A Ministration of Healing

Dear Brethren,

Hope this service for the ministration of healing is somewhat helpful as you consider how to minister to those in your parishes who are in need of God's gracious healing work in their lives. 

Fr. Wayne 

A Ministration

Of Healing

When the Ministration of Healing takes place at a service of public worship, it is desirable that it precede the distribution of Holy Communion. Appropriate passages of Scripture may be read, such as Psalm 23, 91, 103, 145; Matthew 9:2-8; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 17:11-19; John 6:47-57.

Instruction

The Minister shall then begin the service of Healing, saying,

Dearly Beloved, the Apostle James instructs us that if anyone is sick, "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 will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

Also, we read of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Gospel of Mark, that He sent out His disciples to preach the Gospel, giving them power over unclean spirits: "And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them."

In Scripture, the laying on of hands with the anointing of oil is a sign of the gracious work of the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. This rite finds expression in the New Covenant as an act of confession; a confession that only the power of the Holy Spirit can heal us of illness, and a confession that God's ordained government in the Church, is ordinarily, the place at which an appeal for special healing should be made.

The person seeking special healing, therefore, should confess sin, be anointed with oil, and then be prayed over by the elders.

Here may follow, if appropriate, a brief explanation of the circumstances of the present ministration.

Confession of Sin

The Minister then shall address the sick person, or the parents of the sick child saying,

Do you [on behalf of this child] confess that you have sinned against God, not only in outward transgressions, but also in secret thoughts and desires which you cannot fully understand, but which are all known to Him? If so, answer: I confess my sin.

Penitent: I confess my sin

Minister: Do you [on behalf of this child] confess that you are deserving of all misery and wrath for your sins, in this world and the next? If so, answer: I confess it.

Penitent: I confess it.

Minister: Do you [on behalf of this child] flee for refuge to God's infinite mercy, seeking and imploring His grace and healing, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ? If so, answer; I do.

Penitent: I do.

Minister: Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.

Let us pray.

O Lord, holy Father, giver of health and salvation; Send your Holy Spirit to sanctify this oil; that, as your holy apostles anointed many that were sick and healed them, so may those who in faith and repentance receive this holy unction be made whole; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who live and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.

Anointing with Oil

The Minister then shall dip his thumb into the holy oil, and make the Sign of the Cross on the penitent's forehead, saying,

(Name) I anoint you with oil in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

As you are outwardly anointed with this holy oil, so may our heavenly Father grant you the inward anointing of the Holy Spirit. Of His great mercy, may He forgive your sins, release you from suffering, and restore you to wholeness and strength in soul and body. May He deliver you from all evil, preserve you in goodness, and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The priests/pastors/elders shall then place their hands upon the penitent, and the minister shall continue, saying,

(Name), we lay our hands upon you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, beseeching our Lord Jesus Christ to sustain you with His presence, to banish every unclean spirit, to drive away all your sickness, and to give you that victory of life and peace which will enable you to serve Him both now and evermore. Amen.

Then one or more of the following prayers shall be said:

General Prayers

O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly beseech Thee to behold, visit, and relieve Thy sick servant (Name) for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon him with the eyes of Thy mercy; comfort him with a sense of Thy goodness; preserve him from the temptations of the enemy; and give him patience under his affliction. Restore him to health, and enable him to lead the residue of his life in Thy fear, and to Thy glory; and grant that he may dwell with Thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to Your servant (Name), the help of Your power, that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers for a Sick Child

Heavenly Father, watch with us over Your child (Name) , and grant the he may be restored to perfect health which is Yours alone to give; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd of the sheep, You gather the lambs in Your arms and carry them in Your bosom; we commend to Your loving care this child (Name). Relieve his pain, guard him from all danger, restore to him Your gifts of gladness and strength, and raise him up to a life of service to You. Hear us, we pray, for Your dear Name's sake. Amen.

Prayers Before an Operation or Medical Treatment

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, graciously comfort Your servant (Name) in his suffering and bless the means made use of for his cure. Fill his heart with confidence that, though at times he may be afraid, he yet may put his trust in You; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Strengthen Your servant (Name), O God, to do what he has to do and bear what he has to bear; that, accepting Your gifts through the skill of surgeons and nurses, he may be restored to usefulness in Your Kingdom with a thankful heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Heavenly Father, Giver of Life and health: Comfort and relieve Your sick servant (Name) and grant Your power of healing to those who minister to his needs, that he may be strengthened in his weakness and have confidence in Your loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Psalm 23, 91, 103, 145; Matthew 9:2-8; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 17:11-19; John 6:47-57.

