Every Thursday night at Heritage there are people who gather for healing prayer. The goal is to have  a place where people can come and receive prayer for all types of healing, whether it be spiritual, emotional, mental, or physical. We believe that God is a God of power and love and He wants to extend His healing hand to touch people in response to our prayers. So, people of all ages make there way to the prayer room and we take the time to intercede for each one. The typical format is as follows:

• Greeting and opening prayer
• There is a short devotional from God’s Word
• Participants are usually given a few minutes to quietly pray by themselves
• We come back together and begin to pray for those in need
• We celebrate what the Lord does. He is good to us - all the time!

We have rejoiced as we have seen a young man receive Christ; a lady walked in a with a soft cast (boot) and her foot was completely healed (she walked out without the boot!); a man was delivered from a spirit of death and suicide (his countenance is totally different now): a woman who had trouble moving her neck was instantaneously healed; a woman with a lump on her breast was healed; a woman plagued with heart problems was recently given a good report; and these are just a few of the things that have occurred!

If you, or anyone you know has a need for God’s healing touch, please bring them to the Prayer Room (just to the left of the cafe) at Heritage on Thursday nights, at 7:00 p.m. 

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. ‘As you go, preach this message: the kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give’” (Matthew 9:35-36; 10:1, 7,8).

Prayer ministry is a means of participating with Jesus as He brings His Kingdom – God’s dynamic rule and reign in the lives of all those willing to receive His influence. The above passage and others clearly teaches us that Jesus wants to include us in the joyful activity of Kingdom work.  We can continue in the same ministry that Jesus was about while He walked on this earth.

Prayer ministry is a response to God’s awesome mercy:

•   Those who desire prayer have some specific need for God’s mercy.
•   We who prayer are instruments of His mercy for the individual.

The Kingdom of God was the central theme of Jesus’ teachings.  He came as the King who brings His dynamic rule, reign and influence in our lives. Jesus proclaimed, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15)!

In the gospel of Luke, immediately after announcing the kingdom, Jesus gave some powerful pictures of what happened when He used His authority to rule and reign.

People were:

• Freed from demons (4:33-37).
• Healed of their diseases (4:38-41).
• Forgiven of their sins (5:18-26).
• Restored in their relationship to God (5:27-31).

In the gospel account of Jesus’ saving work, the writer uses the Greek word sozo which we translate to save. We typically think of this salvation as only for the soul, but Jesus saves the whole person—body, soul, mind and spirit.  The same authority that saves my soul also frees me from oppressive spirits, heals my body, and reconciles me to God and others. Jesus graciously gave and continues to give His followers authority to use for the good of others, just as He used it.

“When Jesus called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke: 9:1).

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go.  He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few….  Go!… Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.” … The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even demons submit to us in Your name” (Luke 10:1-3, 9, 17).

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

The prospect of praying for others can be frightening.  To the degree we remember that it is on the authority of the King and His Kingdom that we pray, and trusting in His power and wisdom to guide us – to this degree we will enter into the dynamics of Kingdom ministry. Remember to say this to yourself: “It’s not about me. It’s about Jesus.” This can help you be bold when praying for others!

God uses both those He has gifted for this task AND those who are available and want to learn! We learn by listening, reading, observing, asking and doing. Learning to pray in a ministry context is like learning to drive.  You start off with a little bit of book knowledge (rules of the road, where the key goes, difference between the accelerator and the brake, etc.), and learn to drive by driving. So let’s start with a bit of book knowledge and progress to driving down the road!

Praying for Others

On Saturday, June 19 and June 26, from 4:45 pm to 6:15 pm, Bob Buchan will be offering a 2-part seminar on How to Pray for Others. This seminar will address the following topics:

•  Prayer Etiquette
•  Discerning the Need
•  Operating in the Gifts of the Spirit
•  Physical Healing in the Scriptures
•  Breaking Free from the Past
•  Breaking Vows and Unhealthy Attachments
•  Dealing with Disappointments and Delays

This seminar is open to all and will occur in room 102. There is no charge for this training opportunity.  To register, click here to return to the events page.