Okay, I have been thinking and praying a lot over the last couple of days about this whole orb thing. My hearts desire is to know truth. There are many, many views and opinions out there concerning 'orbs' and I just don't want to be deceived. Does anyone have any kind of facts (scripturally or other) that reveals that these orbs really are from the Holy Spirit? I just am concerned about us getting so focused on these things that that becomes our focus instead of just Jesus. I don't want to be Debbie-downer here but I think it's a good challenge for our faith to discuss and research things that are put before us instead of just writing everything off that we hear or see as the Holy Spirit.

Any opinions on this matter would be greatly appreciated and it's my hope that through this discussion we can sharpen each other. I just invite God to steer this whole thing and for truth to be revealed.

The orbs are not usually seen in the natural except during picture and video taking. Although there are people who can see them. Orbs to me are angels that hear us praise Him or worship loud enough that God hears us.. Not saying that individually we can't do the same but if groups pressing in they tend to gravitate towards groups... Sorta the old party saying.. "The more the merrier.." So not to run off base here... Orbs can be almost anything... But orbs usually group around people who worship God and praise Him.. So to answer your question.. Does the Holy Spirit send us these orbs? I don't know, but maybe He does, maybe He doesn't... But I have never seen one (orb) do bad things...

Closing thought... I've seen orbs rest on people and seen orbs near worshippers, but never seen one destroy or harm anybody... That's why I see them as angels... Angels have no true form down here on Earth... They are energy... So they look like orbs when pictured... Hope this helps... If not talk to me again...

Discussions like this are exactly why I started this pro-board. I share the same concern Stephanie--that we could lose our focus on Christ and our grounding in the Word. As you know, I've been at both extremes of opinion regarding the supernatural and charismatic phenomenon and will speak into this issue out of my own experience and my understanding of the Word.

Two Scriptures are relevant to this discussion:

Colossians 1:15-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17Andhe is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Hebrews 1
Long ago, at many times and(A) in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but( in these last days© he has spoken to us by(D) his Son, whom he appointed(E) the heir of all things,(F) through whom also he created(G) the world. 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and(H) the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.(I) After making purification for sins,(J) he sat down(K) at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name(L) he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

5For to which of the angels did God ever say,

(M) "You are my Son,
today I have begotten you"?



Or again,

(N) "I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son"?

6And again, when he brings(O) the firstborn into the world, he says,

(P) "Let all God’s angels worship him."

7Of the angels he says,

(Q) "He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire."

8But of the Son he says,

® "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;therefore God, your God,(S) has anointed you
with(T) the oil of gladness beyond your companions."

10And,

(U) "You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.[a]
But you are(V) the same,
and your years will have no end."

13And to which of the angels has he ever said,

(W) "Sit at my right hand
(X) until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"?

14Are they not all ministering spirits(Y) sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to(Z) inherit salvation?

Never mind the letters in parentheses--they are footnotes--I copied from biblegateway.com

The point of these two Scriptures is that Christ is superior to the angels. He is the ultimate Supernatural Being. All other supernatural beings are subject to Him to do His will and minister to us His people (Hebrews 1:14)

So the more of the supernatural we experience, the closer to Christ we should become. The more in love with Christ we are, the more of the supernatural we will probably experience, as God wills. There is indeed a true danger--that we could become so fascinated with lesser supernatural manifestations like orbs that we cease to be fascinated with Jesus. We must remember that orbs and other supernatural manifestations are simply expressions of the love of Jesus for His children and of His nearness. If we see them any other way we are in danger of getting off track.

By the way, angels are not energy. They are real beings with minds, wills, and emotions. They just don't have bodies--except where they take on bodies, as in the Old Testament. Otherwise why did the author of Hebrews say in Hebrews 13:1 that through hospitality some have entertained angels unawares?

So I would encourage us to keep our eyes focused on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and if we see angels, cool. If we don't, it's okay. If we see gold dust or oil or whatever else, cool. If not, that's okay. We should desire the supernatural not so we can be sensational but so we can build up others. 1 Corinthians 12:7 tells us that "the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." So let's seek after encounter with God, with no agenda or expectations for what that might look like. If it's spectacular, that's cool. But more often than not on this earth, encounter with Him will simply be a still small voice and the quietness of His love. Or maybe we won't feel anything at all. Every day is different, every encounter is different, and God is always interested in our hearts and our motives. He wants us to pursue Him out of love for Him, not out of some fixation for pleasure. I too want to walk in a great degree of the supernatural, but only for the right reasons at the right times.

Okay, I'm done rambling now. I hope this helps.

Mike, thanks for responding. I have a few questions to your response:

1) Have you actually seen video footage of the orbs?

2) You say that 'there are people who see them'. I assume you are speaking about seeing them without it being in a picture? If so, have you actually spoken with someone who has seen them in real life (outside the scope of photography)?

3) When you say 'I've seen orbs rest on people and seen orbs near worshippers', are you referring to seeing them in pictures?

