Deliverances is for Believers
Understanding legal rights
The first thing that must be understood is that demons almost always have legal grounds in a person’s life, usually rooted in either the person’s sins, or the sins of their ancestors (the breaking of generational curses is only valid for those who are under the new covenant). Before you can successfully cast a demon out of them, that legal right must first be broken or removed.
Trying to cast a demon out of an unbeliever is like trying to kick somebody out of their apartment when their rent is paid up; it isn’t an easy task and even if you did succeed, they are bound to come back with several more even worse evil spirits as Jesus warned.
Matthew 12:43-45, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”
Deliverance is part of the atonement and New Covenant
Let’s take a close look at Isaiah 53:5, where it prophecies about some of the things that Jesus will do for us, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities (this is for your deliverance): the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Do you think this verse was talking about things that Jesus did for unbelievers? Did He shed His blood for the sins of unbelievers (providing they stay in their unbelief of course)? Did His stripes pay for the healing of unbelievers? What about the chastisement of our peace being upon Him, was that for unbelievers? What should make us think that Him taking on our iniquities was for the unbelievers? Where does it say that Jesus took the iniquities of the unbelievers?
Matthew 8:16-17, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”
If deliverance was part of the atonement and new covenant, then it’s meant for believers! But note that even though an iniquity can be forgiven, doesn’t mean the demon automatically leaves. Jesus still ‘cast’ the demon out in fulfilling the prophecy in this situation.
Notice in Matthew 8:16 that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy that He paid for our deliverance, but also notice how He still had to ‘cast out’ the demon! It didn’t leave automatically. The fulfillment of that prophecy was demonstrated by the actual casting out of a demon(s)!
We, as believers, are commissioned to do the same thing concerning demons: Mark 16:17, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils….”
There’s no excuse to cast demons out of unbelievers
Some Christians believe that we are to cast out demons out of unbelievers to demonstrate God’s power so that they may be saved. There are some major flaws in this theory. For one, I believe those who preach this don’t practice what they preach, because they have little or no experience at all in casting out demons out of ANYBODY! If we go around casting out demons out of unbelievers, what we are doing is stirring up a hornet’s nest. Even if you are successful at casting the demon(s) out, the person is left wide open for them to return, with several more even worse demon spirits. You could easily put somebody in a mental hospital this way! Is this how we are to witness to love of Jesus to unbelievers? By telling them that if they now don’t accept Jesus, they will be soon living their worse nightmare and maybe end up in a mental hospital? That sounds like the way some cult would get people to join their religion, by threatening them!
Matthew 12:43-45, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”
First get the person saved, THEN cast out their demons. This way the legal rights can be removed, which is essential to prevent the demon(s) from returning!
Another excuse Christians try to use is to cast out the demons so that the person may accept Jesus. Which is another concept that I believe is not practiced by those who preach it! They usually get this concept from 2 Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” However, casting demons out to solve this problem is completely unbiblical! Not only are we never told to cast demons out of unbelievers for this purpose, there are no examples of this method at work in the days of Jesus or the early church. I think we are given a good idea how to handle this problem in Matthew 12:29, “Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.” My point? BIND the strong man, NOT cast him out of unbelievers! What’s the difference? Binding is like temporary handcuffing, it ties up the enemy, which if the person still doesn’t come to Jesus, then he won’t end up in a worse condition then before, as would happen if you were to cast the demons out.
If casting out demons out of unbelievers is such a great way to win souls, then why aren’t those Christians who believe this is the purpose of deliverance, practicing this concept themselves? Why didn’t Jesus or the early church practice this concept? On the flip side, we are actually warned NOT to cast demons out of unbelievers, because they will return with several more even worse evil spirits, and threatening people to accept Jesus or else, is NOT the way I think Jesus would proclaim the gospel!
I also think it is neat how Jesus would often tell the people, “Your sins are forgiven” when He healed them. This meant that their sickness or disease was due to sins they have committed, which means they were under a curse according to the Bible. Jesus didn’t just heal them, He made sure that the legal right for that curse was broken before he healed them, so that they were able to keep their healing. This is something that Jesus could do, that we cannot do, because He had the power to forgive people’s sins, while we don’t have that ability. What we are commissioned to do is lead the person to accept and believe upon Jesus, which allows them to have their sins forgiven.
Children’s bread
Jesus referred to deliverance as children’s bread. This is not for unbelievers, this is for believers!
Matthew 15:26, “But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.”
Could He of been saying that it is not right to give deliverance to unbelievers? He referred to those outside the covenant (Gentiles at that time were obviously outside of the covenant) as dogs. The unsaved today are also outside the covenant… you must be a believer in Jesus to be inside the covenant!
I also find it interesting that many times Jesus cast out demons, it was done for the people in the synagogues. Mark 1:39, “And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.”
I strongly believe that deliverance is not for unbelievers, but for believers. It is not meant to provide relief to the world’s problems, but to bring freedom to the believer who may be struggling with demonic bondages.