“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” — Luke 10:9 NIV
By Andrew Hopkins
Do you remember those times when you’re learning a new board game with friends? Someone tries to teach everyone how to play and after a few minutes you kind of get it (but not really) and then you all end up saying, “Let’s just play and you’ll get it as you go.”
This is how it is with healing ministry…and in fact, all ministry.
There’s only so much you can get from books and writings. You’re just gonna have to start doing it and you’ll get it as you go.
I’m a firm believer that there are some things reserved only for those who act on their faith.
So in Part 4 of this Power to Heal series, I’m giving you some practical steps to activate healing ministry.
1. Meditate on the Word
Years ago I went on a mission trip to Uganda and for some months leading up to the trip, I meditated specifically on multiple scriptures that spoke of God’s healing power.
Joshua 1:8 tells us that when we meditate on the Word, we’d do what’s in it and have good success.
Meditating on the Word gets the truth in you and renews your mind to God’s perspective.
On that trip, my friend and I prayed for a lady who was crippled. She didn’t have a wheelchair so she scooted her way up to the front for prayer.
After prayer, I asked her to do something she couldn’t do and she got up on her once crippled legs and started leaping in praise to God!
2. Feed on the testimony
The testimonies of what God has done train us to expect the same.
A while back, I watched so many videos on YouTube of short legs growing out that when I went to pray for the same, I had a level of expectation that it would happen just as I had been watching…and it did many times!
The videos renewed my mind to the impossible being normal.
Charles Spurgeon put it like this: “…what he has done once, is a prophecy of what he intends to do again – that the mighty works which have been accomplished in the olden time shall all be repeated…”
3. Hang with those who do it
The word anointing by definition means “to smear.” When you’re around others who walk in the healing anointing, that anointing smears or “rubs off” on you.
Being around Jerame Nelson at the Fire&Glory Outpouring has definitely increased the anointing for healing and miracles in my life.
I remember hearing his testimonies of metal dissolving out of people’s bodies and getting stirred to see the same.
One time I asked for people with metal to come up for prayer. One guy had a fused ankle with five metal pins and zero degree mobility. After prayer, the mobility returned and he ran across the stage!
Proverbs 13:20 says, in essence, that you become like the people you hang around. Get around people who walk in greater anointings than you and let it rub off. And if you can’t get to them in person, there are all kinds of resources like YouTube that allow you to sit under those who are further along.
4. Just do it!
- LOOK FOR/MAKE OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunities are all around, you just have to be on the lookout. People might complain about their back pain or have a wrist guard on. Those are opportunities!
If not, listen to Holy Spirit for words of knowledge for what He wants to heal.
- TAKE RISK
Ask if you can pray for the person to be healed. The risk is worth the reward.
- INTERVIEW
If they’re in pain, I usually ask them what their pain level is on a scale of 1 to 10. That way I can know what’s happening and it’s measurable.
After prayer, ask them to test it out, do something they couldn’t do before, or where the pain level is at.
The interview is one of the most important steps! Many people get healed as they test it out (Luke 17:14).
If you don’t ask you’ll never know what happened!
- DON’T GIVE UP
What happens if they don’t get healed the first time you pray? Pray again!
- GIVE GLORY TO GOD!
Point people to Jesus! It’s God who’s moving through you.
Lead them to accept Jesus if they haven’t already.
It’s time to take action with your faith! Faith without works is dead – but you can activate it by stepping out and ministering healing in the name of Jesus!
MORE IN THIS SERIES:
Power to Heal, #1: Healing is God’s Will
Power to Heal, #2: Ways that Healing Flows
Power to Heal, #3: An Army of Healers
Power to Heal, #4: Practical Steps to Activate Healing Ministry
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Andrew Hopkins is a preacher, teacher, prophetic worship leader, and author. He has a passion for the gospel, revival, equipping the saints, and seeing God move in supernatural ways. He heads up his own itinerant ministry, Breaker Ministries, and is an associate with Elisha Revolution led by Jerame and Miranda Nelson. Andrew and his wife, Rochelle, have two boys and live in Southern California. Website: www.Breakerministries.com
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