ENDURANCE
Why deliverance takes so long?
Many wonder, when seeking deliverance, why getting prayer one time
does not accomplish full and complete deliverance. Many find deliverance, and deliverance ministry, even more difficult because there often is a long period of time involved. Many have the mistaken idea that we can have one good deliverance prayer session, and then all the demons will be cleaned out, and we may walk in victory ever after.
O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
In reality, the demons are layered in like the layers of an onion. The outer layers come out easier. Demons are deceivers. The stronger ones may not manifest when the weaker demons are being cast out. The demons find rest in their position of control within the believer. They will work any deception to keep believers in bondage and prevent their effective warfare against the devil’s kingdom. Deliverance ministers, and those who seek deliverance, must be as determined and persistent as the demons.
Understand that sometimes deliverance can take a long time. Just because the Lord always had immediate results, we should remember that, as God, He KNEW what was in all men, and we do not. Even His disciples (Mat 17:19 and Mark 9:28) asked Him why they could not cast out the demons from the man’s son. It is easy to think that we are not going the right way in deliverance, because the results are NOT immediate, as it was for Jesus. Especially in Deliverance we need wisdom, and with all of our getting of wisdom we need to get understanding. It always comes back to the Word of God, and learning submission to the Word of God.
Often our lack of understanding may be that we did not even diligently seek the Lord in prayer. Often too, it may be, that we have failed to turn at His reproof. People are way too quick to determine something is not of God, because it is time consuming, and is taking so much longer than what we may have thought. When we get God’s wisdom and understanding from the Word of God quickened by His Holy Spirit, we will bust through the walls of demonic hindrance, confusion, and discouragement. If Jesus said the FIRST sign that follows those who BELIEVE, is that in His Name, we are to cast out devils. If Jesus said that He has given us power over ALL the power of the enemy, then THAT SETTLES IT, REGARDLESS HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE.
So why does Deliverance sometimes take so long?
Psa 31:2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
It is common to see people that have received great deliverance in demons being cast out, and see great and wonderful changes in their life. This instant deliverance is what everyone wants to happen. Yet, it is not always like that. Sometimes total deliverance, getting those innermost stronger demons out, can take years. Why does it seem like deliverance is so slow for some people? Some people who seek deliverance may go through deliverance prayers and services several times with nothing seeming to be happening. REMEMBER demons are liars and deceivers. The lack of apparent manifestations may be part of the deception. Later as people continue, and are steadfast in going through the deliverance prayers, and continuing to stand in FAITH in the promises of the Word of God, later manifestations getting the strong principalities out, will come in due time. God Said So in Luke 10:19.
The KEY is not to give up. The key is knowing that disciples are disciplined ones, and that God is a rewarder of those DILIGENTLY seeking Him, and that does NOT mean INSTANTLY. The BIG KEY is understanding that God has a plan, and a purpose, that is much bigger than instant deliverance of some spirit. The Lord wants us to GROW and that we might mature in being conformed to His image. There are many areas regarding SANCTIFICATION that ONLY Deliverance can bring this growth and maturity.
It is so important that we never lose sight of the PURPOSE for which the Son of God was manifested – TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL. (I John 3:8) The King is away on a far journey. We, the redeemed, repentant, disciples are the legitimate occupying authorities on this planet. The antichrist demoniac minions are usurpers. Make no mistake about it, our purpose IS to carry on that SAME PURPOSE, for which the Son of God was manifested. It is the will of God that EVERY believer learns spiritual warfare against His enemy and our enemy. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. BUT WE ARE COMMANDED TO WRESTLE WITH THE ENEMIES OF GOD, AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN POWER AND AUTHORITY OVER ALL THEIR POWER. King David, the man after God’s own heart, expressed the RIGHT attitude in Psa 139:21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
Is it a lack of power or ignorance which causes deliverance to take so long? Often it is both. There is no lack of power regarding the power that God has given us over ALL the power of the enemy. However, failure to be submitted to God can cause the power we have been given, to seem to be lacking. Ignorance, yes, that is always a factor. More will be learned in actual deliverance sessions, than in all the books. However, the Holy Bible, and particularly the OId Testament, is where we find the answers to the tough problems confronting those seeking and doing deliverance ministry. It is amazing how the casting out of devils has been superceded in the so-called vain powerless religions, of these last days. We even see such vain imaginations as psychology exalting themselves against the knowledge of God. What an abomination. Christian Psychologist? Why not say Christian Idolater? It is a sad sign of the times when they will NOT endure SOUND DOCTRINE, that so many churches know NOTHING about casting out demons.
