Over a span of more than fourteen years in deliverance ministry, I have witnessed a broad spectrum of results from time spent with clients and seminar attendees. There have been many wonderful testimonies, partial victories and (sadly) sometimes little or no good fruit that results.
At Above & Beyond, we have been blessed to minister to and gain insights from thousands of people. The list below is a synopsis of five major factors we see that limit the effectiveness of deliverance ministry for the recipient.
- People do not stir up their faith. We see clearly from scriptures in the gospels that the faith level of people mattered when they came to Jesus to get their needs met. Jesus did not heal all the lame, blind and demonized people he passed but he did minister to all who came to him. They had enough faith to approach Jesus and that is still required today. I counsel people that it is not a question of how much faith someone has but rather that they exercise it, step out and choose to expect a work of the Holy Spirit.
- People do not prepare properly. We believe it is important that people be prepared for deliverance ministry by doing some preparatory work. Those who do not prepare, and therefore put the entire burden on us (the ministers) for results, are typically disappointed.
- There is little compelling reason for a change. We like to see a level of desperation in our clients and seminar attendees. Unless there is a strong motivation to shake the status quo in their lives, it can be too comfortable to stay where they are spiritually, mentally and emotionally. This is particularly evident if someone else (a spouse or parent typically) is taking the lead in making phone calls or setting appointments.
- They are not prepared to “walk out” deliverance and develop new habits. Deliverance ministry involves a power encounter with the demonic realm. When the spirits are gone, there is still spiritual warfare, including battles in the mind that need to be fought. New habits need to be formed and this takes time (typically up to six weeks) and effort and some are unwilling to make the commitment. People can be delivered from spirits however some are unable to maintain the victory.
- Ineffective deliverance minister. Due diligence is important when people are choosing to receive deliverance ministry. Just as we research potential doctors, lawyers and restaurants, we should not be quick to receive ministry from unknown or unproven sources, especially at the altar of a church. There are many wonderful and effective deliverance ministers out there some should be avoided.
The biblical ministry of deliverance is valid, necessary and active today in the Body of Christ. Counselors and pastors are not miracle workers so we cannot take ownership of the results and it is a comfort to know that we do have the great Miracle Worker working in us!We are trained and equipped to help and do all that we can in that regard. However as servants of the King we know that the bounty of the full fruit of our labors is ultimately up to each person and how God is working in each person’s life.
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Seems like a lot of work is put on the counselee. What does it mean if a person has gone through various counseling, but they seem to get a minimal amount of help?
The fact that a person has gone through a lot of counseling with minimal is a strong indicator that they may benefit from deliverance. The counselee does have a role: to be motivated to see change happen, to prepare properly, stir up their faith and also be willing to walk out deliverance afterward.
Thanks for your reply. I know that faith plays an important role, but usually a person who has been to many sessions, and found minimal healing, sometimes their faith becomes dull and thwarted, and hard to build back up. Then what?