Part
1 - Basics
1.1 What is prayer ministry?
Prayer ministry is praying with somebody in
the power of the Spirit. Our pastoral wisdom, experience, knowhow or
maturity of character are not key factors in prayer ministry. John
Wimber used to say after years of emphasising those things that one day he felt
God say to him, “I’ve seen your ministry, John; now I want to show you mine.” Reflecting
on his extraordinary spiritual gift of praying for healing and equipping others
to do the same, he went on to define prayer ministry as “meeting the needs of others
with God's resources.”
1.2 Why do we do prayer ministry?
We want to help people meet with God and know
they’re loved; loved by him and loved in the family of the church.
1.3 What is the biblical basis for prayer ministry?
In the New Testament, the ministry of the Holy
Spirit is one of the main purposes for the church gathering together (alongside
worship and teaching). 1 Corinthians 12-14 describes a congregation meeting
together, bringing spiritual gifts for mutual edification, in an atmosphere of
love.
The New Testament contains 94 verses of exhortation containing the words ‘one another’ including pray for one another (James 5.16), encourage and build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5.11), speak truth to one another (Ephesians 4.25), bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6.2), wash one another’s feet (John 13.14), serve one another (Galatians 5.13), comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4.18) and love one another (John 13:34).
1.4 How does it work?
It is important to remember that we cannot
manufacture a meeting with God, but we can facilitate it. Provided we ask with
good motives and with faith, the Bible teaches that God always does something,
and it's always good.
Part 2 - How Did Jesus Minister? (Matthew 3-9)
2.1 Why Jesus?
If
we want to learn to do prayer ministry well, the best place to start – the only
place to start – is by looking at Jesus. Best practice in prayer ministry is doing
what Jesus did, saying what he said, thinking what he thought. This is following
Jesus. This is why he said, “Learn from me” (Matthew 11.29).
2.2 Commissioning (Matthew 3.13-17)
It is important to start where Jesus started. In
Matthew 3.13-17 the Holy Spirit falls and rests on him. Jesus waits for the
Father's anointing before he does anything. He did no public ministry at
all as until after he was commissioned. We can likewise only minister
effectively if we are ourselves are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Note also that Jesus soaked in his Father’s approval and affection at the start of his public ministry. Likewise, we minister most effectively and safely from a place of knowing we are loved children of God, secure in our spiritual identity, and having no anxiety or need to prove anything to anyone.
2.3 Preparation (Matthew 4.1-11)
Jesus
spent time alone with his Father in prayer and fasting. The Reformer Martin
Luther once said, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold
of his willingness.” Research in the UK revealed that there is an almost exact
correlation between the amount of prayer mobilised for Alpha and the number of
guests who attend. We will see more in prayer ministry over time if we
ourselves come prayerfully prepared.
2.4 Modelling (Matthew 4.23-25)
Then, after calling the 12, Jesus models it.
Jesus very rarely ministered alone; he could have done, but instead he
deliberately invited others into his world to watch and learn; proclaiming
good news, teaching and healing.
Notice that Matthew specifically says that Jesus had authority in His teaching (7.29), and authority in His healing (9.7). He then gave this same authority to the 12 and 72 to minister in his name (Luke 9.1 and Luke 10.19) and he gives the same authority today to his church.
Let’s travel with Jesus now in Matthew 8 and 9 to watch how the Master does it.
2.5 The man with leprosy (Matthew 8.1-4)
What do we learn from this story? We learn that Jesus is always willing to heal.
We cannot promise that everyone
will be healed when we pray. We mustn’t over-promise, but we mustn’t
under-promise either. What we can say from Matthew 8.3 is that Jesus is willing.
When I worked in Paris, we had had the privilege of welcoming onto our Alpha course two women with fertility problems. One had been trying unsuccessfully for a baby for 14 years. Even hormone treatment and artificial insemination were useless. When she got to 40 the doctors told her it was hopeless and that she should forget it. The following year, another woman couldn’t have children because of an abortion earlier in life and something had gone wrong – and now she couldn’t conceive. Both had gone through painful break-ups in relationships. Both came to new faith in Christ at Alpha. Both had an overwhelming experience on the Holy Spirit ‘away day’ halfway through the course. Both became pregnant within days of giving their lives to Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit. And both gave birth to healthy babies (one boy and one girl) the following August. Jesus wills to bring healing.
2.6 The centurion and his servant (Matthew 8.5-13)
What do we learn from this story? We learn that Jesus has what it takes to bring transformation.
He is not only willing
but also able because he has authority over all things.
One of the church fathers Origen (3rd Century), reflecting on the life of the New Testament church said this: “Ordinary Christians in the early church cast out demons merely by prayer and by simple commands which the plainest person can use because, for the most part, it is uneducated people who perform this work… It does not require the power and wisdom of those who are good at arguing or who are most educated in matters of faith.” (Origen, from ‘Against Celsius’).
I suppose the most amazing healing miracle I’ve personally witnessed is in the life of a cockney friend of mine called Arthur, who went to be with the Lord about 10 years ago. But about 30 years before that he was healed of spondylosis. This is a painful osteoarthritis of the spine resulting from the fusing together of the vertebral discs. Arthur used to be bent over in constant discomfort and was only able to move slowly and laboriously. He was prayed for one day in the name of Jesus and he was instantly healed. Kathie and I are witnesses of the before and after. When I went to see him, he looked at me with a big grin and said “Watch this.” Then he ran up and down the stairs of his house shouting “Look, I’ve been ‘ealed; Jesus ‘as ‘ealed me!” It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
Mike Pilavachi of Soul Survivor encourages us by saying, “Don't tell God how big the problem is; tell the problem how big God is.”
2.7 Peter's mother-in-law (Matthew 8.14-17)
What do we learn from this story? We learn that touch can be important.
Jesus took her by the hand. He didn’t have
to, but he did.
Wayne Grudem, in his Systematic Theology, says this: “A survey of the New Testament may surprise many modern Christians (as it did to me) when they see how frequently the laying on of hands and other kinds of physical touch are seen to function as a “means of grace” in the ministry of Jesus and the early church. It seems that the laying on of hands was by far the most common method that Jesus used to pray for people. When crowds came bringing people “with various diseases” to him “he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them” (Luke 4.40). Other passages specifically describe Jesus is placing his hands on people to heal them (Matthew 8.3, Mark 1.41, Mark 6.5, Mark 8.23, Luke 5.13, Luke 13.13).”
So the laying on of hands is very biblical. We’ll discuss the practicalities later but for now, we’ll just say be gentle, respectful and sensitive. If you don’t know the person you are praying for well, ask permission. Sometimes, it's at the moment of laying on hands that a prophetic word comes. Sometimes the power of God flows at that moment.
I remember once praying with a woman for a young woman who had recently come to faith. She was wanting to be filled with the Holy Spirit and we asked God for her but saw nothing. We waited… but again nothing seemed to be occurring and she seemed slightly disappointed. Then my prayer partner gently laid a hand on her shoulder and suddenly there was a release; she was visibly moved with shaking, heavier breathing, a flushed complexion and tears of joy. The laying on of hands seemed to remove some kind of blockage.
2.8 Stilling the storm (Matthew 8.23-27)
What do we learn from this story? This is not a story about prayer or healing but we do learn that important lesson that with Jesus we have nothing to fear.
Stepping out in faith can be a bit scary,
especially when we are new to it. We can certainly feel out of our comfort
zone. We can even doubt if Jesus is really there with us and worry that
everything will go badly wrong. “Why are you afraid?” asks Jesus. Remember,
it’s not about us and our ability. It’s about Him and his ability.
2.9 The Gadarene demoniac (Matthew 8.28-34)
All that bacon! Seriously, what do we learn from this story? We learn that not everyone likes the ministry of the Holy Spirit!
Not everyone welcomes it, even people in the church. “This is
uncomfortable, please go away” say the local people.
I received a text message from a friend in a church I used to be part of. I’ll change a few details to protect confidentialities but it says, “Hi John, I wanted to let you know about some really encouraging news about ‘Fred Smith’. He had been really ill, much worse than before, and not able to do much, having lots of treatment. [Before, he had been quite seriously ill, including a heart attack and cancer]. ‘Jane Brown’ and I prayed for him outside, (Covid restrictions dictated) about four weeks ago and the Holy Spirit came on him and he was shaking and he recognised something amazing was happening. I love the way God works, I looked at the big rubbish bin not far from us and smiled, God works in the most unexpected places! Since then, Fred has been really joyfully tearful all the time, asking about how to move forward with God now he has experienced this. He has had a check-up since and they were very encouraged at the fact he was so well.
I share this because ‘Fred Smith’ was, in all the time I knew him, never a man to welcome the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He would always steer well clear which is perhaps connected to his background in freemasonry. But never be put off by people who disparage or resist the ministry of the Spirit.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that a herd of pigs is not a picture of ship-shape immaculate church. Remember, things can get a bit messy. Again, John Wimber said it memorably: “Church isn't about being neat and tidy; that’s what the graveyard is for. Life is oftentimes found in mess. The nursery is messy and noisy but that’s where all the life is!"
2.10 The paralysed man (Matthew 9.1-8)
What do we learn from this story? We learn that forgiveness may have to come before healing.
Sometimes you might have to
lead an unbeliever to faith in Christ first if necessary. More people get
healed when you pray for the sick than when you don’t. And more people give
their lives to Christ when you invite them to than when you don’t.
Actually, bitterness and lack of forgiveness for whatever reason can be a real obstacle to receiving from God. If you find that a person you are praying for is unwilling to forgive someone deal with it gently and graciously but do try and encourage them to overcome their reluctance to do so.
