Deliverance versus Exorcism

Deliverance ministries have become all the rage in these days, as purported Deliverance ministers introduce a world of the supernatural and demonic (demonology) to a new generation. At first glance these exorcists seem to be echoing Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:12-13), however, it helps to understand that the Deliverance that Jesus Christ did and gave to His Apostles to minister is not same as most modern day Exorcists. When Jesus ever purged a person of a demon He called it "And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed," (Mark 16:17-18), the word caste out in Greek is, "ἐκβάλλω, ekballó, to expel, to drive, cast or send out." (Strong's Greek Concordance). In contrast, Exorcist and Exorcism comes from another Greek Word, "ἐξορκιστῶν, exorkistes, one that binds by oath (spell), by implication, an exorcist (conjurer), exorcist comes from the word exorkizo to conjure and abjure," (The Key Word Study Bible, 1977 NASB, Greek 1844-45, pg 2166). These are totally opposite, when Jesus caste out demons He said "ekballo" which means to drive out or expel, while "exorkizo" in Exorkistes or Exorcist means to conjure, bind with spell, and abjure! We thus see there is a major difference between one who really executes deliverance in Christ, and one who does exorcism, which really is conjuring of demons.

Deliverance is that any Christian who has authority of Christ can caste a demon out of someone, and Christian has Christ's authority because Christ lives in a Christian (1 John 4:15, John 17:19-23, Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 3:16). Exorcism in contrast is to conjure demons, and result always leads to demonic powers being glorified and beating up people as in caste of  Sons of Sceva who thought they could caste out demons, "Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, "I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims," Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." (Acts 19:13-16). We see here that the exorcists have not authority, but actually become accosted by the possessed person. This is often what is seen at Exorcism meetings, or even the deplorable and evil movie "The Exorcist" because an Exorcist has no authority to caste out (ekballo) a demon, only to conjure (exorkizo) a demon and make it manifest, for purposes of making people have further bondage and to try and deceive people into thinking God cannot subdue the demonic powers.

Jesus Christ has absolute authority over demons, He caste them out on many occasions. There is only one occasion where Christ spent time casting out a demon, with Demonaic or Gethseneret (Matthew 8:28-34), who had Legion inside him. The result was the same, Jesus caste the demon out, and those demons went into the pigs and drove them off a cliff into the sea. When Jesus delivers someone from a demon, the result is freedom, and a positive change, "The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. ³⁶ Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been ^[c]made well." (Luke 8:35-36),. This same man then wanted to serve the Lord Jesus and Gospel, and Christ gave Him a charge to preach in his hometown, "³⁸ The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, ³⁹ “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him." (Luke 8:38-39). This should be fruit of genuine deliverance, the person should be freed from demons, and then be focused on Jesus and want to preach the Gospel. In contrast, when Exorcists start working on people bondage becomes the result, those people start obsessing over demons, and feel possessed all the time; and honestly worse after their so called 'deliverance.' This is a case where we need to look at the fruit, is the deliverance leading to freedom or bondage, is it fixing former possessed person's eyes on Christ, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2), or is it getting them focused on devils? What is the fruit of the deliverance? As Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them by their fruits," (Matthew 7:15-20), what is fruit of deliverance minister? It is crucial we not just submit to some person claiming to exercise the spirits, because the Apostle John tells us, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world, By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time," (1 John 4:1-3), and the Apostle Paul tells us to discern spirit in the person, "[Holy Spirit] to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], and to another discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults]," (1 Corinthians 12:10 AMPC and AMP). Notice that the Apostle John tells us any spirit that does not confess Jesus, is an antichrist, and antichrist in original greek does not mean "against" but rather "replaces Christ," in people's hearts and minds; this is exactly what exorcists do, they get people focused on demons instead of Christ, and never in their exercising sessions (deliverances) does Christ get confessed, rather it is like the Sons of Sceva mentioned earlier, the demon manifests and seems powerful because the exorcists like sons of Sceva aren't trusting or following Christ Jesus, hence why Jesus rebukes those who caste out demons in His name (Matthew 7:21-23) because like Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-15, also mentioned in Matthew 12:27), they aren't trusting in Christ, they want the powers to caste out demons like Simon Sorcerer who tried to buy the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:9-25). A true believer who delivers demons focuses on Christ and has deep relationship with Him, and always draws attention to Jesus, but an exorcist like Simon or the Sons of Sceva doesn't want God, they want powers to make people dependent on them for man made religion and cultism.

Deliverance is real, because Christ said it would be one of many things His apostles and us who believe in apostle's teaching would do, And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed," (Mark 16:17-18), and "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message..I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one--as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." (John 17:20-21). There are demons, fallen angels, and powers in present darkness, but they hold no power over us Christians. Jesus Christ who lives in us is God (Colossians 2:9), and is greater than any angel, "God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. ³ The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. ⁴ This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.

