Baptism, Emotions, and Dreams

[amtelan]

In September of this year I started on my path to Christianity and accepted the Lord.

I was raised in an atheist household, had minimal exposure to Christianity, and generally remained that way for about 28 years of my life. This year though, things changed out of the clear blue. Around May I started dreaming constantly (every night, multiple times a night) of this unique looking small brick building that I had never seen. I started to grow a bit weary of dreaming about this building and its events, trying to figure out if it was something I had seen and forgot about. Towards the end of August the dreams stopped. I thought my mind had resolved whatever this building business was about, until the 1st Saturday of September.

Half of the night was spent dreaming about a person that my mind told me was Jesus, walking a dusty road somewhere patiently beckoning me to follow, which I stubbornly didn’t. I attempted to go back to sleep after the conclusion of the final dream, to no avail. Instead of a visual dreamscape, there was now a booming voice telling me in a loud, firm manner to get up now and go. Every time this happened I’d awake with a jolt like someone had kicked me. After a little bit of this I gave up on sleeping and drove around, thinking on the matter. To make a long story short, I later found the building that was in my dreams. It was a small church I had never seen or heard of before, about 10 miles away, on that road I’d been beckoned to walk.

With that said, I’m left with a couple questions/ponderings about all of this. One being the emotional aspect, as I’ve never been an emotional or joyful person prior to this. Suddenly now, I have this oddly peaceful feeling, am more emotionally in touch with others, and I have cried from happiness after reading a passage in the bible, listening to a sermon, and simply thinking about the Lord. I have never in my life cried from being happy before, I thought I was losing my mind the first time it happened. Is this a common reaction/feelings after finding the Lord? It just seems so foreign to me.

Secondly, I have had this deep longing to be baptized for the past two months, but I don’t know how to go about this. I feel that I haven’t been at the church long enough (only 3 months) to start pestering the pastor about baptism details. Rationally I feel I should wait awhile longer, but my heart tells me differently. I’m not sure what the proper “protocol” is for a new Christian to go about being baptized and typical steps involved beforehand.



Thank you for reading this, I know it is long winded to say the least. Any input is appreciated

 

[AGTG]

What a beautiful testimony. God is so merciful and patient with us.

Tears of joy, may they never cease! Oh, that I could wash His feet with my tears! It only gets better as you push in to deeper intimacy with Him. He is inexhaustible in love, mighty in glory, but so very approachable and humble. This is our God Jesus!

What you're experiencing is beautiful and true. You should get baptized, and the pastor would be thrilled to facilitate that I'm sure. These things don't need to be big and showy, either. There are baptisms taking place right now all over the earth. Some are in muddy rivers, others in bathtubs, still others hidden away in attics in a shallow pool made of a tarp. Every one is a glorious testimony to God's mercy, grace, and love.

It's so encouraging to hear what God is doing in the world, despite the wickedness that is so prevalent to our natural eyes. Thank You, Jesus!

 

[AGTG]

ha ha, I don't know if I answered your question clearly. I was so touched by your testimony.

You are a "new creation" now that you have been born again. You have a spirit person who can touch heaven, and touch your soul and body, too. When your soul and body connect with heaven, it's going to impact you and the world in wonderful ways.

It also means you're now capable of being a vessel of agape love. This is God's kind of love and is way more powerful than man's idea of love. What you're experiencing is completely normal, though sadly many Christians go through this and then allow the world to harden their hearts back up. May it never be so! Stay sweet before the Lord, and He will love through you with an inexpressible love.

It's really beautiful when we're newborns like you are now. God does a lot of the work on your behalf because you're just beginning your journey. Eventually, as you grow stronger in the Lord, you will be more able to stand up like an adult and fight the good fight of faith.

Remember, this is a spiritual walk, not a laundry list of do's and don'ts. Are there things that the Holy Spirit will ask you to cast aside to draw nearer to Him? Yes, but it will be by the transforming power of His Spirit and His Word that these things will take place.

Trust His Word, it's all true. Lay hold of the promises therein. Spend much time in prayer and praise and worship of Him. This, too, helps to transform us as we behold His glory and realize just who He is in greater and greater measure.

I, too, was born again outside of any church setting. God is doing a mighty work in this current season. Don't be afraid to cast aside anything that is getting in the way of running your race with Him. And may God bless you with power, strength, wisdom, and love.

 

[graceandpeace]

I'm left with a couple questions/ponderings about all of this. One being the emotional aspect, as I’ve never been an emotional or joyful person prior to this. Suddenly now, I have this oddly peaceful feeling, am more emotionally in touch with others, and I have cried from happiness after reading a passage in the bible, listening to a sermon, and simply thinking about the Lord. I have never in my life cried from being happy before, I thought I was losing my mind the first time it happened. Is this a common reaction/feelings after finding the Lord? It just seems so foreign to me.

First, while I think it's wonderful that dreams motivated you to consider Christianity or a particular church, I would be cautious about reading too much into them. I.e, just because you dreamed about a specific church, doesn't mean you need to attend that particular one.

Second, I would say it's normal for some to experience a variety of emotions when they discover religious beliefs or begin a conversion process or something else spiritual. I would not expect these emotions to last, nor would I suggest any reliance upon them.

