Why do people pass out at faith healing services?

[reba]

Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

 

[Alabaster]

I thought not to comment on this but maybe I should.

When you made a decision to trust in Christ, the moment you excepted Him as your Lord and Savior you where baptized in the Holy Spirit. No man has the power to place salvation upon you, nor does he have the power to infuse the Holy Spirit into your body or soul. That is done only by God and when you except His free gift of salvation through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. There is no such thing as another dry baptism you need to get.

Sorry, but you need to acquaint yourself with the book of Acts and see for yourself that there is a subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit that everyone needs to avail themselves of.

The Holy Spirit moves in and indwells every born again person at the moment of faith, but He pours His anointing in at His baptism.

 

[Alabaster]

when I got baptized in the Holy Spirit back in 1973, It was a very powerful experiance that made me a new person. The love of God just rolled through my body like a wave! I spoke in toungues for 2 weeks straight. But being slain in the spirit was a greater experiance! The love that I felt was just a little more intense. It was intense the day I was baptised in the Holy Spirit and started speaking in tongues: but the inensity of God's love at that moment was not so strong as to cause me to black out; like it was when I was slain in the Spirit.

How wonderful! Praise God for His special anointing upon you!

 

[handy]

Back in 1990, I had joined the army. I went to fort dix in NJ for my basic
training. I called home one day and found out that my 4 year old daughter has slipped on some ice and fell down a flight of stairs and broke her left arm. Snapped
the bone in two! I told my wife to put her on the phone. I asked her if she
believed that Jesus would heal her if I asked Him too. She said "Yeah
daddy, I believe He will." So I said ok, lets pray. As I started praying
for her I felt the glory of God in my heart in a powerful way, and my daughter
felt the same thing and she started giggling with joy! I knew right then that
she had been healed! I called back home again two week later and my wife told
me this story, she said that she had taken my daughter to the doctors office a
week earlier and the doctor x-rayed her bone through her cast. and then went
and looked at the x-rays to see if the bone was still set right and healing ok.
Then he came out and started taking off her cast. and as he did so he said that
he had never seen a bone heal this quickly or this thoroughly. It was just as
if it had never been broken! All praise goes to God for healing her!

Now, there is no place in the bible that says that Jesus or anyone else ever
healed someone by praying for them over a phone! Nor is there any record of
anyone having a broken bone healed instantly the way my daughters was! Does
this mean that this was not the work of God? I don't think so!

But I do think that the Bible reinforces the principle that you are describing here...think of the Centurion who told Jesus that He didn't need to come to his house to heal his son...he knew that Jesus could heal his son from where He stood...Jesus praised his faith and healed the son. Examples of His miraculous healings abound in Scriptures...whereas any mention of something like "slain in the Spirit" a phenomenom which is far more prevalent in other religions like voodoo and something which can be shown to have a physiological explanation is not...

It's not as if no one else around here has never experienced the overwhelming love and peace of God infusing us either...I know I have, I'm sure others have as well. But, those times in my life when I felt the Spirit come upon me, bringing me that sense of love, joy, peace all at once....far from passing out or becoming unable to move, it was all I could do to not jump up and run around dancing and singing.

...not, and this is important, that I want to get into a "my experience is more valid than yours" attitude, not that at all, (I'm a boisterous sort of person, others might be still and quite in this joy and peace) ...

But rather, we need to validate our experiences by the light of the Scripture so that we can be assured that they are indeed from God and not from false teachings and false prophets.

If we leave the Scriptures behind...stating as it so often stated, "You can't put God in a box" (as if that is what we're doing here) then, anything goes.

Do you want to know the last time, I kept hearing over and over, "You can't put God in a box" and "You can't go by what the Scriptures say"? It was at the Evangelical Lutheran Synod Assembly back in 2008 where they voted to ordain gay and lesbian ministers.

This is why we must test the spirits, and test them by something more tangible than just our feelings. This is why God gives us the Scriptures, so that we know what is from Him and what we can be confused about.

Sparrowhawk....funny how things work, I had just looked up Acts 8, then scrolled down to see if anyone else had posted and here we are...thinking alike!

