GROWING IN HEALING AND PROPHECY
I. HEALING AND PROPHECY: PART OF GOD’S END-TIME OUTPOURING IN THE EARTH
A. God is inviting us, along with the body of Christ across the nations, to enter in to His promises.
1. Healing: As a spiritual family we have received many powerful prophetic words regarding God’s healing power
being made manifest within our community, city, region and nation.
2. During a solemn assembly (May 7-28, 1983), God spoke a powerful prophetic promise that applies not only
to us, but to the church in the generation in which the Lord returns, “No disease known to man will stand before this
people.”
3. A prophetic word has been released about stadiums being filled with signs and wonders. This will be a great
move of the Holy Spirit that erupts across the nations as a key part of the sovereign outpouring of God’s Spirit. In
this vision, television news reporters are broadcasting stories of resurrections and miracle healings. A TV
anchorman is saying, “There are no sporting events to report tonight because all the stadiums, ball parks and
arenas are being used for large revival meetings and are filled with people shouting, ‘Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord.’”
None of the secular reporters can get near the men and women on the platform and they don’t know who they are.
They seem “almost faceless.” In the vision, men and women minister for three days and nights without food, water or
change of clothing. Supernatural strength enables them to continue.
4. Prophecy: We have also received many clear promises from the Lord regarding IHOP’s corporate mandate to
raise up singers, musicians, and messengers who minister under a strong prophetic spirit that impacts the nations
and helps prepare the body of Christ for His return.
5. The spirit of prophecy will be poured out before Jesus returns.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants
and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. (Joel 2:28-29)
20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the
latter days you will understand it perfectly. (Jer. 23:20)
6. Healing, signs and wonders characterizes Jesus’ ministry in the gospels, early Christian expression in the
book of Acts, and God’s activity through the church in the generation in which the Lord returns. (Matthew 12:15,
Acts 4:29-30, Acts 5:12, Acts 5:15-16, Joel 2)
II. PARTNERING WITH GOD’S HEART CONCERNING HEALING
A. At IHOP, we are so blessed to have a history of faithfulness in praying for healing.
1. Healing Rooms were birthed in IHOP in September 2002. The number of people who have been ministered to
has increased each year. In 2008 over 10,000 people came to the IHOP Healing Rooms. This year the healing
rooms are averaging 1200 people per month. As a body, we are so thankful for each person who has served on
healing teams. The Healing and Prophecy Teams have been faithfully ministering day by day to thousands. Their
servant’s hearts have led the way for the rest of the body to move in a culture of healing and prophecy as an
everyday expression of our life in Christ.
2. What is so encouraging is the reality that our whole Missions Base family is praying for the sick outside the
healing rooms.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of
Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth. (Zechariah 4:10)
B. It is not enough for us to have healing teams that minister, or prophetic promises that God’s healing anointing will
be poured out corporately. We must personally engage with this mandate that is so dear to God’s heart!
C. Practical tips for praying for healing in our homes, meetings, with the lost, in the prayer room, and on healing
teams.
1. Remember that Jesus is willing!
1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and
worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Then Jesus put out His hand and
touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:1-3)
14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed
their sick. (Matthew 14:14)
2. Dial down. Keep your prayer simple, commune with the Holy Spirit and ask God to heal.
3. Do not look for a mysterious key to the person’s healing. Jesus’ work on the cross is the key.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and
afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our
peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
4. Do not miss an opportunity to pray even a brief prayer for healing. Jesus hears even the 1-minute prayers.
Next time you hear of someone in need of healing, pray!
5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and
knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while
I am coming, another steps down before me.” (John 5:5-7)
5. The Holy Spirit is never quenched or offended by truth, so there is no need to add to our testimonies, or
employ hype or pressure of any kind. As intercessors, when we pray for someone who is sick and they are not
healed, we lift up our efforts before the Lord and keep praying. There is no need to “figure out” the exact science
of why the healing didn’t come. Our job is simply to pray and believe.
