Deliverance is a powerful tool for setting people free from the grip of the enemy. Not only is it powerful but it is essential. However, at times we may tend to overemphasize deliverance in the process of spiritual transformation. That is understandable because many of us have seen radical and dramatic transformation in believers in a very short time as a result of deliverance. It becomes problematic, however, when we begin to see deliverance as the cure-all for every issue. In some ways we begin to think of it as the quick-fix for people who are stuck or loosing ground in their spiritual progress, but demonization is only one barrier in an array of barriers that can stall out the process of discipleship and transformation.

Deliverance will not make a person spiritually mature but will remove the resistance so that individuals can then begin to grow spiritually as they should. At the end of Free Indeed, our ministry for healing and freedom, we always remind our participants that completing the eight weeks of study and the weekend of activation is not the end but rather the beginning of their growth and maturity.

Discipleship is the process of becoming like Jesus. It is a lifelong endeavor that can be punctuated by significant events where huge growth spurts occur but then we must always settle back into the process. In transformation, there is always a price to be paid by the individual who wants to be changed. That price is a consistent lifestyle of coming into the presence of God through multiple expressions of ancient spiritual disciplines: daily time in the word, prayer, meditation, confession, repentance, thanksgiving, worship, service, listening to God, solitude, memorization, journaling, authenticity, and so forth. We often say that getting free is the first battle. Staying free is the second. The implementation of these spiritual disciplines is what keeps us free.

We are such an instant society that we have come to expect instant spiritual maturity through a weekend conference, an impartation, deliverance, a prophetic word, and so forth. I think all of those things are amazing and I will be the first in line for an impartation, but they can’t replace the work of partnering with God on a daily basis in the change we desire.

Too often we pray for inner healing or cast out a demon without making sure the person we have ministered to is pursuing the Lord on a daily basis and filling themselves with the things of the Spirit. Sometimes we don’t even make sure that the person has repented of the very sin the demon was attached to or has forgiven hurtful people in his/her past. In our hurry to help, we may be setting them up for a worse condition because we haven’t helped them lay the foundation that they will need to maintain their freedom and grow in the Lord.

Paul commands us, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:17-18). The verb tense of the word translated as “filled” is progressive which means to be continually filled with the Spirit. When you are filled with the Spirit there is not much room for the devil. A great deal of being Spirit-filled is about being filled with the things of the Spirit which are to be found in spiritual disciplines. It is by “doing the work” that we get in spiritual shape. The work brings us into the presence of God and the transforming power of the Spirit. The work lays new neural pathways that are in agreement with God and diminish the old pathways that agreed with Satan so that our brains are renewed while our minds are being renewed spiritually.

So, as you minister healing and deliverance or give impartations and prophetic words, remember that the person you are ministering to will need to pay a price for continued freedom and spiritual growth. If they are not willing to pay the price of drawing close to God daily, they will most likely lose the ground they have gained and maybe end up worse than they were before their freedom. As those who minister in this arena it is essential that we too pay the cost of freedom in our lives each day.

Philip Yancey once said that the real temptation presented to Jesus in the wilderness by Satan, was the temptation of gaining a crown without the cross. Satan offered Jesus shortcuts without suffering to establish his kingdom on the earth once more. Ultimately, there are no shortcuts. It was true for Jesus and it is true for his people. Crucifying the flesh is a daily demand if we are to be consistent with our spiritual disciplines. Neither the flesh nor the enemy want us spending time with God. But for those who reject the “shortcuts” there is certainly a crown after the cross.

For most of the Jews, coning into the presence of Gold was a fearful thing that held the expectation of death. Undoubtedly, that expectation was established at Sinai when Jehovah descended on the mountain with smoke, fire, and thunder and declared that no one should touch the mountain lest they die. There were other echoes of that moment such as the moment that Nadab and Abihu offered strange and drunken fire in the tabernacle and fire from the Lord came out and consumed them. There was also the moment when Uzzah tried to steady the Ark of the Covenant when David was attempting to move it to Jerusalem and he was killed for his “irreverent act.” Even a man of God such as Isaiah cried out “Woe is me!” when he received a vision of God on his throne in Isaiah 6.

