The teachings provide keys of understanding for the equipping of students at Elijah House Ministries Training Courses. We come to understand: Why we and others behave the way we do. Why we experience difficulties in our lives and relationships. We have choices. There are solutions. How in the power of the Holy Spirit we are helped and enabled to help others.
LEVEL A may include the following topics:
1. Biblical Basis of Elijah House Ministry
The fundamental laws of God are written into the universe and affect our lives as surely as gravity. We are all subject to these laws whether or not we believe them. When we transgress them, we set in motion forces that must be reaped by simple, impersonal law — law that is absolute and eternal. In our sinful responses to wounding, we begin early to develop patterns of behaviour that cause us to reap in adulthood the very thing we hate. We sow and reap in kind. We judge and do more of the same. We honour or dishonour, and in the area of life in which we dishonour, life will not go well with us. The pain we reap often seems out of proportion to the harm we have done, but Scripture clearly states the principle of increase.
2. Bitter Roots
This teaching reveals the depth and power of bitter root judgement, the driving force behind the recurring patterns of trouble and/or destruction in our lives. The power of bitter roots comes from the unchangeable laws of God, which cause us to reap in kind what we have sown. Bitter root judgements are far more powerful than bitter root expectancies. Judgements operate by God's laws; whereas repeated incidents form patterns of expectancy which operate only on the psychological level. Both judgements and expectancies rob us of the abundant life Jesus came to give us.
3. Accomplishing Forgiveness
This teaching makes the necessity of forgiveness clear. We learn how resentments become lodged in the heart and, once entrenched, require a work of God's grace to be removed. The main stumbling blocks to forgiveness are misconceptions of what it means to forgive. Forgiveness is surrendering to Jesus our right to hold a judgement against someone who has sinned against us. Forgiveness does not justify sin or remove accountability from those who have hurt us, nor does it mean that we must act as though nothing has happened. Forgiving lets God be the judge and jury and frees us from the burden of holding the resentment and requiring justice.
4. Repentance and Restitution
We learn in this teaching that repentance is more than simply being sorry. We look at several different types: remorse, a substitute for true repentance; “Saulish” repentance, or fear of the consequences; and “Davidic” repentance, true sorrow for grieving the Lord. The Lord has given a strategy for helping us to come to full repentance and to restore trust in relationships. This is restitution—not retribution, or revenge–– it is giving back more than was taken in order to write on our hearts the cost of sin.
5. Honouring Father and Mother
In Hebrew, “kabod” or honour means to make glorious; in Greek, it is “timee”: to place high value or price upon. Giving honour to our parents is a God-given command (Exodus 20:12 ) This teaching explores its meaning and outworking. The law of honoring affects our lives powerfully and completely. For prayer ministers, the absolute reliability of God's law is protection against deception (Hebrews 4:12 ). Through the Holy Spirit and the Word, we help people recognize the excuses, rationalizations and smokescreens they use to justify sin.
6. How We See God
In our infancy and childhood, mothers and fathers model a picture of God for us. We "see" what God is like by how they act and what they do. We interpret each succeeding experience through the lens of judgements we make and the expectations we develop as a result of what has happened in the past. The more judgements we make, the more our view of life and God is distorted. By the time we reach adulthood, our minds may have been taught that God loves and desires to bless us, but our hearts say, “Oh, yeah? He’s just like Dad (or Mum).” We are not capable of seeing life as it really is—experiences with our parents have given us ‘tinted spectacles’— until confession, repentance, forgiveness, death on the cross to the old way of seeing, and the gift of a new heart and mind enable us to see God clearly.
7. Basic Trust
Human growth requires certain accomplishments. This lesson will discuss the stages of development (some of these correlate with Erik Erickson’s theories of Child Development) each of us must go through, as well as the tasks associated with them. Because these stages are consequential (cause and effect) as well as subsequential (in a time line), healthy growth requires that as children we learn them in the proper order (Ecclestiastes 3:1-11). Basic trust is the first and foremost of developmental accomplishments, without which succeeding lessons cannot be learned well. Failure to acquire basic trust affects us throughout our adult lives, impacting our ability to relate to God and others
8. Performance Orientation
Performance orientation is a term which refers neither to the work we do nor the things we accomplish, but to the false motives which impel us. After we bring performance orientation to death, we may do exactly the same work in the same way, but from an entirely different intent in the heart. In this lesson, we will explore the roots of this problem, and identify the symptoms and the damage it causes. We can help those in this wounding by offering an example of Jesus’ unconditional love and acceptance.
