Now I want to show that there is also a relationship between grace, faith, and works. Ephesians 2:8-10 demonstrates this connection:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Saved for Good Works

It is commonly taught in evangelical Christianity that we are not saved by our good works, but by the grace of God through faith in Christ. This is true. But have you ever considered that though we are not saved by works, we are saved for works? If you are saved, you have been “created in Christ Jesus for good works.”

Just like saving grace will produce holiness, saving faith will produce good works.

Not everyone’s works will look the same. We are His workmanship; He has designed us for a specific purpose to do specific works. But we are all called to something. Again, works are not the means of salvation but the fruit of salvation.

Faith and Works

At a glance, James 2:14-26 seems to contradict what Paul teaches in Ephesians 2:8-10 quoted above. He emphasizes the importance of works as it relates to salvation, and even goes so far as to say that we are “justified by works, and not faith only (verse 24).

But James is not advocating salvation by works. In the context, he is describing the relationship between faith and works. He illustrates that faith is more than mental assent—for even the demons believe in God—and that works are actually a vital part of faith. Faith without works is dead, he argues (see vs. 17 and 26). In other words, genuine faith will be accompanied by works.

Zealous for Good Works

In Titus chapter 2 we see the connection between grace and holiness. But we also see how good works factor into the equation:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
-Titus 2:10-14

When we encounter the grace of God, we are transformed on the inside and enabled to live a holy life. We then become set apart for the Lord and His work in the earth; “His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Do you see how grace, faith, and works relate to each other? We are saved by grace through faith and for works. Just like grace does not remove the requirement for holiness, salvation by faith does not remove the responsibility for good works. The key is that both holiness and works are a byproduct of salvation, not the means of salvation itself.

Let your good works grow out of your relationship with the Lord. As we get to know Him more, our heart will begin to align with His and we will learn to partner with Him in what He is doing in the earth.

My goal is not to address this topic from either of these sides, but to present what I believe the New Testament teaches about the connection between grace and holiness.

There are two errors we need to avoid when it comes to this subject:

Error 1: Pursuing holiness out of legalistic self-effort

The whole book of Galatians essentially deals with the error of legalism. Paul warns against trying to approach God on the basis of our works or achieve holiness based on self-effort. He asks this question in chapter three: “Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). The Galatians were slipping back into an Old Covenant mind-set of legalism.

The whole Christian life is to be lived by grace. We are saved by grace, and we are also sanctified—that is made holy—by the same grace. It is all based on the finished work of Jesus.

Like the Galatians of old, we can too easily slip into legalism. Walking in holiness is essential; but if we approach it based on self-effort, outward conformity to rules, and legalistic regulations, we will be striving in the flesh and living under bondage. To be clear: any pursuit of holiness that is based on legalistic self-effort is an affront to the work of Jesus and the grace of God.

Error 2: Believing that grace removes the requirement of holiness

Though we are not to pursue holiness out of legalistic self-effort, grace does not remove the requirement of holiness. This cannot be overstated. Any teaching of grace that removes God’s requirement of holiness is not the grace taught in the New Testament. God has always required holiness from His people, and grace does not change this standard.

I see an alarming trend today; anyone who calls the body of Christ to holiness is labeled “religious” or a “Pharisee.” They are said by some to not have a “revelation of grace.” Is this true? What does the New Testament teach? There are many commands in the New Testament to be holy. Below are just a few examples:

In 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul says, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Now if anyone had a revelation of grace it was the Apostle Paul. Here we see Paul exhorting the Corinthian church to pursue a lifestyle of holiness, walking in the fear of the Lord. The preceding verses are an admonishment to be separate from the ways of the world and be holy (Click to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

The story of the woman caught in adultery is one of the best illustrations of the difference between law and grace. After Jesus demonstrated the grace of God in the New Covenant, he said to the woman, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). The grace she received did not remove the requirement to be holy; but unlike the law it actually empowered her to walk in holiness.

Make no mistake about it: God requires holiness from His people. Over and over again we see this statement in Scripture: “Be holy, for I am holy.” Let’s not forget the command from Hebrews 12:14: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

The Answer: Grace-empowered holiness

The fact is, there is a clear connection between grace and holiness. Titus 2:11-13 outlines this explicitly:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Do you see the connection? The “grace of God that brings salvation” teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live “soberly, righteously, and godly.” The true grace of God does not just remove the guilt of sin. It actually empowers us to live holy from the inside out. Grace teaches us to be holy. If the grace you received is not teaching you to be holy, you may need to evaluate whether you have received the “grace of God that brings salvation.”

Unlike legalism, grace-empowered holiness is not about trying to change our outward behavior to meet God’s holy standard. It starts with internal transformation and works its way to our behaviors. In a chapter-long rebuke to the religious leaders of His day, Jesus made this statement:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”
-Matthew 23:25-26

The Pharisees emphasized cleaning the “outside of the cup”—outward behavior. Jesus emphasized cleaning the “inside of the cup”—internal transformation. But notice that when the inside is cleansed, the outside will “be clean also.” This is the power of the New Covenant. Grace that forgives, transforms, and empowers us to be changed from the inside.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking we need a proper balance between law and grace. These two are incompatible; they are fruit from two different trees. But don’t disconnect grace from holiness. May we see this connection, and walk in the power of grace unto true holiness!

Questions: Have you ever been caught in either of the above two errors? How does grace teach us to be holy?

When we are born again through receiving Christ, our spirit comes to life we are restored to fellowship with God. But this is only a beginning; now we are to grow up in Christ and become who God intended us to be. We are to mature as believers and bear fruit for God’s kingdom.

Spiritual disciplines are an important part of this growth process, and through these disciplines our spirit is fed. I believe that the highest purpose of spiritual disciplines is intimacy with God; they create a context for relationship to occur. But they also feed our spirits so that we can grow up in Christ.

Below is a list of three basic spiritual disciplines that will feed your spirit.

1. The Word

1 Peter 2:2 says, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” Peter is using the example of a new born baby and its need for nourishment to survive. Just like a newborn craves its mothers milk—and needs it to survive, grow, and be healthy—we are to crave the pure milk of God’s word. Our spirit needs the Word like our body needs food. As we spend time in the unadulterated word of God, the promise is that we will “grow thereby.”

There is no substitute for taking the time to read, digest, and apply God’s Word to our lives. As we continually spend time reading the Bible, asking the Holy Spirit to teach us and speak to us, our spirits will be fed and we will mature in Christ. Remember: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

2. Prayer

I have found that spending time alone with God is one of the main keys for intimacy with Him and growing spiritually. Prayer is a broad topic and a lot could be said about it. There are many types of prayer and ways to pray, but essentially prayer is communication with God.

Jesus taught that when you pray you should “go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place” (Matthew 6:6). The emphasis is on getting alone with God and being real with Him. Prayer is not about a formula or reciting religious words; it is about relationship. And as we spend time in the secret place our spirit will be fed.

I also want to mention that praying in tongues is a gift that specifically helps to build up your spirit. Paul said that “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” (1 Corinthians 14:4). If you have a prayer language, spend time regularly building up your spirit by praying in tongues.

3. Fasting

Fasting is abstaining from food for a spiritual purpose. Jesus practiced and taught fasting, and fasting was practiced by the early church. It is a spiritual discipline that we should practice today as believers. I would encourage you to explore how you might incorporate fasting into your spiritual disciplines and walk with God.

Fasting intentionally prioritizes the spirit over the soul and body. You don’t fast because you feel like it or because your body does not hunger. You fast to grow spiritually, draw near to God, and receive spiritual breakthrough. Fasting is a way of humbling ourselves before God, recognizing our dependence on him. (Check out my article 4 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting for more information on fasting).

The above disciplines are not an exhaustive list. But they are some of the most basic spiritual disciplines that you can engage in to feed your spirit. As you consistently engage in these practices, you will grow in your relationship with God and mature in Christ. When done with the right motives, spiritual disciplines are a gateway to intimacy with the Lord and spiritual growth.

Questions: How have you seen spiritual disciplines help you in your walk with God? What other spiritual disciplines can we practice to feed our spirit?

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, emphasis added).

