Tag Archives: An Integrated Approach to Healing

Lies within Your Heart

Posted on September 1, 2019 by expressyourself4him

As someone who grew up in the Catholic church, I was raised to believe that priests were the only individuals who were worthy enough to study the Bible and teach God’s Word. After a revival during the 1970’s, some priests began to encourage members of their congregation to start reading the Bible outside of church. Unfortunately, the church my family attended in Wilmington, Delaware was stuck in the dark ages until my dad’s relocation to Cleveland, Ohio. About this same time, I began to open my own Bible outside of church which exposed lies within my heart.

The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart, Luke 6:45.

When I started teaching high school Bible at Red Lion, a Sunday School class that I attended introduced me to a book called Restoring the Foundations. Written by Chester and Becky Kylstra, I discovered that this book inspired a healing ministry based upon addressing ungodly beliefs individuals have collected over the course of their lives. Like spiritual baggage weighing down your heart, soul and mind, this integrated approach introduced me to new terms such as soul spirit hurts. As people unpack this baggage, exposed lies can haunt you; preventing you from being healed.

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is recognized and judged by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart,” Matthew 12:33-34.

During the first century, Jesus introduced a troubling new teaching. When these words were first verbalized, I’m sure conviction silenced any whispers in the crowd. The thought of lies within your heart likely deflated souls previously filled with confidence and pride. This biblical truth sent shockwaves across town as murmurs echoed of this hidden evil from within. Scholars likely declared the words of the prophet are true, Jeremiah 17:1-10. As modern believers are introduced to this truth today, lies within your heart can finally be addressed by an integrated approach to healing.

by Jay Mankus

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Scars Inside Your Soul

Posted on April 29, 2019 by expressyourself4him

A decade ago I attended a Sunday School based upon the book Restoring the Foundations: An Integrated Approach to Healing Ministry. Written by Chester and Becky Kylstra, this book examines spiritual baggage from your past that hinders your ability to become the man or woman of God that the Lord desires. The beginning of this book serves as a self-reflection by analyzing previous addictions, beliefs and practices. When you follow the charts provided, this will likely unveil scars inside your soul.

Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me], 1 Corinthians 6:12.

While the terminology used by the Kylstra’s was new to me, their assessment of spiritual scars made sense. For example, Restoring the Foundations refers to soul spirit hurts as spiritual wounds you endure from previous hardships, past relationships or trials. Whenever you enter into a relationship with another human being, you give a part of your soul away. The more intimate this relationship becomes, the greater the risk for soul spirit hurts. Music, places or yearbooks may take your mind back in time, reliving the good, bad and ugly experiences from your past.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Am I therefore to take the members of Christ and make them part of a prostitute? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall be one flesh.” 17 But the one who is united and joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Run away from sexual immorality [in any form, whether thought or behavior, whether visual or written]. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the one who is sexually immoral sins against his own body, 1 Corinthians 6:15-18.

The apostle Paul eludes to soul spirit hurts in the passage above. Whenever anyone enters into a personal relationship with Jesus, their body becomes a temple of God. However, any type of physical contact with someone other than your spouse will leave behind scars inside your soul. While not all of your relationships will leave behind unpleasant memories, Paul urges believers to take ownership of your own body. Any type of compromise, letting your guard down or flirting with temptation will result in scars and wounds to your soul. May Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 help believers steer clear of future harm.

by Jay Mankus

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