Sometime in February, 2009
With me, usually if I have a dream at night, perhaps I will recall it when I first wake up. However, I usually forget the dream as the day goes on and am no longer able to recall any detail because I simply don’t remember it.
In my entire life, I’ve never experienced before, what I’m about to tell you. This was not a dream. And it was not a day-dream. And I don’t see it as a vision, because there were other people interacting with me. So I can only categorize it for the moment as a miracle.
During church, during the time of worship, in celebration and song, in praise; people were waving their hands; some singing, some praying, some speaking in tongues. DeLana was leading the song.
I felt a sweeping presence going row by row through the congregation; several rows in front of me I could sense this. There was no aroma.
Again, DeLana was calling out, “the Spirit in the house is powerful today,” or something to that effect.
I sensed this sweeping presence coming down my row; from left to right. I did not sense any danger. I was not alarmed. I wasn’t anticipating anything. My wife, Tonya, was standing to my left and she was very focused on the worship and celebration going on.
I sensed this spirit presence pass through her and widen; then it came through me. There was no sense of touch; just a feeling; a sensation; a slight feeling of euphoria, but not really. I just don’t know how else to describe it.
The sensation remained in me but for a moment, a slight pause, and after that, it continued on.
That’s it. The sensation was over.
I didn’t dwell on this experience. I didn’t think a lot about it anymore; except for noticing a faint aroma that remained just for a moment. I just continued to enjoy the church service. This incident didn’t prompt me to take any action or to converse with others about it..
That evening however, I did bring it up to my wife.
And this is where it takes on new meaning, or validation. For when I described the incident to her, she laughed and told me she had felt the same thing!
Should I be surprised?
She asked me if the feeling came through her to me or not. I answered yes, because the spirit presence was moving left to right in our row. And Tonya was to my left!
Now the discussion we were having that night when this subject came up was the gift of discerning spirits. I told Tonya that I felt I’ve always had this gift for many years and for various reason. Various incidences have caused me to feel that way.
Tonya and I were at 1st Corinthians 12:10. This doesn’t really describe the nature of the gift. The gift of “teaching” or “healing” or “prophecy” seem to be a bit more self explanatory. But the gift of “discerning spirits” seems to require a bit more explanation, and so, I searched around a bit. I found the following verses which gave me the answer I was looking for:
1st John 4:1
Isaiah 8:20
Revelation 19:10
All of this seems to relate to recognizing truth or error through the words and actions of others. And in addition, the ability to determine if a spirit influence is from God or not…
Well, anyhow, now it gets deep. For when my wife said, “I felt it too! Did it come to you from me?” I replied, “yes, from left to right.”
Now this alone, I think is a miracle. Tonya felt it too? And she inquired if it came to me through her?
The following was completely unexpected and spontaneous. My reply? I told Tonya, “I can describe what the spirit looked like. I sensed it with my mind, my shoulders, and my heart.”
I stood up while describing the spirit to Tonya and used my hands to illustrate what this spirit looked like. It was long; maybe twelve feet long; slender and round; somewhat like a funnel, or cone, turned on it’s side. It was blunt in the front, and round. I couldn’t perceive a face. The body tapered and was narrow at the tail. There was one area on the body (about one-third back from the front) that was wide and protruded; kind-of-like folded arms. It’s color was transparent white-gray; kind-of-like smoke.
This spirit had density, and yet, there was no weight. I felt the subtle impact of the spirit as it entered into me and then as it trailed through me. There was just a momentary pause, and then it was gone. It did not say anything in me and it did not do anything to me and it did not change me in any way.
After describing this to Tonya, I realized what I was saying. It wasn’t planned. I didn’t think it through… I just thought it as I said it.
What fascinates me about this? Not that I could describe it, or what it actually looked like, but the fact that I perceived it at all!
I don’t know what all of this means. I don’t know why it happened or what purpose it served. It seems like this spirit was only touching the members and participating in the worship and praise to our God. I don’t really know. Sometimes I do; this time, I don’t.
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