The Power of Deliverance

To preach the Kingdom of God without the power of God being present for deliverance is a violation of God’s laws and in doing so, we are preaching an illegal Gospel!

Jesus was the first person in the Bible to cast out demons. King David came close when he was playing the harp for Saul, however, that only prevented the demons from attacking and harassing him, but not to be cast out. Jesus initiated this ministry when he started preaching the Kingdom of God. This message He shared caused both worlds to collide violently, and it shocked everyone who was present at that time.

Jesus used the CASTING OUT OF DEMONS as a sign that the Kingdom of God has arrived!

**Matthew 12*:28,*** “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Deliverance is the visible demonstration that the Kingdom of God has arrived in a region, city, town or church. Many churches do not believe in this reality. Unfortunately, the absence of the deliverance ministry in a church is evidence that the Kingdom of God is not being preached properly. The message of the Kingdom of God will be backed up by the casting out of demons. One kingdom cannot come into a person unless another kingdom is cast out!

Let’s look at one of many examples of Jesus doing deliverance in the New Testament:

Mark 1:23-28, “23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority, He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.”

The above scripture is a perfect example of Jesus doing deliverance on someone. I want us to take a look at the following points:

– The man was in the synagogue (in the church).

– The man responded to the presence of Jesus. Jesus carried such an anointing that when He just came into the same vicinity the demons recognised it and screamed out!

– The demons knew who Jesus was. The demons know who we are – anointed or not anointed!

The Pharisees asked themselves “What is this?” Scholars say that the phrase in Greek actually denotes “What is this in His voice?” Jesus had so much power that even by His voice demons came out, and the people around Him recognised His authority by the power in His voice!

Jesus practised the ministry of deliverance all the time. In fact, one-fourth of His ministry was deliverance. Jesus’ ministry consisted of preaching, teaching, healing and casting out devils. Today the church is only doing 50% of what Jesus did, preaching and teaching only. Sometimes a small healing by the sovereignty of God is experienced, but not deliverance.

When we follow Jesus’ example we see that He cast devils out IN THE SYNAGOGUE! This is a crucial point. I personally believe that deliverance must take place in the church for others to see, and even for our children to understand and learn that we have been given authority over the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ.

Jesus preached and demonstrated the Kingdom!

At Empower Church we preach and demonstrate the Kingdom!

Now you GO and do likewise!

The Power of Deliverance