SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT - NYOBS 73.27

SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT

Falling under the Power – Resting in the Power – Is it Genuine, Ritualistic or Fake?

First Word

·         Slain in the Spirit Definition – A temporary physical response of an earthen vessel to a Spiritual Encounter of the Holy Spirit; the presence of God.

·         Biblical examples are few and far between and only in the lives of specific people, but was repeated many times accompanied by “Spiritual Fruit” in the way they lived their lives.

·         This phenomena is divided up into three categories; Genuine, Ritualistic and Fake.

Voices Against

·         Scripture is silent on this issue, thus is inappropriate and a condemnation.

·         Extra-Biblical – This is adding to the Bible; you are just reading this into scripture.

·         Anti-Biblical - It is not in the Bible – Worshipers allow themselves to fall on the floor because it is a tradition or is ritualistic in their church. – It’s called a “Courtesy Fall” which is not the work of the Holy Spirit.

·         The Holy Spirit is not transferred by touch. – Nobody in the Book had hands laid on them and was pushed down. – It is un-verifiable and ostentatious and could be nothing more than the overwhelming power of emotions.

·         Nowhere in the Book do the Prophets, Disciples or even Jesus ever lay hands on someone and knock them over to receive the manifestation Holy Spirit. – The only time people fell is when they were experiencing some kind of judgment from God.

·         It is emotional, lacking purpose – The over eagerness of some people get themselves emotionally “worked up” into a frenzy and fall out in the spirit especially when someone touches them who is thought to be special and anointed.

·         It can be counterfeited - There are people who fake these experiences so that they will seem more spiritual. - Some fake the fall so others won’t think that they are less spiritual.

·         They fell forward, not backward. – They didn’t require “catchers” to keep them from hurting themselves. – If the Sovereign Holy Spirit overwhelmed them, then He can certainly protect them from harm when falling.

·         It brings glory to man, not to God - Some fall out who are emotional and are just starved for attention. - This could very well be demonic spirits masquerading as the Holy Spirit.

Daniel 8:17-18 – Daniel fell with His face to the ground
¹⁷ So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face.
¹⁸ And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my FACE to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up. (ESV)

Ezekiel 3:23 – Ezekiel – Fell on his face
²³ So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my FACE. (ESV)

Numbers 22:31 – Balaam – Fell on his face
³¹ Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. (ESV)

Voices For

·         Scripture is silent on this issue, no condemnation; thus an endorsement.

·         The only person that was under judgment was Paul on the Road to Damascus; there was no other time they were under direct judgment when they fell in the spirit.

·         Is it in God’s nature to manifest His presence? – YES - Is there examples of His manifestation in the Book? – YES, time and time again. – Does God’s presence cause people to physically and emotionally react. – YES, time and time again -

·         Can the Holy Spirit can be transferred by touch – YES – Command; Lay hands on the sick.

·         God purposely manifests His Spirit in special events and is not intended to be something that is considered a normal event for everyone.  - Manifestations are not indicators of spiritually, nor are they a guarantee of growth in the kingdom. – Manifestations are given as the Spirit wills.

·         Some who feel the presence of the Holy Spirit may voluntarily fall, out of reverence for God. – The Book does not tell us while we are in prayer to bow our head or close our eyes, but we do so, in reverence for God. – We rise up on our toes while singing as being raptured. Nothing in the Book labels “falling” as something demonic or of the flesh.

·         Many verses in the Book do not indicate which way someone fell when they experience the manifestation of the Holy Spirit; they could easily have fallen either way; the point is, they could not stand and fell. – Other times when the Holy Spirit was manifested NO ONE FELL. It is God who decides how He will manifest His presence. – It can literally flow through the Pastor’s hands if He chooses.

1 Kings 8:10-11 – Priest – Slain in the Spirit
¹⁰ And when the PRIESTS came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD,
¹¹ so that the priests COULD NOT STAND to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. (ESV)

2 Chronicles 5:14 - Priest – Slain in the Spirit
¹⁴ so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. (ESV)

Daniel 8:17-18 – Daniel – Slain in the Spirit
¹⁷ So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”
¹⁸ And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up.

(ESV)

Ezekiel 3:23 – Ezekiel – Slain in the Spirit
²³ So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face. (ESV)

Ezekiel 43:2-3 – Ezekiel – Slain in the Spirit again
² And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.
³ And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. (ESV)

Ezekiel 44:4 – Ezekiel – Slain in the Spirit third time
⁴ Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple, and I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the LORD. And I fell on my face. (ESV)

Numbers 22:31 – Balaam – Slain in the Spirit
³¹ Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. (ESV)

John 18:6 – Soldiers – Slain in the Spirit.
⁶ When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and FELL TO THE GROUND. (ESV)

Matthew 28:4 - Guards – Slain in the Spirit
⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. (ESV)

Acts 26:13-14 - Paul – Slain in the Spirit
¹³ At midday, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.
¹⁴ And when we had ALL FALLEN TO THE GROUND, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ (ESV)

Acts 9:2-4 – Paul – Slain in the Spirit
³ Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
⁴ And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (ESV)

Revelation 1:17 – John – Slain in the Spirit
¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, (ESV)

Matthew 17:6 – Disciples Slain in the Spirit
⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. (ESV)

Manifestations

·         There are different ways the Book shows the manifestation of the Holy Spirit other than being “Slain in the Spirit”.

