Research: Deliverance Ministry

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Research Article ∙ Bookmark permalink

Following is an excerpt from “Gladiator-style takedown of demonic forces, part 1”:

A large number of Christians throughout the world consider themselves to be spiritual warfare prayer warriors. What they do is known as “intercessory prayer.” Most likely these prayer warriors are connected to a deliverance ministry. Deliverance ministers use “strategic level prayer” to “bind” the “territorial spirits” to remove demons who are in control of organizations, communities, cities and in some cases entire nations so that evangelism will go unimpeded. These demon fighting gladiators believe that poverty and other societal troubles will not be eliminated until “demonic strongholds” are torn down and demons are “bound.”

The aim of the Spiritual Warfare movement (SWM) is to take “dominion” over societal institutions and government. Once they have accomplished this lofty goal they’ll take over the kingdoms of this world and build a literal Kingdom of God on earth. This is known as Kingdom Theology. The aim of the Spiritual Warfare movement (SWM) is to take “dominion” over societal institutions and government. Once they have accomplished this lofty goal they’ll take over the kingdoms of this world and build a literal Kingdom of God on earth. This is known as Kingdom Theology.

What is the basic premise of Kingdom Theology?

[M]an lost dominion over the earth when Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptation in the Garden of Eden. God “lost control” of the earth to Satan at that time, and has since been looking for a “covenant people” who will be His “extension,” or “expression,” in the earth and take dominion back from Satan. This is to be accomplished through certain “overcomers” who, by yielding themselves to the authority of God’s apostles and prophets for the Kingdom Age, will take control of the kingdoms of this world. (source)

Kingdom Theology and deliverance/spiritual warfare prayer stem from the New Apostolic Reformation/Dominionism (NAR/DOM). I’ve covered NAR/DOM in other articles that can be read here. The purpose of this piece is the SWM, as this false teaching has spread through Charismatic and Pentecostal churches like a wildfire on a gusty day and it’s rearing its ugly head in conservative churches.

Many spiritual warfare prayer warriors are sincere people who believe what they’re doing is serious work, thus they don’t enter into it lightly and are very cautious when they engage in intercessory prayer. They also admit that they’re still learning the process of warfare prayer. The process they go through to rid the “client” of demons is called “therapy.” A person who’s cleansed of “cosmic beings” is deemed a “survivor.”

Some in the deliverance ministries put their focus on so-called demon possessed people. As I said, many of them are serious sincere people who do not take exorcism lightly — but the fact remains that they’re involved in an unbiblical practice.

Imagine for a moment a sixty-five year-old woman, who has never seen the inside of a gym, toe to toe with a burly man she believes to be possessed, body and soul, by a cosmic being. After a lengthy conversation with the man, she has determined that he’s possessed by a “demon of alcohol.” So the diminutive woman musters up her courage and glares into the drunk’s blood-shot eyes, “In the Name of Jesus Christ,” she bellows ”I command you, demon of alcohol, depart from this man!” fully believing she has just sent a demon to the pit of hell. She also believes that the drunk has been set free from the demon once and for all.

You may be asking, “If a ‘demon of alcohol’ does exist, how could the woman know with certainty that it had packed its bags and fled the scene never to return again?”

Before I answer the question, I need to provide some background on angels and demons. For the Christian to get the facts on creatures that dwell in the spiritual realm he or she must go to the final authority on these sorts of things — the Holy Bible. God reveals what He wants us to know about the supernatural world in the pages of Scripture. Anything beyond what the scriptures expressly teach on angels and demons is nothing more than pure speculation. Those in the SWM have taken speculation to a whole new level for the simple reason that much of their doctrine is based on just that — speculation. Also, they claim they’re receiving “new revelation” that replaces the Word of God even though Paul clearly taught that the revelation he and the other apostles received was the complete and final revelation from Jesus Christ. Paul even cursed those who brought a different gospel:

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Gal. 1:8)

So, what does Scripture tell us about angels and demons? In Heb. 1:14 it says they are personal spiritual beings. Because they don’t have physical limitations they’re not bound by the laws of physics. Angels possess intellect (Mat. 8:29, 2 Cor. 11:3), emotions (James 2:19, Rev. 12:17), and will (Luke 8:28-31, 2 Tim. 2:26).

