My Slain in the Spirit Experience and How this Phenomenon is Biblical - A Daily Devotional

15/2/2018

My Slain in the Spirit Experience and How this Phenomenon is Biblical - A Daily Devotional

Amilee and I attended the School of Evangelism course conducted by Christ for All Nations (CfAN) and Evangelist Reinhard Bonkke and we had our first slain in the Spirit experience!

If you like this original Bible study, you can also check out my Patreon for more exclusive Bible studies, sermon notes, devotionals and eBooks that are not posted anywhere else.

Amilee and I's slain in the Spirit experience at School of Evangelism

I used to find this phenomenon of people being slain in the Spirit very weird and a little scary. I was also skeptical. "Were they faking it?", "Why must God make that person cry so loudly and spasm on the floor?" - these are real questions that went through my mind when I saw it happen for the first time.

Then one day, Amilee (back then my best friend and not yet my wife) and I attended "School of Evangelism" in Singapore, a four-day evangelistic course by Christ for All Nations (CfAN) led by Evangelist Reinhard Bonkke in October 2014.

In one of the segments of the course, Doctor Chauncey Crandall, a surgeon who was also a believer, taught about "The Miraculous in Christ" - I was blown away by his testimony about him raising a man from dead.
Towards the end of his session, he was led by the Holy Spirit to invite attendees of the course to head to the altar and he laid his hands on them.

While doing this, he was constantly praying in tongues and I still remember till this day the words that he spoke repeatedly in a calm manner: "Horaba Shente, Horaba Shente".

As he laid hands on people, one by one they fell to the ground as if they were knocked out unconscious - they were slain in the Spirit - and each person had different manifestations afterwards.

Some started to cry softly, some were wailing loudly, some were flushed in the face and looking peacefully as they lay on the ground, and some people were convulsing on the ground as if having a spasm.

Seeing all this happen, I was so excited! I thought to myself: I can finally see if this slain in the Spirit thing is real or not.
With faith and anticipation in my heart, I made my way to the front of the altar, and Doctor Chauncey laid his hand on my forehead as I closed my eyes and smiled like a fool.

What I experienced was like I was falling in slow motion to the ground as if invisible hands were supporting me from behind.
When my body finally reached the ground, I lay there experiencing a overwhelming sense of love and peace enveloping me - I knew I could get up at any time, but I didn't want to because it felt so great, so supernatural.

Amilee told me afterwards that I was the only one smiling and looking so excited to be slain the Spirit haha.

After that, I saw Amilee going up to the front for a touch of the miraculous as well and when Doctor Chauncey's hand touched her head, she stumbled a few steps backwards, looking as if she was very dizzy and was gently supported to lie down on the floor by a volunteer.

After the whole session ended, it was followed by a time of praise and worship. Halfway through the session, I felt led to place my right hand on Amilee's head - she was standing on my right.
Immediately, she stumbled again like when Doctor Chauncey placed his hand on her head. She was slain in the Spirit again.
I was so shocked that it could happen through me too. I realized that God can work His miraculous power through whichever believer he chose.

The Biblical explanation for the slain in the Spirit experience

As far as I know, I only found two occurrences in the Bible of someone having a slain in the Spirit experience and the two incidents are very similar. Let's take a look at the verses:

"As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory and brilliance of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell face downward and I heard a voice of One speaking. Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak to you.” Then as He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me." (Ezekiel 1:28-2:2 AMP)

"and in the midst of the lampstands I saw someone like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching to His feet, and with a golden sash wrapped around His chest. His head and His hair were white like white wool, [glistening white] like snow; and His [all-seeing] eyes were [flashing] like a flame of fire [piercing into my being]. His feet were like burnished [white-hot] bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was [powerful] like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword [of judgment]; and His face [reflecting His majesty and the Shekinah glory] was like the sun shining in [all] its power [at midday]. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God]," (Revelation 1:13-17 AMP)

Looking at the two incidents above, there are two big similarities in both:

1) Both prophet Ezekiel and apostle John saw the glory of the Lord.

