God's Word will answer 'that depends' above
Slain in the Spirit
Face up
a Rodney Howard Brown meeting (Face up)
I have not been able verify these face up encounters in the Bible. I have been in this position during church services but was it God's Spirit that put me there? Or was it counterfeit? The enemy is very powerful in the spirit too but he is no match for the Holy Spirit.
The Bible represents these encounters this way. Every occurrence in the Bible results in a face down plant, not face up. I've just listed a few from Genesis through Luke that follow.
Genesis 17:2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. (NOTE: this covenant changed Abram's name to Abraham)
Numbers 22:31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
The Commander of the Army of the Lord
Numbers 22:31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
The Commander of the Army of the Lord
Joshua 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” 14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”
15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so
Judges 13:20 it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground.
2 Chronicles 7:3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”
Even Jesus falls on His face before the Father
Matthew 26:38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Luke 5:12 [ Jesus Cleanses a Leper ] And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Luke 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
Following my own experience as I was seeking God for verification of these events He pointed out these Scriptures and reminded me that He is Holy and a God of order.
During events like the picture above the pastor may touch the forehead when someone has gotten behind the person to catch them so they are not injured during the fall, that touch transfers the spiritual power. In the Bible accounts there are no catchers, no touch that knocks the person down, just the awesome presence of God that leaves the people to weak to continue standing. They prostrate themselves before God out of Divine respect and catch themselves with their hands as they collapse.
As I evaluated the experience I was amazed that I had missed the lack of respect for my most Holy God by one or both of the pastors. One referred to himself as a Holy Ghost bar tender and advised everyone to belly up to the bar. He also brought on an experience he called Holy laughter. My experience as pictured above was in the early 1990's. As result of searching God's Word I repented and left that Assembly of God church. They showed no respect for my Lord and Savior when their fruits were exposed in light of Scripture.
Holy Laughter, is it in the Bible? NO. Laughter is in the New King James version, but Holy Laughter is not, it's in seven (7) verses.
Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief.
Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
Ecclesiastes 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
Ecclesiastes 7:6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.
Speaking in Tongues is in the Bible as related below.
Acts 2:11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” (NOTE: the Holy Spirit was speaking through them in a language they did not know but was understood by those from that area and language who were listening)
1 Corinthians 14:5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
1 Corinthians 14:6 [ Tongues Must Be Interpreted ] But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Jude 1:20 [ Maintain Your Life with God ] But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
How it all works when believers assemble
1 Corinthians 14:22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Order in Church Meetings
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Now having reviewed God's Holy Word for clarity regarding; Slain in the Spirit, Holy Laughter, Speaking in Tongues, let's view these three events as they transpire in this video and reach a personal conclusion in regard to my opening question. (Are these slain in the Spirit of God or could they be counterfeit? That depends.)
During events like the picture above the pastor may touch the forehead when someone has gotten behind the person to catch them so they are not injured during the fall, that touch transfers the spiritual power. In the Bible accounts there are no catchers, no touch that knocks the person down, just the awesome presence of God that leaves the people to weak to continue standing. They prostrate themselves before God out of Divine respect and catch themselves with their hands as they collapse.
As I evaluated the experience I was amazed that I had missed the lack of respect for my most Holy God by one or both of the pastors. One referred to himself as a Holy Ghost bar tender and advised everyone to belly up to the bar. He also brought on an experience he called Holy laughter. My experience as pictured above was in the early 1990's. As result of searching God's Word I repented and left that Assembly of God church. They showed no respect for my Lord and Savior when their fruits were exposed in light of Scripture.
Holy Laughter, is it in the Bible? NO. Laughter is in the New King James version, but Holy Laughter is not, it's in seven (7) verses.
Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief.
Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
Ecclesiastes 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
Ecclesiastes 7:6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.
Speaking in Tongues is in the Bible as related below.
Acts 2:11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” (NOTE: the Holy Spirit was speaking through them in a language they did not know but was understood by those from that area and language who were listening)
1 Corinthians 14:5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
1 Corinthians 14:6 [ Tongues Must Be Interpreted ] But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Jude 1:20 [ Maintain Your Life with God ] But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
How it all works when believers assemble
1 Corinthians 14:22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Order in Church Meetings
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Now having reviewed God's Holy Word for clarity regarding; Slain in the Spirit, Holy Laughter, Speaking in Tongues, let's view these three events as they transpire in this video and reach a personal conclusion in regard to my opening question. (Are these slain in the Spirit of God or could they be counterfeit? That depends.)
Rodney Howard Brown, the Holy Ghost bar tender
In summary
Slain in the Spirit
- Not referenced in Scripture
- When falling under the power/anointing of the Holy Spirit in Scripture it is always face down and many times prostrate before the Lord. Never face up.
- When it comes to spiritual transfer through a touch be very careful who you allow to touch you. Demons love such invitations. And yes they attend church and prayer meetings. I have had them infiltrate my home group meetings, one even declared himself to be Elijah, one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3.
Holy Laughter
- Not referenced in Scripture
- Laughter is referenced as made for feast, party, or celebration
Speaking in Tongues is in the Bible
- Speaking in tongues in the midst of an assembly of believers requires an interpreter so all may be edified. If you can't understand what is being said it is of NO value.
- During prayer or praise in the Spirit speaking in tongues without understanding is private and is your Spirit interceding and communicating with the Holy Spirit for things you do not know of and may be for you or someone else s benefit from your intercession.
- Speaking in tongues during group prayer should not be done unless you have the interpretation for the groups edification.
Be like those from Beria and eagerly listen then review with Scripture for alignment and discard those things that disagree with Scripture. Acts 17:11
We are living during times of great deception and as humans, especially Christians with loving hearts, we are an easy mark for the enemy so always move forward with prayer and supplication while being watchful.
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