Releasing Spiritual Gifts: Healing 3 - Praying for the Sick
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In this third study on healing, we're focussing on praying for the sick. One helpful approach is known as the Five Step Prayer Model. It is embedded in the healing story of Mark 9, with the little boy oppressed by an evil spirit. There is much we can learn and apply from this story.
There are many ways we can pray for those who need healing. The Five Step Model is one way. It is essential that we are listening to the Holy Spirit as we pray for the sick. We are called to faithful obedience in Jesus' commission to "heal the sick." God is the Healer and we are His privileged children to minister His grace to a hurting world.
Ken Fish of Orbis Ministries, has developed a very helpful outline of the Five Step Model. It is available for download. A donation of $3 to $5 would be appropriate.
Download link:
https://files.constantcontact.com/532daf71801/3e4b3ef5-0dc6-463a-8477-4e1a0e4b332b.pdf
Payment can be made via PayPal to GSPGeneral@aol.com
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Questions
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1. Do you recall a time when you sort to help someone but were unable to do so? How did the person needing help respond?
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2. Whom do you identify with in the story of the boy oppressed by an unclean spirit: The Pharisees? The disciples? The little boy? The boy's father?
3. While the three disciples are on the mountain, what problem were the other nine having? How did they deal with it? What do you think the argument was about in verse 14?
4. How do the contrasts between this story and the Transfiguration (vv2-13) account for Jesus' response in verse 19?
5. In the lead up to Jesus healing the boy, what questions did He ask (vv16, 21)?
6. In this particular incident, the boy's convulsions were caused by an unclean spirit. Should we conclude that all sickness is directly caused by an evil spirit impacting the person? If your answer is 'no' what are other causes of sickness? Does the western church give sufficient credence to the impact of evil spirits?
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7. When have you felt like the father of the boy oppressed by an evil spirit, one moment saying, "I believe," and the next, "Help my unbelief" (v24)?
8. What kind of concerns hit you the hardest: Future concerns? Faith issues? Self-image concerns? The existence of suffering and evil in the world? Others....?
9. Healing the sick was an integral part of Jesus' earthly ministry in establishing the kingdom of God. What was the spiritual reality behind Jesus' ministry, including healings (see 1 John 3:8)? How do we better stay 'in tune' with the manner in which Jesus ministered and negate the anti-supernatural bias so prevalent in western countries?
10. Briefly review some of your favourite healing stories in the gospels. What similarities do you see and what are the differences? What do you learn from this (see John 5:19f, 30)?
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11.In this week's sermon, a Five Step Prayer Model was presented. It has a natural flow from:
- Interview; to
- Diagnosis; to
- Prayer Selection & Prayer; to
- Feedback; to
- Post Prayer Suggestions.
There are many ways we can pray for those who need healing. Do you find the Five Step Prayer Model helpful? Have you used it, or elements of it, when you have prayed for the sick? How do we avoid being too rigid with any particular methodology? What is the most important thing when praying for the sick?
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