There is a link between healing and deliverance. When Jesus proclaimed that the kingdom of God was at hand, He always demonstrated it through healing and casting out demons (Matthew 9:35). When He sent out His disciples, He gave them power and authority over all demons and the ability to heal diseases. He sent them to preach the gospel of God’s kingdom and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2; Matthew 10:1, 7-8). We have the same authority in the name of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 10:19)
Spiritual hindrances (e.g., unforgiveness, offense, or spiritual oppression) can impede the healing of certain illnesses and diseases, which may require inner healing and deliverance. However, not everything is caused by a demon, and we must distinguish between the two.
The Bible clearly shows that the devil and his demons are real. However, many people, including believers, don’t believe in or are uncomfortable with the concept of deliverance. They may have heard poor theology and seen poor examples or adverse circumstances, including harsh and archaic behaviors.
Some think we shouldn’t focus on demons, while others believe our deliverance was all done at the cross. And some erroneously think Christians can’t have demonic oppression or influence in their lives. Lastly, some have never learned skills to diagnose demonization, or their skills are rusty and need training.
Why Do We Need Inner Healing and Deliverance?
Jesus begins our healing and deliverance when we receive Him as our Savior, and He guides us through it daily as we allow Him to do so. Our spirits have been born again because the Holy Spirit dwells there. Still, our souls may have wounds that can become a landing strip for strongman spirits (the powers over low-level demons) that must be dealt with and removed (Mark 3:27).
We will win the battle quickly after the strongman is dealt with and removed first; this will automatically destroy the power of all lower-rank demons without us having to move up their ranks slowly.
“But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.” Luke 11:20-22
The Greek word bind translates as “prohibit” (Matthew 18:18). Merriam-Webster dictionary describes bind as “making secure by tying,” “to confine,” “restraining,” or “restricting as if with bonds,” “to put under an obligation,” or “to constrain with legal authority.” Binding the enemy incapacitates him.
Ephesians 6:10-18 instructs us to put on the whole armor of God, so that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for we do not fight against flesh and blood. Ephesians 6:12 gives us the organizational structure of demonic spirits. Principalities are demonic despot kings (strongmen) who rule over master powers and lower demonic spirits.
Strongman spirits can be seen in the lives of individuals, under which indwelling demons are grouped for the purpose of controlling a particular area of a person’s life. Within each group, there will be a strongman or ruling spirit. Demons are identified according to their nature (e.g., hate, rebellion, bitterness, etc.).
Deliverance ministry is the process of casting out demons. Demons harass, oppress, and torment. They look for an open door through sin or emotional wounds. Receiving inner healing can close those doors. Therefore, we must undergo inner healing and deliverance more than once, frequently as needed.
The difference between inner healing and deliverance is that the heart needs healing first. Then, deliverance is more straightforward, and we can keep our deliverance. Demons in a person’s life must be cast out for that person to receive permanent inner healing. We must not return to what opened us up to oppression (e.g., sexual immorality, idolatry, anger, or pride). Remember that the enemy always tries to come back, and we need to know how to stand in our authority (Luke 10:19; 4:13; Matthew 12:44-45).
Deliverance is guaranteed by Christ’s finished work on the cross, but it is not automatic. It is a part of our triune sanctification (spirit, soul, and body), as we are declared and being made holy (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Deliverance happens when the kingdom and power of God break in upon us. Jesus paid for our freedom when He gave His life on the cross. The cross is the gateway to our deliverance (Colossians 2:14-15; Ephesians 1:20-23)!
Sanctification is an ongoing process we must walk out daily (Philippians 2:12-13). We must renew and cleanse our minds by meditating on the Word of God, living and walking in the light, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and obeying and yielding to Him (Joshua 1:8; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:26; Luke 24:32; Galatians 5:25).
So, even after salvation, we continue the process of sanctification. Unfortunately, Christians can also be demonized or under the influence of evil spirits in their lives by opening the door to allow demonic oppression. Therefore, we must address the root cause of this demonic oppression and deal with the strongman and root spirits under it. It’s time to let God fully heal your heart and bring the kingdom of God here on earth.
