My
name is Rachel and I am a Christian and I am a non denominational
Christian. When I was 17 I attended a church and was told about a gift
I would be given. I was told that I would be given one of the gifts
of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, (1 Corinthians :12) lists the
gifts of the Holy Spirit and prophecy is one of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit
which I was given by God. For me this is mainly focused around being a
seer, visioner predominantly. This article touches on also on my journey
as a Christian spanning over more
than three decades. I also give my brief take on what healing and
miracles mean to me today as someone who experiences disability, but
who is not defined by it. We all have our unique journeys to share and now I will share mine with you.
How it Began
Let me tell you some background on how this happened. When I was 16 I was approached at a fashion event, the Clothes Show Live and was told I had the potential to become a successful model if I was to grow a few inches. I desperately wanted this to happen and soon enough I started praying asking to grow taller. I was asking for a miracle in other words. I spent months at 16 praying to God for my miracle. At 17 in around 1990 in London a friend of my mum’s told her about a church and I decided to tag along for my desperate plea to grow to become a model to be answered. I received a response at that time, but not in ways I could have ever imagined or had any knowledge of. I was told by a pastoral leader; a prophetess in the church, that I was going to be given the gift of prophecy. The leader of the church was a devout figure who humbly served the Lord. I was told that this would be done as things would be difficult for me and it would also act as a form of protection in my life. I was also encouraged to attend church as it would be helpful for me. I was told I should go home and pray, drink holy water and follow a further scriptural step and soon after I would start to see things around me and to expect it and to note this down. Soon enough though, this happened to me what I was told would when I went home.
As
I
noted in my book at the time, a bolt that was yellow came into my room
and the
room was swimming in colours and had the presence of flowers. I wrote in
my book at that time that in my bedroom things are flying around, red,
orange, yellow white like dynamite. I have included this extract from my
book
which I will read out to you at the end of this testimony in a video.
This didn’t faze me in any way. This lasted
for a few days which I was so obviously seeing which then left my eyes
open to a brighter more colourful gaze of the world with a small amount
of illumination on the world. This is a manifestation of God's power and
light.
I
am diagnosed with Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I was diagnosed with this later in life. This
however affected me from childhood. I have experienced hypersensitivity
from my childhood. The first two years of my life I faced ill health
and I had a hospital admission for an infection at two months old. In
my early infancy I also spent time living with nannies who failed
to give me any social interaction. These two experiences may have
impacted on the development of my autism. I was educated in
Catholic schools and baptised, but my parents were Christians. Growing
up we didn't very often attend church, but as a family we quite
routinely gathered
around at night to say prayers. I also enjoyed studying religion for my
GCSE's at school and wanted to study it at A levels but it wasn't
available. My interest in Christianity really peaked at
16, when I sought out my miracle.
I will also show you a modelling book in a video that I have with my dreams to grow taller all contained in
it at the end of this testimony. That didn’t happen, I didn't make the height.
The church we attended was a Christian Charismatic church and this was a new experience
for me. I didn’t know anything about it. I went on to be able to give accurate closed eye and open eye visions
in the church.
An open eye vision I had at the church it showered over a couple's head
with showers of Blessings (Ezekeil 34:26) who were looking for childbirth and the leader said they would be
blessed by a child. I have witnessed with closed eyes water being
spiritually blessed as well to be made Holy. All praises be to God.
During
my time
attending this church I did observe one miracle as well. A very young
boy who
was not able to walk was able to do so after several visits to the
church. A
woman of Jamaican origin attended the church in a different language
speaking
church. She was there for one purpose, which was to serve her faith. The
Holy Spirit was alive in that church. I didn’t spend very long attending
that
church with my mum. I didn’t ask questions at 17, it was a different
world with no internet but I can give testimony to how it has
worked in my life. This is my personal witness.
The Journey
Today
I
am non denominational. With inclusion, there should be a place at church
for us whatever church we may end up at. God loves us all and
we are all uniquely made with purpose and precious in God's sight. I
have observed believers who have unshakeable faith through all
trials and tribulations and recognise the power of God in their lives as
well.