Many believers today still tend to keep their distance from God because of past sins or shameful moments in their lives that they feel disqualify them from coming joyfully into his presence. They still fear a lightening bolt from heaven or the consuming fire of God’s disapproval so they stay away, pray little, and sit in the back pew as anonymous worshippers who want to keep a low profile in the sanctuary as if God might not see them.

The Jews were fearful because they related to God on the basis of law-keeping and the curse of the law was severe judgment for misdeeds. Many Christians still think that God accepts them or rejects them on the basis of their ability to live a righteous life. And since we all fail daily to measure up to God’s righteousness, those of us who have not fully discovered God’s grace still live with fear and a sense that we cannot and should not come close. What we must grasp is how radically Jesus has changed the spiritual atmosphere for every believer.

The writer of Hebrews spoke of this change when he said, “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast, to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them because they could not bear what was commanded…the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’ But you have come to Mt. Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God: You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Heb.12:18-24).

The theme here is open access to heaven for every believer. He is not speaking of access after the funeral but now. The phrase is, “you have come.” In Christ, the presence of God is not a fearful experience but a glorious experience. The atmosphere is one of joy not terror. It is not a mountain that repels but a city that invites. It is not a place where you are a stranger but a city in which your name is written. An interesting detail is that the word “firstborn” in the phrase “church of the firstborn” is plural. It could be translated as “church of the firstborn ones”. That plural suggests that every believer has the status of a firstborn son with God, which in the Jewish culture would mean that you are absolutely the apple of your Father’s eye.

This has all been accomplished by the blood of Christ rather than by your own righteousness. The blood of Abel cried out for justice and vengeance but the blood of Christ cries out for grace. Under the Old Covenant, most men ran away from the presence of God. In Christ, we are invited to run to his presence. The writer of Hebrews made this clear when he said, “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb.4:16). The presence that was once terrifying is now comforting, loving, peaceful, joyful, kind, and empowering.

Jesus has made all the difference because his sacrifice satisfied all the demands of holiness and justice and opened the the doors of heaven so that love and mercy could be poured out on earth. Knowing how much we are welcomed into the Father’s presence and how he sees each one of us in Christ is the key to every blessing in the Kingdom. As we begin to grasp his love for us, we cannot help but draw closer, pray with greater faith and expectation, and ignore the accusations and slander of the enemy. As we do that, our capacity to love others and extend grace to them multiplies. Once we grasp what Jesus had done for us, we are compelled to worship in our hearts and as we do we get to join thousand upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.

I love the picture the writer of Hebrews gave us in contrast to the fearful atmosphere of Sinai. I hope you will think about it today and, in doing so, draw closer to the Lord anticipating a very warm welcome.

I prayed with a godly man last night who has struggled with a personal sin for years. He has a few weeks in which he feels that he finally has victory over the sin but then it rushes back in, along with the shame he feels for not living up to God’s standards. We talked about the dynamic of a wound producing a desire to medicate our feelings of failure, unworthiness and shame which leads to a sin that medicates for a moment which then leads to more shame which then leads to a greater desire to medicate and so on. The biblical balance is to receive conviction from the Spirit regarding our sins but not condemnation.

Bill Johnson has a good word on short-circuiting this cycle of sin in his book, Strengthen Yourself in the Lord. “Focusing on our problems more than God’s answers should be a dead giveaway that we’re really dealing with condemnation not the Holy Spirit’s conviction. Focus on God’s answers – not your problems. When the Holy Spirit shows us where we are falling short, the bigger reality is not the area where we are not yet walking in our destiny, but the destiny itself. So many of us read the verse that ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Rom.3:23) and focus more on the fact that all have fallen short than the fact that we are destined for glory! The conviction of the Holy Spirit is actually a call to turn our focus away from our sin and our limitations. He is saying, ‘Your made for more than this. Lift your head and set your sights higher’” (p.136-137).

