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Deliverance and Inner Healing
This comprehensive guide brings reconciliation as it equips Christians to minister deliverance and inner healing in a mature manner.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1992
106 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
John Loren Sandford
48 books33 followersJohn Sandford and and his wife Paula are co-founders of Elijah House, Inc., an international ministry established in 1975 in response to the Lord's calling in Malachi 4:5-6 and Matthew 17:11
They have traveled extensively, teaching the biblical principles of repentance and forgiveness, highlighting the transforming power of Jesus' death and resurrection. They are considered pioneers in the prophetic and inner healing movements. Their vision has been to reveal that which keeps believers bound in repetitive sin; by, as John says, "evangelizing the unbelieving areas of the believer's heart."
John and Paula have sown a deeper understanding of the Word into the Body of Christ, especially regarding the four spiritual laws, illuminating the biblical truth that these laws are just as certain as the law of gravity in how they affect our lives. Their work in the Kingdom has brought transformation of individuals and reconciliation of relationships to countless thousands, from individuals and families to denominations and people groups,and most ultimately, reconciliation with The Father.
John graduated from seminary with an M. Div. in Religion and Personality. He pastored churches in Illinois, Kansas, and Idaho for 21 years before founding Elijah House. Paula was active in these churches in music and Christian education, and also taught English and Spanish in public high school for several years. She joined her husband in the team ministry of Elijah House from its beginning and was ordained in 1995.
John and his wife Paula experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit in 1958, which has enriched their ministry ever since. They have been married since 1951, have 6 children, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
They have traveled extensively, teaching the biblical principles of repentance and forgiveness, highlighting the transforming power of Jesus' death and resurrection. They are considered pioneers in the prophetic and inner healing movements. Their vision has been to reveal that which keeps believers bound in repetitive sin; by, as John says, "evangelizing the unbelieving areas of the believer's heart."
John and Paula have sown a deeper understanding of the Word into the Body of Christ, especially regarding the four spiritual laws, illuminating the biblical truth that these laws are just as certain as the law of gravity in how they affect our lives. Their work in the Kingdom has brought transformation of individuals and reconciliation of relationships to countless thousands, from individuals and families to denominations and people groups,and most ultimately, reconciliation with The Father.
John graduated from seminary with an M. Div. in Religion and Personality. He pastored churches in Illinois, Kansas, and Idaho for 21 years before founding Elijah House. Paula was active in these churches in music and Christian education, and also taught English and Spanish in public high school for several years. She joined her husband in the team ministry of Elijah House from its beginning and was ordained in 1995.
John and his wife Paula experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit in 1958, which has enriched their ministry ever since. They have been married since 1951, have 6 children, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 1, 2012
Very comprehensive and insightful. Will sit in my library forever I think. If you have involvement in inner healing or deliverance this book is a MUST have and MUST keep. Easy to reference and full of decades of wisdom and biblical insight.
December 28, 2014
EXCELLENT. Recommend reading and/or keeping it in your library as a ministry resource.
August 21, 2024
JOHN SANDFORD AND HIS SON WRITE IN GREATER DETAIL ABOUT THESE TWO AREAS
John Loren Sandford and his wife Paula founded Elijah House, Inc. (a counseling and training ministry) in 1973; before this, John had pastored churches for 21 years. They have written many other books, such as 'The Transformation of the Inner Man,' 'Healing the Wounded Spirit,' 'Why Some Christians Commit Adultery,' etc. Mark Sanford is one of their sons.
They wrote in the Preface to this 1992 book, "This book grew in the telling. Mark and I intended solely to reconcile and unite the two fields of deliverance and inner healing... I found myself thinking of a more comprehensive manual for deliverance and inner healing... Our hope and aim for the entire book is twofold: to bring understanding and reconciliation between the disciplines of deliverance and inner healing; and to equip the Body for the ministry of deliverance and healing to which the Lord calls us in these days." (Pg. 9-10)
They state, "'Inner Healing' is actually a misnomer. It was first called the 'healing of memories,' which was even more incorrect. What it truly is and should be called is 'prayer and counsel for sanctification and transformation.' It is not merely a way to restore hurting people, though it does that. It is a ministry within the Body of Christ to enable believers to come to more effective and continual death on the cross, and resurrection into the fulness of life in Christ." (Pg. 18) They add, "Inner healing is effected by our listening to one another until God allows us to see whatever quirks in our old nature have not yet found their death on the cross." (Pg. 54)
They argue, "I do not believe that a Holy Spirit-controlled Christian can be fully possessed. But I have ministered to hundreds of Christians... who yet remained demonized in one degree or another. The first level I call 'infestation.' In this case, demons are not actually within the person but gathered all about him." (Pg. 28) Later, they note, "The Bible clearly states that a Christian cannot be possessed... But the Bible says just as clearly that demons can gain a foothold." (Pg. 92)
They assert, "Inner healing may make use of psychological insights, but it does not stand on psychology... Psychologists want to restore people's capacity to function. This not necessarily a Christian's aim. Christian counselors know that God will put a person 'between a rock and a hard place' in order to write something on his or her heart. If the person escapes the situation too soon, God will have to put him or her into another... Psychologists want to restore a person's self-image... [but] a strong self-image creates confidence in the flesh, whereas the Bible teaches that the arm of flesh will fail, and that we are to put no confidence in the flesh... We have, instead, a Christian identity---altogether different from a self-image." (Pg. 77-78) Later, John adds, "I believe it is shallow and reductionist to say that ALL psychology is 'worldly' or 'of Satan.' What is, in fact, satanic is the underlying philosophy that pervades much of the field---that human nature is basically good." (Pg. 176)
This book will be of interest to those Christians who like the Sandfords' other counselng and inner healing books.
