Mike Franklin's Blog

Today, I was asked to explain the phenomenon of being “Slain in the Spirit.” Though I don’t pretend to understand everything about it, I will begin a dialogue on a balanced view of being overwhelmed or overtaken by the Spirit.

Notice that I don’t refer to it as slain. There is a simple reason…one “slain” in the Spirit is not dead. He or she is simply overwhelmed.

To be overwhelmed by the Spirit one must encounter God in a very personal, unique, and powerful way. When the natural meets with the supernatural it is often overwhelmed or overtaken. Look at John 18:4-13 for an illustration.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"
5 "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)
6 When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, "Who is it you want? “ And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
8 "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go."
9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him
13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. NIV

In verse 6, soldiers were overwhelmed by the power of the Spirit. Though they were sinners, they encountered God, were taken back, maintained no strength, and fell to the ground. Why? Because Christ revealed Himself in a dimension they had never seen before. He needed to demonstrate authority and influence them to release the disciples who were present with Him. The miracle made the way for the plan of God to be fulfilled. Interestingly, when God reveals Himself in a new dimension to us, manifestations often appear. One of those may cause an “overwhelming in the Spirit.”

For another example consider Rev 1:17-20;
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me,* "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
19 Write* the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

Why did John fall at the appearance of Christ? First, He saw Christ in a new dimension. Secondly, he needed to be convinced to write what he was about to see, the great Revelation. The miracle of divine encounter revealed to John that the message was real and from God.

Daniel also experienced a similar situation in Dan 10:2-12;
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks
3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,*
5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz!
6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength.
9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Prophecies Concerning Persia and Greece
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
12 Then he said to me,

At the appearance of a certain man (Christ) in verse 5, no strength remained in Daniel. God fully arrested his attention to pour a word into his heart. The divine encounter prepared the way for what God wanted to do at that moment

An obvious understanding that grabs my attention is the fact that overwhelmings do not validate one’s ministry. It often appears that “slaying” a group of individuals implies the validity of all that happens. Clearly that is not true.

Jesus expressly listed several signs of true ministry in Mark 16:17-18. It is not an exhaustive list, but it clearly lists several things that would “validate” true ministry.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they* will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
The list includes but is not limited to overcoming demons, demonstrating gifts of the Spirit (including tongue speech), taking up serpents (a reference to dealing with demonically influenced individuals), drinking deadly things with no harm (ingesting bacteria infested liquids, particularly when doing mission work, and not being harmed), performing miracles. Other signs such as confessing that Christ is God could also be referenced.

What is apparent is that signs follow those who believe. Hardly anyone would dispute that if one claims to be a prophet, what he or she says should come to pass. In the same way, if the manifestation of “overwhelming in the Spirit” comes, other signs of God’s work should be present.

For an example consider Acts 2 and the Day of Pentecost. Peter stood and proclaimed, “These men are not drunk as you suppose…” Clearly, some manifestation demonstrated the outpouring of the Spirit in a new way. There was a supernatural experience, and the disciples were weakened physically due to the divine encounter…That is all except Peter. While the others were apparently overwhelmed to the point of staggering around (the tongues they were speaking were understood by the hearers, not some babble of idiots). Onlookers assumed a drunken party had just ended due to the weakened conditions of the individuals coming out of the upper room. But Peter was lucid, strong, and able to preach with power. Clearly the same manifestation that overtook the others didn’t affect Him.

Being overwhelmed in the Spirit demonstrates the presence of a divine encounter, natural meeting the supernatural. Yet, falling out is not a validation that the minister is a supernatural man or woman of God. In fact, because “overwhelmed by the Spirit” can be mimicked in the natural, it has often been abused. Therefore, discernment must be used to clarify the validity of each manifestation of grace.

How can a manifestation be validated so that it is known to be of God?
Signs will follow, Mark 16.
2. Miracles will flow
3. Fruit of the Spirit will be developed – Gal. 5:22, 23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. NIV
4. Gifts of the Spirit will be present - 1 Cor 12:4-11 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same* Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. NKJV
5. Changed lives will be manifested. As I stated, I don’t pretend to understand it all or have all the answers. Yet, to be overwhelmed by the Spirit is a real experience and should result in change in the life of the one to whom God has manifested.

What is needed for balance is articulated by Christ himself in John 4:23-24;
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth

Some churches demonstrate tremendous knowledge but miss the touch of the Spirit. Still others have emotional, even flamboyant displays with little to no study of the truth. What God desires is evidence of both Spirit and Truth in our gatherings.