Deliverance is a clearing-out process that may occur over time. The removal of unclean spirits and garbage from our lives is necessary before building and restoration can occur. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see anything that needs to be removed or cleaned up.
The Spirit of God can restore our lives. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Helper, Advocate, Counselor, Strengthener, Standby, and Intercessor (John 14:26 [AMPC]). We all need healing and restoration, which is what deliverance is all about! Jesus came to heal and deliver us from the enemy’s oppression (Acts 10:38).
One of Satan’s greatest strategies against us is tempting us to reject God’s Word and follow our self-will or way. He uses deception and unbelief so we don’t realize we have fallen into the enemy’s snare. Anything that God asks or requires of us is for our good. His love allows us to experience the consequences of our disobedience or lack of self-control, drawing us back to Him and the good path and plan for our lives. He will not force His will on us.
Sometimes, our problems (e.g., anxiety, panic, rage, relationship struggles, work problems, or psychosomatic problems) can also be a result of not being obedient, not setting limits on our behavior, or possibly not being guarded against the influence of the enemy that leads to captivity.
Identifying the causes or roots of these problems will help us understand where we contributed to them (e.g., distorted needs, unmet emotional hunger, or emotional hurts). These include any ways we have sinned, as well as anything from our family of origin, childhood, or past, where someone may have sinned against us, and any significant relationships that may have contributed to the problems.
It is essential to take ownership or responsibility for our out-of-control behavior (Proverbs 25:28). When we don’t take responsibility, we suffer consequences and losses (e.g., medical and social difficulties, debt and bankruptcy, loss of promotions and bonuses, or loss of friendships). Hopefully, we will learn from them. Some behavior patterns may be directly traceable to family problems, neglect, abuse, or trauma, and even though they may not be our fault, they are our responsibility.
As we examine the following list of obstacles to living an abundant life, note whether you recognize any of these symptoms in your life or any lures or snares that could lead to captivity. We will use the following working definition of captivity, as presented by Beth Moore: anything that a Christian is held captive by, which hinders the abundant, Spirit-filled life that God has for them.[1] Often, bondage can begin from childhood trauma or victimization.
We must all guard against these lures and snares that could lead to captivity. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it may include the following:
Pride (trusting in our righteousness, wisdom, or strength), legalism (attempting to earn our relationship with God through performance), idolatry (putting people and things before God), greed (excessively desiring wealth or possessions, being selfish, or having selfish ambition),
Judgementalism (having a critical and judgmental heart), sexual impurity (indulging in sexual sins such as fornication, adultery, lust, or pornography), addictions and recurring sins (abusing substances such as drugs or alcohol, overeating or being gluttonous, compulsive gambling, being codependent, engaging in extreme behaviors such as excessively watching TV or exercising), dark thoughts (having thoughts of suicide or murder),
Unforgiveness, bitterness, offense, resentment, hate, prejudice, anger, rage, violence, guilt, shame, condemnation, fear, worry, anxiety, insecurity, inferiority, perfectionism, rejection, rebellion, arrogance, envy, jealousy, lying, deception, control, manipulation, self-hatred, self-pity, self-destruction, stealing, laziness, strife, unbelief, prayerlessness, and religious pride.
Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind those things you need to receive deliverance or freedom from, and memories that He wants to heal.
Unforgiveness can open the door to demonic affliction and lead to being turned over to and tormented by the enemy—evil spirits and wicked thoughts (Matthew 18:21-35). Unforgiveness causes us to live out of our pain and ungodly beliefs, which creates a hardened heart that feels anger, bitterness, hatred, and resentment toward the offender.
It is also essential not to take offense or to judge others. We should not hold on to offenses because they come with anger, bitterness, judgment, unforgiveness, pride, etc. (Matthew 7:1-2; Luke 17:1-4; Philippians 1:9-11; Proverbs 19:11; 1 Corinthians 13:5).
