Being "slain in the Spirit" is a topic that has seen a lot of debate among Christians, but it seems to me that there is more to this issue than many people might realize.

Consider that if God were to suddenly open us up and expose us to His infinite glory and majesty, none of us could handle it. It would completely overwhelm us and overpower us. Our systems might shut down at the enormity of it, and we wouldn't be able to stand up under it or bear it. God is so much bigger than any of us are capable of comprehending, and God is probably protecting us by not revealing the fullness of Himself to us while we are in our weak, mortal bodies. So when the awesome power of God touches a person in a special way, it can easily cause a physical reaction in the frail human body and the frail human nervous system. People's hands or bodies might shake, their knees might get weak or wobbly, they might fall to the ground, and so on. Those who have never experienced the Holy Spirit in such a tangible way might think that a person is faking this or is demonized or something, which can sometimes be the case. However, the power of God is real, and God sometimes "touches" people in special ways. Here are some examples:

• When God created Eve, He first caused Adam to go into a deep sleep:

"21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
"(Genesis 2:21) KJV

Adam's body physically reacted (by falling into a deep sleep) when God manifested His power

• When God made a covenant with Abram (later to be known as Abraham), God apparently caused Abram to go into a deep sleep:

"12And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram;and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;" (Genesis 15:12-13) KJV

This doesn't sound like it was very pleasant for Abram, but the point is that Abram's body physically reacted (by falling into a deep sleep) when God manifested His power, just as Adam's body did.

• God also put King Saul and his men into a deep sleep:

"12So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked:for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them." (1 Samuel 26:12) KJV

The bodies of King Saul and his men physically reacted (by falling into a deep sleep) when God manifested His power, just as Adam's and Abram's bodies did.

• When the guards at Jesus' tomb saw the glory of God which was revealed in the actions of an angel of the Lord, they were so frightened that they shook and fell over:

" 2And, behold, there was a great earthquake:for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." (Matthew 28:2-4) KJV

This wasn't a pleasant experience for the guards, but the point is that their bodies had a physical reaction at the manifested glory of God, and they fell down "like dead men."

• When Judas led the soldiers to Jesus so that they could arrest Him, Jesus confirmed His identity by using the divine expression, "I AM" (as in Exodus 3:13-14: "Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'""). The soldiers and Pharisees physically reacted to this pronouncement of Jesus' glory by falling to the ground:

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

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

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

6As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
" (John 18:3-6)

So why did the soldiers and the Pharisees recoil or "draw back" when Jesus said, "I AM"? After all, if they had come for Peter then it is doubtful that they would have recoiled in that way when Peter identified himself. Somehow there was divine power or glory involved when Jesus said, "I AM," and the soldiers and Pharisees physically reacted to that manifestation of God's glory by recoiling or stepping backwards. Perhaps that caused them to stumble and fall, or perhaps it was the glory of God itself which caused them to fall.

• When Jesus revealed Himself to Saul of Tarsus (later to be known as the apostle Paul) and his companions, it caused them to fall to the ground:

" 13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." (Acts 26:13-14)KJV

• The Bible says that Peter went into a trance when God was about to give him a vision:

"9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
" (Acts 10:9-11)KJV

Peter had fallen into a trance, but what was his physical body doing while he was in this trance? Using modern terminology, perhaps a Christian who knew him would have said that he was "slain in the Spirit," or that he had "fallen out under the power of God" (or something equivalent).

• The apostle John said that he was "in the Spirit" when he was given visions of the future, which he wrote down in the book of Revelation:

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
(Revelation 1:10) KJV

What was John's physical body doing while he was "in the Spirit"? Using modern terminology, perhaps a Christian who knew him would have said that he was "slain in the Spirit," or that he had "fallen out under the power of God" (or something equivalent).

• The apostle Paul was "caught up to the third heaven," and he didn't know if it was with or without his physical body:

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4How that he was caught up into paradise,and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

6For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
(2 Corinthians 12:2-7)KJV

Based on 2 Corinthians 12:7 (above), Bible teachers tend to believe that it was Paul himself who had been caught up to the third heaven. If Paul was not physically caught up into heaven then what was his body doing while he was experiencing heaven? Using modern terminology, perhaps a Christian who knew him would have said that he was "slain in the Spirit," or that he had "fallen out under the power of God" (or something equivalent).

Modern Christians who do not believe in being "slain in the Spirit" often say that the above Scripture passages are not meant to be normal experiences for Christians. But the point is that the frail human body can react by falling over or "going into a trance" or "going into a deep sleep" when the glory and majesty and power of God are manifested in some way. When the power of the Holy Spirit touches people who are standing up while receiving prayer, sometimes they fall to the ground. It would be out of balance to say that this should happen every time someone receives prayer, because it doesn't appear to have happened very often in the New Testament. But it would also be out of balance to say that this should never happen, because the above passages show that people can experience physical reactions at the manifested glory and power of God.

Is Falling Backwards a Sign of Judgment?



