Another service, another record. For the first time in its history, Holy Ghost Fire was completely full. Word had spread that something truly fascinating was happening here. How much longer would this hot streak continue? What would it yield today? Everyone had only just settled in when a simulated wind whistled through the sanctuary speakers and Damon played an arresting set of chords, priming the congregation for focused attention on the lyrics, to which Esperanza gave voice.
Are you living in an old man's rubble? / Are you listening to the father of lies?
The question hung in the air for a moment. A subtle twinkle lit her eyes as she continued.
Are you walking with unnecessary burdens? / Are you trying to take them upon yourself? / If you are, then you're living in bondage / And you know that's bad for your spiritual health
Are you trying to live by your emotions? / Are you putting your faith in what you feel and see? / Then you're living just to satisfy your passions / And you'd better be careful 'cause you're being deceived
Are you living in an old man's rubble? / Are you listening to the father of lies? / If you are, then you're headed for trouble / If you listen too long, you'll eventually die
...
Are you puzzled by the way that you're behavin'? / Do you wonder why you do the things you do? / Are you troubled by your lack of resistance? / Do you feel that something's got a hold on you?
Well, deep within you there's a spiritual battle / There's a voice of the darkness and a voice of the light / And just by listening, you've made a decision / 'Cause the voice you hear is gonna win the fight
The chorus, though already catchy with the whole team chiming in, went from puckish to openly happy as a divine counter-scenario was added to it.
If you're living as a new creation / If you're listening to the Father of light / Then you're living in a mighty fortress / And you're gonna be clothed in power and might...
With the lighthearted bounce of the music acting like a trampoline for the remainder of the song, people started dancing in the aisles, almost like old times but now animated with real joy. No pressure to perform, no judgment, just freedom.
The mood was a merry one when Damon raised a hand for silence, then opened the next song with airy notes like those of a wind chime and the guitar roared between them.
Well, it burns like a raging fire / From my head down to my feet / It must be the power of God / Flowing through me / Well, my spirit's rising higher / As my arms stretch out as wings / It must be the power of God / Flowing through me
It must be the power of God / Flowing through me / Oh, it must be the power of God / Flowing through me / There's a wind that blows through my soul / When I dance before my King / It must be the power of God / Flowing through me
A subtle charge filled the air, seeming to sparkle in Esperanza's eyes as she looked out over the congregation.
[Oh, it leaves my soul on fire / From the spark of joy it brings / It must be the power of God / Flowing through me / It's an uncontrolled desire / To dance, to shout and sing / It must be the power of God / Flowing through me
...
Immediately following the second iteration of the chorus, the music roared and seemingly swayed from side to side, suggesting an image like that of Bruce Lee delivering three potent blows, taking easy evasive action, then delivering three more.
Power of God / Flowing through me / Oh, it must be the power of God / Flowing through me / There's a wind that blows through my soul / When I dance before my King / It must be the power of God / Flowing through me
Here Damon broke into a blitz, fingers sprinting over the keys, and the excitement bubbled over into spontaneous vocalization. Esperanza sang the chorus one more time, more slowly, then the final windy notes were emphasized by an actual wind inside the building, even though the windows were closed and the AC was off. Hair swayed, sleeves flapped, and mouths fell open. Even Esperanza stayed quiet for a minute before resuming the set.
When everyone had recovered somewhat, Damon began softly playing in the background while acoustic guitar established a quiet, reflective mood. Esperanza looked down briefly, eyes growing soft, then began to croon.
Turned from my family, turned from my home / I lived like a beggar; I wandered and roamed / My life was just hopeless 'til I heard His name / A prophet, they said, healed the sick and the lame / Well, to find Him was easy; I followed the crowd / But I kept to the edges, cryin' out loud / "Unclean, unclean, stay out of my path / I'm an object of scorn; I'm a vessel of wrath"
There on the hillside He taught us that day / I never heard anyone say what He'd say / And then He was done and His sermon complete / And I ran and I threw myself down at His feet
I said, Lord, if You're willing, I know that You can / Make me as clean as a natural man / I know You can do it, deep down in my soul / O Lord, if You're willing, Lord, please make me whole
Here she choked up a little.
With a voice of compassion He told me to stand / "I'm willing," He said, and He reached out His hand / "Be cleansed," were the words that He spoke with a smile / And in an instant, my skin was like that of a child
Just then, old Peter Osundairo reflexively brought his hand to the back of his neck and found pain-free flatness where there had been an angry bump. Shocked, he searched carefully for the bump, but it was nowhere to be found, as if it had never existed.
Now as time passes by, there is much we forget / But I'll always remember the day that I met / Jesus the Lord and His first words to me / "I'm willing," He said, and He healed even me
I'm willing to help you; I'm willing to heal / I've borne all your sufferings; I know how you feel / Your pain can be ended; my power is real / I will not deny you; I'm willing to heal...
As the song wound down, more people caught the simple message: "I will not deny you. I'm willing to heal." Stiff joints loosened, dull senses were sharpened, and wheelchair-bound Virtue Adenusi began testing her legs.
Softly and sweetly came the final song. Esperanza bowed her head as Damon played the intro and everyone followed suit.
We've gathered in a name / A name that is love / We've come with our hearts and our prayers / We've lifted our offerings up / His touch is all we desire / We pray that His Spirit would rain down like fire
And it's raining again / Oh, the Spirit of Heaven is falling on men / It's raining again / And all of our heartaches soon will be cleansed / For His love is a consummate shower / That rains down glory and power / It's raining again
Gradually Virtue built up her courage, exerting greater pressure on her legs and the armrests.
Oh, we're washed in the blood / The blood that defies / Any hold that sin may have / Any one of the enemy's lies / Yeah, our lives are saved in His grace / And our spirits are strengthened each time that it rains
...
Sensation coming back to her feet, Virtue scooted forward in her seat and placed her soles on the floor.
And no love, no love is like this /And no love, no love is so true
An invigorating heat settled on the congregation. Slowly Virtue pushed herself out of her chair and stood erect.
Whoa, and no feeling, no feeling compares / When it's raining on you...
When the music ended, Virtue was standing straight as a ramrod, arms raised and her former condition blissfully forgotten. Slowly she opened her eyes and saw a sea of smiles. She smiled back and softly resumed her seat, soles never leaving the floor. The sun shone bright through the windows, but a light patter could be heard outside.
When Pastor Moses took the stage, he was beaming. "Be ye imitators of God, as dear children," he began. "I think it's safe to say we saw that happen today. As Isaiah wrote and Jesus quoted, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.' And as Jesus went on to say, 'This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.' It sounds wild, I know, but He also said this:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. … He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
He then proceeded to go over some of the miracles Jesus performed, including the cleansing of the leper who needed only to be reassured of Jesus' will on the matter and that of the ten, of whom only one returned to give thanks. "The nine were of the chosen people and the one was a Samaritan: a reject. But it was the one, the Samaritan, who was found grateful and so found favor. Remember the nine, then be the one."
A resounding "amen" closed the service and everyone marveled as Virtue left the building, pushing her own empty wheelchair from behind. The passage from Isaiah echoed in Sophia's ears long after. To preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind... To set at liberty them that are bruised... That was her mission, but to do that, she would have to take a hammer to some golden, gem-studded chains: the chains of Vengeance.