"Slain by the Spirit", "Holy Laughter" & other stuff...

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"Slain by the Spirit", "Holy Laughter" & other stuff...

Forum: Messageboard
Date: 2001, Nov 19
From: Ian Morris IanMorris

This is in reference to thread number 642.
I do not claim to know it all, but try to explain from the Word of God some of the misunderstanding that is around regarding this subject matter.
There are some who have said that anyone can use the Bible and take it out of context to prove almost anything. And even one of them even said it outright that this is not of God.
I am here not to defend any group or denomination but simply pointing from the Word of God concerning this important issue. (Just to qualify myself: I am not writing something I read of a book, but having seen some awesome things the Lord has done in my ministry and having studied the Word of God on this matter. Still I do not claim I have all the answers but try as the Word shows.
I would like to make one very important thing clear before I go on, the term "SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT" & "HOLY LAUGHTER" ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE. The charismatic people who includes me have gotten the wrong idea of the whole thing. Let me explain...
"TO BE SLAIN OR NOT TO BE..."
The word "slain" means: "being put to death violently" (Webster's Dictionary". If that is the case, all of the charisma tics should have died long time ago. One of the possible slaining by the Spirit could be made reference to, could be that of Anani'as & Sapphi’ra (Acts 5: 1-11), who were clearly slain. In the Old Testament, it could point to Uzzah who was "slain" when he touched the ark (I Samuel 6:6-7). Slain, therefore is not the proper word to describe this phenomena. It could rather to called, "FALLING UNDER THE POWER OF GOD" or simply "FALLING"
NOW FALLING...
Falling: "to descend freely by the force of gravity, to drop oneself to a lower position, to leave an erect position suddenly and involuntarily". (Webster's)
The Bible DOES have references to people FALLING in the presence of God:
Old Testament
- Genesis 17:3, 17 (God appeared to Abram many more times but the Bible records him falling only here) Leviticus 9:24, Numbers 16:22,45; 20:6, Numbers 22:31; 24:2,4,16, Deuteronomy 9:18,25, Joshua 5:14, 7:6, Judges 13:20, I Samuel 19:24, Ezra 9:5, Job 1:20, Ezekiel 1:28, 3:23, 8:1-9:8, 43:1-5, 44:4, Daniel 8:17, 10:15
New Testament
- Matthew 17:5-6, 28:4, Mark 3:11, 9:20, 5:22,33, Luke 5:12, mark 14:35, John 18:6, Acts 9:4, 22:7, Revelation 1:17, 7:11, 11:16
In all of these situations, as God's Word, presence or power was revealed; these people FELL to the ground. Some of the fallers spoke of PHYSICAL WEAKNESS and of BEING OVERCOME. Many were afraid. Some chose to fall; other fell involuntarily. A few seem to have fallen frequently; Ezekiel for an example was a great faller. Many of these things have happened in different context from similar effects today, but it is important that we note what happened to people as a result of God's POWERFUL VISITATION. When the Supernatural comes in contact with the natural, something must give way...and it is not going to the Supernatural.
The Word of God says that the universe cannot contain God and who are we immortal and weak creatures stand before the awesome God when He comes in the power and might.
"HOLY LAUGHTER...WHAT'S SO FUNNY!"
Another thing the charismatic have termed to cause much misunderstanding.
There is nothing holy about Christians laughing. It does not make them any holier then anyone else who doesn't laugh. What I consider from the Bible as "Holy Laughter" is when God Himself LAUGHS! Yes, God Laughs! He is not boring and feelingless as many of us make Him to be. He has a great sense of humor!
"He who sits in the heavens LAUGHS; the Lord has them in derision". (Psalms 2:4);
"...but the Lord LAUGHS at the wicked, for He sees that his day is coming". (Psalms 37:13);
"But Thou, O Lord dost LAUGH at them..." (Psalms 59:8). Here we see God LAUGHS at the folly of His enemies. This is Holy Laughter to me!
"Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh..." (Genesis 21:5-6)
"He will fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting." (Job 8:21)
"Then our mouths was filled with LAUGHTER, and our tongue with shouts of joy" (Psalms 126:2)
The Bible clearly states that God is the One who fills our mouths will LAUGHTER, it is HE!
THE GREAT MISUNDERSTANDING
It is very sad to see Christians' misfocusing the whole thing, Charisma tics being the greatest of them.
The main thing is not about laughter or laughing, it is about JOY and the GIVER of that Joy. Laughter is just a result of JOY. It doesn't take Daniel to tell you that when you are happy or joyful you will laugh! It not such a revelation is it? You tell it to the person who has just won a million dollars in the millionaire show. He doesn't just say, "Oh, I just won a million bucks...do da." NO! he would be jumping up and down, hugging everyone in his sight. He could even be speechless for a moment or two. That's what happens to people who find the Fountain of Life.
"Thou dost make him glad with the JOY of THY PRESENCE" (Psalms 21:6)
"Thou dost show me the path of life; IN THY PRESENCE there is FULLNESS of JOY, in Thy right hand are PLEASURES FOR EVERMORE." (Psalms 16:11) NOTE: FULLNESS of JOY in the Presence of God! FULLNESS...compare that to a million dollars.
"Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with GALDNESS, that my soul may praise Thee and NOT BE SILENT..." (Psalms 30:11-12)
It is the JOY of the LORD and His presence that makes one to break forth in laughter. Laughter is a response to God's goodness in one's life. No one can stop a person whose marriage has been restored from laughing with joy! No devil can restrict a lame man who leaped out of the wheelchair burst out in joyful clamor.
You might say, "Jesus didn't do that!" Well..."In that same hour He REJOICED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT..." (Luke 10:21)
"For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness, peace and JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT." (Romans 14:17)
"For the Joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
DON'T THROW THE BABY WITH THE BATH WATER
I have to humbly confess that many Christians including pastors of church are looking to the manifestations of God's Spirit rather then God Himself. They have come to a place where their eyes are on the laughing, crying, falling, shaking and etc. We all need to get back to God and not to His gifts per say. Let us not look at them and say that all this is not real.
Jesus said the tree will be know by its fruits, the fruits of all these are marriages been restored, bodies healed, lives set freed to live for Jesus. That's the fruit. When a person falls down and laughs his head off in the JOY of the Lord, then he gets up with that JOY becoming his strength faces the trails of life and live a life free from sin, that's what all this for. Laughing and falling is not the end of it all, what happens after we get out form the floor is the real thing. Fellow Charisma tics, you could visit the altar every other day and have a "rock and roll" in the Holy Ghost but if you don't do anything with the touch of God, then you are just bluffing yourself. We are responsible to God for His Fire. Don't look for a feeling but God Himself. When that happens, the feeling will mean something.
I know I have been very lengthy, but I have just touched the surface of the matter. To all who say that this is a new thing, I am sorry to say that you are very wrong! What God is doing now is nothing new at all, the intensity is different, and that’s all. What you claim to be new has been happening for more then hundred years (I will share with your historically if you need me to)
Before I end, just a caution to the person who said the one of the threads in 642 that this is not of God. Let me tell you with all grace in my heart, there are only two powers in this world. One is God and the other this the devil...if you say that it is not of God, it can only mean the other. I hope you would not make such careless statements with searching and having the Word of God as your backing.
If any of you should have any questions, I am willing to answer them to the best of my ability.
In His Name,
Ian
(Habakkuk 3:2)