Baptism and Healing

Today (Saturday), I planned on rising at a moderate hour to complete homework. Instead I slept in and then convinced myself there would be time tomorrow while I was at work plus most of the day Monday. I did laundry and talked with a few friends. My friend Kalista was getting baptized at 5pm, so I went to that. Turns out two other church members were also there to be baptized. (They attend Fenway Church, a relatively new church which meets in a club, so they were borrowing the baptismal pool at a nearby Baptist church.) I didn’t really know what I was walking into.

The pastor Ezequias asked each lady to share their testimony and explain why they wanted to be baptized. It was inspiring and a testament to God’s saving grace to hear each story of how these young women came to faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Ezequias then explained how baptism is a sign of an old life without Christ being washed away to a clean, forgiven life with Him. The laying back in the pool is like being laid in a coffin, representing death to sin, followed by a rising up in new life.

Each of these ladies was baptized on the profession of their faith and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Afterwards we all gathered around them to lay hands on and pray for them. The Spirit was alive, present, and working in that room, though I did not feel Him in me like I had at all night prayer. In this moment I asked God to restore to me His Spirit in such an irresistible way. I was blessed by witnessing the power of God at work in this congregation.

After the baptism ceremony concluded, I went out to dinner with a few friends. Fast forward a bit to after dinner. Glafira invited me and several other friends to her apartment to watch the Passion of the Christ movie. Glafira, her roommate Elektra and myself were the only ones who showed up to watch.

The two hour movie begins with Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane and ends only a few minutes after His death. (Those few minutes do depict His resurrection, though I think that could have been better portrayed…) Glafira and Elektra both cried during the movie as we watched Jesus suffer for our sins. I, however, found it very hard to relate to the character on the screen. I just couldn’t relate to the pain he was feeling or associate that it was because of my sin. I wanted to experience this connection, but it didn’t seem to me as real as it should have. As the credits rolled we all sat in silence. Elektra eventually said, “Do you guys want to pray? I feel like the Lord is here.” The silent answer was a yes.

We gathered closer, and began to pray. When I prayed, I did not feel the Spirit like I had at all night prayer. In fact, I was praying words as I could think them. I felt the Spirit soften my heart. I hadn’t realized it was hard, but He clearly and gently softened it. I realized that even though the words weren’t coming quickly and boldly as they had at all night prayer, this was not the place for that. The Spirit still gave me the words to speak slowly in a much more gentle voice. After some time in prayer, Elektra got out her guitar and we sang a few praise songs. The Spirit continued to fill me and leave me open. The three of us began talking, and in a pause I felt compelled to start speaking about something that seemed random. I shared about the night in Paris where I saw part of Easter vigil in Notre Dame Cathedral. I continued talking, just pouring out various life experiences.

In the next pause Elektra asked me about the chronic stomach problems I had mentioned. I explained how I had been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and what that meant—the muscle which opens and closes my esophagus at the stomach was stuck open and would be forever. Surgery can only make the opening smaller, but not cause the muscle to work again. Elektra said to me, “Do you want to be healed?”

My response probably sounded like “Sure… YES!”. The thought process accompanying that was “I don’t know that I need to since I’ve dealt with this so long, but why not?” followed by “Of course I want to experience the healing power of The Great Healer!”. Elektra and Glafira gathered around me and laid hands on me as I knelt. Elektra prayed and then spoke directly to my muscle, commanding it to function properly in the name of Jesus. Glafira also prayed and then Elektra prayed more, some in tongues. She then said, “Lincoln, God wants you to know you are His child and this is not a phase.” I was in tears.

I have no doubt I was healed. Medically it would take another endoscopy to see this, but I have my own evidence. I headed home after spending more time talking with Glafira and Elektra about various things including stereotypes and corruption within the Church. I went to the sink to rinse my cup. I put some water in it and said, “Lord, as I drink this water show me I have been healed by allowing me to feel the muscle open and close.” With a large sip I felt it. I thanked God and asked him to let this feeling serve as a reminder so I never forget of His healing power. All I want to do is worship him now, despite needing to wake up in 3 hours for sunrise service. This has been an incredible Easter season.

Oh, the reference to this not being a phase answers my question of whether or not the spiritual renewal I’ve been experiencing over the past few months would fade and I’d fall away again. Hallelujah!