How many of you have prayed with the Laying on of hands?
Occasionally? Frequently?

How many of you have received prayer with the Laying on of hands?
Occasionally? Frequently?

Please share your learnings as we go along.
Please share your questions.

The Power of Touch:

• Mother Theresa - in Beruit Hospital - video
• Babies in hospital
• Studies on Monkeys
• Kirlian Photography of LOH revealing energy field or aura - video, photo
• Secular studies: Dolores Krieger: Therapeutic Touch. Studies show touch itself affects blood components, brain waves and generalized relaxation.
• Visits in nursing home
• Our own experiences of not being touched

Touch channels more than human power:

The Bible and The Healing Power of Touch:

Touch and Raising the Dead: I Kings 17:21 Then he [Elijah] stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!" 22 The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived.

II Kings 4:34 Then he got on the bed and lay upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out upon him, the boy's body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out upon him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

Touch brings healing:

Matthew 8:3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.

Peter's mother-in-law: Matthew 8:15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

Matthew 9:20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." 22 Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you."

Raising the ruler's dead daughter: Matthew 9:25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

Matthew 9:29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you";30 and their sight was restored....

Matthew 14:35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

Healing the disciples' fear: Matthew 17:7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid."

Matthew 20:34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Mark 3:10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. //Luke 6:19

Mark 6:5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

Mark 7:32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue...35 At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

Mark 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
Mark 10:13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them...16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. //Mt. 19:13

From the risen Christ: Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues...18c they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Luke 4:40 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

Luke 6:19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. //Mk. 3:10

A woman who had been crippled for 18 years: Luke 13:13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

The high priest's servant whose ear was severed: Luke 22:51 But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

John 9:6 Having said this, he [Jesus] spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam..." So the man went and washed and came home seeing.

Acts 3:7 Taking him by the right hand, he [Peter] helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.

Acts 9:41 He [Peter] took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.

Acts 28:8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.

Practicalities:

a way to stay in prayer connection beyond words
a channel of God's love and power

Experiences of pray-er: What have been your experiences when praying with LOH? e.g. warmth, tingle, nothing, energy

Experiences of Prayer Recipient: What have been your experiences when praying with LOH? e.g. warmth, tingle, nothing, energy
In Inner Healing: ask for feedback along the way ( I do a one hour workshop on Inner healing)
Physical Healing: pray for a short time, watching them, and stop. Invite feedback from person receiving prayer.
Role of the Holy Spirit in prayer: importance of baptism - in-filling - inviting the Spirit to fill and flow through you. "My cup runneth over..."

Inviting friends/family members to lay on hands and pray with you, and on their own: Mother and son's hearing.

Accompanying Resources:

Spoken Prayer:

• gentle or commanding, following Jesus' model in Gethsemane, Guided imagery for person receiving.
• Workshop on Guided Imagery.
• Singing - Music

Gifts of the Holy Spirit:

• Praying and or singing in the Holy Spirit
• Prophetic Words
• Wisdom - from scripture
• Visions: of people praying

Soaking Prayer over time: you may be lead to explore a variety of needs:

• Confession- Forgiveness
• Generational healing
• Binding - Deliverance
• Soaking with Love
• Command prayers
• Ongoing re-vitalizing of the person in need

  Benefit of a group

• Companions to listen and pray with and for you.
• Charge - recharge for pray-er
• Different Gifts.
• Many hands make powerful work - focused energy of several channels to God
• Teams to pray with a person in an extended healing

How long?

• Soaking Option.
• Jesus's teaching: keep on praying - not one pill, gradually guiding

Results:

• Love
• Physical Healing (partial or complete or waiting or no.)
• Spiritual Healing
• Eternal Healing
• Deliverance

Experiences:

• A range of ways to touch. Be sensitive to your own feelings and open to the Spirit's leading
• A warm, caring handshake. What was it like?
• Hold hands: WOW Prayer
• Lay on hands
• Group hug

Concerns regarding touch:

• cold hands esp in winter or tension
• formal-informal - ritual setting may help or hinder
• our own anxiety re: touching
  • (What messages did you receive about touching as your grew up? E.g. touch is sexual.)
  • (What messages do you receive now?
  • (What mesages do you want to give yourself?
• Key element Awareness of self & peace
• Key element: Ask permission. Do you want to hold my hand while we pray? Would you like me/us to lay hands on you and pray?
• Pray with one or more partners.
• Be gentle.
• Ask feedback - positive and negative. (Canker sores)

A Few Highly Recommended Books:

The basic text about healing:

• MacNutt, Francis. Healing. Ecumenical Edition. $7.95
• MacNutt, Francis. Power to Heal. $7.95

An easy way to begin praying with others:

• Mac Nutt, Francis. The Prayer the Heals. $4.95

A basic guide to healing personal wounded memories:

• Linn, Dennis & Matthew. Healing Life's Hurts. $6.95

To explore healing in your church:

• Wagner, C. Peter. How to Have a Healing Ministry without Making Your Church Sick. $8.95