prayerstrategists.net · Prayer as Member Health Discovery Bible Study

Member Health

Prayer as Member Health Discovery Bible Study

Prayer as Member Health:

Team Evaluation, Discovery Bible Story Set, & Resources

Introduction to FPS’s Prayer Strategies Discovery Bible Studies Set:

Prayer—or engagement with God—is integral to every aspect of the lives of the team members and the corporate team, as well as to the strategy and approach they use. Within this docu-ment, you will find the following: a definition and explanation to the Prayer strategy, a set of questions to help you diagnosis the status of your team’s use of this strategy, a Discovery Bible Story Set to help you understand Scripture’s view on this strategy, and links for further re-sources related to this Prayer strategy. We recommend completing the team’s diagnostic first then adapt the Discovery Story Set to meet your team’s needs. Feel free to use the typical DBS questions, however, in addition we’ve tried to suggest you ask these much deeper questions to elicit specifics regarding this strategy. The Fellowship of Prayer Strategists have a set of nine-teen di ff erent prayer strategies. These are not intended to be the complete picture of this strat-egy but a glimpse at the use for this strategy. You can find more strategies at www.prayer–strategists.net. We hope these tools will prove helpful in considering ways you and your team can increase your capacity for extraordinary prayer for the sake of the King and His Kingdom.

Prayer as Member Health

Definition: Personal restoration and transformation ministries, healing and deliverance min-istries, trauma counseling, prayer and conflict resolution, confession, forgiveness & repentance for individuals, teams and the growing Body of Christ access all the benefits o ff ered by God for the abundant life He promised.

Explanation: Engaging with God (prayer) is the way He has given to access all the riches of God in Christ Jesus by His Spirit. He admonishes us not to forget any of the benefits: He for-gives all our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from hell, crowns us with love and mercy, wraps us in goodness and eternal beauty, renews our youth, makes everything come out right in the end and puts victims back on their feet. Jesus modelled this throughout His ministry—sicknesses and demons alike left at His Word. In fact, He used these signs as evidence for John the Baptist that He was indeed the Messiah—the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is pro-claimed to the poor. He reminded us to seek His forgiveness even as we forgive others. Our physical, emotional and spiritual health are hindered by unforgiveness. Jesus’ last prayer was that we would be one even as He and the Father are one. We know that He always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ Jesus. Even as He sends us out, He commands us to do as He did and ‘heal the sick and tell them God’s kingdom is right on the doorstep.’ He confirms His Word with those signs and wonders following as we obey His instructions. Followers of Jesus walking in Kingdom freedom and wholeness is a witness to outsiders of God’s goodness and love. Our ability to experience health and healing enables us to continue ministering e ff ectively and to labor together as a team unhindered by conflict and disunity.

1 Corinthians 12:26 NIV If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Diagnostic Questions for You & Your Team:

1. Psalm 103:2 urges us not to forget any of the costly benefits of our salvation; in addition 1. to forgiving all our sins, He heals our diseases, redeems our lives from the pit, crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies our desires with good things and renews our youth like the eagle’s. Evaluate how comprehensively you are appropriating individually and as a team these benefits of our salvation.
2. Are you individually and as a team experiencing inner healing and walking in forgiveness and unity among yourselves and your teammates?
3. Do you and your team incorporate praying for the sick, praying for the dead to be 3. raised, and for deliverance from demons as part of your comprehensive ministry in your sphere as you proclaim the Word?

Discovery Bible Story Set:

1. “Forget None of His Benefits” – Psalm 103
A. Pray as a group before beginning that God would speak to us and open our hearts to hear Him.
B. Read the entire passage aloud at least 2 times or listen to an audio version twice through. If your group uses storying, present the scripture in this way. Then, have the group practice re-telling the story together.
C. Discussion questions:
• What was God’s admonition through David in this psalm to us?
• Why does God include along with forgiveness of sin?

D. Take a few minutes to quietly listen to God. What is He instructing you to do from what you’re hearing? Share with each other what you’re sensing. Are some of His instruc-tions quite di ff erent than you might have imagined? How?
E. Who is God asking you to share this story with? When will you do it? Share with the group.
F. What key principles about prayer as member health can you draw from this passage?

John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the one or if they should look for someone else. Jesus pointed out the evidences that they could see indicated He was indeed the Messiah.

2. “Are You the One?” – Luke 7:18-23

A. Pray before beginning that God would speak to us and open our hearts to hear Him.
B. Read the entire passage completely through.
C. Discussion questions:
• What was the evidence Jesus pointed out to John’s disciples which would provide He was the Messiah?
• Why would John has asked such a question of Jesus?
• Why would Jesus make the comment He did about not being offended in Him?

