"He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly (Mark 8:23-25 NIV)
"Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
(Mark 9:21-24 NIV)
A. Pray with your eyes open to see what the Holy Spirit is doing.
When praying, you don't have to close your eyes all the time. If the Holy Spirit is not visibly doing anything, that is not an indication nothing is happening. Neither does it mean they have a "blockage" caused by sin or demonic possession!!!!!!! You may want to lightly rest a hand on the person's head or shoulder or hold their hand. Be careful not to be too heavy on them or let them feel under pressure.
B. Dial down your soul realm so you can discern the Spirit's promptings more easily
C. Start by thanking God for the person.
Thank Him for some element of the situation, such as this prayer time opportunity to bring the problem before God.
1. Invocation (Invite the Holy Spirit to come and minister)
2. Pray in the Spirit (Doorway to other gifts – (1 Corinthians 14:14-15)
3. Petition (Ask God for what you want, with thanksgiving – (Philippians 4:6-7)
4. Intercession (Stand in the gap, identifying with another's situation – (Galatians 6:2)
D. Ask the Holy Spirit to come with His presence.
Let the recipient know that the Holy Spirit is about to come with His presence to confirm their prayer has been heard and He is working out these matters on their behalf. He will come, lifting them into believing God for their answer.
E. Wait for the Lord to come
Waiting in silence is OK
F. Pray for Effect
1. Watch for clues of the Holy Spirit's presence (warmth, tingling, muscle
spasms, shaking, deep breathing, etc.)
2. Aim for the relief of the presenting problem
3. Address other issues as the Holy Spirit gives direction (Word of Knowledge) often
leads back to the interview process)
4. Monitor emotional or spiritual realities in yourself as you pray
G. Pray in the Spirit (prayer language) softly. (See 1 Cor 14)
1. Ask the Lord to reveal what is happening to the person.
2. Pray for words of Wisdom and Knowledge.
3. Listen to God for instructions.
H. Target your prayers.
1. Introduce yourself.
Tell them your name and ask for there's.
2. Position yourself in front of the person.
So that you can speak with them
3. Let them know that what is said will remain confidential
Reassure them that what they discuss will not be subject to gossip.
a. Issues relating to confidentiality require special consideration to ensure the church retains confidence in the team. In most instances, people coming for prayer can expect strict confidentiality. There may be times when total confidentiality, such as disclosure of serious criminal activities such as abuse, cannot be given.
EXAMPLE: An adult woman discloses her partner is abusing her. It would not be appropriate to breach confidentiality. However, confidentiality cannot be maintained if the same woman reveals her belief that her partner was abusing a child. If something of this magnitude were disclosed, you must discuss it with the leadership to take appropriate action.
b. If someone raises the need for confidentiality and asks, "This will be heard in confidence, won't it?" you may find it helpful to respond along the lines of, "On the whole, yes, but there are, occasionally, serious matters that people want to share that I am obliged to take to the leadership."
4. Put those whom you are praying for at ease.
This is their time to receive ministry. If you confidently feel that the Holy Spirit has something to speak to an individual, work it in your prayer on their behalf at the appropriate time. Use a little wise discernment. Don't allow yourself to be the reason why others cannot receive from the Father. Keep balance to ensure their trust and agreement. Asking the right question will help them break through to the Throne of God.
5. Show genuine concern.
Begin with a gesture that lets the recipient know you are genuinely interested in their need. Take the individual by the hand, smile, and don't be afraid to make eye contact.
6. Avoid "extremes." Don't create a wall by unfamiliarity.
One common abuse is to begin the conversation before asking questions with "The Lord is showing me this about you" or "The Lord is showing me you have been doing this." You may have already shut the door to their trust and missed their need. Understand one does not always have to say, 'Thus says the Lord.' You can say it, and the Holy Spirit can anoint it.
7. Explain what will happen.
Tell them that you are there to pray for them. If the need is personal, encourage them to be quiet and receive; although if they are bringing a concern for another person, offer them the opportunity to join in the prayer if they so wish (although they may prefer to leave that to you!)
