Questions and Answers on Deliverance
Serious questions that we need to be asking!
There are a lot of misunderstandings about whom the deliverance ministry is meant for. This teaching rises some very important questions that cannot be realistically overlooked. I want you to consider these questions and keep in mind that Jesus referred to deliverance ministry as children's bread.
Matthew 15:26, "But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."
How are you supposed to cast a demon out of somebody who is spiritually defiled? When a person involves themselves in evil practices, it defiles them spiritually and makes them vulnerable to receive unclean spirits. When removing demons, it is vital to first remove their legal rights, then preceed to drive out the demons. The truth is that unless a person has accepted Christ and repented of their sins, they are spiritually defiled and the demons have a right to be there. This is why Jesus said that if we cast demons out of the wicked generation, they will return with 7 more even worse evil spirits. The Bible tells us clearly that it is through the forgiveness of sins that our legal grounds are removed and the demons are disarmed. Of course this also means that if a person does not receive that forgiveness, then the demons are not disarmed. You are going into a situation where the enemy has a right to operate in their life.
Colossians 2:13-15, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
Why would you cast a demon out of somebody, who will receive 7 more even worse demons when it returns? When we cast demons out of non-believers, we are setting them up for disaster because the demons have a right to be there. They can freely return as they please, because the person is still defiled. Why would you ever want to set somebody up for something like this?
Luke 11:24-26, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
Why cast a demon out of somebody who refuses to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior? If a person comes to you, wishing to remove a demon, but refuses to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior, then the purpose of such a deliverance would be to simply fix a problem in their life. They aren't interested in Jesus, they just want their problem solved. The truth is that you aren't really helping them, because the root of their problem has not been addressed, and therefore no lasting results will be achieved. The demon can return before they even get to their car, because it has full rights to that person's life!
Why did Jesus call deliverance the Children's bread, if it was not meant for those in covenant with God? This is a good question. Jesus referred to the casting out of demons as Children's bread, referring to those who are in covenant with God. Those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and savior, are not children of God, and have no covenant with Him.
Matthew 15:26, "But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."
If light cannot dwell with darkness, and all darkness leaves a believer's life when they become a Christian, then why do we still have evil thoughts, desires, feelings, and bondages to lust, pornography, anger, etc. long after we accept Jesus? This is a very good question. Is there anywhere in the Bible which tells us that some darkness can remain, while other types of darkness is automatically shed at the time of salvation? No, it does not. If light could not dwell with darkness, then Paul couldn't have had both the Holy Spirit, and evil present in him at the same time, as we can see in this passage:
Romans 7:20,21, "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
Why is authority required to cast out demons, if they leave on their own the moment their legal rights are removed? It is through our authority in Christ, that we are able to drive out demons. Why did God give us this authority, if what we should really be doing is simply winning souls for Jesus?
Mark 1:27, "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him."
Why did Jesus drive out demons, when He had the power on earth to forgive sins? If Jesus could forgive sins while He was here on earth, and if all it took was removal of the demon's legal grounds in order to send them to flight, then why did Jesus go about casting out demons? The Bible is clear that He had power here on earth to remove the demon's legal grounds through the forgiveness of sins:
Matthew 9:2-6, "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."
If all you had to do was get a person saved and their demons went away automatically, then what is the point in casting out demons at all? After all, are we trying to bypass salvation and just apply a patch to that person's problem or bondage? What is the point of going through a messy deliverance session where you have to confront demons face to face and drive them out, when all you have to do is get the person saved, and all the demons go without a whim?
The truth is that this belief that Christians cannot have demons, completely undermines the whole point of casting out demons. The reason the church today does not practice deliverance is because they don't really see the purpose of it... they think it all happens automatically, and that's why most pastors have never cast out a demon in their life!
Does Jesus' warning about spiritual defilement not apply to us Christians? Jesus made it clear that there are things which defile a man, meaning, they make the man unclean spiritually. Do we dare say that a Christian can do such things, and not have Jesus' words apply to them?
Matthew 15:18-20, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."
Apparently, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to warn the believers that through bitterness, they can become spiritually defiled:
Hebrews 12:15, "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."
When Jesus shed His blood for our spiritual freedom and physical healing, does this apply to believers or those who reject Christ? In Matthew chapter eight, Jesus was demonstrating what was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah when He went about casting out demons. At the same time, He was demonstrating the healing that was purchased for us through His work on the cross. Do we dare say that these things were intended to be received by those who reject Jesus?
Matthew 8:16-17, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."
If casting out demons was only valid while Jesus was here on earth, then why did Jesus appear to His disciples after He rose from the dead, and told them that His children will be casting out demons as well? Also, why did the early church go about casting out demons as well? The fact is that the early church went about casting out demons, long after Jesus went on to be with the Father.
There are a lot of misunderstandings about whom the deliverance ministry is meant for. This teaching rises some very important questions that cannot be realistically overlooked. I want you to consider these questions and keep in mind that Jesus referred to deliverance ministry as children's bread.
