Deliverance ~
"to liberate or set free from restraint or danger; to rescue from evil or fear"
(Chambers English dictionary).
In the Gospels Jesus demonstrated this work of compassion and taught his followers to "go and do likewise". Jesus' deliverance ministry was outworked amongst his teaching, fellowship and life as well as specific call. It was a normal part of his service to mankind which he ultimately completed on the Cross when he triumphed over the powers of darkness making a public spectacle of them (Mk 9:29-31, Col 2:15).
In Lk 13:10-17 ~ Jesus was teaching in a synagogue and noticed a woman who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years - a physical problem with a spiritual root cause. Jesus called her to him and proclaimed freedom to her - in fulfillment of the prophetic words of Isaiah 61 "You are set free from your infirmity". He then laid hands upon her and she was healed. She needed both deliverance and healing - she then straightened and praised God. Jesus brought emotional comfort to her by acknowledging her 'eighteen long years' of bondage and he challenged the legalism of the synagogue rulers by ministering on the Sabbath.
In Lk 4:31-44 again as he was teaching (light exposing dark) a man with demonic problems challenged Jesus; "what do you want with us?" The man had more than one demon and it was speaking through him. Jesus sternly told them to "be quiet" and to "come out of him". The man was thrown to the floor and the demons came out. The people were amazed at Jesus' authority (right) and power (ability). The demons obeyed him, He would not allow them to speak and they came out without injury to the person.
Mark 5:9-20 Jesus went to a region that was outside his normal territory, to a man who lived among tombs, had beyond human strength, self-mutilated and cried out night and day. Jesus commanded the demons to go, they didn't so he asked them their name. Once identified - legion(meaning many), they went at Jesus' command. It seems that some demons are more difficult than others to dislodge; some require prayer and fasting also (Mk 9:29). The man then dressed and was 'in his right mind', his 'mental' illness had in this case been cured by deliverance and the people were afraid. He wanted to go with Jesus but was told to go and tell his family "how much the Lord had done".
On a couple of occasions Jesus also ministered a 'proxy deliverance' where the person afflicted was a child still under the spiritual authority of his/her parents (Mk 5:24-30).
This work was carried on, in Jesus name through the church as written in the book of Acts...
Acts 8:4-8, Philip proclaimed Christ and did miraculous signs. Many people were healed of paralysis and crippling as evil spirits were cast out and "there was great joy" (Acts 5:12-16). On a number of occasions the disciples came across people with occult involvement and false giftings which needed to be discerned and bound/delivered in Jesus' name (Acts 13:6-12).
The Lord's Prayer teaches us to pray that we might be delivered from evil, and the work of all disciples of Jesus Christ includes casting out demons and setting the captives free (Joel 2:28-32, Jn 14:12). Scripture infers that deliverance is as normal a requirement as eating food (Mk 5:24-30), but unless very specifically directed otherwise, is only for believers to receive (Matt 12:43-45).
We need to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in every situation and to ask Him for discernment - the divine gift/ability that shows what is of God / the flesh / the devil so that the Kingdom of God might come further into our own lives and the lives of others in this dark age (Lk 22:20). We need to be equipped (the sword of the spirit - the word of God) and careful to obey.
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