The spirit of pride is another central door for the enemy to enter and influence us, leading us into bondage.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
Even though I was discovering Jesus as my Healer, unfortunately, a spirit of infirmity was at work in my life, as evidenced by increasing sickness and debilitating diseases with increasing severity. When I asked the Lord how I had let this happen, the Holy Spirit revealed that I had opened the door to the enemy through pride, bringing a spirit of infirmity with it.
Pride is destructive, and God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). The Lord revealed many symptoms in my life that stemmed from being prideful. Some symptoms He showed me were having a critical attitude toward others, interrupting and controlling conversations, being argumentative, always having to be correct, trying to be perfect, doing things perfectly, and being impatient.
He revealed that I used pride as a coping mechanism as a child. I tried to do things independently and thought I was doing something better than I actually was (e.g., playing my violin or volleyball). I wasn’t good at these, but I told myself and others I was. I allowed myself to believe this.
However, it was a false persona, and I had erected walls to protect myself from the insecurity I felt, shielding myself from the pain of rejection. These wounds in my soul provided a landing strip for the enemy to enter through pride. I felt unloved, unaccepted, and not good enough, and I was ashamed.
These were lies that I had come to believe. I repented of these lies, and the Holy Spirit showed me what truths to plant in their place instead (e.g., I am accepted in the Beloved, He loves me with an everlasting love, and I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus).
After receiving a revelation about the spirit of pride operating in my life, I repented and renounced partnering with it. I closed the door on it so it wouldn’t have any legal ground to afflict me, and then I cast the spirit of pride out. The Lord then began walking me through inner healing as He continued bringing more revelation to me.
I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of pride in your life. (See Back to the Altar by Deborah Berteau,[2] for a comprehensive list of the symptoms of pride.) Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and get honest, confess, and repent of any sin. Then, renounce partnering with the spirit of pride, close any open doors to remove the legal ground, command it to go in the name of Jesus, and then ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. We must walk in humility and be aware of any opportunities pride takes to raise its head again.
Pride brings deception and causes spiritual blindness. It also opens the door to shame (Proverbs 11:2). I didn’t realize that the root of pride is insecurity and rejection, which I had been walking in since childhood. I needed deliverance from these, too.
The spirit of rejection is a very destructive demonic spirit. The enemy uses rejection to rob us of experiencing the fullness and blessings of God.
However, God is love, and His kingdom is a kingdom of love (1 John 4:16, 19). Satan’s kingdom operates on rejection based on fear, control, and evil. Once rejection comes in, fear of rejection and self-rejection emerge.
The Lord revealed many ways I used to cover up symptoms of rejection, such as people-pleasing, perfectionism, pride, and codependency. We can use many things to gain love and acceptance or protect ourselves from being hurt again.
We open the door to the spirit of rejection when we don’t receive the love and acceptance God created us to receive. We all need love from God, our families, and others. If we don’t receive this love, we feel and experience rejection, which manifests as fear, pride, and so on. Conversely, we find healing when we receive love and acceptance from God first. We discover our identity and worth in Him!
Self-Deliverance Decree for Rejection
“I break rejection off of my life. I am not rejected by God. I am accepted by God, my heavenly Father. I am not a man pleaser. I am delivered from the fear and approval of man. I am not easily offended. I do not get my feelings hurt easily. I am confident in God and who He has created me to be. I command the spirit of rejection to go from my life, in Jesus’ name! I break rejection off every facet of my life. Go now. I am free” (2 Corinthians 6:18)![3] Holy Spirit, I ask You to fill me now with the Father’s love in the name of Jesus.
Fear is another significant door through which the enemy can come in to bring defeat, depression, and bondage. Satan wants us to operate in fear and unbelief, instead of faith and trust in Jesus. When you refuse fear, you cut off the enemy’s entry point. You step into faith, and faith always produces victory (1 John 5:4).
