Is Slain In The Spirit Real?

See link here. I used to fall for this mess until only recently, when, just like what Paul said about women’s preachers, adhering to Paul’s letters was the best route. Paul specifically stated in his letters to Corinthians that charismatic activity during church service (and in general) was to be kept under control and more importantly in its proper context (i.e. not that important). So, these whole religious movements based totally on charismatic experience and gifts of the spirit should be avoided. It is great to be able to speak in tongues and prophecy and see and experiences miracles like healing, but they should not be the foundation of our faith or the motivation of our walk with Christ. The New Testament (and the Old) makes it clear that demons are capable of producing through people works and experiences that are “charismatic”, and moreover appear mighty powerful to humans. But what demons cannot produce are pure works from a heart filled with unconditional love. Works and experiences might be why you become a Christian, but charity and the other fruits of the spirit are why you stay one and how you be an effective one.

Remember, Benny Hinn was one of those “Jesus Christ is coming back in 2000″ types, which was ridiculous to begin with because God does not use the Gregorian calendar invented by the Roman Catholic Church. Now Christian author (and also a medical doctor) Paul Meier made this same claim and sold a lot of books with it. But Meier stepped up and admitted that he was wrong! Has Benny Hinn done the same? 

Now realize in a lot of these church services and in a lot of these movements and denominations, they have abandoned sound doctrine (or doctrine period) and orderly practice, and therefore it makes it extremely easy for evil spirits to get involved, do whatever they want, and even take over. Why? Because if you are relying on experience (a form of circumcision, or outward sign of godliness) then you have no true faith. Your faith is not in the Holy Spirit itself, but rather the outward signs and works of the Holy Spirit on your flesh: what you can see, hear, and experience. So then, you will go after the experience rather than the Word of God, and trust experiences – and whoever is able to replicate the experience on a regular basis and in a spectacular way – more than you will trust the Bible. That is why so many people are willing to sit up in churches that they know are not obedient to the Bible, and listen to the preacher spout things that they KNOW directly contradict scripture. For instance, all of these people who have heard Kenneth Copeland and similar claim that Jesus had to be born again KNOW that it is contradicted by scripture all over the Bible. But the source of their faith is the mighty healings and wonders that go on in Copeland’s movement, so they ignore it, and will even start to think that Copeland is right and the Bible is wrong, or that Copeland has the authority to add to and remove from the Bible. I have to admit, one of the many reasons why I was defending women preachers was the works that I have seen Angie Ray and a great many other women perform. And who says that God has not used these people do to great things at some point? If He has, then how could it be anything else than an example of His Love and Power? But there comes a time when everyone has to cast aside their own wills and submit to that of the Father. The Father is loving, merciful, and patient, but He will only endure false doctrine and practice for a time. If the Father sees that we have no interest in submission to His Will as expressed in His Word and by His Spirit, He will cast us off. Maybe we will come crawling back when that happens as did David, maybe we will not. But Christians should NEVER value experiences over obedience to God’s Word, because the only result is heartbreak and destruction.