Imperfect Vessels and Healing Ministers – Part 1

An issue many Christians think about, especially those seeking to become more involved in healing, is that of ‘clean vessels‘.

Often, many believers avoid healing ministry and especially deliverance ministry because they feel that they are unclean vessels.

They may be wrestling with some sin, some hurt, an impure thought life and unconfessed sin.

It is advisable that people wrestling with strongholds of sin should be cautious about involvement in ministry, especially healing and deliverance.

I’m not even referring to the Sons of Sceva, who were given a thorough beating in the Book of Acts (Chapter 19) when they tried to mimic Paul in deliverance.  They were not believers afterall and their beating was predictable.

^19:11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Instead I refer to Christians seeking to be used by God in healing and deliverance.  Here’s how I understand it from the Word.  We operate in vessels of clay and can sin on a daily basis.  When we do, simply lean on 1 John 1:9, confess your sin, receive forgiveness, and then you can minister with all confidence.

However, if you are bound by a stronghold of sin – anger, ongoing spousal conflict, hate, alcoholism, sexual impurity, it is best to sort out your issues before you go forward. Why?  Because you generally will be less effective in ministry than if you were a pure vessel.

I say ‘generally’, because sometimes God will work through impure vessels, just out of His compassion for the sick. However, the thing is that when He does this, many are deceived that He is OK with their current lifestyle and they continue in sin.  That is the tragedy of mortgaging truth.

In deliverance,  it is more dangerous, because if for example, you are having an affair and attempt to perform deliverance, the demons may actually call you out on it.  Both embarrassing and faith destroying for you and your congregation.

So what to do – continue your affair and don’t attempt deliverance?  Lord no!  Stop the affair, the flirting with pornography, unforgiveness and THEN continue with deliverance ministry.  There are many sadly, with godly callings on their compromised lives who run away from their callings for this obvious reason.

It is a very dangerous way to live, because you are unhooked from God’s purpose for your life.  If you need help to become free, seek help and don’t be prideful.  Sometimes, folks cannot get free without help and we are called to help each other.

I have more to share about this, but I’ll hold it for the next post.