Toward a Pentecostal Theology of Being Slain in the SPIRIT

Click to join the conversation with over 500,000 Pentecostal believers and scholars

Click to get our FREE MOBILE APP and stay connected

Ermar Reyes Luna | PentecostalTheology.com

               

Can you bro/sis explain believers “falling to the ground” or other calls it “slain in the spirit” experience? Is it biblical? Its happening in our church.

Thangsan Hisfootstep [03/01/2015 8:29 AM]
This a phenomena when revival broke out. It’s just happened naturally. Therefore, be reminded that we should not seek out certain phenomena as such for such will naturally happen when revival broke out. The same time, don’t be afraid of such though it may seem strange and new to your first sight. Just let it happen.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/01/2015 8:33 AM]
its kinda natural in our church. 😀

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/01/2015 8:35 AM]
as I can see, new believers in our church are experiencing this. .

Charles Page [03/01/2015 9:13 AM]
often it is hyperventilation!

Charles Page [03/01/2015 9:15 AM]
other times it is auto-suggestion there are times of a genuine work of the Spirit

Tim Anderson [03/01/2015 9:27 AM]
John 18:6
As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

Charles Page [03/01/2015 9:32 AM]
tradition says there were ladies standing by with cloth to cover their legs!

Vince Oblak II [03/01/2015 10:04 AM]
Definitely not UNbiblical.

Thangsan Hisfootstep [03/01/2015 9:57 PM]
This is what’s happening during one of my recent evangelistic rallies in a remote country side last moth.

Pentecostal Theology [03/13/2015 12:00 PM]
http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/slain-in-the-spirit/

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 2:34 AM]
We cannot ignore those who are honestly convince that there are people who are simply being pushed by the one who are ministering, so they fell and there are some who are emotional sensationalist who make themselves fall. There are after side manifestation of the glory but not after the transformation which the glory of God can bring.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 2:54 AM]
Upon studying the Scriptures, we can make the following conclussion on falling under the power:

1) Let me first point out that the word ‘slain’ always have a negative implication. The phrase “Falling under the power” or ‘slained in the Spirit’ cannot be found in the Bible

We cannot see this words/phrase on the Bible. It only means that there was not a phenomena like this found in the Bible that was put into emphasis by the early believers for to be a focal sign of the move of God.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:03 AM]
2) The truth is, It is only a side affect of the manifestation of God’s glory (2 Chron. 5:14; Ex. 40:34-35)

“So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: [[for the GLORY of the Lord had filled the house of God]].” (2Chro. 5:14)

“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and [[the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle”]

God’s glory is tangible. Moses who had seen God’s glory could not physically enter the Tabernacle when God’s glory filled it in fullness. The cloud (the symbol of the visible presence of God) and the glory of God filled the tabernacle when all things were completed, anointed, sanctified, and made holy for divine services and the Divine Presence. Moses could not enter the tabernacle for such overwhelming glory.

What is important or want do we want to seek? Manifestation or God’s glory? Manifestations that let us experience God’s presence is there or the Glory of God? What are you seeking?

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him” (Acts 9:3-4).

And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And {I fell unto the ground}, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Saul who became Paul later that persecuted Jesus and His followers, when he saw the Glory of Jesus fell to the ground.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:10 AM]
3) There is no Scriptural basis for establishing the spirituality of the individual by whether he fells under the power of the Holy Spirit or not.

-Holy men like Daniel fell under the power of the Holy Spirit (Dan. 10:7-9). Obedient prophets like Ezekiel fell under the power of the Holy Spirit (Ezek 1:28b).
-At the same time, evil men fell under the power of the Holy Spirit (John 18:5-6). The people who came to capture Jesus were evil men motivated by the devil. Paul was a persecutor and an enemy of the gospel, of the church nd of Jesus Christ when he fell under the glory Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1)

There are no biblical basis for us to measure an individual’s spirituality only through these fallings, courtesy drop, or not falling at all. Both believers and unbelievers fall from the text we have shown.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:16 AM]
4) Not all who fell under the power of the Holy Spirit were changed or transformed in their lives.

The men who came to capture Jesus, were slain under the power when Jesus answered them but they remain unchanged in the evil pursuit to crucify Jesus (John 18:6,12)

We can see from the text itself that the unbelievers who captured Jesus though they have experienced falling in the presence of Jesus, did not received a blessing or have experienced transformation. Thus, we can see that not all who “fall” when ministered or laid by hands by a preacher means that they are blessed or have experienced transformation.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:21 AM]
5) There are those who received a special blessing and transformed in their lives. Paul received his call and his life was totally transformed after his Damascus experience (Acts 26:12-19). His life was motivated by the heavenly vision he saw in Damascus. Adam was put under the power in order for God to create a woman out from his rib (Gen. 2:21-22).