Yes, Simon the Socerer did observe manifestations when Peter and John laid hands upon the people of Samaria. But, Acts 8 does not record specifically what he saw. However, Acts 2 does record what happened when the Spirit came upon the people in the upper room and they came pouring out of that room speaking in languages that they had never learned as well as miraculous healings, the overwhelming love that prompted people to share all they had. Oh yes, the manifestations of the Spirit are quite real...but I still put "slain in the Spirit" to the test.

 

[handy]

BTW, Samuel...in composing the above post...all the while answering 3 phone calls, getting my daughter to bed...letting the cat in and the dog out...I forgot to say one thing that I wanted very much to say which is...


....praise God for the healing for your little girl's arm!!!!! I do know that God does work wondrous deeds, yes He does!

 

[theophilus3213]

Igor I am glad you open this topic because it is such a huge delusion on the most part, I just have a hard time with this whole Slain in the Spirit thing, as others have stated, when falling before the Lord it was a personal act of worship and it was making yourself prostrate before God almighty an act of submission to the one in authority. I do not see it as this slain in the spirit others have experienced. I see no where in scripture where this slain in the spirit happens nor do I see when Jesus healed did they fall backwards.

Also another thing that bothers me is (I mentioned this in the thread the OP spoke of) Why do we call them Faith Healers, or why do they call themselves faith Healers? Are they the healer? It seems to me saying one is a Faith Healer is calling them the healer and not God. Why not call them Faith ministers of God's Healing, or something shorter but to that point.

Just curious about that.

I thought not to comment on this but maybe I should.

When you made a decision to trust in Christ, the moment you excepted Him as your Lord and Savior you where baptized in the Holy Spirit. No man has the power to place salvation upon you, nor does he have the power to infuse the Holy Spirit into your body or soul. That is done only by God and when you except His free gift of salvation through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. There is no such thing as another dry baptism you need to get.

Igor I am glad you open this topic because it is such a huge delusion on the most part, I just have a hard time with this whole Slain in the Spirit thing, as others have stated, when falling before the Lord it was a personal act of worship and it was making yourself prostrate before God almighty an act of submission to the one in authority. I do not see it as this slain in the spirit others have experienced. I see no where in scripture where this slain in the spirit happens nor do I see when Jesus healed did they fall backwards.

Also another thing that bothers me is (I mentioned this in the thread the OP spoke of) Why do we call them Faith Healers, or why do they call themselves faith Healers? Are they the healer? It seems to me saying one is a Faith Healer is calling them the healer and not God. Why not call them Faith ministers of God's Healing, or something shorter but to that point.

Just curious about that.

I thought not to comment on this but maybe I should.

When you made a decision to trust in Christ, the moment you excepted Him as your Lord and Savior you where baptized in the Holy Spirit. No man has the power to place salvation upon you, nor does he have the power to infuse the Holy Spirit into your body or soul. That is done only by God and when you except His free gift of salvation through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. There is no such thing as another dry baptism you need to get.

Igor

I am glad you open this topic because it is such a huge delusion on the most

part, I just have a hard time with this whole Slain in the Spirit thing, as

others have stated, when falling before the Lord it was a personal act of

worship and it was making yourself prostrate before God almighty an act of

submission to the one in authority. I do not see it as this slain in the spirit

others have experienced. I see no where in scripture where this slain in the

spirit happens nor do I see when Jesus healed did they fall backwards.

Also another thing

that bothers me is (I mentioned this in the thread the OP spoke of) Why do we

call them Faith Healers, or why do they call themselves faith Healers? Are they

the healer? It seems to me saying one is a Faith Healer is calling them the

healer and not God. Why not call them Faith ministers of God's Healing, or

something shorter but to that point.

Just curious about

that.

I thought not to

comment on this but maybe I should.

When you made a

decision to trust in Christ, the moment you excepted Him as your Lord and

Savior you where baptized in the Holy Spirit. No man has the power to place

salvation upon you, nor does he have the power to infuse the Holy Spirit into

your body or soul. That is done only by God and when you except His free gift

of salvation through the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. There is no such

thing as another dry baptism you need to get.

The statement that you made above is not biblically accurate for Acts 19:1-6 States "1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as
heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Then Paul

said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the

people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on

Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name

of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied."

Notice that these believers at Ephesus had already accepted Jesus as

their Lord and Savior, (they were disciples!) But they had not yet been

baptized in the Holy Spirit. The passage also tells us that it is possible to

be baptised in the Holy Spirit when you believe: but it is not an automatic

thing! You have to be istructed about it and then ask God for it and then

recieve it.

