In Luke 4, we see that Jesus began His earthly ministry by reading from Isaiah 61.
“ 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:17-19 NKJV
Each of the religious scholars of Jesus's time would have realized this passage was speaking of the promised Messiah and that a crucial part of the Messiah’s mission on Earth was to heal the broken and emotionally wounded places in the hearts of believers. This wounding and brokenness often led to the very captivity that the prophet Isaiah spoke of in Isaiah 61.
A principal factor in Scripture is that God speaks to His children when we deliberately take the time to listen to Him. As He speaks to us, we experience the supernatural and personal nature of His heart towards us. Jesus in John 10:27-28 NKJV, says “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” As God speaks to us, we recognize His voice, and this becomes the basis by which we develop a deeper relationship with Him.
Furthermore, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the resurrection of Jesus opened up an entirely new reality, in that the Spirit of God lives in all the sons and daughters of God and He causes us to have full access to the deep things of God, by learning the mind of Christ. (John 16:12-14; 1 Corinthians 2:16)
Proverbs 4:23 NKJV says, “keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” This passage of Scripture challenges us to guard our hearts against all forms of spiritual, physical, and emotional danger. The “inner” healing prayer ministry is a ministry of sanctification that seeks to preserve, protect and guard the heart against these very things.
So often the painful events we experience in the developmental years of our lives have great potential to wound our hearts. According to Matthew 18:5-6, Jesus avidly warns against mistreating and hurting the precious and developing souls of children. He knew that during this time our souls are vulnerable to deeper forms of pain and trauma. Jesus also realized how the developmental years of life shape our understanding of relationships, God, and even how we view life as a whole.
The writer of Hebrews says, “pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” Hebrews 12:14-15 NKJV. Bitterness, or more commonly understood as “deep unforgiveness” is a deadly poison and lethal cancer to our inner man. Just as cancer has an origin and starting point, so does bitterness and deep unforgiveness. As we endure painful experiences in life, we often come to believe the lies of the enemy and allow doors to negative influences and strongholds to be opened in our souls. Furthermore, the lies of the enemy we hold on too, only seek to stifle God’s truth in our hearts and hinder us from walking in complete surrender to Him. This is sin. As it evades our spirits and takes away our ability to enjoy the abundant life that Jesus so freely died for. (John 10:10)
Thousands of years ago, David, practiced and experienced “inner” healing prayer as he cried out, “search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV. David’s sincere prayer was that God would look deeply within his heart to discern the very depth of what he was experiencing within. David specifically expressed that within his heart there was much anxiety, fear, and a way that would lead him away from the everlasting path that God had made available.
David’s prayer was that God would completely remove the sorrow and pain that hindered him from living in a way that produced abundant and fruitful life. Instead of allowing the difficult circumstances he faced to press and conform him; he prayed that God would transform him to walk in His truth. (Romans 12:1-2) David chose in his moments of prayer, to pour out his heart to the Lord and then allow the healing virtue of God to reset his spirit, transform his disfunction, and sanctify his mind, will, and emotions. (see 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
The “inner” healing prayer ministry is not, nor has ever been an ideal of the New Age Movement or a form of Christian mysticism. This ministry is found throughout the Old and New Testament Scriptures, within the lives of the early church saints and fathers of the faith, and is a clear indicator of the Kingdom plan of God to restore the hearts of His sons and daughters to original intention and design. The sanctifying ministry of healing the heart and emotions has been freely made available through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. As it is received, in the present day, through prayer and agreement with the Holy Spirit’s power.
Finally, Paul expressed his desire to see God’s love flow through all believers in Ephesians 3:17-19 NKJV by saying, “…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
To find out more about APC's inner healing prayer ministry or to receive inner healing prayer yourself visit: www.allpeopleschurch.us/prayer right here on our website!
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