Oh look! It's a...a demon. Great.

I'm not kidding. Wondering who out there has had to deal with people who are "demonized" or harassed by tormenting spirits. I personally see this ministry all throughout the new testament and without question have encountered people who could use a good...prayer of deliverance.

I've some experience with it in the past, mostly good. Wondering how this issue has been addressed and dealt with in a home church setting. Resources? Thoughts. Love to hear it.

Thanks and no I'm not crazy. Been through deliverance myself once, AFTER I was saved and it was a great experience.

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Permalink Reply by Frank on October 9, 2012 at 3:21pm

Mindy,

Over the years, I have done deliverance almost any when and anywhere. My wife and I are no specialists or experts, its just that we take deadly serious what the bible says about spiritual warfare. It has also made our own lives amazingly freer than ever would be possible without it.

How did I go about it? I just got on with it like we are supposed to.

I saw someone casting demons out in the 70s, had some deliverance myself, and immediately realised it was totally liberating and very biblical. I started at first a little tentatively and then over the years it has grown into an integral part of everything I do. For anyone to advance and grow, without dealing with the enemy that already possesses the land, is plain stupidity. Like Jesus said, "The kingdom of the heavens is taken by violence, and the violent take it by force!"

Interestingly, if you read the bible you will find that there is no such thing as a deliverance ministry. This is because spiritual warfare is supposed to be part of every Christian's life style. It was never meant to be left in the hands of so called specialists. The only reason that such ministries arise is because of the shameful abdication of most Christians and their church leaders.

Most people, including Christians, are so bound up with fears, hang-ups, obsessions etc, giving lead to all sorts of other behavioural issues that they struggle to control. They feel condemned as they struggle to master what they think is just a poor self control issue, and then fail again and again. Churches preach a legalistic behaviour based codes of Christian life, which invariably results in more self condemnation, but does nothing to set the members free.

In our experience, most of such behaviours and attitudes have demons behind them.

I understand perfectly that you may lack confidence, but deliverance is probably the most important step any believer needs to take. I guess it is like learning to swim. You can't do it on the poolside, you have to get wet! Everyone who does it is unsure at first.

If you know anyone who already does deliverance who you can get alongside, it might make your start easier, but ultimately you just have to go and do it.

I would also point out that one of the main advantages of getting started is doing self deliverance. I am always finding new areas where I need to get rid of things lurking in spiritual areas I should be possessing.

Regarding your specific points.

It is good to have more than one of you, particularly at the start. It adds to the discernment. However it is also good to have just one person taking the lead and keeping order as you go, otherwise if everyone is commanding demons at once it can be chaotic.

Location can be significant, particularly if it is likely to be noisy. (Either your commands or any demonic reaction.) Having to worry about neighbours can be disconcerting. Also, in some houses, if there have been ungodly practices there may be resident demons which make discerning harder. It is easier to do it where there is a spirit of peace in residence.

As to discerning of particular demons, that is a gift of the Spirit that grows with use. However many demons are evident by their fruits in the victim's life.

Sometimes we just command them using a vague description of their activity. Other times we may get a clear word which can be linked to things they have never been involved with, but is of ancestral origin.

Make sure you have a note pad to record all that you discern, or that they ask about. You can decide on the order to tackle things and are less likely to miss anything.

Above all make sure you know who you are, and what the source of your authority is. You are raised up and seated in Christ Jesus at the right hand of the Father. Therefore the demons are under your feet. Your authority is obviously the name of Jesus and the power of His blood. Demons hate to hear these things, particularly about the blood.

If there is any way my wife or I can help you get started please ask.

Mindy Wood said:

Marshal and Frank, wow. That totally makes sense. Work "out your OWN salvation with fear and trembling." Indeed! How have you guys gone about deliverance ministry? With a couple of saints as back up? With pre-determined prayers and declarations? In your home, their home? I know this is an aspect of reconciliation that we HAVE to delve into. I'm just not feeling very confidant we should take it on and I really want to cart them off to a ministry in Oklahoma City where they perform deliverance sessions. What say ye, gentlemen?

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Permalink Reply by Marshall Diakon on October 9, 2012 at 8:59pm

as Frank points out, there is no "deliverance ministry" as per the Scriptures, but more in an integrated "battlefield" operation for us.

just a couple of thoughts to add alongside here...

as some linguists have pointed to, "daemon" roughly describes a teacher that causes their student to obsess. Last month, I was in a supermarket where they were having a new product giv-a-way associated with a short training on how to use the product. The announcement over the store's public address system invited everyone, "come to the daemon located below the flashing blue light." This word "daemon" can apply to a living entity or a mechanism that is applying a spell-binding effect in or upon someone(s). I later walked across the isle and there she was, teaching a few people via hyperbole and zeal; all eyes around fixed upon this woman in her raised pulpit.

With some people in Christ, a demon seems more likely to manifest as they approach in spirit or in person; with others, the evil tends to hide in the shadows. I cannot explain this tactical difference --- yet. Since we are graced in discernment variously, often advantageous for unified teams moving to take ground together in Christ. Possibly peculiar to our times, many people today with a daemon-teacher love their daemon and do not truly wish to part with it/them. This would add a conflict of will to the battle for their liberation in Christ.

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Permalink Reply by Frank on October 10, 2012 at 2:43am

Many years ago a friend of mine challenged me about what he called my "obsession" with casting demons out.

Although my friend had razor sharp discernment, he avoided deliverance completely for fear that if he started down that route, the demons, would make him and his family a target. I laughed and pointed out to him that they didn't need to make him a target when they already had him firmly locked in their high security prison camp. Satan had him paralyzed with fear so that he was ineffective as a Christian. Spiritual warfare was about him escaping out of the camp of fear.

He then argued that when he read the bible, although he could see all the healings that Jesus did, he didn't see all the casting out of demons that I was claiming was there.
As it happened, I had just done a head count of all the deliverance in the book of Matthew. I kept a score sheet as I read every verse. I scored "D" for deliverance, "H" for healing and "DH" when it was both.

When I got to the end of that Gospel, I found to my surprise that there were exactly the same number of casting out of demons as there were acts of healing, the DH proving that most sicknesses were actually demon based.

I challenged him to go away and do the same count, the result of which astounded him. Because of his unbelief, Satan had blinded him to the biblical facts of deliverance. He had completely missed them every time he read his bible. The church makes much talk about all the healings that Jesus did, but belittles the demonology that was the basis of it. As Jesus said, "If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then has the Kingdom of God come upon you."

Today we would call this "Regime change". Or as Jesus said repeatedly, "The kingdom of Heaven is nigh unto you".

The Kingdom of God can only come when we are prepared to dispose of Satan's kingdoms.

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Permalink Reply by Marshall Diakon on October 10, 2012 at 9:24am

There is a false teaching that circulates among Catholic & Protestant persuasion/seminary which associates paranormal activity with the activity of daemons. Examples from the Scriptures largely do not support this view, and it would be a diversion tactic to paint saints as 'ghost busters'.