IS BEING SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT SCRIPTURAL?

By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD

(unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from the New International Version)[1]

GREETING

Psalm 134:1-2.¹ Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.² Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1.                 Life Center Service Tonight. 7 pm.

2.                 Please register for the International AIM Convention under “COGIC Department of Evangelism.” July 1-5, Tampa, FL.

3.                 TCT Network Appearance. Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 1 PM LIVE. Yours truly is a featured guest.

4.                 Illinois 6^th Jurisdiction Prayer Breakfast. Yours truly will serve as keynote speaker. Saturday, March 30, 2019 9AM, Paradise Elegant Banquets, 9220 S Harlem, Bridgeview, IL. Call 708-599-6800 for tickets.

5.                 COGIC Department of Evangelism April Showers. Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 7PM at Citadel of Deliverance, 7749 E Shelby Dr., Memphis, TN, Bishop L. E. Dillard Pastor.

6.                 COGIC Department of Evangelism April Meeting. Monday, April 8, 2019 at Mason Temple, 938 Mason St, Memphis, TN. 12-2.

LESSON NOTES

I.                  WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS LESSON? Being, “slain in the Spirit“ or “falling out under the power,“ is not a practice that is unique to the Pentecostal or Charismatic movement. It has been a very common practice (along with other reactions), any time there has been a revival movement. However, in recent decades, it has become more associated with Pentecostalism. We want to discuss the biblical aspect of the practice and other practices associated with it (like catchers).

II.               THERE IS NO TERM IN THE BIBLE CALLED, “SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT.“ It does not mean that it does not happen. It does not mean that God will not do it. And, just because a term is not in the Bible, it does not always mean that it is wrong to use it. There are tons of valid terms we used now that are NOT in Scripture: church building, executive pastor, senior pastor, conference, building program, media director, youth pastor, sound technician, etc. Thus, the terminology should not be the focus; the focus should be does this glorify God and does it bring about a change in the heart of the person. In the Bible there were many strange ways that people would act when confronted with God’s presence. 

A.               THERE WERE MANY REACTIONS TO GOD’S POWER IN THE BIBLE.

1.                 Trance.

Acts 10:10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

2.                 Appearing drunk.

Acts 2:15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!

3.                 Deep sleep.

Daniel 8:17-18 ¹⁷As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision concerns the time of the end." ¹⁸While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.

4.                 Trembling.

Exodus 19:16-18 ¹⁶On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. ¹⁷Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.

5.                 Speechlessness.

Ezekiel 3:26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people.

6.                 Prophecy.

1 Samuel 19:19-21 ¹⁹Word came to Saul: "David is in Naioth at Ramah"; ²⁰so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul's men, and they also prophesied. ²¹Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied.

7.                 Travelling.

Acts 8:39-40 ³⁹When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the LORD suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

B.               WILL GOD THROW A PERSON ACROSS A ROOM? The instance in Scripture of someone being thrown was the manifestation of a demonic spirit. Thus, we can deduce that if people are being thrown around; it is a demon manifesting.

Mark 9:17-27 New International Version (NIV).

¹⁷ A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

¹⁹ “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

²⁰ So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. ²² “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

²³ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

²⁶ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

III.           WERE PEOPLE “SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT“ IN THE BIBLE?

A.               THERE IS ONE “POSSIBLE“  INSTANCE.

John 18:1-6 King James Version (KJV).[2]

¹ When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

² And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

³ Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

⁴ Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

⁵ They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

⁶ As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

B.               DEFINING THE TERMS.

1.                 Went backward. According to the Greek words used in the text, those words correspond almost verbatim with the English. (However, it does not speak to WHY this phenomemon of falling backwards happened).[3] [4]

a.                 Went (eis) movement toward or into an area.

b.                They (ho) they

c.                  Backward (opiso) backward

d.                Fell (pipto) to fall, collapse or bow down, to prostrate oneself. 

