Slain in the Spirit

An evil spirit of jealousy and rage had caused Saul to hunt down David to kill him. There was nothing holy in Saul, for he had been given a tormenting spirit and by this time probably more than one.

1 Sam 19:18  So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
1 Sam 19:19  And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
1 Sam 19:20  And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
1 Sam 19:21  And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
1 Sam 19:22  Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
1 Sam 19:23  And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
1 Sam 19:24  And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

Luke 19:39  And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
Luke 19:40  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

The presence of God was so strong with David and Samuel that all who were sent to capture David began to prophesy. Did this mean these men were more holy than other men? No, the Lord was holy, his presence was strong and gave them words to speak. I recall that evil Balaam was a prophet as was his donkey. The Lord may cause anyone to speak for him, even stones if he so desired. The one who had a stone heart and devoid of the holy spirit was king Saul, and yet when he came to kill David, he fell to the ground and began prophesying. He also was naked, disrobed I assume by an evil spirit. Can an evil spirit speak God's truth? Yes, the demons were the first to speak that Jesus was the holy one from God.

Mark 1:23  And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
Mark 1:24  Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
Mark 1:25  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

Saul was slain by the spirit, as we say when someone falls under the power of God. He was also naked, which is not something that a holy man would do before God. Remembering the seven sons of Sceva. When they tried to cast out a devil in the name of Jesus that Paul preached. They were overcome by the spirit and they fled naked and wounded.

Acts 19:16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Saul laid on the ground, naked and shamed, prophesying, all that day and night, while David escaped. I ask you, having been slain in the spirit, did it change Saul for the better? We must examine the fruit of the prophet as well as his words. The words must line up with the Holy Bible and the fruit of the Spirit also must be shown in the life. Saul continued to seek and to try to kill David. That is the fruit of the evil one. Our fruit is the fruit of the spirit, love... and our mission is to seek and to save the lost. We invite the presence of God not for a performance, but for his glory. Our heart's are to be prepared to meet him and our lives are to show his presence within us.