possible.I have so many dreams that are so powerful it’s unbelievable.read this:one night in my sleep I was standing in a field but all of a sudden a wide wooden staircase appear infront of me but at bottom of the staircase stood a person with a long white one shoulder sleeve dress , in the dream the person look like both sex at same time but I knew right then that was an angel and he said to : follow me up the staircase if you dare and was like oh yeah ok I will follow you, no body challenges me and isay come on and we started walking up the stairs , we were so high up there we passed the clouds and we were still climbing up and I look down I see. Earth like a little marble very small and we finally reach the top of the stairs it was a wooden deck maybe 10 feet long by 8 feet wide then I ask him that’s it , that’s all , nothing else , that’s all you give me a wooden deck , but he kept saying you did it im so proud of you , I reply proud of what I was expected more than that but he kept saying you did it and im so proud of but I looked there were lots of grey clouds very thick and I had a feeling there were some type of architectures up there which were not visable enough to my eyes then I jumped out off the dream. this is just one of my dreams so can you please help me to be able to develop my gift efficiently with some guidance materials that you may have.
Hi there Auguste, great to hear from you – the dream you shared is amazing. There are lots of articles here that can help you on your journey, for example this one on dreams: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2012/07/16/4-types-of-dreams-and-their-meanings/
Also, to browse by topic use the categories on the right hand side, or check out the e-books page for more helpful materials. May you be richly blessed in your journey with Jesus.
Hey!
Thanks for sharing this man. I think i do have this gifts. This gift runs in my family/relatives, if that would be a sign.
About feeling the demonic presence – i often have encounters with them in my subconscious as only my spirit is awake..
I have seen things, heard and felt them.
Hi,
I realized I had the gift when I was in my early 20′s. As I have gotten older I have become more sensitive and can see death on animals and humans. I know when things are going to happen and have save lives on numerous occasions. I can listen when someone is talking to me and tell them what is going to happen. I have an overwhelming feeling that wont let me sleep or eat until I tell the person what I have to tell them good or bad.
It is hard to tell someone you love that their parent or grandmother is going to die. I saw death in my dog face and prepared my children by telling them to spend as much with her as they could because she would not be with us. Long story short, she died two weeks later.
I feel whatever the person is feeling who I need to give the information too. I cry and have this overwhelming feeling of not being at peace. I had to tell my family that my grandmother is going to die and I am glad everyone listened to me because all got to say goodbye and no one had unresolved feelings of guilt. I cried a week before I had to tell the family and I was strong the day of the funeral.
I told my best friend that her mother was going to die and it was the most painful phone call I had to make. I have save my boyfriend’s best friend life. He is in Afghainstan and I told him that his best friend is distracted and given the fact that he is a good soldier he would risk his life for his friend.
Please take him off patrol and didnt do it fast enough and his friend was injured but my boyfriend was not with him and he did make a full recovery. After that incident he was taken off patrol.
Hi there
Reading your story,gave me some hope and a sense that I am not alone.Like many others,I know I have something inside me from a very young age.I would like to explain all,but wants to know if you could contact me via mail as I need answers.Please
Regards
Varenka
Hi Varenka, Thanks for leaving the note.
I don’t have time to help people individually with their journey beyond the Q and A’s on the blog here. In fact, pretty much everything I know has been poured out in one way or another through the blog and the eBook. Have a read of the dozens of questions already left on the discernment posts here on the blog, and my answers to them. I also encourage you to take a look at the eBook, Unlocking the Gift of Discernment which does have some information that is extra to what I’ve written on the blog. Hope that helps, but if you have a burning question, do leave it here and I’ll endeavour to answer it.
Unfortunately
I think I may have the gift of discerment.
I “just know” about people and circumstances often.
I have seen, heard and scenced different spirts in different ways. Even in the flesh. Had an emblem appair on a wall that I cannot wash off and no one else was there to put it on the wall.
House Banging REALLY LOUD followed by shaking over and over again for days in a row.
Recorded some sort of very loud clear voice that sounds like a child but it seems like in another language because I can’t understand it. No one heard the voice during the time the recording was taking place.
Lightning bolt looking flashes of bright (electic looking bolts) shooting in my bedroom after I praid for angels.
Footsteps on third floor while on the first and second floor while no one is up on those floors.
Other things. If I do have a gift I would just like to use to help people because at this point I’m just seeing things and not knowing what they mean or what to do….otherwise I’d rather not have anything happen.
Thank you for reaching out.
