If you've been reading this blog for very long, you already know that I am very passionate about the realities of God; our spiritual journey; and the transformation of our hearts - becoming more like Jesus.
I had a great conversation the other day with a close friend regarding inner healing. It seems some in the Church don't see a significant reason to dig into the heart to get free from strongholds and habitual sin. There is the mentality of simply "take every thought captive" and choose to get your thinking and your life in line with the Word of God. I personally believe this is only a piece of the puzzle needed to maintain long-term freedom.
After many years of trying to renew my own mind with the truth of God, I found a deeper "inner healing" was necessary in both me as well as those I minister to - in order to gain and maintain permanent change in the soul. Otherwise, my journey looked like this: sin, repent, freedom, sin, repent, freedom - over and over again with the same issue. Very laborious and discouraging.
As a result, I went searching for something that would make a permanent change in me - true FREEDOM. I was exhausted and tired of repeating this same pattern. Now, I can truly say that since becoming a Christian 24 years ago MUCH or even MOST of my spiritual growth and transformation has been a DIRECT result of Jesus’ healing touch to my heart - a deep, personal healing encounter.
Before these healings, my agreement with God’s Word was merely lip-service – I was not transformed by it. I was the same person I was before meeting Jesus. The only difference was I worked harder to be “nice” and not sin – but my effort was mostly in my flesh.
Almost 15 years ago, I started on a healing journey. After battling years of cyclical, clinical depression, I pursued “Christian” counseling that eventually led to personal ministry for deliverance and inner healing.
These experiences have involved a variety of processes including Theophostics, Restoring The Foundations, The More Excellent Way, Lessons in Freedom, Neil Anderson’s material, Pablo Patari, etc, etc.
After learning all I could about deliverance, I moved on to studying inner healing, and then most recently have been focusing on the soul – the part WE have in our own sanctification process. I believe each of these areas plays a critical role in us being transformed into the image and likeness of Christ.
THE PROCESS:
These transformative encounters with Jesus have included the key elements of deliverance, healing and an understanding of the soul.
Each encounter looked different but they all involved me repenting for my sin (of unbelief, anger, unforgiveness, pride, judgment, etc.); renouncing the sin (taking back authority I’d given the enemy); rebuking the enemy (commanding the spirits to leave in Jesus’ name - deliverance); forgiving everyone involved and releasing them from any retribution; and then breaking all ungodly soul ties with all those involved including myself.
Every time He’s touched my heart (soul) to heal it, He’s revealed unmet needs or unhealed hurts, reminded me of their root (memory), revealed the TRUTH to me, and then RENEWED my mind and HEALED my heart.
After these “inner healings,” I experienced real deliverance. By this I mean, I was set FREE from wrong desires, wrong thinking, wrong beliefs about myself, God and others. Old habits, patterns and strongholds were broken. I did not continue to struggle to take “every single thought captive” because the wrong thoughts were eliminated. *keep in mind, even Paul was a man who struggled with ongoing sin and strongholds. I believe HE would have benefited greatly from such healing encounters*
This TRUE deliverance was only possible because the open doors (i.e. the sin that gave the enemy access) were sealed shut by the blood of Jesus. When the wounds that exist in our hearts are healed, we no longer respond in sinful ways to meet our own needs, and the cycle is broken. We no longer offer an open a door for the enemy to come in.
Lastly, after each leg in my journey of healing and deliverance, I’ve been called to a higher level of surrender in my SOUL – where I continue to break soul ties, tear down strongholds, reject false personas, deny my flesh, feed the Spirit and press on. (see my previous post on the soul for more detail. )
Many have commented that these "processes" seem so complicated. I want to reply to the comment, "Jesus ministered in such simplicity. Why are these processes so complex?"
Yes, the concept is SIMPLE – but simple does not mean easy. Is it simple to say we surrender all? We forgive someone? We repent for all our sin? These are simple ideas, but not always easy to walk out.
I say the same goes for this battle we fight against the principalities and powers of darkness as well as the strongholds we’ve built in our minds – every VAIN imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of GOD. These are simple concepts that are often difficult to walk out.
War is strategic. It takes time, effort and revelation. Simple idea, "go win the war" – but not an easy directive to walk out! I believe our journey with Jesus involves much effort. It is not EASY. It can be strategic, intense and deep… BUT we PRESS ON to finish the race well.
The fact that the sanctification of our souls, our transformation into the image of Christ, goes deep into our hearts, reveals hidden realities of our souls, involves our entire life (childhood and adulthood), requires time, effort and revelation on our part, is not quick and easy spiritual "fast food," DOES NOT mean it's "too complicated" or "difficult" to pursue. Jesus wants to partner with us on our journey and we need to be willing to go wherever He wants us to go - even when His destination is deep into our own hearts.
be strong and courageous and grab a hold of the healing hand of God - it might be hard road, but so worth it!