One argument that people sometimes make against being "slain in the Spirit" is that falling backwards is always a sign of divine judgment in the Bible, and falling forwards (or falling facedown) is a sign of reverence and worship in the Bible. In other words, falling forwards is always "good," and falling backwards is always "bad." According to this argument, when modern Christians fall backwards while receiving prayer, it shows that being "slain in the Spirit" is a bad thing.

The Bible never says that falling backwards is "bad" and that falling forwards is "good," so the only basis for this argument comes from certain patterns that sincere, well-meaning people believe they see in Scripture. Therefore, we need to determine if these are valid patterns in the Bible which God intends for us to use for drawing this conclusion.

Here are the passages which are often used to support the argument that falling backwards is "bad":

10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

11And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

12And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.

13And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.

14And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.

15Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.

16And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?

17And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

18And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. (1 Samuel 4:10-18)KJV


Prior to this passage, God had already judged the family of Eli the priest because he did not properly restrain his two sons (1 Samuel 2:12, 22-36, 3:11-14). In the passage above, the Israelites had been fighting the Philistines, and in order to win this battle the Israelites had decided to take the ark of the covenant to the front lines in the belief that it would bring them victory (see for example Numbers 10:35-36 and Joshua 6:6-11). At this point Eli was old, blind, and overweight (1 Samuel 2:22, 4:15, 18), and he was desperately, fearfully waiting to hear what had happened to the ark of the covenant (1 Samuel 4:12-13, above). When he heard the terrible news that the holy ark of God had been captured by the Philistines, we can understand the shock and horror that he must have felt. When people receive such devastating news, the natural reaction is to recoil (backwards) in shock, and that's what the Bible describes happening to Eli. Being a "heavy" man, he fell and broke his neck and died.

The question is, are we meant to read something into the fact that Eli fell backwards rather than falling in some other direction? The Bible doesn't say that Eli's direction of fall has any significant meaning here. Instead, this passage simply gives us a fairly straightforward description of what happened. There is nothing here which tells us that if Eli had fallen forwards and died then we should interpret it as a sign that Eli was under God's favor, but since Eli fell backwards and died then we must interpret it as a sign of divine judgment. The only way to determine if it is significant that Eli fell "backwards" would be if we can show that a strong pattern exists in the Bible in which people under God's judgment consistently fell backwards. What we're going to see is that there is no such pattern in the Bible.

• 3Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
  
  4Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
  
  5They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
  
  6As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
  (John 18:3-6)KJV

When we recoil or "draw back" and it causes us to stumble, it would be natural for us to fall backwards. So when Jesus declared "I AM" and the soldiers and the Pharisees "drew back," it is natural that they would fall backwards to the ground (but notice that the Bible doesn't actually tell us in which direction they fell).

There are numerous people in the New Testament who brought judgment on themselves by their actions, but none of them are recorded as falling backwards at any time. That is not a Scriptural pattern. In John 18:3-6 (above), the Bible does not say that the soldiers and the Pharisees fell backwards as a sign of judgment, so this is an interpretation which some Christians are reading into this passage. For example, notice that Jesus used that same divine expression, "I AM," after He was brought before the high priest, and notice that He was condemned to death, mocked, and beaten:



61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
(Mark 14:61-65)KJV

In this passage Jesus was officially condemned to death, and He was spit upon, blindfolded, struck, mocked, and beaten. These people certainly brought divine judgment on themselves by their actions, yet none of them fell backwards. In fact, no-one else in the New Testament is ever described as falling backwards. There's no pattern in the Bible to support the opinion that people are under divine judgment when they fall backwards while receiving prayer in a church service.

• 19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
  
  20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
  (1 Samuel 28:19-20)KJV

This is another passage which some Christians use to argue that falling backwards is always a sign of divine judgment. However, this passage simply says that Saul fell "full length" to the ground. Did he fall forwards? Did he fall backwards? Did he fall to one side or the other? Did he fall prostrate on his face? The passage doesn't say. We can't use this passage to prove anything about the "direction" that someone falls to the ground.

• "16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
  
  17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward."
  (Genesis 49:16-17)KJV

This passage describes a characteristic of the tribe of Dan, using the imagery of a snake as a metaphor. Consider that if a snake bites a horse and the horse rears up, which way is the rider likely to fall? It would be natural for the rider to fall backwards in that situation. The horse rider in this passage is not a real person (it is simply used as part of a metaphor), and this passage doesn't prove that falling backwards while receiving prayer is wrong or bad.

• 11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
  
  12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
  
  13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
  
  14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.(Isaiah 28:11-14)KJV
  

This is another passage which refers to the "backslidden" hearts of the Israelites. It does not describe anyone actually falling to the ground, and it doesn't prove that there is anything "wrong" or "bad" when people fall backwards to the ground while receiving prayer.


These are the main passages which are used when people try to prove that falling backwards is always "bad." Based on the above passages, here are some thoughts to consider:

1. Notice that most of these passages do not actually describe anyone falling backwards. It is easy to find Scripture passages which contain the word "backwards," but we need to be careful that we are properly fitting those passages together and that we are drawing the conclusions which God intended to convey. But are we meant to put those passages together and then claim that drunkenness and gluttony are proper behaviors for Christians? Obviously not. We need to be careful about the conclusions that we draw from any patterns that we think we see in the Bible. In the passages above, there are only two possible examples of people actually falling backwards to the ground (1 Samuel 4:17-18 and John 18:3-6), which is hardly a "pattern" to use for condemning people when they fall backwards while receiving prayer in church.

1. Notice that there are no Christians who fell backwards in the passages above. Not only does the Bible never condemn nor forbid falling backwards while receiving prayer, but the Bible does not give us any examples of Christians falling backwards under the condemnation of God. There is no pattern in the Bible which supports the idea that falling backwards is "bad."

1. The New Testament tells us that if we sin then the Holy Spirit will convict us inwardly of our sin. The Bible never says that if Christians sin then we will fall backwards under divine judgment.

1. If falling backwards is proof of God's judgment on people when they are "slain in the Spirit" (as some people believe), then what did those people do which supposedly brought them under divine judgment? All they did was to come forward in church to receive prayer! This argument is essentially saying that God is condemning people for requesting prayer in church.

To summarize, the Scriptural evidence does not prove that it is "wrong" or "bad" for people to fall backwards while receiving prayer. But notice that if the Scriptural evidence did prove that people are under the judgment of God when they fall backwards (as some Christians believe), then this would mean that it is perfectly Scriptural for such people to fall backwards!

Here is another problem with the argument that falling backwards is "bad" (showing that a person is under divine judgment), and that falling forwards is "good" (demonstrating reverence for the Lord). Notice that when David killed Goliath, Goliath fell forwards:


"49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth." (1 Samuel 17:49)KJV

Some people argue that falling forwards (facedown) is "good," while falling backwards is a sign of judgment. But in the above passage we can see that Goliath fell forwards (facedown) in judgment, which contradicts that argument.

Examples of People Falling Facedown in Reverence and Worship

Well-meaning Christians who believe that falling backwards is "bad" often use some of the following Scripture passages to show that falling forwards (or facedown) is the only "good" or "proper" way to fall to the ground:



13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?

15 And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
(Joshua 5:13-15)KJV



4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
(Daniel 10:4-10) KJV

26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.

28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.


10And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.




5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
(Ezekiel 1:26-28)KJV


5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. (Matthew 17:5-6)KJV




39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)KJV



25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
(Acts 10:25-26)KJV


11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
(Revelation 19:9-10)KJV

(For more examples, see Genesis 17:1-4, Ezekiel 43:1-3, 44:4, Mark 5:22-23, 5:30-33, 7:25, 10:17, 14:35-36, Luke 5:8-9, 12, 8:41-42, 46-47, John 11:32, Acts 9:3-4, 16:25-30, 22:6-7, 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, Revelation 1:16-17, 4:9-11, 5:7-8, 13-14, 11:15-17, 19:4, 22:8-9)

According to these passages, it is perfectly Scriptural for Christians to fall forwards to the ground in reverence and worship.

However, some people go a step further and argue that this is the only proper direction for Christians to fall. In other words, their argument is that falling forwards is "good," and falling backwards is "bad." One problem with that view is that many modern Christians (especially in the West) have never been taught anything about putting one's face to the ground in reverence. This was a common practice in Biblical times, but it would not occur to many people today unless they had been taught to do that. Therefore, many modern Christians express their reverence and worship in other ways besides putting their faces to the ground. If modern Christians are filled with great awe and reverence at the manifested presence and glory of God then it might cause them to feel weak and fall to the ground, but it would be unreasonable to expect that all Christians will always fall forward on their faces if they have never been taught to do so (especially if a pastor or a prayer team member is standing in front of them and laying hands on them, which would prevent them from falling forwards).

To summarize, it is perfectly Scriptural for Christians to fall forwards to the ground in reverence and worship, but the Bible never says that this is the only direction in which Christians can fall.

Is Being "Slain in the Spirit" Demonic or Occultic?


Here are most or all of the places in the New Testament where demons caused people to fall to the ground:

(Luke 9:42. This is repeated in Matthew 17:14-15 and Mark 9:20)

11And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
(Mark 3:11)

(Luke 8:27-28. This is repeated in Matthew 8:28-29 and Mark 5:2-8)

(Luke 4:33-35. This is repeated in Mark 1:23-26)



From these passages we can see that pastors, prayer team members, and so on should be sensitive to the fact that people can fall to the ground under the influence of demonic spirits. This has happened at my church on at least one occasion when a man came forward for prayer, then fell to his knees with his face to the floor, "dry heaving" as if he needed to vomit something out (which apparently happens sometimes when demons are coming out of a person). On another occasion, a demon began manifesting itself in a woman in the congregation at our church, and she was gently taken to another room for counseling and prayer. The New Testament demonstrates that these things can and do happen, and therefore churches should be sensitive and prepared for such situations.

