Discernment - something interesting.
A long time ago, I started to have a particular physical sensation when something of the Holy Spirit was happening. It’s subtle - not as forceful as my friend Frances has - she has a very intense physical sensation of discernment.
What I feel is very hard to describe - it’s holy fear and awe but more, but over time and with consistency I’ve come to know it as my “God is about” feeling. What I feel is subtle and I suppose could go un-noticed if I wasn’t paying attention. I never rely on “just” the “feeling” (I think that would be dangerous) but couple that with what the Bible and the Spirit actually say. (I can’t say that I’ve ever had the feeling when Scripture contradictions)
I also have a particular physical sensation when exposed to certain non-Christian teachings - occult, new age, JW, Mormon, etc. It’s almost like a cloud descends and it feels like something is trying to bend my brain. It’s an odd feeling, disturbing. (Likewise I can’t say I’ve ever had the feeling about something that’s actually God)
I’ve noticed over the last few weeks that I get that same cloud/bend sensation when I’m reading heresy-hunter stuff. I just happened upon a forum I figured would be pro-revival by its name. Some folks are, and some folks are rabidly anti-revival (not just Lakeland). Same sensation as I get when I’m around evil.
Just wanted to note it as something interesting.
August 31st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Mental and physical sensations are very much related. You probably get these sensations because the issues you’re talking about are something you already know you support/don’t support. I’m sure others could testify to similar but opposing situations as yours, especially with the TB situation. (IE, these sensations have never led them astray before, always in line with the word, ETC.)
Food for thought.
On another note, I went to my first Charismatic praise and worship event last night. It wasn’t as strange as I thought it would be. You could totally feel God’s presence there. It was nice. No violence, either.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:18 pm
On discernment, Ive come to realise that most Christians that say they have a strong “gift of discernment” usually are not open to admitting they could be wrong.
Im acutely aware I could be wrong with my discernment but at the same time there are many times where something comes across as acutely wrong!
August 31st, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Since TB has already been brought up, I was pondering your thoughts on his relation to the Joel’s Army movement that advocates Dominion over everyone, including the government?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:07 am
Oh Crickey I cant stand that Dominion theology/doctrine arggggggg. Blessed are the meek
September 1st, 2008 at 12:40 am
I understand what you’re saying, Kathi. When something truly demonic has been happening, I’ve felt physically battered, a kind of horrible buzzing grinding feeling, and an intense desire to physically get out. A feeling that something is pressing down nastily on the top of my head and shoulders.
We had a group experience once here of a demonic attack completely out of the blue mid-conversation (shortly after I left Paganism and returned to Jesus), and I can only describe it as being dumped in raw sewage, it was that repulsive. An awareness that we were on the front line that night - and it went on for hours, literally: started around midnight, intensified for a couple of hours, then started to tail off and went completely about 8am.
One of my Pagan friends ended up on her knees on the floor fighting it as it tried to flatten her, and when I prayed out loud, she said it was if the power source was cut, like pulling a plug out of a socket, but it remained ‘hovering’ and coming over us in waves. It was as if I was wearing mustard-yellow contact lenses - a feeling of unnaturalness, evil, harm, dizziness. Mike had driven off to fetch the coven leaders (I emphatically didn’t want them there because this thing was feeding off the protection things the Pagans present were trying to do).
In the midst of praying for my friend, I was ORDERED by God to immediately pray for Mike’s safety because he was at risk of a car accident - extreme urgency. We found out a few days later that some guy had been kicked out of a coven associated with my former one and was doing a working to fling psychic filth around, like someone throwing excrement.
I’ve experienced this re several people too, including a couple of guys who describe themselves as Christians (one of whom we were discussing by email this weekend); once I physically retched as if I was trying to vomit up something poisonous simply by reading things these guys had written.
I haven’t experienced that with HH or Lakeland in general (although I did experience it watching Staci Campbell on Youtube); what I’ve mainly experienced re both is a kind of inner forceful sigh, a desire to turn away, an emphatic ‘No.’ Sometimes I hear an ‘audible’ No as well; I heard this from God on one occasion re Lakeland.
When the Holy Spirit is around, it’s a feeling of my inner self being lifted upwards and opening outwards, a joy, a lightness, an excitement, and it causes me to worship and hunger for Jesus. I remember being in a pretty staid Baptist service a few years ago; nothing of much note, until in the quiet prayer time one older guy behind me shouted out ‘Praise God!’ and the whole thing transformed - it was awesome, wonderful.
I do take note of my feelings/sensations, but not as necessarily the deciding factor and always with reference to the truth of the Bible. If I’m unsure, I will seek God for a period of time until I am clear on what the Holy Spirit is saying. Over Lakeland, I watched my first episode while praying and asking God to show me if it was of Him, and came away some time later with the distinct awareness that it was flesh-based silliness and crowd hysteria (which I’ve also experienced firsthand in Christian gatherings, notably over the Toronto Blessing). I tested it several times over a matter of weeks just to make sure, each time telling God I was open to Him if He wanted to show me something other than my previous conclusions, and came to the same conclusion each time.
Because we can all be led astray by feelings and sensations, it’s absolutely vital that we know the word of God so that it dwells within us on a deep deep level.
September 1st, 2008 at 2:08 am
Thats an excellent post Jules. It blessed me
September 1st, 2008 at 4:52 am
Yes Jules, very good post. Dominion over everyone is I believe taken out of text by man. Just like some men say when they marry they have complete rule over their wives. Doesn’t work that way. A man is the spiritual head over the woman, she is not a slave to the man. Remember Jesus said also, concerning government. Render unto Ceasars which is Ceasars, unto God which is Gods. If what the government does, doesn’t go against the Lord, then obey
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Jules said (hi Jules!!!):
“When something truly demonic has been happening, I’ve felt physically battered, a kind of horrible buzzing grinding feeling, and an intense desire to physically get out. A feeling that something is pressing down nastily on the top of my head and shoulders.”
Oddly, that’s how I feel in churches. Seriously. When my gran invites me to church suppers and whatnot, I go, because her husband’s greatest joy is taking folks out for dinner and frankly I dig the haggis, but within a few minutes I’m all bowed and hunched over and find it hard to take a deep breath. I usually come out of those places with a screaming headache.
And I feel wonderful and light and uplifted in…well, in a lot of other places, even where I understand it’s not standard. In the woods, of course, in parks, on shores, but also on the bus, in crowds, on street corners, grocery shopping…