5 Step Prayer Model: Class Notes Model is based on Jesus method of praying for the sick. Each step answers the questions: 1. What is the condition? 2. What is the cause? 3. How should I pray for them? The Steps Introduce yourself and ask their name. Use their name when praying and talking to them Step 1 The Interview A. Ask Them What They Would Like Prayer For. The law and the prophets were until John, since then the Kingdom of God has been preached and everyone is pressing in. Luke 16:16 Our Response Hi, I m. What s your name? What is the condition? What s going on? Draw them out gently. They may start weeping from hearing a word of kindness. This is a soft power encounter. This answers the question, Where does it hurt? or What is the problem? There may be more than one thing. Listen to their answer on 2 levels; The natural and the supernatural A brief overview is all that is necessary. B. Repeat What They Said Try to be exact. It is Okay to Ask Brief Questions If Necessary. May be weeping Not always a cry of brokenness, shame or repentance. More often weeping is due to the power of words of love spoken INTO them. (Steve Sjogren, Vineyard Pastor, Author of How Kindness Conquers Spiritual Darkness ) C. Explain How You Are Going To Pray and Ask For Their Permission. They need to feel loved and safe. Some may be getting prayer for the first time and be amazed at the intimacy we experience with God and power of the Holy Spirit. Blessed are the poor in spirit for their s is the Kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5 This is not a medical interview in which we probe for technical details. The Holy Spirit is the doctor and the cure. So you re concerned about (for)... or You re feeling you would like God to. Have you had prayer for this before? Here is the way I would like to pray I ll ask for the Holy Spirits presence and guidance. We might wait awhile for that. I ll pray about your concern or illness I ll ask God to talk to you about this and you may get a thought, a picture, a verse or a sense of something. Is it okay to pray for you like this? If not, ask them how they would like you to pray. Jesus is drawn by the broken hearted. Basic truths about repentance, forgiveness and healing prayer may be new to them. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5 Words of kindness, encouragement and hope. Pg 1 One of life s greatest paradoxes is that it s in the crucible of pain & suffering that we become tender. Brennan Manning. The sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the Lord that sustains the weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to listen as one being taught. Isa. 50:4
Step 2 The Diagnostic Decision Identifying And Clarifying The Root Of Their Problem. A. Invite the Holy Spirit Wait and watch the person. They need to feel His love and emotional devotion to them. B. Pray with your eyes open. Look and listen for the Spirits presence. Worship, prayer and fasting is what positions us in a place of humility & weakness. If we are called to reveal Him, then revealing His power is essential. 1Corn 4:20, For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power It is okay to ask them what they are feeling or if they sense His presence. It is okay to ask for an increase of the Holy Spirit. Best to wait and see if God speaks to them first. Beholding & Becoming principle: As we behold God s heart; His affections & love toward us, He then transforms our own heart to become affectionate back towards Him. This answers the question, Why does this person have this condition? This crucial step determines the type of prayer needed. Lord, we invite your Holy Spirit to come and touch (name) and surround them with your loving presence. Come Holy Spirit, show us how to pray as we wait on you Show us any physical, emotional, social or demonic influences that inhibit Your life in (name) God may give insight and prayer direction, through words of knowledge, words of wisdom and distinguishing of spirits. I Corn 14:25 the secrets of his heart are revealed: so falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. Rom 8:26 so too the [Holy] spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what payer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads on our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts: but especially that you might prophesy. 1 Corn 14:1 If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. Immediately the Father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Mark 9:23-24 May see a picture (e.g. darkness on their heart, unhealthy relationships, sexual sin, sickness, etc.) May hear a thought from their spirit or the Holy Spirit. May be impressed to speak insight of Holy Spirit You know what this is what I believe the Lord is showing me and from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers (allows or gives permission to) violence, and the violent take it by force. Matt 11:12 Pg 2
