We need deliverance from deliverance. “God delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love” –Colossians 1:13. This, no deliverance minister can do. God is the great Deliverer; deliverance is an already accomplished fact for every true Christian.
But we continue to patronize Deliverance Deceivers as if they can effect what God has not. We seek them like patients seek a surgeon. We believe surgeons have the skill to remedy threatening ailments. So, passive, ignorant, and helpless, we entrust our lives to mysterious procedures, pay the demanded fee, and hope all will be well. When recovered from the anesthesia, we expectantly ask, “How did it go?”
But deliverance ministers are not spiritual doctors. They are charlatans and 419 quacks. The only similarity is that they charge fees for their services; and their only credentials are false self-reports.
Jesus has warned us about Deliverance Deceivers: “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and in Your Name cast out demons, and in Your Name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” –Matthew 7:22,23. “Did we not cast out demons?” No, I never knew you lawless imposters.
Fakes and frauds, acrobats and extortioners: such are the Deliverance Deceivers. “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are extortioner wolves” –Matthew 7:15. “We are not like many, who peddle the Word of God for profit” -2 Corinthians 2:17. “There will also be false teachers among you. Many will follow their shameless evil conduct and because of them the way of the truth will be evil spoken of. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words” -2 Peter 2:1-3.
Do you have a deliverance ministry? Fine: Go hawk your deliverance wares at the roundabout where the truly demonized can benefit: not in the church. In the church, week after week, the same woman comes out for deliverance; she loves the drama and you love the Naira. What is the problem? Simple:
“When the unclean spirit goes out, it says: ‘I will return to my house.’ And when it comes it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes along with it 7 other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state becomes worse than the first” –Matthew 12:43-45. And why does it find it unoccupied? Because Deliverance Deceivers do not preach the gospel.
“The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” –Romans 1:16. If Christ is not presented in reality and truth, if repentance from known wickedness does not take place, Christ is not resident in that heart. It is empty, and defenseless, and has never been transferred from Satan to Christ.
What are these self-proclaimed fools going to do that God has not already done? “God has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” –Colossians 1:13. What are they going to deliver believers from that Christ has not already accomplished?
“You were not redeemed/set free with corruptible things like silver and gold from your worthless empty way of life handed down by tradition from your ancestors/forefathers, but by the precious costly sacrifice of Christ’s blood” -1 Peter 1:18,19. There is no generational curse or ancestral sin for Christians.
“He summoned Balaam to curse you. But I was not willing to listen to Balaam. So he had to bless you; and I delivered you from his hand” –Joshua 24:9,10. “The Lord your God was not willing to listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the Lord your God loves you” –Deuteronomy 23:5. Even Balaam himself admitted: “There is no sorcery against Jacob, nor is there any magic, witchcraft, divination against Israel” –Numbers 23:23. “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity” –Ezekiel 18:20.
No true Christian is possessed of a demon. “If the Son shall make you free, you will be free indeed” –John 8:36. “What harmony does Christ have with the Devil, or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God” -2 Corinthians 6:15,16.
God delivers from darkness. Christ delivers from the Devil. The Holy Spirit delivers from the power of sin. And the united Godhead has delivered us from Deliverance Deceivers.