Bible Question:
Do you think this may be just another attempt by Satan to imitate God? "Slain in the spirit" may be just a very showy way in which Satan attempts to imitate through men what God's words say about "dying to self" or "renewing the spirit"? Satan is a great imitator and mocker. I think the whole "holy laughter" thing may be similar in that it too is an imitation of the real thing -- the joy of the Lord. |
Bible Answer: The only reference in the Bible that I can think of that would justify falling in the presence of the Holy Spirit would be when the glory of the Lord would fill the temple and and priests could not even enter to minister, but would fall and could not move. I, too, am Pentecostal, and I will agree with my brother, EdB that there is a lot of the flesh involved here. But I will not say that everything I see is not of the Holy Spirit but of Satan. That to me sounds too much like the Pharisees saying that Jesus and His miracles where of the devil. God can work in whatever way He chooses, and I will not accuse Him if I do not know for certain. I do know that you can go deeper into worship than just mouthing prayers and singing songs and then leaving just as you entered. I know that you can be so focused on the Lord, and desire Him so much that you can feel His presence in a stronger way. When this happens, it is you and Him and nothing else matters. And being in this association, your strength can leave you. I don't agree that it happens everytime someone touches you in prayer, but I know that it can happen even if no one is touching you in prayer. I know of many people who have gone for "altar call" and have never been "slain in the Spirit." Does that mean that the Lord has not touched him? Not at all, but different people react in different ways, and the Lord moves in different ways. I have seen others that are "slain in the spirit" and fall time after time. But I see the change in the one who doesn't fall but walks with the Lord and no change in the other's walk. I think the one very much has "flesh" in the action. Holy laughter? I think that also can be taken to extremes - or a fleshly thing. I know God will not take possesion of a person, that you are in control of your acts (Corinthians)but I have also seen too many churchs where people come in with a glum expression and leave the same way. There is a real problem finding any joy, let alone the joy of the Lord. Any time things are done out of time or place, it has no order. God is a god of order. |