When Jesus healed the sick, stilled the storm, and cursed the fig tree, he didn’t pray.

His relationship with Abba was closer than ours. But only three times in the New Testament did people pray before ministry, and they teach us valuable lessons.

Raising Faith

In Acts 28, the prisoner Paul enters the house of the chief official’s father, sick in bed with dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him (Acts 28:8). The Greek says, “Having prayed”.

Paul prayed, then laid hands (ministry), and God healed him. These were unbelievers. Paul needed to create an atmosphere of faith, showing then where the power came from. With their faith high, the rest of the sick came and were cured.

Raising Dorcas

In Joppa, a godly older disciple died. The saints called Peter and led him upstairs to her room. He removed them, got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” (Acts 9:40). She sat up.

First prayer, then ministry using a command. Why? Dorcas (aka Tabitha) was the oldest person to be raised from the dead in the Bible. Perhaps it was her time to go home to the Lord? Peter needed to know.

Raising Lazarus

When his good friend died, Jesus waited two days then walked another two days to the village. In front of the tomb, he prays this weird prayer. “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me” (John 11:41-42).

He then called, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man emerged. Prayer then ministry. He didn’t need to pray, but wanted us to know he’d already prayed and had the answer.

Prayer and ministry are quite different. Both are vital. Prayer is communication with God—a vertical transaction. Ministry is communication with people—a horizontal transaction.

In these three occasions, something needed to be established first, before the ministry. After that, they were good to go.