My
gift of prophecy is visible to me, although I'm not using it to serve
in church at this point in my life. This started another journey with
God. I was alone in the house. But obviously to me I was not alone. For I
had company, the gift of prophecy. I knew something was there in the
background. My dad has said to me several years ago that so many people
would have gone mad, just staying in the house. I felt like I was not
alone though with the light manifestation being present. For I had a
secret friend that kept me going daily and I could see it. My gift has
served as a major comfort to me throughout my life knowing and seeing it
was there. I knew at times when I was desperate and alone that I wasn’t
totally alone in this world. I had too visible knowledge that there was
something beyond this which can be calming and can give me more courage
to continue daily. I feel that God has upheld me in my life by his free
spirit that Psalm 51 gives mentions to.
Any
further visions I have had post 17 I won't share them in this testimony
although they have given me comfort, and I am here to edify the church
and those visions I have shared have been verified in church.
My faith carries me today. As Christians it is important that we do
pray I've realised through life so that we will
continue to be fully protected and to support us get through the day.
Sometimes in life though it may be difficult to
communicate with God, a simple Our Father can be a starting point which
can be
found in (Matthew 6:9-13). Jesus showed us how we can pray with this
prayer.
Sometimes it has been hard for me to
pray due to my health and people prayed for me. Intercessory prayer is
very
important during these times for others. The prayers of the head of a household for a family, can help others in that family to get through to the next kingdom, so don't give up trying to get them through (Acts 16: 32-24).
Why
am I sharing this with you today? This will be for many at 49 years old
the first time that they will know this about me when they see this.
We often say little about these things, but sometimes we may feel called
to speak out. I feel that it is the time to empty my pockets and share
what I have witnessed as a Christian to support others and to offer
this as a small gift to my Father. This has also been a very difficult
time in the world and we are still experiencing unsettlement in the
world. People need to be restored now more than ever and need support.
People need to be armoured as well, as much as they can (Ephesians
6:11). With
my natural light heartedness I would say think of the Teenage Turtles
getting themselves ready. Let us remember that Jesus left for us a comforter to console us in times of distress (John 14:26).
Returning to this, many people cannot see beyond a 9-5 and many
struggle to see a purpose to continue and it is not hard to become
caught up in the world. At this point I felt sadness.
This
is the will of God in my life. The world as I experience it I
constantly see that there is a world beyond this one with my eyes, that
God is just but there, which simply means there is something beyond this
world which awaits me and us. Still, It is not rainbows for me as well,
life can be challenging and I would find life even more challenging
without being supported as well. Being a Christian is not always easy,
but God knows how to uniquely support his children. It would be good
here to remember that we are all equal in the sight of God, for there is
no Jew or Greek, slave or free slave, male and neither female before
God (Galatians 3: 28).
Moving
on, I have loved God with my whole heart (and this is the most
important commandment) since I was 17 and I haven’t been at times
perfect, who is, though I strive to do better. Loving God Our Father is
the most important thing. Perfection
will only be found in God which Jesus is our perfect example of and
who we should keep our focus on and emulate. God has been a tender
hearted, patient and merciful God to me. God shows himself in different
faces (Psalm 18:26). I believe in establishing a relationship with God
and communicating with God openly in prayer can help. Communicating with
God makes any situation more bearable for me. It is this personal
relationship and love of God that will help to sustain your faith.
God
really does love us. But we have to make an effort to show him how much we love him and we
will be rewarded. I've never felt so loved. There are no humans that can love the way God loves.
I
think the Beatitudes given by Jesus Christ
should frame how Christians behave and this should be reflected onto
others. Among the 8 Beatitudes in (Matthew 5:3-12) we are told that
Blessed
are the meek, what can we take away from this about how we should
conduct
ourselves with others? We can take away from this that we should be
gentle and not present ourselves among others in a bashful proud manner.
We are also told that Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain
mercy. What
does being merciful mean? It means that in day to day interactions that
we should strive to be forgiving and that we shouldn't judge others but
that
we should be compassionate towards our fellow neighbour and not act
as a persecutor who is vitriolic about their damnation which may cause
people
to lose hope, so that God will have mercy on you when the time for your
judgement comes. God is our ultimate judge (James 4:11). " Anyone who
speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the
law."Don't let anyone make you lose your faith. It is with a clean heart that you will see God that the
Beatitudes tell us.
