Laborers in the Harvest Series

Church Ministry

Hospital VisitationMinistryBy Richard C. Hobbs

Published byMercy Street Ministries

PO Box 121Alma, AR 72921

www.mercystreet.comCopyright © 2006

Laboring in the Harvest Series

Church Ministry

Hospital VisitationMinistryBy Richard C. Hobbs

The use of short quotations or occasional pagecopying for personal or group study is permitted

with the written permission of the author.All scripture quotations are from the King James

Version of the Bible, unless otherwise noted.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ...............................................1

Introduction .........................................................3

Chapter 1Minister with Assurance ......................................5

Chapter 2We have a Dependency upon Each Other ...........8

Chapter 3Principles of Hospital Visitation........................10

Chapter 4Respect Patient Privacy .....................................12

Chapter 5Hospital Procedures and Practices.....................14

Chapter 6Waiting Rooms ..................................................15

Chapter 7Minister with a Calming Influence....................17

Chapter 8Ministering Hope and Encouragement..............19

Chapter 9Prayer for the Sick .............................................23

Chapter 10Healing Through the Word ................................26

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Arthur Blessitt, the man whocarried the cross around the world and to everynation, for spending so many hours of his time toshare his heart with me. The burden that Arthur hasfor this world and the love he has for all the peoplehas touched my heart in such a way that I will neverbe the same. Arthur has taken time to be a friend anda motivating force in my life.

Most of all the Holy Spirit has quickened my heartand has given me love for all people. I love peopleand enjoy the opportunity to share the gospel.Also, the Holy Spirit has opened the doors for ourministry to train laborers in the harvest all over theworld. For the love, favor, and mercy the Lord hasgiven me, I give Him my life to train laborers in theharvest and share the gospel to the lost.

I am thankful for the many intercessors that pray forour ministry daily. They have spent many longhours and many tears praying for us in the streetsand for the lost. Only God knows what their criesand prayers have accomplished.

Lastly, I am thankful for my wife Kay and mydaughters Sally, and Sarah. Also, I thank CaseyCoble for assisting our ministry. They have helped

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me with the many tasks that needed to becompleted. My family has shared the call the Lordhas on my life and has been part of this ministrysince its beginning.

Introduction

Hospital visitation provides a unique setting tominister to people who find themselves with agreater dependency upon friends, family, church,and their faith. Those who prepare themselves tominister in hospital settings and to the sick willdiscover that a visit, a Scripture, a spoken word, orprayer will bring hope and comfort. Lives can beforever changed from your obedience to the Wordof God and compassion for others.

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Chapter 1

Minister with Assurance

We have a privilege to be ambassadors andministers to those who are sick and hurting. It is attimes like these that hearts are open to the touchfrom our Lord Jesus. The Bible says that faithworks by love. We also discover in the Word thatGod has given each of us the measure of faith. Wecan have confidence knowing that our ability tominister to those who are hurting comes from theheart and our Lord. We can share His comfort,healing, and salvation through His Word and Hislove for them. We must visit with assurance that thepresence of the Holy Spirit will go with us and makeknown the mercies of God to those we visit in themidst of their uncertainty and illness. Our LordJesus does not separate His feelings from ours andwhen we hurt, . He seeks opportunity tointervene in a life to bring hope and health.

He hurts

Matthew 2544

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Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord,when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or astranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did notminister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I sayunto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the leastof these, ye did it not to me.

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The Holy Spirit is upon this earth to minister to thewhole person -- body, soul, and spirit. The HolySpirit moved upon the face of the earth at creationwhen God spoke the world into existence. He isready to move upon those who call upon Him tobring the conviction to the lost and comfort to thehurting. So many times when people face illnessthey search their heart as fear and despair grips theirsoul. Some may question their purpose in life andbasis for belief. During this time of suffering wewant to reach out to support them. We may bringassurance of salvation and lead many into arelationship with Christ, or deepen the existingrelationship. Through the Word, we can bring hopeand compassion.

