Nervous Looks and Uncomfortable Silence
That’s still the response I get at times when people learn that I’m in healing ministry. It’s ok, though. There was a time when I was just like that. I would gasp an, “Oh no, one of those,” to myself and put up my spiritual guard, too. It all sounded too spooky. After all, you’re talking about unseen forces. How can you be sure who or what is really behind all that power? At least, that’s where I went with it. If you’re one who walks in similar shoes (or you know someone who does), let me share what I’ve learned. To be familiar with the basic tenets of Christianity should be enough to begin understanding how I was able to sort out my doubts and fears.
Healing is Discipleship
It’s that simple, really. Those things that pertain to knowing God, man, Satan and sin are the focus of healing ministry. The effects of sin, particularly, are the reason for healing ministry. Yes, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, and the result is that we who acknowledge and receive Him as Savior are cleansed and eternally forgiven. But Jesus didn’t wipe out sin or the effects of sin in the world–that’s our responsibility as believers who are being transformed into His image, with the help of the Holy Spirit. And it’s His help that we offer as healing ministers.
What do I mean by the “effects of sin?” Take a moment to think about a time when you sinned against another, or someone sinned against you. What were/are the residual effects? A broken relationship? A negative belief about yourself, or others, or God? A pain that won’t leave? These are just the tip of the iceberg.
Jesus taught His disciples God’s remedy for the effects of sin. They’re the basics of Christian discipleship–repentance, forgiveness, renouncing, renewal, and the like. The problem with traditional discipleship methods, though, is that we “learn” these precepts in ways that are akin to all other academic exercises, from a book or a lecture, not in the laboratory of life. If we’re not experiencing what we believe, then what we know to be true is being short-circuited somewhere.
The Surprise Blessing that Healing Brings
There’s a surprise that comes with healing ministry, and when it happens, it turns out being the most joyous moment for us as ministers. It’s when the ministry receiver realizes that God Himself has ministered to them. In a deep, personal way, they’ve experienced God. It’s never the same for any two people. It’s always uniquely personal. That’s because healing ministry is God’s work. And when He does the work, it’s life changing. That’s how I went from spooked-out skeptical to full-blown convinced that healing ministry is scripturally sound and essential to every believer. It made such an impact on me that it became my life’s purpose…a missionary called to make disciples through healing ministry.
A New Way of Making Disciples
Experiential discipleship is what I call it. Whether you’re a new believer, or a 25 year old believer (like I was), nothing excels spiritual growth like being moved beyond cerebral understanding into experiential living. Static knowledge is easily forgotten, but a healing encounter with the One who died for you that you may live free from the effects of sin, is remembered with lasting results. If you are discipled well through healing ministry, you truly become a new creation. It can’t be forgotten or unnoticed. You will know it. And so will others. Imagine the impact that the Body of Christ would have in the world if believers were discipled in this way.
_________________
A Question for You:
How well were you discipled? Do you know and walk in God’s remedy for living free and whole from the effects of sin?
Leave a Comment