METHODOLOGY CONCERNING:HEALING PRAYER
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15)
Many of us can testify to the Power of Prayer to heal. Healing is not just God's business but He is the Chief Specialist and the Head of Every Medical school in history. Due to this fact, He has called many into this ministry/movement of intercessory prayer. Those of us who are well known as prayer warriors are used to getting phone calls, emails, texts and Facebook posts regularly, where we pray for some really critical needs several times a day. Therefore, due to the fact that we live in a time where diseases are more intense, some incurable and even more very devastating, it is absolutely critical that we are familiar with the processes of prayer for the sick.
In studying the Methodology of Prayer as we have been, throughout the Book of James, the Word of God shows the casual church-goer the direction to look when there is a need for healing prayer. The verses above give us direction as to:
1. Who is Qualified to Pray: We are ALL qualified to pray as the Redeemed of the Lord who are walking close to Him. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us we are a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation and God's special possession. But only a few of His "royal priests" have devoted themselves to Prayer. While, in the early church the Elders were the ones empowered by the Holy Spirit to pray for the Sick, in the this dispensation of the Age of Grace, there are not enough praying elders to go around. Therefore, the praying saint is very much in demand.
ACTION POINT: Make yourself available as the go-to person for prayer from anyone, including absolute strangers.
2. What the Process of Healing Prayer is: While the Bible recommends anointing a sick person with oil, many in conservative churches consider this to be more in the charismatic stream of the Faith and would rather decline its use. The use of anointing oil is NOT mandatory when laying hands or praying over/with another person. But if you wish to use it, please ask permission first. Oil in the Bible signifies, primarily, the Holy Spirit. The act of anointing with oil, while praying for someone else, is an outward acknowledgment that the Holy Spirit is being officially invited to be present while we pray.
It also does not matter where we begin to pray for a person and it is always better to pray with or for a person immediately if they are in your presence or quietly if you're in an office or grocery line. NEVER tell someone that they are in your "thoughts and prayers" and then never pray for them! After anointing with oil (or not) proceed to prayer with humility, urgency, power, authority and clarity. Sometimes less is more, so keep your words few but aligned with Scripture and believe in the Promises of God to never leave, forsake or abandon. But accept, on behalf of the person prayed for, the comfort, healing and restoration of that person, believing that "by His stripes, he/she is healed".
3. Where Wild at Heart Faith Conquers: Wild at Heart was a popular book in a lot of men's movement ministries over a decade ago. There was a huge quote in this book which underlines why we must have the kind of Faith which is strong enough to reach the Throne on behalf of another person's illness or your own. Author John Eldredge says in his book that “You can't fight a battle you don't think exists.” Faith is something which no one can see, but they CAN see the RESULTS if we pursue His Healing hands on behalf of others". This is quite noteworthy, We can see the results of prayer, if the Lord wishes healing on such a one. Even if the answer to our prayers include "no" or "not yet", pray with all the authentic faith, which a true believer possesses.
PREVIOUS POSTS ON THE METHODOLOGY OF PRAYER FROM THE BOOK OF JAMES:
PART 8
PART 7
PART 6
In studying the Methodology of Prayer as we have been, throughout the Book of James, the Word of God shows the casual church-goer the direction to look when there is a need for healing prayer. The verses above give us direction as to:
1. Who is Qualified to Pray: We are ALL qualified to pray as the Redeemed of the Lord who are walking close to Him. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us we are a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation and God's special possession. But only a few of His "royal priests" have devoted themselves to Prayer. While, in the early church the Elders were the ones empowered by the Holy Spirit to pray for the Sick, in the this dispensation of the Age of Grace, there are not enough praying elders to go around. Therefore, the praying saint is very much in demand.
ACTION POINT: Make yourself available as the go-to person for prayer from anyone, including absolute strangers.
2. What the Process of Healing Prayer is: While the Bible recommends anointing a sick person with oil, many in conservative churches consider this to be more in the charismatic stream of the Faith and would rather decline its use. The use of anointing oil is NOT mandatory when laying hands or praying over/with another person. But if you wish to use it, please ask permission first. Oil in the Bible signifies, primarily, the Holy Spirit. The act of anointing with oil, while praying for someone else, is an outward acknowledgment that the Holy Spirit is being officially invited to be present while we pray.
It also does not matter where we begin to pray for a person and it is always better to pray with or for a person immediately if they are in your presence or quietly if you're in an office or grocery line. NEVER tell someone that they are in your "thoughts and prayers" and then never pray for them! After anointing with oil (or not) proceed to prayer with humility, urgency, power, authority and clarity. Sometimes less is more, so keep your words few but aligned with Scripture and believe in the Promises of God to never leave, forsake or abandon. But accept, on behalf of the person prayed for, the comfort, healing and restoration of that person, believing that "by His stripes, he/she is healed".
3. Where Wild at Heart Faith Conquers: Wild at Heart was a popular book in a lot of men's movement ministries over a decade ago. There was a huge quote in this book which underlines why we must have the kind of Faith which is strong enough to reach the Throne on behalf of another person's illness or your own. Author John Eldredge says in his book that “You can't fight a battle you don't think exists.” Faith is something which no one can see, but they CAN see the RESULTS if we pursue His Healing hands on behalf of others". This is quite noteworthy, We can see the results of prayer, if the Lord wishes healing on such a one. Even if the answer to our prayers include "no" or "not yet", pray with all the authentic faith, which a true believer possesses.
PREVIOUS POSTS ON THE METHODOLOGY OF PRAYER FROM THE BOOK OF JAMES:
PART 8
PART 7
PART 6