·         Wind, Earthquake, fire and a still small voice

·         Fire in a burning bush

·         Pillar of Fire and a Pillar of Smoke

·         Paul caught up to heaven

·         John caught up to heaven

·         Handkerchief or aprons when they touched the skin; healing

·         Garments being touched to receive healing

·         Touching bones of Elisha; Resurrection

·         David breaking out in dance before the Ark of the Covenant

·         Laying on of the hands to receive the Holy Spirit and for healing

·         With all these different Holy Spirit manifestations, why do we reject the manifestation of being “Slain in the Spirit”?

1 Kings 19:11-12 – Wind – Earthquake – Fire - Whisper
¹¹ And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong WIND tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an EARTHQUAKE, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
¹² And after the earthquake a FIRE, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a LOW WHISPER. (ESV)

Exodus 3:2 – Fire – Burning Bush
² And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. (ESV)

Exodus 13:21 – Pillar of Fire – Pillar of smoke
²¹ And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.

(ESV)

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 – Paul – Caught up to heaven
¹ I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.
³ And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
(ESV)

Revelation 1:10 – John – Caught up to heaven
¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet(ESV)

Acts 19:12 – Manifested by touching handkerchiefs & Aprons
¹² so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. (ESV)

Mark 5:30 – Manifested by touching garments
³⁰ And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” (ESV)

Acts 8:17 – Manifested by hands touching
¹⁷ Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

2 Kings 13:21 - Manifested by touching bones
²¹ And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

2 Samuel 6:14 - Manifested in David’s dance
¹⁴ And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. (ESV)

Last Thoughts

·         What you believe about Counterfeits, Make Believers and the Dark Side can prejudice you against the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in those who are “Slain in the Spirit”.

·         The manifestation of the Holy Spirit brings glory to God and edifies the body. - It encourages spiritual growth in the believer.  It causes the believer to endeavor to become more and more like Jesus; to operate in the “fruits” of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

·         The Holy Spirit rarely takes center stage, but points us to the other members of the Trinity. He is like the wind, invisible, powerful, uncontrollable and unpredictable, you cannot see Him or tell where He comes or goes, but you can hear and feel His presence; The Spirit’s work will always point to our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. - We raise the sails in our boat; the breath of the Holy Spirit powers our sails and God steers.

·         The Holy Spirit alone is the source of empowerment that God uses to accomplish His will. Don’t look at how big the task is, instead look at the opportunity that allows the spirit to empower you. – Raise your sails. – Pray often.

·         While visiting a Church with my family, I witnessed the “falling of the Holy Spirit” on the left side of the room and saw it moving toward the right, I felt my young daughter beside me slip down to the floor. – Holding on to her, I could not help but ask; what happened? – She said she did not know, but it felt so good. – I have never experience being “Slain in the Spirit” although I have been around this phenomenal for many years while recording Praise and Worship services for Christian TV.

·         If someone is NOT slain in the Spirit it is not an indicator that they didn’t have an encounter with God.

·         Billy Graham  – “Many who have experienced being SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT have associated it with the new birth, the fullness of the Holy Spirit, spiritual, emotional or physical healing or deliverance. - Whatever one may think about the experience of being “Slain in the Spirit”, it should not be made an expectation for all believers or be considered a sign of spiritual maturity.  In addition, discernment needs to be exercised by mature church leadership since the power of suggestion and mere emotionalism can so easily mimic legitimate spiritual experience”.

·         It is natural and proper for Believers to be “slain in the spirit” given the sinfulness of our lives compared to the majestic Holiness of God, but the manifestation should not be made an expectation  nor be considered a sign of spiritual maturity.

·         We shouldn’t prejudice our belief system and reject the manifestation of the Holy Spirit because of someone who might be a Make-Believer or someone who is Ritualistic or Fake. 

·         We just raise our hands in Praise – Rise up on our toes in Rapture – Bow our head and close our eyes in Reverence and let OUR daily life point back to God and glorify Him.

Acts 8:18-19 – The Manifestation of the Spirit is observable

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money

19 and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I LAY MY HANDS MAY RECEIVE the Holy Spirit." NIV

Galatians 5:22-23 – Manifestation of the Spiritual Fruits
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.(ESV)

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

                                                                                                                                     

A Commentary; Critical, Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans

All the Women of the Bible – Edith Deen

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha – Goodspeed

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Elwell

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Bible Hub.com

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament - Baker

King James Version Bible – KJV

Lost Books of the Bible; The - World

Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible (2011) – NIV

NOTE: The “new” NIV has been corrupted & made gender neutral.  AVOID IT.

Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison

Wikipedia –

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney