Chapter Six

Preparing the Captive for Deliverance

Jesus came to make the captive free and sent us to do the same! (See Mark 16:17-20.)

The prayers in this book were developed in the process of helping hundreds of people made free. It is important to note that there certain basic conditions which must be met in order for these prayers to be effective.

Jesus died for our sins and became a curse for us so that we would be free. This fact, however, does not automatically stop all the curses and troubles the enemy is able to work in a person's life. The captive must individually appropriate what Jesus did on the cross into his or her own life and situation.

First, certain basic requirements must be met:

The captive must have a personal relationship with Jesus not only as Savior but also as Lord.

It is very important that the person be water baptized (Acts 2:38). Explain to the captive the spiritual importance of water baptism.

The person will also need the power of the Holy Ghost in order to be effective in spiritual warfare. You will need to teach him or her about the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Having met these requirements, praying the prayers provided in this book in faith, with a repentant heart, will bring about the desired results for the person seeking to be delivered.

Conditions for Deliverance

Explain to the captive that he must meet the following conditions:

1. Accept that you can be deceived.

2. Admit deception and possession in your life whatever it may be.

3. Maintain a neutral attitude toward all until the light comes (shelve it).

4. Refuse all ground to evil spirits.

5. Cast out evil spirits in Jesus' Name.

6. Stand on Romans 6:11 (reckon yourself dead to sin).

7. Detect and refuse all that belong to possession and obsession, etc.

8. Understand the true norm for and your life, and not for someone else.

9. Use all your faculties actively until normal situations come back.

Dealing with the Fear of Deliverance

What about people who are afraid of the ministry of deliverance? They are the ones who:

Need deliverance the most.

Are ignorant of the scriptures that denote freedom from demon powers.

Have not been taught that the Gospel is for the “whole man” to be free of the chains of the past in every area of their lives.

Unreasonable fear or obsessive denial of the need for deliverance is a sure sign that a person needs help. In such a case, you may ignore Satan but do not be ignorant of his methods.

There are two words the Devil hates to hear mentioned: The “Blood of Jesus” and “speaking in tongues.” When these two mighty weapons are used, the demons fear and quake.

Determining the Need for Deliverance

The presence and nature of evil spirits can be known by two principle methods:

Discerning of Spirits

Detection (observing what spirits are doing to a person)

The most common symptoms of indwelling demons are:

1. Emotional Problems: Disturbances in the emotions which persist or reoccur.

Some common negative emotions: resentment, hatred, anger, fear, rejection, self-pity, jealousy, depression, worry, inferiority, insecurity.

2. Mental Problems: Disturbances in the mind or thought life, including: mental torment, procrastination, (put off), indecision, compromise, confusion, doubt, rationalization, and loss of memory. The mental life (soul) seeks to dominate the spirit.

3. Speech Problems: Outbursts or uncontrolled use of the tongue: lying, cursing, blasphemy, criticism, mockery, railing, gossip.

4. Sex Problems: Unclean thoughts that recur regarding sex; fantasy sex, fantasy sex experiences, masturbation, lust, perversions, homosexuality, fornication, adultery, incest, harlotry, provocativeness.

5. Addictions: Nicotine, alcohol, drugs, medicines, caffeine, soft drinks, food, diet pills, compulsive diet regimens.

6. Physical Infirmities: Many diseases and physical afflictions are due to spirits of infirmity.

(See Luke 13:11.) When a demon of infirmity is cast out, there is often the need to pray for a healing of whatever damage has been done. Always recognize, refuse, and ignore imaginations.

7. Religious Error: Any degree of involvement in religious error can open the door:

False Religions: Eastern, pagan religions; philosophies and mind sciences, including Yoga, Karate, Ju-jitsu, and all the martial arts.

Christian Cults: Mormonism, Jehovah Witness, Witness Lee and the Local Church , Christian Science, Unity, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, etc., which deny the necessity of the Blood of Jesus as the way of atonement for sin and salvation. Some cults include certain lodges, societies, and social agencies, such as Masonry, etc., all cults may be classified as Bloodless Religions, and there are many more.

Occult & Spiritism: Seances, witchcraft, magic, Ouija boards, levitation, palmistry, handwriting analysis, divination, automatic handwriting, ESP, hypnosis, horoscopes, astrology, etc., or any method of seeking supernatural power or wisdom or guidance or knowledge apart from God is forbidden. (Deut. 18:9-15).

