Healing Ministry

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on May 31, 2011 at 7:22am

Personally, I happen to get frustrated when I ask a question and no one replies.  I am responding in the hopes that other people will jump in after me and place even one thought here.   My thought is to attend some of the churches that do have healing ministries in addition to your own church.   It may take some phone calls  to find one (pentecostal??) and even some more more seeking to confirm it.. You're looking for the nod from God.

 

I was raised Missouri Synod Lutheran.   Having heard about being 'filled with the Spirit, I did a lot of asking around inside and outside Lutheran circles.   Finding the right one that God was looking for to lay hands on me took quite some time.  It was so very worth it.

Permalink Reply by Martha L Shaw on May 31, 2011 at 11:33am

Thank you very much for replying!  Good advice.  I've been reading a book called "Channels of Healing Prayer" by Benedict Heron which was lent to me and I must say that there are a lot of things in that book that make me realize that I was meant to read it.  I'm at this point feeling the nod but wondering about the "practical" parts of the process and of course until it "gets started" which involves more than just me . . .  after all, my involvement in this ministry which my church doesn't yet have could be tricky.  Free will could get in the way and stop or slow down the process even if it is His will.  However, I am praying to be enabled and or hearts to open. 

Advice of any sort is encouraged and welcomed.  If someone reading this is OPPOSED to this sort of ministry, and I know some people are, I'd also encourage  your comments.  I am sure to meet some in my parish who object and it would help me to understand their concerns if some here are willing to share with me.  Your prayers are appreciated.  I recommend the book I mentioned above.  I've been told Francis MacNutt is also one who's written much on this.  There are likely others, but this is not something I've been considering until very recently and thus the research is just beginning.  I'm trying not to rely on internet information since it's validity is questionable. 

 

Thanks again for your comment and for any who are praying and or planning to comment when they get a moment.

Permalink Reply by Jim H. on May 31, 2011 at 12:08pm

Please define what you see as Healing Ministries are.

Permalink Reply by Martha L Shaw on May 31, 2011 at 2:23pm

Praying for and with folks with laying on of hands for healing in body, mind, and/or spirit.  I'm seeing this happening in two ways - one being inner healing -  I've heard of the "sozo healing ministry" which would be offered privately apart from a "healing service."  I've seen magazines from the Order of St Luke on healing ministry.  It seems there are a variety of approaches to this, but my priest and I both feel the Lord is calling for our church to have this ministry and there is planning and training needed.  I do also see a "prayer group" or healing service devoted to laying on of hands for healing by teams and open to folks who choose to come.  I envision a service opening with prayer and praise leading into folks coming to a team expressing a request for prayer through laying on of hands, listening to the Holy Spirit, and praying for the individual. 

Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on May 31, 2011 at 4:34pm

I, like you, am looking forward to hearing what the saints have to say about this.  I do have a bible verse to add to the discussion. Acts 4:   ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

 

We're asking Jesus to get involved.   It's His hand that heals.

 

Permalink Reply by Martha L Shaw on May 31, 2011 at 7:16pm

Thank you, yes!   It's not even "really" about the healing of a body part or what have you.  It is really about bringing people to Christ. These wonderful blessings He bestows on folks and sometimes uses us to be His vessel, are all about bringing folks to relationship with Him.  It's all about Him and about His love!  I'm excited to be moving in faith.  I don't know what's entirely His plan, but all I can do is pray, listen, and get out of the boat.  He keeps me very busy these days.  I've been unemployed for a long time and things don't seem to be "working" in the area of a paycheck for me even with great qualifications.  Not sure why, but somehow I believe that's also part of His plan.  He provides.  His plan is always best. 

Permalink Reply by Jim H. on June 1, 2011 at 5:58am

     The reason i asked this question is because when i hear healing ministry i picture a person traveling from town to town setting up a tent and having people come up that can't see, or speak and he put his hands on them and suddenly they are healed

     I think your describing what a church should be, a place where people come together and pray over one another and ask God to heal them. I pray that as you build this ministry the credit will alway be given to God

 

 

 

Martha L Shaw said:

Praying for and with folks with laying on of hands for healing in body, mind, and/or spirit.  I'm seeing this happening in two ways - one being inner healing -  I've heard of the "sozo healing ministry" which would be offered privately apart from a "healing service."  I've seen magazines from the Order of St Luke on healing ministry.  It seems there are a variety of approaches to this, but my priest and I both feel the Lord is calling for our church to have this ministry and there is planning and training needed.  I do also see a "prayer group" or healing service devoted to laying on of hands for healing by teams and open to folks who choose to come.  I envision a service opening with prayer and praise leading into folks coming to a team expressing a request for prayer through laying on of hands, listening to the Holy Spirit, and praying for the individual. 

Permalink Reply by Martha L Shaw on June 1, 2011 at 9:04am

Thanks, Jim.  I understand what you mean.  I know of a church that has this type of prayer offered during services and has actually seen some miracles like what you describe.  I've in the past seen this type of prayer offering offered during communion and after the service ended as needed in the back or off to the side of the church.    I agree that this does indeed describe the true definition of "church" while we've come to think of church as a building and not a union of believers.  You are so right.  It's all about the Lord. 

Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on June 1, 2011 at 9:19am

Good Morning, Martha!

 

You mentioned that you have been unemployed for awhile.  This link is a database of non for profits that is national.

