Why can deliverance seem to take so long?

WE MUST EACH LEARN TO RESIST AND ENDURE!

For some, Deliverance can be a process, instead of an event.

All of us want instant gratification and to be delivered—NOW!

That is just the way we are.

Many wonder, when seeking deliverance, why getting or saying the Deliverance Prayer one time does not necessarily accomplish full and complete deliverance the first time. Many find deliverance and the deliverance ministry difficult, because there often is a period of time involved, sometimes a fairly long one. Many have the mistaken idea that we can have one good deliverance prayer session, and then the miracles will instantly occur and all the demons will be cleaned out and we may walk in victory ever after.

Sometimes there are reasons why deliverance may take multiple sessions and additional time for the ground that the demon possesses to be prepared.

Demons sometimes can be difficult. There biggest desire is to continue doing the work that brought them to you. They are there to hurt you, deceive you and ultimately get you sick and even kill you. They are our enemies and each of us needs to hate who they are and what they are doing. They will fight back, sometimes real hard, lie, deceive and hide. Satan is the big deceiver. We need to always remember that.

In reality, the demons are often layered in like the layers of an onion. The outer layers come out easier. Demons are deceivers. The stronger ones may not manifest when the weaker demons are being cast out. The demons find rest in their position of control within the believer. They will work any deception to keep believers in bondage and prevent their effective warfare against the devil’s kingdom. Deliverance ministers, and those who seek deliverance, must be more determined and persistent as the demons. We call on God and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us if there is anything hindering our deliverance.

Understand that, sometimes, deliverance can take some time. We all want instant relief, but just because the Lord always had immediate results, we should remember that, as God, He KNEW what was in all men, and we do not. Even His disciples (Mat 17:19 and Mark 9:28) asked Him why they could not cast out the demons from the man’s son.

Jesus answered: Mat 17:20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Mat 17:21  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (Alone)

It is easy to think that we are not going the right way in deliverance, because the results are NOT immediate, as it was for Jesus. Especially in Deliverance we need to believe and have Faith and thus wisdom. When we get wisdom we then can get  understanding. It always comes back to the Word of God, and learning submission to the Word of God.

Often our lack of understanding may be because we did not diligently seek the Lord in prayer. Often too, it may be that we have failed to repent and turn from our wicked ways when we were convicted. Some people are way too quick to determine something is not of God, because it is time consuming, and is taking so much longer than what we may have thought. When we get God’s wisdom and understanding from the Word of God, delivered by His Holy Spirit, we will burst through the walls of demonic hindrance, confusion, and discouragement. Jesus said that the FIRST sign that follows those who BELIEVE, is that in His Name, we are to cast out devils. If Jesus said that He has given us power over ALL the powers of the enemy, then THAT SETTLES IT, REGARDLESS HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE.

So why does Deliverance sometimes take so long?

Psa 31:2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

It is common to see people that have received great deliverance in demons being cast out, and see great and wonderful changes in their life. This instant deliverance is what everyone wants to happen. Yet, it is not always like that. Sometimes total deliverance, getting those innermost, stronger demons out, can take months or even years. Why does it seem like deliverance is so slow for some people? Some people who seek deliverance, may go through deliverance prayers and services several times with nothing seeming to be happening. REMEMBER demons are liars and deceivers. The lack of apparent manifestations may be part of the deception. Later, as people continue and are steadfast in going through the deliverance prayers, and continuing to stand in FAITH in the promises of the Word of God and RESISTING, later manifestations getting the strong principalities out, will come in due time. God Said So in Luke 10:19.

The KEY is not to give up. The key is knowing that disciples are the disciplined ones, and that God is a rewarder of those DILIGENTLY seeking Him and Resist the Devil, and that does NOT mean INSTANTLY. The BIG KEY is understanding that God has a plan, and a purpose, that is much bigger than instant deliverance of some spirit. The Lord wants us to GROW and that we might mature in being conformed to His image. There are many areas regarding SANCTIFICATION that ONLY Deliverance can bring, like tough growth and maturity in our faith.

It is so important that we never lose sight of the PURPOSE for which the Son of God was manifested – TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL.

(I John 3:8) The King is away on a far journey. We, the redeemed, repentant, disciples are the legitimate occupying authorities on this planet.

