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Every Tom, Dick and Harry|
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by Linda Miller (May 2005)
The North American OSL Conference is coming up soon, June 8-11, 2005. I can’t wait. Now, you may say, what is she so excited about? Let me tell you.
I grew up in the Methodist church with godly parents and grandparents. When the church doors were open, we were there — Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, Thursday visitation – and any other time there was something going on at church. I always felt God’s call upon my life, and I gave myself to God over and over as perfectly as I knew how, but never “felt” anything.
I took Disciple I, Disciple II, Disciple III, Christian Believer and a myriad of other studies — but I never got assurance or peace. I knew about God, but I did not know Him.
After a very difficult time in my life, I reached the end of my rope, (a very good place to be). I had nothing left to offer the Lord. In that time of complete surrender, the Lord was pleased to speak to me. Everything changed in a moment. I knew God was “real” and not just wishful thinking. I presented myself to the Lord as a living sacrifice and I promised to seek His face and learn how to pray.
I started a weekly prayer group at my church. We were praying for the sick and felt the need to learn how to pray more effectively. Then someone told us about an Order of St. Luke healing mission coming up only 60 miles away.
I had had lifelong, debilitating asthma. I was taking three to four breathing treatments a day, was on steroids, and I carried my breathing machine (nebulizer) with me everywhere I went. I began to hope God would heal me of asthma so I could work for Him more effectively. We went to the mission, and the Lord healed me. I was off all asthma medication one month after the healing prayer, and I have not had an asthma attack in six years. This was a life-changing event. Now I KNEW healing was available.
Our little prayer group decided to go to the North American OSL conference in Atlanta the next year. I was “hungry” to learn how to “proclaim the Kingdom and heal the sick.” I prayed and prayed before we went, asking the Lord to teach me things He wanted me to know.
I had a real eye-opener when Dr. Helen Ressor talked about spiritual warfare and demons. I was deeply touched by Rev. Don Crary’s message.
During one of the prayer groups, I heard someone praying in a language that I did not understand. Not being shy, I asked what she was doing. She explained that was her prayer language and the Holy Spirit was praying through her. I had never heard of such a thing. She was so precious and kind to me — so patient with my questions. She introduced me to her husband. That was the Rev. Jack and Anna Marie Sheffield, and they have become good friends and have had a blessed impact on my life. God had divine appointments for me at that OSL conference.
And so it has been, year after year – in Longview, Texas; in Vancouver, Canada; in Cleveland, Ohio; in Glorietta, New Mexico. Every conference has been a blessing in my life. After attending the North American Conference in Vancouver, my friends and I decided that once a year was not enough and we found the OSL chapter in Chattanooga, Tennessee. What a glorious gift that chapter has been to us.
I want everyone to realize what is available at the annual OSL conferences. They are not just meetings; they are glorious adventures where we can sit at the feet of the saints. They are bathed in prayer and led by the Holy Spirit.
I want to encourage you to come to the North American conference this June at Lake Yale, Florida. Norma Dearing will be the keynote speaker — what a blessing. There will be wonderful, Spirit-led teaching, workshops, healing prayer groups, Holy Communion, praise, worship, food and fellowship.
Are you in need of a miracle? Come. Are you spiritually hungry? Come. He has something very special for you. Come expecting.
Linda Miller is convener of the Chattanooga, Tennessee, OSL chapter
Spiritual Direction in the Healing Ministry The Rev. Dr. Donald P. Richmond
Spiritual direction is an ancient and profitable practice that is well known among Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and is becoming increasingly appreciated by Evangelicals of every persuasion. A number of definitions for spiritual direction exist. One definition, of utmost importance to those involved in Christ’s healing ministry, is provided by the Very Reverend F. Gregory Rogers.1 He writes, “Spiritual Direction…involves leading a person through the process of healing the heart and into an ever-deepening relationship with God.”2 Although Father Rogers emphasizes the Orthodox perspective on spiritual direction, the implications must not be lost upon anyone who participates in the ministry of healing or spiritual direction. There is a dynamic connection between spiritual direction and the practice of Christian healing. Both in some way involve “healing,” whether it is of heart, soul, mind or strength. Bishop Kalistos Ware suggests that there are five ingredients that constitute a spiritual director.3 These have everything to do with the ministry of Christian healing. And, to some degree, those involved in healing must also in some way become involved in spiritual direction. Ware’s “five basic roles” (as indicated in Rogers’ article quoted below, p. 283 - 284) are Doctor, Counselor, Intercessor, Mediator and Sponsor.
