If you had to sum up the ministry of Jesus, it would include three features: teaching, exorcising demons and healing! As followers of Jesus and recipients of his Spirit, the church should also be known for healing. But how does it work, and what role does the Spirit’s voice have to play?

In this episode of the God Conversations podcast, we talk with Kirk Delaney, Pastor of Pine Rivers Vineyard Church in Brisbane Queensland, Director of the Australian Vineyard Churches and a follower of Jesus who is experienced in hearing God’s voice for healing.

You’ll hear about:

• Kirk’s initial attraction to the Vineyard movement that came about because they were not just concerned with moral and spiritual transformation, but in partnering with the Holy Spirit to do the empowering works of Jesus, including healing the sick and casting out demons.

“My question was, why are signs and wonders happening in the Majority world but not in the West?”

• The first major healing Kirk witnessed when the Holy Spirit fell on a woman with a pronounced curvature of the spine and a large protrusion on one of her shoulders. Over 45 mins of prayer, Kirk watched as her leg grew, her spine straightened and the bump on her shoulder disappeared like a deflating balloon. Kirk’s response was, “God, I don’t know you, do I?!”
• The connection between compassion and the the healing ministry of Jesus. Holy Spirit speaks to move us with love for hurting people in the manner of Jesus.
• The mandate on every person to continue Jesus’ ministry of healing. Everyone has authorisation to engage – not just the “super healers” on stage!

“Everyone gets to do the work of Jesus!”

• The first time Kirk stepped out in hearing God’s voice and healing, involving an unusual story of a woman who had recently lost her husband and was suffering from an arthritic pinkie finger. Kirk explains how we hear God through all the senses – feeling, seeing, hearing – as God draws our attention to something in another person.

“God I know you want to talk to me about healing for someone, but my right pinkie finger is really throbbing!”

• Advice for starting out: start simply – ask God, “is there anyone here on your heart that you would like to touch with your love today?”
• Kirk’s thoughts on why healing doesn’t always happen.

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About Kirk Delaney

Kirk is married to Nichole and they have three young adult children and a new son-in-law. Together they pastor the Pine Rivers Vineyard Church in Brisbane and serve as the national directors of Vineyard Churches Australia (https://vineyard.org.au/). Kirk has been serving in local church ministry for 30 years and has a big heart to see God’s people equipped for living the message, ministry and mission of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.