Focusing on our sin does the devil’s work of creating an even greater sense of shame and failure in us than existed before. That focus waters a seed that suggests that God is already disgusted with us so that we don’t turn to him for comfort but to “medications” in the world’s medicine chest – alcohol, drugs, power, pornography, sex-based relationships, etc.   The Holy Spirit wants us to acknowledge the sin, agree with God about it, and then lay it at the foot of the cross and move on with our eyes reset on the goal.

Agreeing with God about who we are in Christ and his father’s heart for us is a greater deterrent to sin than any shame or “beat yourself up” session. Keeping our eyes on our destiny is he key. Paul said, “Forgetting those things that are behind, I press forward…” That is good council. In the 11^th chapter of the book of Judges, the king of the Ammonites sent word to Jephthah that he was going to wage war against Israel if Israel did not return the land they had taken from his ancestors. In response, Jephthah recounted the history of Israel and how God had given them that land and decreed that it belonged to Israel. After recounting the history and the promises of God, he declared, “Whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess” (Jud.11:24).

That is a good word for us as well. God has promised us a destiny of victory and glory in Christ and we should possess (hold on to, defend) that future by faith, not allowing the enemy to take back what has been given to us. That is the vision that should possess us, rather than a vision of past failures. God’s mercies are new every morning. No matter what happened yesterday, in Christ today can begin with a clean slate.

Paul was enamored with sporting events. He often used the analogy of runners preparing for a race and fixing their eyes on the goal. Most of us just finished watching two weeks of Summer Olympics events. When each runner stood at the starting blocks seconds before the race, gazing down the track, I assure you that the winner was imagining a perfect race in which he crossed the finish line first. He was recounting past victories rather than brooding over past losses. Any runner who was focusing on past losses, false starts, or disappointing times did not run that race well. In the same way, we need to spend time imagining our victories in Christ, the glory that is ours and will be ours, the strength that God provides, and the victory that is promised in Jesus rather than yesterday’s failures.

Fixating on our failures is coming into agreement with the enemy who wants is to define ourselves by our shortcomings. Fixating on ultimate victory is coming into agreement with God because that is his promise. Fixating on past failures is “illegal” for believers, because in Christ those past failures don’t exist. There is no record in heaven of our sins and our testimony of failure has no evidence to back it up. Lay it aside. Get on with the race.

In Nehemiah 8, Ezra read the Law to the people of Jerusalem after the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. As the Law was read, the people began to weep for their sins. But the text says, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh.8:10).

Weeping for our sins has its place, but it must quickly be replaced by joy. The joy of the Lord is ours when we come into agreement with him about his immense love for us, his quick and eager forgiveness, and his promises that point us to our destiny. This mindset is a great weapon in spiritual warfare.  God is always joyful toward us because he knows the end from the beginning and sees us as we will be, not as we are. Sharing the Lord’s view of me, imagining my destiny in Christ, and fixing my thoughts on him open up that joy to me and become a greater comfort and encouragement than anything the world can offer. Meditating on God’s love for me, my eternal home with him, great victories over the enemy, and feeling the presence of God will release more endorphins than any drug or pornographic display and the result will be joy rather than shame. Our goal is not to ignore sin but to simply deal with it quickly through the blood of Christ and refocus on his promises and our destiny. Try it. You’ll like it. Blessings in Him.

Sometimes you have books on your shelves because they are great reads and you plan to read them from cover to cover again some day. At other times, you have books that you read once and now they function as reference books. Those books have sections you refer to for reminders or for re-sharpening your thoughts in certain areas of life or faith. One of those books for me is Deliverance from Evil Spirits by Francis MacNutt. He takes a little more academic approach to the subject than most books on deliverance but it is worth the read theologically and practically. He is a former Catholic priest so his perspectives are interesting in that regard but he teaches and ministers healing and deliverance to churches around the world and across the board.