9. Allow for an atmosphere of expectancy.
Challenge them to trust God. Express your conviction that you are expecting the Father to answer their need. You might ask them to put their hands in the shape of a cup or other receiving position. Anointing oil or Scriptural agreement to James 5:14-15* is also helpful and opens them to greater trust in what the Lord wants to do in them.
*"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 restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven." (James 5:14-15 ESV)
10. Draw a logical pattern for how to pray.
Where are you going in prayer? You might ask, "What is going on in your life?" Practice not becoming mechanical in your approach. Show genuine concern.
11. Make an effort to ask what the individual needs prayer for.
a. Healing often is more of a process than a sudden event
b. Dialogue does not disturb the Holy Spirit
c. The person will tell you what effects are occurring, helping you to bless what God is doing
d. It helps build your trusting faith when positive responses come
e. It helps you discern factors that are blocking successful prayer
f. Resistance rooted in fear or unbelief (exposure, new responsibility, etc.)
g. Some appropriate beginning questions might be: (This allows both of you to agree on their need.)
"What do you want from the Lord?"
"What do you want Jesus to do for you?"
"What do you want Jesus to ask the Father to do for you today?
"As we come to Jesus right now, He is about to take us to meet His Father....
12. Get permission to lay hands (a hand) on them or to anoint them with oil before you begin praying.
"Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." (1 Timothy 5:22)
a. Men – When praying for women, with their permission, touch only their hands, arms, shoulder, or head if directed by the Holy Spirit.
b. Women – Same would apply when praying for a man.
Ex: If the Holy Spirit directs you to pray for their heart, have them place their hand over their heart, and you put your hand on theirs. USE WISDOM!!!!
I. The Prayer Format
Ask God silently to reveal the root issue causing the condition/situation but don't neglect the problem/concern presented.
1. Conduct on two planes
a. Natural level (what's wrong, how can I pray for you?)
1. Gather Information (basic facts; listen longer in a non-church setting)
2. Ask questions such as:
"What's wrong, or what's going on?"
"What is your need today?"
"Where does it hurt?"
"How long has it been hurting?"
"Has a doctor diagnosed it?"
"What do you feel the problem is?"
b. Supernatural level (what is the Holy Spirit saying about this?)
1. Sort information according to the gifts of the Holy Spirit (assumes a theology that says all the gifts are available to every believer on a situational basis)
2. As you gain experience, give more weight to what Holy Spirit is saying.
2. Listen and sort information according to their personal experiences. Listen as long as is appropriate for the setting in which you are ministering
3. Learn the value of really listening to someone. When "How are you?" becomes a real question rather than a greeting, you are on your way to a healing ministry!
4. Observe what you can see, hear, know, etc.)
5. Pray for the Person
"In the name of Jesus" to be: healed, rise and walk, etc. (See Acts 3:6)
a. There could be natural factors such as living in a fallen, sinful world (viruses, accidents, etc. = Entropy)
b. Lifestyle consequences (diet, out-of-balance life, sinful behavior, etc.)
c. Emotional or social issues (abuse, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness)
d. Genetic factors (heart disease, diabetes)
e. Pronounce forgiveness: God has forgiven you, etc. (See Matthew 9:2)
f. Come against the enemy as needed (Don't ever rebuke or bind!!)
Demonic oppression could be caused by pride, rebellion, compulsive behaviors, fear,
worry, anxiety, etc.
6. Ask them how the Lord is touching them.
a. Explain what is happening or let them tell you what is happening.
For some, it may be the first time that they have experienced the power of God, and they
may need a little explanation that what they are experiencing is normal and from God.
They do not need to rationalize what is happening. Try to keep them focused on Jesus.
1. How are they feeling or seeing, or sensing?
2. How is God Speaking to them?
3. What is God saying?
7. Ending the Prayer Time
a. Stop when the person indicates they want to be done
b. Stop when the Holy Spirit indicates He is done
c. Stop when you run out of things to say
d. Stop when you have prayed and have not gotten anywhere
8. The prayer time is complete when:
a. You have ascertained some of the natural and or spiritual causes of their condition
b. God has inspired you with specific direction in prayer
Post Prayer Review
"Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." (Luke 5:14 NIV)
This answers the question: "What should I do or expect next?"