The antichrist demonic minions are usurpers. Make no mistake about it, our purpose IS to carry on that SAME PURPOSE, for which the Son of God was manifested. It is the will of God that EVERY believer learns spiritual warfare against His enemy and our enemy. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. BUT WE ARE COMMANDED TO WRESTLE WITH THE ENEMIES OF GOD, AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN POWER AND AUTHORITY OVER ALL THEIR POWER. King David, the man after God’s own heart, expressed the RIGHT attitude in Psa 139:21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

Is it a lack of power or faith or ignorance which causes deliverance to take so long? Often it is the last two, but there is no lack of power regarding the power that God has given us, over ALL the powers of the enemy. However, failure to be submitted to God can cause the power we have been given, to seem to be lacking.

Lack of knowledge, yes, that is always a factor. More can be learned in the Spiritual Warfare Training and in actual deliverance sessions. However, the Holy Bible, and particularly the OId Testament, is where we find the answers to the tough problems confronting those seeking and doing deliverance ministry. It is amazing how the casting out of devils has been superseded in the modern powerless churches, of these last days. We even see such vain imaginations as psychology exalting themselves against the knowledge of God. What an abomination. It is a sad sign of the times when they will NOT endure SOUND DOCTRINE, that so many churches know NOTHING about casting out demons.

Three factors that can prevent, hinder or slow down deliverance are:

*Having a luke warm, dead faith, instead of one that is alive.
*Having any unforgiveness in our hearts. We MUST FORGIVE ALL.
*Having any unrepentant sins in our lives

All Three can allow a stronghold that gives the demon permission to remain. The second two issues should be addressed before one starts a deliverance session and a continual review should be done after each session, to make sure we are cleansed of the bondage they produce. This sanctification process will strengthen our faith and eliminate the first reason and prepare or loosen the ground that the demonic is possessing.

Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates? 2Co 13:5

Faith without works is dead, right? James said you can talk about your faith, and he would show you his faith by what he did. Is any sick among us? How is God being glorified when people suffer from spirits of infirmity? Most people would be shocked to know how much physical illness is the result of spirits of infirmity. One good FAITHFUL brother, and medical doctor, says it may be as high as 90%, and BELIEVERS should KNOW it is over half.

One of the MAIN reasons why deliverance often requires endurance, diligence and persistence is found in Judges 3:1-4   

One can just hear the reactions of those in the powerless religions of the New Age rationalizing, saying “we’re not under law, but under grace.” My friend, God does not, and has not changed. Jesus did not come to do away with God’s law; but, to fulfill it. Heaven and earth have not yet passed away. People who quote verse 14 should check the context of where that comes from, and quote ALL of Romans 6:12-16. Maybe that would stop some of this foolishness. Jesus came to abolish the Jewish law, not God’s.

It is truly sad how few churches today know anything about the real war we are in and how to do true deliverance. Many do not know a thing about casting out evil spirits. They will call them character flaws, or besetting sins; but, they do not call them what they are, evil spirits, demons. Because of this denial of the truth, all that is left is a vain powerless form of godliness that denies the power and authority of God. Whole large churches today do not have anyone who knows how to discern, deal with, and/or to cast out the devils.

We need to understand that, at times, the Lord allows things into our lives to motivate us to LEARN the weapons of our warfare, to LEARN the Word of God, and to LEARN EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER. The Lord wants to do more than just free us from demons. Freely we have received, FREELY we give. He wants us to learn DELIVERANCE and Spiritual Warfare to DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL, not only in us, but in others as well.

We should understand that there is LESS LEARNING in quick deliverance. When we receive instant gratification, we do not learn much from the demons that are easily cast out. It is the hard cases that drive us to the Word of God, deep prayer and fasting. The tough deliverances are where the growth in God’s ways, Spiritual Warfare takes place. The tough demons teach us to develop Spiritual Warfare skills, tactics, and an understanding of the Word of God and fervent prayer. Fervent prayer does not have to be long prayer. Again the key is submission to God. There is nothing quite like fasting to bring the body under subjection. 1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Every saint, in the final age before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, will have a ministry of war with the antichrist, and his demon possessed minions. Although the Israelites failed the test coming out of Egypt, God does NOT want us to fail, and we should understand that the LORD is a Man of War, and Mighty in Battle is He.

The Son of God was manifest to DESTROY the works of the devil.

Exo 15:3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

Isa 42:13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.

Psa 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Friends, many KNOW they should have learned these things already. Often people do not accomplish much because they do NOT keep the MAIN THING- the main thing is the Word of God. First, when doing deliverance, we must have a basic understanding of the Word of God. Otherwise we will get nowhere, regarding learning spiritual warfare. We effectively limit what the Holy Ghost can bring to the battle from our REMEMBRANCE.

John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Word of God is one of the most important armaments we are given for spiritual warfare.

