Everyone on earth, including Christians, needs some form of deliverance. Claiming otherwise suggests the Bible is not honest about the righteous, or that anyone who says they do not need deliverance is perfect and sinless. This would also suggest that Christians never sin after conversion and always perfectly resist temptation.
A Christian is someone who has believed and accepts Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God, the Father. They have believed in their hearts and confessed with their mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord. With that said, many wrongly believe that after accepting Jesus Christ, a Christian is free from their sinful habits. But becoming a Christian does not remove old sinful habits. Jesus forgives past sins and will continue to forgive again if we confess and ask for forgiveness, as 1 John 1:9 says. Some Christians and churches think avoiding obvious sins means they do not need deliverance.
If you were to visit a church and ask for a show of hands to indicate how many are Christians, what would you see? Most people would raise their hands to affirm their faith. But if you were to ask if any among the raised hands need deliverance, probably no one would respond. I am not surprised at all because in most Christian circles, the word deliverance is synonymous with "not being saved or fully converted to Jesus Christ." However, on the other hand, it would be delusional to take on such thinking because to do so would be suggesting that after accepting Jesus Christ, one has no more desire for ungodly habits and for evil spirits to tempt a Christian, which is impossible due to their conversion.
Basically, from a biblical point of view, deliverance isn't just about freeing oneself from sinful habits; it primarily involves breaking the strongholds that sustain them. But what exactly is a stronghold? In scripture, it has two meanings. One refers to a physically secure structure, while the other, which is our focus, is a mental barrier formed by strong demonic spiritual influence that gives rise to or displays habits like lies, hate, unforgiveness, lust, pride, and more. According to 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, believers are encouraged to tear down these strongholds by casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring every thought into obedience to Christ.
Many Christians misunderstand what deliverance truly means, leading to judgmental attitudes and quick condemnations of others who have accepted Jesus but struggle with certain sins. This is especially common among new believers who haven't studied the Bible independently, or who are influenced by traditional teachings on deliverance that often emphasize judgment and condemnation. For instance, in some Christian circles, if you continue to struggle with drinking alcohol, fornication, lying, or similar issues, you're deemed unredeemed because it's believed to be impossible to commit such sins and still claim Jesus as Lord. Yet, these same believers might have faced other temptations when they first believed.
Scrolling through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter often reveals Christians judging or condemning others' posts or photos. For instance, if a Christian wears clothing deemed 'not Christian-like,' has tattoos, is seen drinking with friends, visiting clubs, or has body piercings, some will say they are not genuine Christians. While I don't support that behavior, my observations don't lead me to condemn those individuals. Instead, I see folks who need deliverance. I do believe they have accepted Jesus Christ. I do believe they love the Lord. However, how to perform what the Bible requires of them to transform their way of life is where the demand for deliverance comes in. This is a clear example that Christianity is progressive, meaning that the quality of one's life happens or develops gradually or in stages.
My core belief is that everyone requires deliverance. Rather than criticizing others, Christians should pray for and support those facing struggles. As a deliverance minister, I view behaviors such as alcohol abuse, lust, or anger as indications that someone needs deliverance, not as proof of weak faith. I pray that God sends capable teachers to aid in their spiritual growth and belief. Genuine Christians are about restoring others, not judging or condemning them. Those who judge should seek God's help for compassion and healing from a judgmental spirit. Just to be clear. I am by no means promoting sin. Instead, my aim is to help you see the bigger picture: most believers do not have a salvation problem. Instead, they have a deliverance problem.
Let's examine the mindset of 'Mr. and Mrs. I don’t need deliverance.' Why do they quickly judge and condemn others, or their children, for doing clearly wrong things, yet when they or their own children do the same, they brush it off or justify it? The Bible states, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20). This exemplifies hypocrisy, often used to distance themselves from the idea of needing deliverance.
My friend, honestly speaking, every Believer in Jesus Christ has needed, or currently needs, deliverance. I believe the challenge lies in defining deliverance, as it is often mistaken for a need for salvation when one already claims to be saved. The Bible says: 'For there is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not' (Eccl. 7:20).
If you claim to be sinless after accepting Jesus, why does God’s word offer forgiveness to believers who sin even after their conversion? 1 John 1:8 says, "If we say we have NO SIN, we deceive ourselves, and the TRUTH is not in us."
I will end with this: Scripture says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" Romans 8:1. As you would have read, those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned under the condition that they do not continue to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Not continuing to walk after the flesh will require deliverance from demonic strongholds that enslaved you to bow to certain sins as a Bliever of Jesus Christ.
So, Christians who struggle with sin do not have a salvation problem. Instead, they have a deliverance problem.
Written By: Kevin L. A. Ewing
ewinglakevin@icloud.com
kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
www.kevinlaewing.com
