**I might mention that this is one of five different perspectives on what happened yesterday. I encourage you to check out Kelton, Nate, and Robby’s blogs for more of the story**
“As you go, preach
this message: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is near.’
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out
demons. Freely you have received, freely
give.” – Matt 10.7-8
I’m truly humbled by the way that God so often chooses to
use us as His little instruments. I say
little because at times I feel like nothing but a blip on His radar, but then
things happen to us like they did me and three of my friends and I become aware
of the immensity of God’s love for us, of our importance, and our role in
unlocking the Kingdom within others’ hearts.
Yesterday was another typical day in Vilma Leon doing
ministry, but there was still something out of the ordinary about it. I was feeling a bit under the weather and had
no idea whatsoever about what I was doing there. Kelton and Robby has just spent the day
digging six-foot holes in Los Jardines in an effort to prepare that village for
some electricity, yet they were still in Vilma.
And Nate was already there because he was going to teach at VBS that
afternoon.
We had about an hour to kill before VBS and Nate wanted to
share some Scripture with Daisy, Laurdes’ sister. Robby and Nate headed that direction while
Kelton went to visit a family he’s become rather close with. I wasn’t sure what to do but I felt like
going with Nate. I figured I could use
some Scripture in my own life or something – I really don’t know why I tagged
along.
We ended up at Daisy’s repetitively knocking on the
door. She finally answered and invited
the three of us in, along with Dina (our awesome translator) and a few boys who
attach themselves to us every time we’re around. (It was
about this time that Kelton just walked in.
His family wasn’t home, which is way out of the ordinary, so he just
came our way, found us, and sat down.) Nate
shared the story of Lazarus from John 11 with Daisy and talked with her about a
relationship with Jesus. She was upset
with the Lord for taking away her sister and leaving her nieces and nephews behind
without a mother. Daisy wasn’t ready to
forgive. Her cries echoed with Martha’s
who said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (Jn.
11.21). Knowing that we needed to leave
for VBS soon, Nate asked Daisy if we could pray for her.
She ended up sharing with us that her throat hurt a lot from
bronchitis and she wasn’t able to talk much, that there was a deep sadness in
her heart, and that every time she closed her eyes she saw a beast.
What?
That kind of threw me for a loop. Us boys and Dina kind of looked at each other
surprised but knew we shouldn’t have expectations this couldn’t happen. We surrounded Daisy knowing that we had to
pray this out of her – Robby felt very strongly that we needed to do something
about this as did I. He shared with
Daisy a story from when he was a teenager and had a similar experience. I definitely believe that the Lord used that
to soften Daisy’s heart. Knowing
full-well about what we were going to do, we laid our hands on her, looked at
each other with fear and faith, and began praying.
The Spirit took hold of the situation immediately. I was praying in tongues, we spoke boldly, loudly,
and with authority and power. We were
filled. Nate was vibrating with the Spirit
courageously proclaiming freedom for this captive. Kelton and Robby were no different than Nate. Dina translated certain phrases for us and
remained in prayer for the situation as well.
Robby was facing Daisy.
He stared wide-eyed at her the whole time and watched her eyes flutter
like crazy. We all saw her head shaking
side-to-side. We prayed for about a half
hour. Finally the resistance stopped – she
saw Light. She opened her eyes and began
praising God through the pain of her bronchitis. Wanting her to freely praise God, through the
power of the Almighty we casted that sickness out of her.
Darkness was defeated with five pillars of Light that
day. And we were humbled and could only
marvel at what the Lord had ordained us for.
I can’t help but think of how Jesus told Peter, one of his disciples,
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” (Mt. 16.19). As disciples of the Kingdom we’ve been given
this amazing ability to unlock the Kingdom within others. Jesus says in Luke, “… the kingdom of God is
within you” (17.21). And to think that
darkness oppresses the Kingdom in others!
That’s outrageous! We as
Christians have this boldness, have this authority beyond our comprehension
dwelling within each of us, and we ignore the silent cries of the captives day
in and day out.
I’m glad we heard Daisy’s screams.
And if I was going to be honest, I’m still not sure what I’m
supposed to think about what happened.
Sometimes I think it’s okay to not fully understand the extent of what occurred. Occasionally – in fact most days – the
outrageousness of grace is going to go further than we can, further than what
our feeble minds can be stretched to.
I know that this experience was a much needed thing for my
own personal walk with Christ. I’ll be
the first to admit that I have had doubts that things like this could
happen. I can only think of the
countless times that I’ve read through the gospels, through Acts, or other
stories about things like this birthing itself into existence – about the
Kingdom being unlocked and spilling forth with an incredible Light, with
heart-wrenching speed that it drowns others in its splendor.
Yeah.
This is just the beginning.
“However, do not
rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written
in heaven.” – Luke 10.20
