Praying For the Sick

I’m not sure why this topic makes me nervous, but it does. Maybe it sounds a little too man-centered. Maybe it doesn’t sound spiritual. Or perhaps, it’s just too close to the same old way we’ve always prayed. As I travel in churches, it’s clear that praying for health issues absolutely dominates the typical church. Though I believe that God is showing the Church today that there are many other issues that need to be addressed in prayer, praying for healing is still valid.

As a matter of fact, I believe we need to pray for one another’s physical needs in a much more effective way than we have in the past. Our prayers sometimes sound like this: “Lord, bless brother so-and-so in his illness. Give direction to his physicians. And if it be thy will, bring him to health. Amen.” Though I don’t fault the heart behind that prayer, I want to suggest some ways that we might sharpen our prayers for those who are ill.

Who can pray for the sick?

All Christians are given that privilege, though there may be those who are more gifted in this area than others. Certainly elders are to be involved in praying for the sick. James writes, “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” James 5:14-15

When and where do we pray for the sick?

We should pray in our families for the sick We should pray in the routine of everyday life. We should pray in our small groups or Sunday School class. We should pray in the whole church, whether it is coming forward for prayer by a prayer team, or by the elders, or in a prayer room after a service.

How do we pray for the sick?

There is no divine methodology. The most fascinating aspect to the healing ministry of Jesus is His astonishing variety of methods employed to bring about healing. Anything from a touch to a mud-pack was used by Jesus to demonstrate His Father’s desire to heal. Jesus shows us that methodology is not doctrine. He gives us the freedom to pray in various ways that work.

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of being in a seminar on healing prayer taught using John Wimber’s methods. I believe that Wimber’s basic five steps are a good, well-balanced approach to praying for healing. The five steps with my commentary are as follows:

1. The Interview – the interview is an attempt to find out two things: Where does it hurt? and Why does it hurt? This is of course, the ultimate question and not always easy to answer. The “why” doesn’t have to be a physical reason. Some illnesses are caused by problem relationships, sin, emotional problems, stress or even by the demonic. The Interview operates in two planes:

The natural plane where we attempt to find out a bit of what the person is like. The spiritual plane in which we are asking in prayer for the Holy Spirit to let us know what is wrong in this situation.

2. The Diagnostic Decision – we ask ourselves what might be the ultimate cause of this illness. Not knowing the cause does not mean we do not pray. It just helps us to target our prayers more effectively.

3. Prayer Selection – knowing the ultimate cause of an illness can help us to know what kind of prayer to pray:

4. The Actual Prayer Time – It is important to remember that this is a time of ministry to someone else. Therefore, it is often important to keep your eyes open so you can see what might be happening physically or emotionally to the one you are praying for.

It is okay to ask questions as you go. For example: “How are you feeling?”

When you don’t know what is wrong, ask the Spirit to come and minister to the person. The Holy Spirit knows what is wrong, even when we don’t.

5. Post-Prayer Suggestions – it is often important for you to give the person some directions after the prayer time. Depending on the circumstances, some examples might be:

*Note: If the person prayed for continues to live a sinful life, or does nothing to heal a broken relationship, God is under no obligation to heal him or her. It is important to share this information with anyone you are praying for.

John Wimber gave five additional guidelines that I believe are important for anyone who wants to get serious about praying for the sick:

1. Do not attempt to give orders to God or to write His script for Him. “When I first began praying for the sick, I used to develop mental scenarios of this celebrity or that one getting healed and turning the world upside down for Jesus. I was saying, ‘Hey, God, I’ve got a fantastic idea for You. Have You ever thought of this one?’ I quickly learned that He wasn’t interested.”

2. Do not use formulas or techniques for healing. I realized that some more liturgical groups have written out healing liturgies and healing prayers, and they can be very effective. But let’s not fall into the trap of thinking that what makes the healing take place is saying the right words, creating the right emotional environment, naming and claiming it correctly, using the right oil or holding our hands in the right way when we pray. All of the above might be helpful at times, but none produces healing. Even the name of Jesus itself is not an effective formula per se, as the seven sons of Sceva quickly found out in Acts 19:13-16:“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, ‘In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.’ Seven sons of Sceva, A Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and I know Paul, but who are you?’ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”

3. Always seek God’s will for the healing. John says that God will hear our prayers “if we ask anything according to His will” (1 John 5:14).

4. Follow Jesus’ example in being an open channel for the Father to do what He wants to do through you.

5. Do not attribute the results of prayer for the sick, whether positive or negative, to the faith level or attitude of the sick person.

My own addition to these guidelines and conclusion to this topic is that we ought to add the “so that” clause to our prayers for healing. Again and again in Scripture we see the people of God included in their prayers the phrase, “so that” (John 9:3, 11:4, 14:13). Perhaps we need to pray for the sick, adding, “so that You, Father, may be glorified.” We may pray for healing, “so that the family and friends might see Your power, and come to know You as Savior and Lord.”

Let’s take these acts of compassion and love for others and turn them into opportunities for God to receive honor and glory as He responds to our prayers for healing.

PR

From www.harvestprayer.com. Used with permission of the author. Later included in the Fall 2024 issue of The Pneuma Review.