Preparation of the Healing Minister: Humility and Holiness - Lesson 3
- Pr Enos Mwakalindile
- Aug 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 21
Key Verse: “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29)
Can you love the person you minister to even if they are not healed? How is your spiritual readiness prepared?
Introduction
The ministry of healing requires profound preparation that goes beyond powerful speeches or spiritual displays. A healing minister should have a humble heart, be selfless, and live a life of repentance and purity of heart (Psalm 24:3–4). This lesson guides you on how to prepare spiritually, morally, psychologically, and even socially to be a clean vessel that God can use for the healing of others.
Key Learning Points
1. Prayer and Fasting Begin Ministry with the Spirit's Power.
“This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29)
Jesus explained to His disciples that dark forces cannot be overcome by mere words but by a deep life of prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). Prayer and fasting open the heart to the work of the Holy Spirit and enable the servant to overcome fear, doubt, and personal desires. It's like fueling up before a journey: without prayer, ministry becomes weak and undirected.
2. Leadership in Ministry Should Be Compassionate, Not for Personal Gain.
“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.” (1 Peter 5:2–3)
The healing ministry is not a platform for seeking personal honor or wealth, but a call to self-sacrificing love. Jesus set an example of humility when He washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:12–15), showing that true leadership is about serving others. A leader in the healing ministry should have a caring heart, not a desire for praise.
3. God Uses the Humble and Contrite Spirit.
“But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 66:2)
God does not associate with proud hearts (James 4:6). Those who recognize their weaknesses and rely on God's grace are given the opportunity to partner with Him in a wonderful way (2 Corinthians 12:9). The healing ministry requires a heart ready to receive and transmit God's grace with love and compassion for the sick.
4. Guard Your Heart with Diligence.
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
The heart is the center of thoughts, motivations, and intentions. It's easy to stray and seek fame or personal gain, especially when you witness God working through you (Jeremiah 17:9). God's Word teaches us to have inner discipline and live with humility and faithfulness, putting Christ alone as the source of praise and glory.
5. Maintaining Mental and Emotional Health.
“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
The healing ministry also requires psychological and health preparation. The minister should avoid excessive fatigue, stress, or emotional wounds that can affect the ministry. Taking care of physical health, resting, and seeking counsel when necessary enables the minister to be mentally and emotionally stable.
6. Continuous Learning and Collaboration with Others.
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)
A healing minister should continue to learn through God's Word, theological training, and psychological training. Collaboration with other ministry servants, doctors, or counselors strengthens the effectiveness of the ministry and avoids professional or technical shortcomings.
7. Personal Life Testimony and Openness of Heart.
“You are the light of the world… let your light shine before men.” (Matthew 5:14–16)
The sick and believers who value the healing ministry need to see proof of faith and humility in the minister's life. Openness and purity of heart make the ministry genuine and spiritually attractive.
Discussion Questions
Why are prayer and fasting essential preparation before the healing ministry? (Mark 9:29)
What dangers can arise for a leader who uses ministry for personal gain? (1 Peter 5:2–3)
How can you guard your heart against pride and greed when you see God working through your ministry? (Proverbs 4:23)
Why are mental and physical health important for the effectiveness of the healing ministry? (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
How do continuous education and collaboration with others strengthen the healing ministry? (Proverbs 27:17)
Homework Assignment
Write a prayer of repentance and dedication to God, asking for humility and a servant's heart.
Practice a role-play with a friend, showing the difference between a ministry that relies on prayer and one that is not well-prepared.
Read and reflect on 1 Peter 5:2–3, then list three characteristics of a good spiritual leader.
Create a schedule for taking care of physical health and resting as part of ministry readiness.
Plan for continuous training or collaboration with another person in the healing ministry.
Important: Prepare for the Healing Ministry
Preparing for the healing ministry is the foundation of its spiritual success. Spiritual, moral, psychological, health, educational, and collaborative readiness makes the servant a vessel of honor, cleansed for good works (2 Timothy 2:21).
Next lesson: How to Minister to the Sick – Listening, Praying, and Helping.
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