Miracles

Ever felt that miracles can only happen at large events or in particular settings? Soul Survivor’s Jeannie Morgan insists that God can move in power wherever and whenever his people are expectant - even in your youth group

Have you been to a charismatic meeting where healing, salvation and miracles are happening all around you but later, in the cold light of day, you have questioned if this could ever happen in your own youth group?

Sometimes at a festival we experience the manifest presence of Jesus. As we are worshipping him for extended periods, we surrender ourselves and the Holy Spirit cannot stop himself coming upon us in power and revealing Jesus in such a tangible way that we are caught up in adoration. The atmosphere then changes. During this time the Holy Spirit releases power upon the congregation gathered, faith levels rise and we boldly step out of our comfort zone and start using the gifts of the Holy Spirit. After being in such a setting it can seem a million miles away from what our youth gathering is like. So how can we make ourselves more available for the Holy Spirit to move among us in our small groups? How can we see his gifts being received and used in our meetings?

The main difference between gathering with a large group of charismatics and the weekly gathering of the youth group is the sense of expectation. When we go somewhere else for a day or two, we go with a sense of expectation that something will happen out of the ordinary. We are focusing, worshipping and giving all of our attention to the Lord and expecting him to turn up and change our ordinary into the extraordinary.

In one way we can’t expect to duplicate the worship band, and the experience of gathering with thousands of people at a conference or festival when there may be only ten of us in our youth group! But in another way there is no difference… if we are hungry and expectant of seeing God move in power. He hasn’t changed. He is no different when we gather to worship him in our youth group as he is at a festival. He is also the same supernatural God as we see in the Bible. The Holy Spirit of the Bible is the same Holy Spirit that wants to come and empower our youth group on a weekly basis.

If you have been away with your youth group to a charismatic event, then the most important thing to do when you get back is to build on what has happened and use it as a launch pad for what the Lord wants to do in your group through all of you, not just the leaders. Before the momentum of what you experienced has faded, talk with your young people and explain that you want to go forward together, being open to the Holy Spirit and becoming naturally supernatural. Stress that you are all ‘learning’, including the leaders! Explain that this might mean that you make mistakes as you are learning, but as long as your heart is to glorify God it doesn’t matter. Ask if everyone is going to be onboard as you go on this adventure together. Try not to make it intense but see this time as a time of ‘practising’; asking the Lord to lead you all forward to an exciting time together. Also try not to have a sense of ‘success’ or ‘failure’. We can’t ‘work’ the Holy Spirit ‘up’; it’s not about trying harder. He comes down among us and makes Jesus real and draws us to him. Healing, miracles, salvation and gifts of the Holy Spirit are all possible by God’s grace. It is because of what Jesus did on the cross that all these things are possible for us to receive, as well as partner with the Holy Spirit as he is accomplishing these same things for others.

Rather than write a theoretical article I want to give some practical tips and pointers for engaging with the Holy Spirit and getting started with power ministry. Because of this, I have not gone overboard with verses from scripture - but please be assured that I come from a model of ministry that holds together both the ‘Word’ and the ‘Spirit’. 

Putting it into practice

There are different ways to build expectation in a youth group of seeing the Holy Spirit move in power. First of all there needs to be a sense of hunger for the Holy Spirit to bring the presence of Jesus. To seek his presence more than his presents! To engage in intimate sung worship at every gathering. It is good after a time of worship to count silently to ten waiting to see if the Holy Spirit wants to do something among you - remain open to his leading. This helps to practise being in the presence of Jesus. It is important for those leading to remain expectant, to persevere and press in. Know that it is by grace not by your ‘doing’. It is also important to be intentional, giving over control to the Holy Spirit and making space every week to ‘wait upon God’. The waiting time is important (the disciples waited in the upper room for the Holy Spirit) so don’t fill it with lots of talk or ‘mood music’ - the Holy Spirit doesn’t usually need that!

Interact with the Holy Spirit by often asking him what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. In this way you will grow used to his prompting. Be inclusive with everyone taking part and be prepared to look a fool for Christ’s sake when leading (1 Corinthians 4:10). Ask Jesus for his love and compassion to be released to minister to one another; without love we are just a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Alongside the worship, it would be good to do a series of short talks on the nature and character of the Holy Spirit, worship, gifts, grace, prophecy, power and authority and healing. After each talk invite the Holy Spirit to come among the group, call forward those who are experiencing the Holy Spirit or ask him to release words, pictures or revelation to the group. Encourage everyone to speak them out. Another time encourage everyone to ask the Holy Spirit to release his gifts (Luke 11:13). Each week build on what happened the week before. After a talk on healing ask the Holy Spirit to send the gift of words of knowledge of medical conditions or injuries that people in the room are suffering via words or pictures. Encourage everyone to speak them out. Teach that we can all be a channel or vessel for the Holy Spirit to use (Acts 2:17).

