Deliverance is a ministry for Christian believers, and it’s the process of becoming free from demonic strongholds. How many Christians do you know who are addicted to something, like pornography, alcohol, drugs, or tv? How can a Christian be completely saved and redeemed, renewed in spirit, made alive with Christ, and still live in sin? Shouldn’t we be completely free of sin if we have been redeemed?

Three-Fold Salvation

In Romans 10:9-10 (ESV), it says “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Notice the two words translated to English as ‘saved.’ They are different Greek words. The first one is ‘sozo.’ Sozo indicates a body, soul, and spirit salvation. From my studies, I’ve learned that the early Christians experienced all three at the same time. Salvation of the body leading to physical healing, salvation of the soul leading to deliverance of demons, and salvation of the spirit. The salvation of the spirit is becoming a “new creation” as referenced in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

What is Soteria?

The second word translated as ‘saved’ is ‘soteria,’ meaning, “deliverance from the molestation of enemies.” I believe this part is key to deliverance of the soul, for kicking out demonic influences.

Mark 16:15-18 (ESV) says, “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.'”

One of the signs that Jesus spoke would accompany a Believer is the casting out of demons. Have you experienced this? Have you been trained in this ministry? Is it possible to advance in this skill? Let me tell you, this has opened up a whole new world of freedom. Christians can be free of the sinful shackles of the past. Christians can be free of the influence of demons and demonology, the doctrine of demons (James 3:15). 

The Four Main Gateways of Demonic Oppression

There are four main gateways to oppression by demons as a Christian. Even though we’ll talk about just four, there are many others, especially as one turns away from God and towards anything else.

Unforgiveness

Matthew 18:21-35 (NKJV) says, “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

“And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. “But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. “The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ “Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took [him] by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ “And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. “So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ “And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

“The torturers” or “tormentors” (KJV) or “jailers” (ESV) are demons. Based on Jesus’s words, unforgiveness gives demons legal authority in the spiritual realm to oppress you. It actually makes a lot of sense. If we, being forgiven from every sin and every wrongdoing, choose not to forgive, it’s like giving God the middle finger. It’s like saying, “You know God, you’ve forgiven me for everything, but it’s really not enough for me. I’d rather hold on to the hurt and offense this person has done to me. I don’t want grace; I want judgement!” And it’s really judgement over yourself, because unforgiveness hurts you. It’s a poison. Not only does it invite demonic influence into your soul, it can also manifest as disease. 

I met a guy in May 2021 who needed prayer for a back injury. It had kept him bedridden for 23 hours a day by his own testimony. When he hobbled into our meeting, he looked like an old man, even though he was maybe in his late 40s. During prayer later in the meeting, it was revealed by the Holy Spirit to one of our ministry leaders that the guy needed to forgive as well as get rid of bitterness.

After he prayed through, forgave his close family member and got rid of bitterness, his back started to get better. He could walk without a limp or the use of his cane. After more prayer, he could run back and forth to the back of the building. After still more prayer, his back just felt a little bit sore, but he could do squats and jog with no problems. I realized that he looked very athletic, and I learned later that he was an advanced martial artist. The key to his physical healing was forgiveness!

Now, from my experience, it’s hard for many Christians to come to grips with the idea that demons can have a stronghold inside our souls. And that’s actually the key to understanding the idea: our souls are distinct from our spirits (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12). Our spirits are reborn during conversion and filled with the Holy Spirit. Our souls are renewed and continually transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1-2). This is the process of sanctification. Depending on what we have chosen, we have either come into agreement with Jesus or with demons. Agreement is also key. The enemy is powerless without agreement. 

Playing with the Occult

The second most common doorway for the invitation of demons into your life is the occult. Witchcraft and associated paraphernalia, sorcery, drug use, evil games and videos are all ways to open this door. 

Galatians 5:19-23 (ESV) says, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

In Gal. 5:20, the word translated as ‘sorcery’ in English is the Greek word ‘pharmakeia,’ where we get our words ‘pharmacy’ and ‘pharmaceuticals.’ Sorcery and drug use are highly integrated, and drugs are a gateway for demonic oppression. If you have done drugs or dabbled in the occult, even in seemingly harmless games, you have likely welcomed demonic oppression into your life.

Sexual Sin

The third main gateway for demons to enter is adultery, fornication, and sexual sin. 

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV) says, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

These sexual sins are committed against our own bodies, as Paul mentions in the verses above. Our bodies are meant to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, not a temple of demons. 

Ancestry

The fourth main doorway for demonic oppression (although there are definitely a lot more) is your ancestry. Wait, you might ask, how could I be hurt by decisions I have not made myself? Well, do you remember this verse and others like it?

“The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Numbers 14:18 (ESV)

Even though this is mentioned in the Old Covenant, the principle still applies. Let me take a minute to teach you about sin, transgression and iniquity, because it sheds some light on this topic. Sin is an act, a breaking of God’s law, of turning away from Him, of “missing the mark.” If I start committing multiple sins and live in rebellion in a particular area of my life, looking at pornography over and over, for example, that’s transgression. Think of transgression as starting to become a lifestyle of sin. Now iniquity is multi-generational transgression. If your grandfather was an alcoholic and your dad was an alcoholic, then don’t be surprised when this sin entangles you strongly. It’s been passed down through the blood to you and has to be broken through renouncement.

