Read Online Divine Healing Made Simple: Simplifying the supernatural to make healing & miracles a part of your everyday life (The Kingdom of God Made Simple Book 1) by Praying Medic - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Praying Medic
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needed to bring a very strong word of correction to a brother in Christ. I actually had the word two years earlier, but the word was heavy enough that our relationship couldn’t support it. We built a relationship over those years, and eventually he invited me to speak into his life on that subject, and when I did, our relationship supported the weight of the word: he made the needed changes in his life (it took a few years) and we’re still friends. Now we both speak into each other’s lives.
Now the question is whether you and I have enough of a relationship to support this much meat? It’s not really a lot of weight, but then, we don’t have a lot of experience relating to each other either.
I thought about my friend’s words for a long time. Then I thought about people I’ve met who can’t receive advice or correction from leaders, because they’ve never had a relationship with a leader that was strong enough. Some go from church to church, unfortunately unable to receive correction from anyone. Many pastors never get to know their congregations well enough to give advice without causing offense or intimidation.
I thought about the sidewalk evangelist who brazenly walks through town condemning people to hell, without ever stopping to ask their name or demonstrate one act of compassion toward them. I thought about street healers who go around healing injured people just to gather testimonies to share with anyone who will listen and leave without anything else being said to the one who was healed. And I came to this conclusion: ministry flows through relationships.
We must learn how to develop bridges of relationship with people if we hope to minister healing (or anything else) to them. Even if it’s a small bridge, they must have a reason to trust us. Healing may just be the beginning of their life in the kingdom. After healing or deliverance they’ll need to be discipled. Who does that? It might be us if we have the relationship to support it. We need an approach to ministry that is relational. Where do we find a relational model of ministry?
When I’m looking for an example of effective ministry, I think about how Jesus did things. He healed people in a variety of ways. Sometimes the sick came to Him. Sometimes a family member sought His help. He didn’t need to establish who He was in those cases. They knew He had the power to heal and they trusted Him. All He did was release the healing to them. But sometimes He healed strangers who knew nothing about Him. How did He gain their trust?
My favorite example is when He met the woman at the well of Samaria as recorded in John chapter 4. Here’s a brief overview of their encounter:
• Jesus departs from Judea and heads toward Galilee, passing through Samaria (verses 3-4).
• He meets a woman at the well and asks for a drink (verse 7).
• She is offended at His request (verse 9).
• They discuss the nature of water (verses 10-15).
• Jesus gives her a prophetic word about her current boyfriend and previous husbands (verses 17-18).
• She recognizes Him as a prophet (verse 19).
• They discuss religious practices (verses 20-24).
• She brings up the subject of the Messiah (verse 24).
• He reveals that He is the Messiah (verse 25).
Jesus took a perfect stranger and in a few minutes convinced her He was the Messiah. We don’t need to convince people that we’re the Messiah, our task is much easier. We just need to show them through kind words and actions that we care enough about them to have God bless them with His healing power.
My suggestion is simple. Take a few minutes. Get to know the person you want to see healed. If they have an obvious injury, ask how it happened. Ask about the weather or their children. Ask about anything you might have in common with them. If you see sadness, ask what it’s about. If you sense fear, ask what they’re afraid of. Listen to what they say and respond out of
Now the question is whether you and I have enough of a relationship to support this much meat? It’s not really a lot of weight, but then, we don’t have a lot of experience relating to each other either.
I thought about my friend’s words for a long time. Then I thought about people I’ve met who can’t receive advice or correction from leaders, because they’ve never had a relationship with a leader that was strong enough. Some go from church to church, unfortunately unable to receive correction from anyone. Many pastors never get to know their congregations well enough to give advice without causing offense or intimidation.
I thought about the sidewalk evangelist who brazenly walks through town condemning people to hell, without ever stopping to ask their name or demonstrate one act of compassion toward them. I thought about street healers who go around healing injured people just to gather testimonies to share with anyone who will listen and leave without anything else being said to the one who was healed. And I came to this conclusion: ministry flows through relationships.
We must learn how to develop bridges of relationship with people if we hope to minister healing (or anything else) to them. Even if it’s a small bridge, they must have a reason to trust us. Healing may just be the beginning of their life in the kingdom. After healing or deliverance they’ll need to be discipled. Who does that? It might be us if we have the relationship to support it. We need an approach to ministry that is relational. Where do we find a relational model of ministry?
When I’m looking for an example of effective ministry, I think about how Jesus did things. He healed people in a variety of ways. Sometimes the sick came to Him. Sometimes a family member sought His help. He didn’t need to establish who He was in those cases. They knew He had the power to heal and they trusted Him. All He did was release the healing to them. But sometimes He healed strangers who knew nothing about Him. How did He gain their trust?
My favorite example is when He met the woman at the well of Samaria as recorded in John chapter 4. Here’s a brief overview of their encounter:
• Jesus departs from Judea and heads toward Galilee, passing through Samaria (verses 3-4).
• He meets a woman at the well and asks for a drink (verse 7).
• She is offended at His request (verse 9).
• They discuss the nature of water (verses 10-15).
• Jesus gives her a prophetic word about her current boyfriend and previous husbands (verses 17-18).
• She recognizes Him as a prophet (verse 19).
• They discuss religious practices (verses 20-24).
• She brings up the subject of the Messiah (verse 24).
• He reveals that He is the Messiah (verse 25).
Jesus took a perfect stranger and in a few minutes convinced her He was the Messiah. We don’t need to convince people that we’re the Messiah, our task is much easier. We just need to show them through kind words and actions that we care enough about them to have God bless them with His healing power.
My suggestion is simple. Take a few minutes. Get to know the person you want to see healed. If they have an obvious injury, ask how it happened. Ask about the weather or their children. Ask about anything you might have in common with them. If you see sadness, ask what it’s about. If you sense fear, ask what they’re afraid of. Listen to what they say and respond out of
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