I also experience burning in my face
HI MY HUSBAND GOT THIS GIFT FIRST THEN ME SOMETIMES IVE WISHED I NEVER HAD THIS. I HAVE ALWAYS ASKED GOD TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY HE GAVE US THIS GIFT.IT IS TO HELP OTHERS PRAY FOR THEM LOVE THEM FEEL COMPASSION FOR THEM. BECAUSE ITS THE DEVIL WORKING PTHROUGH THEM TO TEAR DOWN. WHAT I MEAN TO TEAR DOWN IS THE FOLLOWING. IT COULD BE THAT A MANAGER IN A BUISNESS IS BEING INFLUENCED BY DEMONIC ENTITIES AND THEREFORE DISTURBES THE PEACE IN THE BUISNESS. IT COULD BE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH BRINGING STRIFE AND CONFUSION TO OTHERS .AND MANY OTHER EXAMPLES I CAN MENTION.MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH PHYSICALLY FEEL EVIL AROUND A PERSON . WE DONT LOOK FOR IT EVIL OR DEMONS MAKE THERE SELF KNOWN TO US AS WE ARE IN A CONVERATION WITH SOMEONE OR IF WERE SHOPPING . AT THE PARK ANYWHERE.I FINALLY TOLD GOD IN DESPERATION HE HAD TO SHED SOME LIGHT AS TO WHAT HE WANTS TO USE US FOR BECAUSE THE FEELINGS ARE UNBEARABLE . MANY ENTITIES IN PEOPLE WE COME IN CONTACT WITH COME ACROSS IN DIFFERENT FORMS.LETS SAY THE LADY AT THE REGISTER UPSET CAUSE SHE OVER CHARGED ME HER ANGER AFFECTED ME AND THE ENTITIE MADE ME FEEL HEAT ALL OVER MY BODY AND OUT OF BREATH AND SHAKY
There is one point I disagree with. You wrote:
“However, the bottom line of the presence of any gift is that it is recognised and acknowledged by leaders in the church and that it is useful for its purpose—which is to help build up the church and bring people closer to Jesus.
When you submit what you are seeing or sensing, your leaders confirm your accuracy and your gift begins to be recognised for its effectiveness.
Whenever a gift is used to criticise or tear down a church, person or leader, you know it is being misused, or is simply a person’s hurt, frustration or agenda masquerading as discernment.”
I think those with the gift of discernment are likely to be marginalized, labeled as divisive, even cast out churches more than any other type. I don’t think it’s necessarily the confirmation of accuracy by church leaders that confirms the gift. More often than not, those with the gift of discernment are discerning things that leaders don’t want to hear. So instead, the discerner is labeled as critical and judgmental, and their voice is invalidated and silenced. Particularly by church leaders.
I also believe that I’ve always had this wonderful gift from God, but only as I’ve gotten older and rededicated my life to Christ did I embrace it. There was one time I clearly remember franctically looking for a love one and the Holy Spirit lead me directly to the apartment where they were and I sat there and askedd the Lord now what because I didn’t know which apt. they were in and seconds later they walked out! I can get a good sense of people’s character or if they are a good person or not. And I can always tell when someone is telling the truth or not. I’ve had bad dreams, but I’ve also had good ones. Just recently I saw Jesus at the foot of my bed. He had on a long white hooded rode, but I could not see His face, and His arms were outstretched. I sat up in bed and felt a sense of peace and laid back down and went to sleep. I just started clinicals in a hospital, and I’ve encountered all kinds of spirits. One in particular gave me the shivers to my core even when I still think about now. A man was laying in the chair beside his wife’s bed and both of them had dark, evil looking, cold eyes when I looked into them. The husband’s eyes were more evil than the wife’s.They were both friendly, but my spirit couldn’t shake how evil they’re eyes were. I prayed to God and I asked Him if I’m wrong in what I was feeling to forgive me and my spirit said don’t look at him directly in the eye. So the next day we went in, and the husband had his back turned to us and was sleep, and the wife didn’t really open her eyes because it was so early in the morning, and I truly believe that was the Holy Spirit protecting me. What do you think? I know that God doesn’t give us the spirit of fear and I have to rebuke that in the name of Jesus sometimes because I’m still learning alot about my gifts and other gifts I may have so I know He will protect us because evil can sense that and take advantage of that weakness. Thank you a response and God bless you and this website. I’ve learned alot in a few hours of reading.
Hi thanx alot for teaching n reaveling the gifts of Spirit,ive been around many sites as a young pastor who just started a ministry,but i found everything in here,i always believe that i had prophetic gifts or descernment cos eveyrthing tht has to happen i saw a vision or hear voice telling me abt that,and i somtyms get irritated when is abt just meeting person n dont even say a word to them,like il dream passing some boys @ de corner it just hapen like that but no words exchanged.thank u n may God richly bless u to reach millions,with this site.
I have experinced some of those things you have talked about, I have always felt like I was a little more sensitive to the spiritual realm. But im still not sure. I do love to feel the presence of the Lord and I desire that my relationship be stronger with the Lord and I am often misunderstood in the church I go to but I am not being fed spiritially either. As I have said before im still not sure. But I do have a question if you can answer it for me I often encounter people in the church if I do something say sing they will always try to do it better or if I do say something that I sense somebody will say I already knew that. I am in a confused state.
I have all you mentioned and so much more but I’ve been ashamed to admit having it but now God is showing me that I have to accept it and use it for His glory. I sense the presence of the Holy Spirit, angels, demons, ghosts or just residual emotions in places or things. Also some things and places are imbued with either holiness or the opposite and I ‘see’ that too. I also ‘see’ in what state a person’s soul is even by just looking at a photo. Lack of truth in a teaching or false intentions are very clear to me and they affect me badly whilst holiness in certain ordinary persons make me joyous, humbled and in awe. I’ve been like this since early childhood and the closer I get to God the more the gift intensifies. I’ve always felt like a freak and used to believe that nobody could ever accept me because of my gift. It was hard to accept it as a gift in the first place. Some people verbally attack me without any provocation and I discern that on an unconscious level they are reacting to this gift. Others are magnetically attracted to me and go through conversions after they hear me speak. Some tell me that they’ve changed because of something they heard me say and they start crying when they say this. I am going through a breakthrough crisis and am praying hard for guidance and deliverance from all the shame and fear I feel in relation to this gift. I am Catholic so I do not have much support in this area since the Catholic Church is still very cautious regarding all spiritual gifts. Thanks for giving me a place to vent a bit
Awesome. Such confirmation
I have been born again for about 5 years, but I have experienced many visions and dreams. Many of the dreams come to pass while others don`t. My visions are very tough to understand but I really enjoy them so much because they are full of raptures and bliss. Some one in the ministry of prophecy told that the Lord is preparing me for a prophetic ministry. Do you think it true?
Tears filled my eyes when I read this article. I have been blessed with this spirtual gift for over three years now and have had some trying times with it. I felt impressed to pray one day in my car in the WalMart parkinglot of all places, I had an awesome encounter with God then the Lord spoke to me and told me he was giving me the gift of spirtual discernment. I was so happy I thought this was so real and the Lord is giving me a gift this is wonderful. Not to long later I had my first dicernment encounter afterwords I told the Lord you have got the wrong person please take this from me ( the Lord was with me through this event every step of the way and he did not let me fall) it was just the overwhelming experince. Then I started feeling like I was different I just wanted one person to understand what I was feeling and going through and to talk with. I found that I just had to keep praying and talking to God it helped alot. When I was six I saw an angel in my bedroom. I always wondered the reason that I got to have that awesome experience, ofcourse I was terrified at the time. I know that I still have alot of maturing to do,I have grown to except that this is the Lord’s will for my life and I feel that alot of times I fall short. My dream lastnight was that I was enganging in warfare and the Lord was with me but I couldn’t see the end result, my interpitation of what I feel that it means is that I need to be more holy and drawing closer to the Lord for the gift to operate like God intended. I always feel a constant need to pray for certain things and be more holy. I pray for the Lord to help me everyday. I’m so glad that I came across this article, it has been a blessing.
Good Afternoon Everyone,
I know that throughout my life, I could always sense evil or good in a person, but I never really paid attention, until recently. I recently rededicated my life to Jesus Christ and have been water batized and Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues; however, within this couple of months I have encountered heavy manifestations of evil, I can literally see them on people and in places at first I thought that they were figments of my imagination. but just today (04-30-13), I had a supernatural encounter, I was awaken around 3 to 4 in the morning by a bright light in my room, and as I opened my to see what it was I saw an angel on my bed in Roman Soldier armor swinging a huge sword against a demon that was standing by my bed. When he swung and hit the demon I lay my head back on my pillow and fell asleep. when I awoke in the morning I didn’t know if it was real or a dream, but I know that I was awake because I remember placing my head back on the pillow and falling asleep. I wasn’t startled by what I saw, until this morning that I was trying to figure out if it was real or a dream. I know that it is a new gift that God has awaken within me now that I know how to fight spiritually, it is just annoying to have to deal with evil spirits all day. I need some direction on how to bring my gift into maturity.
Dear Helen,
Good day to you.
I’ve been searching to discover what happened to me since my Dad and Mom passed away 13 years back. I am Catholic then when my dad passed away. An hour before he passed away…I was encountering great agony deep in me…crying by myself. I didnt know the reason Why?. 6 years after my Mom passed away and the hour she about to go…I felt the same grief and agony which lead me to cry constantly. She was know as prayer warior in a born again church. I stick to my dads way as Catholic. Her intention is to make be be Reborn in spirit. On the 3rd day of her departure I was re baptized with water and at that moment I felt the similar agony and tears. The church claim as the descending of Holy Spirit on me.
To me ..It was the pain of their departure. After her departure I was encountering massive impact in life where i was lost and every friend cousins and siblings rejected me… even I was jobless for years. I still had 3 meals a day for 2.5 years. Then I got a job.. When in the job I was encountering uneasiness like itchy at back of shoulder or arm or legs. I realize this guys are using some kind of magic… I was confused. I attended to most of the churches but unable to get answer. The spirit do follow me all the way home. I go to shops and feel itchiness and when going away like 5 or 8 meters away will stop the itch..Tested few times and confirmed that there are ppl like whisperers and chanters use the Gin / Dead spirit to protect their business as well as them. After learning constantly in Bible and Joining Kabbalah teaching…to find the answer. I did found the answer. Still I feel the same stuff but I reject it the way it suppose to be rejected. I need to enhance this gift.. Pls advice.. Thks/brgds
Nelson
I must say I am looking forward to studying your teachings so far I have found it to be totally awesome, very powerful easy to understand well put together outlines.
Your website is an answer to my prayers I am looking forward to more of your teachings that I may teach and help others.
Bishop Michael Smith