 

http://www.charity-charities.org/charities/index.html

 

In addtion, on another discussion here, another member gave an excellent reply and I'm cutting and pasting his response here:

 

I am a certified credit counselor for a non profit in Michigan and we have a numebr of resources for web sites you may be able to use, although I am sure you have used many of these. I pray something may come from this.
• Careerbuilder.com
• monster.com
• hotjobs.yahoo.com
• indeed.com
• usa.gov
• dice.com (tech jobs)
• simplyhired.com
• linkedin.com
• craigslist.org
• job-hunt.org
• beyond.com
• snagajob.com
• execu—search.com
• usajobs.com
• hound.com
• jobcentral.com
• jobserve.us
• jobster.com
• oodle.com/job/
• ontargetjobs.com
• theladders.com
• trovix.com
• linkup.com
• coolworks.com
• jobfox.com
• realmatch.com
• risesmart.com
• recruit.net
• careerjet.com
• juju.com
• mployd.com
• siftin.com
• directemployer.com
• truecareers.com
• alljobsearch.com
• employmentwizard.com
• Career Journal –Wall Street Journal - online.wsj.com
• Search- “America’s Job Bank”

I know this can be tough. I was unemployed last year when my wife was 5 months pregnant and know what a struggle finding work can be. Another option might be through the Salvation Army and their social services. My sister is in school for her Social Work program and is currently working there. It may not be exactly what you are trained in, but it may be another door. Holding tight to him does work even though it is not always easy because of the fear that comes over us. It definitely is an opportunity to draw closer to Him and develop the relationship He wants with us. If your worries are financial, there are a ton of programs out there, including from benefits.gov, angelfoodministries.com, and salvationarmyusa.org. If your concern is trusting Him and His will for you in His plan, I always hold to what Jesus said about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field in Matthew, even though it is difficult because we have to change what we are used to. I hope this encourages. Will be praying for you.

 

There may be some thing there that gives you some additional hope and resources to work with.

Permalink Reply by Martha L Shaw on June 1, 2011 at 9:38am

Thank you very much.  Inthe 3 years since I moved 900 miles to start a new life, I've had 3 or 4 temp positions, but have met with a lot of "it's a tough economy" and "you're overqualified" when people discover my background and academic achievements.  I've often groaned (okay, griped) that mine will be teh prettiest resume on the park bench when i lose my home.  Honesty, the Lord has HUGELY blessed me spiritually during this time of unemployment and I firmly believe that many of the ways in which I've grown in my personal walk with Christ might not have happened if I'd been in the job I had in the past and was actively seeking.  i was bank management and it never blessed me.  Now I feel called to things that in my view don't fit my resume, but our Lord does not call the enabled, He enables the called.  That being said, this flawed human feels like "time is running out" but that being said I know He loves me and believe He has a plan.  Thank you!  I will check into those things!  I so want to earn my living in a way that blesses me, blesses the Lord, and draws folks to Him. 

Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on June 2, 2011 at 3:41am

You're welcome!

 

I'm going to send you a friend request.   I don't  want to blend discussion topics.   Hopefully, some Saints will come by and talk bout their church's approach as you initially requested.  

 

Reading your reply brought back a lot of emotion to me because I'm switching careers myself.  The transition has been very rocky.   There are times when it feels like my new career is all in my head.   I do believe that I am meant to participate in the marketplace as a writer.  It's just going to take time to get other people on board with that.

 

One of the sensations that I can relate to in your post is "I feel called to things that in my view don't fit my resume." Oh, if that's not every day for the last two years.   One of the bible verses that you can stick right onto that is, Proverbs 20:24 "A person’s steps are directed by the LORD.     How then can anyone understand their own way?"  Ultimately, you don't 'get it' until you look back.  Rarely does someone understand in the second of decision what God is doing in their lives - it's all trust.

 

It is these training exercises when you are building confidence in God's leadership of your life that the comfort comes.  You begin to understand that He is leading  you into a good place - very unusual methods granted - but a good place!  That's where things get really exciting.

 

God is leading me to understand  times and seasons.  Stay in your season.   Moses was the designated leader to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.  But Moses tried the human approach first. When Moses killed the Egyptian, Moses thought that the rest of the Hebrews would follow his lead and begin an uprising.   There was this time in the Midian Desert that completed Moses' understanding of how to follow God.   It doesn't surprise me at all that you are having a wilderness experience -- ESPECIALLY if God is calling you to participate in a healing ministry.

 

You have to have discretion in that ministry.  Your inner ear has to be finely tuned to His signals.   There are so many people who want to attach themselves to your faith and your blessing and your gifts without any real commitment to God.  They get what they 'want' and then *poof* they disappear.  God is not fooled.   It's not about negotiation with God.   It's unconditional, total surrender.   Most people won't agree to that yet they still want to be healed.   Siphoning off energy is a very common issue for Saints.   We go to God and get our cup filled to the top and spilling over.  The casual and the unsaved want the life we have without the effort of going to God themselves.

Permalink Reply by Martha L Shaw on June 2, 2011 at 2:57pm

My priest at church last night did a teaching on prayer and while most of it was on listening, he did say something that stuck with me.  He said prayer wasn't about "magic tricks nor about trying to change God's mind."  It's us who need to change.  Interestingly, you are being led to write and that is the other unexpected thing in my life.  Neithor of these things seem to lead to financial provision, but both seem clearly the message I'm getting, seem related given what He's using me to write and a whole lot of other things. 

 

We'll chat via the "friends" message on off topic things, thanks.  There's a lot of false information onprayer.  There seems to be many so called preachers who "promise" that if we give them money, God will "give you a miracle."  I cannot imagine how these people are allowed to be on television.  How many folks are led by these false prophets.  Sad.