Christian Living

YOU NEED DELIVERANCE

by Hezekiah Fakeye
09/05/16
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Deliverance is one of the key subjects that is being emphasized in Christianity from time immemorial, especially in this part of the world where i grew. It was part of Jesus’ ministry, so there is no argument as to whether deliverance should be given attention or not. It is part of the kingdom business. We cannot shy away from the fact that there are demons and people are being possess and oppress by these demonic spirits.
However, the notion that deliverance is all about demons is not correct. It is this concept that makes many believers to take deliverance with levity hand. When you mention the word ‘deliverance’ in a believer’s class or gathering, the first thing that comes to their minds is that, ‘are we demon possessed?’. Many believers have failed to realize that deliverance goes beyond casting out demons. Deliverance is not all about demons! There are two more important aspects of deliverance that need attention vis a vis removing legal rights, and tearing down strongholds.

Legal rights are things that give demons permission to enter and live in our lives. This is why it is wise to address the issue of legal rights before dealing with casting out demons, because as long as the legal rights are still intact, the demons will always come back. Demons do not possess people unless there is a legal right for them to do so. The major legal rights are sin, curse and covenant.

Anyone who dwells in sin gives demons the legal right to possess him. Sin is the major and most important factor demons leverage on to sneak into one’s life. A life full of sin is prone to demonic spirits.
Spiritual sleep is also a very important thing demons leverage on to possess someone. Sleeping spiritually simply means when someone is inactive in spiritual matters like fellowshiping with the Holy Spirit in prayer, worship, and study of the word of God. And in the parable Jesus told in Matthew 13:25, it was made clear that the devil cannot sow anything in our lives until we sleep (spiritual sleep). So sleeping is a legal ground for the devil to sow into anyone’s life. Therefore, it is very unwise to cast out demons out of a life that still dwells in sin.
The same thing is applicable to curses (of whatever source) and demonic covenants (especially the ones that involve blood). These are legal rights for demons to possess any life and until these rights are dealt with, it may be unwise to cast out demons; this is because you will have to do that repeatedly.

However, the good news is that Jesus Christ has dealt with all these legal rights on the cross. It is only left to us to believe and identify with the finished work of Christ on the cross. The Bible made us to understand that the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Jesus Christ purposely came to the world to deliver us from sin. In fact, that’s why He was named JESUS (Matthew 1:21)!
To the curses, the word of God made us to understand that Jesus has nailed them to the cross (Col. 2:13 – 15). He has settled all curses, yokes and bondages, and has given us liberty (Gal. 5:1). We only need to step into this liberty by believing and standing firm in His freedom.
Also, His coming in flesh to shed His blood was a representation of a new covenant. It pleases me to inform you that the emergence of a new covenant makes the old covenant obsolete (Heb. 8:8 – 13). So it doesn’t matter what covenant you’ve had before, the moment you identify with the new and ultimate covenant in Jesus Christ, all other covenants become inactive. Even if they were made with human blood, the strongest blood that can be used for a covenant, the moment you identify yourself with Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, and have Him wash you with His blood that speaks better than human blood, your case is settled.

This is why I strongly believe that a true believer cannot be demon-possessed, especially one who Christ lives in him and have been a partaker of Holy communion. It is an insult and an abomination to say demons live where Christ lives. Light and darkness cannot live together; one has to leave! Demons cannot even stand in His presence not to talk of living where He lives. God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).
So when Christ comes into any life, He deals with all legal rights that give demons permission to reside in such life. And when these demons come and does not find anything of theirs in such life, and more importantly find that such life has been occupied by Christ, they go. One of the reasons why demons will enter and stay in a life is emptiness. When a life is empty, which means absence of Christ, demons become free to dwell therein. (Matthew 12:43-45). This is the reason I do emphasis the need to preach deliverance before conducting deliverance. To preach deliverance means to preach salvation. It means to preach deliverance that leads to holiness, that is, deliverance from sin. Until a man is saved, the legal rights for demons cannot be removed. But when these legal rights are removed, you struggle less with demons. In conclusion, the deliverance of removing legal rights is done through salvation by Jesus Christ the Saviour.

