I don’t know about you, but I’ve walked through some difficult experiences in life – from losing my parents, broken relationships and financial trials, to trauma and health scares.
John 10:10 reminds us that we have an enemy who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. Yet Jesus came so that we might have life and have it abundantly. Time and time again, I see people held in bondage by trauma and sin. Although God has redeemed us, working out our salvation and discipleship is a continuous journey.
Across the world, people are increasingly engaging in “new-age” practices – though none of them are truly new. While some may view them as harmless, they can significantly affect the church and how we care for others. You’ve probably heard the saying that the church is a hospital for the sick – and it’s true. But healing often takes time, and unhealed wounds can lead to division among people, within the church, and even internally.
Becoming disciples of Jesus means living out what the word says. It challenges us to think more deeply and grow in intimacy with Him.
Recently, I spent time with a lovely woman I’ve been getting to know. She’s been a Christian for over ten years and attends a church that’s deeply rooted in Scripture. Yet, due to her cultural background, she’s continued to rely on horoscopes and fortune tellers to gain insight into her future.
As we walked together, I asked her: “Why do you go to these things? Why do you rely on them?” She replied, “I don’t know. I know what the word says. I know what I’m doing isn’t right.”
I said to her: “The issue isn’t that you went – we both know that’s not great – but rather, why did you feel the need to go? Why are you relying on someone else to tell you about your future?” The “why” of what people do matters to getting to the heart of the issue.
For someone who reads the word – and probably knows it better than I do – it’s clear that without good discipleship, even long-time believers can find themselves in situations that open doors to the enemy. We can know Scripture but still not allow it to transform us. This is why we need a healthy balance of the word and the Holy Spirit. After all, Jesus said in John 16:13-14: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
Like many others, I long to see a great move of God – revival. But revival starts within. It also requires a church that is spiritually mature and culturally aware, ready to disciple those who come.
Recently, I felt the Lord speak to me about the “three E’s”:
• Encounter – by His Spirit
• Evidence – through His word
• Evolution – through discipleship
Discipleship means walking with people through every part of who they are – their experiences, trauma, culture, family, and brokenness. As we read the word of God, we encounter the truth of who He is and what that means for us as the body of Christ, and as individuals.
Inner healing and deliverance ministries are vital in the church – alongside good common sense. God has given us authority and power to deal with spiritual forces – not to condemn people, but to bring life and freedom, through love and what only God can do. We live not just in a physical world, but in a spiritual one as well, as Ephesians 6:10 reminds us. We’ve seen what unhealed wounds and abuse of power can do – it can bring great harm. So we need accountability, we need healing and we need above all to know the love and power of Jesus Christ.
Coming from a Hindu background – a faith that is very open to spiritual experiences – I’ve seen and encountered things that much of the church tends to ignore. We need to recognise spiritual realities in order to address strongholds in people’s lives. Often, that starts with discernment and common sense and then moves gently towards uncovering what may be hindering someone’s walk with God and their growth into the freedom Christ offers.
Ultimately, we need a spiritually mature church, filled with compassionate people who can walk alongside others in love and truth.
My own journey of inner healing has led me to freedom from years of bondage. As it says in John 8:36: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Therefore I firmly believe that healing is required as part of the discipleship journey to ensure we are growing more in love with Christ and others.
