This article was gathered together to combat the rising tide of deliverance ministries that create a dependance on the deliverance minister. Some of these ministries peddle their books with 7 steps to Self Deliverance and freedom in Christ at only $120 for the complete CD set. Such a small price pay to be set free!. If there was seven steps of deliverence we would of seen these steps in the scriptures. But the scriptures seem very clear that the SIN nature of man is the issue. So much is this issue of SIN that Christ gave His life to overcome it. Don't get me wrong, the Devil is real and deliverance happens, but we must see via the scriptures that it is not Spirit Filled Christians being delivered, but it is those without the Holy Spirit residing inside of them that were able to be possessed by demons.. We are told to resist the devil in the scriptures and to put on the whole armour of God. What use is the Armour of God, if the Devil is already inside a Spirit Filled Believer?

Many Christians have had God-given deliverances from problems and believed they were delivered from demon possession. But we must search the Scriptures to see if their interpretation of what happened is really in line with what the Bible teaches.

Some, for example, teach that since the Bible speaks of a spirit of cowardly fear, any deliverance from fear must be by the casting out of an evil spirit or demon of fear. But an examination of the same passage (2 Timothy 1:7) shows it speaks also of a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind or self-control. If people interpret fear to be an evil spirit needing to be cast out, to be consistent they would need to beseech three good spirits to come in.

The fallacy of this reasoning is obvious. Love and self-control are fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The spirit of love and of self-control is meant to be the attitudes that result when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

Actually, the word spirit in many cases means an attitude or a disposition. David spoke of a broken spirit (Psalm 51:17); Solomon of a humble spirit (Proverbs 16:19). Paul wanted to come to Corinth, not with a rod, but with love and a meek or gentle spirit (1 Corinthians 4:21). Peter spoke of the adorning of the heart with the imperishable gift of a meek and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4), actually meaning a quiet disposition. This is in line with the frequent use of the word spirit for one’s own spirit and its expressions (Haggai 1:14; Acts 17:16; 1 Corinthians 2:11, etc.).

Thus, unless the context shows that an independent spirit-being is meant, it seems best to take most phrases such as a haughty spirit, a hasty spirit, a spirit of slumber, a spirit of jealousy, etc., to be sins of the disposition or lusts of the flesh (Galatians 6), and not demons. 

Another great problem with the idea that demons may possess Christians is a concept that erodes faith and waters down our concept of God and the salvation He provides. God is our Father. He has "rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves" (Colossians1:13). In "this darkness we used to live when [we] followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient" (Ephesians 2:2). But now God by His love has saved us and made us "fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household" (Ephesians 2:19). It would seem contradictory for demons to indwell our bodies now that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit

The idea of a true believer being inhabited by a demon also erodes the biblical concept of salvation and peace. It may produce terrible fear as Christians begin to wonder what demon will invade them next. This is certainly not in line with the freedom the Bible assures us we have. Early Christians had no such fear, nor did the Church of the second century

Our God has overcome the evil one.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1John 4:4). Who is of the World? They are the followers of the Prince of the World. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me (John 14:30). Who is in us? (That is, Spirit filled Believers). The Holy Spirit. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Cr 3:16).

Free yourself from false teaching and search the scriptures!

By Rod Sutton