John Loren Sandford and his wife Paula founded Elijah House, Inc. (a counseling and training ministry) in 1973; before this, John had pastored churches for 21 years. They have written many other books, such as 'The Transformation of the Inner Man,' 'Healing the Wounded Spirit,' 'Why Some Christians Commit Adultery,' etc. Mark Sanford is one of their sons.
They wrote in the Preface to this 1992 book, "This book grew in the telling. Mark and I intended solely to reconcile and unite the two fields of deliverance and inner healing... I found myself thinking of a more comprehensive manual for deliverance and inner healing... Our hope and aim for the entire book is twofold: to bring understanding and reconciliation between the disciplines of deliverance and inner healing; and to equip the Body for the ministry of deliverance and healing to which the Lord calls us in these days." (Pg. 9-10)
They state, "'Inner Healing' is actually a misnomer. It was first called the 'healing of memories,' which was even more incorrect. What it truly is and should be called is 'prayer and counsel for sanctification and transformation.' It is not merely a way to restore hurting people, though it does that. It is a ministry within the Body of Christ to enable believers to come to more effective and continual death on the cross, and resurrection into the fulness of life in Christ." (Pg. 18) They add, "Inner healing is effected by our listening to one another until God allows us to see whatever quirks in our old nature have not yet found their death on the cross." (Pg. 54)
They argue, "I do not believe that a Holy Spirit-controlled Christian can be fully possessed. But I have ministered to hundreds of Christians... who yet remained demonized in one degree or another. The first level I call 'infestation.' In this case, demons are not actually within the person but gathered all about him." (Pg. 28) Later, they note, "The Bible clearly states that a Christian cannot be possessed... But the Bible says just as clearly that demons can gain a foothold." (Pg. 92)
They assert, "Inner healing may make use of psychological insights, but it does not stand on psychology... Psychologists want to restore people's capacity to function. This not necessarily a Christian's aim. Christian counselors know that God will put a person 'between a rock and a hard place' in order to write something on his or her heart. If the person escapes the situation too soon, God will have to put him or her into another... Psychologists want to restore a person's self-image... [but] a strong self-image creates confidence in the flesh, whereas the Bible teaches that the arm of flesh will fail, and that we are to put no confidence in the flesh... We have, instead, a Christian identity---altogether different from a self-image." (Pg. 77-78) Later, John adds, "I believe it is shallow and reductionist to say that ALL psychology is 'worldly' or 'of Satan.' What is, in fact, satanic is the underlying philosophy that pervades much of the field---that human nature is basically good." (Pg. 176)
This book will be of interest to those Christians who like the Sandfords' other counselng and inner healing books.
March 10, 2023
I've got to start off by saying this gets 5 stars based on section 1 which talks of both Deliverance and Inner Healing and how they relate. This was really sound advice filled with wisdom and knowledge from people who have real experience in the fields. Not everything is demonic but surely there still is such a thing, as many have encountered. It talks about how to deal with the demonic, but also an absolute key is 'the house' for the enemy to dwell in. Thus people also need inner healing to demolish the seat that allows the enemy such a foothold. Inner Healing is in reality 'evangelising the heart' - the part of us that hasn't yet accepted the forgiveness and cleansing of Jesus. Repentance is key.
There is also a sound overview and reflection on mental illness. I feel this may have overcompensated with respect to allowances made for working alongside rather than in opposition to Psychiatrists, nevertheless it was sound cautionary advice. Every case is surely unique and it is very hard to give universal rules to these spiritual damage and conflict situations, but the Sandfords do as good a job as anyone.
The second and third sections were not as good - 3 stars only. A lot is missing and its not very deep. Really this is a necessary attempt to cover the field with a broad overview of all the causes, effects and phenomenons of spiritual warfare. It had to be done, but really revealed that actually, none of us really know anything for sure when it comes to demons and the spiritual world. What they have is a set of often bizarre experiences from which they draw a set of speculative conclusions, which may not always be true; and indeed I've sometimes drawn other conclusions from more limited sample size but quite different experience. Therefore the teaching of section 2 & 3 rests on a lot less solid ground that the outstanding first section. Furthermore the historical analysis (the 'church fathers' etc) they have applied to guess some of these conclusions is based on pretty bad history and subsequently poor interpretation.
This is a book from people who clearly have a true ministry of deliverance with vast knowledge to fall back upon. They also have the experience with Inner healing and it is rare to find such a great balance making this a vital resource for healing damaged people.
There is also a sound overview and reflection on mental illness. I feel this may have overcompensated with respect to allowances made for working alongside rather than in opposition to Psychiatrists, nevertheless it was sound cautionary advice. Every case is surely unique and it is very hard to give universal rules to these spiritual damage and conflict situations, but the Sandfords do as good a job as anyone.
The second and third sections were not as good - 3 stars only. A lot is missing and its not very deep. Really this is a necessary attempt to cover the field with a broad overview of all the causes, effects and phenomenons of spiritual warfare. It had to be done, but really revealed that actually, none of us really know anything for sure when it comes to demons and the spiritual world. What they have is a set of often bizarre experiences from which they draw a set of speculative conclusions, which may not always be true; and indeed I've sometimes drawn other conclusions from more limited sample size but quite different experience. Therefore the teaching of section 2 & 3 rests on a lot less solid ground that the outstanding first section. Furthermore the historical analysis (the 'church fathers' etc) they have applied to guess some of these conclusions is based on pretty bad history and subsequently poor interpretation.
This is a book from people who clearly have a true ministry of deliverance with vast knowledge to fall back upon. They also have the experience with Inner healing and it is rare to find such a great balance making this a vital resource for healing damaged people.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews