On the evening of June 16th and June 19th I will venture into new territory with this congregation. It will be the first and second time in my life that I have ever officiated at a service of healing and prayer. I am convinced that it is something our congregation ought to do.

I was initially encouraged to do this by our Tuesday morning prayer group. Since they encouraged me to do this I have also been doing some reading. I've been reading what the Bible has to say about healing.

When I read the 34th chapter of Ezekiel, it made me wish I had started a service of healing and prayer as soon as I started serving as a pastor. In the 34th chapter of Ezekiel God expresses his displeasure at the "Shepherds of Israel".

Here is what God says to the prophet starting in verse two, "Thus says the Lord God: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them."

God expected the priests to heal the sick. God expressed displeasure to the prophet Ezekiel over a number of issues, and one of the issues was that the priests were not healing the sick.

Of course we know that Jesus healed people on many occasions. I have never claimed to be Jesus. I've never tried to walk on water, turn water into wine, or calm a storm. But Jesus also gave his disciples instructions that included a command to heal the sick.

Here is the command Jesus gives his followers in the tenth chapter of Matthew: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, "The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment." Clearly, Jesus expected his followers to cure the sick.

I do not claim to have the ability to touch someone and cure any ailment they might have. I do have the ability to pray.

I plan to combine my prayers with the prayers of the congregation and focus on those who are in need of healing. I believe God will hear our prayers. I believe God will unleash his healing power among us.

In the past I have been reluctant to organize and participate in a service of healing. Part of my reluctance comes from not wanting to be associated with charlatans who masquerade as healers for the purpose of bilking people out of money. To be honest, another part of my reluctance has been lack of faith on my own part.

We will collect free will offerings during these worship services, but we will avoid implying that the size of the offering is related to the effectiveness of the prayers.

Two tragedies can occur in healing services. One is to believe something happened that did not happen. For example: I once heard that a woman who thought she had been cured of diabetes by a faith healer quit taking her insulin and died.

The other tragedy is to believe that God will not hear our prayers and will not respond to them. This causes us not to ask for things that God is very willing to provide for us.

As we initiate these services of healing and prayer, let us avoid both types of tragedies. Let us gather in prayer, trusting in God, and call upon the name of the Lord to heal those we know and love.

Please remember these services in your prayers. Ask God to lead us, guide us, and empower us, as we seek to do this important task. May God bless each and every one of you.

Sincerely,

Pastor Birk