He was lying down on his hospital bed, looking frail and despondent. The doctor told his wife that there was really nothing much they can do now after removing the tumor, chemotherapy wasn’t a solution either since his frail health could not take the beating.
As I entered into the hospital ward, I greeted my Indonesian friend, who has been my prayer partner for the sick each time she comes to Singapore.
This is the 3rd Cancer sufferer we have prayed for in 1.5 months, and the 5th one for me since I have started praying for the sick, and he is the 3rd one whose cancer has either shrunk substantially or disappeared after intercessory prayers, and is on his way to recovery.
The Cancer story is a familiar one, most of us have knew someone personally who have suffered from it;
The person has cancer in a specific area in their body. There is surgery, weeks and weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. During treatment, the cancer shrinks and disappears.
Then after some time, and after experiencing some pain and tests, the person find out that the cancer has returned. But this time it is in their liver, their lungs, their blood etc. They go through more rounds of chemo and radiation, but the cancer cannot be stopped. Eventually a difficult battle over a course of few months – few years, they die.
Why do we get cancer patients? There are national statistics to show that Cancer is the no.1 killer in Singapore, where 14 people on an average die from cancer everyday.
Chemotherapy kills more than just cancer, as most of the time, the patient is left in a vunerable state with a compromised immune system, with little defences left to prevent any other cancer cells from reproducing.
So amongst the cancer sufferers that I have been called to pray for, more than half of them turn to prayer when there is no other choice, i.e., medical alternatives.
Praying for the Sick
I have a prayer partner locally whom I meet weekly for our prayer meetings and part of the mandate we have been given in our intercessory prayer ministry, is to lay hands and pray for the sick and burdened.
This have worked out to an average of one sick person to pray for a week, since God opened the doors for me to pray for the sick.
Late this year from September, I took on this new thing that God has been challenging me to do since May. I know fully well that I am just a vessel, and I am glad to surrender myself to be a conduit that He can use.
All I did really, was to avail myself to pray.
I am aware that there are many who do not believe in the power of God’s healing, some are even skeptical when they see the lame walk and the blind see in church services.
God still heals today.
But in the sea of conflicting voices on the issue of healing, there are many, even church leaders and teachers do not fully believe in healing for today.
Well, all I can say to this is, it is only when you have laid hands on prayed for a sick person and have witnessed the person fully healed from their illnesses, you will know that God is our healer, our Jehovah Rapha.
Rapha in Hebrew means ‘He (God) has healed’.
A Ministry?
One doesn’t need to be tied to a church to do able to do a ministry, or have to be a leader in a church to be able to do this.
The Pastors of the church that I am now attending are fully aware and supportive of what I do, and keeping them informed of this independent ministry provides me with accountability.
Kyle tags along for these hospital visits from time to time, and I feel there is nothing wrong with him meeting frail and sick strangers, and learning how to pray for them.
I don’t just pray for comfort for the person, I pray for the person to be fully healed in Jesus’ name.
Praying ‘in remote’ for healing is effective, but a more effective way is to be able to minister and to lay hands on the sick to pray for God’s healing. Sometimes all it takes is just one prayer, while other times, it takes more than one session of prayer.
I have found that some individuals have illnesses that can be likened metaphorically to onions :), as the ‘layers of infirmities need to be peeled off ‘ through more intercessory prayers.
Sounds radical?
If you have met me 2 months ago before I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (at home, with my mom as a witness, and not in a church btw), I would not even consider doing this. As it does take a certain kind of boldness to go and pray for strangers. I have learnt not be bothered with what people think of me, but be fully focused on what God thinks and what He wills for me to do.
So be it Cancer, any illness or ailment. As long as there is an open door for me, I will go to lay hands on the person and pray.
The Kingdom of God
Do I think of myself as some sort of healer? Definitely not. If you understand why Christians pray for the sick and how they are healed by God.
My belief and acceptance by faith of the work of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross, is just the first step of being a Christian. As Christians develop our spiritual walk with God, we are to take on this mandate to do the works of Christ. Which are to do the same things that He did while He was here on earth.
Which is to; minister the good news of Christ, and the power of Christ (the Holy Spirit in us) works through Christians who are fully surrender to God, to heal the sick, cast out demons (yes, I have done that too…smirk all you want :P) and even raise the dead (nope, haven’t tried yet).
‘…the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.’ – Matthew 10:7-8 NKJV
When Christians abide closely in Christ and step out and do what God has called us to do, the signs and wonders of Christ will begin to follow us.
So if anyone asks what I have been busy with lately, I would say that I am busy about my (Heavenly) Father’s business, being somewhat like an ‘Ambassor of Christ’, to bring reconciliation with this ministry of prayer and healing.
And yes, God works with the limitations I have as an ordinary mom of one. All I did was to avail myself.
My limitations have never been a factor to consider with God. As with my limits, He is able to show Himself strong, to be limitless.
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There are other ‘Ambassadors of Christ’ who are functioning in this ministry of healing, through this organization known as the Healing Rooms. A friend whom I exchange notes regularly serves with this ministry.
A good advice coming from this ‘veteran pray-er’ for healing and miracles, is that, to never stop laying hands and praying for God to heal, even if the person dies after praying for them (this can sometimes happen due to God’s sovereignty). As this ministry has never been about our abilities as ‘pray-ers’.
I am not part of the Healing Rooms ministry, as my family commitments at this point do not allow me to be serving at these Healing Rooms in the afternoons and evenings.
Nonetheless, I feel privileged to be sent whenever God opens the doors for me to pray for others.