Now, because I said a believer should not be demon possessed does not mean he does not need deliverance. He may not need deliverance from demons and legal rights, but he’ll definitely need the last aspect of deliverance continually. The last aspect of deliverance which we shall discuss extensively is tearing down the strongholds and combatting ignorance. We shall elaborate this because it is the deliverance that concerns everyone, including believers. The first aspect of deliverance (casting out demons) is conducted with authority which Jesus gave to us or men around us. The second (removing of legal rights) is done by preaching salvation to the victim to accept Jesus Christ, the only one who can conduct the deliverance. But the last one is conducted by our knowing the truth. Jesus said, you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. That is a deliverance that concerns everyone, including believers. Another name for this deliverance is what I called deliverance from ignorance. Ignorance, as often said, is a disease. Ignorance also means lack of knowledge; and this can destroy even unbelievers. God said through Prophet Hosea, My people are destroy for lack of knowledge. That’s challenging to me! God’s people; not the world’s people or the devil’s people; God’s very own people perish. They perish not because they are demon possessed, not because theirs sins have not been forgiven, but because they lack knowledge. Yes, ignorance can kill even the most anointed man on earth. 

Another thing that is close to ignorance is what Bible calls strongholds. While ignorance means lack of knowledge, strongholds means false knowledge. It means incorrect thinking patterns that people develop over time that are often set up and nurtured by the devil through lies and deception. They are false philosophies and teachings that are programmed in people’s mind. Strongholds are also as dangerous and destructive as the devil himself. The problem with strongholds is that they do not only make one to act wrongly but they also influence one to accept the truth at times. This is because these strongholds (lies) by devil are strategically ministered to us so much that they look like the truth which we will at times be willing to die to hold on to. These are what the devil used to ensnared us while we were unbelievers and we need to be delivered from them.

This type of deliverance also cannot be conducted by deliverance ministers either by placing of hand or what have you. No matter how anointed that man is, and how heavily and often he places his fire and Holy ghost filled hands on you, you will still not know what you don’t know. Deliverance from ignorance and strongholds cannot be conducted by prophecy; you have to know the truth to scrap lies, and acquire knowledge to part way with lack of knowledge.

I remember while I was still very young, men of God would prophesy and pray earnestly for us especially during children anniversaries in church that we become a doctor, an engineer and other notable profession in future. But the reality is that none of us woke up one day to say now I’m a medical doctor, engineer and others without having to go to school. Does that mean the men of God were not anointed? They certainly were. But the truth is that ignorance cannot be banished by prophecy; you have to learn! No matter how anointed, spirit filled, and gifted you are, if you refuse to acquire knowledge, you’ll remain ignorant. This is why there are seemingly Holy ghost filled but ignorant believers. They are spiritual and zealous but not according to knowledge.

Therefore, you have to keep updating your knowledge so as not to be outdated. Sorry, we have so many outdated Christians. These are people who hang around the God who was, forgetting that there are other dimensions of God; the God who is and is to come. Their knowledge about God is not fresh because they aren’t acquiring and updating their knowledge.

Deliverance from strongholds is therefore a continuous process. The devil will continually come up with false philosophies and teachings, and you will have to continually destroy his lies. That is why the word of God calls it renewing of the mind. It is a deliverance that must be conducted as often as possible. Without it, you may not be able to prove what is good, acceptable and perfect before God.

This deliverance is done expressly by the word of God and the Holy Spirit. If you are a believer who is very far to the word of God and Holy Spirit, I put it to you that you need deliverance! There is so much you need to know that you’re simply not learning. There is always something to learn from God every day; and if that’s true, then we need deliverance from ignorance every blessed day. There is always a fresh word (Rhema) from the word of God when the Holy Spirit breaths on it; and every Rhema is meant to either put ignorance at bay or tear down strongholds.
I call it ‘My daily Manna’. It must be daily and fresh. Don’t rely on yesterday’s Manna because it has worms in it. Let the word of God and Holy Spirit deliver you every day.

Have you received your Rhema today? If not, I boldly tell you that you need deliverance.