D. Take a few minutes to quietly listen to God. What is He instructing you to do from what you’re hearing? Share with each other what you’re sensing. Are some of His instructions quite different than you might have imagined? How?
E. Who is God asking you to share this story with? When will you do it? Share with the group.
F. What key principles about prayer as member health can you draw from this passage?

Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1,2 before those gathered in the synagogue.

3. “Today This Scripture is Fulfilled” – Luke 4:19-21
A. Pray before beginning that God would speak to us and open our hearts to hear Him.
B. Read the entire passage completely through.
C. Discussion questions:
• Does this Luke passage echo similar benefits as our previous passages?
• What Kingdom benefits come with its fulfillment according to this passage?

D.Take a few minutes to quietly listen to God. What is He instructing you to do from what you’re hearing? Share with each other what you’re sensing. Are some of His instructions quite different than you might have imagined? How?
E. Who is God asking you to share this story with? When will you do it? Share with the group.
F. What key principles about prayer as member health can you draw from this passage?

We are forgiven as we forgive others. Walking in freedom physically, emotionally, and spiritually depends on that.

4. “Shouldn’t You Have Had Mercy” – Matthew 18:21-35
A. Pray before beginning that God would speak to us and open our hearts to hear Him.

a. Read the entire passage completely through.
b. Discussion questions:
• How much had the servant been forgiven for by the master? How did that compare with what he was owed by his fellow servant?
• How will our heavenly father treat us if we do not forgive from our heart?
c. Take a few minutes to quietly listen to God. What is He instructing you to do from what you’re hearing? Share with each other what you’re sensing. What is He challenging you with here?
d. Who is God asking you to share this story with? When will you do it? Share with the group.
e. What key principles about prayer and forgiveness related to our individual and corporate health can you draw from this passage?

Jesus’ instructions to His disciples as He sent them out two by two was to heal the sick, raise the dead, and proclaim the Kingdom was near.

Luke 10:1-9 5. “The Kingdom is Near” –
A. Pray before beginning that God would speak to us and open our hearts to hear Him.
B. Read the entire passage completely through.
C. Discussion questions:
• What did Jesus command His disciples to do when they entered a town and were welcomed there?
• What purposes might God have in directing this? How would that compare to your situation?
D. Take a few minutes to quietly listen to God. What is He instructing you to do from what you’re hearing? Share with each other what you’re sensing. How might this guide your strategies? share
E. Who is God asking you to this story with? When will you do it? Share with the group.
F. What key principles about prayer and healing ministry can you draw from this passage?

Jesus worked with the disciples in the Early Church and He works with us still today.

6. “Everywhere He Was About to Come” – Mark 16:15-20
A. Pray before beginning that God would speak to us and open our hearts to hear Him.
B. Read the entire passage completely through.
C. Discussion questions:
• What signs did Jesus tell His disciples would follow them as they preached the Word?
• How did Jesus confirm His word after He ascended into heaven?

D. Take a few minutes to quietly listen to God. What is He instructing you to do from what you’re hearing? Share with each other what you’re sensing. Are some of His instructions quite different than you might have imagined? How?
E. Who is God asking you to share this story with? When will you do it? Share with the group.
F. What key principles about prayer and member health can you draw from this passage?

Further Resources on Prayer as Member Health:

• Prayer as Member Health Bibliography https://prayerstrategists.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/prayer-as-member-health-bibliography.pdf
• Article: “41 Prayers for Healing” https://www.ibelieve.com/health-beauty/a-prayer-for-personal-heal–ing.html?utm_source=iBelieve%20Daily%20Update&utm_campaign=iBelieve%20Daily%20Update&utm_medi–um=email&utm_content=3028816&bcid=7afdea3af01086e567460fc3bb2e6ee8&recip=494724618%20
• Article: “What is Wholeness Prayer and How Can It Strengthen Strategy Teams” https://prayerstrategists.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/what-is-wholeness-prayer-and-how-can-it-help-strengthen-movements-and-strategy-teams.docx
• Video: “Interview with Annie Taylor on Wholeness Prayer” https://prayerstrategists.files.–wordpress.com/2016/05/interview-with-annie-taylor-on-wholeness-prayer-and-member-health.wmv • Discovery Bible Studies in Depth: http://ent.freemin.org/training-courses/
• Article: “Caring for Your Soul in Times of Change” by Rick James, Healthy Leaders http://healthyleaders.com/caring-for-your-soul-in-times-of-change/
• Video on Forgiveness and Healing from Offense: “The Bait of Satan” by John Bevere https://youtu.be/dyEBD8r5dF0

Further resources and connection with other prayer strategists are available through the Fel-lowship of Prayer Strategists and their website www.prayerstrategists.net.

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