Curses are a doorway for evil spirits to enter, granting them a legal right to operate in our lives. Demonic spirits enforce curses; therefore, whenever a curse is in effect, a demon is behind it. We must be free from curses before we can walk in the full blessings of the Lord.
However, we must first discern or detect a curse before addressing it. For example, the Holy Spirit may reveal the working of a curse in your life or family. Detection may come from seeing adversity and repetitive, destructive cycles in behaviors and circumstances.
Blessings and curses belong to the invisible or spiritual realm and are vehicles of supernatural power. Both are seldom limited to a person but can extend to families, tribes, communities, or whole nations. Once passed down, they continue from generation to generation until something or someone cancels their effects.
In his book, Identifying and Breaking Curses, John Eckhardt explains that blessings produce good and beneficial results (e.g., exaltation, health, reproductivity, prosperity, victory, and God’s favor). In contrast, curses have bad and harmful effects (e.g., sorrow, death, sickness, poverty, humiliation, defeat, oppression, family breakdown, and evil).[4]
Curses can come upon us, pursue and overtake us, and destroy us. Curses always have a cause and come from sin (falling short of God’s glory), transgression (crossing a boundary), or iniquity (relating to sin in our ancestry or bloodline). Therefore, they can be passed down through our family line to our descendants (Deuteronomy 28:45; Proverbs 26:2; Romans 3:23; Deuteronomy 5:9; Jeremiah 32:18; Psalm 51:5; Exodus 20:5; Hosea 4:6).
Galatians 3:13 provides us with the remedy for breaking curses because Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
First, we must repent for any sins and iniquities and appropriate Christ’s redemption by faith. Next, release all unforgiveness and anything that we are harboring in our hearts. If we hold onto bitterness, the enemy will have access to keep us bound.
Additionally, we can take the sins of our ancestors (generational sins), whose consequences affect us, into the Courts of Heaven, where we can ask for justice (Hebrews 4:16). Then, we can break agreements and contracts with the demonic forces at work in us and our bloodline, thus releasing us from these consequences. Doing this removes the legal right for demons to operate in us.
Next, renounce all contact with the occult, sorcery, witchcraft, oaths and blood covenants, demonic vows and ceremonies, false gods and false religions.
After that, command the operating spirits to come out in the name of Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and bless you. Finally, remember to thank the Lord and believe for miracles!
Steps of Deliverance
Deliverance is incomplete without healing, and healing is incomplete without deliverance (when needed). The Lord wants to take us on a personal journey of freedom. Therefore, we must keep our hearts clean to perceive the Word of the Lord. We may not be sinning, but our hearts may be cluttered.
Complete deliverance may take a while because God wants us to be able to possess and maintain every area of our deliverance (Deuteronomy 7:17-23; Obadiah 17). Therefore, He may work on one section at a time. We may need to undergo spiritual growth before experiencing further deliverance. That is why the Holy Spirit must lead in our deliverance.
Deliverance must be Spirit-led, not guided by methodology. In the deliverance process, we need to know how the Spirit is leading specifically. For example, not all deliverance cases revolve around a demonic door being open. Instead, it could be a generational or soul tie that needs to be broken. However, we must be aware that doors can be open and need to be shut.
It is the leadership, power, and discernment of the Holy Spirit that equip us to function effectively in deliverance ministry. We receive this power and activation of the gifts of the Spirit through baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
If you are ministering deliverance to another person, you must share the gospel with them and lead them to accept Jesus as their Savior, if they haven’t done so before. Don’t cast any demons out of a nonbeliever because they could end up seven times worse than before (Luke 11:24-26).
They should pray orally to receive Christ. There should be a verbal confession of Jesus Christ as Savior, of any sins of word, mind, and body, and of any occult involvement, followed by repentance (2 Corinthians 4:2; Proverbs 28:13). The person must earnestly desire to be free.