In John we read:

John 20:22

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: KJV

Now this verse tells us that they had received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. So they had a portion of the Holy Spirit, but they had not yet been baptized in the Holy Spirit. That would not happen until the day of pentacost.

Luke 24:49

49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. KJV

Acts 1:4-8

4.. And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. ... ….8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. KJV

Here we see two separate passages that say that the desciples, who had already received the Holy Spirit, had to stay in Jeruselem and wait for the MPOWERMENT of the Holy Spirit. For even though they had the Holy Spirit, they had not yet been empowered by the Holy Spirit. And that is what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is all about!

Acts 2:1-4

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. KJV

Here we see the dramatic fulfillment of Jesus promise to baptize them in the Holy Spirit. This was a new thing that had never occurred in the past. And it radically changed their lives!

Acts 2:38-39

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. KJV

Here we see that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is romised to every believer. For it is for "as many as the Lord our God shall call" And if anyone is save at all, they have been called by God.

Luke 11:11-13

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? KJV

Acts 5:32

32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
KJV

Here we see that Jesus promises to

baptize every one who asks (beg’s) Him to do so. And Paul gives us a further

requirement, i.e we must obey Him in order to receive this gift.

So we see that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is something that is given to us in addition to what we receive when we repent and invite Jesus into our heart as our Lord and Savior. It is gives us supernatural power to do the works of God. To speak in tongues, interpret tongues, prophecy, to discern spirits, to set us free from sins

bondage, to empower us to preach the gospel, etc.

It is an essential part of Christianity!

 

[Igor]

Thanks again for all the responses.

I've always been one to freely say that just because something isn't specifically mentioned in the Bible doesn't mean that it is against God, sinful, or wrong in any way (as long as it doesn't go against any scriptures).

Maybe a big problem with understanding whether or not falling down while being healed is truly from God comes from the very numerous examples of trickery, fakery, and general play acting that has been proven and exposed among many of the famous television "faith healers". This is so prevalent, it seems it makes cautious Christians reluctant to believe any of it is true, especially when it is not something specifically mentioned in scripture, and is similar, if not identical, to something that occurs in paganism.

It seems for some of us this has been a real experience. Would it be easier to believe it was real if there was not so much deceitful trickery revolving around it in our world today?

Also, since the sight of people falling over backward when they are "healed" by a "faith healer" is so prevalent today, do some Christians consider the experience of being "slain in the spirit" to be a mandatory part of being healed by God?

 

[theophilus3213]

But I do think that the Bible reinforces the principle that you are describing here...think of the Centurion who told Jesus that He didn't need to come to his house to heal his son...he knew that Jesus could heal his son from where He stood...Jesus praised his faith and healed the son. Examples of His miraculous healings abound in Scriptures...whereas any mention of something like "slain in the Spirit" a phenomenom which is far more prevalent in other religions like voodoo and something which can be shown to have a physiological explanation is not...

It's not as if no one else around here has never experienced the overwhelming love and peace of God infusing us either...I know I have, I'm sure others have as well. But, those times in my life when I felt the Spirit come upon me, bringing me that sense of love, joy, peace all at once....far from passing out or becoming unable to move, it was all I could do to not jump up and run around dancing and singing.

...not, and this is important, that I want to get into a "my experience is more valid than yours" attitude, not that at all, (I'm a boisterous sort of person, others might be still and quite in this joy and peace) ...

But rather, we need to validate our experiences by the light of the Scripture so that we can be assured that they are indeed from God and not from false teachings and false prophets.

If we leave the Scriptures behind...stating as it so often stated, "You can't put God in a box" (as if that is what we're doing here) then, anything goes.

Do you want to know the last time, I kept hearing over and over, "You can't put God in a box" and "You can't go by what the Scriptures say"? It was at the Evangelical Lutheran Synod Assembly back in 2008 where they voted to ordain gay and lesbian ministers.

This is why we must test the spirits, and test them by something more tangible than just our feelings. This is why God gives us the Scriptures, so that we know what is from Him and what we can be confused about.

Sparrowhawk....funny how things work, I had just looked up Acts 8, then scrolled down to see if anyone else had posted and here we are...thinking alike!

