Read Matthew 9:35 and Acts 28:8–10: Today in the church across the world there are many who believe that God does not give “ordinary” Christians the ability or authority to pray for a miracle or for healing in others’ lives. However, when we read the Gospels we find that everywhere the gospel went healing went with it. In the Acts of the Apostles and the letters, healing was present as the good news of Jesus went forth, healing in Jesus name went with it.
Today many do not believe that they can pray for healing but you can. Jesus tells you that you can. Jesus says in John 14:12 …“Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing…” The works Jesus had been doing was going around the countryside teaching, proclaiming the good news, and healing people! If Jesus says this, then we who believe in him should believe it. So we as believers have been given the authority to do what he did. You can pray for people and see God move. You can pray for people and bless them so then how do you pray for healing? If this is supposed to be a normal part of church how do you do this? Here are four steps that you can take to begin to pray for the sick and Lord willing, see them healed in Jesus name.
Step #1: Make sure you are a Christian.
If you believe in Jesus Christ then you will do the works Jesus did but if you're not a Christian then you must do that first before you can pray for anything in Jesus name. Put your faith in Jesus Christ and believe in him.
Step #2: Be filled with the Holy Spirit. All believers receive the Holy Spirit when they are saved. At the moment of your salvation you are sealed by the Holy Spirit and He comes to live within you. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not something extra after salvation, it is merely an awareness of the reality of your being filled with the Spirit and your personal surrender to Him and His leading.
Step #3. Believe what the Bible says about you.
As a believer you have the authority to pray for healing and for hearts to change and so much more. If you are not confident, which means filled with faith, about your authority as a believer in this area then go and read the scriptures and other books about healing. There are so many books out there that can help to build your faith and to know what authority God has given you.
Step #4. Start praying for people.
You can be saved, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and believe what the Bible says about you and your identity and authority but unless you actually pray for someone to be healed, it will not happen. Begin to put into practice what you know that God wants to do and can do and that you have the ability to do and you know a little bit about how to. There are many different ways to pray but the simplest is to pray T.A.B. T - Thank God for the person. A – Ask God for something, in this instance healing. B – Bless the person. If you use T.A.B. to pray then even if they’re not healed they should be blessed.
Have a great week, may you go and pray for the sick and see God move today.
