Lighthouses of Prayer – Heal the Sick February 17, 2008
Show March of the Unqualified as people come back from coffee
Read Luke 10:1-9 from “The Voice”
Review of Lighthouses of Prayer
From this passage we receive a way to impact our neighbours for Jesus:
The Luke 10:1-9 The Model
5-6 - Bless Your Neighbours
“When you enter a house, first say, ’Peace to this house.”
Now we have taken this model and organized it so that it is something that you can do as part of your daily routine: we’ve suggested that you take the five houses on either side of you, and the 11 across the street and begin to pray blessing on each of them.
You can do this by walking up and down your street and blessing each house Or you can make blessing your neighbours part of your daily devotions, you could bless a neighbour as you bless your food…
7-8 Develop relationships with your neighbours.
“Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you”
9a - Pray for their needs
“Heal the sick who are there”
9b - Share the Gospel
“…and tell them, ’The kingdom of God has come near to you.”
Do you remember the Rob Bell Nooma video called “Dust” where he explains that in Jesus’ day, a rabbi would choose the cream of the crop, the best of the best, to come and follow him and do the things he did. Rob talked about how, if the guys that Jesus chose to be his disciples were good enough, another rabbi would already have chosen them – they are too old by now to be followers of a rabbi. He calls them the “b” team, the “not good enoughs.” No other rabbi believed in these guys, but Jesus did – he believed that these guys could do what he did!
- that was the 12, what about the 72? If the 12 Disciples were the “b” team, who are these 70 disciples that Jesus sends out? What were they? The “c” team? The “D” team?
The 12 were scary enough – a bunch of fishermen, a terrorist, a tax collector, a doubter, a deny-er, and a betrayer! Would you send these guys out to speak for you? Peter used to say things like, “I didn’t know what to say, so I said this…”
I’d have troubles sending these guys to the corner store, and Jesus sends them out to minister in his name.
He doesn’t send them out with a library of theological books, to teach with, or lots of money to help people with – he sends them out with nothing - Less than nothing! – they don’t even take what a normal person would take on a trip – money, a coat, an extra pair of sandals, any sandals at all!
He sends out this “army of the under qualified” with nothing but blessing, friendship, prayer and the Kingdom of God to offer.
In fact, they had so little to offer, they had to depend on the people they were going to to survive!
Jesus says “I’m sending you as sheep among wolves.” Just get that image into your head – “I’m sending you where you will most likely get eaten!
Reading the Bible with the Damned – make more gang members, and teach them to do the things that got me killed.
I love that little turn that Brian McLaren puts into this translation: that Jesus sends them out “Armed with vulnerability.” It is a paradox, and counterintuitive both – usually when we interact with people around us, we want to do so from a place of power: Either we can show that we have our lives together, or we are good at something, or we have something to offer. As Christians heading out to “evangelize,” we want to come with a certain amount of strength, but Jesus sends his people out in weakness!
You are sent into your neighbourhood, your workplace, your school, your home in the same way – armed with vulnerability. It is almost as if you say to yourself “I have nothing to offer these people, that you are better off than if you thought that you personally had a lot to offer. It is when you realize that all you have is God to offer that he can really use you!
Peter and John – silver & Gold have we none…
Acts 3
Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
Armed with vulnerability
Elaine
Vulnerable to the pain of those around us – Black Robe movie – the Natives convert when they see his tears for them
This is how Jesus came – totally vulnerable – As a homeless baby, as a crucified criminal – his tears for his friends, his tears for Jerusalem
It is when we are “Armed with Vulnerability” that we really rely on the Holy Spirit within us, instead of relying on our own abilities, talents and resources. In the end, he is so much better than our own abilities, talents and resources!
The vulnerability of praying for somebody. (third point of the model)
Fear of rejection, or mocking
Intimacy
What if God leaves me hanging?
Ed Silvoso – God loves to show himself to unbelievers
- Ask anything in my name… - in the context of outreach
- President story
- "Prayer is the most tangible trace of eternity in the person’s heart" By praying for people in person, God touches their heart through us!
- Very tangible sign of our love for them.
Model prayer for the sick
As we bless our neighbours, and spend time with them, they may feel open to share a need with us – healing, reconciliation, job… We can ask if we can pray for them.
Ask if they are open to praying right now. – explain that it will be short and not too weird
Explain that we’re taught to put our hand on people as we pray for them and ask if that’s okay – put your hand on their shoulder.
Word of caution – prayer is an intimate thing, and people can miss read cues – you may want to pray with a partner if you are praying for someone of the opposite gender, or if you are praying for someone who has same-sex attraction.
Pray a short, non-preachy, no “Christianese” prayer asking for what they want – fit the love of God in too.
“The amount of words and the anointing are inversely proportional” – Steve
Ask how they are doing
Possibly pray again
Keep praying on your own.
Joining in your friend’s pain/healing
Steve giving up coffee
Miguel fasting for forty days to help his friend quit smoking
Practice praying for the sick? – I model first, and then do a “Clinic”
Invite some to be guinea pigs, and others to practice…
New Comers Lunch to start in 10 min.
