This Sign Will Follow Them That Believe (Spiritual Warfare)
by Daryl O’Neil
In order to defeat the spirit of division the apostle Paul suggested to all believers at Corinth and I would go as far as to say to us today in 1 Corinthians 1:10:
I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
I want to look at the ministry of deliverance in order to get the same understanding to arrive at the same conclusion. In this teaching Let’s look at what I will call the ABC’S of deliverance, by discussing some principles revealed in scripture in relationship to Christ and His ministry and purpose.
To properly understand the ministry of deliverance and spiritual warfare, we must look at it in the light of the original intent of the Father. The reason for Him sending Christ into the earth, as stated by Scripture reveals His intent to have a relationship with His creation for His pleasure. When we examine all things spoken of the scripture concerning why Christ was sent, it becomes clear Christ represents the Kingdom of His Father and is to destroy the kingdom of satan, a kingdom of darkness.
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8
It is not a war against flesh, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
The movement of the restoration of apostles and prophets to the church was to help bring about a divine restoration of all things. The call of God is redemption. Restoring friendship, fellowship and discipleship. These two ministries help bring about a five fold maturing of believers to the call of discipleship. The ministry of deliverance is a tool in the hands of all believers to help people become free to worship (do those things that please God) the true and living God.
This ministry is best seen in its connection to the heart of the Father to gather those who had no shepherd. It is a ministry to be embraced by all who are born again believers. It is a powerful tool to release the spirit of evangelism. Matthew 9:35-38. Jesus gives the ministry of Deliverance as a response to sheep being scattered without a shepherd. Matthew 10:1: And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Look at the result of a deliverance in the word of God:
And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. Miracles, healings and deliverances help to free people to be in love with( fully obey the teachings of) Jesus.
Many have a difficult time understanding this type of ministry because of a lack of clear understanding concerning God being a God of love, who makes war. The Scriptures are clear, the Lord is a man of war (Exodus 15:3). When God delivered the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, it was an act of love and Moses began to sing a song of God as a man of war. God smites His enemies. Deliverance is a ministry of love. It flows when compassion and mercy is released. Going a bit further, to see deliverance as a ministry of love we must embrace all aspects of one who loves. Love is like a diamond, multifaceted. It is comprised of mercy, compassion, forgiveness, truth, grace, faithfulness. These are a few of the faces of love. Love is also made up of holiness, righteousness, justice and wrath. Because God loves, He must avenge injustice. Love will always war against oppression. God is Love.
Revelation of the temple brings understanding of deliverance
In order to understand the ministry of deliverance, we also must have a real understanding of the what the Scriptures teach about the temple. There is much said in the word concerning the temple and how it is made up. The temple is a house or dwelling place of God, a building erected and set apart for the worship of the true God. Three compartments outer court, holy place and holy of holies. Man is the made of three parts. Spirit, soul and body. Hear the words of Jesus:
Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ”Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
And hear the words of Paul:
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 1Corinthians 6:19-20:
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. When we are born again, our spirit becomes alive to God and to receive understanding of His love, ways, and life. Two thirds of our makeup as mankind must become submitted to the words of Paul written under inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
Deliverance is a valid biblical doctrine. It has to be accepted based on the words of Scripture:
Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. (Mark 1:23-28)
Jesus is teaching in the synagogue and demonstrating authority over the spirit realm and those in the place ask what new teaching is this? The teaching seemingly cause the spirits in the man to come to the surface or “manifest” be made visible.
The ministry of Deliverance is a part of Christ’s sent purpose: 7Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” ( Luke 4:18)
The ministry of Deliverance is a warfare between two Kingdoms:
The Kingdom of God the kingdom of satan
Light Darkness
Holiness and Righteousness Sin and Unrighteousness
Health and Healing Sickness and Disease
Truth Deception
Joy and Life Death and Destruction
The ministry of Deliverance produces love for God and a sound mind:
Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
18And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. (Mark 5:15-20).
It is a ministry that makes "bound up" people afraid. Once a person who has been in captivity is freed, it exposes others who have not pursued freedom in Christ.
When ministering basic deliverance we will liberate people from Rejection (opposite love) rebellion (opposite obedience) bitterness (opposite forgiveness) unforgiveness.
The work of unclean spirits:
Unclean spirits
1. Oppose God’s ministers Matt. 13:39; IICor. 4:4
2. Pervert the Word of God / seek to hinder the gospel. IThes 1:8
3. Hold their captives. I Timothy 3:7 2 Timothy 2:26
4. They blind the minds of unbelievers 2Cor. 4:4
5. They sow tares among wheat Matt. 13:39
6. They seduce people 1 Timothy 4:1
7. They trouble people 1Samuel 16:14 1Chron. 10:13-14
8. They oppress people Acts 10:38
9. They vex people Matt. 15:22, 17:15, Acts 5:16
10 . They bind people. Luke 13:16
11. They deceive people. Rev 12:9; Matt 24:4-5; 11,24.
12. They possess people. Mark 7:24-30
13. They torment people. Rev 9:1-11
14. They buffet people. 2Cor. 12:7
15. They resist people. Zechariah 3:1-3
Deliverance is little by little :
50Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying, 51“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; 53you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54And you shall divide the land by lot as an inheritance among your families; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance; there everyone’s inheritance shall be whatever falls to him by lot. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. 55But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. 56Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.’”
Numbers 33:50-55
Deliverance can come by the prophetic word of the Lord
17 Fools, because of their transgression,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food,
And they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
In the gospel the centurion, recognized the authority of the spoken word of God. Speak the word only and my servant shall be healed. Luke 7:7
The word of God is clear, man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God does a man live. When we speak words under the anointing of the Holy Spirit it will bring about deliverance. It will help our mind to be free to function from the dimension of the eternal.
New Testament churches in our day, such as Antioch were very strong in teaching and the prophetic. This anointing is need to build the church and help it stay on course.
It is needful for each believer to respond to the truth of the word of God declaring the Spirit of God has been poured out on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy. We prophesy by grace (the ability of God given to every person).
Sunday, June 3, 2007
