Elijah House Ministries

A Word from Mark Sandford

2011-12-20T10:10:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I traveled to John Paul Jackson's Convergence in Dallas, Texas along with my father John, my brother Loren, my sister Andrea Bareither, Robert Fetveit, and local pastors John and Ruth Filler. There we joined 30 or 40 other leaders to discuss the plethora of false prophecies and flaky teachings in the prophetic movement, as well as the lack of ethical standards. John Paul questioned whether we are a stabilizing or destabilizing influence on the Body, and warned that the five-fold ministry is in danger of coming to an end in the not-too-distant future.

Just two examples of the harm being done by false prophecies: a number of well-known prophetic voices have given prophecies to leading politicians—both here and abroad—that have not come true. Now these leaders will have nothing to do with prophecies or prophetic people. Because of false or insensitively given prophecies, many churches are turning away from the prophetic gift.

We discussed false teachings, such as the idea that you don't have to repent (even of adultery!) because it's all "under the blood," and the idea that anything written before the time of the cross (including the Lord's prayer!) no longer applies to us. And we discussed wrongful practices, such as charging for prophecies—affixing prices depending upon the time taken to prophecy (yes, some people are actually doing this!).

Before the conference, John Paul and a committee composed a code of ethics for prophetic people. We hope it will be published in Charisma Magazine. He invited us all to help perfect it. For the last few years I have asked God to prompt someone to spearhead something like this; I even suggested John Paul in my prayers. Thank you, Lord, for coming through! Please pray that this code of ethics is well made, and that God uses it to bring help to a movement that is very much in need of reform.

"Memorandum From Satan to His Troops" by Mark Sandford

2011-11-21T16:24:00.001-08:00

Sometimes a message comes most clearly into focus when eyed from a disturbing viewpoint. The following is written in the manner of C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters (in which an older demon wrote to a younger demon, advising him on how to get his “client” into hell). In this case, Satan is cast as the writer, educating his army about strategies to defeat the next generation of Christians, starting with the prophetic movement.

Lately, around the world, prayer warriors are rising up to pray for the church. But are prophetic intercessors praying for the prophetic movement (and other branches of Christ’s body) that launched them? Let what is written here become a roadmap for prayer. And perhaps it will be a warning for some, In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Memorandum From Satan to His Troops
(7 Strategies to defeat our enemies)

Strategy 1: Lower Their Watchmen’s Standards.
I have great news! We have succeeded at persuading our enemy that their prophecies need not be accurate. A few of their prophets have even taught that an 80%, 50%, or even 30% accuracy rate is perfectly acceptable! But what brings me the utmost joy is that without any real standard for prophecies, their watchmen now find it entirely unnecessary to repent for prophesying falsely!
Y2K was a shining example. Several of them proclaimed that the churches must store up goods to share with their hapless neighbors when the world dissolves into chaos on January 1, 2,000. When that blessed event did not come to pass, almost no one repented or even published a retraction! Another example: some of them prophesied that McCain would win the last election through a last minute save. The list goes on and on.
I find it especially gratifying that hardly any of the rank-and-file are the slightest bit concerned about this. Most of them don’t even take note of it; for them, a false prophecy is virtually a non-issue! It pleases me no end that a large number of their prophets have adopted standards no better than those of our own psychics! Better yet, they seem not to care at all that their errors have caused anyone harm.
We should have no trouble getting past their front lines.
Strategy 2: Develop a “Pride Ethic” Among Their Leaders.
In centuries past, our enemy’s mystics were loathe to reveal too much about their own prophetic exploits, for fear of becoming prideful. Blessedly, nowadays we rarely have to contend with this obstacle. Many of their watchmen regularly noise abroad every prophetic “accomplishment.” It is even common for them to report having been “caught up to paradise” where they have seen and heard, as that wretched Paul once put it, “inexpressible things that a man is not permitted to tell” (2 Corinthian 12:4).
Fortunately, they are not as well apprised of the gravity of this as we are. However, lately I have felt some foreboding as a few watchmen seem to be backing away from this, choosing to share with audiences only that which their master deems helpful. But the bright side is that hardly anyone among the rank-and-file cares that anything was ever amiss. They have embraced a sort of “pride ethic,” if you will—they applaud self-promotion, confusing it with promotion of their God’s great works. They stand at attention for anyone who claims a lofty title for himself, such as “prophet” or “apostle.” We must continue to convince their watchmen that this kind of audience approval is a sign from their God that they are on the right track.
Strategy 3: Use Strategies 1 & 2 as a Breeding Ground for False Teachings.
The enemy’s rank-and-file expect their watchmen to regularly come up with exciting “new” revelations. At first, the watchmen’s response to this expectation was fairly harmless to their cause. They brought back to remembrance time-honored biblical truths that their camp had long neglected—for instance, the use of our enemy’s supernatural gifts. I remember that some of you were quite worried about this development.
Worry no more; as they run out of these truths, they are now beginning to look past the bounds of their holy book for new ideas. We must help them! But this must be done subtly, for “heresy” is a hard pill for them to swallow. Start with baby steps. Here’s one: the idea that the “second heaven” (as inferred by Paul’s second letter to those blasted Corinthians—see 12:2) is actually hell. Now of course, we know that Paul only mentioned the third heaven; he did not say there were only three. For all they know, there may be seven, or even one hundred. And even if there are only three, nothing in our enemy’s book identifies any of them as hell. But our enemies haven’t taken note of these thoughts—which is evidence of our progress! We have succeeded in promoting excitement, rather than sound scholarship, as the diviner of truth.
But why, you may ask, should we cultivate a belief that’s so apparently harmless? What’s wrong with speculative theology? Nothing is wrong with it, even by our enemy’s standards. But the belief itself is beside the point. The point is that we have gotten our opponents to take the first step toward heresy by making it alright to proclaim speculative theology as established doctrine. Now that this precedent is set, there is no end to what we may promote. I have heard some of them claim that the Nephalim returned after the flood to mate with humans. A few have even blamed their personal problems on having a bloodline tainted with that seed! A few are now promoting “Christological astrology,” claiming that they need to restore the original purpose of astrology that New Agers stole from God! If we can continue to persuade them that those who object to a plethora of “exciting new ideas” are “legalistic” or trying to “quench the Spirit,” the possibilities are endless!
Strategy 4: Cultivate a Culture of Gullibility.
I have already noted that their rank-and-file lust for “exciting new teachings.” Our spies have reported that they are also largely oblivious to the need to test such ideas. They seem to accept whatever their watchmen say, without question. For instance, one watchman quoted Psalm 86:8: “Among the gods there is none like you, Lord.” When he expounded on this verse it sounded as if he was promoting the idea that there are other gods besides God. He did not in fact believe this. But no matter; the important thing is that his audience thought he did, and that even mature persons received this enthusiastically! The same was true of watchmen who taught that our enemies should recover God’s intentions for astrology, and that they should make use of chakras as they pray for healing!
Lately I have felt worried that a few of their leaders are beginning to speak out in opposition to such ideas. But I have noted that even when alerted about false teachings, their rank-and-file view such errors with little concern. We must continue to affirm this attitude! If we can keep the errors going long enough, some may come to accept the reactions we have cultivated among “apologetics” ministries that dismiss even legitimate prophecies and teachings. For those who don’t accept them, it will hardly matter. The prophetic movement will have become so impotent that their defense of their own movement will be meaningless.
Strategy 5: Go After the Youth.
Having implemented these four strategies, we should have little opposition to our ongoing plan to deprive the next generation of a solid biblical foundation. Even before I devised these strategies, we had already begun to see the fruits of our labors! Many Christian youth have rationalized that oral and anal sex are not really “sex,” and are perfectly acceptable outside of marriage. Acceptance of homosexuality is slowly but surely becoming widespread. Sexual sin is increasing among young Christian leaders. Even those who recognize they are doing wrong are less likely than their elders to regard this as a serious issue. And we have made sure there are not enough watchmen left awake to call them back to their biblical moorings.
I am concerned about a number of disturbingly committed youth who are standing against this trend, but if we do our best to keep strategies 1 through 4 in place, we may be able to prevent them from stopping the hemorrhage.
Strategy 6: Prevent the Elijah Task.*
We have long known that the dreaded Elijah will attempt to incite our enemies to curtail our plans, by “turn[ing] the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse” (Malachi 4:6). There are things we can to do minimize the damage he intends to inflict, and to maximize the curse. Many fathers’ moral base has eroded, and their watchmen are too busy bragging of their own exploits and presenting the latest fad teachings to promote—I shudder to say the word—repentance—or to have much effect on family life.
Some fathers are pursuing inner healing, and with that there is a great danger of reconciliation. When dealing with them, make sure that they stay focused on their own pain, their own trauma and their own healing. Induce those who counsel them to do the same. Encourage teachers of inner healing to focus on the needs of the wounded individual. Dissuade them from teaching how to apply that healing toward reconciling with and healing one’s children.
There is also a worldwide movement afoot to reconcile people groups—Indians and whites, Catholics and Protestants, etc. So far, few have thought to reconcile the baby boomers with the millennium generation, which could become a key part of Elijah’s strategy. Keep them distracted; keep them focused anywhere but there!
Strategy 7: Spring the Trap!
Until now, for the most part we have witnessed a culture of tolerance. The attitude has been, “You’re Christian; I’m pagan. To each his own; live and let live.” I know that many of you have been chomping at the bit, wanting to make a frontal assault against our enemies. Have patience; your time will come! For now, this easy tolerance serves our purpose. They’ll find it easy to live as compromised Christians when no one is persecuting them.
Let’s continue with the first six points of this plan until the enemy’s watchmen are sufficiently neutralized, parents (especially fathers) are out of the way, and law is removed from enough hearts. Then we can make our frontal assault. When persecution finally comes, no one will be able to stand except the few who have not allowed themselves to be swept along with the currents of popular thought that I have just described. Disillusioned, but too weak to return to sound faith, the next generation will be ripe for the picking, and many (especially youth) will fall away. In the face of a lawless prophetic movement, a fatherless generation will welcome our man of lawlessness as the great father and prophet they have been looking for.

