Seeing spirits is a topic that sparks curiosity and concern. The Bible acknowledges the spiritual realm and offers wisdom for understanding it. Today, we’ll explore what Scripture says about spirits and how to respond.
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What Does The Bible Say About Seeing Spirits
1 John 4:1
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of discernment when encountering spirits. It advises believers to test and evaluate the spirits they encounter, as not all spirits are from God. It also warns against false prophets who may be operating under deceptive spirits.
As Christians, it is crucial to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and compare any spiritual encounters with the teachings of Scripture. Through discernment and testing, we can differentiate between spirits that align with God’s truth and those that seek to lead us astray.
1 Corinthians 12:10
“to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”
This verse highlights the spiritual gift of distinguishing between spirits, also known as the gift of discernment. It is a unique ability bestowed upon certain believers to recognize the true nature and origin of spiritual manifestations or encounters.
Those who possess this gift are able to discern between the Holy Spirit, demonic spirits, and human spirits. With this gift, they can navigate through the spiritual realm with wisdom and caution, ensuring that their actions and beliefs align with God’s truth.
Proverbs 16:2
“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”
This verse reminds us that our own perception of our actions and intentions may not always align with God’s perspective. It serves as a caution against self-deception and the false belief that all our actions are pure and righteous. God, who sees the heart, weighs our motives and intentions.
Therefore, when encountering spirits or spiritual experiences, it is essential to humbly seek God’s guidance and submit ourselves to His judgment, recognizing that only He can truly discern the purity and righteousness of our motives.
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
This verse highlights the power of God’s Word in discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. God’s Word acts as a discerning tool, cutting through our external appearance and revealing the true condition of our souls and spirits.
When faced with spiritual encounters or the presence of spirits, we should rely on the authority and guidance of Scripture. The Word of God enables us to discern the true nature of spirits and align our thoughts and attitudes with God’s truth.
1 Thessalonians 5:21
“but test them all; hold on to what is good,”
This verse encourages believers to test and evaluate all things, including spiritual encounters and teachings. It emphasizes the importance of discernment and wisdom in discerning what is good and beneficial.
When encountering spirits, it is vital to test them against the truth of God’s Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. By doing so, we can hold on to what is good, rejecting anything that may be deceptive or contrary to God’s truth.
Ephesians 6:12
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
This verse reminds us that our battles are not merely physical but also spiritual. It highlights the existence of spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, indicating that unseen spirits play a significant role in the conflicts we face.
When encountering spirits or spiritual experiences, we should be aware of the spiritual warfare taking place. It is crucial to arm ourselves with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17) and rely on His strength to discern and combat any negative or deceptive spiritual influences.
Matthew 24:24
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
This verse warns us of the deceptive nature of false messiahs and prophets who can perform great signs and wonders. It indicates that these false spiritual figures have the ability to deceive, even those who are strong in their faith.
Therefore, when encountering spirits or spiritual experiences, we must exercise caution and discernment. We should not be swayed by supernatural signs alone but always test the spirits against God’s Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to avoid falling into deception.
James 4:7
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
This verse reminds believers of the importance of submitting to God and resisting the devil. When facing spiritual encounters or dealing with spirits, our primary focus should be on our relationship with God and His authority in our lives.
By submitting ourselves to God, we invite His presence and power into our lives, enabling us to resist the enemy’s influence. With God’s strength, we can overcome any spiritual challenges and drive away any negative or harmful spirits.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.”
This verse serves as a strong warning against engaging in occult practices and seeking communication with spirits or the dead. God explicitly condemns these detestable practices, which were prevalent among the nations surrounding the Israelites.
As Christians, we are called to distance ourselves from any form of divination, witchcraft, or involvement with mediums or spiritists. Instead, our focus should be on seeking a genuine relationship with God and relying on His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for discernment.
Joel 2:28
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”
This verse speaks of the outpouring of God’s Spirit and the manifestation of spiritual encounters through dreams and visions. It emphasizes that, in the last days, God will communicate His will and messages through various means.
When experiencing dreams, visions, or other spiritual encounters, it is essential to seek God’s guidance and compare these experiences with the teachings of Scripture. By doing so, we can discern whether these encounters align with God’s truth and intended purposes.
Acts 16:16-18
“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.’ She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!’ At that moment the spirit left her.”
This account from the book of Acts demonstrates the encounter between the apostle Paul and a slave girl possessed by a spirit that enabled her to predict the future. Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, discerned the true nature of the spirit and commanded it to leave the girl.