I like what he has to say about evangelism. “The Gospel is not meant merely to teach doctrine, but necessarily includes the power to free, save and to heal. After preaching in thirty countries, I believe that peoples of every culture are willing to hear the message of Christ’s salvation. Whenever we preach that God, in love, sent his son, Jesus Christ, to free the human race from sin and evil, people will respond eagerly. In the days when I taught homiletics in seminary, I thought the preacher’s problem was to figure out how to make the Gospel relevant to the needs of contemporary people. Now, I realize the Gospel is in itself relevant, that it does appeal. But I was not preaching the Gospel fully because I did not fully understand the need for power to heal and free people from evil spirits…Only when we are able to free the oppressed and heal those suffering from the curse of sickness can we really preach Christ’s basic message: The Kingdom of God is at hand and the kingdom of Satan is being destroyed” (p. 66).

I myself have come to believe that a partial gospel is no gospel at all. Biblically, salvation is not just the forgiveness of sin but is closer to the idea of Shalom or peace in the Hebrew language. Shalom includes everything needed for a blessed life: absence of conflict, flourishing relationships, health, prosperity, protection, a sound mind…and more. Jesus promised his followers an “abundant life.” That carries the flavor of Shalom and abundance is more that just the forgiveness of sins. If my sins are forgiven but I am still oppressed and tormented by demons or suffering at the hands of some debilitating disease then the abundant life seems fairly impoverished.

Often we point to the glory of someone enduring sickness or disability while still maintaining their love for God and still praising Him as a purifying and sanctifying grace from heaven. I agree that their ability to endure and praise is a grace from God but we need to be careful not to declare that the sickness or disability itself is a grace or a gift from God.

Illness, pain, tragedy, birth defects, and demons are not from God. They are a result of sin, which has never been God’s will. They are a result of a distorted universe that was also twisted by Adam’s sin. Adam’s sin and the resulting curse was the work of Satan. John tell us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and so we see Jesus break the power of sin, restore our relationship with the Father, heal the sick, remedy disabilities, raise the dead and drive away demons.

Jesus and his followers always preached the kingdom and then demonstrated it or they demonstrated the kingdom and then preached it. They always did both. Power without forgiveness will simply send a healthy man to hell while forgiveness without power leaves a saved man tormented. Paul tried only persuasive words (making the Gospel relevant) when he preached on Mars Hill in Athens. If you check Acts 17, the results were very disappointing. Then he moved on to Corinth where he later confessed, “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (I Cor. 2:1-5).

After Mars Hill, Paul reconsidered his strategy and determined that the simple message of grace and forgiveness coupled with a demonstration of God’s grace through power was the way to go. After all, that had been the strategy of Jesus in his own ministry as well as the one he commanded when he sent out the twelve and the seventy-two to preach, heal, and cast out demons. We would do well to follow that pattern whether we are preaching to thousands or to one. Even Paul had to be reminded.

I need reminders to keep it simple and stay on point. I need reminders to pray for boldness to share the gospel but also for an anointing to demonstrate power not just for me but for my church and the church universal. You really can’t improve on Jesus. That’s why I like to look back at books I have often looked at before because the yellow highlighted sections call me back to things I need to be reminded of. I encourage you to go back and look at the yellow highlights and notes scribbled in the margins as well. Blessings today in all you do.

All of us who minister deliverance or healing or who share the gospel or counsel believers have experienced the frustration of doing our best and then seeing nothing change. Sometimes self-doubt creeps in as if we failed in the moment and at other times we simply wonder what went wrong. I was browsing through an old book on my shelf written by a man named Don Basham entitled, Deliver Us From Evil. If you think healing and deliverance has just begun to be practiced in the church, many were doing these things in the 60’s and 70’s.   Don’s book was first published in 1972. He and a few others like Derek Prince were leading lights in renewing this ministry to the contemporary church.

Don’s book is basic and simple. I like that. The other reason I like it is because it reminds me that, as Solomon said, there is nothing new under the sun. Our current experiences mirror his and his thoughts and experiences confirm that we are still on the right path. I think I’ll share some of his wisdom with you in my next few blogs.

