Drama in Jerusalem
Open your eyes in dazzlement and raise your hands above you as fire rains down on you - shimmering sheets of flame, hissing and pouring and boiling around you. And yet you are cool and comfortable. What is going on? Why a miracle, of course! You are standing with the disciples and Mary of Nazareth as God rains down the fulfilment of His promise upon the disciples in Jerusalem. The drama has just begun . . .
'Then afterward I will pour our My Spirit on all flesh: your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.' 1
'Then afterward I will pour our My Spirit on all flesh: your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.' 1
Thus had the great Prophet Joel prophesied many years before the event.
Now, in Jerusalem, after the glorious Resurrection of Jesus, you are seeing the results of this event. The breach between God and humanity has been healed by the wondrous work of Jesus.
The way is now open for God to fulfil His promise as foretold to Joel.
And so God rains His Spirit into our hearts, pouring His Divinity into the frail vessels of our souls and bodies, to reclaim us into His glorious Love. But what does this mean . . . ?
Standing today in Jerusalem in the upper room as disciple, you won't know it yet.
But, dear Reader, I can tell you; lots of hard work. Yes, it's hard work being a committed and convinced disciple. Once we have felt the Hand of the Living God on our temples, consecrating us to His Service, we can't sit back and take it easy. No way. Now the hard work begins; finding out what it is that God means us to do to help others in our world. And, for all of us, we are called to follow the words of Jesus.
'I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 2
'I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 2
Through these acts we heal the misery, suffering and loneliness of many in the world.
Parents nurse their young through childhood illnesses, and in so doing sacrifice much for the sake of their children. Many in health professions put their own health and safety on the line to nurse those suffering from infectious disease. And some of us are called very specifically to use special gifts of healing for others.
Into the Streets and down to the City
After the power of God poured on the disciples in the house, the drama in Jerusalem started. And from thence, a conflagration of the Spirit went out into the whole world where God's Power is burning to this day.
Imagine that you are with these disciples who have just received the fire of the Holy Spirit of God, and the ability to speak many languages.
What power! What excitement! A roaring sound rains upon the house as the divine flames coalesce into tongues on each disciple's head.
People in the vicinity - hearing the thunderclap - turn towards the house which to their amazement stands untouched. What is happening?
Your company of disciples, exultant with your new anointing, pour out into the streets preaching the Word of God in many languages.
The crowds are amazed to understand every word. You speak of the wonder of Christ's Resurrection in the now extinct language of Parthia, Arcasid Pahlavi and Pahlawānīg. Peter tells of how he found the tomb empty after the Christ had arisen in Māda, language of the Medes. Another disciples speaks of the fulfilment of the ancient prophecies in the Messiah Jesus Christ in the now extinct language of the Elamites. Uncountable other languages are heard - all noted in the Acts of the Apostles. 3
As a means to get a crowd to sit up and take notice, this surely is it!
Already the Spirit is starting to turn lives upside down. And now the wonder.
Peter the fearful on the night of Christ's trial, has been anointed with the gifts of fearlessness and preaching.
He stands close by you and shouts to the crowd the glorious news that Prophet Joel's prophecy has at last been fulfilled.
The recently crucified, resurrected and fully alive Jesus Christ - he proclaims - is Lord and Messiah. Peter goes on to emphasize that Jesus is a Man accredited by God to the Israelites by miracles, wonders and signs.
Now, after the hastening of Mary of Nazareth and the disciples down the stairs of the old Jewish house into the street and down to the city, wonders and healings begin that continue to this day.
Shadows, handkerchiefs and miracles
An amazing period of healings and miracles was ushered in by the rush of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples at Pentecost after Christ's Ascension
The early followers of Jesus took their commission of healing seriously and numerous acts of healing followed.
Peter healed the lame man 4. The power of the disciples was such that even the shadow of Peter cast healing. 5 The healing anointing of God was so intense on Peter that even his shadow could be a point of contact to receive God's healing Power.
Aeneas was healed of palsy by Peter, 6 and Tabitha Dorcas was raised from the dead. 7
Healers arose from all ranks of disciples.
Stephen - filled with faith and power - was witnessed doing great wonders and miracles. 8
Philip exorcised and healed many from their paralysis and lameness. 9
Ananias healed Saul of blindness. 10
Saul - renamed Paul and gifted with faith - healed a lame man at Lystra. 11
Paul exorcised a slave girl. 12
God worked unusual miracles through Paul's hands.
Handkerchiefs and aprons he ad merely touched were brought to those who were sick. Thereupon miraculous healing and exorcisms took place. 13
Handkerchiefs or aprons are not amulets or magic charms, but in this case proved to be a reservoir for the anointing to be transported in order to provide a point of contact with the Power of God.