2) Both of them fell to the ground and remained on the ground.

Prophet Ezekiel needed the Spirit to set him on his feet so he definitely didn't fall down in worship on purpose. It happened suddenly and unexpectedly to him.
Apostle John fell at Jesus' feet "as though dead" . Does a dead person fall down by choice? No, it's also involuntary.
Their experiences are consistent with what Amilee and I experienced when we were slain in the Spirit after Doctor Chauncey laid his hand on our heads.

So we can deduce that people are slain in the Spirit because their bodies are somehow overwhelmed by the glory of the Lord in a moment.
I am guessing that we are unable to remain standing before Him when His glory comes because of the sinful flesh in our bodies.

I am reminded of these verses: "If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" (Psalm 130:3 NKV)

"since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23 AMP)

Truly, the slain in the Spirit experience reminds us that no one can remain standing and claim to be innocent by themselves because we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Only in Jesus do we have complete forgiveness of sins.

Special Prayer for this daily devotional:
Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that we never boast in ourselves because there is nothing but wretchedness in our own flesh.
Instead, help us to always rejoice and boast in Jesus because in Him there is total forgiveness of sins, righteousness and every blessing of God for us. In Jesus' name, Amen!"

Pinterest Pinnable Image. Repin this to share with your friends and family the Biblical explanation for the slain in the Spirit experience!

Have you ever had a slain in the Spirit experience? What's your personal thoughts about this phenomenon? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!

Remember, if you enjoyed this post, you can also check out my Patreon for more exclusive Bible studies and devotionals that are not posted anywhere else.

I hope that you have been blessed by reading this post on "My Slain in the Spirit Experience and How this Phenomenon is Biblical - A Daily Devotional".

Do any of the suggested articles below interest you?

Want to receive Jesus into your life, be saved from your sins and inherit unmerited favor and eternal life as a child of God?
Go this link and simply pray the prayer aloud!

Welcome to God's big, happy family - You are now a child of God!

Would you like to help to keep this blog alive and get exclusive rewards (including ALL my sermon notes in a downloadable e-Book format)?
Visit my Patreon page for more details now!

Please Like, Share and Comment on this post if you were blessed by reading this daily devotional!

Be blessed and walk in divine favor,

Milton Goh
----------------------------------------------
Follow me on Instagram @miltongohblog
Connect with me on FaceBook here.
Watch my videos on YouTube here.

Many blessings and thanks to Terence Koh and Shanice Ng for supporting this blog as our Superabundant Grace tier patrons!

11 Comments

Allison

17/2/2018 12:43:39 am

Hey Milton, thank you for all of your blogs! Very helpful. I’ve been under the impression that being stained in the spirit is demonic. (I’m sure there are some genuine instances) but it’s similar the the occultic and new age instances called kudalini. So I feel skeptical and afraid of that in Christianity. Because it mimics that if kudalini.

Milton Goh

17/2/2018 01:53:56 am

Hi Allison, thanks for reading! The devil is a copycat. He likes to take what is God’s and pervert it to become his own corrupted version.

The devil is copying God, not the other way round.

The new age practices are copying the slaying in the Spirit.

Nimal Perera

17/2/2018 11:22:32 pm

Dear Milton,

I am quite amazed and puzzled how and why I saw this explanation of yours on "Slaying in the Spirit" at the very time, I was having some questions in my mind over this. How come I happened to find this write up of you today itself when I had a question about very subject! Very strange and I am amazed. Today, this morning, here in Sri Lanka, we had Pastor Andres Bissoni (holyspirit.tv) and I was quite puzzled when I noticed many people getting slained in the Spirit. Personally I have not experienced this yet, though sometimes, during the worship, I had felt the shaking of my body and something like a heavy wait coming over my head. I had seen this slaying in the Spirit in Singapore, back in 2006 when I participated at the Holy Spirit Miracle Crusade by Pastor Benny Hinn. Still I could not understand it. I am still trying to understand it, and pray that we too will encounter the same experience which you both had in the power of the Holy Spirit. Pls pray for us for same!

