Prayer is misunderstood, misused, or not used at all. God has provided prayer as a great avenue for us to connect with Him. Through prayer we can release burdens to the Lord and through prayer we can receive blessings from God. Where is prayer best practiced in the church context?
“When we talk about the gifts of the Spirit, we tend to limit them to speaking in tongues and prophecy. But we must not forget that healings and miracles are also gifts of the Spirit.
In a congregation...it is increasingly difficult for the pastor to pray for all the sick. This is not because of the lack of willingness, but because it is increasingly difficult to devote adequate time to pray for a growing number of needs.
Yes, the pastor can pray for as many sick people as he wishes, but the Bible also says that we need to pray for one another (James 5:16). This is a duty that all believers should practice as part of their priestly role.
The best place to pray for each other is in the cell (small group). It is the place where people know each other intimately, can fully share what’s happening in their lives, and where emotional ties are established. Personal healing also takes place in this atmosphere as believers pray for one another.
In the larger celebration services, the pastor can make a general prayer for all the sick, even for those who are not present. But in the cell, each believer can confess faults to one another, place hands on the sick, and then pray for the gifts of healing. The cell is the ideal place for believers to serve each other through their spiritual gifts.”
Thanks Mario Vega for sharing this with us! I hope that each of us are connected to one of our small groups (cells) so that all of our prayer needs can be met!
Praying,
Jeff Powell
