Have you ever felt a strange presence in a room, even when you’re alone? Or perhaps you’ve experienced a sense of peace and calm that seems to come from nowhere. These are just a couple of examples of how our spiritual senses can connect us to a realm beyond the physical world. While the concept of the spiritual realm can be daunting and mysterious, it is a fascinating space to explore. Join me as I delve into the world of spirits and the Gift of Discernment of Spirits. Let’s unlock the secrets of this vast and complex realm together.
When it comes to the spiritual realm, it’s common for people to first think of angels. While angels are certainly a part of this realm, it’s important to remember that the spiritual realm is much more expansive than just the existence of angels. It’s a vast and complex space that’s worth exploring. Spirits are unique in that they’re made up of pure energy and have no physical bodies. To better understand and differentiate between spirits, we can use the Gift of Discernment of Spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10). This gift allows us to examine, distinguish, and perceive spirits based on their nature, characteristics, and source. Gift of Discernment of Spirits is an invaluable tool for anyone seeking to explore and understand the spiritual realm.
I would like to share with you that the spiritual realm is not located miles away from us. In fact, the physical and spiritual realms coexist, but the spiritual realm exists in a dimension beyond our physical perception. The Bible teaches us that the things we can see are created from things that cannot be seen. According to Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV), “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” This shows that the spiritual realm has a greater power than the physical realm, as the spiritual created the physical.
Using this analogy, I’d like to draw your attention to the fact that the spiritual realm continually influences what happens in the physical realm, whether for good or evil. There are beings that operate behind the scenes and influence these occurrences. Perhaps you’ve experienced random thoughts that came to you, and you wondered how they did, knowing that you couldn’t have come up with them yourself. Or maybe you’ve had breakthroughs, protections, or miracles in your life that you knew couldn’t have resulted from any physical effort but from divine intervention. All of these occurrences teach us that there are unseen forces at work around us. In this dispensation, having the gift of discernment of the spirit is crucial to walk with God in the right way. This gift helps us to discern all the snares of the evil one and make decisions that align with God’s will.
The scripture instructs us to be discerning and test all spirits. In 1 John 4:1, we read, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.” However, you cannot test spirits without having the spiritual ability to discern. It’s worth noting that gifts, including the gift of discernment of spirits, are freely given by the Holy Spirit, and He gives them as He wills. If you don’t already possess this gift, you can rely on the Holy Spirit within you to help you discern spirits.
Characteristics of the Spiritual Realm
- Spirits are not limited by matter or physical: In the spiritual realm, physical things such as houses or cars are almost non-existent. As a result, spirits can easily pass through any physical object, including walls. It’s important to note that what might be someone’s room in the physical realm may be a pathway in the spiritual realm or even a commercial area for some beings. As Hebrews 4:13 states, everything is bare before God, and we will have to give account for our actions. You cannot hide from the eyes of God. Similarly, spirit beings see everything you do unless God covers you from their sight.
- The spiritual realm is not limited by time It’s worth noting that spiritual time differs from physical time. For example, you might have a dream and see something happening soon in the physical realm, but in the spiritual realm, you might have traveled about 10 years. As a result, that thing might take about 10 years to be fulfilled, even though you saw it happening very soon
- Not limited by space: In the spiritual realm, millions of spirits can occupy a very small space, unlike in the physical realm, where only a few physical entities can occupy a particular space at a time. For instance, you can have millions of angels occupying a small space, or you can have millions of demons dwelling or possessing a person.
- Not limited by distance: Spirits can travel at the speed of thought, and if they travel slowly, it’s because they choose to do so. Generally, spirits travel at a very fast pace, and they can cross continents in a matter of seconds. When this spiritual ability meets us in this realm, translation or translocation occurs – moving from one place to another spiritually in a short time. We see examples of these abilities in the Bible, demonstrated by Elijah (1 Kings 18:12), Philip (Acts 8: 26-40), and some current believers. However, as a believer in the Lord Jesus, you shouldn’t be too fascinated by what spirits are capable of (1 Corinthians 6:17). You are one spirit with God and have all these abilities and more. You just need to learn to walk in them.
Types of Spirits
There are three(3) categories of spirits: Spirits of light, human spirits and spirits of darkness.
- Spirits of light or the spirit of righteousness: These spirits are believed to originate from the realms of God, and examples of these include angels, the spirits of saints, and other heavenly beings. According to 1 John 1:5, God is light, and there is no darkness in Him. This implies that everything about and from God is light. However, it’s crucial to note that Satan can appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), so it’s essential to discern between true and fake light. The scripture in 1 John 4:2 NKJV says, “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” Therefore, as we are required to test all spirits, we can ask any spiritual being we encounter if Jesus came in the flesh. If they are of God, they will give us a smile of affirmation or any sign of the sort. If they are not of God, they will give a negative sign and flee. It’s important to reiterate that we need to test all spirits, as not everything dark is of the devil, and not everything light is of God. According to Psalm 18:11, God sometimes hides himself in a dark cloud, and some angels of God on special assignments may wear dark gowns. As 1 John 4:1 NKJV states, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.”