Step 3 The Prayer Selection The key to answered prayers come from God having already touched our spirits: It is agreement with God and praying His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. A. Prayers of Agreement: If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. Matt 18:19-20 Prayer Directed Toward God: Answers the question, What kind of prayer is needed to help this person? Ask for wisdom, discernment and healing as you pray with you mind and your spirit. I Cor. 14:14-15, My spirit prays but my understanding is unfruitful what shall I do then? I will pray with the Spirit & I will also pray with understanding. Word of Prayer From God: Feeling of confidence and the power of God rise in our heart and release it through our speech. A Prayer of Rebuke Over Evil Spirits: An authoritative word that breaks the power of demonic influence. Luke 9:1 He gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. Lord, I know you want to heal this person. Please show us how to pray. The disciples were able to move out in healing and deliverance ministry, not because of what they had learned or attained but because of the proximity of their relationship to Jesus. Bob Sorge Lord, we bring this before You and ask for guidance I break the power of this condition in Jesus name. A word of pronouncement: instead of speaking to the condition, announce that a condition or healing is accomplished. e.g. Jesus spoke, You deaf and mute spirit..i command you, come out of him and never enter him again. Mark 9:25 B. Watch What the Father is Doing and Then Believing Him to Fulfill it. the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do, for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. John 5:19 Jesus took a risk by giving these immature disciples power & authority. Therefore, I should risk believing & begin using it. Our goal is to pour God s love into them and ask the Holy Spirit to heal and release them. Pg 3
Step 4 The Prayer Engagement A. Pray For What You See and Hear: Allow God to speak or show them something personal. Ask God to talk to the person while they listen. Take time to ask questions that may indicate the root of their problem. Trace the fruit to the root. Follow the prayer focus established by the Holy Spirit and other s if praying in teams. Begin your prayer where the last person stopped B. Fundamental To Prayer Ministry: Learn to recognize the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Shaking (Gen 42:28, Ex 19:16, Ezra 9:4, Ps 2:11, Ps 119:120). Gentle shaking usually empowering of Holy Spirit for ministry; sense of joy & peace vrs. anxiety. (I Cor 2:3, 2Cor 7:15, Phil 2:12, Heb 12:21). trembling (Isa 66:5, Jer. 5:22, Dan. 10:10, Mat 28:4, Mark 5:33, Luke 8:47, Acts 7:32, 16:29, I Cor. 2:3, 2 Cor. 7:15, Phil 2:12, Heb 12:21 falling (Falling over under the power of God. e.g. Daniel (Dan 8:17, 10:8-9), Paul (Acts 9:4), Soldiers @ Jesus arrest (Jn 18:6), John @ Island of Patmos (Rev 1:17), Ezekiel experiencing the glory of God (Ezek. 1:28, 3:23) weeping, (Hannah wept as she was praying for a child (Samuel) (1 Sam 1:12-17). Eli the priest; thought she was drunk. perspiring, sighing deep breathing, laughing, Laughing & sobbing may indicate the need for emotional healing. In some cases they are the emotional response to experiencing God s holiness (sobbing) or grace (laughter) in a new way. Abraham (Gen 17:17), Sarah (Gen 21:6), Israel (Neh. 8:9), even in laughter the heart may ache. Prov. 14:13 extended times of praise, Healed paralytic (Luke 5:25), the beggar (Acts 3:8), Samaritan healed of leprosy (Luke 17:15). David danced before the Lord and his wife (Saul s daughter) despised him. (2 Sam 6) fluttering eye lids, weight on their chest, etc. The work of the Holy Spirit is more internal than external: He is more concerned with heart attitudes than outward appearances. This answers the question, How effective are our prayers? Usually best to pray with a clearly defined leader. Place hand on their shoulder for their comfort or over the afflicted area that needs healing. Respectful of boundaries. Listening is vital to not only intimacy but to feeling a sense of destiny & releasing the grace that sets people free. Holy Spirit, I invite you to come on this person and release your healing power, or just, Come Holy Spirit and wait. Is God showing you anything? It is okay to ask for clarity if there seems to be a lack of direction. God, is there something blocking their ability to hear? Person may or may not be responding to the Holy Spirit because of: fear, joy, conviction of sin, repentance, peace, demonization, empowering for ministry, sense of calm, etc. Fill the void of fear, rejection or despair with His love. Honor what God is doing and He will do more. Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to pour His life out on the person. Do you feel anything now?... a warmth or tingling? Is God saying anything to you? Continue to pray for them. Pg 4