9. Parental Inversion and Substitute Mate
The terms parental inversion and substitute mate describe the identity taken on by a child when a parent is unable or unwilling to fulfill his/her parental role. The parentally inverted child carries the weight of care and responsibility that should rest on the father or mother. This wounding will drive him/her through childhood into adulthood, where it will reap destruction in the individual and in his/her relationships with other people. The role of substitute mate is a more serious type of parental inversion. Both identities must be put to death on the cross and new perceptions built into their nature.
10. Hearts of Stone and Inner Vows
This teaching discusses the condition of a heart of stone. We form hearts of stone early in childhood as a defense to pain. Hearts of stone give rise to and are further cemented by judgments, expectancies and vows, making us the loneliest people in the world – even in the midst of friends. We have already looked at the power of roots of bitterness to defile us and others, and to keep us from knowing the love of God. Our judgments will often give rise to determinations of the mind and heart called inner vows. We make inner vows in order to exert control over our lives, but like the bitter root judgments they are born from, they actually control and defile us and others.
11. Identifications of Love
On our own, we are not capable of loving as God loves. When we try to love in our flesh, we limit love’s expression. God wants to bring our versions of love to death on the cross. This teaching is about identifications of love. These identifications are ‘packages’ of specific words, gestures, actions and attitudes that we deem to be love. Formed from childhood, these ‘packages’ are idols that define and limit our idea of what true love is; they almost assuredly deny us the full joy of giving and receiving it. When we demand our identifications of love from those around us, we defile the very relationships we value most. God desires to bring freedom to both receive and express His love in its many forms.
12. Recognition of Fruit-to-Root Patterns
We will see the importance of listening and establishing the trust necessary to allow people to share their lives. Sensitive listening occurs in three ways: we listen with our minds; with our empathetic personal spirits; and with an ear to what God wants to tell us. Our listening results in information-gathering which will lead us to areas of woundedness, helping us to recognise fruit-to-root patterns.
LEVEL B may include the following topics
13. Ingredients of Christian Prayer Ministry
This teaching introduces the basic ingredients of the prayer ministry process: recognition; confession; repentance; forgiveness; reckoning structures as dead on the cross; healing; comfort; prayer for a new spirit, heart, mind; deliverance; discipline; and support from small groups. Deliverance is important, but not always necessary or appropriate. All the others should be included at some point in the process but do not have to be applied in any specific order, nor do they all need to appear in a given session. In fact, a session may be taken up with only one aspect of the process. Spoken prayer is at the centre of all that is discussed and revealed through the prayer ministry process.
14. Prenatal and Early Childhood Issues Part 1
As the right-to-choose movement grows, it is important to understand the truth about the physical and spiritual life that God gives within the womb. This lesson presents both the scriptural base and modern research supporting the belief that God gives unborn children a personal spirit at conception. Through their spirit, they are able to sense and understand the nature of the world around them, and are therefore capable of sin. We also discuss abortion and offer help to bring healing to those living under its shadow.
15. Prenatal and Early Childhood Issues Part 2
This teaching explores the conditions, symptoms and healing of four common in-utero experiences: children conceived out of wedlock, children coming at a bad time for the family, children perceived as the wrong sex, and finally children released for adoption. In each of these cases, a child may react wrongly to the wounding and thus later in life reap the consequences of sin in the womb. Special emphasis on the problems of adoption gives prayer ministers tools to help parents bring their adopted children to life.
16. Slumbering Spirit
This lesson helps us understand the functions of our own personal or human spirit. If we are not awake in our spirit, we will not be able to function in various areas of life. We will learn what causes the spirit to slumber; how to identify the symptoms of a slumbering spirit and how to distinguish between true conscience and remorse conscience. Our loving Lord has made provision and no one need remain asleep. Definite steps can be made to awaken slumbering spirits. Especially in this area we need the Church to be– the family of God.
17. Spiritual Rebellion and Dyslexia
It is not sin to desire relief from painful or difficult circumstances; this lesson is not about such things. Rather it speaks to the way we reject our lives and ourselves, thus rebelling against the God who has made us. We are all in some degree of spiritual rebellion. We are all angry at God to some degree and in need of being reconciled to Him. This lesson will identify the attitudes that indicate the problem, and discuss the results of this sin in our lives.
18. The Wounded Burden Bearer
We are all to bear one another’s burdens but some are specially called by the Lord to do so. This lesson discusses the gift of burden bearing and explores the character and experience of the burden-bearing personality, including the wounding that occurs when the gift is not understood or is misappropriated. Healing a wounded burden-bearer requires prayer for healing of the wounded spirit as well as teaching and training in the gift. Once healed, we can experience the full blessing of burden-bearing.