Sincere, well-meaning Christians who do not believe in being "slain in the Spirit" sometimes argue that people are falling down because they are demonized, and therefore being "slain in the Spirit" is demonic. However, when they make this argument they are overlooking several important things. First, there are only a few recorded examples in the New Testament where people fell to the ground under the influence of demonic spirits, so it would be unScriptural and out of balance to claim that every person who falls backward while receiving prayer is demonized. Scripture doesn't support such a generalization. Second, notice that if demonic spirits are causing some people to fall to the ground, then this is perfectly Scriptural according to the passages above! Third, if people are demonized then they need prayers and deliverance, so coming forward for prayer in church is the best thing they could have done. It's not something that we should condemn them for doing. Fourth, at the top of this article we saw a number of Scriptural examples in which God caused people to fall into a deep sleep, to fall to the ground, to go into trances, and so on, which shows that people can fall to the ground for Godly reasons. Therefore, it is unScriptural to make the generalization that being "slain in the Spirit" is demonic. Recall that the Pharisees accused Jesus of being demonized, when in reality it was the Holy Spirit operating in Him (Mark 3:22-30). So if the Holy Spirit causes some people to "fall out under the power of God," but in our prejudice we accuse those people of falling down under the influence of demonic spirits, then we would be making the same terrible mistake that the Pharisees made.


A similar argument that people sometimes make against being "slain in the Spirit" is that it resembles pagan religious practices in which people fall to the ground. Therefore, being "slain in the Spirit" is occultic, according to this argument.

We certainly should not participate in the occult, but is it true that Christians must never do things that might resemble pagan or occultic practices? For example, Christians light candles in church for various reasons (such as a candlelight service at Christmas or at Easter), yet candles are a prominent feature of many pagan religions and occultic rituals. If Christians must not do anything that might resemble pagan religious practices (as some people argue), then this would mean that we must never light candles in church for any reason. Another example is that many pagan religions worshiped gods who were born of a virgin, who died and were resurrected, who were called "the light of the world," who promised eternal life for the righteous and eternal punishment for the wicked, who had a "holy meal" consisting of bread and wine, who commanded baptism, whose birthdays were celebrated on December 25th, and so on (for example, try doing an Internet search for "Mithra," and then scan through some of the articles). If Christians must not do anything that might resemble pagan religious practices (as some people argue), then this would mean that we must not worship Jesus Christ. After all, Jesus was born of a virgin, He died and was resurrected, He is called "the light of the world," He promises eternal life for the righteous and eternal punishment for the wicked, He had a "holy meal" consisting of bread and wine, He commanded baptism, we celebrate His birthday on December 25th, and so on, all of which resemble certain pagan religious beliefs and practices.

The devil is a counterfeiter (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9, for example), so he has caused pagan religions to have counterfeit beliefs and practices which
imitate the beliefs and practices of Christianity. As another example, notice that going into trances is a big part of the New Age and the occult, yet the Scripture passages at the top of this article show some of the apostles going into trances.

So while it is true that Christians should not get involved in pagan idolatry, we should also recognize that there are pagan beliefs or practices which bear a resemblance to legitimate Christian beliefs or practices. This means that it is overly simplistic to condemn "falling out under the power of God" just because people in pagan religions fall to the ground. We have already seen that there are Scriptural reasons why Christians might fall to the ground while receiving prayer (especially if God causes it to happen), so it would be wrong to condemn being "slain in the Spirit" simply because of a superficial comparison with other religions.


Are People Giving Up Their Self-Control?


Sometimes Christians will say that when people are "slain in the Spirit," they have given up their self-control. The argument is that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and God would not cause us to sacrifice a characteristic of the Spirit.

But is this really a valid reason for condemning "falling out under the power of God"? Christians certainly need to exercise self-control in the face of trials and temptations, and we need to exercise self-control in order to crucify the flesh ), but the Bible also tells us to submit ourselves fully to God (see Hebrews 12:9 and James 4:7, for example). Therefore, if the Holy Spirit is trying to do something special within a person as he is receiving prayer and the laying-on of hands, then that person would be quenching the Spirit if he uses his self-control to resist the Spirit. Notice the following passages, for example:

51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
(Acts 7:51)KJV

19Quench not the Spirit.(1 Thessalonians 5:19, New King James Version)

Remember, we have seen Scriptural examples where God put Adam, Abram, and others into a deep sleep, and we have seen Scriptural examples where some of the apostles went into trances, and so on. Those people were not wrong for "giving up their self-control," and modern Christians are not wrong for submitting to the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean that it is always the Holy Spirit when people fall backwards while receiving prayer, but it is unScriptural to dogmatically claim that it is never the Holy Spirit causing that to happen. If the Holy Spirit wants to do something within us, then we are supposed to give up our self-control and fully submit to Him.

Are People Wrongly Pursuing a Blessing?