There isn’t a “right” or “wrong” order of steps, but listening to the Holy Spirit and working on where He leads is essential. Here are some steps to consider in the deliverance process:
- Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for revelation (we must ask the Holy Spirit to bring to our remembrance memories He wants to heal, etc., and where we need to receive deliverance and freedom).
- We must be honest with ourselves and with God about any unconfessed sin. When we are not, it keeps our lives in darkness, and demon spirits thrive on darkness. We can ask God to help us see ourselves as He sees us and bring anything into the light that is not of Him.[5]
- We must also be humble, realizing we are dependent upon God for our deliverance and need to be open with those ministering deliverance to us.
- Repent. Once we recognize that we need help because the Holy Spirit has revealed problem areas, repenting to God and asking for His forgiveness, as well as the forgiveness of others, and forgiving ourselves, is the next step toward freedom. Daily repentance helps us receive the cleansing and forgiveness that He has already provided. The Holy Spirit helps us see our need to repent, and once we choose to do it, He does the work in our hearts when we ask Him.
- Renounce the lies of Satan/the enemy and, for partnering with them in the name of Jesus, turn from sin and forsake evil. The devil wants to deceive us into believing his lies about ourselves or our situations, into thinking that these things are OK or that we will never be free. We can be set free by Jesus and allow Him, through the Holy Spirit, to guide us in closing the doors and windows of evil in our lives. Walking with Jesus daily and asking Him to continually fill us with the Holy Spirit’s presence and power is essential. Don’t allow anything to be in control of you except the Holy Spirit!
- Close any open doors and break any generational and soul ties that may be holding you back. Part of closing doors and windows of evil in our lives may involve removing or refraining from doing things that the Holy Spirit instructs us to remove or avoid. There may be demonic spirits behind or attached to these things, which can influence you (e.g., certain types of music, pictures, magazines, TV shows you watch, collectibles, or items from garage and estate sales). Ask the Holy Spirit, and He will show you. Then, obey what He tells you to do.
- Prayer for deliverance and casting out the demonic (self-deliverance or with a deliverance minister or pastor). We have been given all power and authority over evil spirits to cast them out in the name of Jesus Christ (Luke 10:19).
- Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Meditate on the Bible to renew the mind.
- Be discipled.[6] Both deliverance and discipleship are needed because freedom is a journey that starts with deliverance. Discipleship is a walk-out process with a mentor, accountability, and a prayer partner. It is essential to stay in community with the body of Christ.
The power to walk victoriously is available to every believer. It comes from the Holy Spirit, and we can experience the Holy Spirit’s power by being filled moment by moment as we yield to Him (Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1-4). Without His power, we will fail and fall back into bondage. We know this because the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:17 that there is liberty where the Spirit of the Lord is; therefore, only the Spirit sets people free and empowers them to walk in freedom.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
“Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
To find out more about how to receive healing from Jesus the Healer, go to Amazon.com to purchase the Kindle or paperback version of my book, Jesus The Healer.
This book will answer questions about healing, eliminate doubts, and boost your faith to receive what Jesus purchased for you. The author takes you on a journey to discover what the Bible says about healing and deliverance and how to receive it from Jesus, the Healer.
As you meditate on these truths, you will discover:
- How to receive your healing
- How to avoid hindrances to healing
- Healing for soul/heart wounds
- Healing through deliverance
- How to steward your healing and deliverance
Healing belongs to you! Receive your healing NOW!
https://amazon.com/dp/B0DKY2C8XK#
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[1] Beth Moore, Breaking Free: Discover the Victory of Total Surrender (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2000).
[2] Deborah Berteau, Back To The Altar Manual (Modesto: Glen Berteau Ministries, 2016).
[3] LeStrange, Eckhardt, and Zablah, Unbound.
[4] John Eckhardt, Identifying and Breaking Curses (New Kensington: Whitaker House, 1999).
[5] Frank and Ida Mae Hammond, Pigs in the Parlor: The Practical Guide to Deliverance (Kirkwood: Impact Christian Books, Inc., 2010).
[6] Morris, Truly Free.
Living the Abundant Life 