New Heart Nation Issue 1 | Page 16

Inner Healing Many years ago, while working as missionaries in Japan, Kathie and I began to question why our ministry and the ministries of many others more anointed and qualified than us, were not more fruitful. There were few converts, and within a short time many often fell away. God said, “There is too much competition and jealousy!” I (Robert) questioned Him about the roots of our divisiveness and strife. I felt the Lord speaking to my heart that insufficient healing of unresolved root issues produces bitter fruits. Serving on the mission field tends to expose these, which usually show up as conflicts in family and team relationship! and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. Unity among believers has always been God’s heart for the church. It seems that people often hear a call to unity from a multitude of leaders, but are not given a strategy to make it happen. Most of the doctrinal and personal issues causing division in the Body of Christ are directly related to the need for healing of the heart. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart (Luke 6:45, NAS). Within a few months, we returned to the United States to seek heart-healing and “spiritual parents” who could help us. But the burden in my heart for the lost was greater than ever. John 17:20-21 became my life verse: For as he thinks within himself, so he is… (Proverbs 23:7a NAS). I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, Page 16 The first time we heard John and Paula Sandford (founders of Elijah House Ministries) teach, we knew we had found our spiritual parents and the strategies needed for healing and unity! We immersed ourselves in the study of principles for healing the heart, and applied them to our marriage and family. As we continued in our studies we learned that Elijah House is first and foremost a prophetic ministry which speaks new life into the heart of the church. At Elijah House we often state that our goal is to “evangelize the unbelieving areas of the believer’s heart,” but our ultimate goal is to heal the church by helping individuals and families find and fulfill God’s original design and destiny, and through that, to promote unity in the body of Christ. Any unhealed wound, judgment, lie, or inner vow in the heart, signifies that in a particular area, the heart cannot receive God’s promises and the Truth of His Word, and therefore keep us from living out Truth in relationships. Ephesians 4 exhorts us to not to continue acting like children. We respond like children when bitter roots from childhood are triggered.