Another argument against being "slain in the Spirit" is that by pursuing a blessing, people are abandoning truth and going after supernatural experiences instead.

But is it wrong to pursue a blessing? Consider the "Prayer of Jabez," for example, which has become widely known among Christians in the past several years:


10And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
(1 Chronicles 4:10)KJV

Jabez pursued a blessing, and God granted his request. Then there is the well-known example of Jacob. He wrestled all night with a heavenly "man," and then he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me,:

24And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

25And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh.
And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

27And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

29And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?
And he blessed him there.(Genesis 32:24-29)KJV

Jacob pursued a blessing, and he got it. Another example is when Elisha asked to inherit a double portion of the prophet Elijah's "spirit":

9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

15And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. (2 Kings 2:9-10, 15)KJV


Elisha pursued a double blessing, and he got it. Now notice that the apostle Paul said that he worked hard for the sake of the Gospel, " that I may share in its blessings "that I might be partaker thereof with you'',:

22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. (1 Corinthians 9:22-23)KJV



So the apostle Paul pursued blessings by working diligently for the sake of the Gospel. In fact, Paul said that Jesus redeemed us so that the blessings given to Abraham would come to us:


So the apostle Paul pursued blessings by working diligently for the sake of the Gospel. In fact, Paul said that Jesus redeemed us so that the blessings given to Abraham would come to us:


14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:14)KJV

The apostle Paul also said that God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ:

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3)KJV


According to the above passages, it is perfectly Scriptural to pursue God's blessings. In fact, whenever we pray for anything then we are pursuing a blessing from God for ourselves or for someone else! So it is erroneous to condemn being "slain in the Spirit" on the grounds that people are pursuing a blessing from God.

Furthermore, there is nothing unScriptural about desiring spiritual experiences:

31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31) KJV

1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1) KJV

5I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.(1 Corinthians 14:5)KJV

12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. (1 Corinthians 14:12) KJV

39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.(1 Corinthians 14:39) KJV

These passages demonstrate that we are supposed to desire and have spiritual experiences. Granted we need to keep things in balance and make sure that our focus is on the Lord rather than on the experiences, but there is nothing unScriptural about having spiritual experiences or desiring spiritual experiences.

There is another problem with this argument as well. It assumes that people are coming to the front of the sanctuary for the purpose of falling to the floor, but that is a poor assumption. Many people have big needs in their lives, and they come forward in order to receive prayer from the pastor or from a prayer team member. They're not coming forward in order to fall down (in fact, many people hope that they don't fall to the floor), they simply have the need for an experienced prayer warrior to pray for them. It is erroneous to claim that all of those people are seeking the "spiritual experience" of falling down in church



The Phrase "Slain in the Spirit" Does Not Appear in the Bible

Another argument is that since the phrase "slain in the Spirit" is not in the Bible, that in itself should cause us to question this phenomenon.

But if that is a valid argument, then it means that the doctrine of the Trinity is erroneous as well, because the word "Trinity" does not appear in the Bible. Similarly, the word "Rapture" is not in any English version of the Bible, and the phrase "the Second Coming" is not used anywhere in Scripture, yet these doctrines are clearly taught in the Bible. So if we say that being "slain in the Spirit" is wrong simply because that phrase is not in the Bible, then we would have to say that the doctrines of the Rapture, the Second Coming, and the Trinity are wrong as well.



More Things to Consider

Many Christians have no problem with the idea of "falling out under the power of God," and they have seen other people falling backwards while receiving prayer in church. So if they go forward to the front of the sanctuary during a church service to have someone pray for them and lay hands on them, it is possible that they will fall backwards simply because they were expecting that it might happen. In fact, preachers have noticed that some people fall backwards because they think they are supposed to fall backwards while being prayed for, or because they want to fall backwards (they want to feel that they got a "touch" from the Lord). In other words, sometimes people fall backwards purely for fleshly reasons. The power of suggestion can be quite strong, and it affects all of us more often than we realize (which is what advertisers count on). This doesn't prove that falling backwards during prayer is wrong, it simply demonstrates that people are human. But it also shows that it is wise to have "catchers" standing behind people as they are receiving prayer and the laying-on of hands. Whether people fall backwards because of the power of the Holy Spirit or whether they fall for some other reason, it is always a good idea to have someone there to gently lower them to the ground. As an usher, I am one of the catchers at my church, and it's really none of my business why someone falls over. The simple fact is that people do fall over sometimes, and we don't want them to be injured. When people are ready to get up off of the floor, we're there to help them stand up. If a person begins manifesting a demon, we're there to help.

