ER Doctor: Dead Woman Came Back to Life After I Prayed in Tongues Over Her
One day, I was called to the hospital for an emergency. A woman had suffered a massive heart attack. She was clinging to life by a threat.
We rushed her into the cardiac operating room. As I worked to stabilize her condition, her heart stopped completely. She went into full cardiac arrest.
Everyone froze. For a moment, there was silence.
Then Heaven moved.
Without thinking, without deciding, my hands shot up into the air above her body—and suddenly, a language burst forth from deep inside me.
I began speaking in tongues—a spiritual language I had never learned, never practiced, never been taught. It came like a flood—pure, powerful, unstoppable.
I was not speaking—I was being spoken through. The Spirit of God overtook me, bypassing my intellect, igniting my soul. It was not emotion. It was fire. I prayed in tongues over her body as she lay dead beneath me.
And then—her heart restarted.
There were no defibrillators used. No drugs. No CPR.
Just the power of the Holy Spirit.
Her heart rhythm came back stronger than before.
Her color returned. Her pulse stabilized.
She lived—not just for that day, but for many years to come. The room was heavy with glory. The nurses standing beside me were overcome. They began to cry, trembling under the weight of God’s presence. There were no explanations—only awe. We all knew: God had come into the operating room. That night, I returned home shaken—in the best way possible. I ran to my wife, Deborah, and said, “I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit!”
I was trembling with joy. My voice quivered. I was so consumed by what had happened, I didn’t even mention that a dead woman had come back to life.
Because what mattered most in that moment was not the miracle I had witnessed—but the miracle that had happened inside me.
A well had been opened. A river had started flowing. I had been filled with the fire of God.
John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16 NKJV).
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues… (Acts 2:4 NKJV).
From that day forward, my ministry changed. My life changed. My hunger exploded. I began to preach with boldness, to lay hands on the sick with faith, and to expect the miraculous in every room I entered.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit didn’t just give me a prayer language—it gave me divine authority.
It baptized me into: Purpose. Power. Presence.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The early Church was born in power—supernatural power that transformed timid disciples into bold witnesses, healed the sick, drove out demons, and turned cities upside down. This was not accomplished by human effort or natural charisma, but through the baptism of the Holy Spirit—a distinct, life-altering encounter with the Spirit of God.
Sadly, in most churches today, this experience has been neglected, misunderstood, or replaced with theological theory and religious routine. The result is a powerless Church that often lacks the fire, boldness, and supernatural witness that characterized the book of Acts.
What Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate and distinct experience from the moment of salvation. At salvation, the Holy Spirit regenerates the believer and comes to dwell within (John 3:5-6; Titus 3:5).
But in the baptism of the Spirit, Jesus—the Baptizer—immerses the believer in the Holy Spirit for the purpose of power, boldness, and supernatural ministry.
John the Baptist prophesied this distinction:
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me…will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11 NKJV).
Jesus Himself emphasized this to His disciples after His resurrection:
For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (Acts 1:5 NKJV).
This was spoken to born-again believers. They had already received the Spirit for salvation (John 20:22), but they had not yet received the power of baptism. Jesus described it this way:
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me… (Acts 1:8 NKJV).
The baptism of the Spirit is not about being saved—it’s about being empowered to live and witness as Jesus did.
The Pattern in the Book of Acts
Throughout Acts, we see a consistent pattern: believers receive a subsequent experience of the Holy Spirit after salvation, marked by power and often accompanied by speaking in tongues.
Pentecost – Acts 2:1-4
The disciples were already saved and had received the indwelling Spirit (John 20:22). But at Pentecost, they received the baptism of the Spirit: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4 NKJV).
This baptism launched the Church into global mission with supernatural boldness.
Samaria – Acts 8:14-17
Philip preached in Samaria, and many believed and were baptized. Yet the apostles knew they had not yet received the Holy Spirit in fullness: “Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:17 NKJV). This clearly shows that the baptism of the Spirit is distinct from salvation.
Paul – Acts 9:17-18
Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and was converted. But three days later, Ananias said, “The Lord…has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17 NKJV). Paul’s calling demanded power, not just conversion.
Cornelius’ House – Acts 10:44-46
These Gentiles were saved as Peter preached. Yet immediately, they were baptized in the Spirit: “…the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. …For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God” (Acts 10:44-46 NKJV). Salvation and baptism occurred almost simultaneously—but they were distinct.
Ephesus – Acts 19:1-6
Paul met disciples who had believed but had not yet received the Holy Spirit: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2 NKJV). Paul laid hands on them, and: “…the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:6 NKJV).
The pattern is clear—salvation brings the Spirit within, but baptism brings the Spirit upon—for power, boldness, and supernatural gifts.
Why Many Churches Ignore This Today
There are several reasons the baptism of the Holy Spirit is missing in many churches:
Cessationist theology: Some have been taught that the gifts and baptism of the Spirit ceased after the apostolic age—despite no scriptural evidence to support this.
Fear of fanaticism: Abuse or misuse of spiritual gifts, especially tongues, has led to avoidance rather than discernment.
Lack of teaching: Many churches simply do not teach the baptism of the Spirit, resulting in confusion or neglect.
Comfort in religion: A powerless Christianity is often more manageable, but it lacks the dynamic, Spirit-led fire of the early Church.
The tragedy is that we have exchanged the upper room for a boardroom, traded fire for form, and lost the supernatural boldness that shook the Roman Empire.
The Purpose of the Baptism
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not about emotional experience or spiritual superiority. It is about being clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49) to fulfill the mission of Jesus.
The baptism:
Empowers for bold witness (Acts 1:8)
Releases supernatural gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
Deepens prayer and worship (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 1:20)
Stirs spiritual hunger and intimacy with God
Equips believers for spiritual warfare (Acts 16:16-18)
A Spirit-baptized believer becomes a channel, not a container. God pours in power so it can be poured out in witness, healing, deliverance, and miracles.
How to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not complicated. It is not earned, and it is not reserved for spiritual elites. It is a gift—available to every believer who asks in faith.
Jesus promised:
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (Luke 11:13 NKJV)
Steps to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
1. Be Born Again
The baptism is for believers—those who have repented and trusted in Jesus.
2. Hunger And Thirst
Jesus said: “…If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38 NKJV). Hunger is the doorway to being filled.
3. Ask in Faith
Like any gift, it must be received by faith: “…Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22 NKJV).
4. Yield to the Spirit
This is not mental or emotional striving. It is surrender. Open your mouth in faith and begin to speak as the Spirit gives utterance.
5. Receive By Laying on of Hands (If Applicable)
In many instances in Acts, the baptism was imparted through laying on of hands by Spirit-filled believers (Acts 8:17; Acts 19:6). Whether through prayer, laying on of hands, or sovereign outpouring, the key is faith and surrender.
