Introduction to Healing Prayer Teams in Mission
By Rev. John Bryant
Hopewell United Methodist Church
Usually, in thinking of missional work, we think of the “already being done”. We think of the poor or impoverished. We think of the hungry and their need for food. We think of those needing clothes. We think of those needing shelter. And we Christians care and love and provide through clothing closets, food pantries, homeless shelters, and more…
But is there an organized and focused means of reaching, touching, and praying for those who suffer physically, emotionally, or spiritually? Is there a missional outreach that provides “love of others” through listening, loving, and praying? Where is the missional outreach of interceding before others in prayer, face-to-face, asking for God’s divine touch to heal the sick?
Think of Jesus. And think of his disciples. Recall the early church. The Good News is the news of healing…the truth of restoration…the witness before the world of a living God who listens…and heals. Read Acts and the attached Scripture and ask, “How did the Good News of Jesus spread and how did the church grow?” The answer: through the mission of divine healing as disciples preached, touched, and prayed.
Our churches are to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Are we true disciples? Do we believe in divine healing? Can we listen, love, and pray?
Imagine a new missional outreach where trained teams of two persons pray with a suffering person. The sick may come to a church, or the team may be invited into the home. These healing prayer teams, however, must be called by God into mission. They are to be called, trained, and sent into mission as healing prayer ministers.
For those who believe in divine healing and for those who are called to join a prayer team, please call our church office at 828-478-9625.
Last, if you seek healing prayer, let us know. Call (828) 478-9625 and a healing-prayer team will respond by listening, loving and praying for emotional, spiritual or physical renewal.
Selected “Healing” Scripture
NRS Matthew 9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." 30 And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this." 31 But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.
NRS Matthew 15:21 ¶ Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.
NRS Luke 14:1 ¶ On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 2 Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, "Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?" 4 But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away. 5 Then he said to them, "If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?" 6 And they could not reply to this.
NRS Matthew 10:7 As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
NRS Mark 1:23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-- with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
NRS 2 Timothy 3:1 ¶ You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!
NIV Matthew 10:6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
NRS Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
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