As catchers, we try to watch for any signs that the person might be about to fall over, and we also try to watch the peoples' faces so that we can hand them a tissue if they begin weeping. Sometimes we can see signs that God may be working in the person during that time of prayer, such as a visible peace or joy that comes on the person's face. Sometimes the person begins to sway backwards, but then he straightens himself up (or he takes a step backwards) to keep from falling. If God is doing something inside the person, sometimes the person's pride prevents him from fully submitting to whatever the Holy Spirit is doing. What I'm getting at is that not only do people sometimes fall to the ground during prayer, but many people consciously resist falling down, even if the Holy Spirit is ministering to them. Then there's the opposite situation that we watch for, which is when a person really wants to "let go" and fall backwards, but the prayer team member is speaking something important, such as a Scripture verse that he feels the Holy Spirit is prompting him to speak to the person. In such a case, the catcher might help the person to remain standing while the prayer team member is speaking. If the person is still "letting go" when the prayer team member is finished, then the catcher will gently lower the person to the floor.

The point is that many people have an overly-simplistic view of this phenomenon (such as claiming that pastors and preachers are pushing people over), when there is actually more to this issue than people might realize. Even if there are preachers who push people over, there are still many other reasons why people fall to the ground, and we have seen that Scripture describes people reacting to the manifested power of God by falling over and going into trances and falling into a deep sleep and so on.



Conclusion


No matter how we feel about being "slain in the Spirit," the fact is that people sometimes fall down while they are receiving prayer and the laying-on of hands (otherwise this wouldn't be such a hot topic of debate!). Maybe it's because they think they're "supposed" to fall, or maybe it's because in some way they "want" to fall, or maybe their burdens are so overwhelming that they subconsciously need that "release" of relaxing and letting go, or maybe their knees just get weak and wobbly during prayer, or maybe they lose their balance because they are looking up toward the ceiling with their eyes closed and their hands uplifted, or maybe they fall in worship and joy, or maybe they fall weeping with "a broken and contrite heart" (Psalms 51:17), or maybe they "fall out under the power of God." It really doesn't matter why a person falls to the ground while being prayed for, we should be prepared for the fact that people will sometimes fall over so that we can have someone ready to catch them.

Sadly, many modern Christians have never personally experienced any kind of reverence-inspiring, knee-buckling, fall-to-the-ground-in-worship direct revelation of the infinite glory and power and majesty of God. We tend to know about His majesty and glory and power in an intellectual way, but when we directly experience it then the natural human reaction is to fall to the ground in worship or joy (or even "in a faint"). Those who have never experienced God's presence in such a powerful and tangible way might not be able to relate to that, but when the power of God is moving in a church service and people are coming forward to the front of the sanctuary to be prayed for by a team of prayer warriors, some of those people will experience a great peace descending on them as their burdens are lifted, or they might sense healing being manifested in their bodies, or they might receive some other tangible sense of God's presence and power and grace and mercy and love and forgiveness. Is it unreasonable that this direct sense of God's majesty and glory might cause people to get weak in the knees and fall to the ground in worship and joy? Or that it might cause some people to collapse to the ground in weeping with "a broken and contrite heart"? (Psalms 51:17). Or that God might cause someone to go into a temporary "sleep" (as we saw in the passages at the top of this article) in order to do a deep inner work of some kind within the person? Considering that we have Scriptural examples of these things happening (above), it is not unreasonable at all. Certainly we don't need to expect these things to be normal, common experiences for every Christian, but the Bible specifically tells us that these things can and do happen. The point is that there are a number of different reasons why people might fall to the ground while receiving prayer in church, especially if they expected or wanted it to happen.

So, is it Scriptural to say that God's power sometimes causes physical reactions in people, such as making them fall down or go into a trance or go into a deep sleep? Yes, we have seen that this happened to people in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Did things like that happen very often in the first century? Not as far as we can tell in the New Testament. When people fall backwards while being prayed for, is it always God causing that to happen? No, we have seen that sometimes there are other reasons why people fall during prayer. Is it wrong or bad for people to fall while being prayed for? Well, if God causes them to fall over then it's not wrong. But if people fall over during prayer for some other reason, that's not necessarily bad either. When people come forward in church to be prayed for at the front of the sanctuary, anyone who has prayed for them (or who has been a catcher) knows that sometimes people's burdens and problems are so deep and so overwhelming that it's hard for them to stand up as their tears and sobs shake their bodies. In situations like that, people sometimes just "let go" and fall down. Perhaps it's an emotional release, or perhaps sometimes God's peace has come over them and the sudden relaxation makes them "let go" and fall backwards (trusting that there is a catcher behind them). Again, there are lots of reasons why people might fall to the ground, but they can feel comforted and blessed even if it wasn't God who caused them to fall. I have fallen backwards a couple of times myself while being prayed for at the front of the sanctuary, and I honestly don't know if it was God or if somehow it was just me. But I do know that I was wobbly and unsteady (very relaxed and somewhat disoriented) as I walked back to my seat, so perhaps God did a work inside of me that I wasn't consciously aware of (and there have been other times when I went forward for prayer and did not fall backwards). Are people sometimes getting out of balance with this doctrine? Yes, there are undoubtedly people on both sides who have gotten somewhat out of balance in how they are handling this issue. Should churches have "catchers" standing behind people when they are being prayed for? Some Christians argue that there were no "catchers" in the New Testament when Jesus laid hands on people, and therefore it is an unScriptural practice. But the fact is that people sometimes do fall over when they are receiving prayer (otherwise this wouldn't be such a hotly debated topic), and therefore it is a wise practice for a church to have trained catchers standing behind people as they are receiving prayer and the laying-on of hands.

