How can I prepare myself to step out in healing ministry?
In this article we’re going to embark on a whirlwind tour of the gospels whilst following the example of Jesus the Healer...
The First Key: Compassion (Matthew)
The Book of Matthew is filled with references as to the compassion of Christ, particuarly in relation to healing…
‘He will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us)’ (Matt 1:23)
‘Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And wherever he went, he healed people of everysort of disease and illness. He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were do great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd.He said to his disciples, “the harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields’ (Matt 9:35-38)
Psalm 23 declares, ‘The Lord is my shepherd…’
‘He healed all the sick among them […] this fulfilled the prophecy […] he will not crush those who are weak, or quench the smallest hope, until he brings full justice with his final victory. And his name will be the hope of the world.’ (Matt 12:15, 17, 20)
‘John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they told Jesus what had happened. As soon as Jesus heard the news, he went off by himself in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was heading and followed by land from many villages. A vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.’ (Matt 14:12-14)
‘Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the road.’ (Matt 15:32)
‘Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.’ (Matt 20:34)
‘For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ (Matt 25:35-36)
Is God Willing? Does God Want to Heal?
Mark 1:40-41 ‘Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.’
Compassion comes through understanding God’s heart. You can get this by going out amongst people who are hurting.
Why would Jesus heal?
‘The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.’ (Psalm 145:8-9)
Compassion is sorrow for the sufferings or trouble of another, with the urge to help; deep sympathy
Jesus seems to want to heal people because they are people, whether they are good or bad, whether they are a success or a failure!
We don’t have to be ‘good enough’ to be healed!
If God punished sin with sickness, we would all be sick!
‘For absolutely all without exception have sinned and come short of the glory of God.’ (Rom 3:23)
It is true that we reap what we sow – but we do that, not God. God is good! ‘Every good and perfect gift comes from God our Father.’ (James 1:17)
Jesus paid the debt for my salvation and sickness ‘He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds! Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian ofyour souls.’ (1 Peter 2:24-25)
‘All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will beable to give them the same comfort God has given us.’ (2 Cor 1:3-4)
‘Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor […] the Lord nurses them when they are sick and eases their pain and discomfort.’ (Psalm 41:1-3)
People don’t want to know how much you know, they want to see how much you care!
The Second Key: Word of Faith (Mark)
Throughout the Book of Mark, the ‘Word of Faith’ seems to be the main focus in relation to healing ministry!
Healing of the bleeding woman: ‘Your faith has healed you’ (5:25-34)
Jairus: ‘Don’t be afraid, just believe’ (5:35-36)
Lack of healing in hometown due to their lack of faith (6:5-6)
Blind Bartimaeus: ‘Go, you faith has healed you’ (10:46-52)
A common phrase throughout the Book of Mark is: ‘Your Faith Has Healed You’ or ‘It will be done as you believed!’
Jesus also told the people to do things they couldn’t do before!
Fever: went to her, took her hand and helped her up the she then waited on them! (1:31)
Paralytic: ‘Get up, take up your mat and walk!’ (2:11)
Hand: ‘Stand up in front of everyone. Stretch out your hand.’ (3:5)
Deaf & Mute: Jesus put his fingers in the man’s ears and spat and touched the man’s tongue. Then looking up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him ‘Be opened!’
Dead Girl: ‘He took her up by the hand and said to her, ‘little girl, I say to you get up!’ He told them to get her something to eat-dead people can’t eat!’ (5:41-43)
Blind Man: Jesus took him by the hand and led him. He spat on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, ‘Do you see anything?’ (7:33-35)
Faith calls things that are not, as though they were! (Romans 4:17)
The Command of Faith: be specific!
Jesus heals in response to your faith in Him and His Word!
Have you taken Jesus’ words to heart?
‘He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their Destructions’ (Psalm 107:20)
‘Faith comes through hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.’ (Romans 10:17)
‘My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart; For they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.’ (Proverbs 4:20-22)
‘But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.’ (Psalm 1:2-3)
‘You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.’ (John 15:3-4)
The Third Key: Power of the Spirit (Luke)
The Book of Mark seems to emphasise Jesus retreating for prayer then healing with the Holy Spirit’s power…
‘Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert.’ (Luke 4:1)
‘Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the spirit.’ (Luke 4:14)
‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to…’ (Luke 4:18)
‘[…] And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.’ (Luke 5:17)
(But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.)
‘[…] And the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.’ (Luke 6:18-19)
(Jesus went out on a mountainside to pray and spent the whole night praying to God)
Notice in both of these passages the power came after prayer and following the preaching of the word! [see 5:16, 6:12]
Jesus Often Withdrew to Pray‘
Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”’ (Luke 8:46)
Afterwards he withdrew to Bethsaida
The Key to Jesus’ Healing Ministry:
‘God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power […] he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.’ (Acts 10:38)
The Key to Our Ministry:
‘I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ (Luke 24:49)
‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirithas come upon you.’ (Acts 1:8)
‘The kingdom of heaven is within you.’ (Luke 17:20-21)
‘Be Continuously Filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18)
‘He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself.’ (1 Cor 14:4)
The Fourth Key: Works of Glory (John)
The Gospel of John shows us Jesus doing the works of God.
First Receive from Heaven:
‘A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.’ (John 3:27)
He [Jesus] speaks about and does what he saw in heaven. (John 3:31-35)
‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can doonly what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.’ (John 5:19)
‘By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.’ (John 5:31)
‘For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.’ (John 6:38)
Jesus was completely dependant on God his Father and sought to please him, to give him glory
What are Gods Works?
‘My Father never stops working, so why should I?’ (John 5:17)
‘But I have a greater witness than John-my teachings and my miracles [works]. They have been assigned to me by the Father, and they testify that the Father has sent me.’ (John 5:36)
‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened [man blind] so that the work of God might be displayed in his life [man seeing]. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no-one can work.’ (John 9:3-4 healing is one of the works of the Father)
Jesus heals because he does the work of His Father:
‘Did I not tell you that of you believed you would see the glory of God?’ (John 11:40)
Healing demonstrates the Father’s glory:
‘Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ (John 12:28)
‘Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of what you have seen me do. The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, anything in my name, and I will do it.’ (John 14:10-14)
Jesus did only what he saw the Father doing. Notice that when the Son does the work that the Father does [healing] it brings the Father glory! What must we do to do the Works of God? (John 6:28)
‘Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father living in me, who is doing his work.Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.’ (John 14:10-14)
‘Yes, I am the true vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to me and mywords remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.’ (John 15:5-8)
‘[…] For everything that I have learned from my father I have made known to you.’ (John 15:15)
‘All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.’ (John 16:15)
How Are We Going To Do The Work?
A. Believe
(John 6:28-29) ‘Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?’‘Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”’
Believe: To take as true, real, to have confidence in a statement or promiseBe convinced, persuade, trust, assurance, reliance, freedom from doubtOpposite: Distrust, disbelief, disloyalty
B. Receive
‘If you knew the gift of God – What is the gift of God-living water.’ (John 4:10)
C. Abide
(John 14) Being in the Father, Son & Holy Spirit
