So only elders are to pray for folks in the church and signs and wonders are to occur outside the church, am I understanding your thoughts correctly?
Anyone who believes in Christ can lay hands on the sick and expect recovery. But in the church, the elders have the responsibility according to James. So, anyone who wants to lay hands on any sick person in the church service or as part of the direct ministry of the church needs to consult with the elders first. If the elders know the person and recognise that he or she is an appropriate person to perform that ministry, they will give permission.
This stops any old tom dick or harry coming into a church and usurping the role of the church leadership. It is good manners to consult with the pastor or elders before conducting any ministry in the church. Anyone can do anything they like out on the street or in a private home.
The problem in many churches, especially in the more relaxed environment of the Pentecostal or Charismatic churches, is that any person who feels "led of God" interferes and tries to conduct ministry without asking permission from the leadership. We have people from the lunatic fringe trying to cast out demons, giving long loud prophecies, getting up in "body ministry" times and preaching nonsense. This has brought much confusion into these churches at times.
I have been associated with different churches for the last 50 years. I am the senior elder in my church. I don't do anything that is part of the spiritual ministry of the church without consulting with the other elders. I am also the treasurer and I won't spend any of the church's money without consulting with the Board of Managers (deacons).
I have been involved with an interdenominational prophetic ministry group. Even though I have years of experience in the prophetic, I will never get up and speak at any conferences or meetings unless I am invited; nor will I join in with the ministry team to pray for those who come forward for prayer unless invited. If I am not invited to take any practical part, then I feel I have no right and therefore I stay back in my seat.
I have a recognised ministry in getting people through to certain gifts of the Spirit, and am known for success in this area. But I never offer the ministry unless asked to. It is because I am not part of the leadership and therefore have to be subject to the leadership in anything I do there.
But in my own home or as part of a ministry team on the street, or at work, or anywhere else where I have personal freedom, I don't hesitate to offer ministry. I was an interviewer with a prospective employee of the community organisation I work with. She disclosed that she had treatement for cancer but there was an inoperable bit. After the interview, I took her by the wrist (after asking her permission of course!) and cursed that cancel and told it to shrivel up and die. The lady gladly accepted the prayer because I was the appropriate person at the right time.
I was a visitor in a Charismatic Methodist home group once. I was asked to speak, and so I did. Then I asked if I could put the "hot seat" out so that anyone who wanted prayer could be ministered to. I then wanted to pray out loud in tongues and so, out of respect for them, I asked their permission. Afterward they told me that this was the first time that a Pentecostal person actually asked permission to be able to pray in tongues. What happened as a result, was that I was able to give absolutely accurate prophecies over each member of the group, and they were amazed that a complete stranger knew things that I could never have known except the Holy Spirit revealing them to me. They ended up yahooing and rejoicing, especially when I said to a person facing bankruptcy (which I didn't know) that God wanted to give him a financial miracle!
I believe that God fully supports anyone who respects leadership and seeks to work in with the authority in a church.