Have you heard of the term “familiar spirits”?

Leviticus 19:31 (NKJV) says, “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”

Evil spirits in the family can and are passed from one generation to the next. This is a great travesty. You don’t know whether or not your grandfather made a satanic vow as part of the Freemasonry Lodge. You don’t know whether your ancestors worshipped other gods or put a curse down through the bloodline. These things are real. The enemy wants to steal from you, kill you, and destroy everything you hold dear.

Unfortunately, believers can give voice to something else besides the Holy Spirit. I once had a friend of several years, who’s since departed my life by his choice, that gave voice to a demon. One day when he called me at work, I heard this demon speak through him. I thought it was strange that this guy was calling me during the middle of the day, but I and a few other godly men had been walking with him in a rocky marriage. So I was gearing up my pastoral hat as I answered the call. The guy was worried, he was stressed out, and he was anxious. (All of those are demonic spirits, by the way. Just read 2 Timothy 1:7.)

 I listened politely, ready to “talk him down off the ledge,” but what he did next really shocked me. He paused for just a second and then his voice changed pitch, his vocabulary changed, his spoken word spacing and pace of speech changed, and word-vomit came out. I could feel it in my chest; he was giving voice to a demonic spirit. What came out was a mandate for me not to trust my wife or friends, and a complete manipulation of a previous situation. He wanted me to agree with him but I couldn’t get any words out, which I believe was a restriction by the Holy Spirit to help me not come into agreement. After the guy abruptly ended the call right after this, the Lord revealed to me what had just happened. I had heard a demon speak through the voice of my friend!

Deliverance Prayers

Now, chances are, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about. Now’s the time to clean house, my friend. Jesus has given us authority over “snakes and scorpions,” which are representative of demons. We have dominion in Jesus’ Name.

Luke 10:19 (ESV) says, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

Luke 11:9-13 (ESV) says, “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

The following are prayers taken from Don Dickerman Ministries, run by an amazing guy who I’ve met and who wrote a fantastic book called, “When Pigs Move In.” He has decades of experience in deliverance ministry after a very successful evangelistic ministry in Texas prisons, where he saw *hundreds of thousands* of people saved.

I recommend praying through these prayers, found here at the bottom of the page. You can also visit him and his staff in person for a session, which I’ve done and also recommend.

Why Don’t You Pray Along?

“There is something you can do to help bring about your freedom. I recommend that you deal with these issues before coming for deliverance.

• In order for the deliverance to be successful there can be NO unforgiveness in your life. Unforgiveness is legal permission for demons to torment believers: Matthew 18:23-35. Do not neglect the area of forgiveness for yourself. You must also forgive yourself in order to be free. A typical prayer might be as follows:

•  “Father, because You have forgiven me I choose to forgive others, everyone who has hurt me, lied to me or disappointed me, I forgive. I confess unforgiveness as sin and repent of it. I receive Your forgiveness and apply it my life by forgiving myself. Thank You for Your grace and mercy in Jesus Name. Amen.”

•  If there was ever any involvement (however innocent), in Satanic activities, witchcraft, cults or occultic activities they must be renounced. 

• Typical prayer: “Father, I denounce any bond, or agreement I ever made with Satan and the kingdom of darkness. I know there can be no valid contract with a liar and I renounce any words, oaths or pledges made to Satan and I choose to be totally free from them. I choose to be cleansed from any ties with Satan in Jesus Name. Amen.”

• Sexual relationships outside of marriage…are called “Soul Ties” and each one could be an entry point for demon spirits. The ties must be broken by confessing them as sin and choosing to be free from them. I will include a prayer you can pray. It would be best if you could do so by denouncing each one by name, do the best you can with that. The deliverance process involves canceling permission of evil spirits to be in our life. 

• This prayer and renunciation will cancel consent that was granted through soul ties. The prayer can be something like this: “Father, I confess the sin of sexual relations outside of marriage. I renounce that sinful activity in Jesus’ Name. I call back that part of me that was given to another, and I refuse that part of another that may have come to me. And I denounce soul ties with and choose to be free in Jesus Christ’ Name. Amen””

One More Thing

In addition to these, let me add one more: “Father, I confess the sins, transgressions and iniquity of my fathers before me. I renounce and denounce any evil agreements, any rituals, any curses, any sell-outs that my ancestors performed or spoke. I cover myself, my family, and my bloodline in the precious blood of Jesus and declare freedom and liberty for myself, my spouse, and my kids. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!”

Important note: if you experience spiritual trauma or a manifestation of a demonic spirit, please email us, or contact someone you trust who knows about deliverance. If you feel pain in your body that changes for the better or for the worse before, during, or after prayer, then it’s rooted in something spiritual. Freedom is available; it’s rightfully yours as a son of God!

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1). Why would Paul write this to Believers unless it was possible to fall into slavery again? Don’t allow it in your life. Don’t allow the enemy to mess around in your soul. Kick out the darkness! Cast it out in Jesus’ Name! This is your birthright as a child of God. We love you and want you to live in the fullness of the freedom that Christ paid for.