Bible Questions and Answers

Thank you for asking a question on This is your Bible.

I am making the assumption that your question refers to ‘deliverance ministry’ so called in charismatic and other churches.

From here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deliverance_ministry

In charismatic Christianity, deliverance ministries are activities carried out by individuals or groups aimed at solving problems related to demons and spirits, especially possession. Leaders of and adherents to these ministries emphasize the activities of evil spirits in many physical, psychological, or emotional maladies that people experience. The practices and many of the underlying beliefs of these ministries are not accepted by all Christians...

There are currently many "deliverance ministers” such as Claude Avery Allen III, who are preaching that "The biblical basis for casting out devils is quite clear and Christians everywhere are laying claim to passages of scripture that speak about the authority we have as believers” Although Allen himself has had formal ministerial training, he has stated that "Casting out devils is part of the great commission, along with laying hands on the sick and should be the responsibility of every ‘Born-Again’ believer”.

The practices and underlying beliefs of these ministries are not supported by the Bible.

1. Satan is not a fallen angel – read:

Do you believe in a Devil?

And:

Satanism or Christianity

2. Demons are not evil entities controlled by Satan it is just a way of describing mental illness – read:

Demons - A Biblical And Historical Study

3. Holy Spirit gifts are not available today – read:

The Holy Spirit

4. No one can be ‘born again’ without understanding the Gospel, being baptised by immersion into Christ for the remission of sins and living a new life by the commandments of Christ – read:

Why Baptism really matters

 Deliverance in the Bible comes from believing the Gospel preached by Christ.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

In the ‘Lord’s prayer’ we are instructed to pray for deliverance from the evil of this world.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

If we believe the gospel and are baptised our sins are forgiven and the process begun which will deliver us from the evil of this world.

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

The darkness of this world has no power over us if we walk in the light of the gospel.

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

We are delivered from the judgments which will come upon this world at Christ’s return.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Paul relied upon God to deliver him.

2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We are delivered from the slavery of sin and death.

Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

God knows how to deliver us out of trials.

2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations...

There is no power other than God in heaven and earth, and all has been given into the hands of Christ.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

There can be no supernatural powers operating in opposition to Christ.

Because of this nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ.

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is one mediator between God and man – avoid charismatic charlatans.

I hope this helps.

Glenn Smith