One Friday night, I was ministering in the streetsand a young man suffering from drug addictionasked me for a favor. He said, “My dad wasadmitted to the hospital last night. Would you goand visit him?” I agreed and went to the hospital thenext evening to visit his father. I sat down andvisited with him and took time to listen and to be afriend. I told him that his son had sent me andyesterday he gave his heart to Christ. His father waspleased to hear that his son accepted Christ and thenI prayed with his dad. His dad had a request for meand asked if I would visit another relative that was inintensive care. I said that I would go and visit himnow.

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I went to the intensive care nurse station to getdirections to the patient's room. He wasunconscious and the family and I held hands andprayed for the young man. They were thankful thatI had taken time to visit and to care. Then they gaveme a room number of someone they knew thatneeded prayer and I went to the room to meet thefamily and to pray for the patient. As I stood in theroom, I knew that my whole evening had beendirected by the Holy Spirit and the hearts of thosethat cared. There was no where else that I wouldhad rather been as I knew that I had been in the willof God this day. Visiting people in the hospital neednot to be something to fear but an opportunity toshow our love for others and to serve our Lord. Thisexperience for me in the hospital had built myassurance that wherever I go the Holy Spirit willdirect my path as I minister to others.

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Chapter 2

We have a Dependencyupon Each Other

We are to represent the church and our Lord Jesuswhen we visit the sick and those in the hospital. Ourcare is beyond a sense of responsibility to helpanother. Our care comes from the heart and is basedon the love that God has placed in His creation. Weare dependent upon each other. There are manyScriptures in the Bible that describe this dependencywe have upon each other. The Lord said in Matthew18:20,

He said in Mark 16:18,Also, He

said in Matthew 18:19,

In these Scriptureswe can see that God has established many of Hisprinciples upon people ministering to peoplethrough His Word. Therefore, we have adependency upon each other. People needfriendship and fellowship to feel a sense ofwholeness. Realizing this we can see that a simplevisit with the sick is so much more as we areshowing the same compassion and mercy that hasbeen shown to us.

“For where two or three are gatheredtogether in my name, there am I in the midst ofthem.” “.. they shall layhands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

“Again I say unto you, Thatif two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them ofmy Father which is in heaven.”

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My own family faced a tragic time when my motherwas diagnosed with cancer. The family felt so manyemotions and uncertainty about her future. The daybefore she left the earth, I extended an invitation toher to accept Christ as her Lord. She was a goodperson and had all of the attributes of a Christian buthad never had the opportunity or purpose to makethe decision. It was a special dispensation fromGod that allowed my mother to awaken from aseemingly unconscious state to hold my hand andpray a prayer inviting Christ into her heart.Something changed that day as she or I were nolonger afraid of the future and we knew that Godwas ready to receive her someday into His kingdom.The following day, she left the earth to join herLord. The assurance of salvation for me still bringsme peace knowing that even death could notseparate her from her Lord and someday I have thehope to see her again as the Lord receives me intoHis kingdom as well. My own father on the sameday came to Christ as I shared the same Gospelmessage with Him that I had shared with mom andnow he also has found his way home to be with HisLord. I never knew that they were to be the first twosouls that I would lead to Christ.

Ensure that those we visit have an assurance ofsalvation, as when they invite Christ into their livesthat they are inviting the very Kingdom of God andall His benefits. Respect their faith and do not try toconvert someone from their denomination to yours.

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Chapter 3

Principles of Hospital Visitation

Do's• If possible visit during hospital visiting

hours• Knock before entering the room to respect

privacy• If the call light is on, wait or check at the

nurse station• If a no visitor sign is posted, check with the

nurse station• If you are visiting a child or someone of the

opposite sex, leave the door open andconsider asking someone else into the room,perhaps a nurse

• Wash your hands before you visit, betweenpatients, and before you leave

• Take time and introduce yourself to thepatient and family

• Make your visit brief• Respect privacy always• Give the patient and family space• Wear a name badge from pastoral services• Listen and let the patient guide the

conversation• Ask the patient what you can share with

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others as we must respect confidentialityand HIPAA guidelines (Federal privacylaws)