*Here at Elijah House Ministries, our foremost task has to do with countering strategy 6. In the past, Elijah House did not promote the Elijah Task strongly enough. We focused on healing individuals. While we did make some efforts to reconcile families, to an extent, we naively assumed that people would automatically use their healing to reconcile with their children. To some extent they did. But especially in today’s increasingly self-focused culture, we cannot make such assumptions.
To rectify this, we have added new talks to our prayer ministry school, including “Reconciliation,” and “Healing Our Children’s Hearts.” Throughout all the talks I have strengthened language that emphasizes personal accountability and awareness of how our bad fruit hurts others (there is also a new talk on the importance of understanding the bad fruit in our lives). And at the end of each talk, I have also added reconciliation as a step in the healing process. After I finish revising our schools, I plan to create an entire seminar on healing our children. And we plan to create teachings on ministering to married couples.
Please pray for us as we continue this work.

H.U.G. Principle by Robert Fetveit

2011-11-21T14:29:00.000-08:00

Many years ago while Kathie and I were working as missionaries in Japan, we begin to question why our ministry and the ministry of many others (who were way more anointed and qualified) were not more fruitful. God brought to our attention that there was much competition and jealousy among the different churches and missionaries in Japan (we struggled with our own set of problems as well). In prayer I begin to question God about the root of our divisiveness and strife. I felt the Lord speaking to my heart that there was insufficient healing of hearts among those of us who were leaders, so that unresolved root issues were producing bitter fruit.

Upon our return to the USA in 1980 I was greatly ministered to by John 17: 20–21:

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, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

Elijah House is first and foremost a prophetic ministry. It is my conviction that one of the main roles of the prophet office is to promote unity in the body of Christ. This was certainly on the heart of Jesus as he prayed for us in his high priestly prayer.

At Elijah House we often state that our goal is to evangelize the unbelieving heart of the believer, but our ultimate goal is healing the church. Any unhealed wound, judgment, lie, or inner vow signifies that part of the heart cannot receive God’s promises and the truth of His word.

Ephesians 4 exhorts us to no longer act like children. We respond like children when bitter roots from childhood are triggered. One of the main roles of the church--often neglected--is to “reparent.” God is raising up mothers and fathers in Christ for the purpose of helping us be healed. He often does this by bringing us into relationship or contact with people who will aggravate us for the purpose of revealing our bitter roots.

Through my experience, my convictions, and my “life verse,” I have developed what I call
The H. U. G. Principal.

H ealing (brings)
U nity (which promotes/produces)
G lobal Evangelism. (If we add the E for Evangelism to HUG, it becomes HUGE!)

As individuals we must be determined to get healed and then walk out our healing, which will cause love to bloom like a flower daily, as demonstrated in communities of faith. As the world witnesses this heavenly phenomenon they will indeed see Jesus! Evangelism will explode! This healing is not just intended for the individual but necessary for the whole body of Christ so that HE can reach a lost world. My personal goals are to see the Church healed, and the world coming to know Christ.

God is passionate about many things, but I believe His Word reveals that there are four major passions closest to His Heart.
• First, He has a love for the lost and a desire to see them come to saving faith.
• Second, He has a passion for Israel because they are his chosen people.
• Third, He loves His church. He wants to see her come into healing and prosperity and radiant beauty as the Bride for His Beloved Son.
• Lastly, He is passionate about an intimate personal relationship with each one of His children.

Jesus is the Light of the World! A healed church is the HOPE OF THE WORLD!

Most of the doctrinal and personal issues that are causing much of the division in the Body of Christ are directly related to the need for healing of the heart. Out of overflow of [the] heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45, NIV). As a man thinketh in his heart so is he (Proverbs 23:7, KJV).

This in turn begs the question: “How do we address and promote the need for transformation and sanctification throughout the Body of Christ?” He desires to reveal His love to and promote those who are willing to be OPEN, HONEST, and BROKEN before HIM.

Will you join me in praying for the HUG principle to become reality, so that the world may know?

A Moment to Remember....

2011-11-16T14:25:00.000-08:00

Zion is a normal three year old boy; he has the kind of energy people always want to bottle up and sell. He is very sensitive and loving, and also very rough and tumble. I often hear the phrase, “Kids say the darndest things!” This was an understatement for me the other day, and here's why:

I work from home. I mostly do administrative duties on the computer, set up in the corner of the main living space of our quaint two bedroom home. I was attempting to get a bit of work done on a busy Monday morning. Zion was roaming the house, playing with toys, watching TV, etc. Every so often he would attempt to connect with me. I was very distracted, trying to work and be a mom. On that particular day I wasn't doing either as well as I would have liked. Frustration began to build up in me. I was attempting to get out of the house while multi-tasking all my morning duties. Again, I was not doing any of them very well, and Zion was not doing as I asked. He sensed my distraction, and knew he could get away with not listening until the last possible moment. Frustration continued to build until it burst out of me.

In my anger and frustration (at myself more than him) I disciplined my little boy. His cry turned from the sound of pain to the sound of a wounded spirit. I knew immediately that I had done wrong. I left the room and cried. As I attempted to collect myself, I prayed and asked God to forgive me for wounding my son’s spirit and not disciplining him out of love, the way Jesus taught us to.
Zion’s whimpering drew me out of the bathroom. I sat on the couch, and pulled him onto my lap. He asked, "Why are you sad and crying?" I hugged him and said, “Zion, I am so sorry. I was wrong to be so angry. Will you forgive me? I am trying to work out how to work from home and be a good mommy.” And he said, “But you already are a good mommy!”

1 Peter 4:8 (NASB) - Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Mark 10:13-16 (NASB) - And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them (emphasis added).

