THE NEED FOR DELIVERANCE

 THE NEED FOR DELIVERANCE

Deliverance is one of the most hotly debated subjects within the Christian body today. Most people deny the need of deliverance, and those who have accepted it too have a wrong perception about it hence abuse it.

In our day to day English translation, deliverance means the action of being rescued or set free. Now let’s look at it in biblical terms. We derive the verb deliver from the noun deliverance. I will like us to take a look at two Greek words critically.

1. Apolutrosis –denotes ‘redemption’ (apo. “from,” lutron. “a price of release”). In Hebrews 11:35 it is translated “deliverance”, usually the release is affected by the payment of a ransom, or the required price.

Apallasso – ‘to change from’ (apo. “from”. Allasso. “to change”). ‘to free from, release’ is translated in Hebrews 2:15 –“ And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

I believe it is one of the most useful and important but dangerous ministries that should not be taken for lightly by those who seek to undergo and those who seek to operate in it.

I am not claiming to be perfect in this area; I only seek to present the little light that the Lord has shared with me by his grace.

Looking deep into scriptures, there is no doubt about the need for deliverance. I believe that Satan will do whatever it takes to deceive as many as he can, even the elect, into believing that once saved, forever saved. So all you need to do is to go to church and read your Bible (if you can).

My little question is this; have you stopped once to ask yourself, ‘why can’t I obey the Lord as I should?, why can’t I read the Bible as I should?, why can’t I pray as I should?, why can’t I pay my tithe and give as I should?, why can’t I attend church service as regular as I should?, why do I repeat the same mistakes and commit the same sin over and over again?, why can’t I grow spiritually as I should?, why do I still have bad dreams and nightmares even though I am born again?.

Well, if you share in any of these questions, then know that something is wrong and that thing is not physical. Bible says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

Many Christians are being tormented by demons and some who are possessed, yes possessed, by demons. Our knowledge about Satan and his demons are shallow that they gain power over us every day. We are not supposed to concentrate on them but we are admonished to know them and their strategies. I believe that in any combat or battle the opponents will cease the opportunity to know something about the strategies and weapons used by his opponent. Hear what Paul said;

“Lest Satan should get advantage over us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” 2 Cor. 2:11

The Greek word for devices here is ‘noema’ which means, thoughts, purposes, designs.

These revelations do not surprise me, because the devil has declared his mission clearly in John 10:10 that he will not come unless he is coming to steal, kill and destroy. And how does he achieve this? Through his demons. The sad aspect of our Christian lives is that we don’t even have the slightest idea what a demon is.  By the grace of God I have dedicated one chapter of this book to show you what a demon is, so that you will depart from the pictures you see in movies and grasp the truth that a demon can be anything from an angel of light to that black horrible-two-horned creature, or from an ant to an elephant, or even far better, from a thought to a character.

Let us rise up to reason. Why should the Lord Jesus Christ give us authority over demons if there is none who can affect our Christian lives? (Luke 10:19).

It is my prayer that as you read this article your eyes will be opened to look for and hearken to the sign posts in the Bible, our final authority and standard for life, that admonishes us to submit to God and resist the devil, and also to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling and finally to watch and pray else we fall into temptation.

Dedicate your life to prayer, the Word and holiness as you read this article. And may you be delivered from any demonic influence in the mighty name of Jesus.