• Take a business card with you to leave if thepatient is having tests or out of the room

• If the patient is a child, take a gift to them

• Don't make promises, but bring assurance• Don't repeat anything that you see or are told

unless you have the patient's permission• Don't help the patient out of the bed or touch

any equipment• Don't give any medical advice• Don't whisper to others in the room• Don't share bad news with the patient• Don't visit if you are sick as people in the

hospital are vulnerable to other sickness orinfections

• Don't wake the patient if sleeping• Don't sit on bed• Don't give the patient food or liquid• Don't assume someone is asleep or in a

coma and cannot hear you• Don't place specific information on a prayer

list without their consent• Don't let your visit be stressful to the patient• Don't try to convert someone from their

denomination to yours

Don'ts

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Chapter 4

Respect Patient Privacy

On behalf of patient privacy, Congress enacted alaw on April 14, 2003 to protect the privacy ofpatient's health information. These privacystandards were established to allow patients accessto their medical records and control over how theirinformation is shared and used. These regulationsestablish circumstances and communicationsstandards for healthcare workers, physicians, andothers involved in the treatment of the patient orinvolved in the processing or transmission ofinformation. The privacy standards are oftenreferred to as HIPAA.

Therefore, with respect to the hospital policies,privacy guidelines, and respect to the patientpastors, chaplains, and visitation teams from thechurch must protect patient information. Do notask nurses regarding details on patients. Onlychaplains employed by the hospital or healthcareprovider have access to patient records.

You should visit the hospital pastoral servicesdepartment to discuss their policies and practicesfor patient visitation and confidentiality. Mostdepartments have a minister orientation that would

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provide helpful information to those that regularlyvisit patients from your congregation.

Remind congregations that the pastoral staff willneed to know when someone is in the hospital.They will not know through regular hospitalvisitation as patient lists are restricted. Patient'sfamily is always the best way to learn that acongregation member was admitted to a hospital.Caution must be used to ensure that you havepermission from the patient before any informationis shared with the congregation or others.

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Chapter 5

Hospital Procedures and Practices

The hospital pastoral services department can assistyou with orientation with hospital policies,visitation guidelines, and patient safetyinformation. We must ensure that those visiting donot interfere with the treatment of the patient orcause further injury, sickness, or infection. Thefollowing is recommended to help ensure patientsafety:

• Wash your hands before you visit, betweenpatients, and before you leave.

• Don't help the patient out of the bed or touchany equipment.

• Don't visit if you are sick as people in thehospital are vulnerable to other sickness orinfections.

• Protect yourself and others by not leavingany open wounds on your hands uncovered.

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Chapter 6

Waiting Rooms

While waiting with a family in an intensive carewaiting room or surgical waiting room, be sure tonotice those around you. Many people do not havea pastor or faithful friends to support them. Havecompassion on others and offer to get themsomething to eat or to drink. Many families willstay almost endlessly in a waiting room to be neartheir ill family member. Take time to help meettheir physical needs, and then offer to pray withthem for their family member that is hospitalized.

Offer to pray for the patient and family member.Jesus did not wait for opportunities but let His heartdirect His actions. He saw the needs of the fourthousand that followed Him. After three days, theywould have no more food left and were in need. Hehad compassion on them to meet their physicalneeds. The Scriptures record many more examplesof Him meeting their physical and spiritual needs asHe reached out to those who were hungry andhurting.

Mark 81 In those days the multitude being very great, andhaving nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciplesunto him, and saith unto them,

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I have compassion on the multitude, because theyhave now been with me three days, and have nothingto eat:

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Our role in ministering on behalf of our church mustbe driven by the needs of those around us. Godknows we cannot meet every need. It is not asacrifice to minister to others but must become away of life. Our very nature will be transformed aswe open our life to the One who has shown us thissame love and compassion.

