Session 5: Jesus – our example for healing and ministry From fear to faith That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:35-41) Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:18-19)

Ways the Jesus healed Touch (e.g. cleansing a leper, Matt 8:2) From a distance (e.g. centurion’s servant, Matthew 8:13) Fingers in ears (e.g. deaf and mute man, Mark 7:31ff) Spit in the eyes (e.g. blind man, Mark 8:23) Spit on the tongue (e.g. deaf and mute man, Mark 7:31ff) Spit, mudballs, and an action (eg man born blind, John 9) One word deliverance i.e. “Go” (e.g. two demon possessed men, Matthew 8:32) Faith (e.g. the woman who touched his cloak, Mark 5:34) Oil (e.g. the 12 disciples sent out by Jesus, Mark 6:13) Shadows (e.g. people bring the sick into the streets so that Peter’s shadow might fall on them, Acts 5:15) Cloths (e.g. Paul’s aprons and handkerchiefs, Acts 19:12) Edge of cloak (e.g. the woman afflicted for qw years by an issue of bleeding, Mark 5:25-34) Pronouncements and declarations (e.g. centurion’s servant, Matthew 8:13) Words of command – Authoritative prayer (e.g. Lazarus rising from the dead, John 11:43)

Healing the Sick – God’s love in action 1. LOVE and COMPASSION – Our MOTIVATION for healing the sick 2 Corinthians 5:14 For CHRIST‘S LOVE COMPELS US, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 2. Jesus was FULL OF LOVE AND COMPASSION for people Matthew 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had COMPASSION on them and HEALED THEIR SICK. Mark 1:41 FILLED WITH COMPASSION, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I AM WILLING,” he said. “BE CLEAN!” John 11:32-35 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ―Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus SAW her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was DEEPLY MOVED in spirit and troubled. ―Where have you laid him? he asked. ―Come and see, Lord, they replied. JESUS WEPT. 3. We must CLOTHE ourselves with HIS COMPASSION Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, CLOTHE YOURSELVES with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 4. We must be FILLED with HIS LOVE Rom 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, whom he has given us. Ask the HOLY SPIRIT to FILL you with His LOVE and COMPASSION. We need this on a DAILY BASIS and especially when we are praying for the sick.

“We believe God can heal every sickness, pain, crippling disease, or deformity. Create bodyparts, dissolve implanted metal and plastic, and turn them into bone and flesh, and can bring life to the dead. We are not afraid to acknowledge that some are not healed.” (Mark Marx) So how does healing come, and what do you say and do when there is no sign of healing? We never make promises of healing, or guarantee someone will be healed. We never tell someone they are healed until they have confirmed it. They will either be: instantly healed, experience partial/gradual healing, or have no sign of healing. It’s important to find out which of these three they have experienced.

Healing comes instantly When you have prayed, a person can be HEALED INSTANTLY. Always ask the person to TEST THEIR HEALING out as soon as you’ve finished praying. Obviously for some it may mean a trip to the doctor for tests. When they have CONFIRMED this you can say to them, “GOD HAS HEALED YOU” Partial healing The person may experience VARIOUS DEGREES OF HEALING. You can say to them, “GOD IS IN THE PROCESS OF HEALING YOU” Their complete healing can come later. We explain how healing works and encourage them to let us know how they get on. WE LEAVE THEM IN A PLACE OF FAITH No sign of healing At least two things can happen. There is no sign they have been healed but as they go they are healed. They can discover later they have been healed, or there is gradual healing after they leave. When you have prayed there is NO SIGN OF HEALING, and NO CHANGE IN THEIR CONDITION at all afterwards. This is what we say: “If you haven’t been healed right now, it’s not a sign that God doesn’t love you, or that you’re not going to be healed. God loves you and is passionate about you...” We teach them that sometimes they can experience God’s healing later on...it can be gradual or instant. If they don’t experience any change in their condition, again encourage them to come back for more prayer. Some people are never healed physically, but have been touched by God’s love and care. Remember this is happening in an environment of love and compassion.

Session 6: Doin’ the stuff – a simple kingdom model for healing the sick