Yes, Simon the Socerer did observe manifestations when Peter and John laid hands upon the people of Samaria. But, Acts 8 does not record specifically what he saw. However, Acts 2 does record what happened when the Spirit came upon the people in the upper room and they came pouring out of that room speaking in languages that they had never learned as well as miraculous healings, the overwhelming love that prompted people to share all they had. Oh yes, the manifestations of the Spirit are quite real...but I still put "slain in the Spirit" to the test.

I am a firm believer in 'testing the spirits', I am fully aware of Satans couterfiets! But when it comes to miracles the bible is not specific. Once again, the bible does not give us a list of miricles that God says He does and if miracles happen that are contray to these they are not done by Him! So when it comes to miriacles 'anythng goes'!

the way that you tell if the miracles are being done by the power of God or the power of satan is by the persons message that He preaches, or by their own admission as to what the spiritual sorce is for their miricales. for example. There was one faith healer a few years back who did many miricles. When he was asked how he did his miracles he stated that there was a liqure loving spirit that came upon him and gave him the power to heal people. In his case he tells you that his miracles are done by a demon. If they wilfully teach false doctrines, then that can be a sign that the miracles are not done by god as well. However, if they are teaching a false doctrine because of ignorance on their part; then the miracles could very well be done by the power of God.

At any rate, if you are walking in the spirit of God, God will reveal too you wether or not the sorce of the miracles is from Him or not!

Satan has delibratley set up false teachers and is doing miraculous things through them in order to decieve the masses. He does this because he knows that God is also doing a lot of miracles and if he did nothing the whole world would forsake him and follow God. If Satan were not afraid of God's miracle working power in the world today, he would not set up counterfiets in order to try to dicount what God is doing.

There is a whole lot more that needs to be said about discerning spirits, and spiritual warfare. But I cant write books in these threads.

God bless

 

[theophilus3213]

Thanks again for all the responses.

I've always been one to freely say that just because something isn't specifically mentioned in the Bible doesn't mean that it is against God, sinful, or wrong in any way (as long as it doesn't go against any scriptures).

Maybe a big problem with understanding whether or not falling down while being healed is truly from God comes from the very numerous examples of trickery, fakery, and general play acting that has been proven and exposed among many of the famous television "faith healers". This is so prevalent, it seems it makes cautious Christians reluctant to believe any of it is true, especially when it is not something specifically mentioned in scripture, and is similar, if not identical, to something that occurs in paganism.

It seems for some of us this has been a real experience. Would it be easier to believe it was real if there was not so much deceitful trickery revolving around it in our world today?

Also, since the sight of people falling over backward when they are "healed" by a "faith healer" is so prevalent today, do some Christians consider the experience of being "slain in the spirit" to be a mandatory part of being healed by God?

Yes Satan is very afraid of what God is doing in the world today, and he has set up many 'false teacher/prophets' to try to discredit what God is doing. The fact that Satan is working so hard to do these things is evidence that God is really doing some fantastic miracles in our day and age!

But to answer your question: No, it is not mandatory to be slain in the spirit to be healed by God.

I have been slain in the spirit many times. But I also have been healed of a brain tumer. When I was healed of the brain tumer, I was laying in my bed at the time and all that happened was the pain in my head went away. God has also healed many other people through me and none of them got slain in the Spirit. Yet they were healed.

 

[pjt]

I`d like to address the terminology "slain in the spirit". According to my Webster`s dictionary the word slain means "to kill or destroy in a violent way". When we speak of murder we use this word so if this were really from God, would He be describing His Spirit with this word? I find it a form of blasphemy. When God speaks of the HOLY Spirit, He uses words like Holy, Comforter, the Holy Spirit is described as a helper, as one who frees Believers, dwells in Believers, empowers Believers, and guides Believers. There is nothing to indicate the Holy Spirit is a slayer or violent in nature as the term "slain" indicates. The Holy Spirits seals. He does not cut and slice up the spirit of man. But if the devil could come in and call the Holy Spirit a name, wouldn`t it seem natural for the devil to use a word just the opposite of the nature of the Holy Spirit, like one who slays? This terminology obviously doesn`t come from God and if it doesn`t come from God then for it to be so grossly misrepresenting Who the Holy Spirit is, isn`t it possible this came from the devil and people are being fooled and calling our Blessed, gentle Holy Spirit a "slayer" like out of a horror movie, but the devil is cunning and blinds peoples` eyes to this to make them just get so caught up in the emotional experience that they really don`t realize what they are saying about the Holy Spirit.