From this story, we learn the importance of discernment and the authority of Jesus’ name in confronting and driving out spirits. It is crucial to rely on the power of Jesus and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit when dealing with spirits or spiritual encounters.
Numbers 12:6
“he said, ‘Listen to my words: ‘When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.”‘
In this verse, God declares that He reveals Himself to prophets through visions and speaks to them in dreams. He uses these means to communicate His messages and instructions.
When it comes to spiritual encounters or dreams, it is crucial to discern whether they align with God’s Word and His character. This verse reminds us that God can use visions and dreams to communicate with His people, but we must always test and interpret them in light of His truth and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:17
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
This verse, quoting the prophet Joel, speaks of the outpouring of God’s Spirit in the last days. It highlights how different individuals, regardless of age or gender, will experience prophetic gifts such as visions and dreams.
When encountering spiritual manifestations like dreams or visions, it is crucial to seek God’s guidance and weigh the authenticity and truth of these experiences. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days indicates an increase in spiritual encounters, making discernment and reliance on God’s Word even more critical.
Mark 3:11
“Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God.’
This verse reveals the reaction of impure spirits when they encountered Jesus. Instead of concealing their true nature, they acknowledged Jesus’ divinity and authority as the Son of God.
When confronted with spirits or spiritual encounters, we should remember the power and authority of Jesus. Like the impure spirits, we must acknowledge His divinity and rely on His strength to discern, confront, and overcome any negative or deceptive spiritual influences.
Genesis 40:8
“We both had dreams,’ they answered, ‘but there is no one to interpret them.’ Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.'”
This verse showcases Joseph’s recognition that interpretations of dreams come from God. When two prisoners sought interpretation for their dreams, Joseph acknowledged that the ability to interpret dreams belongs to God alone.
When faced with dreams or other spiritual encounters, it is vital to seek God’s wisdom and understanding. Just as God gave Joseph the interpretation of dreams, we should humbly petition God for discernment and guidance in interpreting any spiritual experiences we encounter.
Isaiah 19:3
“The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.”
This verse warns against consulting idols, spirits of the dead, mediums, and spiritists. It speaks of the futile plans and reliance on false spiritual practices that the Egyptians engaged in.
As believers, we should avoid seeking guidance or encounters with spirits that are not aligned with God’s truth. Instead, we should trust in God alone and rely on His Word and the Holy Spirit for discernment and direction.
2 Corinthians 11:14
“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
This verse reveals that Satan has the ability to deceive by disguising himself as an angel of light. It warns us that not all spiritual encounters or beings that appear benevolent are genuinely aligned with God’s truth.
When encountering spirits, it is crucial to test their nature and intentions against God’s Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If something seems too good or too perfect, we must exercise caution and discernment, relying on God’s wisdom to reveal any deceptive disguises.
Leviticus 19:31
“Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.”
This verse serves as a clear instruction against seeking out mediums or spiritists. God commands His people to refrain from engaging in practices that involve communication with spirits, emphasizing that such actions defile them.
As Christians, we should heed this command and refrain from seeking communication with spirits or engaging in occult practices. Instead, we should focus on cultivating a relationship with God and relying on His Word and the Holy Spirit for discernment and guidance.
Acts 19:19
“A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.”
This verse depicts the response of those who had formerly practiced sorcery in Ephesus. They repented and renounced their involvement with sorcery by burning their scrolls publicly as a visible act of turning away from their sinful practices.
When we encounter spirits or spiritual experiences that are not aligned with God’s truth, it is crucial to repent and renounce any involvement with occult practices. We must actively distance ourselves from anything that may compromise our faith or lead us astray from God’s path.
Jeremiah 29:8
“Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.”
This verse warns against being deceived by false prophets and diviners, emphasizing that these individuals can lead people astray. It cautions against placing undue importance on dreams or visions encouraged by false spiritual figures.
When it comes to spiritual encounters or dreams, we need to be discerning and cautious. We should align ourselves with God’s Word and rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to avoid falling into deception or being led astray by false spiritual influences.
Acts 8:9-11
“Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, ‘This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.'”
This passage introduces Simon, a sorcerer who had astounded the people of Samaria with his magical abilities. The people regarded him as someone great and attributed his powers to the Great Power of God.
It serves as a cautionary example of how individuals can be deceived by false spiritual figures who display impressive supernatural abilities. As believers, we must exercise discernment and not be swayed by extraordinary signs alone. We should always test the spirits against God’s Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.