THERE IS MORE TRANSFORMING REASON THAT GOD WANTS TO WORK IN US THAN JUST EXPERIENCE FALLING UNDER THE POWER

There are far more important things that God wants from us to be changed and things that He wills to give us as tasks to be done than just let us experience fallings in His presence.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:23 AM]
6) The scriptures treat it as a side-effect phenomenon and not an experience to be sought. Jesus ignored the fact that His captives were slain under the power (John 18:67). He did not pay attention to those phenomena.

When Ezekiel fell under the power upon seeing the glory of God, God asked him to STAND UP so that He could speak to him. “And he said unto me, Son of man, STAND UPON THE FEET, and I will speak unto thee.” (Ezek.2:1)

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:26 AM]
Jesus’ purpose for manifesting to Paul was not to make him fall under the power (the Lord commanded Him to arise) but to speak him and commission him for the work of the gospel.

“But RISE, and STAND UPON THY FEET: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee.” (Acts 26:16)

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:27 AM]
Falling Under The Power – a side phenomena. There are lots of unscriptural practices and views that people hold regarding the falling under the power of the Holy Spirit. We should regard falling under the power as a side-effect phenomena and not as the phenomena.

THE PURPOSE OF THE ANOINTING IS TO BREAK THE YOKES, TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL OVER PEOPLE’S LIVES AND NOT JUST TO PLAY DOMINOES.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:29 AM]
One time the Lord gave a dream to one prophetic Teacher that I knew. In the dream, he saw a huge cloud over the earth. It was so thick that you could literally break a piece out and mould it. Then he saw people taking pieces out of the cloud and formed it into ball. The piece they took out became real ball and they are playing wth it. It was then that God’s Spirit woke him up and he heard the Spirit said, “Son, My people are playing are playing with My anointing. They enjoy making others fall under the power but they are not using the anointing to do the the works of Jesus. If they will concentrate on doing the works of Jesus with the anointing, I will show them the greater works.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:30 AM]
Discerning the purpose of anointing:

We must concentrate on the purpose of the anointing. Remember the purpose that the Son of God is manifested is to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).The manifestation of the anointing is to destroy the works of the devil.

Sometimes people instruct others what to do during ministry, with the purpose of getting them to fall under the power. This weakens the anointing. More people will fall but less people are healed. The power of the anointing is weakened through dissipation. Even in the law of electricity, a current from 12 volt baterry running twenty electrical appliances is weaker than when it runs one electrical appliance.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:31 AM]
REMEMBER THAT EVERY TIME GOD MANIFEST THERE IS A PURPOSE. HE DOES NOT SHOW VISIONS WITHOUT A PURPOSE. IT GOES ON WITH OTHER MANIFESTATIONS OR ALIKE.

If the Corinthian church could make genuine tongues a source of confusion without edification by misapplying (1 Cor. 14:16,23) modern Christians who discover the falling under the power of the Holy Spirit can misapply a genuine manifestation of God’s anointing.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:32 AM]
There are sighing, crying, dying humanity waiting to be free.

God anointed us to preach the acceptable year of the Lord; heal the broken hearted, preach deliverance to the captives, recover the sight of the blind and set liberty those who are oppressed. Whether they fall or not is a side phenomena but the call is to set them free by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Mark Biteler [03/24/2015 3:32 AM]
To say, “it is only a side affect of the manifestation of God’s glory” is to say..what? That how, or to what extent or magnitude/degree the Lord’s glory affects a person is inconsequential? I’m definitely not signed up for that. The ministry is to preach the word AND demonstrate the power. We will do well to allow the Holy Spirit to touch His people and manifest His presence as He sees fit in any way He sees fit, through whoever He chooses. For the most part, many in the Church (certainly in America and Europe) never experience (feel, or as Paul said it, “know”!) anything. Falling under the power IS a phenomena – a sign/wonder in the Bible…it is not “an emphasis by early believers”. So a believer needs to be healed; should we say to them, “You should not come seeking healing…you should come seeking transformational change and the Glory of God”? Let’s get real. Where should the “cut off” be…so those that desire to be touched by the Lord come forward but we want them to instead…what?…get another lecture on seeking the Glory not a manifestation of that Glory. Let the sheep come to the Shepherd who died and rose again to meet their needs. Paul’s concern that the faith of believers in Corinth should should “rest” – lit. be) on the power of God, not the wisdom of men…not the other way around. We have multiple generations in the Church that know nothing of the power of God. Who can say that the manifestation of the power of God in any form, great or small, is not transformational? If the Spirit reveals that their focus is wrong, like those who followed Jesus for food rather than Him, then we must provide correction. Otherwise, whosoever will come to the altar to meet the Lord, let them come.

