The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
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6. Some <strong>of</strong> us develop faith for one area <strong>of</strong> healing, which we anticipate will become a<br />
recognizable ministry.<br />
7. Sometimes <strong>the</strong>re are special anointings and whatever we do brings <strong>the</strong> desired result.<br />
8. Even though we may feel nothing (no virtue going out), healings can take place, effected<br />
on <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> authority and obedience to <strong>the</strong> Scriptures.<br />
9. Sometimes someone in a ministry team may be given a word <strong>of</strong> prophecy for <strong>the</strong> person<br />
healed.<br />
10. We have found that this ministry tends to go in waves. It’s easy to get proud when God<br />
uses us. <strong>The</strong> temptation is to take <strong>the</strong> glory ourselves. <strong>The</strong>re is a constant need to humble<br />
ourselves and to be continually repenting (which applies both to churches and<br />
individuals). 26<br />
After Ministry<br />
<strong>The</strong> commonest subsequent experiences sensed by those who have been ministering are:<br />
1. Sudden depression<br />
2. Sense <strong>of</strong> failure (especially when people do not appear to be healed).<br />
3. Sense <strong>of</strong> exhaustion<br />
4. Confused and mixed feelings (one may have good reasons for feeling a failure if one has<br />
mismanaged <strong>the</strong> situation, but some mistakes are almost inevitable).<br />
5. Temptation to pride—a desire to boast following clear manifestation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong><br />
God. 27<br />
Those Coming for Ministry<br />
We need to be sensitive to those coming for ministry and it is helpful to ascertain if <strong>the</strong>y are:<br />
1. Christian? (“Do you know Jesus?”) If so, what stage in <strong>the</strong>ir spiritual pilgrimage have <strong>the</strong>y<br />
reached?<br />
2. Part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fellowship or not—or are <strong>the</strong>y new?<br />
3. Ready to receive? Are <strong>the</strong>re any known barriers?<br />
4. Some have already prepared—e.g. to commit <strong>the</strong>mselves to <strong>the</strong> Lord or to ask for specific<br />
prayer for healing, whereas o<strong>the</strong>rs have come up on <strong>the</strong> impulse and need to clarify <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
need. This is <strong>the</strong> time to ask for a “word <strong>of</strong> wisdom.”<br />
5. Sometimes people are quite clear about what <strong>the</strong>ir problem/need is, but <strong>the</strong> presented<br />
problem is not always <strong>the</strong> one for which <strong>the</strong> Lord has brought <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> front. <strong>The</strong>re<br />
may well be a deeper need <strong>of</strong> which <strong>the</strong>y are unaware.