We need the power of the Word to reveal that which is of the soul and that which is of the spirit. Human beings are made up of three parts: body, soul, and spirit (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23). The human soul consists of the mind, will and emotions. The human spirit—after being born again—is the aspect of our being that is able to fellowship with God.

The soul is an important part of the human make-up. But it is the spirit that is made alive in Christ at salvation, and that makes true connection with God. We are called to be a spiritual people, not a soulish people. Our emotions should be expressed, but they should not be the driving force in our lives. We should grow in our minds, but should not be controlled by our own intellect and understanding. We are not to set aside the soul or the body, but the spirit must be prioritized.

Soulish Preaching

I wonder how much of today’s preaching is more soulish than spiritual. How much of it is primarily affecting the intellect or emotions, but not penetrating to the spirit?

We have made a science of preaching sermons. It has become so calculated: if we say the right things, at the right time, and in the right way, we can expect a certain response from the congregation. Instead of aiming for true transformation we often preach to get a momentary reaction from the crowd. I believe that much preaching today (and ministry in general for that matter), is aimed at the soul instead of the spirit. The long-term effects of this soulish preaching produces little lasting fruit.

Preaching that is aimed at the mind increases head knowledge without reaching the heart. This does not build up the spirit or draw people into a deeper intimacy with the Lord, but instead “puffs up” (see 1 Corinthians 8:1). Preaching that is aimed at the emotions may stir people for a moment, but after the message is over it is “business as usual.”

So while preaching to the mind brings information and preaching to the emotions brings inspiration, neither produce lasting transformation. The result of soulish preaching is actually harmful because the people of God do not get the spiritual nourishment that they need. Meanwhile, since the soul has been stimulated, there is a false sense of spiritual fulfillment. But the spirit has not been fed; it has been merely pacified.

No More Soulish Substitutes 

Ministering to the soul instead of to the spirit has become a cheap substitute in the body of Christ. On one hand we have an over-intellectualized Christianity that exalts the mind above the spirit. On the other hand we have emotionalism that manufactures and manipulates emotional responses. If we seek to build the church or the Christian life prioritizing the soul over the spirit, we will end up off course.

The answer is not to ignore the soul. Our mind, will, and emotions are critical to who we are. But we must put them in the proper place. We must prioritize our spiritual growth by spending time in the secret place, in fellowship with the Lord. We must feed our spirit upon God’s Word and apply it to our lives. When it comes to ministry, we must preach the true Word of God, anointed by the Holy Spirit, and proclaimed with authority. This will feed people’s spirits and cause growth in Christ. The emotions and intellect will be involved, but not as the primary aim.

Let’s seek the very presence of God among us. Let’s not settle for anything less than being built up into the spiritual house that God says that we are: “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

Questions: Have considered the difference between soul and spirit? What are some examples of how we can prioritize the spirit in the church?

But there were two trees in the middle of the Garden of Eden. “The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9). Right there in the middle of the garden were these two trees, representing two paths. One path was a path of life, dependent on God and in fellowship with Him. The other was one of independence from God and rebellion against Him.

Examples of the Two Paths

Throughout the Scriptures we see these same two paths represented in various forms. One example is Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was a product of man’s way, independent of God. Isaac was a product of the promise of God, born by the power of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 4:29 states this about the two brothers: “But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.”

Other examples come to mind: Cain and Able, Jacob and Esau, Saul and David. These pairs are representations of the two trees in the garden and the two paths we must choose between.

The Two Covenants

There are other concepts that highlight the difference between these two trees. One primary one is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. God’s law is holy, but we were not originally created to relate to Him on the basis of law. Law came as a result of the fall. (Is not the law essentially the knowledge of good and evil?).

Referring again to Isaac and Ishmael, Paul said this:

For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— or this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Galatians 4:22-26

The Old Covenant system of law came as a result of man’s choice to eat from the wrong tree. Paul compares it to Ishmael, “born according to the flesh.” Again, God’s law is holy; but it is not how we were intended to relate to Him.

Jesus came and ushered in the New Covenant, based on the grace of God released through His finished work on the cross. (Click to read about the difference between law and grace). The diagram below highlights the difference in the two covenants, and how they relate to the two trees in the garden.

