The Spirit Who Brings Healing
Alan Scott
October 17-18, 2015
Your God is Too...Series
Vineyard Columbus is privileged to host Alan and Kathryn Scott from the Causeway Coast Vineyard Church in Northern Ireland for a weekend of worship, teaching, and empowered ministry time. We are so grateful for their time with us.
Background and Context
The Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are companion books written by Luke, the physician. These books were written to strengthen the faith of all believers and to challenge us when encountering the lost. Jesus' mission is to preach the Gospel, establish his church, and usher in the Kingdom of God. As Jesus spreads the good news, the Kingdom of God pierces through the darkness of this fallen world and many are captivated by Jesus' amazing grace, love, mercy and forgiveness. While encountering Jesus, the man with leprosy, the paralytic, the demon-possessed man, to name a few, are also healed. This message of forgiveness, love, and hope is no longer an exclusive club (Jews only), but rather the doors are open to people from every tongue, tribe, and nation.
Introduction
Christians in 21st century America, still seek to understand why we don't experience more healing. We often ask:
- Is it a lack of faith?
- Is it sin on the part of the one who is praying or the one who is receiving prayer?
- Wouldn't a loving, gracious God want to bring (more) healing to a broken world?
God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and at times, God's will seems ambiguous to us as we wait patiently for an answer to our prayers, especially prayers for healing.
Intro Question: When you hear about the topic of “healing” in church, what comes to mind? What has been your experience in praying for the healing of others or receiving prayer for healing? Was is positive? Negative? Why?
Bible Verses
Acts 3:1-10
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer-at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”
So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
Study and Discuss
Ask someone to read the scripture aloud.
- Peter and John were on their way to the temple and the temple gate was where people who could not work would come to beg. Why was this an ideal place for the crippled man?
In Judaism & Christianity, charity and giving to the poor was and is highly valued and respected. Many other ancient religions did not stress caring for the poor as Judaism & later Christianity.
- The crippled man had been placed at the gate everyday for years for what purpose? How do you think that might have affected him?
One possible way of engaging with this question in a different way in your small group would be to have people spend some time imagining themselves in the crippled man’s place. What did they feel, see, hear, think?
- The crippled man’s physical needs were very obvious for people to see. In American culture, showing need isn’t something that is to be encouraged. How do you respond when you see someone in need, especially in need of physical healing? Why do you think that is?
- When the beggar saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money (vs. 3). What was Peter & John’s response? How might their response be encouraging to us? Challenging to us?
They told the crippled man that they did not have any money but what they did have they would offer to him. This is encouraging to us because there are many needs in the world – and many of them we can’t do anything about. But Peter & John knew that their source for healing was God and he has abundant resources!
Oftentimes we feel bad when we tell people that all we can do is pray for them, but Peter & John show that this is not a “last resort” but a way to bring the power of God to a desperate situation.
- The way that Peter “prayed” with authority for the crippled man might be new to you. How did he “pray”? What is similar to the way you pray? Different? How comfortable would you be praying this way?
This weekend Alan Scott reminded us that prayer for healing often looks different than the way we are used to praying. This isn’t to say that other types of prayer aren’t effective, but when we look at the apostles and Jesus we see that they prayed with authority. Not authority over God telling him what to do, but authority over the sickness or disease. This doesn’t mean that the person will absolutely be healed, but we do love to do what Jesus and his earliest followers did.
- Faith is spelled R-I-S-K. What “risks” did Peter take in this passage?
- Share with the group an instance where you took a risk in praying for healing for someone. How did it feel beforehand? What happened?
- After the crippled man was healed, what was his response and the response of the people who saw him? How might this help us understand one of the results of God’s healing work in the world?
Healing reveals the character and heart of God and his kingdom. When we see our God and King who loves us so much, what else can we do but worship!
- Take a moment and let your group members spend some time in silent prayer for a few minutes asking the Lord how he might be asking them to take a risk in praying for healing for others. If time allows, and it seems appropriate in your group, have them share with the group or in prayer time.
Steps of risk can certainly be incremental. If someone in your group isn’t used to praying out loud, that would be a great step. The encouragement would be to take one more step forward in taking a risk to see God reveal his kingdom, his power, and his love through prayer for healing.
Ministry Time
- This would be a great time to ask people in the group if they need prayer for any type of healing – physical, relational, emotional. Gather around these individuals and pray with authority like Peter!
- We love for Vineyard small groups to take time to “wait on the Lord.” Oftentimes the Lord gives pictures, words, verses, and impressions. Another way God speaks is through words of knowledge for healing. Spend time asking God for words or pictures relating to healing.
Vineyard 5-Step Prayer Model
John Wimber developed a helpful five-step healing model to assist in following God’s direction regarding how to pray for a person. This five-step model is not a technique or secret formula that makes healing happen. We must always keep in mind that God does the healing and that his sovereign will is determinative regarding whether someone gets healed. This model simply enables people to look for God’s sovereign will when faced with someone who needs healing.
–Rich Nathan & Ken Wilson, Empowered Evangelicals
There are slight variations within the Vineyard Movement of the 5-Step Prayer Model, but all the same 5 steps. Below we’ve includedwhat we use hereat Vineyard Columbus.
Link to the Vineyard 5-Step Prayer Model
For more information on how we view prayer and healing at Vineyard Columbus, contact Kerry Davis at and please plan to attend our Meeting God 301 class on Sunday, November 8. You can find a list of all Empowered Life Events at