The issue of a person’s salvation is obviously paramount for their eternal destiny but in deliverance ministry it is a vital concern because demons do not want to relinquish a soul!
I ministered to a man a few years back who came from out of state for deliverance ministry. He had been raised in an eastern orthodox religion and still attended that church faithfully. When I asked (as I always do) about his destination if he would die this day, he was very candid in his uncertainty. He knew about Jesus, believed in Jesus but was really not sure if he was saved and would go to heaven. I noted that uncertainty and determined to address it when it came to the day of his deliverance prayer.
As part of the preparation for the actual ministry, I typically lead people in a proclamation for forgiveness of sin and declaring that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. For some, this is a first time event but for most it is an affirmation of that which they have already professed.
As I led this young man in prayer, he successfully completed the phrase that Jesus was his Savior. Then, I asked him to declare that Jesus was the Lord of his life. We feel that this is an important distinction. Many believe that Jesus is God (even Satan knew that!) but Rom 10:9 indicates that we must declare him as Lord too! As I asked him to repeat the phrase, “.. and He is the Lord of my life”, he suddenly stopped.
It was one of the most amazing manifestations I had seen: he could not speak at all! He could breathe and he was not in pain (demonic spirits will often try to inhibit deliverance in these ways) but he could not talk. He tried several times and could not utter any words at all! I knew it was demonic; looked in his eyes, bound the spirit that was tormenting him (Matt 16:19) and commanded it to loose his tongue. He was then able to speak, make that important declaration and we proceeded to have a wonderful ministry session!
What was significant about that encounter was that the man had his own doubts about his salvation even though he had been raised in a religious environment. He had been extremely works-focused (“Am I good enough yet, God?”) and that bondage had kept him from more fully experiencing the grace and love of God. Was he saved before that prayer? I do not know but the fact that he could not declare the Lordship of Jesus in his life might lead one to wonder.
What do you think?
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