 

[Danny63]

The statement that you made above is not biblically accurate for Acts 19:1-6 States "1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as
heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Then Paul

said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the

people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on

Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name

of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied."

Notice that these believers at Ephesus had already accepted Jesus as

their Lord and Savior, (they were disciples!) But they had not yet been

baptized in the Holy Spirit. The passage also tells us that it is possible to

be baptised in the Holy Spirit when you believe: but it is not an automatic

thing! You have to be istructed about it and then ask God for it and then

recieve it.

In John we read:

John 20:22

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: KJV

Now this verse tells us that they had received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. So they had a portion of the Holy Spirit, but they had not yet been baptized in the Holy Spirit. That would not happen until the day of pentacost.

First of all the statement I made according to the post I was in question of is biblically accurate and I ask you, show me in the scriptures where is says any words like the poster used, he said there was a "dry baptism" as if my receiving Christ did not cause the Spirit of God to at that moment to enter me, I need another baptism and I disagree.

The first scripture you quote there, Acts 19, It is likely that these were Asiatic Jews, who, having been at Jerusalem about twenty-six years before this, had heard the preaching of John, and received his baptism, believing in the coming Christ, whom John had proclaimed; but it appears that till this time they had got no farther instruction in the Christian religion. So Paul guessing this asked them if they received the Holy Ghost, Jesus baptized with the Holy Ghost John only baptized with water.

The portion of your post I underlined and made bold, please back that statement up with scripture, again I see no where in the bible Jesus told me I would get a part of the spirit one way and a part of Him another way. Nope not in my bible I do not see that.

I think I was maybe not clear in my last post. I do believe there are times when we as believers have hands laid on us at certain times and the Spirit of God moves on us in a more powerful way then we experience everyday, there are times we need a little more of Him so to speak but that does not in my opinion mean we do not already have the Holy Spirit.
I am contesting the fact that there is this illusion that when we ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior that we need to take further steps to gain the Holy Spirit and I do not interpret the scripture as saying that at all. again there are times the Holy Spirit moves on us in a more powerful way but that does not mean He was not given to us in the fullness of all of God's promises to us at the time we excepted Christ.

 

[Danny63]

I still can not get anyone to answer why they call these men "Faith Healers" are they healing or is God????

Forgot to mention that again in the last post.

 

[Chris]

Thanks for all the responses! Although I still am not sure I understand, and still have questions.

What is “slain in the Spirit”? Sure, I’ve heard the term lots of times, but what is it, based on scripture. I mean, where does God’s word tell us that we should be “slain” in the Spirit? Even if it doesn’t use these exact words, where does God’s word describe this happening (at least in principle) in the way we see it at faith healing services?


I didn’t know this. Thanks. So, is it sort of like you are aware of what’s happening, but you are paralyzed? Unable to move, speak, or do anything?



I’m not sure if this is the same as what I am asking about in this thread. In all the faith healing services I have seen, no one has ever fallen on their face. Always on their backs (most times after receiving a good firm shove to the forehead by the faith healer’s palm). To the ancient people of Biblical times, falling on one’s face was a sign of worship. But falling on ones back was not. Also, as far as Iknow, falling on the face was a conscious, purposeful act that they performed on their own power, not a reaction of losing control of their bodies. In the faith healing services, it appears the people have lost physical control of their bodies and fall in the direction they are pushed by the faith healer. In fact, many times I have even seen, when the “healed” doesn’t seem to be ready to fall, they get a much firmer push form the palm until they finally yield to it.
I don’t think this is what is being described in 1 Cor 14:25.

I guess I’m starting to question if this whole idea of “slain in the Spirit” is Biblical. I sort of want it to be, because it makes good theater. And good theater attracts people. But it has to be Biblical “theater” to be from God.

I don’t see this as the same thing as just doing something new (like playing an electric guitar in a worship service for example) that wasn’t mentioned in the Bible because it didn’t exist back then. We are talking about a direct exhibit of a spiritual event involving people losing control over their bodies that doesn't seem to have any nessesity for the actual physical healing to be accomplished. It seems to me if this is the way God worked, He would have worked in this way in Biblical times as well. So I’m still asking if anyone can find a Biblical example, even in principle, that really matches what we are seeing today?