Doctor The spiritual director has historically been known as the “physician of the soul.” In a similar way, those involved in the ministry of divine healing are also physicians. This, of course, does not mean that we claim to be trained medical or psychological practitioners. Some may be physicians, nurses, psychologists or psychiatrists. Some may not be. Those involved in the ministry of healing must not in any way exceed their qualifications. Nevertheless, in some small way, keeping the word within the context of spiritual direction and Christian healing ministry, we are doctors. People come to us looking for “healing” or “health.” We are called to therapeutically listen to, and understand (i.e. have insight and discernment), the problem or problems presented. From this, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are called to apply the appropriate treatment, which is healing prayer. The physician-as-healer roles (as available listener, attuned discerner, and perceptive prescriber of healing prayer) are as appropriate to spiritual direction as to Christian healing.
Counselor Those involved in healing prayer must also be counselors. Once again, caution is enjoined. Many people involved in healing ministries are not professional therapists or trained counselors. The reader must be cautioned about the practice of spiritual direction. Although we “counsel” during the practice of healing, we are not all counselors. We should not advertise ourselves as being “counselors.” Being a counselor requires a certain amount of training and skill. In some cases it requires licensing and/or certification. Similarly, in the practice of spiritual direction, we are not all spiritual directors although we may use principles and practices from this discipline. Moreover, in both cases, they are noted by their charisms. We, broadly speaking, do not choose to become counselors or spiritual directors as much as they, and the Church, choose us. Nevertheless, as compassionate helpers involved in healing ministry, we are not exempted from those practices that are common to counseling. Those involved in healing ministry must learn, first and foremost, to listen to the Divine Counselor, The Holy Spirit. Second, we must learn to carefully listen to those who come to us for healing. In fact, as with spiritual direction, the ministry of healing involves a careful and prayerful simultaneous listening to both the Holy Spirit and the person who comes before us. As such, again like spiritual direction, we become a “soul friend” of the patient. The word “friend” is a good way to understand the counseling to which I refer. It is my personal belief that if most people and parishes exhibited true friendship, there would be less of a need for professional counselors, therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists. Barring this personal belief, however, those involved in healing ministry must learn to “counsel” (while keeping proper boundaries) through listening, helping people know that we’ve genuinely heard them, asking for clarification about issues discussed, providing a reflection of the patient’s feelings, being available, genuine and confidential. Anyone, not just “professionals,” must exhibit these qualities in order to become more effective in their relationships – the healing relationship included.
Intercessor A crucial element of spiritual direction and healing ministry is prayer. For both ministries, prayer must permeate not only each session and each individual, but the entire life of those who serve in that capacity. The “minister” must be bathed in prayer. Prayer is not just a part of the director or healer’s life, prayer is his or her life. It is at the “marrow” of personal and professional identity, purpose and direction. Prayer cannot be overemphasized. While risking oversimplification, our ministries of healing are ministries of healing prayer. This is not just an event. Prayer is a lifestyle. Prayer does not just occur when the person in need comes before us. In fact, in many cases, effectiveness in ministry is incumbent upon diligence in prayer before “ministry” even begins (St. Mark 9: 14-28 NIV). Both the spiritual director and those involved in healing prayer must be attentive to this.
Mediator I have in this article made repeated references to the patients who “come before us” for healing. This does not in any way imply that we are “special.” We are not. When I write “come before us,” I in fact make reference to our mediatorial (“go-between”) status in the ministry of Christian healing. We represent God in both the healing relationship and in the relationship of spiritual direction. Without in any way seeking to communicate any New Age nonsense, when we walk in the Holy Spirit we are channels of God’s divine love and healing. The supreme example of this is Jesus Christ. He is the mediator between God and humanity. He is the go-between. He is the one who channeled the grace and mercy and healing of God to others through His life, crucifixion, death, burial and ascension. As those involved in Christian healing, albeit on a much smaller scale, and as a corporate body of believers, we are called to do the same. We are God’s mediators of Christ’s healing by the power of the Holy Spirit. We should learn to walk in this awareness and power.
Sponsor I have now enjoyed 30 years of a drug-free life. If I had joined Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous I would have secured a “sponsor.” I never did join these two noteworthy organizations. I sought help with my life (drugs were the very smallest part where I needed help!) through the Church. My sponsor was the Church, and, specifically, those men and women who “parented” me along the way. These women and men within the Christian community nurtured me into adulthood. They, so to speak, acted as sponsor. Without the least bit of exaggeration they were both healers and spiritual directors. In every way, and without exaggeration, the healer/spiritual director must act as a “sponsor” (where and when possible and appropriate) to those who come before us. Our job is to “parent” and “nurture” and (at times) rebuke and direct those who present themselves to us. This is, once again, evidenced in and through the life of our Lord. He did not just heal. In many cases, while healing, he also provided a parenting, nurturing, rebuking and directing ministry. Think of this in terms of both his closest disciples and regarding many of His casual contacts. Healers and Directors are sponsors. The purpose of this article has not been to simply highlight the profound similarities between the ministry of Christian healing and the practice of spiritual direction. There are many similarities, as well as some differences. My purpose has been to demonstrate the need for Christians involved in healing to become more aware of and involved in spiritual direction — as applied both within healing ministry and within one’s own life.