Further signs and wonders among the followers of The Way in the Early Church abounded.
Paul raised Eutychus from the dead. 14
As Paul began his missionary travels, so the healings spread further afield; Paul ministered in Malta. Publius' father was healed of fever and dysentery, and ill citizens of the island were all cured. 15
In later centuries, healings abounded.
The prolific Early Christian author Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus attested to this in
c 212;
"See how many men of rank have been delivered from devils and healed of diseases!" 16a
The Scholar and early Christian Theologian Origen Adamantius wrote in c 248;
"Not a few cures are brought about in the name of Jesus, and certain other manifestations of no small significance have taken place. 16b
In c 305 the early Christian Apologist Arnobius of Sicca wrote of deeds done in the name of Christ which could be listed and numbered at that time in India, as well as among the Seres, Persians and Medes. 16c
Spreading out into the world
The drama of the Heavenly Fire at Jerusalem was the first step in a series of events that eventually led to the disciples quitting Jerusalem and seeking new homes further afield.
After they moved on they settled in different countries and spread the word of Jesus Christ.
The numbers of believers continued multiplying.
In our present day, there are believers in every known country of the world.
The question now raises itself; what about those who are called to healing ministry?
Those who are called to be healers in the Church need to have a life-affirming and health restoring relationship with the Living God.
The minister - a created being of God - is chosen by God to act as a channel for healing.
Various Healing Channels
Healers can be called on by God to heal in a number of diverse ways;
1. Physical healing -
Praying for healing of the body by the laying on of hands, by blessing, or by prayer
2. Mental healing in three main ways-
- Praying for healing of the mind, psychological healing
- Acting as a minister of reconciliation of broken or impaired relationships
- Healing of past painful memories
3. Spiritual healing -
Praying for healing of the soul or spirit which has been wounded by sin or grave negative action
4. Structural healing -
Praying for healing of an evil such as injustice which is embodied into organizational structures
5. Societal healing -
Prayer for healing of areas of discord or injustice in society
6. Financial healing -
Praying for healing of areas of injustice or difficulties experienced through financial means
Healing Prayer
The minister speaks with the authority of Christ over the person or situation needing to be healed, and fills the void with the fulness of God.
The healing minister needs to be a person of deep prayer, as this ministry is taxing in its demands on the spiritual and prayer strengths of the healer.
The minister's prayer over the person needing healing is an imparting of the Presence of Christ as He gifts His healing power to the person in need of it.
The act of calling for healing from God and humbly receiving that healing through the intercession of the healer minister who has been chosen by God for this work forms part of the praying Church.
Resurrected Christ
The person asking for healing through ministry is brought into contact with the Resurrected Christ Whose wounded Hands bear testimony to His early mission of redemption for humanity.
The minister in prayer surrenders all that is blocking the road to healing into the Hands of the all-knowing Healer Christ.
The minister will then pray over the person for complete and inner healing and may be led to lay on hands in an appropriate manner (with companions if present and with the person's permission) for the healing.
The minister will feel an inner conviction for the rightness of this course of action if this is the Will of the Resurrected Lord for that person.
Church of Healing
Reader,we are back once more with the band of Jesus' disciples.
You have just witnessed Jesus miraculously heal the mother-in-law of Peter.
Now, as you wait near the jugs and open fire in the kitchen downstairs, you hear a shuffling of feet and someone whispering outside. What is happening? Both you and another disciple cautiously open the back door.
There, milling outside the door as far as the eye can see, are mothers with sick infants; paralyzed lying painfully on pallets. People suffering from blindness; people with deafness.
And - people scattering away nervously - a leper pitifully hurt by his disease keeps his distance, just near enough to call on the Lord of Healing.
It seems as if the entire city has made way to the door looking for one thing; help in their agony, healing from their pain.
Your heart floods with compassion as you look on the agony of the young, the mature and the old. Where do you start?
With thankfulness, you hear the tired tread of Jesus as He makes His way to the door, ready to start His healing work again at the end of a weary day. 17
How does He keep on going? How does He do the healing?
One answer comes to your mind; Love.
Jesus has come to this earth in order to fulfil the words spoken through the Prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament, 'He took up our infirmities, and bore our diseases'. 18
Jesus taught His disciples to take the most uncompromising stand towards sickness. To see hurt in another is to want to heal their suffering. This is the way of Jesus. 19
Jesus never left those He healed in any doubt as to what His intention was; Jesus wanted to eradicate sickness, pain and death.
In His glorious Kingdom once all our earthly paths have been fulfilled there will be no pain, suffering or death.
In the meantime, as we complete our earthly paths and tasks, we strive to assist and heal each other according to the Will of God.
