Man was created in God’s image. Our creator is triune; meaning three parts. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Man was also created with 3 parts; Body, Spirit and Soul (1 Thess. 5:23). Within the soul there are 3 other parts; the MIND (thoughts), the EMOTIONS (how we feel), and the WILL (our choices). When we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior and became born again, we became a new creation in Christ (2 Corinth 5:17). Our Spirit man has been perfected (Hebrews 12:23). Our body and our soul are in the process of being renewed (Romans 8:11, Phil. 2:21).

 

What is the difference between Inner Healing and Deliverance?

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            Deliverance is the practice of commanding demons to leave a person or a place in the name of Jesus. This is an event that happens in a matter of moments. Demons must flee at the name of Jesus. Sometimes people have multiple demons, and this deliverance process tends to take more time, depending on the type of deliverance prayers that are used, and according to the desperation or willingness of the one being delivered.

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            Inner Healing is the process through which our Soul is brought into healthy balance. This is a much longer process than simply casting demons out. Even when we have been delivered of demons, there still may be un-healthy inner thoughts, bad life choices, and negative emotions that keep us from walking in the fullness of what Christ paid for on the cross.

 

            Sometimes, when people accept Jesus into their heart and invite Him to be their Lord and Savior, they have a powerful encounter that turns their world upside down. Those who observe this transition can visibly tell that this person was completely changed, even to the very core of who they are. There is a supernatural grace to lay down our lives and fully take on the character of Christ. This is available to all who call upon the name of the Lord, but many times, this transformation does not immediately take place. In some cases, this may take months or years. In other cases, a believer can walk with Jesus for 20 years, and still never have this life changing encounter that changes the thoughts, emotions and choices.

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            Even in those cases with Christians who had a powerful life change after salvation, there is still a need for inner healing and deliverance. In most cases, our pride tells us that we have it all together and are not in need of any assistance from others. In my experience, even those in ministry who look like they have it all together, are still in just as much need of inner healing and deliverance as those who manifest negative thoughts, words, or actions outwardly.

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What is a Stronghold?
 

          For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

 

Any thought in your mind that is in opposition to the Word of God, is a Stronghold.

Any emotions or choices that result from those ungodly thoughts are the symptoms of the Stronghold.

 

Let’s use the visual metaphor of a hurricane to explain.

 

         The actual hurricane storm that causes all the damage represents the demons. The demons influence and establish habits of wrong thinking, which causes unhealthy emotions and choices. Some people find their lives in chaos, much like a storm or hurricane. When someone is delivered of the demons, it’s like the breath of God blew the hurricane away. Now after a hurricane leaves, there is great destruction and devastation left behind. It takes years to clean up the wreckage from a hurricane. Although the demons have been removed, the mess that is left behind can take years to remove and rebuild. Although the demons are gone, we are left with unhealthy thoughts, emotions, habits, and even consequences of our actions to deal with.

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          Inner healing is the process by which we target those unhealthy emotions or habits. There is only one way to be changed; it is by the washing of the water of the word of God. We renew our mind and emotions by taking every thought captive. By filtering everything through Jesus. There is no quick fix. There is no easy way out. Even those who are radically changed in a moment by a powerful encounter with Jesus, will still have thoughts and emotions that will later need to be dealt with and changed. Inner Healing is helpful to everyone.

 

How Do We Facilitate Inner Healing and Deliverance?

 

            Inner healing is not a quick fix. It is a lifelong process, as we grow in spiritual maturity through discipleship. The first step is to cast out any demons that still have control or influence. Deliverance only removes the demon itself. Deliverance does not remove the patterns of negative thoughts and emotions that we call Strongholds. These thoughts and behaviors were developed and learned over time and they will take time to heal. This is why we need Inner Healing.

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            Discipleship is a commitment; to submit to Godly authority, to be taught and trained to follow God and walk in His ways, to identify any Inner Healing needs, and work together with the mentor or spiritual leader to purify the hidden thoughts and emotions. We need someone who is close enough to us to know the true state of our thoughts and emotions. Someone who will be honest with us and help us identify any lies we are still believing.

For decades, there has been a lack of discipleship in the churches. This church wide discipleship deficiency allows believers to come to church services every week, and never truly get rooted and grounded in the church, or in Jesus. If congregants never open up and make deeper connections with other believers, there will be no one to call and check on them, help them through struggles, or hold them accountable for their sins.

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        Deliverance can be administered in the middle of a church service, in a prayer line, or in a scheduled meeting with a deliverance team. Breaking Inner Vows, breaking Soul Ties or changing Generational Sin Patterns usually takes more time, and takes more understanding and participation from the one seeking to be free.

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       The initial stage of Inner Healing can be administered in a conference, a series of meetings, classes, counseling sessions, or through a mentor or spiritual parent. Although the initial application of Inner Healing can be facilitated over the course of a few weeks or months, the process to walking in the fullness of Jesus and His character is developed over a life time. Inner Healing never stops. Discipleship should never stop.

 

Inner Healing is the lifetime process of being DISCIPLED to walk in the fullness of Christ; our thoughts, our choices, and our emotions aligned with Him.

 

Our thoughts are renewed as we learn and study the word of God.

 

The entire Bible brings Inner Healing.

 

Our choices change as our thought life is healed.

 

Our emotions are healed as we uncover the lies, we have believed from the enemy. We then use the word of God as a weapon when negative emotions arise.

 

It is not enough to know the Word of God. We must wholeheartedly believe it!!