The Bible way to minister healing is the one people seem to regularly avoid, and the results speak for themselves.
According to Mark 16:17-18, certain signs will follow those who believe in Jesus. One of those is that they "shall lay hands on the sick, and they (the sick) shall recover." However, when someone sees prayer ministry, the simple laying on of hands is usually missing.
There are all sorts of ways people "pray" for healing. They ask God to heal the person, they ask the Spirit to "guide the surgeon's hands," they ask for a "fresh touch from heaven," and any number of other things. If any healing does take place, based on how it's currently practiced, it's certainly a miracle.
First, according to Mark's account of the Great Commission (which he wrote based upon the teachings of Peter), Jesus didn't instruct us to pray for healing. He clearly told us to lay hands on the sick. This assumes that some responsibility rests on the believer.
In Matthew's account of the same meeting, Jesus told the disciples, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:18). Most believers are willing to accept that, but based on the next two verses, that power (or authority) was delegated to us. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matt 28:19-20).
It's Mark's account that tells us what we are to teach and have others to observe: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:15-18).
This shows us that healing ministry is not as mysterious or complicated as we sometimes make it. The very best results I experience in healing ministry comes from the direct laying on of hands upon people who are sick. Even if the person who is receiving ministry does not experience long-term healing (something we'll talk about in future posts), I and that person know that God's healing power is flowing when we engage in Bible-based, hands-on ministry.
Over the years, we have been involved in a number of supernatural healings from the laying on of hands. Recently, we ministered to a woman who was diagnosed with an unknown mass growing in the sinus cavity of her head. I asked the woman to sit and relax because we would be in no hurry to minister. We would take our time until she received what she came for.
I used scriptures to take authority over the sickness and commanded it to go as I placed my hand on the area of her body (with her permission) that was afflicted. I told the woman to draw upon God's healing power flowing down my arm, out through my hand, and into her body, as if she were pulling soda through a straw. I asked the woman what she was experiencing, and she reported a strong warmth at the point of contact. We stayed in that position for several minutes until I determined she was no longer drawing on the power. All of us involved in ministering (giving and receiving) testified that the presence of the Lord's power was strong and healing was ministered.
Two weeks later, the woman visited the doctor and, after she was examined, no evidence of the condition could be found. Praise the Lord!
We don't need to ask God to do the healing, or for Him to influence a surgeon (who may not even believe in Jesus), or for a "fresh touch from heaven," because we are the hands of the Body of Christ and His power is at our fingertips. If we confirm God's love in us by keeping His commands (1 John 2:3), then healing is a ministry we have been called to and are sufficiently equipped for. The world is waiting for healing, and it's in our hands to give.