19. Personal and Corporate Strongholds
Strongholds, both personal and corporate, are formidable obstacles to the healing process, for they are deeply embedded in our minds. Strongholds have lives of their own. This teaching examines the origin of strongholds, and the part the mind plays in blocking our relationship with God. Scripture offers us a model for entering into warfare against the strongholds that hold us captive as individuals, as groups, indeed as entire nations.
20. Deliverance and Inner Healing
Reconciliation between the fields of inner healing and deliverance will help to bring freedom, wholeness and maturity to the Body of Christ. This lesson seeks to correct the abuses and misunderstandings that fuel the conflict between the two areas, and offers the scriptural support that integrates them appropriately. The relationship between inner healing and deliverance is both necessary and practical in the process of sanctification. This lesson is based on the book “A Comprehensive Guide to Deliverance and Inner Healing”, written by John and Mark Sandford.
21. Healing Relationships to Authority
No one except Jesus has exhibited both perfect submission to authority and perfect leadership. We have all failed in both submission and leadership. This teaching deals only with our issues and attitudes towards those in authority over us. We will outline how history and Satan have worked together to destroy proper respect for authority, how that has affected us and what Scripture says about proper submission even to those who abuse authority.
22. Denial
Denial is a common and familiar response to wounding and sin. Some forms of denial are easily dealt with because they are circumstantial or temporary. Others are deeply rooted and require much love, persistence and patience to break down. Because denial is rooted in lies and secrecy when is shared can be convincing and confusing for the prayer minister. Often denial must be recognised and brought to death first before sin can be revealed and healing accomplished.
23. Rightly Expressing Emotions
This teaching examines Jesus as a model for dealing with our human emotions. Through His responses in the garden of Gethsemane , we will explore some of the wrong attitudes about our own emotional life. We are not to let feeling control our lives, but we are also not to ignore them. They are the messages that inform us. We need to identify, label and accept them as well as learn to express them appropriately. When we can do this as Jesus did, it becomes possible for us to truly share ourselves with others.
24. Sealing Our Healing
This lesson illustrates numerous disciplines by which we can maintain our healing and further develop our relationship with the Lord. These, along with classic spiritual disciplines, will strengthen new and healthy habits to replace sinful patterns in our lives. The process of prayer ministry would be incomplete without instruction and support in this area.
LEVEL C may include the following topics
25. Adult Children of Alcoholic and Other Dysfunctional Families
Adult children of alcoholic and other dysfunctional families were once 'children' but were never child-like nor experienced 'safe' emotional development, being loved freely, easily receiving love, or experiencing the carefree joy that is meant to be every child's right to being. These childhood demerits wreak havoc in adult life. The teaching fans out under the following headings: the problems of living as an adult child from a dysfunctional family; common characteristics of adult children of alcoholic and other dysfunctional families; lack of intimacy; generational illness; helping children of adult children of alcoholic and other dysfunctional families; and healing for adult children of alcoholic and other dysfunctional families. This teaching covers a lot of territory and is profound, but is presented in a manner that is readily understandable.
26. Shame Part 1
The joy set before Jesus was the knowledge that his death and triumphant resurrection would restore relationship between mankind and His Father. Jesus endured the cross, bearing our sin and shame, once and for all purchasing our freedom.
27. Shame Part 2
In 'Shame: Part One', we learned the difference between true and false shame, concentrating on the damaging affects of false shame and how it permeates individuals, families, generations and cultures. In this part, we’ll learn how to recognize the fruit of shame and how to minister healing to those bound by shame’s hold.
28. Emotional Abuse
When God gives us life, He also supplies the materials we need for 'construction' of spirit, soul and body. When we raise our children with God’s blueprint, we have His Word that their characters will be strong and unshakable, founded upon the Rock. Abusive parents ignore God’s design and thus raise their children with no such blueprint. Instead, they build them on the shifting sands of their own capricious whims and selfish choices
29. Profile of an Abuser
Sexual abusers are often charming, intelligent people who serve as teachers, Scout leaders, day-care workers, and ministers. Although they may be completely sincere in their conscious desires to help others, they are more deeply and powerfully motivated by the need to find well-being and fulfillment through the very ones they seek to serve.
30. Captive Spirit
Scripture tells us that Satan intends not only to kill and destroy, but to steal. As believers, salvation cannot be stolen from us. We are redeemed. But when we flee, turn away from, or simply refuse to live life with all its risks, Satan can step in to imprison our spirit, stealing our capacity to function in the fullness of life.
31. Healing Life's Common Sexual Experiences
We often over-react, or under-react, to the sexual behaviors of our children. All sins are not equal; Jesus made a clear distinction between greater and lesser sin. Handled improperly without understanding, the common sexual experiences of childhood and adolescence can wound deeply and lead to greater sins in adulthood.
