A Healing Ministry Without Making Your Church Sick

  

Jesus Heals

'Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.'  Corinthians 12:7-8

The affliction that Paul had was not something trivial; not just an inconvenience. It tormented him to the extent where he thought that Satan had inflicted it upon him. It was something so painful or embarrassing that he pleaded with the Lord to remove it. Three times he pleaded but there was no healing. God used this affliction for Paul’s greater good in order to keep Paul from becoming conceited and to keep him from depending upon himself. Instead, Paul depended on God and not on his personal visions, revelations, spirituality or apostleship. God strengthened him.

Yet we read in the Bible of countless miraculous cures, many of them effected by Jesus as part of His ministry. Matthew, the gospel writer devoted an entire chapter, Chapter 9, to the healing ministry of Jesus. Five miracles were recorded, four physical healings and one restoring to life of a dead girl. Matthew summed up this ministry,  

'Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.' Matthew 9:35 

It is not without evidence in scripture that miraculous cures will occur. But what happens when you pray for a cure to an illness and a miracle did not happen? Was it a lack of faith that God seem not to answer prayer for healing? Did we not pray hard and long enough?

 

We need to correctly pitch what the Bible has to say about healing in order not to hurt other people, especially those suffering from intractable illnesses. Some Christians have the unrealistic expectations that God always cures and God always does miracles. However, the reality is that very often, as in the case of Paul’s experience, God will choose not to heal.

What do we do with Christians who accuse others to be without faith or to harbour unconfessed sins when, despite persistent prayer, there is no healing?

My father-in-law served God as a Pastor, always tending to his churches and congregation throughout a 40 year ministry. He died of prostate cancer which had spread to the spine. When he was first diagnosed, many Christians, including the family, exercised faith and prayed for a cure.

When it became obvious that no miraculous cure would happen, some people refused to give up the praying for a cure. 

After he died, my mother-in-law, exhausted and grieving, also succumbed to cancer. Some people later suggested there were some unconfessed sins which prevented an answer to prayers. Yet, both my parents-in-law had fruitful Christian ministries for many years; well into their mid-seventies. 

Where medicine cannot provide a cure, when God did not provide a miracle, sick people die. We should always first hope for a complete cure of the illness and indeed this is when the intercessory prayer for complete cure is so necessary. Here the healing ministry of the church is so vital to encourage and sustain faith in someone who is sick as well as for the family and caregivers.

Dover Park Hospice

We should always hope for a cure. But there will be a time when both the doctors and ourselves realise that a cure is not imminent nor possible even with much prayer. It is then time to switch from curative treatment to palliative treatment. It is time for palliative care at home or in a hospice.

This does not mean that healing ceased to take place. God heals even when he chooses not to cure. There is continuing healing in the body, mind, soul and spirit and the healing ministry should continue to minister although differently.  

For this reason, as a profession of my Christian faith and ministry, I serve as a volunteer and on the Governing Council of the Dover Park Hospice (DPH) in Singapore for more than 20 years. DPH tends to the dying, managing pain and other concerns, giving palliative care as needed and keeping the patients comfortable.  

I admire the doctors, nurses and staff of DPH as they dutifully and lovingly look after their patients with much care and sensitivity. The DPH's motto is 'Every Moment Matters' which means that whilst we may not add days to life we shall add life to days. Our desire is to tend to the sick so that in dying, they can be at peace with family and friends, at peace with themselves and at peace with God. We witnessed many instances of healing even as the patients die. This is when the miracles happen and healing takes place and often we will recognise them.

That is why there will always be a place for a healing ministry in our churches. This has been the practice of the church since the very beginning.

'Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well.' James 5:14-15a

Bishop Robert Solomon surmised (Ref 1), "It is best not to be distracted by secondary issues (such as anointing with oil and prayer by elders) in order to focus on the main point made by James. And that is, prayer is what is required in all kinds of situations." 

It is God, our 'Wonderful Merciful Saviour' who gives healing and grace.

Wonderful, merciful Savior

Precious Redeemer and Friend

Who would have thought that a Lamb

Could rescue the souls of men

Oh, You rescue the souls of men

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper

Spirit we long to embrace

You offer hope when our hearts have

Hopelessly lost our way

Oh, we've hopelessly lost the way

You are the One that we praise

You are the One we adore

You give the healing and grace

Our hearts always hunger for

Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Almighty, infinite Father

Faithfully loving Your own

Here in our weakness You find us

Falling before Your throne

Oh, we're falling before Your throne

You are the One that we praise

You are the One we adore

You give the healing and grace

Our hearts always hunger for

Oh, our hearts always hunger for

You are the One that we praise

You are the One we adore

You give the healing and grace

Our hearts always hunger for

Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Lionel

Updated 1st Published 17 Mar 2011

Ref 1: Robert M Solomon. Practical Christianity. The Book of James and its Relevance Today, Cru Asia IMorint Edition, 2022.

Title of this post is taken from Peter Wagner's book, “How To Have A Healing Ministry Without Making Your Church Sick”.