An Elijah House Update

2011-10-25T06:39:00.000-07:00

A quick report from Robert & Kathie,
Kodiak, Alaska, Oct 21-28, 2011.....
We arrived in Kodiak Friday afternoon the 21st of October and were met at the airport by Pastor Tracy Hodges of Kodiak Assembly of God Church. He told us it would be about a 20 minutes wait for our luggage and that we should go with him because he wanted to show us something...??? We didn't know quite what to think! Then he took us on a five minute drive down a bumpy road to a river where a number of very large silver salmon were spawning! Then from the bridge we looked a few hundred yards up river where a mama Kodiak bear and two cubs were enjoying their lunch. They reminded us of customers at a sushi bar who sit and wait as the raw fish goes by on a conveyor belt! It was quite a welcome to Kodiak Island!
Friday night we spoke to about 75 people. We taught the first lesson from our new study, “Why Haven't I Heard This Before?” called “Can I change?”- a lesson on relationships that deals with the law of honoring parents. People were all so excited - welcoming - receiving. The next day we did a lesson on Bitter Roots that we call “What Lies Beneath.” People really took hold and there was such hunger for more. Many of them told us they want training and a number of them will probably come to the Basic I school in Spokane, spring 2012.
One man was so excited about it he phoned his brother in North Dakota and asked if he had ever heard of Elijah House. The brother said, "Are you kidding? If it were not for Elijah House my marriage wouldn't have survived!"
On Saturday the Pastor arranged for us to have prayer ministry with several people. In all of the sessions, the Spirit of the Lord was there to heal and to bless. In fact, there is such hunger and passion in the people here we told them, “The Healer is in the House!!” Later we heard that one of the church members woke in the middle of the night needing prayer. She and her husband prayed together and the Lord showed them a bitter root. They prayed through the five R's together and the Lord healed her! These folks "caught" it and are already doing the "stuff!"
Sunday morning Robert shared a message called Healing the Church. The pastor was so excited about it that he told the congregation that the church is giving everyone who attended a free copy of the message on CD and that he wanted them to listen to it several times that week!
We each had another three hour prayer ministry session Sunday afternoon. For the Sunday evening service, at the request of the pastor, we shared a lot of our testimony of how we got involved with EH. That was followed by another hour of altar ministry.
Monday was sort of a day of rest. Robert went fishing with Pastor Tracy in hopes of catching one of those large silver salmon we saw the first day. Later that day they have Monday Night Football in their home. The guys from the church are invited over every Monday to hang out and watch the game with devotions at half time! The people at Kodiak Assembly of God are very relational and family oriented.
The need here in Kodiak is great and people are ripe for healing and renewal and I believe that God is equipping KAOG to be a place of healing that will reach the community! We were told that every family in Kodiak has been affected by alcoholism or abuse or both. The church runs a Celebrate Recovery program and wants to offer EH ministry to enhance that program.
Thanks for your prayers. We've had a great time of ministry here and just stand in awe at what God is doing in Kodiak! The presence of the Lord is welcome in the church , the people are passionate, loving and want everything that God has for them so that they can experience healing themselves and then reach their lost families and communities and some even the nations.
Thanks and God Bless!
Robert & Kathie Fetveit

JAPAN IS ON GOD’S HEART—AND OURS!

2011-04-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

(Elijah House—part of God’s plan for healing the nation)

In the late 1990’’s a long-term missionary to Japan (Evelyn Owen) invited John and Paula and some of our Elijah House team to Japan. This was the beginning of Elijah House being established in churches in Osaka, Tokyo, Sapporo, and all over the nation!Eventually we were able to establish an International Elijah House Japan (http://elijahhouse.web.infoseek.co.jp/top.html).We are so grateful for the"Japan Group of Twelve” who helped make this happen! EH Japan was officially inaugurated in March, 2006.

Over the next five years additional teams were sent to Japan, sometimes twice a year for three to five months at a time. The Basic 1 and 2 Schools were filmed, and EH video-facilitated schools began across the nation. Seminars such as"Blessed Family Relationships,” "Season of Hope, Season of Faith,” and"Foundations of Inner Healing” were also filmed, and continue to be used by Japanese churches and Christian organizations. Many pastors and leaders in Japan have opened their hearts and their churches to the teaching and ministry of Elijah House. Thousands of lives have been healed and restored!

On March 8-10, 2011, Robert and Kathie taught an Alumni Workshop on the Miura Peninsula near Yokohama. There were about 150 students and staff, all graduates of the four weeks of Elijah House Basic I and II training. To date over1,000 lay leaders and pastors have completed the schools. An additional thousand others have completed part of the school or attending one or more of the several hundred EH seminars that have been held over the years.

The goal of the March workshop was to equip,empower and release! The leaders of Elijah House Japan requested the following topics: "Hearing and Proclaiming from a Christian Paradigm,” "Prophetic Intercession,” "Brokenness (God’s purpose for suffering),” "Healing Burden Bearing People,” and "Healing Lands and Homes.”

On March 10, the last day of the workshop, we were asked to close the workshop with a blessing from the Lord. He showed us that, in answer to our prayers, we had been experiencing a type of Pentecost. The disciples were in the upper room for ten days (we were on the top floor of a 10-story building). They were all together in one accord (there was truly a spirit of brotherly love and acceptance among the 150 students from 50 churches gathered in the spirit of Elijah. They were all graduates of the EH schools; many were video-school facilitators, and 26 were pastors). The place they were in was shaken, and there was the sound of a mighty rushing wind. (a 7.2 earthquake occurred as we were praying in our small groups on the second day, and the wind was especially strong that day). We asked the Holy Spirit to be poured out so the students would have boldness like Peter and the disciples when 3,000came to the Lord in one day. March 31 marks the 5th anniversary of the inauguration of Elijah House Japan."Five” in Japanese is the Japanese word "go" that sounds like our English word "go.” We ended with this blessing—"God had been preparing you for five years—now is the time for you to Go Forth in power to bring healing to your families, churches, communities and nation!”

The Japan Earthquake—March 11, 2011

That evening everyone from the workshop went home, and we were taken to Diamond Chapel in Hongodai near Yokohama. The next day we did a one-day seminar for a group of about 60 people, hosted by one of EH Japan’s main leaders. The main purpose for the seminar was to film two introductory sessions for churches interested in Elijah House. Pastor Tsukii was a bit surprised when we felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to end at 2:35 pm, a full 30 minutes before the session was scheduled to end. Pastor Tsukii started to make some announcements but was interrupted at 2:46 when the room started shaking violently, the electricity went off, and we evacuated the building!

There was no major damage where we were, about 170 miles from Fukushima, the epicenter of the powerful 9.1 earthquake. However, cell phone and electric service halted, and trains and buses stopped running. We were scheduled to fly out at midnight that night, so we finished packing and left for the airport at 7 pm. Traffic was jammed, and it took three and one half hours to get to the airport, where we waited until 10 am the next day for our delayed flight. But compared to others, we had an amazingly quick and easy trip home, thanks to the prayers of family and friends who were glued to the TV watching the devastation that we couldn’t fully realize until we got home and saw the news!

Now the prophetic word, "Go forth!”makes sense! Many churches, especially those involved with the cell church network and Elijah House, are now in a position to reach out to the hurting, lost and confused, to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ from a place of greater healing and unity than ever before.

There have been many prophetic words prior to and after the earthquake from top leaders from around the world. We agree with many of them. The Lord called intercessors to pray before the devastation occurred. Some had dreams, saw visions,or just felt impressed to pray for Japan.God LOVES the Japanese! Just as the Japan was literally shaken, God is spiritually shaking the nation by bringing down strongholds, bringing judgment on wickedness, but also in showing mercy to thousands whose hearts are ready to receive. We’ve heard testimonies of numerous people turning to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is going to be a time of expansion for the Kingdom of God. There will be an evangelism explosion! Christians from many nations are praying, and sending relief workers during this crisis.

Please join us as we continue to pray for the nation, for the churches and for Elijah House Japan. The leaders ask that we pray for wisdom so they will know how to meet the tremendous needs for healing in their suffering nation.

Expecting Miracles,

Robert and Kathie Fetveit

Executive Director

Honoring The Pioneering Fathers of Spokane

2010-06-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

"God sees you!"

2010-05-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

By Kathie Fetveit
Before we left for Korea, God told us to tell the Korean people that He sees them. El Roi, the God who sees, wanted them to know how much he loved them and knows them. He is calling them to return to their first love and to serve him out of a deep knowing that they are loved. We shared and demonstrated that message in five churches from Seoul to Pusan.
We have never seen such sincerely hungry, enthusiastic people. They really know how to pray and worship! From Seoul to Pusan, we encountered young people in their 20's and 30's, some with young families. It was so refreshing to see their eagerness to lead the people in experiencing the Lord as the “heart healer.” Many of the young leaders expressed their deep desire for a mentor or spiritual father. They want and need to be shown by example what godly leadership and relationships look like. These people are so hungry for healing. And, best of all, they believe that God has called them to get healed and be prepared so that they can fulfill a call of God to heal the nations (especially North Korea when the border opens). Already they are ministering to a few N. Korean refugees who manage to get across the border. They want to take prayer and healing to Israel and the Islamic nations as well.

