Deliverance ministry must be grounded in love for God and love for the person needing freedom. God is love and Christians are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love others (Matt. 22:37-39). It is out of love we minister to others, and may find ourselves needing to cast out evil spirits.
If you are stepping into a time of deliverance, one of the best things you can do is minister deliverance with worship music taking place and several prayer warriors in the same space. We’d like to share these seven easy to remember steps we have learned over time that can help when doing deliverance ministry.
In no way are we espousing that this should become a method, but instead these are what the Holy Spirit has highlighted to us over the years as we’ve done deliverance. These are what He gently reminds us of, as we flow with Him during deliverance whether in person or through phone or Zoom calls.
We’re to always be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and how He wants to set people free and transform them.
- Repent: I would ask the person to pray, repenting of their sins and acknowledging what the Scripture says aligning them with God’s Word and will. We would quote and pray Scripture and affirm its truth. Repentance is not just agreeing with God and the Scripture of sin, but choosing to walk away from it, and asking for the Holy Spirit’s help in no longer committing those sins (Matt. 3:2; Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:9).
- Rebuke: When the anointing of the Holy Spirit is upon me during deliverance, boldness is consuming. Rebuke the evil spirits in Jesus’ name. This may be sharp, but is only directed at the demons, not the person. The best option is to lead the person needing deliverance to rebuke the demonic entities (Matt. 17:18; Luke 4:41).
- Renounce: Have the person verbally renounce their sins and the evil spirits that may be clinging to, commanding them to leave in Jesus’ name and never return. Out of dignity, love and honor for the person we are ministering to, we shouldn’t tolerate demonic manifestations, because Jesus didn’t allow them. There may be some manifestation, but we should do all we can to ensure we minister freedom to the individual and not give the enemy an opportunity to “show off.” You can be specific in renouncing sins or general at times as long as you’re listening to the Holy Spirit and keeping in step with Him.
- Renew: The person would entrust their faith in Christ, declaring that He is Lord of everything in their life, and ask for the fruit of the Spirit and to abide by Christlike character. If they didn’t have a relationship with Jesus, then in applying Romans 10:9-10, they would be saved. If they are Christians, this declaration is reaffirming their commitment and is a milestone in their life. Then pray Scripture over them that would be the opposite qualities or character traits of the demonic spirits cast out. If you cast out a spirit of fear, quote Bible verses on courage, strength and power. Or if you cast out a spirit of lust, we pray self-control and love into their lives.
- Refresh: Minister the baptism or an infilling of the Holy Spirit. Pray and worship, asking God to fill them up by giving them a personal prayer language. If they have been baptized with the Spirit, then ask for a fresh infilling. They may receive joy, or a deep peace with the Spirit, or an encounter with God such as a vision or become ‘drunk’ in the Spirit. This is what I call the “house concept” from Matthew 12:43-45. When we have emptied them of the demonic oppression, we then ensure they are filled with the Spirit so that the evil spirits do not return to their prior living space in the person’s life.
- Rejoice: Give Him thanks and praise, adoring and being grateful to Him. Rejoice and celebrate that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life (Luke 10:20). Then spend time with Jesus every day, praying and worshipping Him, and praying in the incredible spiritual gift of tongues.
- Release: Testify and release your story of how Jesus has set you free. Focus on Him and His grace with love. Don’t mention the manifestation of the demonic if any took place. Instead, tell others the gospel of the kingdom to see the sick healed, the blind see, the deaf hear, demons cast out and dead raised in Jesus’ name (Matt. 4:23).
Every situation is unique and one must be discerning and attentive to the incredible Holy Spirit, but I found these steps to be helpful to minister freedom. In following these seven ‘R’s’ of deliverance ministry, it has been amazing to see Jesus truly set the captives free.
Jared and Rochelle Laskey co-founded Fireborn Ministries to teach believers how to live a daily Spirit-empowered life. You can find their resources and learn more about their ministry at firebornministries.com. They also have e-courses such as “Entry Level Prophecy,” “The Last Days,” “The Baptism with the Holy Spirit” and more on charismacourses.com, and the popular podcast Adventures in the Spirit, available anywhere you listen to podcasts.
