We were talking about angels. The lesson in our Sunday school class was on Luke 2 when the angels announce the birth of Jesus on the hillside. The shepherds were minding their own business on the hillside, sitting out with the sheep.
Unlike David who watched his sheep on that same hillside alone, there were several. I wonder what there thoughts were on before they were suddenly interrupted. Were they wondering, like David, when their opportunity to escape this low level job would arrive. Were they thinking, “there has to be more to life than this?” Were they looking up?
I think they must have been, because suddenly . . .
. . . the unimaginable happened. An angel appeared to them. And they were shocked, startled, “sore afraid.”
This was an experience completely outside of their wheelhouse. They weren’t religious big wigs. They were shepherds, they spent their time out with animals, unclean and unable to enter the Temple unless they went through a purification process first.
They were just some guys sitting out by some sheep.
But they must have been looking up because they saw the angel before he spoke. The first thing the angel had to do was to reassure them saying, “Fear not.”
This was the passage my co-teacher was sharing with our third grade class. As I was listening, I thought “Maybe I should tell them about the angel I heard singing in church,” and as the thought crossed my mind, I smelled a very strong floral perfume and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.
I’ve mentioned in other articles that this is one way the gift of discerning of spirits works for me, there will be a scent identified with a spirit. It can fulfill different purposes, but in this case, it was a confirmation, a “Yes, tell them.” This is the story.
Hearing Angels Sing
It was Father’s Day 2014. My church normally has a choir at their 9:30 service that sings throughout the year, but at times they will have different groups of people sing that maybe don’t want to make a year long commitment. On this day, they invited all men in the church to be part of an all men’s choir for Father’s Day so there were a number of people who didn’t normally sing.
I watched the morning choir practice. I’ll be honest, it was a little rough . . . still good . . . but rough. They started the run through of the Doxology acappella and I happened to be recording . . . And I heard an angel sing.
I looked, but I didn’t see anything. I could hear a high, clear voice that came in. If I didn’t know that there were no instruments playing, I would have thought it was a horn. These are the words they sang.
Praise God from whom all blessing flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
“Praise him above, ye heavenly host.” On that day, an angel accepted the invitation and stepped in to join in the song. I told this story in my Bible study one day when we were talking about angel encounters. One man jokingly said, “Yes, you thought we were good, we just always have angels singing with us.”
After he said that I thought, “Maybe he is right.” I was looking up and around trying to see what I imagine an angel would look like, but maybe the angel was one of the guys standing in the choir. The Bible says that “many of you have entertained angels unaware.” (Hebrews 13:2) After all, it was essentially an “all call.” One didn’t have to be a member of the choir or attend practice before that morning, it was just a step up and come as you are. Maybe this angel had listened to the choir sing week after week and took this opportunity to be a part of it.
Singing Glory to God
They sang the Doxology twice during the practice. The first time, the angel began singing in the middle of the song. The second time it sang the entire way through. Below are recordings of both.
Quite a few people come to this site to find answers on how to develop the gift of discerning of spirits or how to know if they have the gift of discerning of spirits. Personally, I think that if one is asking this question it is either a gift that you already have that needs to be exercised and developed or it is one that God wants to give you. Paul tells us to desire the greater gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31) and that we are to develop them through training. (2 Timothy 1:6)
So how do you start developing your gift of discerning of spirits? Let’s use these videos as a learning exercise. Sometimes as I’m watching a video, I can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit through the video, there is a transference of sorts. (You can also discern other not good spirits through videos or songs, but let’s focus on the good first.)
I don’t know if you will be able to sense something in these videos, but in case you will, first pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into wisdom and understanding and to increase your awareness of His presence and acts. Next, take stock of your current environment. What are you hearing, sensing, feeling, smelling, and thinking right now. This is your baseline. After you have taken your assessment, watch these videos.
This is the first. Keep in mind what I’ve told you about the situation. It is a group of people with a mixed level of musical talent and there are no instruments playing. Listen carefully at the beginning of the song and listen to the quality and the tones.
Did you hear it? Did you hear the voice of the angel come in?
This is the second run through.
The angel sang all the way through, and it seems to me like the voices of the men were stronger as well. There is more power in this song.
Angels Are Around Us
There has been such a presence of God in these weeks leading up to Christmas, it seems like so much “more” this year. My challenge to you is to be aware, look up, and watch for what God is doing around you. Be a part of these God happenings and be ready to partner with his ministering angels.
The Holy Spirit is moving.