In Busan on the Southern coast of South Korea, a group called Busan House of Prayer (BHOP) hosted us. Several churches (including the YWAM base) came together to seek God and pray for renewal and healing. It was their first time to host an Inner Healing seminar. Each night we spoke to over 200 people - all crowded into the church and sitting cross legged on the floor! Such eager faces in the crowd - beautiful and precious people! Many of the people received a touch from the Lord and were able to release bitterness, unforgiveness, and shame and to receive the Father’s love.
At the Wagner Leadership Institute in Jang Yu, we spoke to about 50 leaders from 20 different churches who attended the Inner Healing Seminar from Monday-Thursday. Wow! What a move of God! The Holy Spirit’s presence was powerfully felt in the five-story retreat facility where we met. The second day of the conference, something remarkable happened to one of the kitchen helpers who the church had hired to help prepare and serve the meals for the students. The first day she came to work she didn’t do a very good job, so the person in charge was not going to pay her. But then the next day when she came, she was overcome by the Spirit of God, repented and accepted Jesus! From that day on she was one of the best workers they had!

We taught and ministered to the people from early morning until late at night, but many of the students stayed up praying and ministering to one another all night! The glory of God was in that place and it seemed to be an endless day for the people. Our interpreter had brought along a friend of hers to volunteer and to sit in on the classes. She was not a believer, had recently been divorced and was at the lowest point in her life. On the second day of the seminar, during one of the small groups, the other ladies in her group led her to Christ. The pastor prayed for her too and she was saved, delivered and filled with the Holy Spirit! After that, she didn’t quit smiling (or crying for joy) for the rest of the week!
Although our schedule was packed (preaching or teaching 40 times in two weeks) Robert and I literally felt like we were being carried by your prayers and felt the Lord's covering and protection over our health and hearts! Thank you! It was our great privilege to be sent out to share the love of God, to teach, to pray for and to learn from a remarkable group of people whom God sees! After spending two weeks with them, we are beginning to “see” them too and can’t help but love the courageous Koreans!

To God be the Glory

2010-05-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

In February of this year, Sandra Sellmer went to the Philippine Islands to mentor the folks who have been pioneering an International Elijah House in their country and to teach the Healing Trauma Seminar. Today I received this email from Sandra:
“ I think this will be an encouragement to us in the area of investing time to train and mentor our internationals. Vermi Nery (Elijah House representative in the Philippines)and I worked together (for 20 days) in the various Healing Trauma seminars that we did, and now she is taking it out on her own.
Here is what Virmi wrote: “I was in Northern Samar province, particularly in a small town called Palapag to run a healing trauma seminar. The town was only accessible by banca (a small boat)...People were very poor and we had to do a lot of translating... But what a ride it was, in every way!!! I knew it was just God who gave me the courage to do it and I give him all the praise and honor!!!!
The good fruit doesn't get much sweeter than this...Thank You Jesus! (The Kingdom expands.... yea!)”

Upcomming Event

2010-04-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

ELIJAH HOUSE
PRESENTS

DATE: APRIL 3RD
TIME: 7:00 P.M.

Music: Fay Batchelder

Elijah House Benefit

CENTER PLACE EVENT CENTER
2426 DISCOVERY PL.
SPOKANE VALLEY, WA 99216

(Located next to the “YMCA” in the valley)

PLEASE JOIN US

For more information:Sue Violette, Project Malachi
294-6321

The Need for Ministry

2009-09-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

By John and Paula Sandford (revised by Mark Sandford)

The Need for Ministry to the Depths of Born-Again Christians

Why the need to minister to the depths of already born-again Christians? The answer is found in questions frequently asked by so many Christians: “Why do I do the things I do?” “Why do I yell at my kids?” “Why do I ignore my wife?” “Why do I undermine my husband?” “Why do I overreact to my boss?” “Why do I withdraw from friends at the slightest hint of ‘rejection?’” “Why do I see God as a punishing or distant God, when I know in my head that He is merciful and intimate?”

In the face of these and other questions, many Christians despair when reading a passage like Ephesians 5:8-10: …for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Many are trying their best to walk as children of light. But they are often blind-sided by the hidden impulses of their own hearts. Thus, they fail to produce the fruit of that light, and they too often fall into striving, disillusionment, and condemnation. They have rightly celebrated salvation as a free gift (Ephesians 2:4-5; Romans 6:23), and that Christ has already purchased that gift for them on the cross. But they have not understood that they are to grow up in their salvation (I Peter 2:2) and that they are to work it out in fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Many have celebrated with Paul, by one offering He has perfected for all time…, while ignoring the second half of that same verse, …those who are [in the Greek, being] sanctified (Hebrews 10:14, emphasis added).

Many understand sanctification as an event but not also as a process. They do not understand the words of Paul, “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12). They tend to press on in terms of managing behavior rather than a sanctification process which would naturally result in changed behavior. They have not in reality done away with childish things (I Corinthians 3:1), but have attempted to control and manage them. By ignoring hidden strongholds, they inadvertently allow them to become part of the treasure in the storehouse of their hearts (Luke 6:43-45). When what has been accumulating for years erupts, they have striven all the more to control the expression of it, or they have rebuked the devil (whose only power is in the raw material they have given him).

We need to deal with the causes, not just the effects, of our sinful patterns. For instance, if I cannot stop yelling at my kids, I need to ask, “What is driving me?” Do I have hidden bitterness toward others who have yelled at me? Am I now taking out that bitterness on my children? If I overreact to any hint of “rejection,” do I have unhealed wounds due to bitterness in my heart toward others who have rejected me? If I see God as being distant or punitive, is it because I still have bitterness toward persons who long ago were distant or punitive toward me?

Many Christians interpret forgetting “what lies behind” (Philippians 3:13) as ignoring the past rather than letting the Holy Spirit bring to death on the cross what has so long been ingrained in us. What others did to us long ago truly is in the past. But when we ask questions like the ones just listed, our questions reveal that our bitter reactions toward them are not in the past. The wounding may have occurred long ago, but our reactions are still with us. Literal forgetting is not what Paul was speaking of; that does not put such reactions behind us; it only reinforces our denial. Only forgiveness and repentance can enable the kind of “forgetting” Paul would find effective. Our attempts to literally forget are the striving of our own flesh. We can attempt to put aside the old self with its practices of anger, wrath, malice, and slander (Colossians 3:8-10; Ephesians 4:22 ff.) as if these were external practices only, but Jesus called the Pharisees (and us) to “clean the INSIDE of the cup” (Matthew 23:26).

For more than forty years we have been growing in our ability to address such issues as the Lord has given us insight to meet the depths of people’s needs. We have increasingly discovered that the Lord’s desire and power to set people free far surpasses our ability to deal with problems and our sensitivity to apply insights! Whenever we have tuned into His purposes, we have invariably experienced the healing power of the Lord flowing through the door of prayer more powerfully than we could think of asking.

Our books have been the result of that long-term experience and study with the Lord. Recognizable and predictable patterns of cause and consequence have appeared consistently. And the cure we have found has worked so consistently, that thousands of lives have been transformed and enabled to reflect the light of Christ more brightly than before.

In summary, we believe that positionally, we are already transformed: Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ… (2 Cor. 5:17-18). But progressively, there is a dimension of our transformation that requires our ongoing response to Christ’s accomplished work: …We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (vs. 21, emphasis added). We must choose to yield our hearts to the work Christ has accomplished on His cross. Elijah House’s mission is to enable Christians to reconcile with God, and by so doing, to lay hold of that for which [they were] laid hold of by Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:12).

2009 Prophetic School Taiwan

2009-05-05T13:10:00.001-07:00

New to website!

2009-04-06T16:31:00.001-07:00

Check it out! We now have some free lessons available to you on our website...Enjoy!

