The Healing Ministry of the Church

In Jesus’ time….

Mark 1: 32 – 34a  That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. But…. Mark 6: 1, 5 He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. We will return to this later… Yes, this is a terrible picture!

Luke 9: 1 Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

In the Early Church…..

1 Corinthians 12: 4 - 11  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord… To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

James 5:14 -15 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.

Cessationism The belief that the activity of the Holy Spirit in terms of gifts of prophecy, healing, speaking in tongues etc ceased at the end of the Apostolic Age.

Witchcraft?? Magic???

The Enlightenment: Do miracles really happen?

The Pentecostal Movement Late 19C, early 20C

Today, the ministry of prayer for healing and wholeness is practised in most Christian denominations, although it is still regarded with suspicion or disbelief by some. The Anglican Church…..

Acorn Healing Foundation Acorn Christian Healing Foundation delivers Healing and Wholeness to individuals and communities. Through training, service and resources we provide a safe and effective Christian context in which people can experience personal and community wholeness, through exploring the essential elements of Healing, Reconciliation and Listening, around the UK and at its Training and Retreat Centre in Bordon, Hampshire. Established in 1983 by Bishop Morris Maddocks, Acorn has been at the forefront of providing people, regardless of their circumstances, background or life choices, with the opportunity to experience the 'shalom' - a life-encompassing peace - that is at the heart of the Christian message. Shalom impacts every area of a person's life - relationships, physical and spiritual wellbeing and emotional wholeness. 

Questions: How do we go about practising a ministry of prayer for healing? Safe practice? What if healing doesn’t happen? What about charlatans and false claims? Reconciliation: healing of individuals healing of communities healing of place