The Rev. Dr. Donald P. Richmond, a priest with the Anglican Province of America (Western Diocese), is a frequently published author and member of the OSL.
1 “Spiritual Direction in the Orthodox Christian Tradition. Journal of Psychology and Theology: Winter 2002, Vol. 30 #4 2 ibid. p. 276 3 “The spiritual father in Saint John Climacus and Saint Simeon the New Theologian.” Spiritual direction in the early Christian East (I. Hausherr, Ed.). Cistercian Publications, pp. vii – xxxiii. A Firm Conviction ichard B. Austin, Jr. I want to share with you my recent experience as a cancer
survivor. Sometimes one's faith lies dormant until a situation arises
that puts it to the test. When one of my doctors said, "You have
a 15 percent chance of recovering" from treatment for tongue
cancer that had spread to my neck, I had to reach down to tap my mental
and spiritual resources. Mental strategies were also helpful during treatment.
I used positive visual imagery, especially in a meditative state,
two to three times daily to script a positive outcome, minimize damaging
side effects, and strengthen my immune system. The enemy seems to
attack more at these times to plant "fear thoughts," or
even negative visual images, so assertive thinking is important to
win the battle of mental/spiritual warfare. It's a matter of keeping
the door closed to unwanted thoughts in one's mental house. Also,
using methods taught in Christian meditation in which you put yourself
in a biblical scene, or bring a scriptural scene into your situation,
plants powerful healing thoughts. Any of the scenes of Jesus healing,
and He always tailored his technique to the person, reinforced a sense
that I would be healed. So out of my affliction with cancer is a testimony for
the healing of fear associated with cancer, absolute faith that God
wants to heal his children, and to tune into the voice of faith and
tune out thoughts of fear or negative consequences. The enemy seeks
to put us in bondage to fear with cancer, but Christ has set us free
from that tyranny.
For Every Tom, Dick, and Harry by Canon Mark Pearson, keynote speaker at the 2004 North American Conference I have looked in all the concordances, and I cannot find a Richard in the Bible. But I know a number of people named Richard who serve on healing teams. So I want to address all the Richards and all of us who are in the healing ministry. When you first started out, it was easy and it was fun. Remember? It was tiring sometimes, but we bounced back quickly and ministered some more. Then after a while it wasn’t fun anymore, and it got hard. And it seemed like the time just before we were going to minister and the time just after we ministered were difficult. What went wrong? Well, we forgot some basic things. I want to look at four of those basic things about which we need constant reminders. The power comes from God. By ourselves in our own strength we grow foliage, but we do not bear fruit. And we work hard at growing beautiful foliage. One year my father grew tomatoes. He knew that to thin the plants to make them grow well you had to pick off certain things. Dad worked hard on his tomato plants —watered them and fertilized them and defended them against predators. He had big, beautiful, tall plants. One day in the middle of August, we went to look at them. There were no tomatoes. Dad, instead of picking off the suckers earlier in the year, had picked off the blossom clusters. He had grown tremendous plants that bore no fruit. We can work very hard and sacrificially; and we can study, we can show up and be on fire; but if we don’t see fruit we should ask what’s wrong. The answer is that we are probably working hard in our strength, in our own power. Training is good, our experience is good, but we are to continue to do our hard work and pray for the anointing power of the spirit. It must be both. Paul was discipling the young Timothy. In II Timothy, Chapter One, he told Timothy to stir up the gift of the spirit that was within him. In Chapter Two Paul told Timothy to study to show himself a worker who need not be ashamed. Paul’s guidance to Timothy is the guidance of the Lord for us — stir up the spirit and work hard. It is both/and, not either/or. In Scripture we find this cooperative effort of God and man. In John, Chapter Two, the stewards of the feast had to attend to the water in the water jars, but only Jesus made it wine. In Mark Chapter Two friends lugged a man to Jesus and lowered him through the roof, but only Jesus could forgive and heal the man. When people who are excited about healing err, it is not usually in the direction of being too timid. We are likely to err in the dangerous direction of relying on our strength, experience, and expertise and forgetting to take time to pray for empowerment — not just praying, but praying for empowerment from God. Leave the results in the hand of God and let God do His will. It is fun to see miracles unfold in front of us. It is fun to see someone healed right in front of us when we have just prayed for them. It is fun to see God work dramatically. But there is a danger in this. We so want the enjoyment, and our hearts so go out to the sick, and we so want them better, that we are not content just to be an instrument of the Lord’s. We want to tell the Lord what to do and how to do it. And we want it to be done right away; that may not be wrong, but there is a danger that we can start to manipulate it. We can grumble if we don’t see it in our time table. Our healing team ministered to a blind girl one evening, and she was healed just a little bit. We wanted her to be healed completely; we wanted it for her. But let’s face it, we wanted