2.                 WHY DID THEY FALL TO THE GROUND?

a.                 Jesus was a powerful person.[5] “The moral majesty of Jesus astonished his captors, who recoiled in amazement and some fell to the ground.‘

b.                It is best to never assume and read into a text. However, the logic flow of the text seems to imply that this falling down was not voluntary. If it was voluntary and the guards were acknowledging the majesty of Chist the King; they would have respected Him instead of arresting Him. The flow of the narrative appears to show that the falling down was only temporary and they continued on with their deed of violently arresting an innocent man. 

John 18:12-14 New International Version (NIV).

¹² Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him ¹³ and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Mark 14:48-49 New International Version (NIV).

⁴⁸ “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 New International Version (NIV).

⁶ We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

IV.           WILL A PERSON ALWAYS FALL BACKWARDS? According to the next series of Scriptures we will study, people did not always fall backwards. Many times they fell on their face. 

V.               DOES SOMETHING SPIRITUAL HAPPEN TO A PERSON THAT IS “SLAIN?” There are many instances in the bible where people fell down. There are too many numerous passages of people falling down in God’s presence to mention here. Also, these Scriptures do not give the reason WHY they person fell down. In other words, was it voluntary or was it involuntary? We do not know. HOWEVER, the Scriptures ARE very clear that there should be a PURPOSE in falling down. If you do fall down; something should happen that changes you when you get back up. Some of these purposes are listed here:

A.               WORSHIP.

Numbers 20:6. Then Moses and Aaron came in from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them;

Revelation 7:11. And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

1 Kings 18:39. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God."

Leviticus 9:24. Then fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

Matthew 2:11. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

B.               PRAYER.

Luke 22:44. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke 5:12. While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."

C.               REPENTANCE.

1 Corinthians 14:25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. 

Deuteronomy 9:18. "I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger.

Joshua 7:6. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.

Ezekiel 9:8. As they were striking the people and I alone was left, I fell on my face and cried out saying, "Alas, Lord GOD! Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?"

D.               HEARING FROM GOD.

Genesis 17:3. Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,

E.               FEAR.

Luke 8:47. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

Matthew 17:6. When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.

VI.           IF IT’S "IN THE SPIRIT" WHY DO WE NEED CATCHERS?

A.               DIFFERENT BUT SIMILAR. While the Pentecostal movement and the Charismatic movements are quite similar (in their belief in “tongues,” demonstrative worship and the gifts of the Spirit) they are quite different in many ways as well.

B.               HOLINESS. The Pentecostal movement was birthed out of the Holiness movement of the 1800’s. The Holiness movement was birthed out of the desire of Methodists to return to their roots of focusing on sanctification and personal holiness. However, the movement spread to people of all denominations. Holiness services were demonstrative and their doctrines were strict. This caused many people in the movement to be dismissed from their denominations.

C.               PENTECOSTALISM. Although Pentecostalism was birthed out of the Holiness movement; Pentecostalism had a strong emphasis on the importance of tongue speaking, as practiced in the book of Acts. This caused Holiness people (who had been dismissed from their denominations) to now dismiss Pentecostals from the Holiness churches. This rejected group formulated doctrines, practices and worship styles which are now quite popular the world over (although at the turn of the last century they were characterized as being mentally deranged at best and demonically possesses at worst). In Pentecostalism it was common for people to “fall under the power” and get up “filled with the Holy Ghost, or healed, etc.

D.               THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT. The Charismatic renewal is similar to Pentecostalism. However, Charismatics were members of established and respected denominations (like Roman Catholicism, Presbyterian, etc.). Instead of being rejected and kicked out; they were allowed to stay and they WANTED TO STAY in their denominations. This led to a wide array of doctrinal beliefs. Furthermore the “Jesus movement” and other movements had an impact on the Charismatics. It was in the Charismatic movement that the concept of “catchers” (something foreign to Pentecostals) was initiated.

E.               WHY WOULD CATCHERS BE NECESSARY? A Pentecostal would say, “If you’re in the Spirit, you don’t need a catcher.” However, the reality is that everyone is not “in the Spirit.” Thus, it is always wise to have precautions, in case a person is “not in the Spirit” and hurts themselves.

