Hundredfold Ministries, Int'l

We turn our attention now to the person who needs deliverance. As I move inside and outside Christian circles I often see people who are demonized in one way or another. We have already seen that not all of those who have demonic torment are candidates for deliverance. In this chapter I will describe the general characteristics of a demonized person who will benefit the most from deliverance. Recognize that the qualifications I list here are only guidelines and are not to be taken too rigidly. The principal determining factor is and always should be the leading of the Holy Spirit.

He or She Must Be Born Again

We begin with the assumption that the person needing deliverance is a normal adult who is able to make sound decisions. Next, he or she must be born again. By “born again” I mean someone who knows and has accepted Jesus Christ as his or her personal saviour. Only one who is born again has that authority over demons that is given by Jesus to those who believe. If we set an unbeliever free from demon power, he or she does not have the authority to remain free because Jesus’ authority isn’t given to unbelievers. Additionally, in the case of unbelievers, if sin was the open door through which demons entered, the sin is still there. Thus, the door is still open.

Two exceptions to this rule about being born again are: 1) the simple minded, and 2) children. In both these cases the person in spiritual authority over the candidate should be born again. That person is usually the parent or guardian. Here the authority of the parent or guardian may act to keep the demonic powers from returning.

Please note that I am not saying that we cannot cast a demon out of a person not yet born again. We can. What I am saying is that compared to the believer, the unbeliever has a minimal chance of staying delivered. Remember Luke 11:24-26. If the demon returns, seven demons more evil than it will return with that expelled demon.

He or She Must Want to be Delivered

I cannot overstate the importance of the full cooperation of the human will. For anyone to receive deliverance and remain free from demon control or influence, he or she must desperately want to be free. I refer the reader again to the reasons people avoid deliverance outlined in the previous chapter.

We must carefully look at all the facts about the deliverance candidate’s life. With whom does he or she live? Does he or she like to be the center of attention? Will a deliverance force a different lifestyle? Will bad habits have to be broken? Will addictions have to be broken?

To answer these questions you must listen not only to what the person says, but also listen for what he or she doesn’t say. For example, a person may verbalize a desperate desire to be free, but not express a desire to become a true disciple of Jesus. Listen to what the Holy Spirit reveals.

He or She Must Demonstrate a Willingness to Follow Jesus

During the 1960's there were many “exorcists” in operation. I once heard Rev. Judson Cornwall tell about his own “deliverance ministry.” He told about how he had attained a great reputation for casting demons out of people. But he soon noticed that many of the people were coming back again and again for deliverance. He also discovered that those same people seemed to lack a commitment to Christ. After much prayer, he changed his “rules of engagement.” He made a new policy. He said, “If you want me to pray for your deliverance, you must be here in this church every time the doors open for six months. After you have done that, I will then pray for your deliverance.”

I realize that sounds legalistic but there is an overriding wisdom contained in that rule. If a person is willing to submit to this rule, it proves that he or she wants to follow Jesus. On the other hand, if someone comes for three or four weeks and then drops out...this too proves something: He lacked the will and most likely would not have remained free from the demon had he received deliverance. Besides all that, there is another great benefit from six months of church attendance -no demon likes to be around people worshipping Jesus! By the time the six months passes, the demons usually leave of their own will! They leave looking for someone who isn’t always going to church!

He or She Must be an Active Participant in the Deliverance Process

I have seen deliverance sessions drag on and on because the person with the demon remained passive. Demons are quick to sense the lack of participation of its host. We have already discussed the importance of authority. Yes, those who are praying for deliverance do have authority. But demons are stubborn and will firmly cling to their host if they sense any passivity on the host’s part. For this reason you must tell the person for whom you pray for deliverance that he must help the deliverance team in commanding the demon(s) to leave.

He or She Should Live in a Suitable Environment

I have seen deliverance fail because the person delivered didn’t have a proper spiritual environment in which to live. He or she either lives alone and/or seemingly cannot control the spiritual activity in his home. Or he may live in a sinful environment among unbelievers.

Anyone who fights in spiritual warfare day and night all alone is in for a hard fight. This is especially true of spiritual babies. In such cases, unless the person knows his or her Bible well, the odds are against them remaining free. It is very important that he live in a Christ-centered, Spirit-filled setting if possible.

Dr. Rebecca Brown, in her book, He Came to Set the Captives Free, made a strong statement. In effect, she said that unless you are willing to take the deliverance candidate into your home, you shouldn’t pray for his or her deliverance. Dr. Brown was referring to praying for the deliverance of Satanists who are high in the satanic hierarchy and want to be free. These people’s very lives are at imminent risk from demonic attack. Satan doesn’t give up easily on those whom he has so bound.

Dr. Brown’s statement may be extreme but it makes a point. At minimum, we must be sure that anyone for whom we intend to pray for deliverance has a strong support system in which to live if deliverance is to be lasting and effective. Of course, that support system can be a local church with a care group of believers who will stand with him during the fight.

I want to conclude this chapter by emphasizing again that I am not trying to make any absolute rules concerning the deliverance candidate. The Holy Spirit must always be the final and overriding force.