Faith without works is DEAD. James said you can talk about your faith, and he would show you his faith by what he did. Is any sick among us? How is God being glorified when people suffer from spirits of infirmity? Most people would be shocked to know how much physical illness is the result of spirits of infirmity. One good FAITHFUL brother, and medical doctor, says it may be as high as 90%, and BELIEVERS should KNOW it is over half. If one in our church is sick, it is time to find out who that God says is an elder. Would you believe, that who God says is the elder, is often different than who the majority in the church vote to be on the deacon board? You guys that think you should be elders, that have read the word of God, the way God said, every word in order from Gen 1:1-Rev 22:21, line up here, anoint these sick people with oil. Let us find out who is BIBLICALLY qualified to be an elder, and not just who won the last church popularity contest. The effectual FERVENT prayer of a righteous man availeth much. It is time we stop talking about how much faith we have, and start DOING what real faith will do, to glorify God in the Name of Yeshua, and not in the name of some minister of vanity.
One of the MAIN reasons why deliverance often requires diligence and persistence is found in Judg 3:1-4 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to PROVE Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; Only that the generations of the children of Israel might KNOW, to teach them WAR, the least such as before knew nothing thereof; Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath. And they were to PROVE Israel by them, TO KNOW WHETHER THEY WOULD HARKEN UNTO THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD, WHICH HE COMMANDED THEIR FATHERS BY THE HAND OF MOSES.
I can just hear the knee jerking of those in the vain powerless religions of rationalizing, saying “we’re not under law, but under grace.” Brethren, God does not, and has not changed. Yeshua, did not come to do away with the law; but, to fulfill it. Heaven and earth have not yet passed away. People who quote that piece of verse 14 should check the context of where that comes from, and quote ALL of Romans 6:12-16. Maybe that would stop some of this foolishness.
The Lord left those nations in the land to teach Israel how to fight. The ministry of every saint, and every saint is part of Israel, is WAR with the antichrist, for the final 42 months before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is truly sad how few churches today know anything about casting out evil spirits. They will call them character flaws, or besetting sins; but, they do not call them what they are, evil spirits. Because of this denial of the truth, all that is left is a vain powerless form of godliness, that denies the power thereof. Whole large churches today do not have anyone who knows how to discern, deal with, and/or to cast out the devils.
We should learn by our mistakes, and stop repeating them. We should learn something whenever we confront a devil that we are unable to cast out. Not knowing what to do should make us seek the Lord as never before. Confronting a devil that resists being cast out, should lead to INTENSE study of the Word of God. The answers are in the KJV Holy Bible. Some of those answers which may be easily found in the KJV Holy Bible are COMPLETELY removed from many of the modern perversion profane bibles. Intense study of the real Holy Bible, will produce answers, and teach you how to WAR against the enemy. The only bible the devil really fears is the KJV Holy Bible.
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We should UNDERSTAND that the Lord allows things in our lives to motivate us to LEARN the weapons of our warfare, to LEARN the Word of God, and to LEARN EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER. The Lord wants to do more than just free us from demons. Freely we have received, FREELY give. He wants us to learn DELIVERANCE and Spiritual Warfare to DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL not only in us, but in others as well.