Ermar Reyes Luna [03/24/2015 3:44 AM]
The experiences of John G. Lake.

John G. Lake in his book on ‘Dominion Over Demons, Diseases & Death’, (page 114) speak of a young man who prayed for 150 people and about one hundred fell. He observed that the only first twenty-five were really healed, and after that they just fell to the floor. He took the young man home and asked him wether he knew why only the first twenty-five got healed. The young man replied that he did not now why but was pleased with those who fell.

John G. Lake answered and said the following statement which would be useful for us to keep in mind.

“When you started to pray for those people, your soul was lost in the Son of God and you were hardly conscious anybody had fallen. But when you saw them strewed all around, then you forgot the face of Jesus, and became absorbesin the phenomena. That is why they did not get anything. You forgot to connect faith with power”

Beloved, let us keep in mind that it is far more important to get them healed than to get them fallen. And above all it is of utmost importance to get them born again. Let us not major on the minors and minor on the majors. Thank God for the manifestation and side effect manifestation of the anointing of the Holy Spirit but KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS AND NOT ON THE PHENOMENA. We would do people injustice if we get carried away with phenomena instead of concentrating on permanent result.

Source: Ptr. Peter V. Pangilinan

John Kissinger [03/24/2015 6:47 AM]
Some make the case that in the Bible falling is always on your face, not on your back. TRUE. Yet, being slain in the Spirit is Biblical. We should not make it the purpose of service, but if it’s occurs its OK!

Thangsan Hisfootstep [03/25/2015 12:03 PM]
I do agree that it is a phenomena not the purpose itself, but have some uneasiness with the word “side-phenomena” to b honest.

14 Comments

  • Vlad Stepanov
    Reply October 13, 2016

    Vlad Stepanov

    Why are they lying in the floor? Is that a Benny Hinn event?

  • Ricky Grimsley
    Reply October 13, 2016

    Ricky Grimsley

    Maybe this?Acts 22:17 KJVS
    [17] And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

  • Charlie Robin
    Reply October 13, 2016

    Charlie Robin

    Early Pentecostals were falling and rolling Vlad should know

  • Gilberto Rosado
    Reply October 13, 2016

    Gilberto Rosado

    The obvious basis is Saul (Paul) falling from his horse at the moment of the Lord’s dealing with him.

    • Vlad Stepanov
      Reply October 13, 2016

      Vlad Stepanov

      That is different.

    • Charlie Robin
      Reply October 13, 2016

      Charlie Robin

      Did he fall on his face or back?

    • Gilberto Rosado
      Reply October 13, 2016

      Gilberto Rosado

      It is the ONLY account of someone falling to the ground after the resurrection. Before then, the guards who came to arrest Jesus fell backwards. The issue in question is whether the falling to the ground can be identified as a characteristic of being impacted by the Spirit of God.

    • Charlie Robin
      Reply October 13, 2016

      Charlie Robin

      I’d be asking if guards coming to arrest the preacher should be part of the charismatic liturgy?

    • Gilberto Rosado
      Reply October 13, 2016

      Gilberto Rosado

      We are speaking to the scriptural basis for an occurrence related to the operation of God. If the power of God has been manifest in scripture resulting in men falling to the ground, then that establishes the occurrence as one of the salient possible outcomes from a divine action.

  • Coe Campbell
    Reply October 13, 2016

    Coe Campbell

    There is also instances in the old testament when the glory of God filled the temple that the priest could not stand to minister. I know this is old testament but there could be a connection God’s power is God’s power.

  • Charles Page
    Reply October 13, 2016

    Charles Page

    group emotional suggestion. It is an expectation in people’s mind and the emotional manipulation of the slayer. There are exceptions to this rule.

  • Varnel Watson
    Reply October 13, 2016

    Varnel Watson

    Charles Page Do you drink coffee while slain in the spirit?

  • Karen Lucas
    Reply October 13, 2016

    Karen Lucas

    Original discussion on this was really, really good.

  • Varnel Watson
    Reply October 13, 2016

    Varnel Watson

    good stuff

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.