- Spirits of men: According to 1 Thessalonians 5:23, a man is made up of spirit, soul, and body. The spirit of a person is tangible and can talk, and we can encounter and experience it. Your spirit knows you inside out and cannot lie. By the grace of God, you can talk to the spirit of people. Many times, the detailed prophetic words you receive are actually a result of the response from your spirit. It’s worth noting that the spirit of a man looks exactly like the man himself. Based on all these facts, it’s important to state that your spirit can be discerned.
- Spirits of Darkness/evil spirits: These originate from the realms of Satan. These spirits have a dark nature and character, and every action they take is evil and dark. They are said to have the nature of darkness, which comes from their father, the devil. This does not imply their appearance is always dark. “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” 2 Corinthians 11:14
According to some beliefs, for spirits to operate tangibly or directly in this earthly realm, they need a body. In order for God to operate tangibly on Earth, He had to appear in the form of a man called Jesus Christ. Similarly, when evil spirits want to operate directly in the earthly realm, they possess people, physical objects, and even animals. God as well fills men and women with His Holy Spirit to do his work on earth.
How Spirits are Discerned
To be able to discern spirits correctly, one needs spiritual senses. It’s important to note that spirits must be spiritually discerned. However, it’s also possible to observe certain characteristics and line them up with scriptures, which can give a clue to what sort of spirit may be in operation. Here are some spiritual senses that can be useful:
Sight: Another spiritual sense that can be useful in discerning spirits is the ability to see visions with our spiritual eyes. This can happen in different ways:
1. Open visions: This is seeing in the spirit with wide open physical eyes.
2. Inner visions: This is when images appear on the screen of our imagination.
3. Trances: This is seeing visions at the state of being between sleep and awake.
4. Dreams: This is receiving revelations when we are totally asleep.
All of these ways of seeing visions can be useful in discerning spirits. For example, a vision may reveal the presence of an evil spirit or give insight into what God is doing in a particular situation. However, it’s important to note that not all visions are from God, so it’s crucial to test them against the Word of God and seek confirmation from other mature Christians.
Hearing: The ability to hear audibly with our spiritual ears. This could involve hearing with one ear, both ears, or even with none. Sometimes, you may hear an audible voice in your head or heart, or you may hear an inner voice that you know is not your own. This can be useful in discerning spirits, as it allows you to hear from God and receive guidance, direction, and instruction. However, it’s important to note that not all voices are from God, so it’s crucial to test them against the Word of God and seek confirmation.
Smell: The ability to smell things in the spirit. The smell can give us a whole idea to discern. Generally, evil spirits may have a foul scent, while good spirits may smell good. For instance, the presence of some angels gives off a sweet candy fragrance (2 Corinthians 2:15). The nature of Christ carries a sweet aroma, which is why Paul referred to believers as the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. However, it’s important to be mindful of false sweet aromas as well. Therefore, it’s essential to test all spirits and discern the true nature behind any scent or fragrance.
Taste: Tasting in the spirit can be a profound way to discern spirits and circumstances. Generally, good things will always taste sweet, while bad things may taste bitter. This sense can be helpful in discerning whether something is godly or not. Taste may also work with other senses, especially sight. For example, you may see something and then eat it to taste it. In the Bible, Ezekiel saw a scroll, ate it, and tasted it (Ezekiel 3:1-15). By tasting in the spirit, we can discern the true nature of things and receive revelation from God.
Touch: This sense can include emotions, physical sensations, and gut feelings. However, it’s essential to exercise caution when relying on feelings to discern spirits. Emotions can be influenced by various factors, such as personal biases, past experiences, and even physical health. Therefore, it’s essential to test our feelings against the Word of God and seek confirmation from other mature Christians. By doing so, we can ensure that we are not being misled by our emotions and are accurately discerning the spirits.
Knowing: It’s important not to downplay any supernatural conviction or perception you have about something or a situation. Even though it may seem simple, it can tell us so much. These supernatural convictions can come in many forms, such as a strong impression, an inner knowing, or a deep sense of peace or unrest. It’s important to take these convictions seriously and seek confirmation from God and other mature Christians. By doing so, we can be assured that we are accurately discerning the spirits and walking in the truth.
Gain a comprehensive knowledge of spiritual gifts by checking out the book “UNDERSTANDING THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT“ By M.E. Coleman on Amazon.
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