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Chapter 7

Minister with a Calming Influence

Many patients feel isolation and loneliness duringtheir hospital stay. The elderly feel they are aburden to their family. There are so many emotionsthat patients, family, and friends experience duringthis time. The support they receive from visitationteams or pastors will bring comfort and be a calminginfluence to their fears. Many times when peopleexperience emotions they do not understand andmany look to others to supply the hope andencouragement they need. Ask them, “How are youdoing?” Many will respond and describe theirhealth. Ask them again and say, “How are youdoing on the inside?” Many will respond with tearsand emotions. Let them show emotion and wait forthem to talk. Don't interrupt them as it is importantfor them to share their hurt with you and help themthrough prayer and encouragement with theScriptures. Have a pocket ministry Bible with youand make references that will assist you in times likethese.

Bring comfort to them with an awareness that theHoly Spirit is with them through His presence andthey are not alone. Pray with them and invite thepresence of the Holy Spirit into their life. Check forconfirmation of salvation assurance and be

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prepared to lead them in a prayer of a renewed ornew relationship with Christ. There is muchhealing of the soul that takes place when we areassured of our relationship with Christ andforgiveness of sin from our Lord.

The elderly will need assurance that they are lovedand valued. Tell them how precious life is and it isgiven from God. Someday, God will receive all ofus into His Kingdom as we complete our life on thisearth. Bring them joy and encouragement throughthe Word of God and your fellowship. David's heartsuffered separation and He cried out to God to helphim. He was in search of the path that God had forhis life. Through ministering to others we can helpthem to find assurance that God will lead themthrough their own fears and pain.

Psalm 1421

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3

4

I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with myvoice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.

I poured out my complaint before him; I shewedbefore him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, thenthou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walkedhave they privily laid a snare for me.

I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but therewas no man that would know me: refuge failed me;no man cared for my soul.

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Chapter 8

Ministering Hope andEncouragement

Sickness can bring emotions of fear, doubt,discouragement, and despair. These emotions leftunchecked will seek to destroy someone's faith.Our role is to minister to the spiritual needs of thepatient to ensure their faith does not fail.

Through your prayers, teaching, andencouragement God will rescue them from eventheir own fears and doubts. Encourage them thatthey can trust God in times like these.

Ensure the patient that the Lord seeks to bringassurance and comfort in the midst of theirsuffering. His very thoughts are upon Hiscreation. He cares and looks for opportunity tobring peace to the storms of life. God also is

Luke 2231

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And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold,

But I have prayed for thee,: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy

brethren.

Satan hath desired to have you, that he may siftyou as wheat:

that thy faith failnot

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concerned for the care giver and their need forpeace and comfort in these difficult times.

I asked a friend of mine to read the draft of thisbook and he said that the care giver or familymember in most cases will need ministry. Also,he suggested that this teaching address thesovereignty of God. He described the strugglethat his wife Maria had faced as her health wasfailing and she could not find healing. Thisstruggle was seeking to destroy her faith until sheunderstood the sovereignty of God. Below, Timin his own words describes how we can help intimes like these.

Tim and Maria's Story:As you know usually there is a primary care giverfor the patient - be it a spouse, parent, etc. I thinkwe tend to overlook the care giver - they areusually facing different emotions and strugglesthan the patient - they usually stay in somewhat ofa state of exhaustion.

I found with my first wife's cancer struggles andeventual death that most of the support/ministryseems to go to the patient and the care giver isusually in the periphery. She was diagnosed 8months after we were married and after 19 yearsincluding 40+ hospital stays and several majorsurgeries she passed away. As a believer I wasexhausted through it all...the emotional rollercoasters, financial struggles, etc.. Looking back

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I really needed a support group of believers thatunderstood the long exhausting struggles requiredof the care giver...cancer is usually a long drawnout affair...and usually ends in death.

