Jessica Stark shares a testimony of supernatural insight, when the Holy Spirit intervened on a night out in Edinburgh.
As the Government moves to make drink spiking a criminal offence, I still give thanks for the time when God saved me from being drugged. The news that Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to have night-time economy workers trained on how to prevent spiking incidents has taken me back to a time when I experienced the mercy of Jesus amidst perverse evil.
The Prime Minister has shared his desire to see this form of violence halved within the next decade and has called upon police, transport, and hospitality executives to introduce measures that he hopes will bring, “the vile perpetrators who carry out this cowardly act to justice.”
I gave birth with the help of the Holy Spirit
Hockey players have a reputation for scoring as many shots from the bar as they do on the pitch, and in Edinburgh in 2022, my university girls’ squad was no exception, celebrating victories with a post-game cocktail or three. This was one of those wild nights - although I must stress that I was “designated driver”. Drug-spiking, especially by hidden needles, was a prevalent issue in the city with news reports warning women to remain at home. I was on high alert.
Drug-spiking, especially by hidden needles, was a prevalent issue in the city with news reports warning women to remain at home.
It’s always a bit awkward being the only sober person at a party and so, after a couple of hours I was planning a quiet getaway that would ensure my departure without a dozen tipsy goodbyes. I’d been reassured by the bar owner and his bouncers that my girls would be looked after and so I bought the ‘final round’ (mainly so they wouldn’t be mad at my early leaving).
The poured shots were placed on a tray in front of me and, as I leaned over to pick it up, my sober senses smelling the horrid bleach like substance
The poured shots were placed on a tray in front of me and, as I leaned over to pick it up, my sober senses smelling the horrid bleach like substance. Immediately the Holy Spirit within me did what I can only describe as a 180-degree flip inside of me. It was as if I snapped out of the drunken world of the bar into the hearing and seeing of another, spiritual realm. Newly alert, I could now see the most perverse spirit hovering over the shot glasses. The Holy Spirit showed me the liquid as cloudy, turning black, and I could hear what sounded like a demonic enemy, laughing in my ear. Although I couldn’t prove it - in the natural all seemed well - I knew for sure they had been spiked.
Back in the “earthly” realm, my teammates piled around, reaching for the drinks. “Stop! No-one drink - these have been spiked!’ I said. The girls all froze but in the same second two of the rugby boys (who had been circling us like vultures waiting for any leftovers), laughed and downed the unwanted shots.
Speaking in tongues – is this the gift to ask the Holy Spirit for this Pentecost Sunday?
Later, back in the safety of my flat, and with my skin care routine done, I received a call from one of the rugby team, asking if I could get to the hospital as soon as possible.
In the taxi there the Lord prepared my heart for what I was about to find. The two big rugby lads who had drunk from the tray were being treated in beds next to each other after being found unconscious not far from the bar. Doctors explained that unrecognisable drugs had been found in their system, most likely by “spiking” They began to ask me questions. How do you tell a doctor that you have no evidence of the drink being cloudy and unsafe in the natural but crawling with the demonic in the spiritual?
Well, I did exactly that. I told everyone about Jesus, his Holy Spirit and the gifts he gives that enable his followers to have spiritual sight and discernment.
Happily, the boys made a quick recovery, but it was truly the grace and kindness of God to use this moment of potential tragedy as both an evangelistic moment and a training. He tested my own spiritual sight - and how far I would trust the Holy Spirit within me - even while under pressure in a very (very!) secular environment. Many conversations were birthed on the back of that night! It provoked such curiosity - even going as far as me training the girls to seek God and ask for his spiritual sight.
God can work all things for good, but, nevertheless, spiking is a criminal offence and an addressable issue.
It is still unclear when legislation will be introduced, but ministers and officials are understood to be bringing this to fruition soon, with Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper saying, “People shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their drinks on a night out. These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever these appalling crimes take place.”
1 Reader's comment