it for us too. Because then you feel that God is using you. At the end of the service the girl came forward and received Jesus as her savior. Her father was with her, and because there was only slight improvement, it was agreed that she would come back. The next week she came with her dad and was healed just a little bit more, and Dad accepted Jesus. The two of them would come and some weeks there would be improvement. Then one week Dad couldn’t come, so her mom came and she was saved. Pretty soon other family members came, and pretty soon her whole extended family came to the Lord over all those weeks of slight healing. Eventually the little girl could see completely. It was God’s plan. Sometimes God heals differently from the way we demand because that needs healing – that we demand it. God may have his own way, his own timing, his own method to bring about a healing and we need to learn to wait on the Lord as we minister to one another. So we pray and we let God minister as He chooses in terms of time and method. We need to be sensitive to the Spirit and go with that even though, let’s face it, we’d like to see it happen right away. And for many of us, we’d like to see it happen dramatically. The enemy is actively opposing us in this. There’s a war going on, and we are at the front lines. Satan doesn’t want to see people healed. He doesn’t want that for two reasons – one he doesn’t like people and two Satan doesn’t like God. Healing gives God the glory. So Satan is going to do what he can to oppose us. When we were doing healing ministry at one of my former parishes we had healing services on Tuesday. We would gather the team before the service and say, “How was your day?” and invariably it had been horrible. If anyone’s dog was going to get sick on the new rug, it happened on Tuesday. If anyone’s tooth filling was going to fall out, if anyone was going to have a problem with the car, it happened on Tuesday. We soon realized that on Tuesday more than on any other day, we had to put on the full armor of God. The battle was pitched on Tuesday. Satan will try to get us discouraged if we do not see fruit immediately. We forget that it’s in God’s time. Satan will try to make us resent our service to God and to God’s people. Satan will try to get us full of pride and make us think that we’re doing it. It’s good to have an accountability partner who will not let us get puffed up with pride — and do so without being negative. Wise is the person who does not listen either to flattery or to the put downs of people who delight in giving negative feedback. Wise is the person who has charged a couple of people with the job of giving regular, constructive feedback whether it’s positive or negative. Satan will try to get us at odds with other members of the team. Satan will try to get us to confuse humiliation with humility. Humility says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I can’t do it myself. Humiliation says God won’t use me. Humility says I did wrong. Humiliation says I am wrong. And if Satan doesn’t get us puffed up, he will get us so down on ourselves that we wonder why we would minister since God is not going to use us anyway. And then Satan has removed us from the field of battle. The answer is to put on the whole armor of God, know the attacks will come, and minister to one another. Ministering to others raises issues in ourselves that have to be faced honestly and dealt with seriously. Whenever the water flows, the muck comes up from the bottom. We will find stuff brought to the surface when we minister to others, and if we don’t face that squarely we will be blindsided by it. Let me add that there are people who think you can’t say anything negative because that is “claiming it.” There are extremes to this. If one has a cold and steadfastly refuses to admit that lest it be “claimed,” then how shall we pray? Claiming it is refusing to believe that it can be healed or cured. Better to say I have a cold, will you pray with me for my healing? So what’s going to be mucked up in us when we minister? Some of it is going to be doctrinal. Brenda was a faithful healing minister who suddenly stopped coming to church. People called and asked if she was OK. “Yes,” she would say, “I’m fine.” Again and again. After three months, the minister finally went to visit. Brenda had been confronted twice a week with people who were ill, people who were praying for the healing of others. Pretty soon, being confronted with the illness and the brokenness and the evil of the world, she concluded that God is a bum. Had she raised that when she was starting to be aware, we might have dealt with it. There are answers to the question of why bad things happen to good people. Theological questions will arise, and they need to be brought out in the healing team. If we are not careful, the basic questions will turn us off — not just of healing, but of God. Some of the muck that will be brought up will have to do with our own sin. We are all sinners, even while we are in a right relationship with God. And sometimes those people coming up for healing are going to have the same sin that we have. Only they are repenting, and we are still cherishing that sin. What shall we do? We might be tempted to say it’s not really a sin because we are trying to convince ourselves that it is not. Or we might deal with the person in an unreasonable way. When we are put under conviction in this way, we need to minister to the person, and repent and confess our own sin with full purpose of amendment. Canon Mark Pearson is president of the Institute for Christian Renewal and a leader of teaching and healing conferences around the world.