What I found through it all...and my wife too wascomforted with this is.... the doctrine of thesovereignty of God, the providence of God. Yes,the Lord does require us all to pray, to seek him,to operate our faith...and then there are thosetimes that regardless what we want (life anddeath) - death does come eventually in this life.And that according to Romans, for believers allthings work to our good - including/especiallydeath. God knows every hair on my head at everymicro second and he provides every breath Itake...nothing can take me from his care - and allthat happens to me is designed for my good andhis glory. My wife struggled because she thoughther faith had to heal her, she struggled andprayed continuously holding onto scriptures...andwhen she grasped the understanding of thedoctrine of sovereignty and providence shebecame a different person, she was filled withpeace and was able to trust our Lord completely.

For I know the thoughts that I think towardyou, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and notof evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 2911

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This story touched my life too and it is my hopethat many will find peace and trust in the midst ofany storm that life brings. We must accept thesovereignty of God in our life as we pray, believe,and agree that His will be done.

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Chapter 9

Prayer for the Sick

When you prepare for a visit with someone ill or inthe hospital, prepare by searching for Scriptures toshare and seek how to pray. Even pray in advanceof your visit and invite the Holy Spirit to help youand to touch them before you arrive. We should beprepared to minister with confidence anddemonstrate an assuring attitude. The more youvisit, the more assurance you will have. However,every visit needs to be personal and heart felt.People can feel the care and know your purpose invisiting them. We can never touch them until wetouch Him.

We must take time to prepare our own heart to besure that we truly believe that God can and will healHis creation. It is the same Word of God thatbrought salvation and healing to us. Even theScriptures in Matthew 9, record Christ seeking toexplain this to the religious leaders when He said tothe Pharisees about the man that was lying on a bedof affliction, “For whether is easier, to say, Thy sinsbe forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But thatye may know that the Son of man hath power onearth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of thepalsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thinehouse. And he arose, and departed to his house.”

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This man's friends brought him to Christ and tooktime to help him. Their faith had touched Christ asthey knew that He would not only change this man'sphysical state but forever change His heart.

The family members and patient's friends will needministry as their heart seeks to understand. Beprepared to help them and seek to answer theirquestions. Many times it may be necessary to createan environment to minister to them by inviting themto the hospital cafeteria for coffee or a beverage.Over two-thirds of this world are lost and withoutChrist. Many that profess Christ are struggling andhave little understanding of His Word. Seek toevangelize through your friendship and love for thelost and hurting.

Ensure that you share a healing Scripture with thepatient. When God's Word is released into a life andmixed with prayer, the stage is set for Him to touchthe person with His peace and healing. We can seein Proverbs 4 that His Words contain health and canbe stored within our own heart. From our heart theycan be released into our life and produce health toour flesh.

Proverbs 420

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My son, attend to my words; incline thine earunto my sayings.

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them inthe midst of thine heart.

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23.

Our role is to sow seeds into lives and cultivate thisWord with our faith and trust in God. These seedscan produce salvation and health to those we visitand bring comfort through God's Word and our care.Let the words you speak be from your heart andhave a genuine care for the person. So many peopleare looking for someone to simply care. God willuse your heart and the Holy Spirit to flow His loveinto this world.

For they are life unto those that find them, andhealth to all their flesh

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it arethe issues of life.

Encourage them that as they yieldto the promises of God that they will find thehealing, strength, and the peace they seek.

Psalm 1031

2

3

4

5

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Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that iswithin me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healethall thy diseases;

Who ; whocrowneth thee with lovingkindness and tendermercies;

Who ; sothat thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executeth righteousness andjudgment for all that are oppressed.

forget not allhis benefits:

redeemeth thy life from destruction

satisfieth thy mouth with good things

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Chapter 10

Healing Through the Word

Throughout the Bible we find God's promisesconcerning healing. His Word not only containsHis promise but the very essence of healing and thefaith to receive. It is with faith that His promises arereceived. Sow many of these Scriptures into yourown life and be prepared to share Scriptures with thepatient as the Holy Spirit leads you. When you prayfor the patient, remember that Jesus is the Word thatwas made flesh. The Word is alive and will touch aheart and bring salvation, healing, and assurance.Believe that God can and will touch lives with HisWord and pray expectantly. We represent a livingChrist!