Up until last Sunday any answer I had on this subject would be pure speculation. no one was forced back people were touched lightly then left alone for the most part any overwhelming experiences happened as the healer stepped back there was a guy positioned behind in case. Read my other posts. i have no comparative experience of this only what I saw a couple of days ago. So far personally It has been a positive experience only and one i would repeat given the chance.Not al became overwhelmed but many did. I have no idea why I asked in the other section.

I was only trying to be encouraging being open about it all and telling you guys. Would you do the same too if you saw something like that yourself?

 

[handy]

Maybe a big problem with understanding whether or not falling down while being healed is truly from God comes from the very numerous examples of trickery, fakery, and general play acting that has been proven and exposed among many of the famous television "faith healers". This is so prevalent, it seems it makes cautious Christians reluctant to believe any of it is true, especially when it is not something specifically mentioned in scripture, and is similar, if not identical, to something that occurs in paganism.

Exactly!!

It seems for some of us this has been a real experience. Would it be easier to believe it was real if there was not so much deceitful trickery revolving around it in our world today?

Again, I've no doubt that it is "real"...just whether or not it is of God.

Pjt, I think you bring up a good point about the terminology here...since the Spirit is the giver of life, why is it this is being referred to in death terminology?

I am a firm believer in 'testing the spirits', I am fully aware of Satans couterfiets! But when it comes to miracles the bible is not specific. Once again, the bible does not give us a list of miricles that God says He does and if miracles happen that are contray to these they are not done by Him! So when it comes to miriacles 'anythng goes'!

I disagree...I think anything that is touted as being the most awesome experience a Christian can have, would have been written of in the word. Especially since, as was mentioned earlier, it has much more in common with pagan religions than with Christianity.

the way that you tell if the miracles are being done by the power of God or the power of satan is by the persons message that He preaches, or by their own admission as to what the spiritual sorce is for their miricales.

The word of God gives us a different perspective though..."Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'"

I think it is clear that we must test the spirits in the same way the early church and the apostles tested the spirits, by examining things through the light of Scripture. This is what God gave us the Scriptures for, for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. That word "reproof" (elegchos) is often misquoted or misunderstood as "reprove" but it is "reproof" and it means, "a thing by which something is proved or tested."

 

[Elijah674]

Good post. And the greatest miracle that is being seen today is the Born Again Recreated Heart!

And to be honest with you all, 'i' tire of these false hobby/horse tongues, & zap, zap foolish healings stuff! Isa, 58:1 + Isa. 59:1-2 along with Matt. 7:22!

And to not be mis-understood, there are many spiritually [BLIND] sincere ones still in this stuff, who MUST BE CALLED OUT, and they are being LED TO DO SO! Rev. 18:4. But how can God reach them when all their time is spent with these reams & reams of emotion???

--Elijah

 

[Sam21]

I think there is something real and also a lot of fake. I watched a TV story of folks in another part of the world submitting to a particular demon and so help me it looked exactly like what I have witnessed in many churches. I do think that some people some times truly fall down by the Holy Spirit but the rolling around on the floor and crying is probably from another source.
Why does it happen? I really do not know, I went to a church where I witnessed a woman touch this guy and he actually flew backwards and landed on the floor,yet her christian walk had some serious problems. These folks are submitting themselves to a spiritual force, sometimes I believe it is the Lord and sometimes I believe it is another spirit. If the person is not truly walking with the Lord then it is probably a demonic spirit.

 

[reba]

I`d like to address the terminology "slain in the spirit". According to my Webster`s dictionary the word slain means "to kill or destroy in a violent way". When we speak of murder we use this word so if this were really from God, would He be describing His Spirit with this word? I find it a form of blasphemy. When God speaks of the HOLY Spirit, He uses words like Holy, Comforter, the Holy Spirit is described as a helper, as one who frees Believers, dwells in Believers, empowers Believers, and guides Believers. There is nothing to indicate the Holy Spirit is a slayer or violent in nature as the term "slain" indicates. The Holy Spirits seals. He does not cut and slice up the spirit of man. But if the devil could come in and call the Holy Spirit a name, wouldn`t it seem natural for the devil to use a word just the opposite of the nature of the Holy Spirit, like one who slays? This terminology obviously doesn`t come from God and if it doesn`t come from God then for it to be so grossly misrepresenting Who the Holy Spirit is, isn`t it possible this came from the devil and people are being fooled and calling our Blessed, gentle Holy Spirit a "slayer" like out of a horror movie, but the devil is cunning and blinds peoples` eyes to this to make them just get so caught up in the emotional experience that they really don`t realize what they are saying about the Holy Spirit.