C. Four Areas for Prayer Focus The spirit: Most spiritual problems are caused by unconfessed sin and unbelief 2 Cor 10:4, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, Strongholds those thoughts that defend the enemy begins with repentance. The effect of past hurts: Emotional damage from either personal sin or being sinned against. Most of our hurts are a result of a breakdown in Love. The physical body: Lay hands on or near the affected area of the body. Demonization: Deliverance is best if done in a private setting. Luke 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. Strength of Attachment Scale: ( 1 2 3) ( 4 5 6 7) ( 8 9 10) Weak: 1-3 Harassment Medium: 4-7 Medium Strong: 8-10 Demonized It appears that the key to bringing down powers and principalities may be more closely linked to releasing people into ministry. John Wimber Prayers may vary depending on the need: intercessory, words of command or pronouncement, or their own prayer. Okay to speak to the condition in Jesus name. If sin is an issue, ask them to agree with God about their sin. Lead them in a prayer of forgiveness and break any emotional ties to the offender. Break power of alcoholism, cult or leader abuse, former unhealthy relationships, soul ties, etc. Jesus told us to preach the Kingdom of God, he also commanded them to heal the sick, cleanse the leper & cast out demons.he wants us to do all of it. Pray as a team with a clearly defined leader. Deal with root issues and past hurts first. Identify, silence, cast out and then fill with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit imparts a holy affection whose power rivals the power of sin. His affection motivates forgiveness toward those that have hurt us; by breaking bitterness and resentment. As God awakens our hearts to greater intimacy, we begin to see the captives set free. He wants us to know the deep affections He was for us so we can minister healing to the wounded & broken. Keys to Freedom for the sick & oppressed: 1. Repentance= Confess sympathetic thoughts toward evil. Break our hearts with the things that break yours. When we know that He loves us, we have a greater assurance that He wants to heal us. 2. Deliverance= Displacement. Deliverance is God s judgment against anything that hinders love. James 4:7 3. Healing= Much sickness can be traced back to an emotional breakdown in love father issues. We need a greater experience of the power of love to receive significant healing. Pg 5
Step 5 The Post-Prayer Directions A. What Should the Person Do if They Are Not Healed? The Already but not yet 2 different stages. This answers the question, What should this person do to remain healed? Assure them of God s pure love and His devotion toward them. Encourage them to seek more prayer. Matt 12:28, But if I cast out demons by the spirit of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 1 st Coming: Defeated enemy at the Cross, Sin & death judged 2 nd Coming: Destroy enemies of God ( sickness and death) The Kingdom has already come in the way of salvation, rule and reign over elements of darkness, allows for voluntary love. Healing is a part. The Kingdom is still yet to come when God s total sovereignty will be established...the overcoming of death is the mission of His life. Sin and death are removed to the Lake of Fire.. B. Final Blessing and Release God s Goodness on Them. Example: D-Day at Normandy guaranteed our victory. However, final victory did not come until V-E Day some time later one of the biggest battles (Bulge) was yet to be fought. Command His goodness to come forth. e.g. David commanded his own soul, Bless the Lord, oh my soul. C. Practical Direction: For Additional Ministry Needs Try to avoid the opportunity to lecture, preach or correct out of our own wisdom. If sin was part of their problem. We need to feed our spirit on God s love & be filled with a bold Holy love without shame Follow-up The church is going thru a transition & eventually we will be known as Christians by our Love. Depending on the circumstances: Direct them to a Life Group, Overseer, Healing Prayer Team or soaking prayer. Sin is not overcome by condemning; we overcome sin by falling in love and it is the fruit of our fascination with Him. Okay to recommend reading scripture, prayer, counseling, small group, healing prayer, etc. If appropriate, reach out to them at church or small group. Pg 6 5 Step Prayer Model-Class Notes