We're all in this together!

2009-03-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

On a dark and stormy night long ago on a small fishing boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus’ Disciples were caught in the midst of violent raging wind and waves. They were fearful that they would all be lost. Jesus walked to them on that very turbulence and said to them: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Mt. 14:27).

We are in the midst of a crashing economic storm. Perhaps some of you are tired of hearing about it. We would be ostriches of the highest degree if we didn’t know something about what is happening around us and at least feel some fear and trepidation about the future.

Elijah House’s boat is braving the same storm as is everyone else. Although we had been doing better than many parachurch organizations, this last week we were unable to make our payroll and at this moment cannot pay the bills that are due. We are choosing to stay focused on Jesus, for what we focus on becomes that which can overwhelm us. We are looking for ways we can reorganize and “go lean” wherever possible, our goal is that ministry itself will not be curtailed. We know how rumors get started, so I’ll say loud and clear: “Elijah House is not going under, and we have no plans to decrease our ministry output.”

Would you please consider what I am about to propose? Often, we think we can’t do much; “My small gift isn’t even worth sending, what difference could $5.00 make in relation to such a great need?” But many small gifts will turn the tide and calm our storm. Will you help us? We are asking the Lord to encourage and enable 10,000 of you to start sending just $5.00 per month. Together we can weather the storm. Your small gift will be a great blessing to us and those who are wanting, waiting, and hoping for access to this life changing message from Elijah House.

Most of you are experiencing this worldwide storm as well. We are praying for you. During a recent intercession time, one of our precious prayer warriors gave us some words of encouragement. I want to pass them on to you! “Never doubt in the darkness what you have heard God speak to you in the light.” And “It is always too early to give up on God.”

Keep your eyes and your focus on Jesus. “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Sincerely,

Robert Fetveit
Executive Director
Elijah House

Tel: 509.321.1255
Fax: 509.321.1250
Web: elijahhouse.org

To Donate click here!

A Few Thoughts From Mark

2009-03-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:3). I once heard my brother Loren give a sermon on the meaning of the phrase, “poor in spirit.” He said it meant that there is nothing that we absolutely must have but Jesus. Not money, not reputation, not office, position or accomplishments. Only Jesus. The congregation probably responded to those words much like an audience responds to a movie about a hero who suffers through lean times for a noble cause with his serenity intact. From their cushy theater seats, they all congratulate themselves that they too would gladly suffer for the good. If “all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,”* as Shakespeare once said, the present recession may place many of us in the movie itself, and test that glib assumption.

Is Jesus so important that no fear of lack can diminish our trust in Him? We have had to ask this question before. Elijah House’s earliest years were during the Carter Presidency, during a recession that in some ways was worse than the present one. At that time, EH was my Mom and Dad ministering out of their study in our house on Highland Drive. I was in college and John, Tim and Andrea were still at home. There were many times when Mom and Dad had no money for their mortgage payment or groceries. They would pray, and the day before the mortgage was due, a check would come in the mail. But there were also evenings when beans on the table had to suffice. I have ministered to many persons still scarred by times of childhood lack. But I have always found that their real lack had been parental love and simple faith. No such lack has scarred me. My parents’ trust in God made beans seem like just the latest culinary adventure. From their theater seats, if my parents had assumed that they would gladly suffer for the hero’s cause, their assumption would have proven true.

Our nation and the world are riding out another recession, but that is exactly the time when Jesus beckons us out of the boat. He does not ask us to walk on water on calm clear days. His miracles were planned for such a day as this. Do not look down at the waves; look straight at Him. Whether beans or filet mignon is served, He will not let you sink.

* As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7, Shakespear

New Product

2009-02-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

Strang Publications released the revised version of Restoring the Christian Family on January 19th, 2009. We will be able to ship orders for this book the first week of February.

The next book Strang will republish is The Renewal of the Mind. It is scheduled to be released sometime in May of this year.

A few thoughts from Robert:

2008-12-24T02:53:00.000-08:00

Greetings to one and all at this most wonderful time of the year. All of us here at Elijah House wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We are experiencing a very white Christmas. Our area has been blessed by record snowfalls over the past several days (more than a meter of snow, and more is on its way!). After two thirds of this fell in just 24 hours, for the first time in many years, we told our staff and clients not to come to Elijah House because is was just too dangerous to drive. The following day we had a snowy adventure just getting drifts cleared away from the doors so we could enter the building!

On that very day I met with one of our service providers. As we were discussing the difficult financial times that have gripped our nation, he reminded me that many years ago during a similar downturn, newscasters were sent to find out why our inland northwest region was able to avoid the recession. One of the persons interviewed on T.V., a local pastor, reported that prayer was the key, and that local believers had decided not to participate in the recession!
As the Executive Director of Elijah House I have decided that our ministry will adopt this position. Not that I am in favor of putting our heads in the sand (snow, in our case) and ignoring reality. Rather, we will stand on the promises of God to provide for our needs.

Will you join us in believing God for this ministry as well as the hundreds of other worthy ministries that are also praying for provision? Thank you for your prayers and support!

What's New at Elijah House

2008-12-09T15:41:00.001-08:00

Turning Hearts……Changing Lives

November 2008—What's New at Elijah House!

A Few Thoughts from Mark:

At our recent conference, "Kingdom Warfare, Solid Solutions for Today," we asked the audience to sit for a few minutes, soaking in God's love. Then we asked them to pass that love on to the next generation, by allowing God to direct us in warfare on their behalf. The Lord led us to invite all persons 25 years old and younger to come forward to receive prayers, blessings and whatever prophetic words God might choose to bestow upon them. What an anointed evening! Young people cried and laughed and basked in blessings some of them had never received from their parents.

Increasingly, I feel an urgency for my generation to reach beyond itself to bring to life the children we have too often aborted, neglected and discarded. Pray that the call of Malachi 4:5,6—to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers—truly gets through to the hearts of my selfish self-absorbed generation, in my nation and in yours.

A Few Thoughts from Robert:

I was recently reminded of one of the original goals for teaching Elijah House principles—to equip the whole Body of Christ to do inner healing! In the past, effective prayer ministry was relegated to just a few Christian "super stars" who had a "special anointing" and who were required to complete extensive training to pray for people. I remember that in 1981 John and Paula said, "The day of the prima donna is over." Through teaching and modeling how to pray about bitter roots, inner vows, foundational lies, etc, every believer can be equipped with tools for inner healing for themselves, their families, the neighbor next door, the friend who joins him for a cup of coffee, his work associates, or anyone the Lord brings across his path whom the Holy Spirit says is ready and willing to receive prayer.

The keys of knowledge that God gave to John and Paula are a gift to the whole Body of Christ. Let's remember to slay every hint of pride in thinking that we have to be the "expert" to qualify to pray healing prayers.

Ephesians 4:11-12 "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

A prayer request:

Many of you have asked about John and Paula. Last summer John suffered a very mild stroke. He was hospitalized for two days and then released, with no lasting ill effects. Although he has retired from traveling to teach, he keeps very busy editing and revising their books (alongside Mark) and doing some local teaching as he is able.

As you know, Paula has severe Alzheimer's. She has been moved to a lovely assisted-living home nearby so that John and the rest of the family can visit her often. Please continue to pray for the Sandford family.

News items:

Great news! Early this Autumn, Mark wrote an email to the head editor at Strang Publications requesting that they publish Burnout, Renewal in the Wilderness, by Loren Sandford.. In recent times, only Loren's church could sell it because the copyright was held up by another party (long story). The copyright has been released, and Strang has chosen to publish, promote and distribute the book. Loren will revise and update it a little, and it will be out (with a new cover) by next January, selling to an exponentially wider audience! This should prove to be a great benefit to Elijah House as well!

Last week we were overjoyed to receive several computers and monitors, donated to Elijah House by a government organization that was updating their equipment. We were able to replace some of our older, barely functioning computers for our Bookkeeper and in our Resource Department! Praise the Lord!