Secondly, I have had this deep longing to be baptized for the past two months, but I don’t know how to go about this. I feel that I haven’t been at the church long enough (only 3 months) to start pestering the pastor about baptism details. Rationally I feel I should wait awhile longer, but my heart tells me differently. I’m not sure what the proper “protocol” is for a new Christian to go about being baptized and typical steps involved beforehand.

If you believe in Christ, it is wise to seek baptism when possible. It will depend on the specific church denomination regarding what the "protocol" will be, I.e whether you will need to attend classes of some sort.

Baptism is where we marked as Christ's own forever, where we are "born again," & how we officially join the Christan community, the Church. So baptism is very important, but I can undetstand some hesitancy while you (hopefully will) take time to learn about the historical Christian religion, & to discern whether this particular church you've been attending is where you should remain.

 

[AGTG]

Baptism is where we marked as Christ's own forever, where we are "born again," & how we officially join the Christan community, the Church. So baptism is very important, but I can undetstand some hesitancy while you (hopefully will) take time to learn about the historical Christian religion, & to discern whether this particular church you've been attending is where you should remain.

Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward work. The most important part is the inward work. In other words, water baptism doesn't save, Jesus does. Making the public confession of Christ is an important aspect of proclamation, but if one comes to a saving knowledge of Christ and dies before an official water baptism, they are still saved.

 

[graceandpeace]

Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward work. The most important part is the inward work. In other words, water baptism doesn't save, Jesus does. Making the public confession of Christ is an important aspect of proclamation, but if one comes to a saving knowledge of Christ and dies before an official water baptism, they are still saved.

There are countless threads on CF dealing with this topic, & this is not the appropriate forum for a debate.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Beautiful testimony, I'm glad you shared it with us. I find dreams to have great importance for Christians.

If you are feeling led to become baptized now, I would certainly do it. Only good things can come from it. A pastor would never feel 'pestered' by questions about baptism. I know the pastor who baptized me told me how happy he was to be a part of it. It's one of the most important moments in a Christian's life and I'm so happy you've found God.

 

[insurchoftruth]

According to the Bible, if your are born again from the Holy Spirit, and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you can be baptised in water, without any waiting.

The Holy Spirit in us, gives us his fruit of love, joy and peace.

Jesus said in the Gospel of John, that his joy and peace will be in us.

 

[parsley]

What a fascinating story -- thanks for telling us!
We used to have a very active dreams&visions forum here... there are many people who find God communicates in a variety of ways.

(My first impression of square brick building was rigidity -- hand-built, carefully laid, nicely squared like a person confidently plans their life. Then you were out on a dusty road, taking more risks. Something to ponder.)

more emotionally in touch with others,

One thing I enjoy in this spiritual life --feeling in contact with other people's spirits -- as though we could see through their body and ignore appearances, and just talk with their souls. I expect heaven will be like this. Knowing people, not just getting social banter from them.

 

[Mister_Al]

Baptism and salvation are a packaged deal. You get both at the same time. If the Lord is stirring your heart to be baptized then you should do so regardless if people tell you that it is or isn't needed. If someone gives you the wrong advice they won't go to hell for you.

Your decision is what is important now, so follow that still, small voice that you hear in your heart.

By the way, in the Bible ALL new Christians were baptized asap.


Be Blessed,

Alan

 

[ashleyn90]

TW, like you I was raised in an Atheist household. My mother would use to ridicule me for having some sort of a belief in God. I remember my brother and her always poke fun of me and my beliefs. One reason why I stop being close to my mother. My grandma believes in God, so do my two aunts. So, I had some exposure to religion.

 

[aiki]

With that said, I’m left with a couple questions/ponderings about all of this. One being the emotional aspect, as I’ve never been an emotional or joyful person prior to this. Suddenly now, I have this oddly peaceful feeling, am more emotionally in touch with others, and I have cried from happiness after reading a passage in the bible, listening to a sermon, and simply thinking about the Lord. I have never in my life cried from being happy before, I thought I was losing my mind the first time it happened. Is this a common reaction/feelings after finding the Lord? It just seems so foreign to me.

Embracing Christ often has the effect you describe. You have found the purpose for which you were made, which is to know and love your Creator. As you'd expect, this produces deep, deep joy.

Secondly, I have had this deep longing to be baptized for the past two months, but I don’t know how to go about this. I feel that I haven’t been at the church long enough (only 3 months) to start pestering the pastor about baptism details. Rationally I feel I should wait awhile longer, but my heart tells me differently. I’m not sure what the proper “protocol” is for a new Christian to go about being baptized and typical steps involved beforehand.

Get it done! As others have said, if you've accepted Christ as your Saviour and Lord, there is absolutely no reason to wait on being baptized. Baptism is how you identify with Jesus in his death, burial and resurrection and demonstrate that you have died to who were and are now spiritually alive by the presence of God's Spirit within you. Read Romans chapter 6. It'll give you all the details.


Selah.

 

[parsley]

Amtelan, I just ran across a couple quotes on dreams from the Jewish Talmud (we derived our Old Testament from overlapping writings)

"Dreams are one-sixtieth of prophecy" (B'rakhoth 57b), and

"A dream which is not interpreted, is akin to an unread letter" (B'rakhoth 55a).

More support for your dream experience here:

Judaism and Dreams

 

[orangeness365]

Wow! What a wonderful experience! God spoke to you and called you to follow him. I'm glad that you now believe in Him and are going to get baptized.