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God's dwelling is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then He said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.' " 20
God's Healing Power
Personal Faith
There are various ways in which a believer receives God's healing power.
A primary way to receive God's healing power is through faith.
In the Torah and New Testament history faith has been a great force in attracting God's healing power.
In the Old Testament Naaman - Commander of the armies of Ben-Hadad II, the King of Aram-Damascus in the time of King Joram of Israel - had to tap into his personal faith in order to carry out the command of Prophet Elisha to bathe seven times in the River Jordan.
This order had the happy result of healing Naaman's leprosy and returning him to full health. 21
In the New Testament, the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment was healed of her infirmity. 22
Jesus told her quite clearly that her faith had drawn the healing power from Him.
'He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering".' 23
Faith of another
Another way to receive God's Healing Power is through the faith of another.
Upon the request of the centurion, the honoured servant was healed and Jesus commended the centurion's faith. 24
'And Jesus went with them. When He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You under my roof.
Therefore I did not presume to come to You. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one 'Go' and he goes; and to another 'Come' and he comes; and to my servant 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed Him, said, 'I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.'25
The Canaanite woman begged for healing for her troubled daughter and her persistence won the day.
Jesus commended her faith by granting the healing she pleaded for.
' "Dear woman," Jesus said to her, "you have great faith. It shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.' 26
Biblical Methods
Laying On of Hands
As previously discussed, the 'laying on of hands' is one of the routine methods that Jesus used to heal people. 27
Jesus thus touched people to minister His Healing Power. 28
People asked Jesus to come and 'lay hands' even on the departed so He could command the person's soul spirit to return to their human body. 29
The recovery of the sick through the 'laying on of hands' is one of the signs that follow people of faith. "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." 30
The recovery of the sick through the 'laying on of hands' is one of the signs Jesus uses to work with the healer and confirm the veracity of the Word and Promises of God.
"And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following".31
Anointing with Oil and Prayer of Faith
The method of anointing with oil is not a magic ritual; the oil is a point of contact with the Power of God.
This method involves calling on Elders (people of authority and integrity) of the Church in order to pray over the sick person and anoint the sufferer with oil in the Name of the Lord. 32
Anointing with oil and prayer of faith was used by the early disciples for healing and deliverance. "They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them." 33
Essential oils have been part of the daily lives of people for over ten thousand years.
They have been used to heal the body, mind and spirit.
The Book of Genesis tells us that the first humans lived in a wonderful garden, filled with the scents of healing trees, plants and flowers.
Aromatic herbs were created by God with abilities to heal human ailments.
Jesus was very familiar with healing oils.
At His Birth the Magi gifted Him with three gifts.
Of these gifts two - Frankincense and Myrrh - are healing herbs.
Frankincense (known in Herbalism as Boswellia sacra) was one of the consecrated incenses described in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud as used in Ketoret (Temple incense) ceremonies.
Frankincense was one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary (Ex 30;34); and when burnt, exuded a fragrant odour.
This incense was a symbol of the Divine Name (Malachi 1;11/ Song of Solomon 1;3). Frankincense was an emblem of prayer (Ps 141;2/ Luke 1;10/ Rev 5;8/ Rev 8;3) 34
Thus, when this herb was offered so graciously to the Infant Christ the Astrologer King was making a powerful statement.
He was offering the precious herb within the stable sanctuary in an attitude of humble fealty and prayer to the Divine Name enshrined within the babe.
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) has many properties, and has been used since ancient times in the holy oil of the Jews and the Kyphi of Egyptians for embalming and fumigation. 35
It has many uses including use as antiseptic, for use in some liniments and healing salves, for pain relief.36
This herb must have been invaluable to Mary in their flight to Egypt, being small and portable, and yet so efficacious against so many ills.
Jesus, brought up among essential oils - first as birth-gift and then from the herbs which his mother would have used [as was the norm in Nazareth at the time] - was at ease directing His disciples to use the healing oils to bless the sick.
The three oils
Various branches of the Christian Churches continue the healing process of using essential oils today.
Three oils are blessed by the local Bishop and Priests at the annual Chrism Mass, held in the Cathedral on Holy Thursday morning.
Of the three oils, one is the Oil of the Infirm "Oleum Infirmorum".
This Oil of the Infirm is used in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
The Oil of Exorcism was used to anoint candidates immediately before Baptism, as recorded by the third century Theologian Hippolytus of Rome in AD 215.
The practice described by the Hippolytus continues today with the prayer of exorcism at Baptism, and the anointing of the person being baptised.
Anointing with the Oil of Catechumens follows a prayer of exorcism.