I
believe that Jesus is my saviour and my salvation which is rendered to
me by Jesus Christ who atoned for our sins. I believe that I serve one
God. However,
my compassion for humanity extends to the world and I want all people irrespective of their background
or religion to be treated with compassion and dignity. There are some
challenges of modern life and I worry about the very young and social media
influences, such as we have seen with various cases in the media. We should do
our best to take care of them to ensure their safety online.
Church Life
It
has at
times been very challenging for me to attend church. It has been
difficult at times due to my eating disorder when I have been too unwell
to attend.
I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa at 21 and at times have also
needed long term treatment in
inpatient. Eating disorder behaviour started at 14 after several very
difficult experiences caused by sin in the world and the involvement of
the role of my own personality. I have however experienced a long term
eating disorder. Today I am diagnosed with anorexia and have medical
complications which I receive treatment for under the National Health
Service (NHS). In
my life, God reached down low to me and started walking with me,
through my own mental health wilderness and my exile from much of
society because of my mental health condition and autism. All grace be
to God. Jesus also stressed the need for medical attention which
today people often get at the point of persistent symptoms (Matthew 9:12).
Today
we have Christian online services and groups which may be something
that people can consider who cannot attend a physical church in person.
I
now attend a Holy Communion Eucharist service in my local area. The
service I attend is a quiet early morning service. The service I attend
is manageable for me in terms of length. I
have always come away with an uplifting feeling and a spring in my
step after attending church. Going to church helps to sustain me and I
like to know that I am doing what I can to manage my life the best way
that I can. I also enjoy the routine of going to church as well.
Attending a sacred place as well gives me further sanctuary from the
world which can be challenging at times. I like the sense also of an
ending and newness to the week ahead that going to church can give me as
well.
I
feel also more connected to my faith through attending
church and taking the blessed Eucharist helps me with this feeling of
being more connected with Christ. Jesus told us to do this in his
memory (Matthew 26: 26-29). For your own reasons you can also receive a
Blessing in a church instead of the Eucharist.
I
have found my church leaders to be an invaluable source of support to
me spiritually and psychologically. In our gatherings as Christians also we can support each other (Hebrews 10:25). "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the
day approaching." So yes, there is indeed that Body of Christ composed
of Christ as the head and the members of the church to form one body and
there is clearly also a meeting point where we gather together to
worship.
I am also mindful on Sunday of the
Sabbath which I choose to mark at church and worship God. Jesus would attend the
synagogue on the Sabbath to worship his Father as was custom (Luke
4:16-21). Jesus did not come to do away with the old laws of old, but he came to bring the laws to their logical conclusion. This means that for us as Christians, the 10 Commandments are still binding (Matthew 5:17) (Revelations 22:14). The two greatest commandments though Jesus said, was to love God above all, and to treat our neighbours as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).
The service I attend today is more
suited to my needs as an individual who has autism. I can say some
of the difficulties; I have had in the past at church was that the length of
the service was not at a length I could retain focus. There was also more
movement of
sitting to standing in previous experiences and this is a known issue that some autistics
experience, but that was overcome for me when I went to a new
church with a shorter service and less sitting to standing.
We
can go between different churches to settle at the right church for us
and I have found the right place for me. I have been at my current
church for around three years now and have settled at the right church
for me. I have further needs in communication and imagination and if in
any doubt I discuss things through with my church leadership and others
using their gifts and the situation is understood. I can struggle with
someone's pacing of their speech due to autism but listen and expand on
the sermon privately at home after service.
The service I attend today is a
silent service and I can struggle with an organ or very loud music. I do
have my own playlist of Christian music and listen to when I feel drawn
to do so. God has simply equipped me to cope which has circumvented my
weaknesses and shone a light into what strengths which he only has given
to me to sustain me through my journey and that is what I must focus
and expand on. I have found ways to manage my difficulties sufficiently.