Living Water for Sin Sick Souls The Rev. Larry Eddings Basic to everything I want to share with you is John
7:37: "On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood
and in a loud voice said, 'If anyone is thirsty let him come to me
and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams
of living water will flow from him.'" Most every disease is a deficiency. Something is missing,
or you would be healthy. The same is true in your spirit. When a person
is sick in their spirit, there is something deficient. That which
is deficient is a right relationship with God. There are all different kinds of sin; self righteousness
is probably one of the greatest - when you've got it all together
and you don't need the Lord because you can do it yourself. And I
think the Lord said, "Have at it, Larry. Let's see how far you
can go." Well I went to that church and started looking for these
people about whom I had been warned. And I ran into some of the most
loving, happy people. They grinned all the time. They volunteered
to do stuff in church. They tithed, of all things. And all of a sudden the walls fell and I began to feel
something happening inside. It was refreshing and renewing and life-giving,
like a river - not just a trickling little stream but like a river
of living water welling up within me. And on Epiphany, six months
after I went to that church, the spirit was released. I stayed in
that church 13 years under the power of the Holy Spirit. And I don't
think I've ever had any desire to have the river stop in my life. The first step is to humble ourselves, and that is the
hardest step. You see, part of my spiritual sickness was spiritual
arrogance and pride. Spiritual elitism. I was as near a Pharisee as
you could get. And only the Holy Spirit could humble me and help me
drop to my knees and recognize my emptiness.
The Rev. Larry Eddings is a retired pastor/evangelist
in the United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Audrey, founded Wind
of the Spirit Ministries, headquartered in Bremerton, Washington. Marion Perry Some 30 years ago, I called out to the Lord in one of
my darkest moments. I felt rejected, unloved, depressed, brokenhearted
and afraid, a complete failure. I asked the Lord to let me do one
good thing in my life that would be acceptable to Him. He heard my
cry as He always does. Although I did not realize it at the time,
He began to use me just as I was. He used me to reach out to the youth,
the homeless, the elderly and others who suffered. Even though I had a good earthly father image, my image
of God was distorted. I was afraid of God and especially afraid of
the Holy Ghost. I was fearful of all kinds of ghosts, and I sure was
afraid of a holy one. It was that evasive part of the Trinity that
the priests did not talk about other than in the creed. It seemed
as if most of the priests I knew were afraid of it also because most
of them seemed to dread preaching on Trinity Sunday when they felt
forced to at least say something about Him. There was no teaching
about how vital He was in each Christian's life. Still needing much healing myself, I was led to those
who were able to teach me about the healing ministry. That is what
is so amazing about the love of God - He uses wounded healers to reach
out and comfort others with the comfort He has given us. He has brought
so very many to me for prayer and His healing touch, and I have seen
many miracles performed. He performed them because I can do nothing
on my own; however, I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens
me. Marion Perry lives in Austin, Texas, and faithfully
prays for those whose names are received on the OSL prayer line.
Francis MacNutt From a keynote speech given at the 43rd Annual North
American OSL Conference in Longview, Texas, I'm deeply indebted to the Order
of St. Luke because way back in 1960 when I was teaching at a seminary
in Iowa, I went to the nearby Presbyterian seminary one day where
Alfred Price was speaking. His talk was based on Matthew 10: "Then
Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean
spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.
. . . These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions:
'Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go,
proclaim the good news "The kingdom of heaven has come near."
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.'
" Other things are happening that are so encouraging. My wife, Judith, and I got an invitation from Baptists in Germany to come and give talks and workshops at one of their conferences for 600 to 1000 people. In Malta next October the Roman Catholic Church is hosting a meeting on exorcism, hoping for 1,000 people to attend. Rome is also sponsoring a meeting on healing in November. Judith and I have been invited to attend that. This is a huge change in the Church, and it gives hope for the future. So we see that a lot has been accomplished, but there is so much more to be done. People are dying out there because we're not doing our jobs - Christians in general are not doing their jobs. Mass education is needed. A lot of the clergy have learned, and we have many groups praying for healing after Holy Communion on Sunday morning. But what has not happened, as I see it, is that ordinary people have not learned to pray in their families. How many of you can remember your father ever praying with you for your healing when you were young and sick? My dad was a wonderful Christian, but he didn't pray for my healing. Maybe he didn't think he could. People have been deprived. They think
someone else can do it, but not them. Most ordinary people out there
in the pews don't know they can pray for the healing of others. They
think they don't know enough, or they're not worthy, or whatever.
