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...

Can a Christian have a demon?      Most persons who object to this idea do so based on the fact that since we are Christ's possession, we cannot possibly be "possessed" by a demon.  Our answer is that the phrase, "demon possessed" is never found in the Greek of the New Testament.  The Greek actually uses the verbiage, "to be in" a demon, "to have" a demon, or to be "demonized" (Gk.: daimonidzomai).  Wherever English translations of the Bible say "demon p...

Can a Christian be physically afflicted by demons, even when there is no sinful point of access? [a response to a question that came up at a prophetic school]     According to Lk. 10:17,18 (emphasis mine):  The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."  Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from the heaven.  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of th...

Does Elijah House believe masturbation is a sin? Some have misperceived that John Sandford condones masturbation. A discussion about the subject was originally found in Transformation of the Inner man on pages 288-290. There, John linked masturbation to idolatry, said it was an issue about which we need forgiveness, and suggested a prayer we can pray in order to put an end to it. Most readers understood that to mean that John believes masturbation is a sin. However, some readers found the conte...

Why do we put so much emphasis on the fifth commandment ("Honor your father and mother")? [in answer to a video school student's questions]:     "Honor your father and mother" is at the end of the first of Moses' two tablets (among commandments regarding our relationship with God), and introduces the second tablet (commandments regarding our relationships with other people).  It has often been noted that this is because honoring parents affects our relationship with Go...

Should we use the term, "inner child?"     Perhaps we should refine our understanding of the term.  For the difficulty in some persons' minds is that they think we are talking about a separate part of us called the "inner child."  That is, that there is a child part and an adult part in us in a way that is vaguely similar to DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder, which used to be called "Multiple Personality Disorder").          In scrip...

Is it really allowable to "forgive" God? Many have objected to this on the basis that God has done nothing that needs forgiving.  We agree that God has done nothing wrong!  If that is what is implied by "forgiving God," we must never speak of it!  However, that is not what Elijah House means by "forgiving God."  What we do mean is not directly addressed in scripture, either pro or con.  In cases where scripture does not speak directly, the question to ask is whet...

Is it correct to say that our bitter root expectations can "defile" others? Does John Sandford and Elijah House believe our expectations can override another's free will? [in answer to a video school student's questions]: Student's first question: Would you please give me some synonyms for "defile" as the ministry uses the term? That might answer or clarify the following question for me. Can we defile others by our bitter root expectancies if they do not have a sin in their hearts, suc...

  Can another's unforgiveness keep us bound (in light of John 20:22b, 23: Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.)?Word for word, the Greek of John 20:23 literally reads, Of whomever you forgive sins, they have been forgiven to them; of whomever you hold, they have been held.  Does this mean that when someone refuses to forgive us, their unforgiveness continues to "hold" us on some level?After ver...

Dear Robert san and Kathie san, Herb san and Evelyn san, How are you? This is Masuda from Sapporo.In Sapporo snow is falling and it's cold. But the snow hasn't yet begun to pile up on the roads. How is it where you live?We are well, serving the Lord. Recently, we have been invited for ministry at two other Japanese churches. We were given the opportunity to, as a couple, give the messages and lead seminars. It was a wonderful opportunity. This grace has come to us through Elijah House. Back when...