Hope of Israel Ministries (Ecclesia of YEHOVAH):

The apostle James declared: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:14-16) -- or "has great power and impact."

Obviously, YEHOVAH God desires His people to call upon His ministry for prayer for healing when they become sick, ill, or afflicted with some disease. But what can we do if there is no such minister available locally whom we can trust, who is proven to be a true minister of YEHOVAH God?

We read in the book of Acts how the apostle Paul was used by YEHOVAH God Almighty to do special miracles of healing the sick and casting out demons through sending special cloths to the sick and afflicted. Luke records: "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19:11-12).

Even more amazing, I suppose, we find in the book of Acts, "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people . . . Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them" (Acts 5:12-15).

Luke goes on describing them: "There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one" (Acts 5:16).

These miracles were similar to those performed by the Messiah himself, who gave this power to his disciples. Matthew records that Yeshua sent forth the disciples on a special mission, preaching the gospel, and told them, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons: freely ye have received, freely give" (Matt.10:5-8). Luke records in his gospel, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick" (Luke 9:1-2).

The Messiah himself set us the example. "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disase among the people" (Matt.9:35). He gave this same authority and power to his true, converted, servants, led by YEHOVAH God's spirit. His parting instructions to his disciples were: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe ALL things I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matt.28:19-20). Yeshua is still with us, today. He has not departed and left us on our own. He now sits at the right hand of YEHOVAH God the Father, interceding for us as our High Priest (Heb.4:14-16). He set us an example, that his ministers should follow in his steps, and perform the works he set forth before us, that he Himself did (I Pet.2:21; I John 2:6).

Yeshua said, in fact, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:12-15).

Yeshua the Messiah declared to two blind men, who came to him for healing, "Believe ye that I able to do this?" They responded: "Yea, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it unto you." And their eyes were opened and they were healed of their blindness (Matt.9:28-30). Healing is a simple matter of faith -- and obedience to YEHOVAH God. YEHOVAH will not heal one who knowingly and deliberately practices sin. If we come to Him obediently, keeping His commandments to the best of our knowledge, and then exercise faith in His promises and His instructions, FAITH IN THE MESSIAH, then He promises to heal us, "according to our faith."

Yeshua declared unequivocally, "Have faith in God." He went on, saying that if a person even asks a mountain to be cast into the sea (a mountain endangering us, or obstructing our pathway in serving YEHOVAH God), "and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:22-24).

This kind of faith itself is a gift of YEHOVAH God (Eph.2:8-10), and a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal.5:22-23). "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Rom.1:17). As John wrote, "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4). This is not just our human faith, but the faith of the Messiah dwelling in us through the Holy Spirit. As Paul declared, he sought to be found in the Messiah, "not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Phil.3:9-10). As Paul wrote, "Christ in you [is] the hope of glory" (Col.1:27).

YEHOVAH God's Word is sure. His love is steadfast. As David wrote, "Bless the LORD [YHVH, pronounced "YEHOVAH"], O my soul: and all that is in me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth ALL thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases" (Psalm 103:1-3). One of God's great titles, or names, is YEHOVAH-ROPHEKA, which means "God our Healer," "The Lord Who Heals you" (see Exodus 15:26). Another of His Hebrew title-names is YEHOVAH-YIREH, meaning, "The Lord Who Sees," "The Lord Who Will Provide" (see Gen.16:13).

Since so many people do not have a local minister, whom they can sincerely trust to do as James says, and there are so many scattered people who need prayer for healing from time to time, we have prayed about it, and have determined to follow the example of the Scriptures, and the apostle Paul, by sending out "prayer cloths" to those who ask for prayer for healing. One may use the cloth as often as they wish, and as many times as they feel necessary, if they are not healed at once, immediately. But when one is healed, then they should no longer keep the cloth but throw it away or destroy it. It is only a piece of cloth, and must not become an item of idolatry or worship. It is YEHOVAH God who heals, through the power of His holy spirit -- not the piece of cloth.

With these thoughts and examples in mind, we send out prayer cloths to those who request prayer for healing. These are simple pieces of cloth, or cut up hankerchiefs. They are not "anointed" with oil, as some have done in the past. Paul's example was merely to send out pieces of cloth which he had touched. No oil was used, or any other ingredient.

When a person receives such a cloth from us, they should take it, place it on their body, near the spot where they are afflicted (if it is localized), otherwise on their head or near their heart, and go and pray, on their knees, if possible, asking YEHOVAH God to heal them, in faith, accordng to His Word and the examples set in His Word, in the name of Yeshua the Messiah, our Messiah and Saviour and Redeemer. If you are in need of prayer for healing, or some affliction, at any time, and would like to receive a prayer cloth, please let us know. We would be happy to pray for you and serve you in this way.