Polls reveal that somewhere around one-half of all the world's people lay claim to some sort of interaction with a force they recognize as divine. Thought many of the modern skeptics of such things might believe such claims to be unscientific or illogical, actual scientists know that they understand but a small fraction of our reality and that denying such things without evidence would be the true crime against rational thought. Here are some basic ways to determine whether you've had spiritual experiences with God.
That begins by understanding that the Creator is not the only spirit that contacts man. The West's three primary faiths all agree that there is some level of evil supernatural activity working against man's interests. As a result, it is quite possible that you may have encountered a dark spirit that intended to bring harm to your life and your spiritual walk.
That's why it is important to consider the nature of any encounter of this type. Many times, spirits such as this leave the human participants distraught, filled with hurtful thoughts, and feeling unloved and cast adrift. Those are good signs that the encounters were not from the Creator, since His goals are always those things that improve people and fill us with greater love for our fellow man.
When people are not walking in faith, however, spirit visits have different outcomes. Dark forces work to convince non-believers that their sinful nature is justified, and that they need no forgiveness or changes in their behavior. When God is presents, His Spirit works to convict the conscience so that the non-believer recognizes his own need for forgiveness and a real relationship with his Creator.
Ignatius once described perhaps the most important step to discerning spirits when he wrote about knowing and recognizing your own current state of spirituality. If you're a believer striving to please your Creator, no encounter of this kind will ever leave you feeling any separation from Him. Instead, His presence is always a consoling and reaffirming one that provides comfort and security in your life.
It is critically important to compare the nature of such encounters to what the Scriptures say. Often times, people claim to have experienced the Divine presence, and then begin to relate prophetic utterances or commands that run counter to God's own Word. Scripture should inform believers about such encounters, since no real divinely inspired interaction would ever run contrary to the Creator's revealed Word.
Despite the vast number of such reported incidents, the skeptics still mock those who make such claims. Still, their arguments about how religious people are delusional or following ancient cults have little weight when one considers that they offer no rational explanations to explain away such an experience. In most instances, they simply fail to acknowledge that there is much that science cannot know.
Remember also that even the most experienced believers find this discernment challenging at times. However, if you remain aware of your own level of faith, examine the actual encounter, and search the Scriptures for guidance, you can invariably determine if you have truly been blessed by contact from God.
That begins by understanding that the Creator is not the only spirit that contacts man. The West's three primary faiths all agree that there is some level of evil supernatural activity working against man's interests. As a result, it is quite possible that you may have encountered a dark spirit that intended to bring harm to your life and your spiritual walk.
That's why it is important to consider the nature of any encounter of this type. Many times, spirits such as this leave the human participants distraught, filled with hurtful thoughts, and feeling unloved and cast adrift. Those are good signs that the encounters were not from the Creator, since His goals are always those things that improve people and fill us with greater love for our fellow man.
When people are not walking in faith, however, spirit visits have different outcomes. Dark forces work to convince non-believers that their sinful nature is justified, and that they need no forgiveness or changes in their behavior. When God is presents, His Spirit works to convict the conscience so that the non-believer recognizes his own need for forgiveness and a real relationship with his Creator.
Ignatius once described perhaps the most important step to discerning spirits when he wrote about knowing and recognizing your own current state of spirituality. If you're a believer striving to please your Creator, no encounter of this kind will ever leave you feeling any separation from Him. Instead, His presence is always a consoling and reaffirming one that provides comfort and security in your life.
It is critically important to compare the nature of such encounters to what the Scriptures say. Often times, people claim to have experienced the Divine presence, and then begin to relate prophetic utterances or commands that run counter to God's own Word. Scripture should inform believers about such encounters, since no real divinely inspired interaction would ever run contrary to the Creator's revealed Word.
Despite the vast number of such reported incidents, the skeptics still mock those who make such claims. Still, their arguments about how religious people are delusional or following ancient cults have little weight when one considers that they offer no rational explanations to explain away such an experience. In most instances, they simply fail to acknowledge that there is much that science cannot know.
Remember also that even the most experienced believers find this discernment challenging at times. However, if you remain aware of your own level of faith, examine the actual encounter, and search the Scriptures for guidance, you can invariably determine if you have truly been blessed by contact from God.
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