Praying for the Sick
James 5:13-20
The fifth sermon in the series Authority to heal is entitled “Praying for the Sick”. Click here to listen to the sermon (right-click to save it to disc, or ctrl-click on the Mac).
A model for healing prayer ministry
We are not in and of ourselves healing anybody! God is the only one who heals. We are helping people to come into his healing presence where healing might be found. We are used by God to build faith and expectancy and to proclaim the works of God.
We are committed to total confidentiality in this ministry.
This five step process is our basic model.
1 Interview
This asks the basic question "where does it hurt?”
You may wish to ask:
When did the problem start?
Do you know the cause of your sickness or pain?
How have you dealt with it in the past?
How does it affect you?
Use open-ended questions and learn to listen between the lines, watching body language as well as the spoken words.
Don't get bogged down in detailed medical histories: some people want to give you every graphic detail which actually serves to destroy rather than build faith.
As many conditions result from damaged relationships, the effects of being sinned against, or the involvement in occult activity for example, it is often worth exploring these avenues with the person for whom you are praying.
But please never 'put things on' people, which only leads to confusion and further harm.
Ask God for discernment, be open to receive supernatural insight from God, though beware of jumping to snap judgements.
2 Diagnosis
This answers the question, “why does this person have this condition?”
You may wish to consult with your prayer partner and with the person being prayed for here.
Tell them what you feel is the right way to tackle the issue.
3 Prayer selection
Determining how we are going to tackle this problem.
I like to imagine Jesus being present with this person and asking, "what would you do or say now, Lord?”... and then I try and do the same thing as he would.
Options available are:
Prayer directed towards God
Using a word of command
Anointing with oil or with blessed water
Praying in tongues
Deliverance ministry
4 Prayer engagement
Always follow these important steps:
Seek to create an atmosphere of faith. This may best be done by reading some Scriptures which testify to God's power and desire to heal. (Use ones which relate to the condition of the person in some way)
Invite the Holy Spirit to come, and then give him space to come
Encourage the person simply to receive and not to engage in intercessory prayer directly themselves
Keep your eyes open at all times in order to see what God is doing. Doctors do not perform operations with their eyes shut!
Pray specifically and with faith and conviction, laying hands on the person for whom you are praying.
Feel free, from time to time, to ask the person what is happening. Is God speaking to them, showing them anything? Go back to the interview stage and then review the way in which you are praying.
When God is clearly taking over, don't get in his way. Just bless what he is doing. Encourage the person to rest in his presence and not to rush away.
Healing is often a process and not an event. So, look for encouraging signs of a start to the healing process and then pray on for more.
5 Post-prayer direction
Encourage people to hold on to the healing God has given them. Give them some Scripture to take away which will reinforce what God has done.
If no apparent healing has taken place, don't pretend that it has, but give people reassurance of God's love for them, encourage them to persevere in seeking healing, and give them something to encourage them. Everyone should go away feeling more loved by God as a result of our ministry.
Sometimes we have to tell people to go away and sin no more.
There may be other pastoral need thrown up by the healing ministry procedure and these should be reported to the Church leadership.
Sermons on healing
Praying for the Sick (this sermon)
See also
