Qualifications For Deliverance                    

                             By Don Dickerman

There are three basic qualifications for deliverance:

Deliverance and healing is CHILDREN'S BREAD. Matthew 15:21-28 The Gentile woman came to Jesus asking for deliverance and healing of her child who was "grievously vexed with a devil". Jesus said that was CHILDREN'S BREAD and she did not qualify because she was not one of the children. He came to the lost sheep of Israel...she was a Gentile. The woman qualified when she believed. Jesus called it great faith and gave her what she came for. To receive children's bread, you must be one of the children!

There can be no unforgiveness! Matthew 18:23-35 Unforgiveness is God given permission for demons to torment believers. This is very clear and will block a deliverance. This also includes unforgiveness for one's self. There have been many times that I have experienced no response, nothing happening and have found the source to be unforgiveness that had not been dealt with. Anger, bitterness, resentment etc.

No deliverance will take place if the individual is not willing, perhaps even desirous of being free. It ALWAYS involves the individuals will. If the person is not willing to confess and forsake ALL sin, it can/will block the deliverance. I have encountered "reprobate mind" spirits in people who are not willing to forsake homosexual or perverted life styles. People who are not willing to forsake smoking is another example. Romans 1:24 "dishonor their own bodies." You will be wise to find out about these things before you begin the process.

Knowing that the person must be saved, must be clean and must be willing. It is good to lead them in a prayer of confession. Asking them to pray it aloud to break the power of demons who are on the outside. Exercising the power of confessing and acting upon. 1 John 1:9.

I lead them in a prayer that is basically three-fold. Confessing salvation, repenting of obvious strongholds and demonic permissions and recognizing the full work of the cross...Jesus as Savior and Lord, Deliverer and Healer, and the One Who breaks the power of curse. The prayer is something like this: (The person repeats it aloud after you with permission to reword it):

"Father, I thank You for Jesus and for my salvation. I am so glad to be born again and to have eternal life. You are the Savior and I am the sinner. Thank You for forgiveness so freely given. And because You have forgiven me, I forgive others. Everyone who has hurt me, lied to me, disappointed me, abused me, offended me...I forgive. I repent of unforgiveness, I know it is sin. I repent of anger, bitterness, revenge, hatred, resentment, envy, jealousy...and all of those kinds of sin, I put them under the Blood of Jesus Christ, breaking Satan's power and right to my life. I acknowledge Jesus as my Savior and Lord, as my Deliverer and my Healer and the One Who breaks the power of curse. I choose to be free and I will be free in Jesus' Name. Amen".

It is not uncommon for the person to begin to feel the demonic presence even before you begin to address the demons, the evil spirits get very uncomfortable and often begin to manifest in some way. Most common seems to be in the mid-section with stomach discomfort, unusual nervousness, anxiety, perhaps trembling. They may begin to have bizarre thoughts, thoughts that seem to attack you, casting doubt and aspersions in the mind of the individual toward you...or perhaps tell them that they must be crazy thinking something like this will work etc.

It is good to forewarn the individual of the demon tactics to lessen their power and work of confusion. Explain to the individual how demons are released, generally on the breath, with a sigh or deep exhale, cough, yawn, maybe gagging and release of fluids, but that it can be very simple and easy and they need not be afraid. Assure them that the demons will not leave them and go to someone else, especially give confidence to the person that they are not going to their child or family member...demons like to bring this kind of fear upon the person. Explain that you are going to bind the demons with specific instructions and that they will be obedient to the command given int he Name of the Lord Jesus. (It is important to use the Name of Lord Jesus Christ ..."Jesus" was His earthly name and demons will even hide behind that saying `oh he means Jesus of Mexico' or some silly idea like that. He is LORD and HE IS CHRIST, the anointed on of God. No demon can resist that Name.)

It is helpful to also explain what kind of response the person may experience as you begin commanding evil spirits. The responses are many and varied. Most common is that the individual hear the response in their mind and report it to you. It is also common for the person to see mental pictures or words. So it is wise to ask the individual keep their eyes closed so as not to be distracted and to focus on what is being revealed. They may also feel many varied discomforts during this process. "My chest is burning", "I feel pressure in my spine", "My stomach is getting very queasy", "My head is tingling on top", "I can't stop my eyes from fluttering", "My hands are burning", "I am getting very cold...or hot", "I am getting an incredible headache", "There is tightness in my neck and shoulders", "My forehead feels like something is moving inside of it"...it could be almost anything when the evil sprits begin to manifest.