I once prayed with a woman for another woman who was a visitor to church. As we were praying for her, I began to sense that there was an issue of forgiveness with her sister. So I said, “This may be a bit of a strange question, but do you have a sister who wronged you and whom you need to forgive?” Immediately, the woman tensed up and looked angry. “I’ll never forgive that woman” she said. We tried to be understanding and showed her from scripture how powerful forgiveness can be but, whatever the issue was, she was unwilling to let it go and our prayers for healing were apparently ineffective.
2.11 The woman with issue of blood and dead girl (Matthew 9.18-26)
What do we learn from this story? We learn two things. Firstly, from the story of the woman with the issue of blood, ministering can be draining.
Power went out of Jesus and he often sought time alone
with his Father to replenish his spiritual strength. We should likewise not try
and save the world by ministering to others at an unsustainable rhythm. Build a
team that enables everyone to have a Sunday off. Make time for rest and sleep.
Secondly, from the story of Jarus’ daughter, sometimes we need to shut out distractions.
Jesus tells the noisy crowd and people playing pipes to go away. Prayer ministry requires a gentle and calm atmosphere in which we can give those who ask for it our full attention - and we should insist on it.
2.12 The blind and mute (Matthew 9.27-34)
What do we learn from this story? We learn that testimony builds a culture of faith and expectation.
This is why we have included so many stories from our own lives this
evening. We need to talk about
what God is doing amongst us, not about what God is not doing amongst us! Hearing
that Jesus has done wonders in someone’s life, others ask that He will do it
for them.
Earlier this year, I heard an amazing testimony about Rachel Hickson (some of you may know her as Alan and Eileen Vincent’s daughter) who opened the post one day and found an extraordinary letter from someone she had only met once - and very briefly. Here is what the letter basically said, “Dear Rachel, you came and spoke at my church on Mothering Sunday last year. At the end of your talk, you invited people to the front for prayer, in particular women who were unable to conceive and carry children. I was in the ladies’ at the time but a friend of mine ran out and said to me ‘Come back in, there’s an appeal for women who long to conceive but have so far not been able to.’ So I left the ladies’ and walked to the front where the prayer ministry team was praying for those who had come forward. It was you came to me and as you did, you simply looked at me and said, ‘The Lord is giving you two zebras.’ Then you moved on to the next person. I have no idea whether you know what you were saying or if you have any memory of it. But what you need to know is this. I am a white woman, but my marriage is of mixed ethnicity. My husband and I have been trying for years but we have been unable to have children. Every day, we’ve been praying that God will give us ‘little zebras’.” That was their love name for the mixed-race children that they longed for. Then she said, “I enclose a photograph of the twins that were born nine months after you spoke that word. Rachel remembered that moment very well and had, at the time, no idea what that was about.
Doesn’t that encourage your faith? Of course it does! This is why Psalm 107.2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.”
Part
3 – Putting Theory into Practice
The model we advocate here is designed to be as simple and flexible as possible, whilst at the same time keeping important safeguards in place.
3.1. As far as possible, let men pray for men and women with women.
3.2. A great question to open with is ‘What do you want Jesus to do for you today?’ (see Mark 10.51)
- It focuses attention on Jesus’ ministry, not ours (what do you want Jesus…).
- It emphasises our need to receive, not earn (to do for you).
- It narrows down what might be a long list of needs to a bite-sized request (today).
3.3. People almost always pray with their eyes closed, but you can miss so much if you don’t keep your eyes open!
3.4. Invite the Holy Spirit to come (see Ezekiel 37.9-10, Acts 8.14-17).
Why
do we pray ‘come, Holy Spirit?’ Isn’t the Holy Spirit everywhere? Of course, he
is God and is therefore always omnipresent. But at times in Scripture, he comes
in power in a particularly tangible way. See 2 Chronicles 7.1-3 and Acts 2.1-4.
Often, he comes as we call upon him. He loves us to call on Him. Remember that
the Holy Spirit can be grieved, so asking him to manifest his presence and
power demonstrates our willingness for him to do His work. We’re saying ‘You’re
welcome.’
3.5. Don’t rush. Wait and watch. Jesus’ model - ‘I do only what I see the Father doing.’ (John 5.19).
3.6. Don’t multiply words; listen. Jesus said, ‘I say just what the Father has told me to say.’ (John 12.50).
3.7. Bless what you see the Holy Spirit is doing and ask for more. ‘He is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us’ (Ephesians 3.20).
3.8. If you feel prompted, bring spiritual gifts; tongues, interpretation, words of knowledge and wisdom, prophecy, discernment of spirits… (1 Corinthians 12.7-11).
3.9. Affirm the person you have ministered to, and give them encouragement to come back at any time.
Training Sessions at King's Church Darlington, 21 and 24 June 2021
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