The Church Body and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
(1 Corinthians 12 27-28)-"Now ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular and God have first set some in the church, first apostles."
The
Church Body are members of the church and Jesus is also the head of the
Church (Ephesians 1:22-23). As baptised Christians we become part of
that body of Christ and have a purpose to fulfil in the church (1
Corinthians 12-28) (Romans 12). When we take the Eucharist we are being
unified with Christ. Jesus is the vine/stem and I am dependent on him
for my life.
The
Holy Spirit has the potential to be active in any church that worships
God in truth and Spirit through the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for example
such as the gift of healing, truth and wisdom and can also come in
presence. The Holy Spirit Paraclete is the breath, wind, spirit of God,
which I have felt at church.
Each spiritual gift given to members of the Body of Christ works in
harmony and has intrinsic value.
There
are 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians :12) in the Bible and the
Gift of the Holy Spirit is usually received today at church through the
laying on of hands or baptism. "Paul had laid his hands upon them and
the Holy Ghost came upon them (Acts 19-6) (1 Timothy 4:14). The Bible
closely links Baptism to the giving of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16).
Baptism goes far beyond the receiving of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to
renewing promises which marks the beginning of a new journey with God.
The
Holy Spirit has many roles, helper, protector, intercessor, advocate,
strengthener, standby, comforter, counsellor, baptiser and a
sanctifier.
We
are born with our spirit which also contains the Spirit of God (Psalm
104-30) "Thy sendest forth thy spirit, they are created." From
the Father- " But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly
for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him" (Psalm 4). Being Baptised
with more of the Holy Spirit at Baptism (which Jesus laid the way for)
allows one to grow in the Spirit and become more fully ourselves
emulating the attributes of God. This is the presence of God with us
here and now and is a third attribute of God.
Jesus requests us to be born of Spirit as Christians, Jesus stated that, "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5)(Acts 16 31-34).
I will now end this section with the below.
Your body is a
Temple of the Holy Spirit which appears in the Bible-(1 Corinthians 6).
Christians
post Baptism are reminded to keep their Temples clean, not just at
church but in the whole of their lives as a living duty service to God.
No, we will not get it right always as Christians and we look for
forgiveness and mercy from God as well. We need to remain focused on
Jesus and let us remember that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is God's
power at work and not an indication of individual's achievement but as
such is required for their unique walk with their faith (Psalm
62)-"Power belongs to you God and with you God is unfailing love. Who
has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace (1 Timothy-9).
Miracles and Healing today
Moving
on, I have had my questions. I have settled on that this has been my
destiny and the people who I have encountered in my life have been part
of my destination journey as well. There are clearly many occasions that
Jesus healed people and carried out miracles on those with diverse
presentations and duration of illness to show that he was the Son of
God. Also, not all these people had sinned like with the man who was
born blind who received his sight after 38 years.I know what it is like to be in pain physically and mentally and considered as outside of society by some, that who Jesus would want to walk with. This further allows me to help others today.
However,
Paul the Apostle had the ability to heal others but Jesus didn't heal
him from his condition. Jesus said that his grace was sufficient for
Paul and that God's power was to be magnified through his weakness and
that God would shine a light into his conditions to magnify his name to
let people know that God is with us and is just ( 2 Corinthians 12:7–9).
Paul was graced with the gift of prophecy. Paul told his companion
Timothy, who was also a pastor, to manage his condition and frequent
illnesses with a little bit of wine (1 Timothy 5:23). There is some
discussion of whether Jesus' friend Nicodemus was autistic.
We
know in the book of Genesis that suffering came into this world
(Genesis 6:3). At 17 I was blessed by God and God provided for me with a
spiritual gift even though I had autism and an eating disorder and it
was used at that time to serve the church with both conditions present.
God centrally as a responsible Father had more important things to be
concerned over in my life. This also has not limited change from being
made in my life. It has also been used to help
sustain, protect and walk with me.
I
scored moderate level 2 for sensory sensitivity on the autism test. I
am very visual and auditory sensitive and it is like light has
been brought to these areas how my gift of the Holy Spirit has worked.
My gift is loved by me as an autistic also with the light element that
comes with it. Also, some research called Sensory supernatural
experiences in autism by Ingela Visuri in 2018 found increased
somasensory experiences in autistic people. Autistic people are often
graced with spiritual gifts as documented by Keri Szabolcs in their
article titled Autism and Religion in 2023.
Too
many
Christians who experience issues with their physical health or have
disorders and those who are disabled are expected to confess their sins
in order
to be healed or delivered. Job called his friends who did this miserable
comforters (Job 16:2). A
Christian who has challenges with their health can also be assumed by
some Christians to be lacking in faith because they have not been
healed, which can feel like a judgement that can alienate some people
from practising their faith and can cause confusion for some people
about where they are with their faith.
Sometimes
people do not always wish for their condition to be the subject of
discussion when they go somewhere or they may need space from being
subject to attempts at being healed by others even if they may have the
best of intentions. Galatians 6:2 speaks to us also about the need to
support fellow Christians. Sometimes, it may be useful also to ask
directions about what someone might find useful and consider practical
support if a close contact also. Let's remember to love our neighbour as
ourselves as Jesus said was the second greatest commandment.
God answers prayers according to his will (1 John 5:14).
St Teresa of Avila is just but one of many saints who
experienced health challenges whilst serving God. Saint John of God and
Blessed Marcel Callo also endured mental health challenges whilst
serving God. Blessed Marcel Callo battled with depression whilst serving
God in Holiness. In Pia Matthew's book God's
Wildflowers documents 141 Saints, Blessed and Venerable, who
experienced health challenges ranging from
mental to physical pain whilst serving God in holiness. As the author
states in this book. Illness doesn't prove holiness and neither destroys
or causes holiness. Furthermore, although illness may make things
challenging at times, illness doesn't cause these Saints, Blessed and
Venerable, to be abandoned by God.
For
one boy with Epilepsy/Seizures before medication was used to treat this
condition in the New Testament the cure for this condition was prayer
and fasting to drive out the spirit (Matthew 17:21). A Blessed called
Amadeus IX of Savoy suffered from epilepsy and God blessed them and gave
them grace. As would be expected they also followed the prescriptive
steps in the New Testament to cure this condition. They
lived with this condition and miracles have been attributed to them.
This shows how different two people's paths can be who suffer from the
same condition. One person may be called to follow a path of healing
and one may be called to serve God and live with their condition with
God's blessing and grace and this will be God's will. This will also
apply to some other conditions.
As
a non denominational Christian I note that my Christian Catholic
brothers and sisters have a rich tradition in seeing the beauty in
creation and not despising the human body and knowing it is a temporary
state. They appear to be richly rewarded with many notable disabled Holy
human beings who dealt with adversity in the body but were Servants of
God.
Today
not all Christians who endure chronic issues with their physical health
and those who have disorders or who are disabled wish to receive a
miracle or be healed, some wish to be managed and some see their
condition as natural, especially with the ageing process.
Some
disabled Christians arrive at and describe a point of becoming
spiritually whole albeit not completely physically healed in the body.
Healing and Wholeness church services are good to explore to develop
this. For some, who are disabled
or have disorders see it as part of their identity and trust in the
Lord. We are all made in the image of God. Furthermore, there are people
with chronic issues with their health, disorders or disabilities today
who can exist more comfortably in some countries and
not find themselves excluded from society compared to the time of Jesus' ministry, I
would say to those who experience conditions that you are entitled to
have
your own faith and walk your own path as a Christian and remember that
God is with you as well. As Christians we should build each other up
and encourage each other as said so clearly in (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Miracles
and healing are still happening today. God's power should not be
underestimated. If God desires for a miracle to occur or somebody to be
healed then it will happen in God's own timing. I
have witnessed miracles in others. The elders in church were instructed
to pray over and anoint those who were sick and unwell with oil and if
they had sinned they would be forgiven (James
5-14-15). There is a difference here between being unwell and in a
managed condition. They also used the laying of hands (Luke 13:13). I
have by my request been
prayed over and anointed with Holy oil at church and received the laying
of hands and
found it helpful in managing my autism, which is what I was asking for.
