When Jesus did healing it included deliverance from demonic forces or evil spirits. Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday and he still provides deliverance from evil.
In my professional sessions Jesus does deliverance. Here is what that looks like.
I first pursue the healing of the wounds and traumas that provide the strongholds for evil to get a foot hold. Once the wound or trauma is healed the stronghold is no longer available. If this wound or trauma was the stronghold of an evil spirit, then It we pray to replace it with the Life and Spirit of Jesus and it is gone.
If my approach does not sound like your image of typical deliverance ministry, it is not. It is an approach that builds upon the professional tools for the healing of traumatic memories that are very effective for that purpose. I always look for those experiences that provide the stronghold and bring healing to those memories. I never attempt to provide deliverance without clearing out the strongholds.
Is this approach effective. In my experience it is always effective. There has never been an instance where the problem remained once the memory was cleaned up. It is effective, in spite of not being as dramatic as a pentecostal power-encounter deliverance or a film depiction of an exorcism.
Is a deliverance ministry still needed in this day?
Yes, we still need to provide deliverance for people in this day. But I have found, and people's reports to me over the last 42 years, confirm that an evil presence is the obvious, simple and clearest explanation of family members that change before our eyes to become another person, with different eyes, words, actions and intent. We may have seen it in a sister, father or mother who had been drinking, in fact, who had become alcoholic.
This character that only appears when the person has been drinking, acts abusively and goes back into hiding the next day was not you sister, father or mother but the manifestation of the evil spirit. It is not for nothing the AA speaks of 'demon alcohol.' It is not for nothing that the same presence may appear long after someone has quit alcohol. They are called the 'dry drunk.'
It is not for nothing that you or your family member does not remember what happened when they were drunk - a 'black-out.' They do not have the memories and they did not initiate the abuse - the demon did it and the demon has the memories. The person does not. On with my rant.
Jesus stops Demonic Invasions and rescues people from Demonic Oppression Meantime, did we forget that demons still try to possess people?
Lord of the Rings includes this comment in the Prelude: 'Things have been forgotten that should not have been forgotten.' What did we forget about? We 'forgot' about Jesus' victory over demons and curses. Europeans became 'enlightened.' Being 'enlightened meant:
Demons and curses could be classified with superstitions.
Then scientific age could ignore (forget about) demons and curses.
And any evidence of demonic activity or possession would be met with skepticism.
So while our understanding of mental disorders has improved since the days of extreme superstition, and there is more support for those in any kind of mental distress, any evidence of harassment by evil spirits is ignored and the reality of curses is not acknowledged. Can we find some balance?
There are practical implications if:
When you turn to your minister for help with a curse you will be dismissed with a pat answer.
When you are being actively harassed by a demon, you will likely be referred to a psychiatrist or end up on a mental health ward.
those who charge into 'spiritual warfare' (with the belief that Christians can 'bind' just about anything) find their health, finances, marriage, and children clearly end up suffering. (See, "Needless Casualties of War" by John Paul Jackson.)
There is also a problem if people seeking answers to these issues are turning to a psychics for answers. And yes they are. They pay big bucks for protection or to break a curse. A 'psychic' may be inhabited by a demon and there is no way that the demon in the psychic is going to leave you alone once you tern to it for help. You have more troubles. You come back for more 'help.' And you pay more money.
Due to the church 'forgetting' about deliverance from evil in Jesus' name, the kingdom of darkness is spreading its power over people. One lady, who just recently began consulting me, spent $250,000 on psychic guidance and protection over 10 years. Her life kept getting messed up and she kept going back to the psychic for the answers (when it is highly likely that the demon operating in the psychic caused the issues that it later solved.) She is in recovery from the 10 years she lost of her life. It is like recovering from a cult.
The church is recovering her power. The Holy Spirit has been acknowledged by the Pentecostals and charismatics and others. Some places have revived a deliverance ministry. However, there are still problems to work out.
The way God has lead my in my many years of prayerful Christian counselling is not into typical deliverance ministry.
A christian I knew came in to a counselling session with me with his friend 'Bart.' As usual I prayed at the start of the session. Before we got too far Bart spoke to me in a strange deep voice. He said, "You can't have him. He belongs to me." I am thinking that is a demon and we need to do a deliverance session. God told me, 'No. just nullify the message.' In my head I am saying No. I do not accept that. Bart spoke again with the same voice. "You can't have him. He belongs to me." I was less frightened and convinced by the second statement made by the strange voice. 'No. I do not accept that' is what I am repeating in my head. After that everything quieted down and we continued with the session.
The Problems with evil that remain People do not know how to deal with curses. Deliverance ministry is only partially successful. The most popular forms of 'spiritual warfare' end up attracting attack. So a lot of rethinking and new methods are needed if the church is to survive and thrive in the next few years.
I have been forced to rethink Christian prayer, inner healing, deliverance, spiritual warfare and breaking curses by experiences like I had with Bart. Now I am ready to help you in person or with my writing.
Here are some of the experiences and perspectives that are in my background:
45 years in providing service in mental health, community Psychology and private practice in Agape Christian Counselling,
Reading and training in three generations of Christian Inner Healing, Agnes Sandford, John and Paula Sandford and Ed Smith's work,
Training lay people in the Sandford material covering: Restoring the Christian Family, Transformation of the Inner Man and Healing the Wounded Spirit,
Professional development in therapy and psychotherapy from the schools of Reality Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Psychodrama, Emotionally-focused individual and couple work and Coherence Therapy,
Studies and reading in the field of Psychology. and
Studies and reading in theology and Bible study.
I am now convinced that To achieve deliverance from demonic invasion the church needs to really understand:
The process of sanctification, wholeness, and holiness.
Our part in seeing fulfilled the promise of a 'New heart and a new spirit' in people.
How to use victorious prayer alternatives to petition.
Learn how listening to God is key to victory.
How to include the active imagination in prayer.
Learn safe methods of Spiritual warfare,
Learn to use inner healing to clear the way for permanent deliverance.
As chapters are written for my books I will provide draft copies on Inner Heal My Life.com. At the moment I am writing and posting in the book titled "Heal My Inner Child." At the moment Heal my Inner Child Contents includes:
Remembering Jesus' Authority over demonic power and evil spirits. In our enlightened mind-set, we have little genuine appreciation of Jesus authority over demonic power and evil spirits. We also are missing how significant it is that he was able to delegate his authority over demons to his disciples - first 12 and then 72. Our dismissal of authority over demons in Jesus ministry also leaves us vulnerable. If we or our household come under demonic attack we are confused. We are at a loss. We lack faith in our Jesus-given authority. Jesus was pure love, great compassion and operated with firm authority to 'destroy the works of the devil.' We need to remember this and we need to learn to operate in this.
If you want more information on this topic or to set up a consultation with my on gentle deliverance, spiritual warfare or curse phone me. George Hartwell (416) 939-0544. Email ghartwell at rogers.com.