In all things try not to be intense; use humour as it relaxes everyone. Agree together as a group that it is ok for anyone to make a mistake as we are all learning. At some point take time for all Christians to receive power and authority in Jesus name (Luke 9:1-2).

Leading a time of waiting on God:

Speaking out loud, ask the Lord for more of his power (there is always more). The Holy Spirit usually comes in waves of power - be aware of that. Encourage everyone to keep receiving – even if they are not ‘feeling’ anything. When we ask the Holy Spirit to come among us he always does. He might not do what we ask or plan in advance but he always wants to do something.

Wait for a while, and then wait a bit longer, until it feels uncomfortable! Don’t be afraid of wating! Often, the longer we wait, the more the Holy Spirit does. Ask if anyone is sensing anything different to usual – warm or heat on any part of their body, peace inside or any other sensation. Ask these young people to come forward as you just want to lay hands on to ask the Lord to increase what he is doing. You may have to ask more than once, everyone is waiting for someone else to be first! It may be that the Holy Spirit tells you specifically what he is doing – respond by speaking that out.

Keep asking the Holy Spirit (silently) what he is doing or what he wants to do. Keep reassuring everyone that you are just letting God do what he wants to do. Keep it relaxed and normal.

Praying for physical healing:

Jesus spoke healing into the lives of those he was around. He told ears to ‘be open’ and the man could speak and hear (Mark 7:31-37). He rebuked the fever in Simon’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39). He spoke to the man with the withered hand – ‘stretch out your hand’ and it was immediately healed (Mathew 12:13). Mark 16 says, ‘And these signs will accompany those who believe…they will place their hands on people who are ill, and they will get well.’ Following Jesus’ example of ‘speaking’ healing here is a way you can introduce praying for sick or injured people. Sometimes physical healing also involves emotional healing, forgiveness or deliverance.

1. Invite anyone with any medical condition, physical pain or immobility to come forward for prayer. Encourage two young people to lay hands on each person (same gender). Explain that healing is a process; it’s heal..ing. A miracle is instant. Sometimes we pray for healing but expect an instant miracle and then feel disappointed. Healing can occur some time later or may take more than one time of praying. Explain that it is not our responsibility that people get healed, we are just being obedient to the command of Jesus (Mathew 10:8).

2. Ask the person with the physical problem to tell you on scale of one to ten (ten being the highest) the level of their pain. If appropriate ask on the scale of one to ten their level of mobility. Invite the Holy Spirit to come upon the person with power – keep your eyes open as we can only ‘do what we see the Father doing’ (John 5:19). Wait, and expect. Declare out loud: ‘Jesus I know you heal people today.’

3. With the person’s permission place your hand on the part of their body that is afflicted or injured (or ask the person to put their hand there and then place yours on the top). Out loud say: ‘With the power and authority given to me by Jesus Christ (Luke 9:1) I speak to this (name the limb, organ or ailment) in the name of Jesus and tell it to be healed.’ If appropriate speak out loud to the blood supply, hormones, tendons, muscles, ligaments or whatever else may be appropriate, in the name of Jesus and command it to be healed. If the person has pain, speak to the pain and say: ‘In Jesus’ name I command this pain to stop it and lift off.’ (We don’t have to shout but we need to tell the pain firmly to ‘stop’ and/or ‘lift off’.)

4. Stop and ask the person how he or she would reckon to the number of his or her mobility on the scale of one to ten. Then ask what number on a scale of one to ten their pain now is.

5. If appropriate repeat all of the above as many times as is needed, as you hear and see healing take place. Don’t forget to ask the person you are praying for each time the number on the scale of improvement. This builds faith for everyone! Sometimes it takes a few times of laying hands on. When appropriate ask the person to move any damaged part of their body to see if things are working any better.

6. Give Jesus the glory for any healing that has taken place.

During this time remember to be open to any words of prophecy or revelation from the Holy Spirit. Encourage the young people to ask for help from a leader if they feel out of their depth – if the pain becomes worse or moves around the body it may be that some inner healing, forgiveness or deliverance needs to take place. Sometimes the person may feel heat or coldness in their body or have clicks in their limbs, neck or spine etc. as recovery is taking place. If someone has been partially healed, encourage them to receive prayer again at a later date, and explain that sometimes the healing may continue throughout the next minutes, hours or days. Never tell anyone that they haven’t enough faith, that they have an evil spirit or that they have been healed. Encourage the person to visit their doctor before coming off any medication, and then only at their doctor’s direction.

The more people you pray for the more you will see happening. The more you practise the more you will see and expect. In all things always give Jesus the glory.