Christian counselors are called to help people fulfill their God-given destiny. They may need to help them heal, better understand God’s word, make decisions and stay (or return to) the narrow road that leads to life (Matt 7:13-14). Deliverance ministry should be an important part of the Christian counseling skill set that the therapist has to offer.
I’ll begin with a definition. A Christian counselor is one who uses the word of God as his or her primary counseling source manual. A secular counselor who professes to be a Christian yet relies on worldly or medical knowledge is not included. It is not my intent here to malign therapists in that category, but I am deliberately narrowing the context of my comments to who those who see the Bible as the handbook to life.
Christian counselors base their counsel upon the bible. They also understand that it is the grace of God that must manifest in each person’s life. They know that only the power of the Holy Spirit can bring the needed change. We are vessels that God wants to use, and he gives us a variety of tools and insights to help in that process.
Jesus laid out his own earthly job description in Luke 4:18-19 (NIV): “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”. Preach, heal and deliver.
After he had risen from the grave, he appeared to his disciples and gave them their marching orders in Mark 16:15-19. Read it carefully and you see the same commandments: preach, heal and deliver.
I view most aspects of Christian counseling as a one-on-one application of that scripture.
Consider some of the activities: preaching (or teaching) or the Word, helping people secure healing for their bodies and souls and guiding to help them walk in the full favor of the Lord. Why should deliverance (or the driving out of demons) be excluded? Jesus said we would do what he had been doing (and even greater works) and that includes deliverance (John 14:12).
You Cannot Counsel Demons Out Of People
Some in the body of Christ contend that Christians do not need deliverance because when the Holy Spirit comes into the house at salvation, the demons (if there are any) have to leave. Sometimes that happens but often it does not. Christians can be tormented and oppressed by demonic spirits, and they need deliverance from them to walk in the full victory Christ has for them.
Because they work to earn the trust and respect of those they help, Christian counselors should be ideal vessels for God to use in deliverance ministry. There are not demons behind every problem in a person’s life but many of the issues, especially those that are lingering or long-term, involve demonic strongholds. You cannot counsel demons out of people; they must be driven out.
If you are a Christian counselor who has an interest in learning more about deliverance ministry, please get in touch with us. If you have personally been in Christian (or secular) counseling for an extended period and seen limited results, are you open to exploring another possibility?
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