We should UNDERSTAND that there is LESS LEARNING in quick deliverance. We do not learn much from the demons that are easily cast out. It is the hard cases that drive us to the Word of God and prayer and fasting. The tough deliverances is where the LEARNING of Spiritual Warfare takes place. The tough demons teach us to develop Spiritual Warfare skills, tactics, and understanding of the Word of God and fervent prayer. Fervent prayer does not have to be long prayer. Again the key is submission to God. There is nothing quite like fasting to bring the body under subjection. 1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
The generation that God brought out of Egypt ALL died in the wilderness except for Joshua and Caleb. None of the others entering the Promised Land knew anything about warfare. People like the Midianites were good at warfare; but, this generation of Israelites was untried and knew nothing about how to fight. It was in God’s great and perfect wisdom that He did NOT drive out all of their enemies. He wanted to teach the children of Israel to war. Every saint in the final 42 months before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ will have a ministry of war with the antichrist, and his demon possessed minions. Although the Israelites failed the test, God does NOT want us to fail, and we should understand that the LORD is a man of war, and Mighty in Battle is He. The Son of God was manifest to DESTROY the works of the devil.
Exo 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
Isa 42:13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
Exo 17:16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Psa 144:1 A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
Psa 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Zec 10:5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Brethren, many KNOW they should have learned these things years ago. Often people do not accomplish much because they do NOT keep the MAIN THING the main thing. FIRST, we MUST have ONE disciplined reading of the Word of God the way He told us. Otherwise we will get NOWHERE, regarding learning spiritual warfare. We effectively limit what the Holy Ghost can bring to the battle from our REMEMBRANCE. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
How can anyone presume to be approved unto God as a workMAN, who can rightly divide the word of truth, without having read it the way God tells us? We need at least one cover-to-cover reading, and two would twice as good and show how much we missed the first time. Yes, God said so, every word in order, precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, BEFORE the here a little there a little. If we make the full commitment to do what God said, then the Holy Ghost will fill in ALL the gaps. NOTHING compares to the KJV Holy Bible to learn spiritual warfare and deliverance, NOTHING. The KJV Holy Bible is BEYOND Comparison to any spiritual warfare or deliverance material.
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Heb 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The use of spiritual senses and physical senses to discern BOTH good and evil is what we need in this antichrist War on the Saints. The use of our senses is spiritual exercise which develops DISCERNMENT to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, regarding what is of God and what is NOT. Babes lack discernment. Babes think every feel good spiritual feeling, and every feel good spiritual experience, is of God. Babes do NOT know how to test the spirits, to see if they are of God. Even Babes should know better. If you have not read the KJV Holy Bible every word in order, cover-to-cover, someone should love you enough to tell you that you are in trouble. Someone should tell you how likely it is, in these last days of Strong Delusion, that you may be deceived regarding your spiritual experiences.
When you really get into deliverance ministry get ready to be humbled. So many young ministers get shaken to the core of their being when it FINALLY dawns upon them, what a show and a circus the demons have been playing for them. The demons are very good at putting on shows to keep them puffed up, vain, and powerless. Many young ministers really believe, THEY ARE FULL OF POWER, AND THAT THE DEMONS HAVE TO JUMP BECAUSE OF THEIR GREAT ANOINTING, AND THEIR GREAT FAITH. How sad this really is. The demons will put on quite a show for such ministers, who will bring forth wind, and NOT genuine deliverance that glorifies God; but, only strokes their vanity. The demons are impressed with the Name of Jesus and Power of the Blood of Yeshua. The demons are impressed with the one Who anoints and baptizes with the Holy Ghost. In fact, Jesus warned all of us to beware of those who would dare to come to us in His Name and say I AM ANOINTED, that is the same as saying, I am Christ.
