When Do You Get ‘Slain in the Spirit’?

Many believers or laymen can’t separate a person who is manifesting demons or evil spirits and one that is ‘slain in the Spirit.’ I am not here to address that however. The article seems particular; to those who have been in the faith for quite some time; and those who are afraid of the subject matter.

The occurrence emerged strongly from the American and European Charismatic Pentecostals. John Wesley said that the shaking of the body or falling was a natural human response to the Supernatural stirring or movement of the Holy Spirit and His power especially in a different way or at a higher charge.

The phrase from which our title is derived was coined by Maria Woodworth-Etter in 1920 becoming a common mantra among the saints over time.

So to help part of the audience, here’s some context to this phenomenon.

Many dislike this disturbance and so they treat it with contempt — men especially, since it leans more into the vulnerability of a subject: characterized by the losing of control over one’s emotions and composure, making one appear undignified.

I for one was always neutral towards this. I never boasted of how I never fell down like other dudes boasted. That didn’t make me any less immune towards it.

You see, I always fronted my curfew towards God. Night services used to exceed 9, and yet that was the time we were having supper at my Uncle’s. I used to tell God, “Sir, I gotta go.” I would then run out amidst sermons.

I understand there were times when the preacher just didn’t employ self control. Then others, the Holy Spirit would be moving, and I wouldn’t recognize that it was holy ground. I would blatantly say the same; “Sir, I gotta go” before I’d abscond.

Though my relative was strict, God had had enough of idolizing him over Him. So He decided to align me one day — chastising. Touching my hip like He did Jacob, though I wasn’t necessarily wrestling with Him.

Pastor Alex Mutagubya had concluded his sermon on one of those January 2019 nights. The atmosphere had charged; and people were falling under the anointing and screaming in different corners of the church. The lady in whose shadow I had hidden fell and exposed me.

It had just clocked 9, and I had packed to leave, only waiting for the perfect moment. The pastor was oscillating to and fro on stage, and his eyes fell on me. He beckoned me to go to him! I looked behind to confirm if it was someone else he was talking to. When my eyes met his again, he beckoned me one more time — aggressively!

I knew I was in trouble.

He came down the stage and asked I raise my hands. I did halfheartedly. Then I can’t recall if he touched me or not. An usher helped me land on the floor … gracefully. I sat on the dusty unfinished cement screed floor without moving an inch. I was in a ‘bodyhold’ (you know, like a chokehold but instead my body was arrested).

It was as though, the outside had moved in and the inside out!

I bellowed in tongues unending. My flesh was screaming ‘WE HAVE TO GET HOME.’

But the longer I prayed, the farther that voice receded in my mind until I could no longer hear it. It was like the Spirit had taken over my senses. I thought of nothing else. I desired nothing else. I had yielded, but not of my will.

On and on I went. I didn’t roll, but I sat still and yet my mouth prayed as though my life depended on it. It was a place of yielding I don’t think I had ever reached before in all my life. The Spirit seemed to be in control of all my emotions! He didn’t allow any distractions — not even my own thoughts!

The shock was, I recovered a WHOLE HOUR LATER! I could hear my body screaming. But the volume of my thoughts was at a distance — suppressed as if. They had no power to cause me anxiety even when the curfew was inordinately transgressed.

The miracle was: when I got home, (having walked like a zombie, ready for any verdict that would befall me), my relatives never turned their heads to see who had got in. I ate, showered and went to bed yet no word of condemnation issued from any of them.

The Lord aligned me that day, to indeed recognize Him as Lord over all, and not to treat Him with disdain or overbearing or arrogance but with highest esteem and honor especially when He visibly walks into a room.

He is indeed above all. And He proved that the hearts of the kings are in His hands.

Apart from yielding, the other two scenarios I have experienced during the slain-age are during impartation and birthing. Impartation is when one is receiving from the ministration of a higher or chosen vessel by God at a particular moment.

This can be during a sermon, a song, a chant, a prayer, a prophecy, a silence, a scripture, a dream, words, or worship. Beyond yielding, is impartation. It’s hard for impartation to occur if a vessel is not yielded. Both from whom the impartation flows and that which receives. If someone to give (for example), isn’t appealing to the recipient … if they seem not dressed impressively (like in camel skin), or if they don’t speak eloquently, or if they are too young or too old or boring, or seemingly poor, or if they are not so educated — the better dressed, the articulate, the rich or overly educated may easily brush off that jar of clay; that earthen vessel, missing out on the treasure within.