Exodus 23

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Deuteronomy 5

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And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and heshall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will takesickness away from the midst of thee.

Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORDyour God hath commanded you, that ye may live,and that it may be well with you, and that ye mayprolong your days in the land which ye shallpossess.

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Psalms 30

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Psalms 34

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Psalms 107

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Isaiah 53

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Isaiah 55

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Jeremiah 17

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O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hasthealed me.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but theLORD delivereth him out of them all.

He sent his word, and healed them, and deliveredthem from their destructions.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried oursorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten ofGod, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, hewas bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement ofour peace was upon him; and with his stripes we arehealed.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of mymouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shallaccomplish that which I please, and it shall prosperin the thing whereto I sent it.

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; saveme, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

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Matthew 4

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Matthew 8

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Matthew 9

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Matthew 18

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Matthew 19

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And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching intheir synagogues, and preaching the gospel of thekingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and allmanner of disease among the people.

And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, hesaw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her:and she arose, and ministered unto them.

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased withan issue of blood twelve years, came behind him,and touched the hem of his garment:

For she said within herself, If I may but touch hisgarment, I shall be whole.

But Jesus turned him about, and when he sawher, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faithhath made thee whole. And the woman was madewhole from that hour.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shallagree on earth as touching any thing that they shallask, it shall be done for them of my Father which isin heaven.

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finishedthese sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came

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into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;And great multitudes followed him; and he healed

them there.

And the blind and the lame came to him in thetemple; and he healed them.

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shallsay unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and bethou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in hisheart, but shall believe that those things which hesaith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoeverhe saith

. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever yedesire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,and ye shall have them.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because hehath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preachdeliverance to the captives, and recovering of sightto the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city,behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fellon his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thouwilt, thou canst make me clean.

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Matthew 21

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Mark 11

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Luke 4

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Luke 5

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29

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Luke 9

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Luke 10

8

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John 9

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5

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And he put forth his hand, and touched him,saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately theleprosy departed from him.

And the people, when they knew it, followed him:and he received them, and spake unto them of thekingdom of God, and healed them that had need ofhealing.

And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receiveyou, eat such things as are set before you:

And heal the sick that are therein, and say untothem, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which wasblind from his birth.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, whodid sin, this man, or his parents, that he was bornblind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, norhis parents: but that the works of God should bemade manifest in him.

I must work the works of him that sent me, while itis day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of theworld

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground,

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and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed theeyes of the blind man with the clay,

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,(which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his waytherefore, and washed, and came seeing.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that willI do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, yeshall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily,verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask theFather in my name, he will give it you.

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask,and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs:but the time cometh, when I shall no more speakunto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly ofthe Father.

At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say notunto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing bythe word of God.

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John 14

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John 15

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John 16

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Romans 10

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31

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James 5

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1 Peter 2

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1 John 5

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Is any sick among you? let him call for the eldersof the church; and let them pray over him, anointinghim with oil in the name of the Lord:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, andthe Lord shall raise him up; and if he havecommitted sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Who his own self bare our sins in his own bodyon the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should liveunto righteousness: by whose stripes ye werehealed.

And this is the confidence that we have in him,that, if we ask any thing according to his will, heheareth us:

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever weask, we know that we have the petitions that wedesired of him.

It is my prayer that God will use you to bringsalvation, comfort, peace, and healing to those thatare ill and in the hospital. You are not alone whenyou minister as the Holy Spirit will be with you aspromised in God's written Word. May God blessyou in all that you do for Him.

Richard C. Hobbs M.Div., is founder ofMercy Street Ministries, a ministry devotedto training laborers in the harvest and churchministry. He has spent thousands of hourstraining churches to share Christ in allsituations. He hopes that this book will helpothers to bring comfort and assurance tothose in need.

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Published byMercy Street Ministries

PO Box 121 • Alma, AR 72921Copyright © 2006

Accept the challengeto minister to others!