I think the term comes from the idea of " dieing to self' " there are plenty of verses that talk about that .

Some folks need a visual, they need to feel , some of us are more emotional then others.... I believe God reaches to each of us where we are. Some folks stay babies in the Lord some mature. Some of us stay in TEEN years! ( NO i am not saying those who 'are slain" are babies)

I my 60+ years of being in church i have seen what we would call good christian people fall under the power of God or slain in the spirit. I have also seen many fakers. I have seen/heard tongues faked, false traveling preachers etc. Many folks in the pews well get some idea about something or some one and they will fake/cheat/lie so they can appear to be right. The so wish to have something NEW from the Lord!

For me i have learned if it ain't in the Scripture i will be skeptical . Back to the Scripture for balance.



Agree Sam 21

 

[Alabaster]

Good post. And the greatest miracle that is being seen today is the Born Again Recreated Heart!

And to be honest with you all, 'i' tire of these false hobby/horse tongues, & zap, zap foolish healings stuff! Isa, 58:1 + Isa. 59:1-2 along with Matt. 7:22!

And to not be mis-understood, there are many spiritually [BLIND] sincere ones still in this stuff, who MUST BE CALLED OUT, and they are being LED TO DO SO! Rev. 18:4. But how can God reach them when all their time is spent with these reams & reams of emotion???

--Elijah

The workings of the Holy Spirit in His children may seem like 'hobby horses' to you, but until you have submitted your entire self to Holy Spirit and experienced any manifestation of His baptism and power, you just cannot speak to the subject.

We who experience Him are not to be called out, but we are being called into union with Him, praise God!

Be very careful that you do not find yourself guilty before holy God of committing that unpardonable sin of calling that which is of the Holy Spirit as from Satan.

 

[farouk]

I think the term comes from the idea of " dieing to self' " there are plenty of verses that talk about that .

Some folks need a visual, they need to feel , some of us are more emotional then others.... I believe God reaches to each of us where we are. Some folks stay babies in the Lord some mature. Some of us stay in TEEN years! ( NO i am not saying those who 'are slain" are babies)

I my 60+ years of being in church i have seen what we would call good christian people fall under the power of God or slain in the spirit. I have also seen many fakers. I have seen/heard tongues faked, false traveling preachers etc. Many folks in the pews well get some idea about something or some one and they will fake/cheat/lie so they can appear to be right. The so wish to have something NEW from the Lord!

For me i have learned if it ain't in the Scripture i will be skeptical . Back to the Scripture for balance.



Agree Sam 21

reba:

Do you think falling over like that is a visual that is done to give reality to it?

I'm not even convinced from the Bible about whether the healing thing is even genuine for today. God can indeed heal, but I have doubts about the whole 'faith healing' movement.

 

[Shar]

I still can not get anyone to answer why they call these men "Faith Healers" are they healing or is God????

Forgot to mention that again in the last post.

I've looked at this for the last 6 years through a Google alert on the term "healing services" in order to understand about this before asking for prayer with someone through whom thousands have been healed (and proven by medical tests, x-rays, etc.) and I have had several miraculous healings, including the healing of my heart lacerated from a car accident. The prayer was over the phone and I asked God silently to show He would help me and felt a pulse-like sensation going up inside my neck toward my ear where I was holding the phone. I sat down and when I was still, He drew out the pain completely and I felt many pieces of my heart closing and sealing completely in a few seconds. I don't expect anyone to understand that, it was God and I am sure of it because I prayed silently while the doctor and his wife on the phone prayed. It was exactly what I needed at the time to continue on. I have since understood that with celiac's disease I didn't know I had at the time, I did not have absorption of nutrients to be able to heal "on my own" and I really needed God's help. From what I can understand and through my experience, those that claim they are doing the healing are either not understanding it's God's power or they really are fakes. The one who's prayed for my healings does not take credit for it at all, he says that it is the Holy Spirit that does it, and that is my experience. You can check out his ministry at Path To Faith - Welcome