Remember yielding is when the Holy Spirit takes control of the soul and body: where the thoughts and words are His, and not the vessel’s. Beyond that, He can cause the vessel to impart from any of the many rivers that are flowing out their bellies at that point or some that the vessel is aware have flown out before him or her. These rivers … these impartations could be mantles or anointings or graces. Graces of favor, of wealth, of miraculous healing, of the prophetic, of speed or of anything that comes easy to the imparter.

Though the spiritual world is unseen, during intense impartations, one can easily recognize that those under the power are being touched by something the physical eye can’t see. Sometimes the atmosphere shifts. It can be too charged for the one receiving to remain standing. Thus the body dances … vigorously … and unrhythmically. Kicks are involved, falls, rolls, kneelings, prostrations, kowtows, tears and other forms of reverence. The physical finds it hard to comprehend. It is similar to an electric shock. This is because of the touch by power!

Birthing (the third occurrence) is characterized by intense pangs, especially in the belly area. Personally, my stomach always pulls in during these travails. I’m not saying I can feel the same amount of pain a woman goes through during labor, but God once told me the experience is similar.

Due to the traction, one is forced to bend or kneel wisely, before the actual experience throws them down (though it is not always a must to fall or roll). The travails here are akin to Isaiah 66:7’s. Something is released from the spiritual womb into the physical. It could be a grace, perhaps one that was imparted earlier, and now it is manifest; manifest not as a child, but as a firmament; as an atmosphere; as an hedge; as a field, a domain or a shield around the individual. One enters a new realm, a new reality, a new grace or a new experience. These realities or graces, are what this vessel imparts to others later. They are firstly familiar to him or her; and from this place is where we see Peter say ‘… but what I have, I give to thee’ to the cripple at the Gate Beautiful.

All yielding, impartation and birthing can be expressed by falls, or laughs, or cries, or wails, or rolls sometimes depending on the degree of rank one is in the Spirit. As some writhe about, others seem to sit still in deep silence, not moving, but perhaps crying. The minister may not portray this at the pulpit, but that doesn’t mean these never happen to them in their secret places.

Yielding has multiple layers. It can get too agonizing, that one can’t sleep or rest. Remember Jesus at the Gethsemane. The battle to yield to His Father’s will flowed deep from His soul, cutting into His flesh, being expressed through the sweating of blood. Some points during our personal calls can become too dire or unpleasant, that God needs us broken so much if His will is too prevail.

Tongues as well have layers and levels, and in a way; they are a major contributing factor to the three forms of being slain in the Spirit. Let me categorize them in three as well;

1. Speaking. This is casual; and sometimes, one’s mind isn’t involved. It can be absent, distracted by what’s going around. One could be doing chores fir example, whilst their tongue moves. But for praying, it usually requires the closing of eyes, and the presence of the mind. I’m not saying the mind has to understand what is going on. But it must be present to receive imagery or impression of what’s going on. Speaking can also be provoked in one when a revelation is shared in a group or at church, and it strikes a chord in one’s spirit.

2. Praying … in tongues requires some kind of concentration. Distractions must be far to achieve perfect communion. The mind is involved intently. Eyes could be shut to witness what is going on the other side, or, they can be open if there are no unnecessary distractions (like phone notifications).

3. Groanings. These are classified the highest. (This is from my personal experience, and I’m not stating it should be the doctrine). This level is beyond words. It is beyond mere prayer. The Holy Spirit wails in you and intercedes intensely, deeply, harshly, energetically, protractedly, violently, sharply, and incessantly.

It is as though there’s an urgency. A redeeming of occasion or time or event. It is utterances upon utterances. This is the part where one gets so undignified. Emotions are all over the place. Wails. Mourns. Sounds. Laughs. CHANTS! The body is out of control, as spiritual activity seems to have overridden reality. The flesh is put to death.

It takes so much yielding to get here. One can even lose track of time and could go on for hours. One could even be killed. Yes! One time I was pressed to the floor as I was with a friend. I pushed back to the physical and yelled, “God, please don’t kill us. Spare us” … for I was struggling to breathe! Having a huge weight upon my back and all around. Walking back home was even harder.

The legs were so so heavy, and my head was so so light. I felt like if I jumped I’d float off the earth.