In his book, Basham states, But knowing that Satan and his demons are defeated is one thing: appropriating the benefits of that belief is another. The more I was thrown into this strange ministry, the more complex it seemed to become. Why, for example, should deliverance achieve such spectacular results in one tormented person and fail miserably with another. Gradually, I began to see that there were certain contributing factors, certain requirements or conditions for deliverance. To a large degree, success was determined by whether or not the one seeking help was willing to meet the conditions (p. 147). Basham then goes on to list six of those conditions. Our experience at Mid-Cities confirms his list so I will share it with you and as I do I will make some of my own comments related to his.

1. The person must desire deliverance. I agree. We must recognize that many people only “sort of” want deliverance or want deliverance from one thing but not another (like a sinful relationship). That mindset continues to give the enemy a legal right to continue to harass that individual. Deliverance is most effective when the individual is done with sin and Satan and hates what both have done in his or her life. Everything in the person’s life must be placed under the Lordship of Jesus…not just some things.

2. The person must be willing to admit that he has a demon. Basham’s point here is that, in many cases, the individual must acknowledge that his condition is not just physiological or genetic but that there is a sin component that may have demonic origins. With the sin component comes personal responsibility to repent and renounce that behavior as sin. I’m not sure that the individual must be convinced that he has a demon but he should be open to the possibility. He or she could read my book or any number of books on the topic to understand the reality and possibility of demons if that is an issue.

3. Those ministering deliverance must take authority in the name of Jesus. If we ever believe the deliverance depends on us, our ability, our holiness, or our methodology we will fail. Demons have no regard for us but on for the one whom we represent. We act in the authority and power of Jesus. We must always remember that and make sure that the demons know whom we serve.

4.  It helps to get the demon to name itself. I agree with Don’s statement in principle. If you get the demon’s name it typically comes out easier. It reminds me of kids playing in the yard. When the mother yells, “You kids get in the house,” the kids will usually drift in over the next few minutes as if “you kids” may not have included each one of them. However, when momma says, “Billy Ray, you get in here this minute!” more and quicker action follows. You may know the demon’s name by his fruits – anger, rage, lust, fear, rejection, etc. or the Holy Spirit may reveal the name to you. At times you can command a spirit to reveal his name but he may resist and he may lie. Getting the name is helpful but not necessary.

5. The afflicted person must renounce the demon. Basham makes a good point when he says that repentance of the sin is necessary but renouncing the sin and the demon carries more weight. Repentance says I don’t want to do this anymore. Renouncement says I hate this and want nothing to do with it ever again. I have seen demons persist in the face of anointed and experienced members of a deliveranceteam until the afflicted person gets angry at the demon and commands it to leave with absolute conviction. Half-heartedness on the part of the afflicted still gives the enemy a place.

6. The person must forgive. Unforgiveness is an open door for the enemy. Jesus told us in several places that if we don’t forgive others, the father won’t forgive us. Unforgiven sin gives the enemy legal access to us. Typically, we need to explain biblical forgiveness to people as a decision rather than a feeling and that forgiving a hurtful person doesn’t necessarily mean giving them access to us again. It is simply a decision to no longer require payment for the wrongs done and to release all judgment to God. But it is absolutely necessary for deliverance to be successful.

7. A person must repent of any persistent sin. This was not in Basham’s list, perhaps because it is so obvious, but it needs to be stated. A person must repent of his or her sins because unrepented sin gives the enemy a legal right to harass. We are in agreement with the devil in that slice of our lives if we do not repent and renounce the sin…and any sins of the Fathers that we are aware of. Sometimes people rationalize a particular sin as being “a little sin” or they hold onto a sin that gratifies them or makes them feel powerful or significant. You must explore those possibilities and move them to a sincere acknowledgment and repentance of sin in their lives. Secret sin continues to give the devil a foothold.

