Study notes

Chapter 14. Deliverance Ministry

Deliverance ministry is the work of the Pastor and the church in setting men and women free of the power of the Devil because he has gained access into their lives.

Who is the devil

• The Devil was part of a host of angels created by God before man and the world. They were created by the Son and for him - Col. l:16.
• The Angels in general
• They have spiritual bodies but they take on the outward appearance of man - Luke 1:26.
• They do not have wings.
• Jesus suggests to us in Matt.22:30 that they do not have a sex and are always referred to as masculine; then so are all the church referred to as sons.
• They cannot die - Luke 20:36. · They are inferior to the Son but superior to man - Heb.2:5-9.

They are named many things in the Word:

• ministering spirits - Heb.1:14;
• principalities and powers - Col.1:16,
• evil powers - Eph.6:12;
• elect angels - 1Tim.5:21;
• cherubim, seraphim, living creatures, beasts - Rev.5:11.
• They are also without number - Heb.12:22.
• The Archangel is the chief - 1Thess.4:16, Jude 9 - and their power is very great - Ps.103:20.
• They are divided into two

At one time all these angels enjoyed the unity of being in the presence of God and the devil was lifted up in his heart and rebelled against God. Isa.14:12-15, Matt.25:41, Matt.25:31.

The work of the angels

• Occupied by worshipping and adoring God and the Lamb - Matt.18:10.
• They serve God continually. · They are looking down at God's salvation in us -1 Pet.1:12, Eph.3:10.
• They are only knowing what they see that is why head covering is important - 1 Cor.11:10.
• They are used by God as instruments of His will - Heb.2:2 and they reveal the will of God to men: Abraham - Gen.22:11; Gideon - Jud.6:11.
• God prepares us to receive ministry through them - Acts 10:3; sends direction by them - Acts 8:26;
• They act as God's messengers in deliverance - Acts 12:7; and also appear in judgement both in this life - Acts 12:23 and the final judgement day -Matt.13:40-42, 49; Matt.24:30-31; 2 Thess.1:6-7.

The devil and his names

• Satan or adversary - John 13:27;
• Devil - Matt.4:1, Beelzebub, prince of devils-Matt.12:22-30.

Other words used in the Bible include:

• angel of the bottomless pit - Rev.9:11;
• prince of the world - John 12:31;
• power of darkness - Col.1:13;
• god of this world - 2 Cor.4:4;
• prince of the power of the air - Eph.2:2;
• dragon and old serpent - Rev.20:2;
• Lucifer - Isa.14:12;
• Leviathan - Isa.27:1;
• Abaddon and Apollyon - Rev.9:11;
• Belial - 2 Cor.6:15;
• tempter - Matt. 4:3.

He is a person

We must be clear in acknowledging that we are not dealing with a force but a person who together with demons seeks to rule over the lives of men and women - Matt.4:1-3.

His power

He has a greater power than man but to those of God he is limited - 1 Peter 5:8; Jude 9. He does not inhabit the holy ways of God - Isa.35:8-9. He is, however, the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air - 2 Cor.4:4; Eph.2:2. All evil is from him and he controls the power of death - Heb. 2:14-15.

Where does he live?

He dwells in high places - Eph. 6:12; inhabits the heavenly realm - Eph. 1:21 - but seeks to live in human hearts as does the Holy Spirit of God - Luke 11:24-26.

What is he like?

He is an evil, unclean being. Proud, deceitful, a liar and a murderer - John 8:44; Luke 9:37-42.

What is he seeking to do?

His total purpose is to destroy the Son of God and His work. He is opposed to God. He caused the fall - Gen.3:1-24; 2 Cor.11:3. He controls the power of death but Jesus has taken away its sting by His resurrection - 1 Cor.15:54-56. He also controls all unbelievers and their activities - 2 Cor.4:4. He binds them and orders their lives. He works actively against the elect of God - Mark 13:22. He discourages, tempts, lays snares, etc. He affects our minds seeking to sow doubt into us and, by dropping seeds into our hearts, seeks to take root in our lives. All his work is, therefore, destructive.

The devils way in

The devil will seek actively to enter into every heart and will use the following means:

Heredity: The transmission from one generation to another of genetic facts that determine individual characteristics. Eze 19:10

Uncleanness: Fornication sexual relationship before marriage Luke 7:36-8:3, masturbation, homosexuality, lesbianism, pornographic literature, violations of sexual purity, child abuse, rape, incest, adultery Luke 8:26-36, 1 Cor.5:1-7.

Mediumistic realms: Witchcraft, occult, occult books, spiritualist churches, seances, fortune telling, star reading, transcendental meditation, yoga, New Age, karate, tarot cards, ouija boards, faith healing Acts 19:18-19, Acts 16:16.

Worldliness: Films, rock music, drugs, drunkenness. Some of these realms will be deliberate others unknown, but the devil seeks either by subtle approach or to gatecrash into every heart - John 13:2, Acts 5, Eph:6:11-16

They are to be cast out

It is clear the disciples were commanded to cast out devils Matt.7:22, Matt.10:8, Luke 9:1, Matt.12: 24:28, Matt. 17:18 by the finger of God Luke 11:14-26.

The devil can return

The devil can return after he has been cleared out: because the ground of sin has not been cleared Eph. 4:27 because the soul is deceived often by fear and insecurity Heb.2:14, 1Tim.3:6-7, 2 Tim: 2:26 An oppression is different from possession, because souls deliberately go back into sin 2 Peter 2:7-8, 1 John 3:8-10.

Suicides

The devil is behind many of the sicknesses and suicides through fear, guilt 1 Cor.11:30, Matt.4:24, Matt.8:16-17.

Preparation

All ministers must be ready and prepared to deal with the spirit of the enemy - Matt.17:19-21.

May we be able ministers of the New Covenant.