End excerpt.

The article goes on to examine what the Holy Spirit inspired scriptures wants us to know about demons:

Scripture refers to demons as spiritual forces of evil. These creatures are highly intelligent. They’re also vengeful, hateful, cruel, cunning and deceptive, with incredible supernatural powers. Demons are capable of causing physical harm and mental anguish. They have no regard for human life, marriage or the family. They can cause dumbness, deafness and suicide. They can possess the human body as well as animals and influence bodies and minds for evil. (Dabbling in the occult invites demon possession, and for the Christian, demon oppression.)

Demons recognize Christ as “the Son of God” and appeal to Him (Mark 5: 6-7).

One of the ways demons actively oppose the plans of God is by promoting false doctrine.

The 2nd excerpt from “Gladiator-style takedown of demonic forces” ends here. See links to part 1 and part 2 below**.

R.C. Sproul on Christians being demon possessed:

The Scriptures indicate that Satan can oppress us, assault us, tempt us, slander us, and accuse us. But a Christian who is indwelled by the Holy Spirit cannot be possessed by a demon. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17). If a person indwelled by the Holy Spirit can at the same time be sovereignly controlled by an evil spirit, then our redemption is meaningless. All this emphasis on Satan and demons tends to distract us from another very real menace, our own sin. Yes, there is a Devil. There are real demons. But there is also the reality of sin. Satan may be our accomplice in our ongoing sin, but we cannot pass the blame and responsibility for our sin to a controlling demon. We do not have to be possessed by a demon to get drunk. There is enough abiding wickedness in us to do it all by ourselves. We can never say, “The Devil made me do it.” We can say that we are tempted, incited, or seduced by Satan, but not that we are controlled or coerced by him. (Source)

PHRASES, PRACTICES & TERMS

Rachel Tabachnick’s “Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare (SLSW) Glossary.” The terms are defined here (CRN does not recommend Talk to Action)

  • Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare
  • Binding the Strongman*
  • City Gate
  • Community Transformation
  • Corporate Sin
  • High Places
  • Identificational Repentance and Reconciliation
  • Divorce Decree from Baal (as part of Identificational Repentance)
  • Intercessory Prayer
  • Naming of Spirits
  • Neighborhood Reports
  • Prayer Expeditions
  • Prayer walking
  • Principalities and Powers
  • Spiritual Beachhead
  • Spiritual Breakthrough
  • Spiritual Mapping
  • Warfare Prayer
  • 10/40 Window
  • Territorial Spirits

Also be on the lookout for:

  • Activation
  • Alignment
  • Anointing
  • Apostolic age
  • Apostolic covering
  • Apostle & Prophet or Apostolic & Prophetic
  • Awakening
  • Billion soul harvest
  • Charismatic gifts
  • Conversions
  • Covenant people
  • Impartation
  • International Coalition of Apostles
  • Kingdom Age
  • Meditation
  • Revivals
  • Seven Mountain Mandate
  • Signs & Wonders
  • Spiritual gifts (God will activate a person with the spiritual gift necessary to accomplish their ministry.)
  • Take control of kingdoms of this world
  • Take dominion
  • Trips to heaven
  • Visions and dreams
  • Transfer of wealth
  • Worship (“God is quite secure in who He is. He does not look for worship. But He does look for worshipers.” Bill Johnson

Missionary Eric Villaneuva explains the clear teaching of Scripture regarding “binding and losing”:

Verbally binding the enemy is also employed in attacking invisible spirit thugs of the dark world. One pastor I’m aware of opened every service say­ing, “Satan, I bind you from hindering this gathering in Jesus’ name.” A broth­er in Christ with good intentions is subtly led astray when Satan is the first one he speaks to in a service of wor­ship to God.