So I understand when God told Moses he could not see Him and live. Either because since He is Spirit, He appeals so much to your spirit that the flesh seems to evaporate away…

That, or His Spiritual atmosphere tangibly opens up and swallows everything physical as well. No wonder Enoch and Elijah crossed into Heaven along with their bodies! Like I said: inside out, outside in!

Bottom line being, any of these are prerequisites to the state of slainage. Prayer itself causes intense charging and stirring and a whole move of the Spirit. Not just any kind of prayer — but the Spirit praying Himself.

But before praying, or along side prayer, music as well can stir atmospheres! A minstrel did and provoked the hand of God to descend on Elisha (2 Kings 3:17) … But not just any music can take you deeper! Some vessels can take you to one level yes, but I believe minstrels who have experienced deeper depths are those who you’d listening to and they provoke your drowning deeper or unlocking of the next dimension of God in your walk.

Depending on how knowledgeable someone is in the faith, they’d still need deliverance even when they have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is when spirits could manifest. But even then, knowing God’s truth sets one free. (John 8:32) Actual freedom won’t come until one knows the truth. No wonder a demon might leave and yet return with seven stronger mates, if it finds its previous home void of truth.

So even if the gift catalyzes great experiences in God — which experiences as well are important for a believer, the place of knowledge and wisdom in God, in Christ shouldn’t be disparaged or derided. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but His word will not. Experiences shall pass away too. But one must know the word, and metamorphose into its nature (1 Pet 1:23) if they will last.

While the three occurrences to being slain in the Spirit are experienced separately for beginners (like we go from elementary to primary to secondary to university), to the mature all three can happen at once. The faster one yields, the faster the Holy Spirit imparts something, and the faster they can birth it.

If one has never yielded, they can’t birth. And if they have never birthed, they can’t impart! The photo attached above was an experience that happened years ago when during a prayer meeting the Holy Spirit asked me to do something. I first disobeyed since it was nothing I’d ever done. I felt Him grieved. I lost all peace until I did. I yielded.

When prophecies came forth, and oil was poured — my friends in the room fell! They rolled and groaned on the floor, and it was scary to watch. The air was thick, and I failed to remain standing. I followed suit. They all recovered minutes later having been birthed into a new version of themselves when by impartation, the words fell on their spirits.

Now dear men (specifically those God is convicting right now), don’t be so hard for God. In fact don’t be too hard for the Holy Spirit! Being masculine tends to disapprove vulnerability, and yet the Holy Ghost is the most vulnerable person you will ever meet. Most vulnerable and humble, and yet most powerful.

Let your guard down; He tends to use the foolish things of the world to shame the wise of the world. As some look stupid yielding and wailing and rolling and crying, they are the same that are edified and evolve into gods as Psalm 82:6 states. But don’t worry, He is most gentle and sweet too. He will manifest according to the level of yielding you will offer Him … He is also most patient. He won’t make you fall as much as you don’t desire; which of course will limit Him at the start … but once you hand Him that fear, He will sweep you off your feet.

Yes I tell Him of how I’m afraid to trespass my curfew; and what He does He meets me in my room. And O there, there are no hinderances. He explodes as much as He wants; and it isn’t a must that one must scream to startle the neighbors’ peace. If someone sobs in whispers never think they are less slain than those screaming the loudest. Sometimes you decide how He shows up. But whatever you do, allow Him to show up, but don’t limit, or grieve Him.

Don’t leave before He’s done. And yes He’s aware that the baby needs attending to, or that it’s getting late. I’ve learnt to give Him time when I’m in no rush. Where it is a Friday or Saturday night, and I just worship extensively from 11 to midnight. And then I push on and on to 1, and just when I think I am about to go sleep, my head gets stuck between my knees and then the air thickens and then I’m on the floor. When my eyes open, it is 2am!

When we give Him undivided attention and a long time, we find ourselves not needing to stir atmospheres for so long when we have little time to deliver publicly. Somehow, these long hours position you to be in a permanent state of yieldedness to both impart or birth at any one time as need or occasion rises. Such that even if you have only 5 minutes of leading a prayer; it is brief, but powerful!

And so, even to the reader who desires to get slain, I’m sure by now, you have seen the conditions. Let not your mission be ‘to get slain’ however … (so you can boast about). Let it be deep, intense communion with Ruach. What you desire is simply a by-product. Just focus on loving Him and Him loving you, and all these things shall be added to you.

And with that, allow me to bid thee farewell. I do hope this was enlightening.