Description
Being slain in the Spirit is a practice where on occasions of public prayer ministry when, in following the direction of the scriptures, laying on of hands is practiced, church members or attendees may come forward to the front of the church (or in other gatherings not necessarily in a church service or building) to receive a special work of the Holy Spirit from the Pastor, service leader or a team of ministers. Often a significant amount of time is spent singing and praying during the church service before this point. Attendees are then prayed over and touched by the service leader or leaders. They perceive the Spirit of God upon them, and they fall, usually onto their backs. In most cases, their fall is broken by deacons, catchers, ushers or orderlies behind them to prevent injury. Beliefs associated with this phenomenon include divine healing, receiving visions, being set free of demonic spirits, hearing God speak.
As Thomas Csordas says: "In Charismatic ritual life, resting in the Spirit can serve the purposes of demonstrating divine power; of exhibiting the faith of those who are "open" to such power; of allowing a person to be close to, "touched by," or "spoken to" by God (sometimes via embodied imagery); of preparing a person to receive and exercise a spiritual gift; or of healing."
Read more about this topic: Slain In The Spirit
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