False Doctrine: Scripture warns of great increase of doctrinal error promoted by deceiving spirits, seducing spirits, in the last days. (See 1 Tim. 4:1.) These are designed to attack both the humanity and deity of Jesus; to deny the inspiration of the scripture, to distract Christians from the move of the Spirit, to cause disunity in the body, to cause confusion in the Church thru obsession with doctrines and a compulsion to propagate (push) such doctrines, to puff up with a sense of superiority in revelation making the one teaching right only, and to foster emphasis on fleshly activities as a gateway to the spiritual, like asceticism (rigid in devotion) and vegetarianism, (no meat of the Spirit for living daily).

Laying the Groundwork

Before having anyone pray the deliverance prayers presented in this chapter, the groundwork must be laid. Over the years, we have learned how to prepare the person in need of deliverance for a positive, effective ministry. Here are several important suggestions:

1. Spend time with the person to build a relationship and determine the cause of his or her problem. The surface manifestations are only the "leaves on the tree."

2. Keep digging until you find the root of the problem. This will be an area that has given Satan a right to harass him or her. Spend time building trust with those to whom you minister.

3. Do not use the deliverance prayers as a ritual to take people through a programmed process. That will not work. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead you when to take the captive through these prayers. I have found, by experience, that you should only pray the prayers that you are led to pray.

4. Allow the captive plenty of time to go through each prayer. Explain each prayer thoroughly before having them pray. Much information can be gathered as they discuss and pray these prayers.

5. You may suggest that the person take the prayers home. Ask them to pray daily, until the next meeting, any of the prayers that apply to him or her. This method will start to bring the truth to the surface and enable you to have specific information to pinpoint areas of need.

Captive’s Prayer:

Confession of Faith and Position in Christ

Dear Heavenly Father, I acknowledge there is only one true and living God who exists as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I recognize Christ Jesus as the Son of the Living God, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us.

Jesus, you are worthy to receive glory, honor and power for You have created all things, and in You all things have their being.

Dear Father, You have proved Your love for me because, when I was lost in sin and rebellion, Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for me. I was saved by Your grace. This was a gift from You and not the result of any works on my part.

When I accepted Jesus, as my Savior, You forgave all my sins. All charges that were against me were nailed to the cross and canceled; therefore, the devil has nothing with which to accuse me.

You delivered me from the kingdom of darkness, translating me into the kingdom of Your dear Son. Now I am made right with You, Father. Without You, Lord Jesus, I can do nothing. I am dependent on You. When You saved me, my new spirit came to life and is now under the control of the Holy Ghost. Father, I submit and desire to conform to the image of Your Son.

Dear Jesus, You came to make the captives free, those bound by sin, psychic or occult powers. I declare that it is the truth that shall make me free.

Jesus, You have all authority in heaven and on earth. You have conquered and disarmed all evil principalities and powers. You made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Now I am seated with You in heavenly places.

In You, Jesus, I have authority over Satan and all his demons, and they are subject to me. I stand strong in You, Lord Jesus, and resist Satan and all his evil schemes.

Jesus, I am covered and protected by Your precious blood. I will use my spiritual weapons, which are mighty thru God, to tear down all strongholds of the enemy in my life.

I bind and rebuke all evil spirits and powers of darkness that would seek to interfere with this time of ministry. I bind specifically the spirits of doubt, deception, unbelief, confusion, mind control, and fear. I loose myself from your control.

I renounce all counterfeit gifts and works of Satan in my life. I take my position in Christ and command you, Satan, and all your demons to leave me now in Jesus' name.

I declare that You, Jesus, are my Lord and my God. I look only to You, Jesus, as my deliverer and healer. You know all my special needs and concerns.

I receive Your Word, which says, “All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered. And I call on You now, Lord Jesus Christ, to make me free.”

Father, I accept Your Word as my standard for righteousness and daily living. I will study Your Word and renew my mind by that living Word.

Father, You say, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” I now take control of my thought life and stand against Satan's deceptions and lies. I take every thought captive in obedience to Christ. I choose to walk in the light as He is in the light. The truth will make me free.

I choose to give up trying to run my own life. I put no confidence in my flesh. Father, I submit myself completely and unreservedly, in every area of my life, to You. Please help me, Father, to trust You more and more, to truly know You and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

Dear Holy Ghost, I ask You to help me in this time of prayer and ministry. Please reveal to me every area of my life that has been given over to the enemy. I choose to humble myself and to seek the Father’s will in all that I do or say. I am crucified with Christ, yet I live, not I, but Christ that liveth in me, and I now live by the faith of the Son of God.

Being led of the Spirit of God, and as your child, I will not give into the desires of my flesh. I will present my body as an instrument of righteousness, a living and holy sacrifice, which is my reasonable service of worship.

Holy Ghost, I ask you to lead me and teach me all truth. Empower me to live a holy life without sin, in Jesus' name. Amen.