What I learned about deliverance at YWAM
Six months ago, I didn’t believe a Christian could be oppressed by demons. I did, however, believe that demons were real and that God instructed us to cast them out. You’re about to read how I came to understand all of this!
I was in YWAM (Youth With A Mission) during the week we were being taught deliverance. The deliverance teacher flew from Manila to Cebu to be with us for the whole week. I thought we’d only be renouncing generational curses, addictions and so on. It was definitely about that, but much deeper!
On the Tuesday night of that deliverance teaching, I had a dream that I was speaking at my hometown church and casting out demons inside the church! I told my dream to the deliverance teacher, and he said God wanted me to be trained in this and to know how to cast out demons. Well, of course I was very willing to let God do that through me. Who wouldn’t be?
The very next afternoon, I got the chance to pray over my roommate while the teacher instructed me. Most people didn’t get this chance, since it was a private thing. Very personal things get confessed to release any strongholds the enemy has on us.
Praying for Deliverance Over the Christian
I began by praying for protection over our family and friends, asking Jesus to cover us with the Blood and protect us with His angels. Then, finally, I established authority. Establishing authority just means acknowledging who we are in Christ. Right at that moment, the Holy Spirit surrounded me, and the prayer poured out of my mouth.
As I was praying for my Christian friend, he began to feel heavy, to the point that he couldn’t lift his body. He looked like he had passed out while sitting in a chair! The spirit of laziness and lust had a hold on him. Soon after, he was unable to speak, and his neck was so hot I could’ve cooked an egg on it!
The prayer lasted only 20-30 minutes. When the evil spirit finally released his tongue, we asked him to rebuke it so it would never torment him again. In that moment, a breath was released, and then peace and joy filled the room. Instantly there was a smile on every face! He was delivered, and we knew it! Glory to God!
Still, deliverance is a walk, not a single act. As individuals, we have to keep walking a holy life and not give the enemy a foothold to enter again.
Christians Can Be Oppressed but Not Possessed
My eyes were opened to the reality that Christians can be oppressed when we give the enemy a foothold in our lives through sin. More than that, the oppression is actually an evil spirit that latches on inside! You may or may not believe or understand this, but that is the revelation I received. Here in Asia, this sort of deliverance is more common than it is in the States.
The only other way of getting delivered that I’ve read about in the Bible is when David played his harp for King Saul, and the evil spirit left him:
“Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.” 1 Samuel 16:23 (NIV)
I don’t want to leave you feeling down or scared. I hope this encourages each one of you to seek God more, because this fight we’re in is a spiritual one. It’s a war, and we’re all in it.
Not every experience has been like that one. In fact, most are very different! Most deliverance sessions I’ve been part of since then have been very calm. I have seen some people vomit, but nothing radical has to happen for someone to be delivered.
Keep an eye out, because in the next couple of weeks I’ll be writing about how to conduct deliverance. Feel free to share any comments or experiences you have.