⁵ For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:

“You are my Son.
    Today I have become your Father.”

God also said,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son.”

⁶ And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said,

“Let all of God’s angels worship him.”

⁷ Regarding the angels, he says,

“He sends his angels like the winds,
    his servants like flames of fire.”

⁸ But to the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
    You rule with a scepter of justice.
⁹ You love justice and hate evil.
    Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you,
    pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”^[g]

¹⁰ He also says to the Son,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth
    and made the heavens with your hands.
¹¹ They will perish, but you remain forever.
    They will wear out like old clothing.
¹² You will fold them up like a cloak
    and discard them like old clothing.
But you are always the same;
    you will live forever.”

¹³ And God never said to any of the angels,

“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
    until I humble your enemies,
    making them a footstool under your feet.”

¹⁴ Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation." (Hebrews 1:1-14)

and,  "For He did not subject to angels the world to come (angels will not control future world), concerning which we are speaking. ⁶ But one has testified somewhere, saying,

“What is man, that You remember him?
Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?
⁷ “You have made him for a little while lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
^[i]And have appointed him over the works of Your hands;
⁸ You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. But we do see Him who was made ^[j]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:5-10). Jesus Christ has all authority and power over everything, "which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself," (Ephesians 1:20-23), " so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," (Philippians 2:10-11),.Christ has defeated works of the devil, "The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8), and shall caste Satan and his angels into lake of fire at the Last Judgement, "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels," (Matthew 25:41), and "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Revelation 20:10).

We have been given all power and authority through Christ our Lord, The Holy Spirit, and Father, One God and Three Persons! I am alarmed at how the Neo Sons of Sceva and Exorcists are deceiving the masses, an example being Bob Larson, who use to teach simply in early days  how Satanists could come out of Occult, now Bob conjures demons, calls Himself an exorcist, and does Necromancy (Deuteronomy 18:10-12), calling up the dead relatives of the people he is exercising, and trying to save the dead, which violates, "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination (talks to the dead), one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a charm or spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or a necromancer [who seeks the dead and conjures them up]," (Deuteronomy 18:10-11),  "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment," (Hebrews 9:27), and "And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us," (Luke 16:26). Another peculiar and creepy exorcist is Aaron Eckhart, who has written many books called "How to Route Demons," and his books read like spell books, and how to caste demons out of your eyes, ears, and etc; nothing Jesus taught, in my opinion he is an infiltrator from Satanism who wants people focused on demons rather than on Christ (Hebrews 12:2), which is spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:1-3). Another exorcist and deliverance minister Dr. Rebecca Brown wrote books on coming out of Occultism, "He Came to Set Captives Free," but since she has gone insane and has been committed to an asylum; so obviously it wasn't deliverance, otherwise as Scripture says about demoniac,"The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well." (Luke 8:35-36), and "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self control," (2 Timothy 1:7), and the fruits of Spirit of God are, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control," (Galatians 5:22-23). Nothing Rebecca Brown experienced has fruit of God, and instead bound her up in fear, and unsettled her mind. Then there is author  Frank E. Peretti who wrote "This Present Darkness," "The Visitation," and other books which all bring glory to devil and demons by having them manifest, and God not showing up in any tangible form, except somehow, in an obscure way He wins at end. Then there is Ted Dekker and His "Circle Saga" and other books which are metaphysical, demonic, and full of New Age. These books are in many Bible stores, and yet like Exorcism with Sons of Sceva, it makes demons seem strong, instead of when Jesus or His Disciples caste out demons with ease and people were freed once and for all from bondage. 

Genuine and real deliverance leads to what happened to Demoniac who had Legion, "The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened.  Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well." (Luke 8:35-36) and , "The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him." (Luke 8:38-39). The result of the Demoniac's deliverance was he became sound of mind, and focused on the Son of God Jesus Christ as we should be! (Hebrews 12:2). Any deliverance that does not look like the Demoniac's deliverance is Exorcism and antichrist (1 John 4:1-3). When genuine deliverance happens, people have sound mind again and are focused on Jesus Christ, not demons. Do let anyone tangle you in demonology, but remember that Christ has come to set captives free (Luke 4:18) and to draw everyone into knowing Him (John 17:3). Amen. 

Addendum:

Notice this, in Deliverance is Live, and Jesus is Life (John 14:6, John 10:10, John 1:3), while in contrast the word in Exorcism is Orc, which is one of those demonic creatures in The Lord of The Rings Trilogy. Perhaps that can help in differentiating the two, deliverance leads to life, to Jesus Christ, while exorcism makes people focused on orcs, demonic creatures, demons.