Don’t let someone take you away from your sufficiency in Jesus! You don’t need a deliverance ministry; you have a Deliverer!
Psalm 50:15 (NKJV) “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
They are back. Every few years, false doctrines float through the Church. They come in strong and leave with a whimper. A few years ago, so-called “deliverance ministries” were very popular, but they waned in their influence for a while. Well, they’re back and back with a vengeance. There are more podcasts, books, and new classes teaching you how to be a deliverer. Your problems are solved. Really? How? You need to learn how to be delivered!
No, you don’t. You’re power resides in Christ by faith. You are delivered!
A deliverance ministry exists where a select group of people claim to possess a special power, prayer, or incantation to cast demons out of others, addressing specific issues such as casting out a “spirit of anger” in individuals who struggle with anger or casting out a spirit of addiction, or any other new host of problems. Within these ministries, you’ll hear them talk about unbiblical things like soul ties, generational curses, and demons having “legal rights” in people’s lives. It’s nonsense. On the surface, it all sounds serious, spiritual, and even helpful. But is it actually biblical?
At their core, deliverance ministries focus on driving out demons and “tearing down spiritual strongholds.” Some go even further and offer “inner healing” sessions, walk you through breaking curses, or try to sever supposed spiritual attachments from your past. But here’s the thing: while the Bible does talk about demons—and yes, Satan is real—it says surprisingly little about this whole idea of “deliverance ministry” as a formal practice. It says nothing about this new man-made ministry. Of course, spiritual warfare is a real phenomenon. There are many warnings about spiritual warfare, but zero instructions on casting demons out of believers. This truth is key. A born-again believer CANNOT be possessed in whole or in any portion by a demon. Ever. (1 John 4:4)
Yes, Jesus and His disciples did cast out demons; that’s clear. But we’re never told that this should be a significant ministry focus. There’s no formula or model laid out for us. The epistles, which are full of instructions for how to live and serve as Christians, are completely silent on the idea of deliverance ministries.
What we are taught is to resist the devil (James 4:7), stand firm in our faith (1 Peter 5:8-9), and put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). But nowhere are we told to go hunting down demons in people or lead sessions to cast them out. Jesus definitely did not teach us to pray some special prayer or go through some special ritual to deal with the spiritual warfare in our lives. His blood cleanses us from all sin!
When Jesus’ disciples got excited because demons listened to them, Jesus said something super important: “Don’t rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). That’s a significant emphasis. The victory is Jesus’, not ours to wield like a magic wand.
In Mark 9, when someone was casting out demons in Jesus’ name but wasn’t part of the inner circle, Jesus didn’t shut it down. He said, “If they’re not against us, they’re for us.” So yes, authority in Jesus’ name is absolute—but that’s different from building an entire ministry around deliverance.
Understand this: you don’t need a special “deliverance session” to walk in victory over sin, temptation, or your past. What you need is Jesus, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and a life submitted to God. What you need, you already have in Jesus.
You don’t need a Deliverance Ministry because you have the Deliverer!
1 John 4:4 reminds us: “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” And 1 John 5:4 says that everyone born of God overcomes the world. You don’t need to chase after spiritual experiences or depend on someone else’s authority to be free.
What you do need is prayer, biblical teaching, a solid church family, and a willingness to obey God in everyday life. The Holy Spirit fills us, leads us, and empowers us to live holy lives. That’s what real freedom looks like.
Deliverance ministries can sound super spiritual, but they often distract from the real source of power: Jesus. They lead people to depend on others for freedom instead of learning to walk in the Spirit daily. And that’s a problem. It’s a huge issue.
If you’re struggling with sin, addiction, or emotional wounds, don’t run to a “deliverance minister.” Run to Jesus. Get in the Word. Surround yourself with godly people. And trust that the Holy Spirit in you is more than enough to bring lasting change.
Stay rooted. Stay alert. And most importantly, stay close to Jesus.
