Our Hands His Healing (eBook)

Chapter 1

OUR HANDS

CONTROL

What comes into your mind when you think of the word “control”?

If you are a man, then maybe it’s a “remote control”.

If you are a fashion model, then probably it’s “weight control”.

If you are a youth, then it might be “zit control”.

If you are an engaged Christian couple, then it’s probably “self-control”.

If you are a married woman, then possibly “birth control”.

If you are on X Factor, then it could be “voice control”.

If you are an airline pilot, then it’s probably “air traffic control”.

And if you are an elderly person, then it is probably “bladder control”.

As you can see, the word “control” is part of our everyday language.

Most of us like being “in control”. Sometimes when we can’t be in control we can feel very uncomfortable. This is an important aspect of prayer ministry because we can never control the Holy Spirit.

MINISTERING OUT OF LOVE AND COMPASSION

When we are ministering the love and healing of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, our spirit has to be tracking and interacting with Him. We give control over to Him, asking Him what He is doing as, like Jesus, we can do only what we see the Father doing (John 5:19) if we are to minister faithfully.

Before continuing to read why don’t you join me in praying?

Almost thirty years ago I started ministering to broken people. Jesus had brought so much healing into my own life that I longed to see others receive from Him too. After ministering for a few years, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to ask for more of Him. Then some years later I said to Jesus, “Show me how to love people.” I made this my daily prayer for about a year. Just those six words. Prayers don’t have to be long. On a few other occasions, at key times when the Holy Spirit was moving in power in our church or at conferences, I have asked Jesus, “Give me Your heart for the broken.” Also I have asked Him, “Jesus, show me what You see; break my heart with the things that break Yours.” Believe me, Jesus will take you at your word! Don’t pray these words unless you mean it.

Why not do that now? If you are serious about ministering to the broken, pray along with me:

Having your heart broken for those with emotional pain isn’t pleasant; it is uncomfortable. It may mean that you will start weeping at unexpected times. Many times I have walked into our lounge catching the last ten minutes of a documentary showing acts of injustice and have started to weep as my heart has been wrenched for those displaying pain. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not a girlie weepy thing. It’s seeing people who need the love of Jesus and experiencing His love for them and His desire to set them free from inner pain.

Hearing another’s story of hurt during prayer ministry may cause us to feel emotional. It may even remind us of our own story of inner emotional pain. Feelings of empathy may rise within us for the one we are praying for. It is easy to minister out of this place, and indeed outside of prayer ministry times it is useful for launching us into action to comfort and provide practical help for the person suffering. However, during prayer ministry, we could easily get worn out and emotionally drained by ministering to a lot of people using empathy. Practising prayer ministry with the compassion of Jesus (as well as His power) means that we can (if necessary) pray for one person after another without feeling emotionally drained. Also our empathy shows that we care, but it is the powerful love, compassion, and mercy of Jesus that brings forgiveness, healing, freedom, and restoration.

Praying for the broken-hearted is addictive. At times you may experience the tremendous love of Jesus – His compassion for those that have been abused or taken advantage of in some way. At times this may feel like righteous anger. Our reward in doing prayer ministry is seeing Jesus set people free. But it also costs us. It takes time. It means a ministry in the background. No one else sees what you are doing. It offers little status or recognition. In spiritual terms, though, there is an awareness that the enemy’s territory is being plundered as you see the person you are praying for being set free and able to receive more from Jesus. Are you ready for the journey of a lifetime?

If we start ministering to the broken-hearted with just our own sympathy or empathy, we will soon get discouraged, tired, and worn out. If we try to minister without the love of Jesus, then the Bible tells us that we will just be an ugly noise, a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). After speaking of various gifts Paul tells us that the greatest gift is love (1 Corinthians 13). Ministering to the broken is a ministry of love. Without the power of the Holy Spirit we would be at a loss as to how to proceed. A good starting point is to ask the Holy Spirit for “gifts of healing”. It is okay to ask God for spiritual gifts. The Bible tells us to “eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:1). As God’s children He wants us to be as a child – not childish but child-like in our asking. A young child doesn’t stop and wonder whether it’s okay to ask for things.

MINISTERING IN THE GIFTS

I remember when my grandson Ted was eight years old, his parents asked him what gifts he wanted for his next birthday. He didn’t hold back in his asking. After searching through a very large catalogue of Star Wars Lego sets Ted covered two sides of A4 paper with his list of what he would like to receive! We are meant to be like that with our heavenly Father. He wants to give good gifts to His children and He gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13).

I am presuming that you already know about gifts of the Holy Spirit. If not, I suggest you read one of the many books that cover this subject. Using these gifts is an important part of prayer ministry. Two books that might help you learn more about the Holy Spirit are: Come Holy Spirit, by David Pytches, and Encounter the Holy Spirit, by Jeannie Morgan.

As the Bible shows us, each one of us gets to receive at least one of these gifts and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to us all of the time as and when the Holy Spirit chooses to use them through us.

As we start and continue to use these gifts we are given more and more opportunities to use them. We gain in confidence and often these gifts develop and grow. Other gifts may then be added to complement and interact with each other.

Some people manifest a particular gift so frequently that it develops into a recognisable “ministry”. The ownership of both gift and ministry as always belongs to the Holy Spirit. It is His ministry, not ours.

We are all commanded by Jesus to heal the sick and cast out demons. He can empower and use each one of us to do this. As Paul tells us, all the gifts are available to all of us, as and when the Holy Spirit decides (1 Corinthians 14). Not everyone is given “gifts of healing” to use as a permanent gifting but that doesn’t mean that we can’t ask for them – “eagerly ask for spiritual gifts…” – or that the Holy Spirit will not use this gift through us when He chooses to. We know we have received this gift if we see people regularly receiving healing. The offer is plural, “gifts of healing”. My theory is that this means physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental healing. Some people seem to operate more often in one or the other. This doesn’t mean that if your thing is inner healing then you will not see physical healing taking place, as healing is about wholeness. It may be that your passion will be for one or the other. All those praying for healing should want wholeness for themselves and for others and be praying for this when ministering.

If we know that our motive in the healing ministry is a love for people, then with confidence we can ask for gifts of healing. Also if you know someone who already prays for the broken-hearted then you could ask them to pray for you to receive this gift. If you already operate in gifts of healing, ask for other gifts to complement them – prophecy, words of knowledge, discerning of spirits, tongues, or miracles.

Let us just pray about that now: