During my stay in Honduras, one of the churches was dedicating their altar. It was essentially a platform or stage built of red tile and going all the way across the front of the church building (partially pictured below).
Humberto came up front and shared from Romans 12:1-2 about how we give ourselves as living sacrifices in light of God’s mercy. He then invited people to get up onto the altar as a picture of giving ourselves to God. As the altar platform was consecrated, so would we be dedicated.
The pastor continued: “Some of you might need healing, or reconciliation in a relationship, some may need affirmation, or clear guidance. I’m going to ask Bob to come up here and pray for us in English. There will be no need for translation, because the Holy Spirit will speak to you and he knows exactly what you need.”
It was fascinating because I’ve never experienced a situation before where they deliberately didn’t use translation to let the Holy Spirit work—and this was in a conservative Baptist setting! After the prayer, we had reports of the Spirit ministering to people, of answered prayers and healings. You could tell by the tears that significant things had happened to the people who shared. God was at work as we consecrated the altar, and he was at work in the people at the same time.