Heal me, O Lord!
“Now is the time for you to have the elders of your church lay hands on you and pray for you.” Those were the words my surgeon gave me that Friday morning, right after he told me the cancer was stage three but we would know in two weeks if it was in my bone or brain. Time to call my assistant pastor, who remains one of my favorite people, Margaret. That Sunday morning she held a healing service. James 5: 14-15, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” Margaret explained that to be an elder of the church you need to believe that Jesus could heal. Everyone came forward and surrounded me while she prayed over me and anointed me with oil. I will forever believe that is when I was healed.
Thursday night’s healing service was extra special when I saw Margaret and her husband walk in. I was reminded how powerful God is! He is the God of impossibilities! I was reminded of how powerful a healing service can be! It is our faith that heals. Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well” many times. The woman with the issue of blood heard in Matthew 9: 22, “‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.” Jesus told this to the ten lepers and a blind beggar. Luke 17: 19, “Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 18: 42, “Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” He is saying our faith, our confidence in Him, makes us restored.
Rev. Dr. Madeline Henners was our guest pastor for the healing service. I was so excited because I had attended her Holy Spirit workshop a few years ago. She reminds me that God told us we have the power to heal and to resist the devil. Luke 9: 1, “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases…: Jesus gave this authority to His followers. Matthew 10: 8, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. “ Jesus has given us the right to use His name! He has given us the authority to use it to face the devil in the power of His name.
She began Thursday night by wanting to share a Scripture with us that God had brought to her mind. It was Matthew 5: 4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Then she went on with her Scripture reading and message. God will equip us to minister to each other. God will give us a word to know what to pray for with others. We may feel silly at first but the only hindrance is our unwillingness. What sticks out in my mind is how confidently she stood up and said she was to share that verse and went right on with what she had planned. She did not feel the need to explain - she was obedient. I learned a big lesson and shared it with her after the service. Our family lost a dear family friend earlier that day and we were mourning. We knew God was sending us a message through her! Still gives me chills!
That authority to use Jesus’ power will heal. Acts 3: 6, “Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Recognize the power in the name of Jesus and use it in faith. It worked then and it will work now. It is not the power of man. It is not the power of the church. It is the power of Jesus’ Name that will heal today! I believe that some illnesses are a result of unresolved issues or unwept tears and we need healing for our emotions. Dr. Henner explained this and prayed for those who may be physically sick from emotional issues. If someone by us tapped us we were to hold their hand and pray with them. It was a very powerful prayer service. We had the physical healing stations where we could be prayed for and anointed with oil. Whether it was Dr. Henner, Pastor Tim, a staff member or a volunteer, we could forget whose hand was on us. It was by faith that we were being prayed for. It was not that person but “the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” We could receive because God’s people have the authority to claim healing through the Name of Jesus!