How do we know that Jesus wants us to pray for the sick? Scripture teaches that we are commissioned to do the will of God on earth, which is illustrated in the life and message of Jesus. 

Regarding the healing ministry, Jesus "healed many who had various diseases" (Mark 1: 34); He gave the Twelve "power and authority...to cure diseases" (Luke 9: 1); He commissioned the Seventy-two to "heal the sick...and tell them, 'The Kingdom of God is near you'" (Luke 10: 9); and, in a post-resurrection appearance, He said of those who followed Him, "They will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well" (Mark 16: 18)  So, in obedience to Jesus' life and message, we pray for people's healing and receive prayer for healing. The apostle John frequently writes that Jesus came to do the Father's bidding (John 4: 34; 5: 30; 6: 38; 8: 26; 9: 4; 10: 37-38; 12: 49-50; 14: 31; 15: 10; 17: 4). 

Further, Jesus did everything with excellence: "People were overwhelmed with amazement (that He healed a deaf and mute man). 'He has done everything well', they said" (Mark 7: 37). Jesus instructed His disciples to pray, "our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..."(Matthew 6: 9-10); Jesus wanted them to live as He did. When He gave up His spirit on the cross, Jesus cried out, "It is finished," indicating He had fulfilled that which the Father sent Him to do (John 19: 30). 

In Matthew 28: 18-20, the great commission passage, Jesus told His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." They were to carry out His ministry, which included praying for the sick.

What We Minister:

     A Kingdom of God message.  Luke 4: 18-19

     Healing and deliverance prayer.  Mark 16:17-18

     Holy Spirit empowerment.  Acts 1: 8

Six Healing Principles:

        1. God wants to heal the sick today.

        2. God is looking for a corporate ministry of healing.

        3. Our trust in God is demonstrated by our actions.

        4. We must be empowered by and led by the Holy Spirit.

        5. Importance of loving relationships with our brothers & sisters.

           6. God wants to heal the whole person, not just the specific condition.

Four Healing Values

        1. Provide a Healing Environment.

        2. Provide a Regularly Scheduled Ministry Time.

        3. Provide Training & Equipping of the Saints.

        4. Encourage a Life Style of Healing.

Following the Vineyard 5-step healing model...

        1. The Interview....Where does it hurt?
This can be conducted on two planes; the natural and the supernatural. In the natural you sort according to present and past experiences (i.e. what you see, know and have also learned). In regards to the supernatural; you sort according to gifts of the Spirit (i.e. words of knowledge and wisdom, and the distinguishing of spirits). This is not a medical review. Remember when you are praying for the sick you are not a physician, the medical history won't help us. Just ask the person where it hurts! You will know the interview process is complete when you have ascertained the cause of the condition, as to whether it is natural, supernatural, social, emotional, or some sin in the person's life. You also know this part is done when God has told you what to do. Either way you have completed the interview process.

        2. The Diagnostic Decision...Why does the person have this condition?
In the natural realm, is the disease or sickness associated with: 1. Sin issues (i.e. social disease, such as vaginal herpes) In this case, you want to address the sin that has been committed, and the sin committed against the person. 2. Emotional issues- such as psychosomatic illness 3. Social issues (i.e. harboring of ill feelings, anger, bitterness, resentment, etc.). 4. Generational issues- There could be any family spirits, passed down from generation to generation. In the supernatural realm, you should take a look at: 1. Any demonic oppression/affliction 2. Any demonic activity 3. Has the person ever had a curse put on them such as: Black magic, white magic, or even authority figures pronouncing things such as from doctors diagnoses, parents or teachers harsh, hurtful words etc.? As you are listening to the person you are watching what the Father is doing. What is coming up? What is the person sharing? There is no need to rush things, but take your time, and as you continue you will learn more and more of how healing prayer works.

        3. The Prayer Selection...What kind of prayer is needed to help this person?
1. We have prayer directed to God such as: Petition- Where we ask for the Holy Spirit's presence, and we also ask for the Holy Spirit's healing power to come and do its work. Intercessory Prayer- This is where we are praying in our mind, and praying in the Spirit. 2. We have prayer that is from God such as: This is where we have a command- faith comes up and we command something to straighten, or for healing to come, we command the condition to be healed. There is also the pronouncement of faith: we are here to pray and we are asking You to come and heal, Lord. In this time there could also be a rebuke such as, we rebuke any evil spirit in Jesus name, or to bind, such as, we bind any of Satan's plans to wound or cripple this person. And finally, if there is demonic presence, then we expulse the demon. We command the demon, in the name of Jesus to come out- therefore eliminating its presence.

        4. The Prayer Engagement...How effective are our prayers?
1. This is where I think it is most important to watch and see what's happening. Should the ministry proceed? Does the person feel anything such as warmth, tingling, heat, muscle spasm, shaking? What is happening with the person? 2. When in doubt, ASK QUESTIONS 3. Some people really are programmed to fail- programmed that God will never use them. God can use YOU, be in tune with what is happening...What is God doing? Ask the person questions, as they may not be very much in tune with their own bodies, if you're not sure, just ask ! 4. You should stop praying when either the person you are praying for indicates it's over; when the Holy Spirit tells you it's over; you cannot think of anything else to say, or you have prayed for everything and it seems you have not gained any ground.

        5. Post-Prayer Direction...What’s next?
Often people wonder why they get healed and then something changes and they feel like it never really happened, or what did I do to make it go away? Well, it is always important that in praying for people that you close it well. Explain to the person not to sin anymore. If sin is what trapped them before and was an in-road in some area- then stop doing it! It's always good just to give basic council such as, don't forget to get the Word of God in you, read the Scriptures, spend time in prayer, and get yourself in a church, surrounded by other believers to where you can be accountable to each other. It's important not to give the enemy any place to where he can attack, and when he does, that you have the support of the church around you.

A HEALING TESTIMONY FROM JOHN WIMBER...

Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to pray for many people who have come to me wanting to be healed. Today, I want to share an astounding story of one lady we came across several years ago.

I was speaking in South Africa at a large conference and a friend of mine, John McClure, was with me and we were asked to go to the home of a lady of the church. She was dressed beautifully but was very emaciated, weighing only 85 pounds. She had been sent home from the hospital to die. Her body was full of cancer, and her only hope of survival was divine intervention. We prayed for her, but not with great fervency. John had confidence that she would be healed. I felt nothing.

That night she woke up with a vibrant, tingling feeling throughout her body and for the next few hours her body was full of intense heat. She tried to call out to her husband in the next room but couldn’t raise her voice loud enough for him to hear her. Alone and frightened, she crawled into the bathroom, her body racked with pain. At the time she thought, “O my God. My body is coming apart and I’m dying.” Without knowing it, she eliminated from her body a number of large tumors. Finally, exhausted from the night’s events, she fell back asleep. She didn’t know if she’d wake up.

But a half an hour later she woke up incredibly refreshed. Later her husband woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. “What are you doing?” he asked, astonished to see his wife on her feet and preparing breakfast. She replied with sudden understanding: “God has healed me.” Two days later she reported to her doctors who gave her a clean bill of health. They couldn’t find the cancer in her body because God had completely delivered her of all of it! Without much energy to pray on our part and without any desperation or faith on her part, the Lord chose to heal this woman’s cancer-infested body through divine means. That’s God, and that is sometimes how He chooses to do it!

Our job is to pray; God’s job is to heal. He gets to choose where, how and when He will heal someone. To our amazement once again, God had healed this lady in His timing and His purposes. Have you ever seen anything such as this? If not, keep believing, and keep praying…You never know what God will do next!