32. Healing the Sexually Abused
Most of us can empathize with those who have suffered sexual abuse in that we can recognize the trauma associated with the actual experience. But few of us realize the depth of devastation that even one abusive experience can have on a person’s life, long after the actual abuse has ended.
33. Grieving Losses
Every society has built-in structures to facilitate the grieving process: funeral rites and traditions, cards, networks of friends, hospices. Yet most of the work we do will be with persons for whom these structures have failed. A few suffer from prolonged grief, while most suffer from delayed grief.
34. Generational Sin
Sometimes prayer ministers exhaust every trace of personal sin in an individual, only to find great trouble still besetting the person’s life and family. The trouble may originate from causes outside a person’s own guilt or sinful nature, descending instead through family lines. We call this 'generational sin'.
35. Cutting Free
Life is a growth process and what is right for one season is not appropriate for another. The main thrust of this teaching is in the area of marriage and the wisdom of cutting free from the childhood home with its emotional ties and becoming a family unit in its own right.
36. Care and Feeding of the Personal Spirit
God intends to transform our inner man (our soul). He will not put a new patch on the old garment of our character; it must die and be reborn. But our personal spirit never dies, although it does suffer the wounds of daily existence. God promises to heal these wounds, and He asks us to honor and care for our spirit as a precious and eternal gift.
LEVEL D may include the following topics
37. Spiritual Development of the Believer
A person’s character largely determines many things in life. Most of our problems result from our own character weaknesses. God is in the business of developing our character (inner strength and integrity) even more than our giftings, because it is our character that will help us stay the course and endure to the finish—that we may be perfect (mature) and complete, free from everything that would hinder us from our destiny.
38. Overcoming Fears
Fear impacts everyone to varying degrees. Some people are able to overcome fear quite easily, while others become slaves to it. For some, escape may seem hopeless, but the Lord has given us a mighty weapon and defense against fear - His Perfect Love.
39. Resurrection Side of Healing
Elijah House has become well known for its expertise in bringing sinful habit structures to death on the cross. But the death side is only half of the healing process. The Lord is revealing in greater depth the life side—the resurrection side of healing.
40. Depression
In an earnest desire to help, well-meaning Christians unknowingly have caused torment, rather than eased suffering. If we are to truly help, we must be sensitive to the unique characteristics and ramifications of this painful condition.
41. False Refuges
When we are hurt or in danger, we seek out places for comfort and protection. Many of them do not truly provide protection or comfort, but are just places to hide from the truth. We become accustomed to running to these places rather than seeking the Lord’s protection and comfort. In this respect, they have become false refuges.
42. Burnout
Burnout happens primarily to people who have few or no boundaries, or too little awareness of (or concern for) their personal needs to do what is necessary to renew themselves. Continued violation of those boundaries leads to depletion of physical and emotional resources. This in turn leads to despair, irrational anger and a host of physical problems.
43. Spiritual Adultery
Sharing is not in itself adulterous. We all need to learn to share the concerns of our hearts, and more openly and accurately as we mature in Christ. But spiritual adultery occurs when in the course of sharing, we grant to another that role of comfort and refreshment which belongs first and sometimes only to our spouse.
44. Sexual Addicitions
Three major factors that contribute to sexual addiction are fear, anger and lust. People use these to hide from their true, underlying feelings in an effort to gain protection and comfort. It is the job of the prayer minister to recognize this and go beyond what is visible in order to bring the hidden pain into the healing light of the Lord—and to help the one receiving ministry to invite the Lord to dismantle those structures that keep him bound in sin.
45. Spiritual Abuse
This teaching explains the origin, nature and function of our personal spirit; the nature of the damage when this spirit is wounded; and the importance of its healing. A range of types of wounding and areas of abuse are touched upon (family, church, counselling), and also the essential ingredients for healing.
46. Attachments and Transferences
We are to minister with agape love. Some people, however, may begin to see life only in the affirmation and nurture they receive from their prayer minister. They may talk about Jesus, but their relationship with Him is largely represented by the flesh-and-blood person on whom they have learned to depend for understanding, comfort and healing.
47. Ministry Skills
This teaching explores the approaches needed to promote love, respect and healing. As prayer ministers we enter into what God is already doing the person’s life, connecting with heart-to-heart – tuned in to truly hearing and understanding their heart – with the help of the Holy Spirit. The interview process is explained and why open-ended questions allow people to express themselves more fully. The Lord’s help is required in determining what is ready to be dealt with in prayer.
48. Corporateness in the Body of Christ
Even though mankind is selfish and self-centered, when they choose to look beyond themselves and set aside their own interests for the interests of God and others, nothing is impossible. For the Lord said Himself, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them” (Genesis 11:6, NIV).
