The Supernatural, paranormal and the artificial

[brian100]

He signed it dude. Luke..

But you don't believe... so I can't help you on that. You'll have to wait for Luke yourself.

They are more real than us. Can't even tell.

Its probably like seeing 3 people walking by after Jesus arose.

I'm thinking he came because I decoded, with help of God, the Shroud of Jesus which will give rise to enormous faith!

 

[Giuliano]

There are some members that need to learn the difference of what is from God and what is not from God, that's why this thread was made.

Please continue. . . .

 

[VictoryinJesus]

test the spirits, learn to discern them.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Makes me think of Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

Of course, I know witchcraft exists. I've been attacked spiritually by Wiccans more than once. I've also been attacked by demonic forces, sometimes even seeing them with my spiritual eyes. Sometimes they were invisible. In one case, my cat also saw the demon -- I'll tell that story. I know he did because as the demon crossed the room, my cat turned his head to follow it. The demon did attack me later -- did me no harm -- I laughed at it and told it to get out. Then it went up into the attic -- to annoy the squirrels. Yes, I had squirrels in my attic. I could hear them scurrying around. This was in the winter in the middle of the night. They were carrying acorns out of the house, going out into the night. That demon didn't harm or frighten me or my cat, but it frightened the squirrels. At that point, I got angry and bound it for what it had done to the squirrels.
How could they know when you say not everyone has the gift of discernment? I've been in churches that had demons. If someone can't tell the difference, how can he determine if his pastor is godly or demonic? How does he pick his teachers?

Once I saw a demon in the air in a church. No one else saw it. They thought everything was just fine. I prayed for it to go away. It did. Then it came back. I prayed for it to go away again. It did and then it came back again. At that point, I figured out what was going on. I had every right to tell that demon not to be in my space; but I did not have the right to tell it to go away when the people in the congregation wanted it there and were inviting it back. I did not have the right to judge that demon, not when humans wanted it there.

There is more than one way to translate the word usually translated as "discerning." It can also mean "judging." Not everyone has the authority to "judge" angels at the present time; but I think anyone with the Holy Spirit should be able to tell the difference between the angelic and the demonic. If someone can't tell the difference for himself between the angelic and the demonic, how could he know if his minister had the Holy Spirit or the spirit of antichrist?

Absolutely, Satan can transform himself so he appears as an angel of light. Absolutely, the Dark Side can perform miracles. Should anyone be amazed then that some churches have ministers who are not what they appear to be?

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

If most Christians lack the "gift of discernment" and are unable to tell the difference between the angelic and the demonic, they would have to take somebody else's word for it. How would they know whom to trust? This doctrine reminds me of the Catholic position and how they invest their priests with special powers and expect everyone else to "trust" them.

If someone can fool me into thinking he's a godly person and I find out later he's not, I search my own conscience. I must have been shutting off my conscience somehow. What about my makeup that blinded my eyes? I tell you from experience that I have wished to overlook weaknesses in other people because I secretly felt I'm the same way. I should have known better but blinded myself to the situation. I didn't want to see it in myself, so I didn't see it in him. As the saying goes, "You can't cheat an honest man." If someone cheats me, I ask what is wrong with me?

 

[Josho]

@Giuliano as I said this thread is starting of with the basics.

Every Christian should know or learn the difference between a prophet and a psychic, they should know the difference between going to Jesus for healing and going to a witchdoctor for healing.

These are the basics mate, Christians should know the differences between these things, and if they don't, this is why this thread is here.

 

[Josho]

@Giuliano as I said this thread is starting of with the basics.

Every Christian should know or learn the difference between a prophet and a psychic, they should know the difference between going to Jesus for healing and going to a witchdoctor for healing.

These are the basics mate, Christians should know the differences between these things, and if they don't, this is why this thread is here.

Unfortunately there are still Christians around that go to those that operate under witchcraft, because they don't know.

 

[Anthony D'Arienzo]

Giuliano,

In one case, my cat also saw the demon -- I'll tell that story. I know he did because as the demon crossed the room, my cat turned his head to follow it. The demon did attack me later -- did me no harm -- I laughed at it and told it to get out. Then it went up into the attic -- to annoy the squirrels.

That demon didn't harm or frighten me or my cat, but it frightened the squirrels. At that point, I got angry and bound it for what it had done to the squirrels.


I've been in churches that had demons.

Once I saw a demon in the air in a church. No one else saw it. They thought everything was just fine. I prayed for it to go away. It did. Then it came back. I prayed for it to go away again. It did and then it came back again. At that point, I figured out what was going on. I had every right to tell that demon not to be in my space; but I did not have the right to tell it to go away when the people in the congregation wanted it there and were inviting it back. I did not have the right to judge that demon, not when humans wanted it there.

Demons flying around in the church??? You bound it for tormenting a squirrel???
Very active imagination,

 

[Giuliano]

Unfortunately there are still Christians around that go to those that operate under witchcraft, because they don't know.

My question is not about things like Ouija boards, mediums and things like that. My question is how can people discern between the Spirit of Christ and an antichrist spirit.

 

[Philip James]

My question is not about things like Ouija boards, mediums and things like that. My question is how can people discern between the Spirit of Christ and an antichrist spirit.

Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.

Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.

Peace!

 

[Giuliano]

Giuliano,
Demons flying around in the church??? You bound it for tormenting a squirrel???
Very active imagination,

Squirrels. Plural. When I write, I want people to understand what I write. If you think it was for one squirrel, you weren't paying attention. The demon had done other things -- pay attention. I didn't relate everything it did.

Goodness! If you can't understand simple human things like singular and plural, how could you expect to understand spiritual things? If you don't want to believe I saw a demon in the air, that's fine with me. You have enough problems struggling with earthly things like understanding words -- I write squirrels and you read squirrel. Who has the active imagination?

 

[Josho]

My question is not about things like Ouija boards, mediums and things like that. My question is how can people discern between the Spirit of Christ and an antichrist spirit.

Well it's a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, some Christians have that gift of discernment, some don't, those that don't it's why we have the other members of the body of Christ, all the parts of the body of Christ need each other, some members are gifted in different gifts/areas than others, I think it's a rare thing for one person to have all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 

[Giuliano]

Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.

Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.

Peace!

Luke 24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

 

[Giuliano]

Well it's a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, some Christians have that gift of discernment, some don't, those that don't it's why we have the other members of the body of Christ, all the parts of the body of Christ need each other, some members are gifted in different gifts/areas than others, I think it's a rare thing for one person to have all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

How can the Christian who lacks the "gift of discernment" know who to trust and who not to trust? How can people prevent themselves from falling prey to false shepherds if they lack "discernment"?

 

[Philip James]

Well it's a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, some Christians have that gift of discernment, some don't, those that don't it's why we have the other members of the body of Christ, all the parts of the body of Christ need each other, some members are gifted in different gifts/areas than others, I think it's a rare thing for one person to have all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, we need each other, and belong to each other...

Peace!

 

[Philip James]

How can the Christian who lacks the "gift of discernment" know who to trust and who not to trust? How can people prevent themselves from falling prey to false shepherds if they lack "discernment"?

This is an excellent question. My Catholic response, of course, is that our Lord entrusted to the apostles and they to the bishops the authority (and the responsibility) to watch over the flock and keep them from just such false shephards..
Everything must be tested under obedience..

Peace be with you!

 

[Giuliano]

This is an excellent question. My Catholic response, of course, is that our Lord entrusted to the apostles and they to the bishops the authority (and the responsibility) to watch over the flock and keep them from just such false shephards..
Everything must be tested under obedience..

Peace be with you!

It's something to think about, to be sure.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

 

[Philip James]

It's something to think about seriously.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Rebellion is never the answer. Did David lift his hand against Saul?

Peace!

 

[brian100]

Well to find out what going on you need real life experiences like I have had.

 

[Nancy]

How can the Christian who lacks the "gift of discernment" know who to trust and who not to trust? How can people prevent themselves from falling prey to false shepherds if they lack "discernment"?

It seems that 'wisdom' and 'discernment' go hand in hand. God say's:
James 1:5
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Wisdom would naturally lead to discernment, I would think.
JMO

 

[historyb]

I have decided to make a new thread for this topic.

Please try not to debate here, this thread is hopefully going to help some members understand more about the supernatural and that not every spirit is from God and that also not everything is supernatural. This thread is going to start of at a basic level though, the more obvious things, as some people need to know the basics. And I am just going to try to keep it simple for the first post.

Now being a topic about the supernatural.

There are 2 main categories of the supernatural.

1 - the Godly (From God) - We will talk about God, The Lord Jesus, The Holy Spirit, what is God capable of in today's world, miracles from God, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, supernatural gifts from God, angels that are messengers of God, how God can work through people's lives.

2 - the demonic (From the Devil) - We will talk about Satan, the demonic, how Satan can use people, how he can deceive people, about how the devil can disguise himself as an angel of light, false signs and wonders (yes they do exist), black magic, witchcraft and how it differs to miracles.

We can also add this category. As it can be confused.

3 - Self (Thoughts, imaginations, non-supernatural works in the natural flesh, this may also include some works which aren't led by God)


Now I will just post a quick summary, and I will start of with the first category.

1 - The Godly (From God or of God) - There is obviously God, The Lord Jesus, The Holy Spirit, in the Bible there is the greatest miracle of all. Jesus dying on the cross as an ultimate sacrifice that our sins may be washed away by His blood, that we may be forgiven and have eternal life if we choose to Believe in Him, He then resurrected on the 3rd day, another supernatural miracle from God. We also read about Lazarus being raised from the dead, we remember Jesus said "Lazarus come forth" and Lazarus arose, Eutychus was also raised from the dead in Acts 20:7-12, he was the man that fell out of the window, God worked a miracle through Paul Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” there are also a few other examples of the raising of the dead in the Bible, when Jesus died on the cross, there was a great earthquake and people rose up from their graves. All of us also recall the splitting of the Red Sea, that was a miracle from God, striking the rock and water coming out, that was a miracle from God, manna from Heaven that was a miracle from God, feeding of the 5000 another miracle from God.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are also from God.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

There are also angels from God, these angels are sent to bring messages from God, some are sent to protect us and watch over our lives, some people see them, some don't, but there angels watching over many of our lives, an example we know angel Gabriel was sent to Mary by God. We also know that God sends angels to protect us.

Psalm 91:11-12 NLT

11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.

And some dreams and visions also come from God, God still talks to His sheep, His sheep still here His voice, the Holy Spirit can still lead us and direct us which way to go, what to do.

And all these supernatural miracles, signs and wonders, prophecies, words of knowledge, speaking in tongues, interpretations from God can still happen today, as you may have seen, read, heard some testimonies of God's great power and may have even experienced it for yourself.

Great subject. Some people think if beads are dangled that the entity is from God but that is not a true test, a true test is if they point to Christ.