New products & Systems:

The new Deliverance and Inner Healing book is here and available! Mark is very happy with the changes that have been made and prefers the new version greatly over the old. You can purchase this new product by phone or through our web store (the new web site and web store will come on line very soon).
Sheri Hancock, Resources writes: I have a fresh passion and excitement for my position in the resource dept. as I have been able to move to the shipping/mailing room and hand over the in-house sales to Rachel (our receptionist). Along with that, the consistent part time help from Craig (the newest part time worker) and the continued volunteer hours from both Craig and Janice (faithful volunteer) are making the light at the end of this tunnel seem brighter than the sun!

Seminars:

December 6-7, 2008 "Awakening the Slumbering Spirit"

Amish Community Church, Libby, Montana

Robert and Kathie Fetveit

January 30-February 1 "Discovering the Heart of a Man" Men's Retreat

Immaculate Heart Retreat Center, Spokane, Washington

Robert Fetveit and Mark Sandford

February 25-March 1 "Elijah House Inner Healing and Deliverance"

Wagner Leadership Institute, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Mark Sandford

February 27-March 1 "The Valley of Trouble—The Door of Hope"

Women's Retreat

Immaculate Heart Retreat Center, Spokane, Washington

Thea Loughery and Sarah Compton

Live Schools (for 2009):

May 10-22 Basic I

Ross Point Bible Camp, Post Falls, Idaho

August 3-15 Basic II

Immaculate Heart Retreat Center, Spokane, Washington

Prayer Ministry and Internships:

Some of you may not be aware that at EH USA we have replaced the 15 hour intensive week of prayer ministry with a 12 hour intensive week. At this time we are not doing local hourly prayer ministry.

Internship I and II is back in full swing, and we have added a four-week Practicum (the intern sees a client under observation by a full time staff prayer minister) to our six-month Residency. Starr Beer has now completed her practicum and will begin her six month residency in January of 2009. This means she will be seeing her own clients.

New Staff:

When you phone Elijah House USA, you will be greeted by the friendly voice of our new receptionist, Rachel Batchelder. Rachel is a joy to have around! Her sincere love for the Lord and her heart to serve is obvious to all, and we are very happy to have her on board.

Intercession:

Staff and friends of Elijah House USA meet every Tuesday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. to listen to God and pray regarding whatever is on His heart. Many times we pray as well for other Elijah Houses or requests that we hear about. We truly appreciate those of you who are committed to pray for the needs of our ministry.

International Elijah Houses:

Austria: Simon and Dagmar Pollit, Directors Web site: www.elijahhouse.at

Contact:
simon@elijahhouse.at

Finland: Tarja Savolainen, Exec. Director Web site: www.elijah.fi

Contact:
tarja.savolainen@elijah.fi

South Africa: Ina Jordaan, Director Contact: inajordaan@absamail.co.za

Philippines: Virmi Nery , EH Representative Contact: virmi.nery@gmail.com

Japan: Masanori Miura, Director Contact: info@elijahhouse.jp

Taiwan: Kuo-ren and Miranda Lin, Directors Contact: krmlin@yahoo.com

Australia: Simon Moore, Director Web site: www.elijahhouse.com.au

Contact:
scmoore@acenet.net.au

New Zealand: Marie Nield, Chairperson Web site: www.elijahhouse.org.nz

Contact: added.value@xtra.co

Malaysia: Nancy Quay and Mei Lin Chong, Contact: nancyqkg@gmail.com

Directors

Tidbits………

From Brian Hancock, Communications Department: God is Good to me!
Many of you recently heard about my tragic loss of a special $2,500 Martin guitar. I was leading worship at an Elijah House basic school when it was broken. This was a tragic loss to me. I had played for 25 years, and I love to play. The students volunteered to take up an offering, and raised nearly half the guitar's worth. Without my prompting, my church also took up an offering. When it was all said and done, $1,600 had been raised! I spent some time looking around, and found a wonderful replacement, a Taylor 414ce that simply sounded out of this world. But the dilemma was that the Taylor, which retails for $2,500, was on sale for $1,899, but only until Oct. 31. Obviously, $1,600.00 would not cover the cost. But last week I felt prompted by the Lord to check ebay, and found a new Taylor 414ce limited edition. The limited's are worth about $4500-$5000. I had only $1,600.00! How does that work? I did what I felt led to do… I bid $1,599! I Waited…………… And I won! Isn't God goooooood! My new guitar will arrive next Wednesday. I am so amazed about how much God loves me! We talk about it all the time, but do we really believe that our God is more than able? He is willing! I hope this blesses you as much as it has blessed me!

About Robin Fisher, Office Manager: Recently, Robin and her husband, Casey, visited Hope for the Children Orphanage in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. For 13 years, they have been leading teams of 30 or more adults and teens on annual missions from Word of Life Church in Stateline, Washington to this little oasis in the desert. Recently, during morning devotions, Robin showed us a slide show of her trip. Like a proud mama, she lovingly named each one of the children and told us a little about their stories. She told us how one of the children would run to Casey with arms up, crying, "Daddy, Daddy." Just one more way that God is turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers!

2008-11-13T16:11:00.001-08:00

Many Christians wonder why they feel so oppressed. They ask, "What more can I learn about our enemy so I can end his attacks? Such knowledge is certainly needed, "in order that Satan may not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes" (2 Cor. 2:11). But perhaps many have forgotten that Scripture's greater focus is on God and His purposes, and that the enemy is the one truly under attack ("…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against [the church]"). God can easily prevent an attack. So perhaps we should also ask, why does He allow it, and what is He teaching us through it?

The answers will reveal more effective ways to wage war. For spiritual warfare is more than just identifying demons and firing salvos of rebuke. It's also shaping our character as warriors through a lifestyle of repentance. Only training done on our knees makes us well fitted to our armor. A battle waged in this manner will make a demon's departure more sure. And that will not be the only blessed outcome. The lasting fruit of strengthened character will have made the victory sweeter still. Indeed, if such strengthening is one of God's purposes for allowing attack, the attack itself may become a means for victory.

To help equip God's warriors, a seminar by Elijah House Ministries titled, "Kingdom Warfare, Solid Solutions for Today," will be held on November 20-22 at the Gateway Ministry Resource Center in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Co-sponsored by the Gateway and The Elijah List, it will feature Mark Sandford and Robert Fetveit, with an appearance by special guest speaker, John Sandford. The seminar will conclude with a concert by Water Fall, a group of prophetic minstrels whose sensitive "harp and bowl" style will offer a refreshing counterpoint to the seminar's deep and life-changing messages. They will also lead worship throughout the seminar.

The cost will be $45 per person or $65 per couple (quite a bargain!). Because we believe that the ones who should benefit the most from our warfare are our youth, young people 25 and under are free. To offset the low cost, freewill offerings will be appreciated. To register, go to www.thegatewayintl.org or call (208)667-8527. The website also offers driving directions and a list of local hotels.

Elijah House Staff

2008-11-12T23:56:00.001-08:00

Elijah House Drops of Fire

2008-11-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

To burn bullocks of idolatry, incinerate fifties of arrogance, and dance blessings of fire on heads of prayer.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His works with joyful singing. Psalm 107:21-22

For more than ten years of this present great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, there has been a revival of worship. We have learned to give thanks to God and sing His praises. This has been right and has felt delightful, both for us and, I’m sure, for God Himself. We need to continue, and are commanded to do so.

But there are several words about purification I believe the Lord would have us hear. This is the time of Elijah, prophesied in Malachi 3:1-3;

"Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap. And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness (emphasis mine).

This is the time of intimacy. Truly the Lord is suddenly coming to His temple. That’s great; but I wonder if we have yet counted the cost. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…(Psalm 24:3). Unfortunately, even some of the foremost advocates of intimacy are not pure in their living style, much less in their hearts. Somehow, all this fervency of worship and adoration has not yet affected the way too many live. Malachi has signaled that the coming increased intimacy with the Lord carries with it such purifying fire that, “who can stand?” The warning: if the blessings we are experiencing in the Lord’s presence in worship are to continue and increase (and how I pray that they may!), fullness of repentance and change must increase, until all our living manifests not our but His nature. Like the people of Isaiah's time, if we don’t repent and change, we may hear the Lord say, What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me...? Who requires of you this trampling of My courts…? Bring your worthless offerings no longer… Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless; Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow (Isaiah 1: phrases from 11-17).