The Holy Spirit is forcing the demon to respond to the Name of Jesus Christ and to commands given in His Name. Angels come to help during this warfare. You will be victorious in the battle and you must be confident in it! Remember, it is NOT the BLOOD of Jesus that is authority. It is the NAME of THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. The BLOOD is for forgiveness and cleansing. The NAME is for authority!

After you are certain the person is ready and feel the leadership of the Holy Spirit to proceed, then you are ready to give the command of the Lord Jesus.

General Command to Bind Evil Spirits

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE RISEN SON OF GOD, THE ONE WHO DEFEATED YOUR MASTER AND TRAMPLED HIM UNDERFOOT, I NOW BIND EVERY SPIRIT ANY WAY ASSOCIATED WITH ______________, WHETHER IN HIM, ATTACHED TO HIM, ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH HIM, I NOW CALL YOU UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST AND COMMAND YOU TO OBEDIENCE. I COMMAND THAT YOU CANNOT HARM ___________________, YOU CANNOT LEAVE HIM AND GO TO ANYONE ELSE. YOU ARE COMMANDED THAT YOU CANNOT SPLIT DIVIDE NOR MULTIPLY AND YOU CANNOT USE ANY FORM OF DEMONIC TRICKERY OR DECEPTION. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SPLIT I COMMAND YOU TO REATTACH AS ONE. I FURTHER COMMAND THAT YOU CANNOT CALL ON OTHERS TO HELP YOU AND YOU CANNOT PASS YOUR DUTIES ON TO ANY ONE ELSE. WHETHER HIDING OR SLEEPING, USING SHELVES, FLOATING IN FREE CIRCULATION, COMING AND GOING IT DOES NOT MATTER, EVERY SPIRIT ANY WAY CONNECTED TO ______________YOU MUST STOP YOUR WORK AND COME IMMEDIATELY UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST. WHEN COMMANDED TO YOU WILL REPAIR ALL OF YOUR DAMAGE, GATHER UP ALL OF YOUR WORKS, NOT LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND, YOU ARE COMMANDED TO NOT HESITATE NOR LINGER AND YOU WILL GO IMMEDIATELY AND DIRECTLY TO THE PIT OF HELL!

NOW IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST I SPECIFICALLY BIND THE PRINCE DEMON, THE DEMON WHO CLAIMS TO BE IN CHARGE, AND I COMMAND YOU TO COME FORWARD WITHOUT DELAY AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF. YOU WILL REVEAL YOUR NAME OR YOUR FUNCTION IN HIS LIFE AND YOU DO SO NOW! (Jesus, when dealing with the Gaderrean demoniac asked, What is your name?...the demons responded with, "Legion, because we are many...)

At this point the person may begin to squirm a little, maybe wring their hands, appear to be in anguish or confusion...if you must repeat the command until you get a response. Often it is the first thought that enters the individuals mind. Some hear it clearly and distinctly, some see a word or name. Occasionally it will be a name out of Greek mythology, or a Biblical name, sometimes it is Beelzebub or Abaddon, scriptural names, I have encountered demons who claim to be Satan, you can be sure that he does not dwell in individuals of little impact in world affairs.

You may feel led to command that the prince give you information about who else is present. How many or how many "prince" demons. (A prince is generally head of a little kingdom that has been established in the individual). You may want to allow the Holy Spirit to discern what spirits are present...however, you should have good information from the pre-deliverance form and discussion about what spirits are there. List them and command them to give you a "yes" if they are present. You need only determine if they any permission to stay...that would be from the individual or from God. If they have not legal ground they must leave when commanded to go in Jesus Christ's Name.

Remind the person that the Holy Spirit may reveal things to them not previously discussed and for them to tell you any thing that is being revealed...it may be a stronghold that must be torn down.

When you feel certain there are no more spirits, go back and check again...it can be like this. "Is there still a spirit of FEAR present? If so, you must give him a "yes" right now in Jesus Christ Name. Make sure everything is gone. Then, pray for the individual to be filled, saturated if you will, with God's Holy Spirit. Loose Spirit fruit to come alive, especially where the person had been robbed by the evil spirits. Encourage them and give them advice and tools on how to continue in freedom, not surrendering any territory that has been regained to the enemy.