6. Interested in joining an IHOP Healing Team? Email: healing@ihop.org
7. A word to those who are chronically ill:
As I struggled for 3 ½ years with Crohn’s disease, I encountered many times of discouragement where I wanted to
throw in the towel and stop asking God for healing. At times it simply seemed too painful to ask for healing again
and yet not see it come. I want to encourage those who are in that place, to keep asking. Make it a habit to ask
God for healing each day before you go to bed. Continue asking for prayer from others and reaching for God’s
healing to break into your life. I found it very unhelpful to focus on myself and try to find the “reason” I was not yet
healed. This approach bears no fruit, neither does the approach of not asking for healing anymore. I found the
most peace and fruit came when I resisted the urge to figure it out, and asked the Holy Spirit to keep my heart
tender and child-like. Simple prayers and groans of, “God heal me” along with cultivating friendships with those
who stood in faith with me for healing were major keys that God used in my life. Who knew that my healing would
come in a boring Monday morning prayer meeting that was mostly un-anointed? God is good! Keep asking!
III. OUR PERSONAL INVITATION TO PARTNER DAILY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 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.” (Mark 16:17-18)
32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall
be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days
they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. (Daniel 11:32-33)
19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He
sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. (John 5:19)
Pray in tongues! If you commit to pray in the spirit as part of your daily routine, you will see an increase of faith and
awareness of what God is doing around you. Praying in the spirit is one of the best tools God has given us to walk in the
spirit and do the works of the spirit. Make this a regular habit in your life along with dialoging with the Holy Spirit about
what He is doing and how He would like to use you in each circumstance in which you find yourself.
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. (1 Cor. 14:4)
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. (1 Cor. 4:14)
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20)
IV. PROPHECY: THE MINISTRY OF SUPERNATURAL ENCOURAGEMENT
6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is
given to each one for the profit of all. (1 Corinthians 12:6)
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. (1 Corinthians 14:3)
A. It is easy to think of prophecy as a mysterious unveiling of a profound secret or a metaphorical prediction of a
distant future event. While sometimes prophecy does unveil secrets and predict future events, this is by far not the
primary expression of prophecy.
B. Prophecy is supernatural encouragement. Barnabas was called the “Son of Encouragement.” Do you have a
vision for pressing in for the spirit of prophecy that you may have the ministry of encouragement? The enemy accuses
us and accuses God’s heart 24 hours a day. Prophecy is one of God’s mightiest weapons to keep us from quitting under
difficulty or discouragement. How glorious that we get to participate in this!
36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of
the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:36-37)
Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. (Acts 13:2)
7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone
with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” 8 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel
have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent
Me to you.” (Zechariah 4:7-9)
C. IHOP Prophecy Rooms began in 2003. Approximately 20,000 people were ministered to last year by prophecy t
eams. Over 100,000 people have received prophetic ministry from IHOP prophecy rooms. Of course this doesn’t include
all of the prophetic ministry that goes on in homes, Higher Grounds, classrooms, etc. Thank you Jesus!
D. Practical Tips for Prophesying in our homes, meetings, with the lost, in the prayer room, etc.
1. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an encouragement for friends, co-workers, family members, etc. Stay away
from directional prophecy, marriage, babies, finances, etc. Focus in on encouraging the believer in their calling
and in their position before God.
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but
exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end
(Heb. 3:12-14)
2. The Holy Spirit loves to speak to us about the lost. Ask Him.
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted
by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and
report that God is truly among you. (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)
3. Dial down, no Divine signature needed. Pray the verse or impression that God gives you and let the Holy
Spirit do the rest. Avoid having a dramatic style and overt physical movements and manifestations that cause the
person receiving prayer to feel they “must” believe this is from God. Address the person with humility, remembering
that they are the bride of Christ.
4. Be faithful to follow the subtle nudges of the Holy Spirit. Give expression to impressions. We may hear what
seems to be the faintest of whispers, but the faintest whisper from the Genesis 1 God can be life-changing,
transforming and empowering to the hearer.
5. Come up and pray for people during ministry times. As you are praying for the person, dialogue with the
Holy Spirit asking what God is doing in the life of this believer. Pray what you hear, and ask God to give you a
scripture for them.