Approximately one third of Jesus’ ministry on earth involved deliverance. Deliverance ministry refers to casting out evil spirits in order to free people from torment, oppression, and bondage.

The supernatural world is real and impacts the natural world. Evil spirits–also called demons–are part of the kingdom of darkness. They desire to carry out the work of the devil to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). The Gospels are full of accounts and descriptions of Jesus casting demons out of people. This may sound strange to us today, but it was everyday life for Jesus. Deliverance ministry is just as important for us today as it was in the ministry of Jesus. Demons have not gone away.

In today’s world we need to have abetter understanding of, and the need for, deliverance ministry. There are many people walking around in bondage, and they desperately need the ministry of deliverance.

Deliverance ministry focuses on tearing down spiritual strongholds in one’s life, breaking curses and “legal rights” of the enemy to torment someone’s life. Jesus’ finished work of the Cross purchased our freedom; however, many believers to not understand the need to appropriate Christ’s Blood and authority over areas in our lives that the enemy has been hindering us.

In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares that He is uniquely anointed to bring healing to the broken places in people’s hearts, to set captives free, and to lead prisoners into liberty.  Jesus gives sight to the blind and brings restoration into people’s lives.  Inner Healing deals with our response to hurts from the past.  These hurts may affect our lives in the form of bad memories, a sense of worthlessness and inferiority, unreasonable fears and anxieties, the inability to feel loved and accepted, etc..

The causes of negative emotional cycles, unhealthy response systems and habits are many.  They may come from such things as the separation from a parent through illness, divorce or death (which can be experienced as rejection), or the experiences of failure or lack.  It can also come from experiences of overwhelming fear, abuse, and/or a family history of problems such as alcoholism, violence, or the involvement in the occult, and/or any unresolved burden of guilt.

Some of life’s hurts come from the fact that we live in a fallen world.  Events happen, such as accidents, disease, poverty and natural disasters that are not of deliberate choice.  Hurts can also come from our own wrong choices and responses. Often memories are pushed below our conscious thinking, where they remain and are felt in debilitating ways.  They can express themselves in our lives as fear, anger, anxiety, resentment, self-hate, guilt, unforgiveness, an inability to trust, and/or persistent irrational beliefs, etc..  When we suppress the hurt, so that we can cope, the memory is not dealt with and remains in an incapacitating way.

SOZO Restoration Ministries’ approach is to seek the presence of the Holy Spirit, asking for His discernment and knowledge of where ungodly beliefs, unhealthy expectancies, and tormenting judgments exists as a result of emotional and mental wounds.  False beliefs, expectancies and judgments can  trap a person in the very pain and destructive patterns in their lives that they wish to escape.  Once these issues are addressed, the ministry team then facilitates listening and inner-healing prayer in the confidence that Jesus invites us to come to Him with all our burdens (Matthew 11:28).  We then turn to Jesus to bind up the broken hearted and He gives beauty for ashes.

Sessions are completely confidential.  We approach this ministry with a fear of the Lord and love for people, with an uncompromised commitment to stay Scriptural accurate and sound in our approach.  For more information, please call our ministry office at 803.883.SOZO(7696).

Question 1: Can Christians be possessed by demons?

No. Christians cannot be possessed by demons. But, Christians can be oppressed (or influenced) by demons

Question 2: Who should consider receiving Deliverance Ministry?

Christians need to be aware that health problems, emotional instability, aggressive, addictions, persistent failures, etc., may be effectively helped through Deliverance Ministry.

Question 3: How do demons gain “legal right” to torment a person?

Sinful acts, generational curses, traumas, participation in occult organizations, occult rites, superstition, are some of the ways demons gain access. Hate-groups, uncontrolled anger, mysticism, horror movies, etc. also may provide openings.

Question 4: How is one delivered?

Repent of all sin. Forgive everyone. Renounce every demonic influence. Surrender all things to Jesus Christ and rebuke the unclean spirit.  James 4:7 says to, “Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Demons must respond to the authority of Jesus Christ (Acts 3:6; 4:10. Mark 1:23,24).

Question 5: Besides Deliverance, what else does a person need for healthy development?

Deliverance is usually an immediate, instantaneous experience.  Renewal of the mind is not. Following deliverance, it is absolutely essential that the person’s mental attitude be corrected, made healthy, Godly, and come in agreement with God’s Word.  Patterns of pessimism and skepticism must be broken, negativity replaced by positive, constructive, affirmations of faith. The person’s tongue must be brought under control of the Holy Spirit. Follow-up ministry is vital in most cases.