Religious pride must be broken, and purged, because no human wants to give it up. God often uses the demons, and how they resist being cast out, to break our religious pride. Knowing that we have demons, or that we are dealing with demons that refuse to come out, is MOST Humbling. Also EXERCISING OUR SENSES would not be accomplished if the deliverance were always a simple one shot command or prayer. The Lord is perfecting us and causing our faith to grow from faith to FAITH. Deliverance is just one of a number of vital steps in the process of sanctification. We do learn patience, perseverance, and dependence upon our Lord in the difficult deliverance experiences. There is nothing which I have experienced so effective in causing me to want to find the problem in my OWN heart, like some stubborn demon which resists being cast out. The problem either must be with legal ground not being identified, or with ME because the problem is certainly not with the power of the Name of Jesus or the Power of the Blood of Yeshua.
The Lord left the nations in the Promised Land to teach Israel to WAR with the enemy. God’s enemies are our enemies. They were left in the land to PROVE Israel, to test Israel, to find out whether or not we would pay attention to DO the commandments of the Lord by Moses. Many times the Lord will temporarily leave spirits in ones life to prove whether or not we really love the Lord above all else. He deserves FIRST place, and there is nothing like knowing a spirit is there which is resisting being cast out, to cause one to DILIGENTLY seek the Lord. Glory to God.
Do not ever give ground to the flip way of saying the devil made us do it. The demons MUST ALWAYS BE BOUND, regardless of the status of ones deliverance. I can not, MEANS I WILL NOT; because, it denies the truth of Phil 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. We must FIRST find the PROBLEM of how we are NOT in submission to God. Then we can resist the devil and he will flee from us. The stubborn demons reveal to us that we are somehow out of submission to God. The deliverance minister needs to have the word of knowledge, if it is a problem dealing with the ground given by someone seeking deliverance. Since the Lord KNOWS our heart, and without His Word separating our soul and spirit, so that we may see the truth in our heart, we do not. Therefore, we should see even this as being for OUR BENEFIT. The Lord knows the depth of our love and commitment to Him but often we do not really know.
Some who come seeking deliverance we will never see again if they are not delivered quickly at the first deliverance prayer. Others, though they know they are still troubled by evil spirits, continue in faith being faithful, to return and continue pressing into the Word of God. Over time one comes to know people of faith because they are faithful, and genuine.
Pride and rebellion and religious spirits are the chief hindrance to being set free. The stronghold formed by the religious and rebellious spirit is VERY strong and difficult to cast down. Often through deliverance God brings the HIDDEN rebellion, disobedience, and religious spirits, to the surface. It is common for rebellion and disobedience to be buried so deep that many are completely unaware that the religious spirit or rebellious spirit is in them. When these hidden things are brought to the surface in the process of deliverance then finally the TRUTH may be received, acknowledged, and His grace be found to repent. Until the believer receives the truth AND repentance is found, those spirits will remain in the believer.
We should always hate the devil and his evil spirits. We should not yield because of pride to make any agreement with the devils that we will leave them alone if they leave us alone. BINDING AND LOOSING IS ALWAYS TO BE DONE REGARDLESS WHERE WE MAY BE IN THE PROCESS OF DELIVERANCE. We never come to terms with the enemy and always continue binding, loosing, and coming against the spirits until we are delivered, no matter how long it takes. If we do not repent and persist in rebellion and disobedience it really is not likely that the Lord will drive the spirits out until we repent. Very often our refusal to humble ourselves is a block to the deliverance. It may be part of the Lord’s chastening process that we remain stuck with the devils because of our refusal to repent.
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One thing that is common within deliverance ministry which should be expected is the demons in those seeking deliverance will make accusations. Meekness is a MUST in deliverance ministry. We MUST NOT retaliate. We must be prepared to endure any insult without retaliation. Avoid calling out each others demons. Expect to hear things like, I bind you Jezebel, I bind you Leviathan, I bind your rebellion, I rebuke your envy, coming from the demons in those seeking deliverance. Just say thank you, amen it is bound, and do NOT retaliate. It is a given you will be accused of pride when you begin to walk in deliverance. The scorpion that ALL must keep under our feet with our gospel shoes is envy. The snake that we ALL must keep under our feet is pride.