That is the reason why the Word is so heavily used in the Spiritual Warfare Training Course.  If we make the full commitment to do what God teaches us in His Word, then the Holy Ghost will fill in ALL the gaps. Nothing compares to the Holy Bible to learn spiritual warfare and deliverance, NOTHING. The Holy Bible is beyond comparison to any spiritual warfare or deliverance material.

Heb 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The use of spiritual senses and physical senses to discern both good and evil, is what we need in this war. The use of our senses is spiritual exercise which develops DISCERNMENT to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, regarding what is of God and what is NOT. Babes lack discernment. Babes think every feel good spiritual feeling, and every feel good spiritual experience, is of God. Babes do NOT know how to test the spirits, to see if they are of God. Even Babes should know better. If you have not read the Holy Bible, every word in order, cover-to-cover, I love you enough to tell you that you are in trouble. Someone has to tell you how likely it is, in these last days of Strong Delusion, that you may be deceived regarding your spiritual experiences. Or, deceived by the great Deception that is coming upon the entire earth soon.

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Religious pride must be broken, and purged, even though no human wants to give it up. God often uses the demons, and how they resist being cast out, to break our religious pride. Knowing that we have demons, or that we are dealing with demons that refuse to come out, is MOST Humbling. Also EXERCISING OUR SENSES would not be accomplished if the deliverance were always a simple one shot command or prayer. The Lord is perfecting us and causing our faith to grow from faith to FAITH.

Deliverance is just one of a number of vital steps in the process of sanctification. We do learn patience, perseverance, and dependence upon our Lord in the difficult deliverance experiences.

You may come against a stubborn demon, which resists being cast out. The problem either must be with the legal ground not being identified and worked with or within you or the deliverance minister, at the time, because the problem is certainly not with the power of Jesus or the Power of the Blood of Yeshua.

The Lord left the nations in the Promised Land to teach Israel to WAR with the enemy. God’s enemies are our enemies. They were left in the land to PROVE Israel, to test Israel, to find out whether or not we would pay attention to DO the commandments of the Lord by Moses. Many times the Lord will temporarily leave spirits in one’s life to give us the opportunity to prove whether or not we really love the Lord above all else. He deserves first place always and there is nothing like knowing a spirit is there, which is strongly resisting being cast out, to cause one to DILIGENTLY seek the Lord. Glory to God. Praise Jesus!

Daily, without doubting, we must submit to God and resist the devil. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”. James 4:7

Often it can be as simple as declaring ones Faith in the One True Living God, Jesus Christ and then binding, loosing and casting the devils out.

The demons MUST ALWAYS BE BOUND, regardless of the status of one’s deliverance.  We bind often and trust that He WILL

I cannot, MEANS I WILL NOT; because, it denies the truth of Phil 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. We must FIRST find the PROBLEM of how we are NOT in submission to God. Then we can resist the devil and he will flee from us. The stubborn demons reveal to us that we are somehow out of submission to God. The deliverance minister needs to have the word of knowledge, if it is a problem dealing with the ground given by someone seeking deliverance. Since the Lord KNOWS our heart, and without His Word separating our soul and spirit, so that we may see the truth in our heart, we do not. Therefore, we should see even this as being for OUR BENEFIT. The Lord knows the depth of our love and commitment to Him but often we do not really know.

Some who come seeking deliverance, will never be seen again if they are not delivered quickly at the first deliverance prayer. Others, though they know they are still troubled by evil spirits, continue in faith being faithful, to return and continue pressing into the Word of God, their faith being sanctified. Over time one comes to know people of faith because they are faithful, enduring and genuine.

Pride and rebellion and religious spirits are the chief hindrances to being set free. The stronghold formed by the religious and rebellious spirit is very strong and difficult to cast down. Often through deliverance, God brings the hidden rebellion, disobedience, and religious spirits, to the surface. It is common for rebellion and disobedience to be buried so deep that many are completely unaware that the religious spirit or rebellious spirit is in them. When these hidden things are brought to the surface in the process of deliverance then finally the TRUTH may be received, acknowledged, and His grace be found to repent. Until the believer receives the truth and true repentance is found, those spirits will remain in the believer.

We should always hate the devil and his evil spirits. We should not yield, because of our pride, to make any agreement or bargain with the devils that we will leave them alone, REGARDLESS WHERE WE MAY BE IN THE PROCESS OF DELIVERANCE. We never come to terms with the enemy and always continue binding, loosing, and coming against the spirits until we are delivered, no matter how long it takes.

