Hello Steve- Please share your opinions and comments on deliverance ministry..specifically..

a) is it a definite 'need to' for all christians to go through deliverance sessions?

b) are there 'demons' residing in christians and therefore the need to 'cast' them out even if the individual has come to the lord entirely with repentance and has accepted the lord Jesus and his gift of salvation?

c)A lady from this congregation had a obvious medical problem in terms of frequent miscarriages..had requested for prayers...and the prayer was to rebuke the 'spirit' of miscarriage..Altar calls are focused primarily on casting out 'spirits' eg spirit of depression, fatigue, worry etc
Q: Is this heresy??

Please share

Paul
I don't know how Steve will reply but till he does I want to share my thoughts. I don't believe a true believer can be "possessed of the devil" because they have God's holy spirit residing in them and God is greater and does not share his temple. Believers however can be "opressed" by the devil at times. When Jesus went on the mountaintop to pray, Satan tempted Jesus a number of times and Jesus answered him back by saying ""' it is written" then quoted the word of God to him each time. Finally Satan left and the angels came and ministered to Him. That's what we can do. We are given athority over the devil ("resist the devil and he will flee.)" and sin. There are a lot of scriptures on this. Tthere are some people who have gifts of the holy spirit such as discerning the spirits and healing, miracles, ect.( Read 1 Corinthians 12:10)Then read about binding and loosing in Matthew 16:18-20 and 18 chapter. I dont think we all have to go to a deliverance service nessessarily, we have athority to cast out demons, but most of us don't utilize that ability. One place the deciples couldn't cast out demons and asked Jesus why and he said "' that kind only comes out by prayer and fasting" and so he healed the epilectic boy. I don't know if that helps but I will pray you get the answers you need, and the holy spirit guide you into all truth, and give you wisdom, and understanding.

[This message was edited by Pax on April 25, 2003 at 10:58 PM.]

Hello Pax,

Thanks for your input ! I have prayed long and hard about this and I praise God for a 'balancing' that is beginning to occur now. I thank the lord for revealing, in his own special and gentle way that sometimes -in our zeal to bring others to Christ and expect to see the spirit work in transforming one and all into 'super dynamic' soldiers - is an expectation that is man made and we may be in danger of spiritual pride. I am convinced that there is no special 'rites of passage' that one needs to go through in order for the lord to work as that would be limiting the very creator of our universe. Please continue to keep us in your prayers...a prayer for spiritual wisdom, understanding, maturity and most importantly unity and the simplicity of LOVE in action...displayed by the way we express and lead our lives.

Blessings

Paul

Paul,

I was pleased to see your use of the words "Love in Action" because I believe this is what faith is. Nothing we do or say means anything without love and God has not given us any instruction that does not hinge upon love. The gifts were meant to operate within the bounds of love too.

I do believe there is a place for deliverance ministry, but it is not for everyone – only those who are discerning and well grounded in their faith. And best not put on public display. Demons do not play a role in everything and it is not something to get involved in a superficial way. Not discounting that demons are real, I downplay the threat of satan because he is not an equal to our God and so many of our problems are really attributable to ourselves and our own sin nature. God can dramatically change lives however HE chooses. If the preponderance of prayer is to cast out demons, that would be disconcerting to me too. The weight of the scale should definitely fall in God's favor, and so I think it far more meaningful to attribute to God the mighty works that He is capable of doing, rather than giving so much attention to the accuser.

1 John 1:5 "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all." When God dwells in us His light rules out the darkness.

Paul, I can understand your concern and I pray your fellowship will concentrate more upon what God can do without giving credence to our accuser and be unified in the ministry of the body in a way that is uplifting and ministers to each individually as they have need.


Pax,

It's great to have you back!


Blessings,


Chelki

Psalm 3:3 "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."

[This message was edited by Chelki on April 28, 2003 at 07:21 PM.]

These replies represent a good balanced answer to this question. Satan and his demons are clearly at work all around the world - but we are "delivered" when we are saved by the transforming power of God. Though we may come under many attacks, God's Word tells us: "resist the devil and He will flee." The best possible resistance is to draw close to God and rest under the protection of His wing - like a baby chick drawing close up under its mother. Never read this as complacency! We must be diligent in our study and prayer in order to draw close and rest.

Most of what is done in the name of a "deliverance ministry" would be better accomplished by teaching the importance of trusting and loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and how to walk each and every day in submission to the Holy Spirit.

Thanks Pax and Chelki for the replies!