CONCERT OF PRAYER DIVINE HEALING. OPENING (20 Minutes) Welcome and Prayer Opening Worship Offering. (Optional) Explanation of the Concert of Prayer

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1 CONCERT OF PRAYER DIVINE HEALING OPENING (20 Minutes) Welcome and Prayer Opening Worship Offering (Optional) Explanation of the Concert of Prayer PRESENTER: This service will be a bit out of the ordinary, as we celebrate a concert of prayer. Concerts of prayer can involve a variety of elements, including Scripture readings, songs, testimonies, poetry, and, of course, prayer. As an interactive worship service, we will all have opportunity to share in unison Scripture readings, songs, and prayers. Various people, pastors and laypeople alike, can lead segments of the concert. This concert of prayer focuses on the supernatural work of divine healing among those in our congregation. As the need for healing among us is kept in focus through sincere and passionate prayer, we will believe for the miraculous to take place in our midst today and in the days to come. SETTING THE STAGE PRESENTER: Sickness, injury, pain, suffering whether these needs occur in the physical or emotional realm, they are not easy to talk about, and very unpleasant to experience. Yet, as human beings, we face these issues every day. It s part of the human condition. And, yes, even strong, mature Christians struggle with the vulnerabilities of being human. Since the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden, every human being has had to deal with the imperfections of the physical world, leaving them subject to weakness, pain, and, eventually, death. No one is exempt; no one is immune. We are all, as Scripture describes us, jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). These struggles of life would seem pretty dismal were it not for a wonderful provision called divine healing that God made available to those who walk with Him. Divine healing is a clear, powerful reality. Yet understanding how it all works isn t always simple. There are complex issues that apply: God s sovereignty, personal faith, stewardship of the body, and more. We also face questions like, Why do good people have to suffer? ; Why doesn t God heal everyone who prays for healing? ; Why does healing happen instantly for some people while others wait for weeks, months, or even years before they re healed? The really hard question is: Why doesn t healing ever come to some people who pray for it for years and years?

2 There are no easy answers. However, the prophet Isaiah looked ahead to the fulfillment of an incredible promise through the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Yet that promise also foreshadowed the unthinkable suffering our Lord would endure on our behalf [ppt] UNISON CONGREGATIONAL READING: He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5, NIV). [ppt] GOD DOES HEAL (25 MINUTES) Testimonies throughout history and in our present day confirm the reality that divine healing is an undeniable provision by the One who declares this promise: [ppt] I am the LORD, who heals you (Exodus 15:26, NIV). [ppt] WORSHIP LEADER: Congregational Song (suggested) [congregation stand]: Song Suggestions: Healer; I am the God that Healeth Thee; Enough PRESENTER: Much of Jesus earthly ministry was devoted to healing people who were sick in body, mind, or spirit. Numerous passages in the Gospels bear this out. Please read the passages in unison as directed. CONGREGATIONAL READING (alternate unison/women/men) [ppt] [UNISON] Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. [WOMEN] News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them (Matt. 4:23,24, NIV). [MEN] Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness (Matthew 9:35, NIV). [UNISON] When Jesus saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick (Matthew 14:14, NIV). [WOMEN] 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 4:40, NIV). [MEN] This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases (Matthew 8:17, NIV). [UNISON] We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15, NIV).

3 PRESENTER: Let s pray together. O Lord, we praise and thank You for Your compassion toward us! We re thankful that as You walked this earth many years ago, Your heart was moved by those who needed deliverance from physical, emotional, and spiritual sickness. You extended to them love, mercy, and compassion, and ministered to them at the point of their need. May we forever be grateful for Your loving grace in times of greatest need. Amen. INDIVIDUAL SCRIPTURE READINGS: PRESENTER 1 John 4:46-53: There was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, Jesus told him, you will never believe. The royal official said, Sir, come down before my child dies. Jesus replied, You may go. You son will live. The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour. Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, You son will live. So he and all his household believed (NIV). PRESENTER 2 Luke 7:20-22: When the men came to Jesus, they said, John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else? At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor (NIV). [ppt] WORSHIP LEADER: Congregational Choruses (suggested) [congregation stand]: Song Suggestions: What a Healing Jesus; A Healing Stream; Healing in Your Wings CORPORATE PRAYER RESPONSE [UNISON, Ppt] O, Lord God, we praise You this day for Your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank You that Your Son came to this world to give His life not only as atonement for our sin, but for our healing. Your Word declares that by His wounds we have been healed. Thank You, O God, for Your provision for our healing. Thank You for the times You have intervened in our lives. Thank You for the times You have ministered healing to those dear to us. O God, help us to believe today for Your healing to be extended to us corporately and individually as we seek Your help. We acknowledge Your lordship, Your sovereignty, and our great need for Your healing intervention. We place our faith in You now, and we thank You in advance for Your healing grace upon us. Amen. [ppt] GOD HAS HEALED (25 MINUTES) [ppt] Testimonies of Healing Suggestion: Generally speaking, it is suggested to limit testimonies to 2 or 3 in number, and asking the speaker to stay within a 5- to 10-minute time frame.

4 PRESENTER: When Jesus had almost completed His earthy ministry, filled with teaching and demonstrations of healing power, He announced to His disciples that He would be returning to the Father. But, in that announcement, He gave them this powerful assurance in John 14:12-14: I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. After Jesus had returned to heaven, and after the Day of Pentecost brought the gift of the Spirit, Acts 3:1-8 tell us that [Ppt] One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer-at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, Look at us! So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God (NIV). Two chapters later, in Acts 5:12,14-16, we read. [Ppt] The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed. James 5:13-16 present these well-known words of instruction [Ppt] Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. [ppt] GOD WILL HEAL (20 MINUTES, EXTENDING INTO ALTAR TIME) So, today we come with faith in our hearts because, as Romans 10:17 declares: [Ppt] Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (KJV). We have heard the promises about and examples of healing from Scripture, so now, as our faith is increased, we approach God boldly and with expectation to receive His healing touch.

5 PRESENTER: ALTAR RESPONSE: Invite people to come forward to pray with altar workers prepared with anointing oil. [ppt] WORSHIP LEADER: Congregational Choruses (suggested) [congregation stand]: Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in This Place; Just One Touch; How Great Is Our God