An Inside Look on Deliverance: The Importance of Being Made Whole Part 1
For years I’ve observed deliverance and the deliverance scene from a distance.
Neither forbidding it nor improperly judging it, I’ve waited to allow the Holy Spirit to bring the revelation light I needed to grasp this gift from God brought to us by Jesus Christ.
I, myself, have had many deliverance sessions, both solo and with others.
Still, there has always been something more beyond the surface I’ve longed to glean regarding deliverance.
A Brief History of Deliverance
Recalling about a decade ago, this practice was en fuego (on fire).
There wasn’t a place you couldn’t go where Christians weren’t either dabbling in, fully involved, or seeking to become certified, in some measure, in deliverance.
However, as I’ve watched over the years, I noticed that it’s become this “badge of honor” with an elitist edge to it within Christ’s body.
There were some I knew who were “delivering people” just for the sake of either (1) power, (2) to make a name for oneself, or even (3) all in the name of deliverance.
The motive(s) were erroneous; typically, those on the other end did not experience the fullness of Christ Jesus but rather despair and embarrassment from human efforts.
God’s Estimation of Deliverance
The nuts and bolts of deliverance are (1) that the power of the resurrected Son liberates people and (2) that they live in that liberality with the Holy Spirit.
The Purpose of Deliverance
Deliverance, I’ve determined, is all about experiencing new levels of the fullness of the love of Jesus Christ, the Great Deliverer. It isn’t about the ministry or person(s) administering the deliverance.
It is truly a selfless act focusing on the dire need for mercy from the Son of David. It isn’t about a man (human) or a name (ministry) or power (human or otherwise).
No person receiving deliverance should ever experience condemnation or shame – that isn’t Jesus-based deliverance because He doesn’t bring either with His delivering power.
Being Set Free
And His love removes shame, causing faces to be radiant. His love opposes and resists condemnation.
Instead, the Good News (deliverance) has come to a hopeless person who is either in bondage or tormented by the evil ones and utter darkness…
…Where what’s in them that’s causing slavery to darkness to be propelled from them, they now get to have freedom rush into them.
The Good News (Gospel) reflects Jesus Christ, not any human being. This is how Jesus succeeded when He administered deliverance to the peoples He visited; the apostles and early church followed this same model.
Deliverance takes the position of a servant.
Consider David when he played the harp for King Saul. David was a servant to Saul, and he knew it. He neither boasted in his anointing or power or the power of God.
He submitted himself to release the word of the Lord over King Saul, which was to alleviate demonic oppression.
The Pillars of Deliverance
I believe deliverance stands on three primary legs, for which all else stems from those stabilizers.
3 Primary Legs of Deliverance:
- The redemption from death and the grave and salvation from eternal damnation, separation from Abba, Creator God, through the coming of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, God the Son and the Son of God. His death, resurrection, and ascension raised those who accept Him to a new, resurrected, eternal life with the Father.
- Though because we live in a fallen world, we are being saved daily from the sinful nature, which opens doors for demons, demonic oppression, addictions, and bondage.
- Expulsion of demons from human beings.
- Expulsion of demonic oppression from human beings, especially Christians.
- Healing of physical ailments and wounds, including trauma.
- Healing of mental ailments and wounds, including trauma.
- Healing of emotional ailments and wounds, including trauma.
It is essential to note that deliverance and healing are distinct, though cut from the same cloth.
Scriptural References
Psalm 34:4 uses the word delivered (nāṣal) that translates in Hebrew as Strong’s H5337: “ to deliver; to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.” https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5337/nkjv/wlc/0-1/
Psalm 34:4 NKJV
I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Nāṣal is similar to the NT English word we use: cast out, which refers to the expulsion of demons introduced and demonstrated by Jesus to the world.
Mark 1:34 used the word cast out (ekballō) that translates in Greek as Strong’s G1544: “to cast out, drive out, to send out; to command or cause one to depart in haste, to draw out with force, tear out.” https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1544/nkjv/tr/0-1/
Mark 1:34 NKJV
Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, and He did not allow the demons to speak because they knew Him.
Both of these Scriptures – and many more – corroborate with Jesus’ mission statement: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:1-3).
The connotation in Mark 1:34 is that once a demonic spirit is cast out, the person has been delivered [saved, rescued, and snatched away from the grips of death. It also means that the demonic has been stripped from them and plundered by the Plunderer – Holy Spirit].
The Inheritance of the Children of God
Mark 3:15, 6:13, and 6:17 all record that Jesus imparted this birthright to the sons of God.
Sure, we can go through training in this arena. I dare forbid it. Nonetheless, this is an inherent part of our package as reborn, recreated beings in Christ Jesus.
We don’t just reflect His image, becoming more like Him in His character nature. Instead, it means we share in His victories. And that, dear brothers and sisters, has share in His power over darkness.