What it all boils down to is that it is easy to condemn something if we over-simplify it, but there is more to the whole issue of being "slain in the Spirit" than people might realize. As we have seen, there are many different (and legitimate) reasons why people fall to the ground while receiving prayer.



I hope this has been helpful, and may the Lord abundantly bless you as you study His Word!



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I have seen examples of "falling out" that are "real" and I have seen "fake" or when as you said there is an expectation that this is what is supposed to happen so it does.

I think the danger in this is when it happens as a result of something that is not produced by the Spirit of God. If it's only intense emotions the person believes they are spiritual when they are just getting wrapped up in emotions.

I had someone tell me about a very "spiritual" woman who speaks in tongues and falls out frequently. I work with this woman and she is very much into gossip and complaining about other people. She's a down right "nasty" person but she is considered to be "spiritual" because of these "signs".

I agree with you that God's very nature is so awsome and powerful that it just bowls people over at times when we come into contact with Him.

I have personally experienced that you can give or minister power from God's Spirit in the amount that the person can handle (without falling out). You can use your voice to talk or to yell. You can give what God has given you in degrees.

I had a young man who told me that he wished he had the peace that I have. I said to him, "Do you really want it?"
He said, "Yes."
So I put my open hand out and said, "Take my peace".
He nervously reached out like he was taking something and nothing happened.

I explained, "Do you really want what you see in me?"
He said, "Yes".
I stuck my hand out, looked him in the eye and said, "Take my peace!"

This guy (about seventeen) reached for my hand and what I can only describe as being like a bolt of electricity shot out from my chest up my arm and went into his shoulder where he got scared and stopped it.

His only response was, "What was that?"

I said, "That's the power of God!"

The point being that he got what he wanted and he didn't have to "fall out" to get it. Falling out is showy but it may not always be what the person needs. It's important to know by the Holy Spirit how to give to someone else what they need.

Yes, but its not always a showy but I believed that some people do it to get to what they think they was touch by God just to draw attention but at the same time is real because God do touches people and people do fall down by the feeling drunk or feel a bit faded like when somebody just fall like into a sleep which I don't know how to explain but if you know that feeling then I know thats the holy ghost, that why the bible says that we don't need to be drunk from wine but be filled in the spirit which I don't know the hold exact verse but it did explain something like that in the KJV.

I also had got into being slain in the spirit without having been laying hand on by someone and I have got lay hand felt it but don't fall but sometimes I'll would ben down but sometimes people dance in the spirit from that.

Just be careful, the truth is in the Holy Scriptures, not in man. Man can make mistakes and end up following what other men have taught them and people think they are doing the right thing, and they end up following the crowd to just fit in.

That pastor can make mistakes too, he is human, like you and I, but the Holy Scriptures can’t, because they are the truth.

Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so

Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Psa 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Luk 9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
Luk 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
Luk 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Luk 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
Luk 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Um, I have to disagree. Why? Because like what I know when people will react to what they feel from God plus people do fall back when the word is being given to them so we got to look closer to that also because laying hand for a prayer or that power is flowing around that people will react to it and plus you can be laugh when god is upon you.
I got scripture here, a big up truth.

Psalm 126:2-6
2Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
3The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
5They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

John 14:16
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;


That is example so you telling me that laughing is not good way of breaking depression when we see that the holy spirit is the comforter who can give us his joy.

I hate to say it, Stylz, but your English grammar in this post is so bad I couldn't understand what you were saying. I think you have a better knowledge of the English language than what you are displaying here.

Please re-do this post in understandable English. Also, please proofread what you write before you post it. Also, when you cut and paste an article, you are required by law (and our forum rules) to give the author's name and the source of the material (book, magazine article,cd, etc. etc.).

SLE

I know I have to talk that person who was giving that messages that she want to help me with my english but i don't want to say I have bad grammarbut i don't because i know I am going to keep speaking lief but not death but I know i got to work on my grammar but it is okay to what you said.

Inasmuch as I am new to this forum, I will like to say that I am very impressed and amused by what I have been reading. Allow me to say somethings about the spiritual life. There are levels of revelation, and God is always willing to give a spiritually sensitive child of His a deeper understanding of His word. As Christians, the desire of the Father is to work on us, train us, and raise us until we become a full grown sons. In the book of Romans chapter 8 verse 14, the Bible says that as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God. The Greek word used here is pronounced 'hwee-os' which means the matured sons. Now compare that with 'children of God' in verse 16 which is 'tekno' and which means a child, that is as produced by a father. Now how do we grow? How do we become a mature son of the Father? It is by our constant fellowship with the word, our earnest communion with the Father, by the way if we are really born again there is always a desire to fellowship with Him, have you noticed it? Thats why the Bible say 'for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure,' the more we yield to that little prompting from the father and we fellowship with Him and His word, and we meditate on His word, the more our spirit man become stronger and able to receive more instruction and understanding from the Holy Spirit. And as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ, we begin to reflect God' virtue and glory, for He has indeed called us into virtue and Glory 2Peter 1:3. I will by His grace share more of the little grace i have received from Him. God bless all the children of God on this forum, amen.