J. Summarize their Situation
a. Explain what has occurred to the best of your understanding
b. Share any words of encouragement from the Lord (impressions, pictures, etc.)
c. Direction toward practical repentance from sin
d. If healing is not complete, affirm and encourage them to keep asking, seeking, knocking
1. Offer simple Biblical instruction:
2. Go and sin no more (Repent and renounce)
3. Make restitution or confession as appropriate (Forgive others, yourself, God)
4. Get prayer again and again
5. Continue to resist the evil one
K. Use the Scriptures to bring comfort in your prayer.
The scriptures give hope, comfort, and the Father's promise for His deliverance
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and of the scriptures might have hope.
(Romans 15:4 NIV)
L. Move into a second period of prayer when appropriate.
When a person openly expresses that they are powerless in an area of sin, ask them how their relationship is with Jesus and the Father. Ask, 'Are you gathering in fellowship with other believers? Do you spend time reading the scriptures and in prayer?'
Pray with them and encourage them through the scriptures. It may feel appropriate to ask them if they would like prayer for the need to be continued. There are three choices:
1. If you are willing, you may offer to continue to pray for them during the coming week.
2. You can offer the opportunity of using a prayer chain to ensure that the need gets much greater prayer support. However, this will lose much of the confidentiality as others in the church will be involved.
3. You may want to offer a further occasion to meet with them for prayer
M. Avoid the Following Problems
1. Don't give personal advice for life direction
2. Don't condemn or blame the person for not receiving healing
3. Don't be insensitive to the person's pain, guilt, fears, and confusion
4. Don't preach or give unwanted counsel
5. Avoid overt gestures, loud voices, etc.
6. Resist emotional attraction to the person
7. Do not touch the person inappropriately (asking permission to lay hands
on is helpful)
N. Referrals
1. Encourage them to join a Small Group
2. Encourage them to attend specific classes or seminars related to their need
3. Encourage follow-up counseling from the staff or professionals
4. Encourage them to get books or tapes related to their need
O. Prayer Counseling
1. You may feel the need to offer one or two further opportunities for prayer, but it is essential to remember that prayer time after the Service is not in-depth prayer counseling.
2. You may have to make arrangements to discuss this need with the leadership. Praying with others is also an excellent opportunity to encourage people in their prayer life.
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 5:16 NIV)
P. Other Counseling
Issues that need special or professional counseling may arise, such as addiction, unforgiveness, a victim of abuse, etc. Use wise discernment regarding unusual situations when they occur.
Q. Special Circumstances
1. Guidance or Leadership Involvement Needed
There may be other issues where you feel guidance or leadership involvement would be helpful. On these occasions, it is essential to obtain the agreement of the person you are praying with before identifying them.
2. Team Member Disagreement
When any ministry or prayer team member has a disagreement, or an emergency arises, the team leader should be alerted immediately so that they can give appropriate counsel to the situation. Schedule a debriefing meeting afterward to set policy concerning any further similar happenstance. We must not become a reproach to Jesus, our Savior. We are His servants.
3. Deliverance
Occasionally a team member may feel they have discerned demonic oppression and the need for deliverance ministry. Since sensitivity is of utmost importance, you must verify your feelings with the leadership before sharing your thoughts with the person concerned.
Sometimes, someone will fall or collapse from an affliction of the enemy (demons) and need deliverance. When a demonic manifestation arises during the worship, take a non-aggressive approach, quietly praying over those in need of ministry to allow the Holy Spirit to complete His work in them. It may not be appropriate for immediate action on Sunday morning. Ask God if you should deliver them now or leave them and minister to the others who need a touch from God. Don't get caught up in the manifestations.
When the need for ministry does arise because it is causing service distraction, an authorized standby team can set these individuals apart for ministry. It may be helpful to explain to the person you are praying with that they may benefit from additional prayer and that you would like, with their permission, to discuss the matter with the leadership and arrange extra prayer time with them. Any necessary deliverance ministry will only be done under the guidance of a church leader.
