Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Re: Praying with cousin	Maria	Monday, August 24, 2009
Question: Thank you, Brother, for your response. It is much appreciated! I had always thought that an evil presence would cause fear while a good one would not. So since I was not really afraid, I had wondered whether what I saw was the shandow of an "angel of light.' Apparently, that is not the case. Why would God have let me have that experience? I have had many other experience in my past and wish that I had someone to help me discern them. Another one that was particularly troubling was when I was not practicing the Faith. I went to my boyfriend's church (Church of God). Now these people were always trying to force me down the aisle to have my eyes healed. This one night when there was a visiting preacher there, they dragged me down. He layed hands on me and began laughing. I asked those around me why he was laughing. They said he was laughing in the spirit, but that is not what I heard. I heard what I believe to be Satan himself laughing at me. At the time, I could not understand why God would let someone who was trying to find Him again let the devil laugh at me. At that moment, I felt as close to dispair as I had ever been. Later, of course, I came to realize that I could not find God where I was. I then came back to the Church. Do you think that I heard what I think I heard? How could I hear one thing and everyone else hear another? What about that preacher? By the way, my then boyfriend is now my husband. He converted to the Faith in 1995 and was ordained a deacon in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in 2006. Praise God!
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Marie: You are welcome. I hope the answer was helpful to you. While an evil presence may instill fear that is not always the case. One thing is for sure is that a Angel from God is not likely to appear as a shadow (while demons often appear that way). Also, if an Angel appeared to you it is most likely you would have a demonstrably positive experience. There is no way to know why this demon appeared to you. God permits his creatures to act according to their free will. Without knowing a lot more details, this demon may have appeared just to try to scare you and to let you know it exists. God can use this experience to strengthen you faith. God can always make lemonade from lemons. Your experience with the "healing" preacher was one called "laughing in the spirit", among other names. Supposedly, the Holy Spirit overcomes the person to cause them to laugh, bark like dogs, or roll around on the floor. This is all nonsense and, in my view, not of God. What you saw may have been the true nature of the "spirit" behind this "laughing in the spirit." Again, as to why God would allow such things, we need to remember some things: 1) evil can be totally artibrary and thus the demon may have no other motivation than "because". 2) All things are allowed by God, even evil, according to his permissive will. God's "particular will", however, never wills evil, but can be thwarted by the free will decisions of his creatures. The one things we know for sure is that God will not allow anything into our lives that we cannot handle. That is His promise. Whatever God allows, He has a purpose and that purpose is perfect, loving, and for our best interest. These negative experiences can be used to strengthen your faith if you let God. Roman 8:28 states, "All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose." As for you hearing one thing and everyone else hearing something else, the demon revealed himself to you and not to others. He may have been laughing at you because you were foolish enough to stray away from the faith making yourself vulnerable to him. The preacher probably had no idea he was being used by the devil. I praise God that you came back to the Church, and that your husband as converted and gone on into Holy Orders. That is wonderful. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Re: Praying with cousin

Maria

Monday, August 24, 2009

Question:

Thank you, Brother, for your response. It is much appreciated!

I had always thought that an evil presence would cause fear while a good one would not. So since I was not really afraid, I had wondered whether what I saw was the shandow of an "angel of light.' Apparently, that is not the case. Why would God have let me have that experience?

I have had many other experience in my past and wish that I had someone to help me discern them. Another one that was particularly troubling was when I was not practicing the Faith. I went to my boyfriend's church (Church of God). Now these people were always trying to force me down the aisle to have my eyes healed. This one night when there was a visiting preacher there, they dragged me down. He layed hands on me and began laughing. I asked those around me why he was laughing. They said he was laughing in the spirit, but that is not what I heard. I heard what I believe to be Satan himself laughing at me. At the time, I could not understand why God would let someone who was trying to find Him again let the devil laugh at me. At that moment, I felt as close to dispair as I had ever been. Later, of course, I came to realize that I could not find God where I was. I then came back to the Church. Do you think that I heard what I think I heard? How could I hear one thing and everyone else hear another? What about that preacher?

By the way, my then boyfriend is now my husband. He converted to the Faith in 1995 and was ordained a deacon in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in 2006. Praise God!

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Marie:

You are welcome. I hope the answer was helpful to you.

While an evil presence may instill fear that is not always the case. One thing is for sure is that a Angel from God is not likely to appear as a shadow (while demons often appear that way). Also, if an Angel appeared to you it is most likely you would have a demonstrably positive experience.

There is no way to know why this demon appeared to you. God permits his creatures to act according to their free will. Without knowing a lot more details, this demon may have appeared just to try to scare you and to let you know it exists. God can use this experience to strengthen you faith. God can always make lemonade from lemons.

Your experience with the "healing" preacher was one called "laughing in the spirit", among other names. Supposedly, the Holy Spirit overcomes the person to cause them to laugh, bark like dogs, or roll around on the floor. This is all nonsense and, in my view, not of God.

What you saw may have been the true nature of the "spirit" behind this "laughing in the spirit."

Again, as to why God would allow such things, we need to remember some things:

1) evil can be totally artibrary and thus the demon may have no other motivation than "because".

2) All things are allowed by God, even evil, according to his permissive will. God's "particular will", however, never wills evil, but can be thwarted by the free will decisions of his creatures. The one things we know for sure is that God will not allow anything into our lives that we cannot handle. That is His promise. Whatever God allows, He has a purpose and that purpose is perfect, loving, and for our best interest. These negative experiences can be used to strengthen your faith if you let God. Roman 8:28 states, "All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose."

As for you hearing one thing and everyone else hearing something else, the demon revealed himself to you and not to others. He may have been laughing at you because you were foolish enough to stray away from the faith making yourself vulnerable to him. The preacher probably had no idea he was being used by the devil.

I praise God that you came back to the Church, and that your husband as converted and gone on into Holy Orders. That is wonderful.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.