And yet He will have no pleasure in them.

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

You left that part out as well as His promise.

Psalm 116:8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.


Jude 1:24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

I have heard this saying to be general in the pentecostal/charsimatic circle that all catholics were going to hell because of what they were doing as far as catholicism is concerned. ( I don't believe that, but I do believe they are labouring in unbelief not being mixed with faith in those that heard the Gospel and thus voiding faith in Him as Saviour and Good Shepherd. In other words, they will be found not ready and not abiding in Him for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb at the pre-tribulation rapture event which will be God's judgment on the House of God... the Gentiles churches, before handing the despensation of the Gospel back to the Jews, hence the 144,000 witnesses after the rapture for the great tribulation period.)

In any event, God addressed the seven churches as in appliying it to seven kinds of believers to examine themselves or else to avoid that.

We see how the RCC offers a door to herself as well as many doors to the priest for confession and forgiveness of sins as well as other doors for mediation and works of righteousness to obtain through the Mass and penance and the pentecostal and charismatics would be pointing them to that singular Door of Jesus Christ to relate to God the Father in relationship as well as worship.

But yet, the pentecosal/charismatics do not see themselves as offering another door besides the one to Jesus either... another one to the Spirit. And they do not even recognize how all their churches combined are offering more than one door to the Spirit as well.... like for another baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of tongues, or to declare that as THE baptism of salvation as if one needs a sign of speaking in tongues to know that they have the Holy Spirit to know that the are saved....and as if the one baptism of the Spirit and the one hope of their calling fades from their minds, there are more than one baptism of the Holy Spirit; then you have those that preach receiving an anointing as if that is seperate from the baptism of the Holy Spirit... and then again...the anointing comes another time; then you have those that want to be neflamed by the presence of Christ; some would call the anointing power; or being filled with new wine, and to some being drunk in His presence or receiving fire as those that are enflamed with new wine would attest also... and then there is that continula filling of the Spirit as if everyone is a leaky vessel, ignoring the reality of Mathew 9:17 and Jesus' promise in John 6:35 for those hungering after righteousness to be filled by coming to and believing in Jesus. All that from a singular door to the Spirit, and yet the pentecostal and the charismatic ignore the same offense in the way the RCC offers many doors for a believer to enter into that relationship with God to relate to God.

It seems to me that clearly, there is only one Door and why Jesus is the only Way to the Father as His invitation is the commandment so as to avoid false prophets and false spirits as John 10:1-9 would speak of. Is it any wonder why those that have tongues with no interpretations can be categorized as the stranger's voice? And yet those that claim to have the Biblical tongues by the same rudiment would fail to have their tongues tested by a linguists by which sme churches did and discovered to their dismay that they didn't have the Biblical tongues after all.

So churches need to test the tongues as well as the spirits and recognize that by broadening the Way, they suffered a thief to break through. We were warned that false prophets and false christs will arise with signs and wonders to even fool if possible... the very elect.. Matthew 24:23-26 , so believers can get tongues with no interpretation and that is why we are called to test the spirits and what it is leading us to believe and do.. spirit worship when the real indwelling Holy Spirit seeks to lead us to testify and glorify Jesus Christ thus worshipping the Father IN spirit and IN truth. We can only know the Holy Spirit by Him dwelling in us as promised for coming to Jesus... by faith: Galatians 3:14,26 and not by sight : Hebrews 11:1,6 & Ephesians 1:12-15 as opposed to that which is in the world where other spirits are and felt. 1 John 3:22-24 & 1 John 4:1-7

So the keeping of the faith is in this wise: 2 Corinthians 13:5 Do we rest in Him after coming to Jesus or do we continue to seek after that which denies the promise for coming to Him that we are filled, sealed, and thus saved? Since He will be appearing soon, should not our eyes be trained on Jesus, our forst love? He is called the Bridegroom for a reason and why the indwelling Holy Spirit and the faithful witness of the Bride will be giving only one kind of invitation... and that is to come to the Son to rest in Him.

Revelation 22:16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

John 4:10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 6:35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

The Gospel has to be simple, and that is why Jesus is the only Door. By offering another door to the Spirit which has many doors as well within as the RCC has within, there can be no rest in Jesus if He is our pitstop instead of our resting place... so to rest in Him and be found ready is.. to narrow the Way back to the straight gate and ceased committing spiritual fornication from which many are suffering within in more ways than one, scattering the flock from Him and voiding faith which is their wedding garment.

Ask the Lord what more could He have done in making us His so we can rest in Him? Isaiah 5