Prayer, Fasting, and Healing.

[YosefHayim]

Lately I've been upset with seeing my mother in poor health. Since I was in kindergarten/1st grade, my mother had hurt her back and has had to use a cane. She has herniated disks, and it's one thing after another. Gastroparesis, Arthritis, Gastritis, Mitrovalve Regurgitation, and more. She has a list of medical issues and medicines. Lately she has seemed depressed. She sits in her chair all day long, watches TV, and sleeps a lot.



So anyway, lately I've been thinking of fasting for her. Then I also got the thought of fasting for her, and laying hands on her and praying.

Mark 9:29
And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

But then I was wondering if this is even biblical. I mean I know fasting is, prayer is, and laying of hands. But I'm wondering if that's like an "necessary ritual" or something.



There are many verses encouraging seeking, desiring, and using the gifts of the Spirit to bring glory to God and make his name known. But at the same time people think these things are not for our time.

And if these things are possible, how should these gifts be initiated, used properly, and so forth? Some verses say to anoint the person with oil if they are sick, but do they have to be "anointed with oil"?



1 Corinthians 14:1
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy

James 5:13-16
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Mark 16:16-18
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

1 Corinthians 12:1-12
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.



And then among all these verses what does this particular verse mean?

Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I've always read it as people who trust in works rather than trusting in Christ would not enter heaven. And now I'm wondering if it has anything to do with trusting in gifts of the Spirit to be saved.



So right now I'm wondering if God's putting something on my heart.

But at the same time, I don't want to do this and then have pride get in the way, or fail to bring glory to God in doing so. And at the same time, I don't want it to not work, which would show a weakness of faith.



And then the other thing I'm wondering is if it matters whether or not you are water baptized in order to do things.


Shalom

 

[Sparkey]

Those are many and myriad thoughts you have on this. May I offer a thought in reply?

We are to love God more than we love His Gifts. This is a heart matter and if there comes a time when those who have gifts from God put them before Him we may also trust Him to throw down all false gods that we secretly harbor in our hearts. But do take notice that I am not saying this of you. Not one bit.

May we seek the Lord with our whole heart and act according to His will? Certainly. Will there come a time when even prophecy fails? Love shall never fail. What of the worry that we have by the implication of his statement, "Depart from me, I do not know you."

This too is something that may be disturbing to the thoughtful Christian who seeks to follow Him. Add to this the implication, "Know you that God is one? The demons also believe and tremble." It seems to me that there will come those who are indeed powerful and able to work many wonders. They may be deceived. But the elect, those chosen, shall not be deceived because God will intervene. He will prevent. We are small, subject to angelic forces and should not lift ourselves and speak of things that we do not understand as if we are something that we are not. But what are we? Are we not followers of The Christ? May we not go where He leads us without fear? I believe we may and that our secret thoughts and potential fears may be brought out into the light so that they too may be brought into subjection to the King of kings.

It is my hope that this reply helps you focus on the calling that the Lord is placing onto your heart, not only for your mother but also for others. What did Solomon ask for? That he might serve those whom the Lord loves. Right? I do not believe in formula faith. Instead it is the trust that God is good and able to hear and respond to our hearts that is marvelous in my sight. "Who is man, that You should consider him?" We are His, to do with as He please.

 

[Ryan]

Fasting is throughout the entire scriptures, and fasting on the account for others is biblical.

Ezra 8:21<SUP class=versenum> </SUP>Then I proclaimed <SUP class=crossreference value='(B)'></SUP>a fast there at <SUP class=crossreference value='(C)'></SUP>the river of Ahava, that we might <SUP class=crossreference value='(D)'></SUP>humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.

Just last week, I had an inclination to fast and pray, but I suppressed it and didn't heed Spirit's call. Nonetheless, my dad called me on Thursday and explained some significant and difficult challenges had come up, and he had been fasting the last couple days. To say I felt foolish in hindsight is an understatement. If you are being lead to fast, it's for a purpose, and God will reveal to you what that purpose is through fasting and prayer. Read Acts, and they were all dedicating themselves to fasting and praying. It's as much for today as it was for yesterday.

There are a couple of books I am reading now about being spiritually sensitive and for intercessors. Maybe the Lord has called you to be an intercessor at this time.

In regards to baptism, you can intercede for others just as much as the next believer. We all have access to the Throne Room through Yeshua.