Proverbs 14:16 ESV.[6] One who is wise is cautious…

Proverbs 22:3 New Living Translation.[7] A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

1.                 SHOULD MEN "CATCH" LADIES? Who “catches” who is really up to the discretion of the local pastor. The pastor would be aware of potential issues in that congregation. Whatever the case the “flesh” should not be on parade in a worship service. The altar should be a safe place. 

1 Corinthians 14:40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

VII.        IS A PREACHER NOT ANOINTED IF PEOPLE ARE NOT SLAIN WHEN PRAYER IS RECEIVED? 

A.               Falling down before anointed people. There are instances in the Bible where people fell before great men of God (and in the case below before an angel). Again, we cannot PROVE that this was always voluntary or involuntary. However, it does APPEAR that it was voluntary.

Acts 10:25-26 ²⁵As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. ²⁶But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."

Revelation 22:8-9 ⁸I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. ⁹But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!"

B.               Falling out when you receive prayer? We have no Scriptural references of anointed people praying for people and the recipient fell down. But, this is NOT to say that it did not happen.

C.               The Holy Spirit continues to work in the Church. Jesus stated that there were continued things that the Holy Spirit would teach us after the Ascension. So it is quite possible for the Holy Spirit to cause people to fall before God’s glory. 

John 16:12-13 ¹²"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

D.               We do not have all the records. Everything that happened in Jesus ministry was not recorded (however, the Word gives us EVERYTHING that we need). So people could have very well been ”slain in the Spirit.”

John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

E.               Signs and wonders. The Bible talks about “signs and wonders.” Supernatural acts of God that are not listed in Scripture could actually fit within this miscellaneous designation.

Acts 2:19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

2 Corinthians 12:12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.

1.                 Signs and lying wonders. In contrast, we must be careful to know what is God and what is not in the last days. As deception is prevalent. If nothing that glorifies God and changes the person happens when someone “falls out” then we know it’s not God.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,

2.                 Forced to fall down and worship. The Bible does refer to the time when everyone (like it or not) will be forced to bow down and acknowledge the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:9-11 ⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.

VIII.    CAN PEOPLE BE SLAIN WHEN THINGS ARE THROWN AT THEM; LIKE COATS AND BLESSED OIL? According to the Scriptures, God’s power can move through inanimate objects. However, it does not show these things being thrown at people or the people falling out; but it does show miraculous things occurring. Some of these things in modern times would be considered “magic” to us. But, we must remember we serve a supernatural God; who is able to do supernatural things.

1.                 Moses staff could become a snake and it was used to open the Red Sea.

Exodus 4:2-3 ²Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied. ³The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.

Exodus 14:16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

2.                 Moses made a brass snake and when people looked up at it they were healed.

          Numbers 21:8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it  

          up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."

3.                 Elisha used a stick to make iron float.

2 Kings 6:1-7 New International Version (NIV).

¹ The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. ² Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”

And he said, “Go.”

³ Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”

“I will,” Elisha replied. ⁴ And he went with them.

They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. ⁵ As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”

⁶ The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. ⁷ “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.

4.                 Elisha’s dead body was able to raise a dead man.

2 Kings 13:20-21 ²⁰Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. ²¹Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.

5.                 Material that touched Paul’s body could be used for healing and exorcism.

Acts 19:11-12 ¹¹God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, ¹²so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

IX.           CONCLUSION. Nowhere in Scripture does it mandate that people have to fall out or be slain. It is important not to confuse our “reactions” to God’s presence; with some type of rule that everyone we pray for must fall out. If it is something that God does, fine; but a change should occur in the person. God should be glorified. If God does not do it; it is important that we do not try to “make something happen.” Then, only the flesh is glorified and not God. All we do should be for the glory of God.

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[1] Holy Bible, New International Version. 1973, by Biblica, Inc.

[2] Public domain.

[3] Strong, James. The Strongest Strong’s. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 2001.

[4] Vine, W. E. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nelson: Nashville, 1996.

[5] Buttrick, Arthur George. The Interpreter’s Bible Vol. VIII. New York: Abingdon, 1955.

[6] https://www.esv.org. (Accessed, March 25, 2019).

[7] Holy Bible. New Living Translation. Tyndale: Carol Stream, 2004.