If those conditions are not met, you may not accomplish much or anything in your attempts to minister deliverance. Sometimes, individual’s want to start commanding right away without discovering where the enemy has gained entrance and whether or not the person’s heart is aligned with the Jesus. That is like a doctor jumping into surgery without an MRI, a CT scan, or a thorough diagnosis. Not a good idea. If the person’s heart is not right, you may gain some temporary deliverance but more than likely that spirit will return and sometimes bring others with him. Take your time with the diagnosis. It will save you time with the treatment.

Easter truly begins with Passover. Passover will begin at sundown this Friday. The death of Jesus cannot be fully understood without the background of both Passover (Pesach) and Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. But since this is the season of Passover let’s focus on that element. As you know, Passover is the annual celebration of the Hebrew’s release from centuries of slavery in Egypt. For Jews, it is the equivalent of our Fourth of July, Independence Day, yet with much greater spiritual overtones. It is the day God set them free and led them out of bondage to make them a nation and give them the land promised to Abraham and his descendants. It was a time when the power of God was manifested on behalf of his people to deliver them from Pharaoh, the most powerful despot on earth at the time.

Through Moses, God had commanded Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go that they might serve and worship him. Pharaoh had no mind to do so. One ragged, stuttering prophet Moses and his brother Aaron stood before the sovereign leader of Egypt and conveyed the edicts of the Almighty. Of course, Pharaoh who considered himself a god backed by pantheon of gods that Egypt worshipped, felt no compulsion to listen to this former but disavowed prince of Egypt. And so…God sent plagues, one after another, on the nation of Egypt. Each plague demonstrated God’s power over the “god’s” of Pharaoh: the Nile turning to blood demonstrated Jehovah’s power over Anuket, the goddess of the Nile; total darkness over Egypt demonstrated Jehovah’s power over Ra, the sun god, and so on.

After nine plagues devastated the nation, Pharaoh was warned that unless he let God’s people go, every first born (human and animal) in Egypt would die at the hand of God’s judgment. The Hebrew people were warned to stay in their homes that fearful night as God’s judgment passed through Egypt. They were to kill a lamb for each household and spread the blood of the lamb over the doors of each house. The sign of the blood would mark them as God’s people and the angels executing judgment on Egypt would pass over them, sparing their first born. Interestingly, even non-Jews who feared their God could come under the protection of that blood.

Inside that house they were to prepare themselves to leave Egypt. They were to roast and eat the lamb whose blood covered their door and they were to eat “the bread of haste” or unleavened bread prepared quickly for the journey. Exodus 12:11-13 states it this way: “This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.  On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”   Of course, this final judgment targeted Pharaoh himself and those who proclaimed the rulers of Egypt to be gods. At the death of his own son, Pharaoh released Israel that night into the hands of their God.

Other regulations regarding the Passover lamb state that the lamb (or goat) had to be a year old male without blemish. After marking their doors with his blood, the people were to consume every part of the lamb that was edible and to be dressed and ready to leave on a moments notice which underlined their faith that deliverance was truly at hand.

Christ is all over Passover. Paul declares, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). A year-old lamb is considered mature. A thirty-year old Jewish male was considered mature. Jesus began his public ministry at about the age of 30. The lamb had to be without blemish. Jesus was without sin. The blood of the lamb marked a household as belonging to God’s people and therefore allowed judgment to pass over that house. The blood of Christ marks every believer as belonging to God and allows God’s judgment to pass over each of us as his blood marks our sins and transgressions as paid in full. The household took the life of the lamb. Our sins took the life of Jesus. After the blood of the lamb was shed, the household was to eat or ingest every part of the lamb. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (Jn. 6:53). It’s not enough that we are marked by the blood of the Lamb but we must consume and assimilate every part of Jesus into our lives. Jesus died at Passover. He was raised three days later but his death marked deliverance for each of us.