Matthew 15:26, "But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."
How are you supposed to cast a demon out of somebody who is spiritually defiled? When a person involves themselves in evil practices, it defiles them spiritually and makes them vulnerable to receive unclean spirits. When removing demons, it is vital to first remove their legal rights, then preceed to drive out the demons. The truth is that unless a person has accepted Christ and repented of their sins, they are spiritually defiled and the demons have a right to be there. This is why Jesus said that if we cast demons out of the wicked generation, they will return with 7 more even worse evil spirits. The Bible tells us clearly that it is through the forgiveness of sins that our legal grounds are removed and the demons are disarmed. Of course this also means that if a person does not receive that forgiveness, then the demons are not disarmed. You are going into a situation where the enemy has a right to operate in their life.
Colossians 2:13-15, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
Why would you cast a demon out of somebody, who will receive 7 more even worse demons when it returns? When we cast demons out of non-believers, we are setting them up for disaster because the demons have a right to be there. They can freely return as they please, because the person is still defiled. Why would you ever want to set somebody up for something like this?
Luke 11:24-26, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
Why cast a demon out of somebody who refuses to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior? If a person comes to you, wishing to remove a demon, but refuses to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior, then the purpose of such a deliverance would be to simply fix a problem in their life. They aren't interested in Jesus, they just want their problem solved. The truth is that you aren't really helping them, because the root of their problem has not been addressed, and therefore no lasting results will be achieved. The demon can return before they even get to their car, because it has full rights to that person's life!
Why did Jesus call deliverance the Children's bread, if it was not meant for those in covenant with God? This is a good question. Jesus referred to the casting out of demons as Children's bread, referring to those who are in covenant with God. Those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and savior, are not children of God, and have no covenant with Him.
Matthew 15:26, "But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."
If light cannot dwell with darkness, and all darkness leaves a believer's life when they become a Christian, then why do we still have evil thoughts, desires, feelings, and bondages to lust, pornography, anger, etc. long after we accept Jesus? This is a very good question. Is there anywhere in the Bible which tells us that some darkness can remain, while other types of darkness is automatically shed at the time of salvation? No, it does not. If light could not dwell with darkness, then Paul couldn't have had both the Holy Spirit, and evil present in him at the same time, as we can see in this passage:
Romans 7:20,21, "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
Why is authority required to cast out demons, if they leave on their own the moment their legal rights are removed? It is through our authority in Christ, that we are able to drive out demons. Why did God give us this authority, if what we should really be doing is simply winning souls for Jesus?
Mark 1:27, "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him."
Why did Jesus drive out demons, when He had the power on earth to forgive sins? If Jesus could forgive sins while He was here on earth, and if all it took was removal of the demon's legal grounds in order to send them to flight, then why did Jesus go about casting out demons? The Bible is clear that He had power here on earth to remove the demon's legal grounds through the forgiveness of sins:
Matthew 9:2-6, "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."
If all you had to do was get a person saved and their demons went away automatically, then what is the point in casting out demons at all? After all, are we trying to bypass salvation and just apply a patch to that person's problem or bondage? What is the point of going through a messy deliverance session where you have to confront demons face to face and drive them out, when all you have to do is get the person saved, and all the demons go without a whim?
The truth is that this belief that Christians cannot have demons, completely undermines the whole point of casting out demons. The reason the church today does not practice deliverance is because they don't really see the purpose of it... they think it all happens automatically, and that's why most pastors have never cast out a demon in their life!
Does Jesus' warning about spiritual defilement not apply to us Christians? Jesus made it clear that there are things which defile a man, meaning, they make the man unclean spiritually. Do we dare say that a Christian can do such things, and not have Jesus' words apply to them?
Matthew 15:18-20, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."
Apparently, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to warn the believers that through bitterness, they can become spiritually defiled:
Hebrews 12:15, "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."
When Jesus shed His blood for our spiritual freedom and physical healing, does this apply to believers or those who reject Christ? In Matthew chapter eight, Jesus was demonstrating what was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah when He went about casting out demons. At the same time, He was demonstrating the healing that was purchased for us through His work on the cross. Do we dare say that these things were intended to be received by those who reject Jesus?
Matthew 8:16-17, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."
If casting out demons was only valid while Jesus was here on earth, then why did Jesus appear to His disciples after He rose from the dead, and told them that His children will be casting out demons as well? Also, why did the early church go about casting out demons as well? The fact is that the early church went about casting out demons, long after Jesus went on to be with the Father.
Comment
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Comment by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on April 10, 2009 at 1:35pm
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You are protected in a deliverance session if you are saved, never fear the devil...he is a defeated foe. He doesn't attack head on he attack with trickery and guile.
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Demons cannot inhabit a believers spirit man...BUT they can inhabit the mind, remember a stronghold is anything that is contrary to the knowlege of Christ....more to come! Also ther is NO POWER in OIL...Demons are subject to JESUS NAME and His Word!
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