Beginning A Ministry

Be careful when reading the accounts of the healing ministry of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit may lead you into a place of being involved in such a ministry.  He may speak to you about being more intentional about praying for the sick.  You may find that telling someone you will pray for them is no longer enough.  You may be asked to set aside time each day to pray for those who suffer.  Or, you may be asked to bring together a group of people who do not meet to socialize, or read a book about praying, but who actually spend time praying for those in need of God's healing hand.  

It may also be that the Spirit will use these accounts of the healing ministry of Jesus in such a way that you can no longer abide the church neglecting this ministry.  If such is where the Holy Spirit is leading, it would seem that the starting place is a personal conviction that the Holy Spirit with the gift of healing should have an essential place in the life of the church.  Perhaps, a small group study or a season of studying this ministry in Sunday School classes would be a way of giving the Spirit and opportunity to prepare the way.  Before launching out, it will prove to be a good thing to provide a place for teaching, discussion, and the questions which will surely arise.  Another thing required in a movement toward a healing ministry in the church is a loving community.  

Of course, at some point there must be a prayerful decision to offer services of worship dedicated to praying for the healing of those who come with their needs.  When such a service if offered, there should be no disappointment that it is attended by a small group instead of the larger Sunday morning worship crowd.  The people who come will be those who are led by the Holy Spirit.  Some may come to have prayers offered for themselves, or they may come and kneel at the altar asking for prayers in behalf of a family member or dear friend.  Those who are prepared to pray for those who come are not the Healer.  God is the Healer.  Those who pray know their responsibility is not to heal, but to pray.