I find it almost jarring that Jesus said to his disciples, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Lk.22:15). What must it have been like for Jesus to go through each step of the Passover Seder with his disciples that night knowing that each part pointed to a the terrible death assigned to him in just a few hours? Yet Jesus said he eagerly desired to share that meal. Jesus dreaded the suffering to come but through the meal he looked past the suffering and saw the life and freedom that his death would purchase for each of us. Everything that Passover represents to the Jewish nation, should speak ten times more loudly to us for Christ is the ultimate Passover, our Passover.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Randy was in his 30’s and had been struggling with homosexuality off and on since high school. In the past three years his desires toward men had been obsessive. He was married with children but had been arranging clandestine meetings with men he met online and his shame and feelings of helplessness had become overwhelming. In my last blog I talked about his encounter with Jesus that had opened the door for hope again and the realization that he was still loved by his Heavenly Father.

After Randy had felt the arms of Jesus around him, his determination to resist the powerful temptations toward homosexual encounters was renewed. But the battle seemed constant and inevitably unwinnable. I began to speak to him about spiritual realities and spiritual warfare since Paul clearly states that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces in the heavenly realms (Eph.6:12). Randy had not heard much about that side of our faith in the denomination in which he had grown up yet his “supernatural” encounter with Jesus had opened him up to new possibilities.

One of Satan’s most destructive strategies is to assign demonic spirits to whisper thoughts that we experience as temptations and then to convince us that those thoughts are our own and that those thoughts define us. That was certainly true with Randy. I began to encourage him not to receive those thoughts as his own but as temptations or whispers from the enemy. His response should be to treat the thought as one being whispered by a spirit and to command the spirit to leave him in the name and authority of Jesus. That seemed a bit “out there” to Randy but he began to verbally command tempting spirits to leave him and the obsessive and oppressive nature of the temptations began to decrease but the voice was still a constant companion.

At that point I began to suggest deliverance from spirits of sexual perversion and homosexuality that were not just passing by but that had attached themselves to him. That thought was a profound jump for him and one he wasn’t immediately willing to receive.   However, he was determined to overcome this issue that had defined his life for years and so one day Randy, out of fear that he would eventually regress, consented.

And so, one afternoon in my office, a member of our congregation named James Morris, who had a great deal of experience in deliverance, and I prayed with Randy. We had him not only confess his sins but renounce them as well and forgive the man who had molested him years earlier. Then in the name and authority of Jesus, we began to command these spirits to release their hold on him and to leave him immediately. For the first few minutes we saw little happen but then Randy began to cough and gag. As we pressed in, Randy left his chair, hit the floor and began to crawl around with the spirits shouting, “No!” each time we commanded them to stop afflicting Randy and to leave. After a half hour of resisting, these spirits departed. Randy was absolutely sure that something had left him and although he was exhausted he was also at peace. James and I prayed for God to fill Randy with his Spirit, to grant him sexual holiness, and to restore his masculine soul. We told him to treat any further temptations as a spirit and to command them to leave.

Randy left my office that day and told me three months later that his love for his wife and sexual desires for her had returned. He was serving in his church again. Temptations from his past arose from time to time but without the power they once possessed. Randy wasn’t just managing his homosexual impulses but was free from them. The last I heard from Randy was about three years after his deliverance and he was still walking in freedom. I believe a demonic spirit had entered John through the molestation he had experienced as a child and as his confusion grew about his own masculinity and sexuality other spirits joined the first to create the shame and compulsions that ruled Randy for years. As the song declares, “There is power in the name of Jesus.”

Is every person involved in homosexuality ruled by demonic spirits? Probably not, but I believe many are and could be set free just as Randy was. I also know a young woman who was content to be single, serve the Lord, and live the busy life of a social worker. One day she met an older woman and developed a friendship with her but the friendship soon developed into a lesbian relationship with the two living together. That went on for a year with her concerned family praying for her each day. One day she simply walked away from the relationship and later said that she could pinpoint the moment when a spirit entered her and she could pinpoint the day it left. When it left, so did her desires for any sexual encounters with women. Again, a strong spirit had been at play in this woman’s life. Jesus has an answer for that.

In my next blog, we’ll talk about genetic propensities toward homosexuality and how some believers have dealt with that issue in their own lives. Blessings in Him.