Power in the house

The household of God is not a quiet house. The last thing Jesus said before he went up was: "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses." The same Spirit that raised you from the dead in chapter one was given so that you could tell people, and so that God could confirm what you tell them.

Paul says that in the family everyone gets something. "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good": wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, powerful deeds, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, interpretation. Given "just as the Spirit chooses", not as we choose, and given to build up the body, not to make anyone important. Some people will tell you that all this stopped with the apostles. The Bible does not say that anywhere. Mark's gospel ends with signs that "will accompany those who believe" (Mark 16:17), and Acts shows them doing exactly that.

So your church prays for the sick and expects things to happen. James tells you what to do when you are ill: "call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up." Notice where James puts it: in the church, with the elders. This is family business.

None of this is a formula. God is not a vending machine and people sometimes stay sick. But he has told you to ask, and told you he hears. So ask, in the name of Jesus, and expect him to answer.