We try to always remember: James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

When we are in the battle, we must endure and not doubt the power of the Lord. We must believe that He Can and that He Will, if we maintain our Faith and Belief. We persevere and endure, confident that He and thus we will be victorious over the enemy. Trusting that He will use this time to sanctify us and grow our faith to the level needed for the battle that we are in.

This may be our big opportunity to grow our faith and live more fully IN JESUS!

If we do not repent and persist in a rebellion and resistance against Satan’s demons, it really is not likely that the Lord will drive the spirits out until we do. Very often our refusal to humble ourselves is the block to the deliverance. It may be part of the Lord’s chastening process that we remain stuck with the demon because of our refusal to repent.

One thing that is common within deliverance sessions is that the demons in those seeking deliverance will make accusations. Can you imagine that they could actually try to lie to us? (dry humor) They will try hard to intimidate the one doing the deliverance and put doubts into the mind of the Christian seeking deliverance. Meekness is a must in deliverance ministry. We MUST NOT retaliate. We must be prepared to endure any insult without retaliation. Avoid calling out each other’s demons. Expect to hear things like, I bind you Jezebel, I bind you Leviathan, I bind your rebellion, I rebuke your envy, coming from the demons in those seeking deliverance. Just say thank you, amen it is bound, and do NOT retaliate. It is a given you will be accused of pride when you begin to walk in deliverance. The scorpion that all must keep under our feet with our gospel shoes is envy. The snake that we all must keep under our feet is pride.

Few seem to realize how that affliction, disappointments and trials can be good for us. Not necessarily fun, but good. And growth can sometimes be hard. David makes that clear in Psa 119:67-69. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. And in verse 71 he says, It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Affliction can often drive us to the Word to seek understanding and repentance which is good for us.

Demons are eternal enemies of God and every child of God. They want us sick, deceived and even dead. It is godly to hate them; we must hate them with a righteous hatred. They hate us and seek to destroy us and we should be quick and constant in our binding, loosing, and rebuking of the demons, to let them know that we know, the state of war that exists. We also want to let them know we KNOW we have the victory, and will exercise the power and authority we have been given over all of their power.

The truth is that most of us do not HATE evil as intensely as we should. We need to hate the workers of Satan and what they are trying to do to us or our loved ones.

Remember the iron chariots when we wonder why deliverance may be taking so long. The iron chariots are like the strongholds and demonic principalities that are stronger in resisting being cast out. We will ALWAYS continue binding and loosing. Binding the demon spirits and asking the Lord of Hosts, to loose His mighty ministering spirits to enforce the bindings.

Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? And remember the iron chariots. We will not fear the iron chariots.

Judg 1:19 And the LORD was with Judah; and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

THE STRONGHOLDS AND PRINCIPALITIES MAY BE STRONG, BUT THROUGH THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS, AND IN DUE TIME, BY LEARNING MORE FULLNESS OF SUBMISSION TO GOD, WE SHALL RESIST AND DRIVE OUT THOSE IRON CHARIOT DEMONS.

We must endure in our belief that God has made us promises and that He never lies.

Once again: James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

We will make no covenant with the enemy. We will resist the enemy and attack, attack, attack.

Do you believe that? Sometimes quickly and sometimes more slowly!  IF, we Endure!

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

That is a promise from God to you. Notice that He doesn’t say, that the devil will always instantly leave.  Often we must endure the process of God growing our faith and the strongholds grip on us loosened, before complete freedom during deliverance occurs.

The Lord is on our side, and He has already gotten us the certain victory. We have every reason to be MORE persistent and steadfast. Our Lord said, IT IS FINISHED. We may look with GREAT JOY toward our long term future. The demons tremble at their future. Be quick to tell the demons constantly that by the Power of the Blood of Yeshua, we are going to heaven, and every devil is going to hell. They have NO FUTURE with you or anywhere. The Lord Jesus Christ said IT IS FINISHED at the Cross. And all we have to truly do is believe that. Glory to God.

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Luke 17:6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

We simply must believe, have the knowledge of God and TAKE A STRONG STAND AGAINST ALL EVIL. We put our Faith into action and trust the teachings and promises of God!!!!

Under the authority of Jesus Christ and the Power of Holy Spirit,
we will overcome. That is a promise of God and you are not the only exception. You too can be Delivered and that is a promise.

There is a special freedom In Christ! Live in it and enjoy it. Rejoice!

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Psalm 91

God Bless,
Pastor Thomas Holm
www.thejosephplan.org

The World Wide Ministry of The Joseph Plan