Such “binding” is based on scriptures that were never meant to be applied as a formula of verbal rebuke. While Jesus did say the strong man must be bound in Matthew 12:29, this happens by the arrival of God’s more powerful kingdom. This metaphor in no way instructs believers to change the world through verbal rebuke. In Matthew 16:19 and 18:18 Jesus speaks of believers having authority to bind which affects both heaven and earth. In 18:19 church discipline (deal­ing with professing Christians) is the subject of binding and loosing, not spir­itual warfare (dealing with the demonic realm). In verse 20 this is done by agreeing in prayer to God, not talking to Satan. (Source)

LEADERS (in no particular order)

C. Peter Wagner*, Doris Wagner, Larry Lea, Che Ahn, Chuck Pierce, Rick Joyner, John Kelly, Bill Haman, Cindy Jacobs, Dutch Sheets, James Goll, John Eckhardt, Jim Laffoon, Mike Bickle, Randy Clark, Jack Deere, Bob Jones, Barbara Yoder, Charles Kraft, Bob Beckett, Naomi Dowdy, Mary Crum, Jack Hayford, John Arnott, Stacy Campbell, Patricia King, Bill Johnson, Beni Johnson, Steven Strang, Todd Bentley, Robert Stern, Stephen Strader, Paul Cain, George Otis, Ed Silvoso, George Barna, Mary Glazier, Thomas Muthee, Samuel Rodriguez, Eddie Smith, Lance Wallnau, Lou Engle, Loren Cunningham, Bob Beckett, Os Hillman, Jacqueline del Rosario, Jill Griffith, Francis Oda, Graham Power, Francis Frangipagne (New…) Derek Prince, John Bevere, David Hernandez, Michael Koulianos, Benjamin Fitzgerald, Sylvie Sudduth, Chris Hayward, Dawna De Silva, Henry Malone, Robert Henderson, leaders in the Demonslayer movement such as Mike Signorelli, Vladimir Savchuk, Isaiah Saldivar, Greg Locke, Daniel Adams, Jenny Weaver, Jeremiah Johnson, Katie Souza, Matt Morton and Leon Du Preez. “[The Demonslayer] network’s structure, while informal, is marked by strategic alliances among leaders who share a common interest in perpetuating the movement. Figures like Mike Signorelli, positioned as successors to Benny Hinn’s legacy, utilize platforms such as YouTube and Instagram to cultivate massive audiences, many of whom are unaware of the NAR’s influence on their teachings.” – ChurchWatch Central

*C. Peter Wagner, a leading figure in the New Apostolic Reformation, was a driving force behind countless extra-biblical and unbiblical teachings and practices.

ORGANIZATIONS

People who contact angels (or a spirit guide) are actually contacting demons.  Demons can and do possess unbelievers, however do not have the authority to possess someone who is born again. The reason is obvious: the moment of regeneration the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the believer – and He never leaves.

Listen to the words of Jesus:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

Now listen to the Apostle John:

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4-6)

RESOURCES

Understanding spiritual warfare as described in Ephesians 6:1-19 and 2 Corinthians 10:1-4:

An introduction to Demonslayers and the threat they pose to you and your church. — ChurchWatch Central

Christian Parents Must Be Willing To Fight For The Heart And Soul Of Their Children by Marsha West

Christian, You’re Engulfed In An All-Out Spiritual Battle. Are You Prepared For It? by Marsha West

The Kingdom of the Lord, the Kingdom of Satan, and Spiritual Warfare by Linda Kimball

What Does Paul Say about Spiritual Warfare? by Stanley Gale

Victims of Bill Johnson’s SOZO Ministry speak out – Berean Research

Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry – soaking, declaring and spinning into delusion by Rick Becker

VIDEO

Carnal Weapons: Binding & Rebuking – Spiritual Warfare Justin Peters & Jim Osman

Should Christians Practice Deliverance Ministry? Alisa Childers interviews Richard Howe and Doug Geivett

RESEARCH

Angels, Demons & Spiritual Warfare

**Gladiator-style takedown of demonic forces, Part 1 — Part 2

Visit Messed Up Church and CARM for more phrases, practices and terms, also short explanations.

An Allegory by Marsha West on Spiritual Warfare and Putting on the Whole Armor of God: The Old Serpent and the Slacker

Views expressed by individual authors and/or sources don’t necessarily reflect those of Marsha West as resources offer a variety of perspectives.

Copyright by Marsha West, April 4 2025