The prayerful anointing assists the person in two ways;
- Firstly in order to sever the bondage with the past by means of God's help and strength
- Secondly in order to overcome the devil's opposition to the newly baptised life
The Oil used for these purposes from the early Church onwards is Olive Oil.
Olive oil is a carrier oil, and was used in ancient times for consecration of the meeting tent and Ark of the Covenant (Ex 30;22-29).
The Holy Chrism Oil is a mixture of olive oil and balsam, an aromatic resin. 37
This oil is linked to sanctification of people.
In Old Testament times Priests, Prophets and Kings were anointed.
The prophet Samuel anointed the shepherd David, who went on to become King of Israel.
"So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David." 38
At the end of the day
You have watched the Master heal many at the back door of Peter's house.
You have heard Him whisper words of comfort, smile at the sorrowful, heal those in pain and raise the crippled from their pallets.
As you close the door and bolt it - thankful to at last be making your way to your rest - you notice Jesus slip away quietly.
After all His effort, His weary day in the dusty hear and the draining of healing energy from His Frame, He now goes to the Source of His Power for rejuvenation.
Jesus withdraws to pray.
Jesus' Prayer and healing
After the great healings, Jesus prayed as He recovered His strength.
Power would go out of Him during a healing (Mark 5;30).
The healing miracles cost Jesus an expenditure of power.
Jesus was a Man of deep prayer during His earthly time.
He prayed so often and with such devotion that He would spend entire nights in prayer.
With His clear example in mind, we realise that we too need to be people of sincere and frequent prayer in order to carry out healing ministry.
We need to pray for God's guidance and the gift of strength we need to be a minister of healing to others.
Questions for the Heart and Mind
1. Have you experienced an anointing from God?
2. Why do you think Jesus used healings as a sign?
3. God sent the Holy Spirit to energise the witnesses. Why do you think He found this necessary?
4. Exercise.
Clear some time for yourself. Sit in a quiet area, clear your mind and open your heart and mind to the message of healing.
After 30 minutes, finish your meditation.
What message did you receive?
1 Old Testament, Prophet Joel, 2; 28
2 New Testament, Matthew 25;35-36
3 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 2;9-11
2 New Testament, Matthew 25;35-36
3 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 2;9-11
4 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles, 3;1-24
5 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles, 5;15
6 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 9;33-34
7 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 9;40-41
8 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 6;8
9 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 8;4-7
10 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 9;10-19
11 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 14;8-10
12 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 16;16-18
13 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 19;11-12
14 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 20;9-10
15 New Testament, Acts of the Apostles 28;7-9
16 a, b and c DeCenso Jr, F; Signs and Wonders in the Early
Post-Apostolic Era, Article. 2007 cbn.com/spirituallife/biblestudyandtheology/theholyspirit/decenso_
signs_and_wonders.aspx
17 New Testament, Mark 1;33-34
18 Old Testament, Isaiah 53;4
19 New Testament, Mark 1;33-34
20 New Testament, Book of Revelation 21;1-5
21 Second Book of Kings, 5;1-19
22 New Testament, Mark 5;24-34
23 New Testament, Mark 5;34
24. New Testament, Luke 7;9
25 New Testament, Luke 7;6-9
26 New Testament, Mark 15;21-28
27 New Testament, Mark 6;5
28 New Testament, Luke 4;40
29 New Testament, Matthew 9;18-26
30 New Testament, Mark 16;18
31 New Testament, Mark 16;20
32 New Testament, James 5;14-15
33 New Testament, Mark 6;13
34 Wikipedia; Frankincense. Article; 2014 Frankincense - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
35 Grieve, M; Botanical.com, A Modern Herbal; Myrrh. Article. 2014
36 Wikipedia; Myrrh. Article; 2014 Myrrh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 37 Saunders, Fr William; The Use of Sacramental Oils. Arlington Catholic Herald. 2003. Article The Use of Sacramental Oils
38 Old Testament, 1 Samuel 16;13
Shepherd Church Seminary
Doctor of Healing Ministry Lesson Onehttp://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2014/09/good-shepherd-church-seminary-doctor-of.html
Doctor of Healing Ministry Lesson Onehttp://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2014/09/good-shepherd-church-seminary-doctor-of.html
Good Shepherd Church Seminary
Doctor of Healing Ministry Lesson Two
Doctor of Healing Ministry Lesson Two
Good Shepherd Church Seminary
Doctor of Healing Ministry Lesson Three
Doctor of Healing Ministry Lesson Three
Good Shepherd Church Seminary
Doctor of Healing Ministry Lesson Four
Doctor of Healing Ministry Lesson Four
Rev Catherine
Use freely for any worthy purpose
Use freely for any worthy purpose
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