Probably, most who read this are trying their best for the Lord. I may be “preaching to the choir.” But the ways of many do not much resemble the Lord’s. In a 2002 survey by Christianity Today, 53% of pastors admitted to viewing internet pornography “a few times” in the previous year. Many pastors are notorious for having “lead feet” while driving, actually flaunting civil laws, though to do so is an expression of the antinomian heresy ( to live as though Christians are above law and don’t have to obey it). Gossip and criticism run rampant in most churches. The rate of pastors and leaders falling into sexual sins is appalling. A great portion of the Church has swallowed the lies of fleshly magnanimity of mind—for instance, that we can be kinder than God, excusing and affirming the lifestyle of homosexuality. And so it continues. I don’t want to spend the remainder of this space negatively cataloguing how far we are as a people from having clean hands and a pure heart.

Let's check ourselves as individuals: “Seek Justice.” Do we? Do you contribute to such organizations as Judicial Watch, The American Center for Law and Justice, The Rutherford Institute, etc.? (these are a few of the many legal organizations fighting for law and order and for the return of our nation to its Christian foundations). “Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.” Do you give to organizations such as Feed the Children and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls? What about donating to Native American causes—Running Strong for American Indian Youth, Red Cloud Indian Relief Fund, etc. Seeking justice, defending orphans and pleading for widows are the very actions Isaiah lists as true righteousness. Do you sport a bumper sticker that says, “Support Our Troops?” Is that merely a sticker, or do you actually give to organizations like Help Hospitalized Veterans, Help Disable Veterans, or other veteran relief funds? What do you do that actualizes the message, “Support Our Troops?” Are these mere words?

So much for measuring the quality and quantity of our giving. What about visiting the sick and praying for them? Do you call in hospitals and pray for patients? Remember that Jesus said, I was sick and you visited Me (Matthew 25:36). When? Whenever you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them (vs 40). Do you pray for and with people, aloud?

Do you get the point? If we aren’t serving here and there with whatever our hand finds to do, what is our praise if not hollow? We are fond of singing, “We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.” Sacrifices cost something—even death. What are we costing ourselves that we can justly sing that we bring a sacrifice into the house of the Lord? Our entire culture and society has been rife with self and self-serving. The purpose of this "Drops of Fire" is to awaken us, to expand our awareness of what righteousness truly is. It is to call us into the dual purifications of repentance for sin and sacrificial giving and serving. That is the true holiness that ascends the hill of the Lord for His sake, to give Him the glory He deserves.

Check yourself. How well do you measure up? Has Malachi 3 found fulfillment in you? What are you doing regularly that the prophet would call “righteousness?" If not much, it’s not too late!

Praising God is not merely words; it’s who we are, expressed by what we do.

Sneak Peek at The New EH Logo

2008-10-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

A testimony!

2008-09-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

To all our Elijah House Friends, greetings in Jesus Name!

Recently one of our interns shared her feelings about the internship program and Elijah House. Her views were so encouraging, and reminded us all why we do what we do! I asked her if I could share her comments with you:

My name is Renee and I am 30 years old and participating in the internship program at Elijah House Ministries. My past education and experience includes an undergraduate degree, a Masters degree in Counseling from a well known seminary, licensing as a counselor and almost four years of counseling experience in a psychiatric hospital.

I am amazed at the depth of training I have received through Elijah House. As I reflect on all the education, training and experience I have received up to this point, I am confident in saying that the training that Elijah House has provided has been the best ministry training of my life.

I now realize that much of my past education leaned heavily on knowledge but was weak in showing me how that knowledge applied to real life and hurting people. Elijah House excels at teaching biblical principles and truths and then modeling and teaching you how to apply them through the leading of the Holy Spirit. I am grateful for the integration that has taken place in my life between knowledge, experience and application.

I have no doubt that I will leave Elijah House not only with more knowledge of my God and His ways but, most importantly, with many, many experiences of my God and His ways. Through my experiences and training at Elijah House, I now completely believe that God will heal the hearts of his people. I have seen Him do this over and over again during my time here. God has shown me that He really is the great healer and deliverer for his people, and that His Spirit is alive and at work everyday everywhere. (Visit our Elijah House website and read more testimonies at elijahhouse.org)

The Lord has been showing us new and exciting ways to carry Elijah House into the future. Our new website will be available online very soon! New DVD’s, CD’s and seminars are being created even as I write!

We invite you to be a part of accomplishing the “Elijah Task” in today’s world. Would you prayerfully consider making a donation to help us continue teaching and equipping others with this life-changing message?

Look what's happening at Elijah House!

2008-09-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

We can hardly keep up with the requests for ministry in all the areas of writing, teaching and prayer ministry!

New products & Systems:

People in their 20's and 30's frequently exclaim how powerful and life changing the teaching is and how much their generation needs to hear it. We are busy preparing to carry the ministry to the next generation! You can purchase these new products by phone or through our web store. Our new web store and web site will be up and running before the end of this year!

CD's:

It's not for Nothing—Healing from the Pain of Grief and Loss—Sarah Compton, EH Prayer Minister
Lost and Found—Healing from Rejection—Robert Fetveit, EH Executive Director
Three Wolves and Two Towers— Defeating the Religious and Political Spirit—Robert Fetveit
Burden Bearing Series Classic—newly released and transferred from cassette tapes, John and Paula Sandford

Books:

Transformation Series from Strang Publications, John and Paula Sandford (Mark and John Sandford's revision of the original "Transformation of the Inner Man" and "Healing the Wounded Spirit")

Transforming the Inner Man
God's Power to Change
Letting Go of Your Past
Growing Pains

Also out, and newly revised by Mark and John Sandford:

Choosing Forgiveness
Healing For a Woman's emotions
Why Good People Mess up (formerly titled, Why Some Christians Commit Adultery)

Coming soon, more books being revised by Mark and John:

Awakening the Slumbering Spirit, newly available early October, and later,

Restoring the Christian Family, The Renewal of the Mind, Healing Victims of

Sexual Abuse, The Elijah Task and (by Mark and John) A Comprehensive Guide

to Inner Healing and Deliverance!

Seminars:

Since January our EH teachers have spoken at seminars in eight states as well as Austria, Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan. Our schedule is already full for 2008 and we are now booking seminars into 2009 and 2010!

Our newest seminars:

· "Tell Your Heart to Beat Again – Healing from Trauma"

· "Strategic Prophetic Warfare and the Body of Christ"

Both of these seminars will be filmed and available for purchase sometime next year.

Schools:

Our training department has gone to a new level! 60 "Video Facilitated Schools" are running this fall in the U.S. and Canada. New leaders are being trained and released!

Both Basic I and Basic II schools in May and July were awesome! They were taught live by a variety of Elijah House teachers. Students came from many denominations and several nations and cultures. Watching a cross section of the Body of Christ come into unity and healing is always a tremendous blessing!

Our next live schools will be the "Prophetic School," taught by Mark Sandford and Robert Fetveit, September 13-17 in Vienna, Austria and October 6-11 in Spokane, Wa. Video schools may be held through facilitators who attend a live school and submit an application.

Prayer Ministry and Internship:

A steady stream of people continues to seek prayer ministry. Many lives are blessed and hearts are healed! Our prayer ministers also train interns in what is undoubtedly the best such program available.

International Elijah Houses:

Our international influence continues to spread, with more requests than we can answer! Thus far, there are Elijah Houses in: Australia, Austria, Finland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and Taiwan. By the end of the year an EH team will have visited them all. Although they are autonomous, we continue to mentor and pray for each one.

Mark Sandford
Spiritual Director
Elijah House, USA

Three Wolves and Two Towers

2008-08-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

Danger on the path to unity in Christ; Exposing two high-level strongholds resisting the Church.

"Watch our for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod" Mark 8:17 (NASB)As I walked into a computer store near Elijah House, I was sure some of the employees were Christians. It was great to meet a talented young fellow who knew about our ministry! When I asked where he attended church, he said he was burned out on church. He had been a worship leader on a church staff, but because of politics and the way every church he walked into felt like a cookie cutter model of the last one, he just couldn't bring himself to keep attending, at least for now. He said,"I know I need to plug in somewhere, but nothing feels quite right."