See my issue with the fact that these things seem to only show up in pictures is this: Why would God show us something like that in a picture and not in real life? In the articles I have read, there is research and some facts about how light and dust particles can come up in the picture and look like these 'mysterious' orbs. There is also research on the fact that more of these orbs show up when a cheaper digital camera is used. Why is that, if that is not evidence of the orbs having more to do with light and dust particle reflections?

Of course, I am in no way trying to shoot down the idea that these could indeed just be one of many 'signs and wonders' but I think that taking these types of things as fact without looking into it on our own can be a bit forthcoming....especially considering the times we are living in right now.

"Test everything. Hold on to the good." 1 Thes. 5:21

Chris, thanks also for your reply. I appreciate the scriptures. It's very grounding and reminded me of some important things. I really couldn't agree more with the core of your response. In light of that, what do you feel personally about the orbs? Do you see them as supernatural?

to answer your questions Steph...
1) I have heard of people catching orbs or lights (I know what your talking about when you talk about light and dust particles moving about in the area of picture or video taking) in videos.. Me personally haven't seen these videos myself but have heard of them long time ago... Maybe I'll look this w/e and see what I can find...
I've seen alot in the supernatural... I use to do some of the crap that witches have done... I know the supernatural exists... The levitation, the spirits, the bs that people call the unknown... Seen it, done it...

2) On occasions I have been able to see these orbs... I don't talk about that part of my life that much anymore b/c I sometimes feel outcasted to a certain extent... Seriously, who really wants to hear about be visited by spirits on a regular basis... They're real... Some people call it 'channeling'... Not very Christian minded...

3) Not in pictures, as in my previous answer, I do sometimes see them on people...

I know that there are articles out there that disclaim people or pictures who see 'orbs' ... But think about this... Some people get jealous about people who can.. Current example... Lennie's pics (love ya Lennie, please don't read too much into this)... the four she sent, I believe that only one has an orb in it (Bridgeway soiree- dancers... left corner above the blinds in the middle... lighter coloured then the rest, almost a gold colour) the others are probably light reflecting off her lens or she needs her lens cleaned... Cheaper digital cameras are just that cheaper... Doesn't mean that the pictures come out horrible, it means that it doesn't filter out the junk around the subject... polariods pick up stuff like that also, even 35 mm used to pick orbs and things... I say things b/c the people who took them don't always know what they got... A movie that shows alot of this is 'Sixth Sense' with Bruce Willis... at the end when the mom looks at pictures on the wall and notices the bright speck of light in all of them... that is most likely a orb... She called it mom but that is sometimes what I see...

Ok, enough rambling... Maybe this is an area that we should pray into for you... To see the supernatural, either in pictures or in real-time (meaning whenever you need to) ... No pressure...

Hope this clears some of this matter up for you... need more answers.. just write, call, or mail... ttyls...

Stephanie, you ask some good questions. I appreciate and resonate with your heart for the truth. It is dangerous to be deceived, because deception does great damage to the Body of Christ. I am concerned that we stay focused on the essential--on what is truly important. I feel a bit bothered by all this emphasis on supernatural manifestations--maybe it's just me. But I'm not sure how I feel about the gold dust and oil and stuff like that. It seems sensational to me. It's probably God, and I can't put Him in a box, and I would love something like that to happen to me if it was really God! What bothers me is the way people make a big deal about it and get all excited about the manifestations, and then I realize that I ooh and aahh along with everyone else. As far as orbs--I think we should call them angels and be thankful that they're among us to do God's will. But let's not mistake a speck of dust from a cheap digital camera for an angel. I think God wants to show us these things in real life if we're open to it--and I don't know why they come up mainly on pictures. It's kind of strange to me too.

That being said, even being fixated on miracles or prophecy can be dangerous if we lose our focus on intimacy with Christ. Jesus Himself said this in Matthew 7:21-23:

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23(And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you;depart from me,you workers of lawlessness.'

That's why I appreciate the emphasis on intimacy that is coming from the pulpit. I've been around a lot of what could be called "charismania" in my life--and I even overreacted to it for a time. I just want to experience intimacy with Christ, and I want to experience the genuine supernatural, but we have to keep first things first. We must stay grounded in the Word and centered on Christ. After all, it says in John 16 that the Holy Spirit's ministry is to always point to Christ. If it doesn't lift up Christ, it's not the Holy Spirit and it's not the God-side of the supernatural.

So, when I see orbs, I want to love Jesus more. If I don't love Jesus more, it's just an emotional rush.

I'd just hanging around the 'Net and decided to do a search on Orbs.. I found a site that does explain a lot of what Orbs are... It's at least 3 pages long and has pictures of orbs through out the explanation... Pages one and half of 2 talk about how some of the pictures could be taken... The only down side of this article is that it did include the 'New Ager' ideal of what the orbs could be... That is my opinion and should be taken as that...

Here's the link:
http://www.maxgreinerart.com/AngelOrbs.html

You might have to type it in if it doesnt right click...