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By Anthony Bugembe and Aidah Nanyonjo
VERY time Benny Hinn’s aides tried to help him onto his feet he fell down, so they decided to leave him on the ground for some time.
Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre was one of the pastors hit by a spiritual force during Benny Hinn’s May 18-19 crusade at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
To some Christians, falling to the ground during prayer is the result of the casting out of demons from an individual. However, in the case of Namboole, this happened to people well known for driving demons out of other people. Where they also demon-possessed?
What kind of people fall?
Pastor Simeon Kayiwa of Namirembe Christian Fellowship says any Christian can fall down during prayer. However, there is a difference in the way God’s servants (religious leaders) and their followers fall: “God’s servants fall on their faces as if they are praying. Indeed some pray during such a situation. Other Christians fall in different directions.”
When Daniel had a vision, he fainted and lay there with his face to the ground (Daniel 10:9). During the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-12), Jesus’ disciples were terrified by what they saw and heard. They fell, face down, to the ground.
However, non-believers can also fall when confronted by the Holy Spirit. In John 18:5-6, when Jesus’ enemies went to arrest him, they all fell backward to the ground when Jesus identified himself.
Why Christians fall
Whenever God’s power confronts satanic powers, according to Pastor Martin Sempa of Makerere Community Church, a Christian can fall. This normally happens during the process of exorcising evil spirits from an individual.
Individuals possessed by demons react differently during exorcism. “Some act violently while others scream and even cry,” observes Pastor Jotham Mutebi, the Chairman of Full Gospel churches in Uganda.
Whenever Jesus was casting out demons, the possessed individuals trembled, screamed and fell. In Luke4:35, when he was casting out a demon from a man in Capernaum, it recognised Jesus. The demon told Jesus not to bother it in addition to throwing the man on the ground before finally leaving him. Falling also results from receiving God’s anointing. “Our bodies are too weak to hold the presence of God. When the anointing occurs, some believers cry, tremble and even fall,” says Apostle John Bunjo of Christian Restoration Ministries, Kalerwe.
Pastor James Ouma of Africa Gospel Church, Kisugu says that falling during prayers comes from God’s power because even the pastors cannot know what exactly is happening to them.
“The presence of God is so intense and overwhelming that it cannot leave us standing,” says Pastor Chris Komagum of Kampala Pentecostal church. “When God is in our midst, we may laugh, jump and do anything to show our joy and respect. Actually what happened in Namboole was a clear manifestation of God’s presence. This is what is termed as being slain in spirit.”
The Bible in 2 Samuel 6 presents a clear manifestation of how people react in God’s presence. When the Covenant Ark was being returned to Jerusalem, King David danced with all his might. Michal, Saul’s daughter, rebuked him: “How glorious the king of Israel looked today! He exposed himself to the servant girls like any indecent person might do.” David told her that he was willing to look and act even more foolishly than that to glorify the Lord. However, not everyone who falls during prayer has received God’s anointing.
“Some (falls) are engineered by people. They fall to please their pastors,” Kayiwa says.
Ouma says: “Some people are crazy and have that psychological feeling that they must fall. The idea of falling is already implanted in their minds and body. A slight touch from the pastor will push them to the ground.”
Mike, a born-again Christian admits that there are some unscrupulous pastors who forcefully push the believers to fall as a way of showing that they (pastors) have supernatural powers.
This way they believe that they will be attracting more worshippers to their churches.
“The holy spirit deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. It is not something we should play around with because through trinity, the Holy Spirit is God. It is wrong for Christian leaders and believers to use it as a basis for showing off,” observes Komagum. There are believers who fall just because they are generally tired or unhealthy. Kayiwa says that one could fall as a result of a general body weakness which in most cases comes as a result of standing for a long time.
Spiritual effect of falling
Bunjo says that falling must be accompanied by a significant change in the life of a believer.
“Every fall in the Bible came with a change. Saul, who was on his way to persecute the believers in Damascus, was converted into a believer by the Holy Spirit after he fell. His name also changed to Paul. When Daniel fell (Daniel 10:9), his spiritual eyes were opened.
“Any fall without bringing a significant change in your life is your own fall.
“Actually pastors should follow up those believers who fall during prayer to see if there is a change in their lives. If someone falls during every service, then the falling becomes questionable,” Bunjo says. “I don’t have cases of people falling in my church but what I know it’s the message I preach to them that heals,” Kayiwa says.
Published on: Saturday, 26th May, 2007
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