Psalm 23
The LORD the Shepherd of His People
A Psalm of David.
¹ The LORD is my shepherd;
        I shall not want.
        ²He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
        He leads me beside the still waters.
        ³He restores my soul;
        He leads me in the paths of righteousness
        For His name's sake.

        ⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
        I will fear no evil;
        For You are with me;
        Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

        ⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
        You anoint my head with oil;
        My cup runs over.
        ⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
        All the days of my life;
        And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
        Forever.

Psalm 91

Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God
¹ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
        Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
        ²I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
        My God, in Him I will trust."

        ³Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
        And from the perilous pestilence.
        ⁴He shall cover you with His feathers,
        And under His wings you shall take refuge;
        His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
        ⁵You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
        Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
        ⁶Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
        Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

        ⁷A thousand may fall at your side,
        And ten thousand at your right hand;
        But it shall not come near you.
        ⁸Only with your eyes shall you look,
        And see the reward of the wicked.

        ⁹Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
        Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
        ¹⁰No evil shall befall you,
        Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
        ¹¹For He shall give His angels charge over you,
        To keep you in all your ways.
        ¹²In their hands they shall bear you up,
        Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
        ¹³You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
        The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

        ¹⁴"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
        I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
        ¹⁵He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
        I will be with him in trouble;
        I will deliver him and honor him.
        ¹⁶With long life I will satisfy him,
        And show him My salvation."

Psalm 103
Praise for the LORD's Mercies
A Psalm of David.
¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul;
        And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
        ²Bless the LORD, O my soul,
        And forget not all His benefits:
        ³Who forgives all your iniquities,
        Who heals all your diseases,
        ⁴Who redeems your life from destruction,
        Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
        ⁵Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
        So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
        ⁶The LORD executes righteousness
        And justice for all who are oppressed.
        ⁷He made known His ways to Moses,
        His acts to the children of Israel.
        ⁸The LORD is merciful and gracious,
        Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
        ⁹He will not always strive with us,
        Nor will He keep His anger forever.
        ¹⁰He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
        Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

        ¹¹For as the heavens are high above the earth,
        So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
        ¹²As far as the east is from the west,
        So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
        ¹³As a father pities his children,
        So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
        ¹⁴For He knows our frame;
        He remembers that we are dust.

        ¹⁵As for man, his days are like grass;
        As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
        ¹⁶For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
        And its place remembers it no more.
        ¹⁷But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
        On those who fear Him,
        And His righteousness to children's children,
        ¹⁸To such as keep His covenant,
        And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

        ¹⁹The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
        And His kingdom rules over all.

        ²⁰Bless the LORD, you His angels,
        Who excel in strength, who do His word,
        Heeding the voice of His word.
        ²¹Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
        You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
        ²²Bless the LORD, all His works,
        In all places of His dominion.

        Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Psalm 145
A Song of God's Majesty and Love
A Praise of David.
¹ I will extol You, my God, O King;
        And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
        ²Every day I will bless You,
        And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
        ³Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
        And His greatness is unsearchable.

        ⁴One generation shall praise Your works to another,
        And shall declare Your mighty acts.
        ⁵I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
        And on Your wondrous works.
        ⁶Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
        And I will declare Your greatness.
        ⁷They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
        And shall sing of Your righteousness.

        ⁸The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
        Slow to anger and great in mercy.
        ⁹The LORD is good to all,
        And His tender mercies are over all His works.

        ¹⁰All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
        And Your saints shall bless You.
        ¹¹They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
        And talk of Your power,
        ¹²To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
        And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
        ¹³Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
        And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

        ¹⁴The LORD upholds all who fall,
        And raises up all who are bowed down.
        ¹⁵The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
        And You give them their food in due season.
        ¹⁶You open Your hand
        And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

        ¹⁷The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
        Gracious in all His works.
        ¹⁸The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
        To all who call upon Him in truth.
        ¹⁹He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
        He also will hear their cry and save them.
        ²⁰The LORD preserves all who love Him,
        But all the wicked He will destroy.
        ²¹My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,
        And all flesh shall bless His holy name
        Forever and ever.

Matthew 9:

Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."

And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"

But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, "Arise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Mark 16:15-18 

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Luke 17:11-18

Ten Lepers Cleansed
 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.

And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 

So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." 

And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 

So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" 

And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."

John 6:49-57

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" 

Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.