"Healing is God’s Work"

January 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

January 12, 2011

The Bible says it often: God is in the business of healing. It may not exactly say “healing”. Restoration, salvation and making whole have similar root words and meaning.

There are various principles about healing and prayer that I remember gleaning over the years and via great spiritual mentors. A seminary class taught by Doctors Dybdhal and Bauer a couple of years ago really helped me put them into words.

Before I review these principles related to praying for healing from our group discussion, one more thing: The big idea is that everyone, at least every believer has a calling to do God’s work.

The power comes from God, of course, and no one has a special monopoly on prayer. The best thing pastors and leaders can do is to help the church folks is to teach and help them understand that they are empowered to pray for others!

All right. Four things that show that, as Christians, we are called to the ministry of prayer and healing:

1. Jesus chose ordinary people to spend time with Him
Jesus expected his followers to spend time with Him and to do what He did and to love like He loved!
Mark 3:14, 15

2. Jesus chose regular,ordinary people to spend time with Him
No, it’s not a typo. Jesus chose regular ordinary people. His invitation is the same today. You don’t need a special degree or to be perfect to pray for someone.
Luke 10:1, 9, 17

3. Jesus said that we would do greater things than He did
Believers of Jesus are given the authority to pray with confidence for people and boldly ask for God’s intervention. We are here to bring healing to people. What that “healing” looks like may not be the same for everyone.
John 14:12

4. Jesus said that there would be miracles even after He physically left His followers!
Let’s expect great things from the ministry of prayer and keep our eyes open to see God at work.
Acts 15:12, 16:18, 19:11, 12

See you next Wednesday!

Filed Under: children in prayer meeting, healing, miracle, ordinary peple, pray with confidence

Prayer and Spiritual Warfare

December 21, 2009 by Leave a Comment

December 16, 2009


Prayers went up for all those in attendance as we prepared to pray for a young adult named Wendell (pictured above). He described the reality of the spiritual struggle many of us face at one time or another. Sometimes, this struggle takes the form of emotional turmoil and physical pain and comes through a myriads of circumstances that pull us away from looking to God. People of all ages and backgrounds came forward to support and pray for Wendell.

Pain and separation through sickness and war are also sobering reminders that we live in a broken world.

Yet, there is hope through it all!

Caroline introduced us to her friends Roy and Roberta. She is a hairdresser and has had opportunities to tell them about our weekly prayer gathering when they came to get their hair trimmed. The couple’s young adult son, Mike is going to Afghanistan in a couple of weeks. They came tonight and were surprised by a prayer quilt featuring the emblem of the Marines. Pastor Derek called forward people who would commit to pray for the young soldier every day until he returns home.

The war in the spiritual realm is unseen, but very real according to the Book of Ephesians, chapter 6 and starting in verse 10. The weapon Wendell, Caroline and others are using is prayer,and it’s making a difference!

Morningstar (pictured below) can certainly vouch for this as she found words to express the joy she felt over having witnessed a miracle. She lives in Canada, but she considers Forest Lake Church her church home, too. She had asked for prayers on behalf of a friend who lives here in town. The people of H.o.P.E had indeed prayed for her friend who had been transferred to Hospice care. Morningstar expected to come earlier this week to say goodbye to her friend and instead found her scrubbing her floor! The traces of the illness- gone.

Whether the sickness leaves one’s body or another falls asleep in the death with the hope of a new body, we continue to reach out the God who has healing in His hands and is the source of peace beyond human comprehension.

Praying for our joy…and hope for the journey.
-Pastor Sabine

Here are some images of the evening, thanks to Dick Davis:)

Prayers for spiritual protection for the Lead/Senior Pastor. Thank you for your continued prayers on behalf of Dr. Morris, his family, leadership and ministry.


Morningstar is overwhelmed with gratitude and overjoyed because of God’s grace allowing her to witness a miracle.


Mae brought this ‘prayer square’ and explained that each knot represents a prayer said on behalf of the recipient.

Isabelle asked for the prayer square for a co-worker who’s husband has recently died. She wants to be a source of encouragement through a portable and tangible reminder of prayers for healing through grief.

Yes, a beautiful reminder…
“BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD” -Psalm 46:10

Filed Under: Ephesians 6: 10, miracle, spiritual protection