I’ve heard angels singing. it was August or September 1977, I was with a group of Subud worshipers. I wasn’t a part of the group, I was a guest. Before they went into their separate spaces to worship ( men in one room, women in another room) we were greeting each other. While I was talk to two friends, I felt a pressure pushing down on me to the point that I couldn’t remain standing, before I knew it, I was standing all alone in a space with soft gray light. I could see the two friends I was talking to a moment ago, and I was still talking to them, but I was outside my body and I wondered what I was saying to them with my conscience standing a few feet away. Just as I thought that, I was back in my body, I realized I wasn’t verbalizing words, just grunting and nodding my head in agreement.
They were ready to go into their spaces to worship and I had to stay outside. Subud, is non-denominal but they follow customs of Islamic practice. So people seeking membership are invited but do not participate until the third meeting. So I sat outside the closed door rooms. And listened, the women started, their worship was from whatever religion they chose, Buddhism, Islamic, Christian….then the men started worshipping in the same way. Some of them spoke some sang. They worshipped from their hearts. It was amazing, it felt like a was witnessing a cosmic harmonics. THEN, the voices faded out and I heard singing coming from far away. It sounded like a very large group of singers. Tenors and sopranos voices and the their music felt like waves. It had a very melodic quality, somewhere between a song and a chant. They voices came from above me, it lasted for 20 minutes or so and then it moved on, they never stopped singing but as they moved off their voices became fainter.
I read that I’m not the only person to have witnessed angels singing. Others have too, and their description matches mine. The article said the singing happens mostly along the Meridian, I was in Hawaii which is closer to the International dateline. It usually last 20 minutes, some people have had it happen to them more than once. I only experienced it once. The book also said the angels were singing in Aramaic, I wouldn’t know. They were singing in a language that I’ve never heard, so that would fit.
I have since had a few other experiences with angels but I never heard them sing after that one time. I feel very blessed to have had that experience.
That’s a very interesting story. Thanks for sharing!
I am so finally glad to have read a story that perfectly fit my life! I’m one who can discern both but never knew the Angels until my baby brother passed away. I had a rough time through out my 20s college parties were always something I could tell if Bad was near. Dangerous or something seriously got me to run from certain homes I wasn’t fimilar with or jus had some bad drugs going on. I was terrified that eventually I was diagnosed with PTSD anxiety and depression. I didn’t find Jesus until late 20s although he had always had me, wow is all I can even say and finding it more easily to speak if now then a few years ago I believe 2015 . My baby brother was on life support it was extremely rough patch , I had jus lost my fiancé, my son was kidnapped he was 3 and I was losing my mind literally. I don’t know how I managed all this pain all at once. One night after I had jus lost my brother I jus started to hear the most beautiful music I’ve ever herd in my life
I couldn’t believe how loud and clear it was. I started to cry! I didn’t understand how I was being able to hear such peace I have never felt. Long story short which I need to start to exercise this! I need someone to help train me and develop exactly what God wants me to do with this! I remember researching for help but always lead me to a witchy type of doing! I eventually stopped googling the stuff and jus allowed myself to heal! I knew and had been visited by this man who runs the Christian Holy Land foundation in Israel 🇮🇱. How crazy I was visited often by pastors and always shared my story becux it’s actually a EVERYDAY BLESSING to me, I wanted to know what I was supposed to do. This was two years ago.. I was told to do nothing at all as I was experiencing one of the toughest times of my life here on earth! Would love to share more details on this if I can Find the right counsel here on earth to give me more direction or exercises to strengthen this powerful gift. I am working on Giving others the knowledge of how to battle there demons inside and ugly spirits who are constantly trying to plot evil and hurt others. I have a book of living testimonies to share if ever wanted to be know, nothing published but I believe I can help others becux the Holy Spirit truly speaks through me! I have jus started to research this again and I couldn’t have found a better place to share my testimony. I’m ready to help get the truth out and destroy evil! Evil has no power over the flesh and blood and the latest to my learning experience of sacrifices I have used the only weapon formed against evil to destroy it and it’s PRAYER! So with that being said, I need help strengthening this and more Angels covered over our children to keep them safe from harms way and to bless them. My 8 year old son has been attacked hypnosis and abused mentally and physically emotionally throughout this time I have only kept my self together with the Peace not of this world (the Angels whom sing over me) who’s helped me overcome the impossible evil plots that had been plotted. I’m wanting to reach the stars ✨ to be told of Truth! Jesus let justice be told prepare the table in the presence of our enemies!
Jesus has already won this battle prepare yourself for his coming! I do believe I will be a witness to his coming back for us!
Natalie,
Thank you for sharing your story!
Yes, the Holy Spirit is always teaching is and leading us into a closer relationship with him.
Carla
Hi Natalie,
You have a very interesting story. I believe I have been blessed with the gift of discernment also but have not found the right counsel to help me grow or make more sense of it. You said in your post you have a book of ” living testimonies”. I’m very interested if you could share those with me. You can get in touch with me at. [email protected]. I am a Christ follower and pray that I will hear from you.