How To Minister Healing
First of all it must be said that there is no such thing as a "magical" healing technique that works every time for every person. If there was it would have been discovered centuries ago and passed down as something of great value. Nevertheless there are better and worse ways of going about healing. Firstly I will share the method that works for me, then I will share the method that worked for John Wimber.
My Technique (based on spiritual authority)
1. Ask Jesus for the power and authority to heal to be given to you for that hour/that person.
2. Ask the person what is wrong.
3. Then ask them what they desire as an end result.
4. Then take authority and command the end result into being in Jesus name.
5. Listen for anything the Holy Spirit is saying to the person in the situation.
6. Check to see what is happening for the person.
7. Don't take "No" for an answer. Keep praying until the result is achieved or its obvious that nothing is happening.
8. After praying I give the person directions that I feel God is saying to them about their healing. This is pretty much identical to the post-prayer instructions of Wimber discussed below so I will leave it until then.
For example: a person comes along and you ask them "What do you want?" (Like Jesus did) and they say "I am blind". You ask "What is your desired end result?" That I might see." So you might command "Sight be restored in Jesus name" or "Be healed in Jesus name" or "Eyes be opened in Jesus name". You then listen for what God might be saying as you do this. Somewhere in the procedure you might ask "What can you see.." and they might say "Nothing" or "Its blurry" and you keep praying until either the see clearly or there is no improvement. You then give post-prayer instructions as the Lord leads. Here is an example of this in the Bible:
(Mark 8:22-26 NKJV) Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. {23} So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. {24} And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." {25} Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. {26} Then He sent him away to his house, saying, "Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town."
John Wimber's Technique (From his bookPower Healing) based on spiritual perception.
John Wimber's technique is considerably more complicated than mine and takes into account factors such as unforgiveness and "the real reason" why people are sick. The problem I have with it is that I don't see Jesus telling people that the "real reason they are sick is because they have a poor relationship with their mother" or "your arthritis is caused by bitterness". This may very well be so because we are creatures of body, soul and spirit but I am reluctant to do this because a) Its very powerful psychologically and may create a "guru" mentality b) Jesus just heals them c) I could be horribly wrong d)It requires a lot of tact. However John Wimber is FAR more experienced than I am at healing so I'm including it for what it is worth.
1. The Interview - Where does it hurt? What's wrong?
2. The Diagnostic Decision - What's really wrong? What's the cause of the illness? Ask God to reveal it. Ask questions.
3. The Prayer Selection - How should I pray in this situation? Wimber talks about prayers of petition, command, pronouncement, rebuke and agreement. The prayer of agreement is where you get others to agree with you for the healing and it helps add authority and power to the battle. (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV) "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. {20} "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
4. The Prayer Engagement - Wimber lays his hands on the person (or, in the case of sensitive areas on top of the person's hands which are placed over the afflicted area). He then prays "Holy Spirit come and minister healing to this person". A wide variety of possible responses and reactions are reported in his book including trembling, laughing and shaking. If a demon manifests the person is taken to a side room and the demon is dealt with. The prayer engagement continues until there is a sense that it is over.
5. Post-Prayer Instructions - Just as Jesus said "Go and sin no more" (John 8:11) and (John 5:14 NKJV) Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." so Wimber exhorts people to holiness and gives them instructions on how to keep their healing or pursue its completion.
Books
There are hundreds of books on healing. I have read a dozen or more. Here are two excellent books on healing that I think are the best in the field (other than this one!). The second one is marvelous but may be hard to get hold of.
John Wimber - Power Healing , London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1987
Harold Taylor - Sent To Heal, Ringwood: Order of St. Luke The Physician, 1993
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