There's a whole lot to learn. But if someone has a fever, there is
not a whole lot you need to learn to pray for that. A topic that deserves our attention
has to do with inner healing and counseling. We've always thought
that God wants us to pray for inner healing 100 percent of the time.
Now there's a new method that claims that close to 100 percent of
people can be healed through inner healing. The word has got to get
out to Christian counselors. Again and again in counseling, we see
so many people who get just so far and then no farther. The current theological climate in
some places is that the physical resurrection of Jesus did not happen.
Some people say the resurrection of Jesus was just something that
the disciples wanted to believe in; Jesus was so real to them after
he died, his memory was so real, and to them that was like the resurrection.
The corrective to that is not to shout or argue. The corrective is
when you've seen someone healed, you know that Jesus is alive. You
know it, you don't need an argument. The corrective is simply what
we're doing. That says that Jesus is alive. It's knowing. Francis MacNutt learned about praying for healing
from the Rev. Tommmy Tyson and Agnes Sanford in 1967 at a life-changing
conference in Tennessee. He became one of the first Roman Catholics
to become involved in the charismatic renewal movement.
by Rev. James Spata From an article in Sharing Nov 2002 "We have not heard that there is a Holy Spirit" Acts 19:26 It is very difficult to think about the Holy Spirit because - like sunlight is all pervasive yet can not be caught in our hands and examined - we can look at the creeds but all they tell us surrounds the function of the Holy Spirit and the economy of the Godhead. We want something to sink our teeth into, but all we wind up with is air pudding. The Holy Spirit is especially illusive to us as rational, fact-oriented westerners; and so the statement I opened with, made by the first century Corinthians, could apply to most twenty-first century westerners. We look for formulas and structures to grab hold of, and as one of my seminary professors said: "It's like firing a gun in a dark room hoping to wing God on the ear." The first thing that we need to get firmly in our minds is that the Holy Spirit is God. I know my own introduction to that concept was shocking at best. I was a very baby Christian and I went on a retreat - because my wife wanted to. The retreat house was built on the style of a small castle; our room faced one of the turrets of the building. The retreat was an encounter with the persons of the Holy Trinity. Friday evening the priest led us in exercises concerning God the Father. Well I had no problem with the old white-haired creator. On Saturday he started in on this Jesus person. Oh, I knew all the intellectual stuff, but He basically remained "Jesus Who"? Sunday morning dawned, stormy and rainy, and I wasn't looking forward to another day of this stuff. The Holy Spirit was a kind of talisman I kept in my pocket for emergencies; I called him "Big Bird." Well after each teaching session we were sent off to pray. I decided to climb out our window on to the turret to pray. No one could see me, so I decided to pray like those crazies with my arms upraised. As I did, a shaft of sunlight burst through the clouds and shined on my turret. Now, my training is in the sciences - I was in the middle of taking advanced graduate courses in meteorology - and I could give you a hundred good reasons why that shaft of light broke out. But in my heart I can tell you, that was no ordinary shaft of light. As it shone on me, an inner voice quietly and with authority said, "I don't care what you call Me, just remember I am God." I think a smack on the side of the head with a two-by-four would have been more comforting. I wanted to scream, "I didn't mean it." I wanted to cry or faint or something. I was just overwhelmed. Did I know any more about the Holy Spirit? No. Did I know the Holy Spirit in a completely new and shocking way? You bet your prayer book I did. Some years ago I had a Sunday school superintendent who had a unique ability; she would get her breath in the middle of a sentence and run right through the periods. She'd call on the phone, she wouldn't say hello, she'd just start right in. Every time she'd get to the end of a sentence I'd say, "but" and she'd run right through. And when she was done, she wouldn't say goodbye, she'd just drop it in the cradle. So a conversation with her would go something like this: "Hello-but-but-but." Click. I'd get so mad I'd tie the phone cord in knots. How many of you know that is just the way you pray? We dial up, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, then we say, "Thank you," which is just a polite way of saying, "I'm getting ready to ask for something else." And then we begin in earnest. All the time the Holy Spirit is saying, "but-but-but-" and then we say, "In the Name of Jesus, Amen." Click. How many of you know that Holy Spirit has knots in His phone cord? Sisters and brothers, the Holy Spirit does not shout over the din; Holy Spirit is too polite to interrupt. If you really want to know the Will of God, you'll have to listen. Let us take a short theological tour: Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity, distinct but consubstantial, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son, in every sense God. The Spirit is active in creation as the Ruach - the breath that brooded over the chaos. Holy Spirit is the life breathed into Adam. The Spirit spoke through the Prophets and prepared for the ministry of Jesus. The Spirit is the enabler, the One who leads into all truth. It is only through the Spirit that we can confess Jesus as Lord, and it is in and through the power of the Spirit that we are brought into love and harmony with one another and all creation. Moral purity, divine truth, understanding, wisdom, knowledge, and a host of other properties are dispensed by the Spirit. In the economy of the Godhead, the Church - the Bride of Christ - is guided, governed and purified by the action of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit dwells richly within each baptized person (and to a lesser degree in every person). The Spirit is the enervating power, the revealer of the Light of Christ, the cleanser, the convector, the convincer, the transformer. And all together is mystery. Because of the Spirit's illusive nature and pervading presence, it is difficult to find words to pin down the Spirit. Even the great theologians throughout the ages have found Holy Spirit as hard to nail down as moon beams. Holy Spirit is those "ah-ha" moments when
our eyes are opened and our hearts perceive truth in a whole new way.