I have had similar conversations with numerous others, like the two young men who stopped by just the other day to find out what Elijah House is all about. They wanted something in church-related fellowship that was relevant, something alive. They didn't feel they could find that in the organized church.

Church, I believe we have a big problem. There are forces coming against us that have been in place for centuries.

Recently we completed our 3rd Turning Point retreat. This is a week long retreat sponsored by Elijah House and Restoring the Foundations ministries providing healing keys for wounded leaders. One of the elements of this conference is to help leaders identify "cabals" over their ministries. A cabal is an evil plotting group of demons that seek to hinder the growth and effectiveness of any group or individual that is gaining Kingdom ground. It is my view that many of these cabals are given access by the strongholds of thought I will discuss shortly. Our lack of unity has contributed to the problem. (Watch our web site for materials we are currently developing on understanding the power of cabals.)

A Mystifying Vision:
It was a sleepless Monday night. Usually when my head hits the pillow I am off to dreamland. But from time to time the Lord stirs up my spirit and speaks to me, usually during and after the biblical "third watch" between 3 and 6 A.M.

Restlessly I tossed and turned. Eventually I pleaded with the Lord to speak. For hours there was only silence and sleeplessness, so I prayed about every need I could think of and waited either for sleep or for some message to come. I thought perhaps the Lord wanted to give me something to share the next morning at the 7:00 "Gatekeepers" meeting (a group of pastors and Christian leaders that prays for our region).

Shortly after 3:00 A.M., I found myself in the midst of a vision. I was standing in the open near a wood. In front of me were two magnificent white wolves. They paced impatiently, never taking their eyes off their prey (me!). Their faces looked innocent, and at times they seemed to compel me to venture closer. But in my spirit the message was clear- don't get any closer! Danger! As these menacing animals sized me up, I wondered what I should do. I knew it would be hopeless and reckless to run. I stood my ground. I felt a lingering premonition that something or someone was protecting me and that as long as I didn't show fear or bolt I would be okay.

As I studied my nemeses something moved in the shadows behind them. I looked more closely and barely made out the camouflaged shape of a larger, even more ominous black wolf. I sensed it was directing and controlling the two white wolves. I continued to watch the scene for 15 to 20 minutes, then relaxed and fell asleep.

At 6 A.M. I was startled awake by the intruding, obnoxious "beep-beep-beep" of my designer alarm clock. "Where did we get this thing anyway?!" I thought. As I shuffled off to the bathroom I puzzled over my vision-or had the whole thing been just a dream? Dark circles under my eyes confirmed my lack of sleep. I stared blankly into the mirror and wondered, "What could this vision mean?"

I dressed for the day and hurried off to our Gatekeepers meeting, wondering if I should share the vision. We prayed and asked the Lord for an interpretation. Nearly everyone felt certain it was a clear warning of danger.

A friend had just returned from South Africa. When she heard my vision she was immediately reminded of a vision someone related to her just a few days earlier in Cape Town. It was of two towers, glistening in the sun. On one tower was inscribed the word, "Herod," and on the other, "Pharisee". A large wave marked the words,"the Love of God", raced toward the towers, knocking them down. She had a strong sense that the two white wolves were a political and a religious spirit that plague the Body of Christ.

Mark 8:12-17 says:"He sighed deeply and said,'Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it'. Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 'Be careful.' Jesus warned them. 'Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.' (emphasis mine) They discussed this with one another and said, 'It is because we have no bread.' Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: 'Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?

I have often wondered about these words. What did Jesus mean by "the leaven of Herod and the leaven of the Pharisees" and "a little leaven leavens the whole lump?" I have begun to suspect it means that the character of Herod and of the Pharisees work hand in hand.

The Religious Spirit...
We know the characteristics of the Pharisees were as follows:
1. They were devoted to the law and added their own interpretations
2. Such utter devotion made them blind to the Messiah for whom they claimed to be waiting and watching
3. They were proud, arrogant and puffed up, the "authority" for everyone and everything they observed
4. They challenged Jesus' words and His authority
5. They saw themselves as God's favorite ones, and demonstrated self-righteousness
6. They expected to be obeyed but we are warned not to emulate them, for they were hypocrites (Mt. 23:2)
7. They put heavy burdens on others, but didn't lift a finger to help lift them (Mt. 23:2-9)
8. They shut up heaven for others and for themselves (Matt. 23:13)
9. They presented themselves as pious and holy

Of course, a religious spirit cannot operate on its own; it works in and through individuals. Sometimes it operates through the sheep and sometimes through the shepherd. Legalism is one of its most evident fruit. Individuals judge one another. People feel judged and criticized. Creativity suffers. Fear of failure or censure and fear of rejection become rampant. Control and barrenness are the goals of this spirit. Anyone who doesn't agree is criticized and rejected. Value is based on how well a person performs and conforms to the rules. Relationship with Jesus and with one another suffers. Obligation is over-emphasized. Joy erodes and eventually disappears. Separatism and prejudice toward other groups begin to grow.

When we are doing anything in our walk with Christ out of obligation or a sense of duty and not from the motivation of love for Him we are inviting and empowering the religious spirit to operate.

The Political Spirit:
Jesus warned of the leaven of Herod, which can be expressed through a political spirit. What are some of the characteristics of Herod?
1. He was ambitious in an unhealthy way
2. He was morally corrupt (he was lustful and he murdered the innocents, killed his wives and children, and banished others. On his death bed he ordered soldiers to murder hundreds so the day would become a day of great mourning; thankfully the orders were not carried out)
3. He did everything for political gain
4. He was paranoid (many historians agree on this point)
5. He was jealous
6. He was an amazing builder (his building accomplishments are astounding), but he built his reputation and his kingdom
7. There was a shame-fear-control stronghold operating in his life
8. He had a low self image (he was half Jewish and half Hellenist-an outcast)
9. He ruled by the maxim "the end justifies the means"
10. He influenced by intimidation
11. He was power-hungry
12. He was self-centered
13. He was an enemy of the faith and the things of God

When the political spirit is present, power groups begin to form. Church members gravitate toward causes and strong persuasive personalities. A condition similar to "parental inversion" sets in. Leaders treat followers as children too immature to make decisions for themselves. This kind of spirit helped give rise to abuses that occurred during the "Shepherding and Discipleship" movement in the late 70's and early 80's. Some other consequences of the political spirit are:
-Individuality is lost
-Personal choices are compromised
-Leaders become controlling
-Unreasonable financial sacrifice is demanded
-There is multiplication of codependent relationships
-Spiritual adultery proliferates, and often leads to physical adultery and divorce

These destructive forces are empowered by "bitter roots" lodged in the heart. Judgments, lies, inner vows, resentments and reactions to unhealed wounds are access points for the enemy to exploit. Hebrews 12:15: "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

Pursuing transformation and sanctificiation is the responsibility of every serious follower of Christ. By resisting the Holy Spirit's call for inner healing we may be hindering unity and delaying the coming revival. Repentance is the key to healing, both personally and corporately.

Unity is Elusive (but possible)
Jesus expressed His desire for the Body of Christ in the High Priestly Prayer he offered while sharing his last few hours with his disciples in the upper room:

John 17:21-22: "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

These have become my life verses (especially verse 21). I have committed my life to promote and bring healing to every believer, which I believe is one of the most important keys to true lasting unity. It is unity that will bring the greatest revival the world has ever seen!

The apostle Paul expresses the importance of maintaing unity in Eph. 4:2-3: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

What a wonderful, difficult, distressing yet beautiful, anointed timely word this is! Unity has always seemed an elusive vapor, impossible to catch and hardly able to be held. Throughout the ages, the church has struggled with this endeavor.

When a political and/or religious spirit is allowed to operate, it does great harm to both sheep and shepherds. There may be church splits, people may leave with unresolved hurts and misunderstandings, and lose relationships in the process. Unity suffers, the Heart of the Father is wounded and the Holy Spirit is grieved.

Oh, how I long to be part of the answer to Jesus' heartfelt cry as expressed in John 17:21. It is time we recognize the schemes of the devil, expose the political and religious spirits and fight the Lord's battle instead of each other. Repentance and reconciliation are our first and most powerful weapons for spiritual warfare. Together let's ask the Holy Spirit to expose anything in us that gives these demons access.

By Robert Fetveit