Something which gave me peace, long ago, is something regarding pride. We are ALL VAIN creatures. God said so in Rom 8:20 - For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. God deserves worship that is worth something. Worship that is worth anything must come from a vain creature, who makes the free will choice to worship the One Who alone is worthy. The truth is that we are ALL vain creatures and pride is the snake to be kept under our feet shod with the gospel of peace. Know therefore that it is impossible to make the charge of pride without having the affliction. Glory to God.
Meekness is the ability to endure insult without retaliation. When we are ministering deliverance and the charges and bindings and rebukes come from the person seeking deliverance, just say thank you, it is bound, amen, thank you Jesus, Glory to God. Do NOT be tempted to resent such charges. The deliverance minister always will make right actions directed by the Holy Spirit and DOES NOT REACT. Do not react when someone calls out a demon in us. Stay humble, seek the Lord’s mercy, grace, and leading in that instant.
Few seem to realize how that affliction can be good for us. David makes that clear in Psa 119:67-69. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. And in verse 71 he says, It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Affliction can often drive us to the Word to seek understanding and repentance which is good for us.
Demons are eternal enemies of God and every child of God. It is godly to hate them with a perfect hatred. They hate us and seek to destroy us and we should be quick and constant in our binding, loosing, and rebuking of the demons, to let them know we know, the state of war that exists. We also want to let them know we KNOW we have the victory, and will exercise the power and authority we have been given over all of their power. The key for us is genuine humility before the Lord and submission to Him, and knowing God is pleased when we hate and attack His enemies of the host of hell. Again we see why David was a man after God’s own heart in this regard. Psa 139:21-24 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
The truth is that most of us do not HATE evil as intensely as we should. When we walk in deliverance and fall, KNOW the demons will really try to heap on CONDEMNATION. The deliverance worker must learn quick and even INSTANT REPENTANCE. If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we put it under the blood, there is NO RECORD in heaven. We will not allow occasion for that demonic thought regarding a past sin, or even a brother trying to help us with some recollection of a past sin that has been confessed and put under the blood. Such thoughts regarding past sins forgiven, and under the blood, can NOT be from the Holy Ghost. When the demon tries to bring up that past, we will be QUICK to tell the demon about the guaranteed future of all demons in the lake of fire, and our future in the Kingdom of God.
Remember the iron chariots when we wonder why a deliverance may be taking so long. The iron chariots are like the strongholds and demonic principalities that are stronger in resisting being cast out. We will ALWAYS continue binding and loosing. Binding the demon spirits and asking the Lord of Hosts, to loose His mighty ministering spirits to enforce the bindings. Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? And remember the iron chariots. We will not fear the iron chariots. Judg 1:19 And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. Josh 17:17-18 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong. THE PRINCIPALITIES MAY BE STRONG, BUT THROUGH THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF YESHUA, AND IN DUE TIME, BY LEARNING MORE FULLNESS OF SUBMISSION TO GOD, WE SHALL RESIST AND DRIVE OUT THOSE IRON CHARIOT DEMONS.
We will make no covenant with the enemy. We will attack, attack, attack. We will keep seeking the word of knowledge from the Lord to deal with any and all legal ground or demonic license. We will walk in repentance, binding and loosing, and rebuking the devils, and give them no rest. We will hate them with a strong and perfect hatred. No matter how long, we will continue to press the battle to the gates. God even told the Israelites that He would drive out their enemies by little and by little. That is what we will do to the demons. We will persist and drive them out by little and by little. We will be content even with a life long battle because we know of the certain victory of eternal life in the eternal Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Know that the demons are persistent. However, the Lord is on our side, and He has already gotten us the certain victory. We have every reason to be MORE persistent and steadfast. Our Lord said, IT IS FINISHED. We may look with GREAT JOY toward our long term future. The demons tremble at their future. Be quick to tell the demons constantly that by the Power of the Blood of Yeshua, we are going to heaven, and every devil is going to hell. The Lord Jesus Christ said IT IS FINISHED at the Cross. Glory to God.