On September 11, my son, an expert in heavy rescue and veteran fire
fighter, was called into lower Manhattan. As he prepared to leave
the house, I said a prayer with him and blessed him. I understood
in a whole new way what Jesus meant when He felt the power go out
of Him when the women touched the hem of His robe. Holy Spirit is the serious business of eternity. This is more then just a little bit overwhelming; it means we have direct and intimate contact with God through the indwelling Spirit. We can parrot all the pious platitudes and theological rhetoric we want, but to touch the Holy is truly awesome. The movement of our lives, then, is to live theology, not just to do it. In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul reminds us: "All who are led by the Spirit are children of God. You did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption. When we cry 'Abba! Father!' it is the Spirit bearing witness to our spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs, heirs of God and coheirs with Christ" Romans 8: 14-17a The Rev. Jim Spata is founding chaplain of the Theophilus Chapter of the OSL in New York
What Keeps Us From Praying for People?
by Sue Peterson I have been a member of the Order of St. Luke healing
ministry for three and a half years serving on our chapter board for
two of those years. In 2002, I attended a five-day School of Pastoral
Care in Canada that was life changing. In fact, I ended up resigning
from my office worker position the day after I returned home. I had
been working at the state patrol in Duluth at the time, but felt called
to full time ministry. While growing up, I attended a Catholic church in the far western part of the city of Duluth. I had heard the stories from the Gospels about Jesus’ healing ministry, but I didn’t really believe that it was relevant for today. I guess I just never gave it much thought. In the early 70’s I saw a movie about the rapture entitled, “A Thief in the Night.” I was 16 at the time, and I met with a counselor afterwards and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I remember feeling so full of joy and peace and wanting to tell the world all about Jesus! I was met with much resistance from my parents and some of my friends. I remember being called a “Jesus freak” in a very negative way. I think if someone called me a Jesus freak today, I would consider it to be one of the highest of compliments. But over time the flame inside me turned into just a flicker. In the years following, I ended up marrying a young man who was Lutheran and began attending the Lutheran church. I taught Sunday School and attended Bible studies, but I didn’t really have a close relationship with Jesus. In 1999, my eyes were opened to the reality of Jesus and His healing ministry. A friend of mine prayed for the healing of a spastic colon that I had been diagnosed with years earlier. She also prayed for my anxiety. I was really held captive by it. I used to worry so much that my husband insisted that if I didn’t have anything to worry about, I would worry about that! He was right. I was totally healed of these conditions. The Lord, at that time, captured my heart to pray for people. I wanted to give back what I had received from the Lord. Many of you have been praying for people on a regular basis. There are also those of you who feel called to pray for people, but for some reason or another, have not. I would like to encourage you today to just start praying for people. Start teaming up with someone who has experience praying in this way. You learn by doing; that is what the disciples did. For about three years they followed Jesus around as He healed the sick and cast out demons. They were mentored by the greatest Teacher of them all. We have to step out in faith and begin doing what God has called us to do. He gave his disciples “power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease” (Matthew 10:1). We cannot let fear hold us back. I have heard comments from people such as: “What if they don’t get healed?” “I’m not good enough to pray for someone!” “I am too shy to get up in front of the church!” or “What if I don’t hear from the Holy Spirit?” These comments seem to focus inward. We have to remember that it’s not about us; it’s about Him. We need to get the focus off of ourselves and onto Jesus who is the Great Physician. We have to trust in Him totally to guide us as to how to minister to the person who has come for prayer. I feel so privileged to be used by Jesus in setting people free. God has always used ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Remember, we do not receive the glory nor the blame after someone has received prayer. It’s not about us. We need to become less self conscious and more God conscious. To be honest, when I first started praying for people, I would feel some fear. Actually I felt a lot of fear and asked some of the same questions that I mentioned earlier. When I was much younger, I was a very shy person. I never said much. I spent a lot of my time alone and used to take long walks in the woods near the house that I grew up in. I even dropped out of Brownie Scouts because I wasn’t comfortable with the social aspect of it. To this day, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone else who dropped out of Brownies! The Lord has changed me considerably. I have overcome my timidity and really enjoy and seek out the fellowship of others. He has filled me with compassion for the broken hearted. I do know this: whomever God calls, He equips. Initially, when at a healing service, I would literally push myself to come up and pray for people. I trusted the Lord to do the work. I knew that I didn’t have anything to offer the person and that if I would just walk in obedience to what the Lord had called me to do, He would be faithful and show up. What I am saying is that we must trust Him when we make ourselves available to pray for someone. He will back you up and bless your obedience. God wants to heal the sick today. He has given each one of us the power and the authority to do the same by His Holy Spirit. Are we willing to exercise that power? Are we really willing to be His hands and His feet? What’s stopping you? Sue Peterson is a member of the Lake Superior Chapter in Duluth, Minnesota
by The Rev. Rufus J. Womble, D.D., with Elizabeth Steele
Forman It is an honor and privilege for the Richmond, Virginia,
OSL chapter to have as our chaplain the Rev. Rufus J. Womble, former
North American Warden of the Order of St. Luke. Rufus, who will be
92 this June, is familiar to many OSL members who have not actually
met him but have been inspired by his book Wilt Thou Be Made Whole
as well as the many articles and booklets he has had published on
healing. When he asked me to assist with this article, I accepted
the challenge because I wanted to be a part of his telling you more
of his story. Rufus’ words on the healing of cancer are inspirational
to all, no matter what the disease. In his words: For 20 years I prayed daily that God would provide a medical cure for cancer. On and on, praying without ceasing, until one day it came to me very clearly: “Stop bugging Me! Cancer is as much a spiritual disease as it is a physical one. Do what you can do to provide an answer for that.” That was a defining moment for me, and from that came my booklet Victory Over Cancer. From that moment on, my prayers were different, and I thanked God for what He was doing through the medical people, rather than prescribing a course of action for God to take with the medical people. I began to see the medical profession and the spiritual leaders, once worlds apart, as working together, hand in glove, helping God fulfill His will to heal His people. No where better was that summed up than in a quote from a distinguished physician who headed up a fine medical center: “If medical doctors treating people where there is no medical answer are not recommending their patients attend healing services, they should be sued for malpractice!” That is strong faith, indeed! In listening to what was laid upon my heart, I had let the Great Physician do the diagnosing, and what was opened up for me to see all around me were brilliant examples of Jesus’ healing power at work. One example of this was the case of Dr. Louise Clark. Dr. Clark was a medical physician and a member of the Richmond OSL Chapter who spoke at the 1986 International OSL meeting in Richmond. Several years prior to this, she was found to have a cancerous tumor in her lung. Her response was to use the powerful spiritual therapy of visualization with thanksgiving. She used the x-ray equipment in her own office to see what was taking place in her lungs. For three months, she prayed with hope and expectation, centering on the person of Jesus. Several times throughout the day she would pray, “Thank You, God, for shrinking the tumor.” Often she would repeat it over and over again as she prayed. As she prayed with the spiritual eye of faith focused on Jesus, she would see in her mind the tumor shrinking and dissolving. For three long months she continued without seeing physical results, but in the fourth month the tumor started shrinking! The fifth month showed even better results, and by the ninth month, praying all the while, the tumor was gone and she was completely healed. The spiritual therapy of visualization and thanksgiving can fortify and accelerate the medical procedures. By the grace of God, healing of cancer and all diseases
is taking place each and every day. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
is big enough, strong enough, loving enough and powerful enough to
make us whole and happy, well and useful, for He who dwells within
us is stronger than any of the evil forces of the world! *The International Order of St. Luke the Physician is an interdenominational Christian fellowship dedicated to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. We pray as Jesus taught in the Gospels and in His name, with and for all who suffer in body, mind or spirit. It is also our desire and mission to spread this Good News to all who will listen. The Rev. Rufus J. Womble, D.D., is chaplain of the Richmond Chapter, OSL. Elizabeth Steele Forman is convener. The Rev. Rufus Womble’s books, including Wilt Thou Be Made Whole? and Victory Over Cancer are available through the OSL Resource Center. The Richmond Chapter may be contacted at oslrichmond@verizon.net and has a website at: http://www.oslrichmond.org
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