Here is another preview of a breakout session from our upcoming conference in NYC during which Laurel Marr and Ben DeHart will be discussing the cross and healing prayer. Join us April 14-16!
Healing prayer ministries in the church today are centered on theologies of glory – beliefs that faith, positive thinking, and works are needed for personal empowerment or to alleviate sickness or poverty. Where do we turn when this isn’t working?
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly, I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22-24)
Have we missed the real power of prayer because of insufficient faith? The promise of God’s healing power to be released if we just rally our faith never works. The good news is that we don’t have to count on our own offerings of faith to receive God’s blessings–even healing. God does not grant any favors for prosperity ministries that proclaim law-based methods will secure more blessings for those who can live within their rigidity.
What is faith anyways? How do we find healing? We don’t find it; it finds us.
The Gospel pronounces that we are already forgiven and our justification ends conditional thinking and the language of the law. God commands us to believe and He creates faith in our hearts as he covers us with the His own righteousness. It is a condition, not a choice; a gift, not an offer. This saving faith is a result of His choice and His commitment to us, not ours to Him.
“For by grace you have been saved by faith. And it is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, no a result of works so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Perhaps offerings of faith for healing miracles should be considered works, and we don’t have anything God needs or wants. Faith flows from His will and work, not ours. It is time to bring healing prayer ministries to be centered on the Theology of the Cross – where the cross of Christ is the heartbeat of our faith.
Pre-register today!
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One response to “Recovering the Cross in Healing Prayer Ministry: A Conference Breakout Preview”
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Oh, how I WISH I could attend the conference in NYC, and attend this breakout session!!
I’ve heard, and watched, too many ‘healing ministries’ on TV, that pressure hurting or sick believers to ‘conjure up enough faith’ for healing. Worse yet: those who put pressure on these same people to ‘send a seed offering’ for healing. It’s heartbreaking.
Thank you for saying that healing begins with the Theology of the Cross.