⁷Then he called together his twelve apostles and sent them out two by two with power over evil spirits. ⁸He told them, "You may take along a walking stick. But don't carry food or a traveling bag or any money. ⁹It's all right to wear sandals, but don't take along a change of clothes. ¹⁰When you are welcomed into a home, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹If any place won't welcome you or listen to your message, leave and shake the dust from your feet as a warning to them."

¹²The apostles left and started telling everyone to turn to God. ¹³They forced out many demons and healed a lot of sick people by putting olive oil on them. (CEV)

Jesus’ method for disciple-making was first and foremost teaching – changing the mind. Then comes learning by example, then sending out to experiment and do the work. So the disciples get sent out to have a go. The work is the same as Jesus’ – passing on what they’ve learned.

But notice something interesting, they healed many people using olive oil, something Jesus never did as far as we know. Healing isn’t a certain procedure, all kinds of different ways can be used. Just as with other aspects of being a Christian, the form isn’t what matters, it’s the attitude and the faith involved.

As I’ve mentioned before, Jesus mostly healed by just “assuming” it had happened. Sometimes he healed without even doing anything, for example the woman who touched his robe. Other times he got people to exercise their faith, for example going to see the priest, or stretching out an arm. The disciples here used oil. Jesus commanded demons to leave – but never (apart from one possible exception) commanded a sickness.

We need to be open to the Holy Spirit’s guiding in each case, and consider – what do I have faith to pray for? Or to do? I believe Jesus could heal the way he did because he had far more faith than me; the disciples used olive oil at least partly because it gave them a way to put faith into action, something tangible to do to exercise faith, that Jesus didn’t need to do.

Me, I feel most confident in coming in prayer, listening to God, and praying what I believe he is saying to pray. But whatever I do, if it is done with no expectation then there’s probably no point to it. God is strong and he is good – he can act, and he wants to act. We need to remember both of those things as we pray for healing.