The Truth About Deliverance: Part I

    Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Psalm 5-:15

    Many today think that deliverance is just a quick fix or like fast food with drive through service, but that is not what it is. Others have been scared out of their wits by it with all the movies about exorcism and demons throwing people into the air!

    Although people who are demon possessed will at times manifest demonic behavior that is not the norm. Possession is another term that has been highly exaggerated as my father would say,"Possession is 9/10ths of the law" meaning he who has a stronghold on someone, possesses them."

    I have been casting out demons for over forty years, but it was never my intent to be a "Deliverance Minister." it was out of necessity that I had to deal with many who came into our residential drug program, many of whom were demonized!

    That you may know the truth and come to your senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive (possessed) by him to do his will. II Timothy 2:26

THE WRATH OF GOD

    For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Romans 1:18

    Contrary to popular belief Satan commands his demons to torment mankind, but there is no scripture to back that up, instead it reveals that God is the one who controls demonic spirits. Do you know of a scripture substantiating this fact? When Lucifer was expelled from Heaven it speaks of the devil and his angels!

    There is a difference between demons and angels, remember when King Saul disobeyed God by not destroying the Amalekites? A distressing spirit from God was sent upon him. I Samuel 16:14-16 The wrath of God is actually the army of God sent on the disobedient to punish them for their behavior.

    When the sons of God stood before Him and Satan came with them, God said to him, "Have you considered my servant Job, there is none like him, he is blameless?" Satan said to Him, "Does Job fear God for nothing, You have made a hedge about him?" Then God gave Job into the hands of the devil!

    Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath (hot anger and displeasure) of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 5:6

A THORN IN THE FLESH

    And lest I be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. II Corinthians 12:7

    Satan and demons have always been synonymous, but there is a big difference, Satan is an angel and demons are disembodied spirits. The apostle Paul was given a messenger of Satan not a demon or it would have called it a demon of Satan. 

    Angels are messengers not demons and the apostle Paul was one of the most dangerous adversaries of Satan because of his anointing, teaching and ability to plant churches. He wrote most of the New Testament and was a formidable threat to the devil's agenda! God is the One who sends demons and angels including Satan if He needs a delivery boy! Evidently there was a need to send a messenger (angel) and not a demon (disembodied spirit) as He did with King Saul.

    The entire kingdom of God is dominated and controlled by God Himself and not one angel or demon is doing anything He doesn't know about. It is important for the body of Christ to inform themselves concerning Spiritual warfare especially in the area of deliverance. Our very existence depends upon our ability to fight the powers of darkness and to have victory over them!

Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
   Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