18/2/2018 12:19:05 am

Hi Nimal, that is just how God chose to reply you and to show you that He loves you! I pray that you will experience being slain in the Spirit too. It is a divine feeling that can't be explained well in just words. Amen!

Erica Murphy

15/10/2019 03:18:56 am

The presence of the Lord is so powerful and holy. I believe he touches some believers to let them experience his awesomeness. I was a new Christian and knew without a doubt Jesus died for my sins. I went to alter to pray and felt his holy presence. Someone came from behind me and said God wants to give u holy spirit. Stand up and raise your arms. As soon as my arms raised, I fell back. I FELT the power of God. It was not mass hysteria as noone else was falling or was it even suggested to me. Noone touched my.forehead or pushed me back. It was God's holiness that touched and I fell in a spasm on the floor praising Jesus's name. I do believe there are those that are counterfeit but it was a real Holy experience I felt. I had felt him with me before when I got saved but being inexperienced I was afraid. That day I just told God I am yours and let him have me. He blessed me so much and I have faith he will continue. The Lord is so powerful and Holy. Praise his name above all .

19/10/2019 11:11:39 pm

Amen! Thanks for sharing! I long to experience that again! :)

Ravonne

8/3/2020 12:50:13 pm

Thank you for writing this post! It was so interesting! I just got slain in the spirit at church tonight and wanted to read what others experienced! I felt like you did, but pretty dizzy in a good way and it was just amazing. I only just now discovered the new levels of the Holy Spirit (being slain, speaking in tongues, laughing uncontrollably) ! I used to be scared of them too but Wow Holy Spirit is SO amazing!!!!!
Thanks for sharing! God bless!

8/3/2020 06:41:38 pm

Hi Ravonne, thanks for sharing your testimony! It is yet another confirmation that this experience is the power of the Holy Spirit working upon us.

Brett White link

12/10/2021 04:02:35 pm

What an exquisite article! Your post is very helpful right now. Thank you for sharing this informative one.If you are looking for coupon codes and deals just visit coupon plus deals dot com

Elaine

25/8/2022 04:15:11 pm

In 1995 I visited a church with my sister. I was only 22 at the time. I had my infant daughter with me. My sister explained that the pastor will come through soon and probably lay his hands on various people. I being very shy and not accustomed to this told her I would be angry if he tried to touch me. But as he walked towards us, he very quickly touched my forehead and I left my body and it fell to the floor. I then remember being in a very bright place that was so bright I couldn't make out any figures, yet I could sense being at the foot of a throne lying curled around the feet of who I perceived to be God. I was very warm, safe, and comfortable. I could here what was going on in the church, my daughter crying as strangers passed her about comforting her. Yet it seemed muffled and I was in so much peace that I desperately wanted to stay yet hearing my baby cry convinced me to return earlier than I desired. I have always suffered anxiety and lying in a floor among strangers didn't bother or embarrass me at all. It was like I left that body. Then re-entered it when I got ready. I have never forgotten it. It was so real.

Paul

25/7/2023 04:47:01 pm

Thanks Milton for sharing your story of being touched by the Glory of the Lord!

In 2006 when I was attending leadership conference we had a worship/prayer time. I remember a prophet put his hands on me and prayed. Then I felt like some whirlwind over my head and then a wind passed through my hand and I felt to the ground. I was on the ground quite a time just laying peacefully. When I opened my eyes, I saw that I was alone on the floor and everyone standing in the corner ready to leave. Felt kind of awkward lol.

In terms of Biblical proof of such incidents there are more instances that come to mind:
1) Abraham fell on his face and laughed. (Genesis 17:17) Verse of double victory (17)
2) Daniel was on his face to the ground in Daniel 10
3) Saul (Paul) fell to the ground when he met Jesus on the way to Damascus. (Acts 9:4)
I believe there more of it in the Word of God.