Schedule
Brief time of worship, welcome, and overview of the evening
First teaching session on healing prayer
Thirty minute breakout session
Second teaching session on why God doesn't always heal, dealing with discouragement, etc.
Q&A panel with the pastors (attendees will have the opportunity to text in questions throughout the evening)
Guidelines for facilitating the breakout session
Here are some principles and pointers to to help you lead through that time. The key is to get into actually praying for people quickly, and avoiding the group moving into a debrief or discussion of what they just heard. There will be time for Q&A after the breakout concludes.
Identify: Since the focus of the evening will be on learning to pray for people who need healing, you will open your breakout time by simply asking simply ask if there is anyone in the group who needs prayer for healing from any physical ailment of any kind. Physical ailments fall into two broad categories. First, "organic diseases," like broken bones, forms of paralysis, etc. often show up on an X-ray. Second, "functional diseases," like high blood pressure, headaches, and lower back pain, might not show up on an X-ray, and thus can trigger cynicism in some people because of the possiblity that these ailments might heal naturally or because it can be hard to tell if someone's functional ailment has actually improved. However, if someone says their back pain is an 8 out of 10 before we pray, and then says it's a 2 out of 10 after we pray, that is cause for celebration! To put it simply, God cares about both cancer and headaches, and our motive in praying for a headache is not because we think we might have a better chance of success. If that's what someone is suffering from, then that's what we pray for. We pray for each other to be healed of any ailments that present themselves—big or small—out of compassion for people and obedience to Scripture. John Wimber once said, “I decided long ago that if one hundred people receive prayer and only one is healed, it is better than if none receive prayer and no one is healed."
What if no one needs or asks for prayer for physical healing? No problem! You have two options at that point. (1) You can ask if there is someone who needs physical healing that is not present, that anyone in your breakout group feels burdened or prompted to pray for. You can then spend extended time praying for that person's healing together. (2) You can ask if anyone would like or is willing to receive prayer for any reason at all, or you can invite someone to receive prayer as you or someone else in the group feels prompted. You can then skip the interview step, and simply invite the Spirit to speak and guide as you begin by listening, and then pray out of silence. Make sure and still debrief with them afterwards. (If you would like more direction on facilitating prophetic prayer, you can refer to the guidelines from the previous prayer training focused on prophetic prayer.) Repeat the process with another person until you're out of time.
Interview: (1) Ask the person. Where does it hurt? How can I help? Is it physical, emotional, spiritual oppression or attack, etc.? Encourage them to be as specific and detailed as possible. (2) Ask the Holy Spirit. Give time to listen (don’t rush); be careful how you use whatever prompting or insights you believe the Spirit has given.
Pray: Direct your prayers to God. Petition for the Spirit’s presence. Focus on the specific problem (identify the physical problem or spiritual wound and intercede for God to touch it directly). Avoid authoritative statements unless you have explicit biblical warrant. Avoid thinking that God will not heal unless you say it “just right” or with “perfect grammar” or in a “theologically sophisticated” way. God is primarily concerned with the attitude of your heart and your compassion for the hurting and your dependence on him, not the “style” or “sophistication” with which you pray.
Recommended Practices: If possible, ask them to close their eyes but keep yours open. Don’t rush. Spend time with the person. Be patient. If you sense or see God doing something, affirm and bless it! Be aware of possible (but not necessary) physical manifestations (tingling, spasms, tears, warmth, shaking, deep breathing, etc.). Ask questions. How do you feel? Do you sense God is doing something? Are you feeling faith, or doubt, or fear? Depending on their answer, adjust your prayers appropriately. Don’t be frustrated or discouraged if they aren’t feeling anything. Be sensitive about the laying on of hands—if a man is praying for a woman, or vice-versa, never touch them between the knees and the neck, making an exception for back problems. Ask them first before you lay hands on them. Is it okay with you?
Post-Prayer Directions: Healing is often a process; if nothing has happened, encourage them to persevere in prayer. We should never stop praying unless shown otherwise by divine revelation or death! (See, for example, 2 Corinthians 12 and Paul’s thorn in the flesh). Never suggest the problem is their lack of faith. There's always the possibility that it may be (among other factors), but that is certainly not for us to say. Let them talk about how they feel: are they encouraged, discouraged, filled with doubt or faith, etc. Do they feel the love of God or a sense of condemnation and failure? Their answer may open up a new avenue of prayer for them. Direct them to follow through on any necessary confession of sin or reconciliation with someone else that the Spirit may have prompted in them. Encourage them to continue to seek prayer from you and others as often as they wish. Regardless of what happens, you have not failed! The degree of healing or relief is not the measure of success: obedience is. Lastly, avoid using the prayer time as an occasion for counseling.
Repeat: If you have time (which you probably will), invite another person to receive prayer.
Report: Please find or text J. J. Seid after your breakout session concludes if you have a story of a healing to report, so we can celebrate with you.
Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. If any of this makes you feel nervous or overwhelmed, please call and let us know. We're here for you!