God knows also how to manage my autism.
Also,
after taking the Eucharist and asking Jesus to heal one of my
conditions experienced dramatic changes to that condition directly
after. My very noisy nervous system was muted and became more
manageable. There have been miracles recorded after taking this
sacrament. Sometimes God also chooses to heal someone when they do not
even ask as well as has occurred at Lourdes for example.
I
have also had water blessed to make it Holy at the church I attend
after service, which I used for spiritual refreshment (John 7: 37-39) to
defend myself and to sanctify my home. I am thankful for the mercy that Jesus has shown me as my saviour throughout my life.
My
ASD diagnosis has helped me to be more understanding of myself with
becoming overwhelmed especially. I know that God can help me to manage
my autism with being overwhelmed especially and understand my autism. My autism makes me more detailed, with strong justice values, determined with my goals and an accurate observer as well.
I experience hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity. In
the UK autism is seen as a neurodevelopmental disorder which is
regarded as a disability under the 2010 Equality Act and Autism Act
2009. On a gradient of 1-3 on the ADOS 2 test for autism I scored 1-2's
(mild-moderate). I also am moderate for conversation, communication and
sensory (as already noted). My autism is not at the highest point of
severity level 3.
I am managing anorexia now after extensive treatment but who knows what my future may
bring and what plans God may have for me. I
have read of reported cases like with Sister Marie Therese who have
been healed from her anorexia after five decades with anorexia. Her trauma stemmed from childhood abuse.
There
also have been Saints who have endured feeding issues in their lifetime
and who also were Servants of God. There have been some significant
changes for me over the years with growth and reducing the
aggressiveness of my eating disorder behaviour and I have survived at
times when I was not expected to. On some occasions they have been
thought to be Divine in Intervention, for reasons only known to God. It
was clearly not my time. However, this is not about my complete life
story. We all have our own paths and mine is for God to determine. I try
to take life daily and trust in God, trusting that Sovereign God's will be fulfilled in my life.
I am now looking forward to commence being a hospital chaplain
volunteer which has been a dream voluntary occupation I have wanted to
do for some years now.
Final note
We
should hope and pray for God's plans to be
manifested and fulfilled in our lives whatever our situation or
condition. We can continue to serve God in Spirit. What also gives me
comfort with my faith, is that I serve a steadfast God in a world that
can
accelerate with constant changes.
Let
us remind ourselves that the prophet Joel wrote that the gifts of the
Holy Spirit will be further poured out on the earth again (Acts 2 16-21)
and will continue until the Perfect one returns, which is Jesus.
Churches are resurging in the gifts of the Holy Spirit now. I think that
Jesus gave me this testimony at 17. Jesus knew as a child as well that I
just loved to write factually and record things as well.
My faith has ended up being the best gift that I could ever have received in
this world and I couldn't have managed without it. I feel that I have
had an unseen friend who is on my side in this from the start when God
blessed me with my gifts at 17.
If
you want to know more about the faith I suggest that you start out by
buying a Bible and then start out by reading the New Testament and then
the Old Testament. If you cannot buy a Bible you can download an online
Bible online and I suggest a website like Faith Comes by Hearing to
download it. Following this, I would suggest you start to communicate
with God in prayer.
May
God's plans be fulfilled in your life and God is always watching. I
encourage you to seek and knock the door as Jesus said in the Gospels
and the door
will be answered to you in time (Matthew 7:7-9). Surrender all to
Jesus. Hold on. I wish you
all well in your journeys. Do your best to commit and stay on the narrow
path the way that leads to Heaven through Christ Jesus.
Rachel Obanubi
Below
is a video with a description from my book with my experiences that
happened to me during that period in church at 17 at home that I
mentioned at the beginning of my testimony.
A video to highlight this testimony-it was filmed at my church
Filmed In Church-Loving God with my whole heart, a prayer giving thanks to God for my comforter-The Holy Spirit.
My Autism Scores for Sensory/Hypersensitivity
You can download an Ebook Version of this testimony here below-