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil                             Tree of Life

Law                                                                                                 Grace

Salvation by works                                                                       Salvation by faith

Flesh                                                                                              Spirit

Old Covenant                                                                                New Covenant

Are you living by the power of the Holy Spirit or in the efforts of the flesh? Are you trying to relate to God on the basis of your own good works or by faith in His finished work? We face the same choice that Adam and Eve faced. There are still two trees in the garden. Which tree are you eating from?

God had created Adam and Eve, placed them in the Garden of Eden, and given them responsibility over the earth. There was only one command for them to keep: they must not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They could eat from any other tree—including the Tree of Life—but this one tree was forbidden.

Have you ever considered the significance of the name of this tree? The command from God to abstain from it was not just to test them; He was also protecting them from the poisonous effects of eating from it. But Adam and Eve listened to the serpent and ate of its fruit.

When they ate from this tree, they chose to replace the knowledge of God with the knowledge of good and evil. They chose independence from God; they no longer needed Him. Now they knew good and evil and could live without God’s guidance and direction.

Two Branches from the Same Tree

When I think of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, I picture a tree with the words “independence from God” written vertically along the trunk. On one side is a branch that reads “the knowledge of good” and on the other side is a branch that reads “the knowledge of evil.”

The knowledge of good is the foundation for works-based religious systems, man-centered philosophies, New Age self-improvement, and other humanistic ideologies. On the surface, these things may seem good and moral. But they are rooted in independence from God. They exalt self as god and reject the gospel of Jesus and His finished work as the only way to God. In fact, our need for salvation is actually denied.

The other branch of the tree—the knowledge of evil—is filled with sinful works such as murder, lust, perversion, the occult, lies, and other acts of disobedience toward God. These sinful behaviors are also rooted in independence from God and the worship of self.

Man was created to live in fellowship with God and dependence upon Him. When they ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they declared independence from God. The results have been tragic, to say the least. But it is important to note that the knowledge of good is just as devastating as the knowledge of evil.

Jesus: the Tree of Life

Jesus has made the way for us to be reconciled to God. He is the true Tree of Life that restores us to the place of fellowship with God. By His shed blood we can be forgiven of our sins and inherit eternal life.

But first, we must repent. Repent of everything that is rooted in independence from God. Repent of sin, but also repent of self-righteousness and exalting self as god. Repent of trying to work our way to God, thinking that the knowledge of good can save us.

Through Jesus, we can disconnect from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and live our lives by His grace, as sons and daughters of the living God.

Questions: Have you ever considered the significance of the name of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? What else might this name represent?

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.  Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
-Matthew 12:43-45    

Notice that the evil spirit in this passage referred to the man as his house. Evil spirits crave bodies to live in, and to express their nature through. Without such a body they are restless, just like a homeless person.

But a demon cannot just enter into any person that they choose; there must be an open door for it to have entrance. There are several things that can give evil spirits access to a person’s life. Below is a list that briefly describes some of the most common openings.

Embracing Sin

When we embrace sin instead of repenting of it, we come into agreement with the devil; and this gives him access to an area of our lives. Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” Anger can simply be an emotion, but if you let it fester it becomes sin and gives “place to the devil.”

I am not speaking of stumbling into sin and then confessing and repenting of it. I am speaking of agreeing with sin, justifying it in our minds, and embracing it. This type of attitude towards sin can open the door for evil spirits.

Believing the Enemies Lies

The devil is called the father of lies, and when we believe his lies we come into agreement with him. This agreement can open the door to the enemy. I once prayed for a person who had become demonized by believing the lie that he had committed the unpardonable sin. When we believe a lie about God or about ourselves we open the way for a lying spirit to reinforce that lie in our lives.

Withholding Forgiveness

Having bitterness, resentment, or un-forgiveness towards others is a major open door for evil spirits. I encourage you to read the parable of the unmerciful servant found in Matthew 18:15-35. At the end of the parable the unforgiving servant is put into a prison to be tormented. Withholding forgiveness from others puts you into a spiritual prison and gives the devil God-given permission to torment you; this is a serious issue and a major root cause for many other problems. We must learn to forgive the ones who have hurt us. This does not mean that what they did was okay; but we must choose to forgive and lay down resentment.

Any Occult Involvement

Contact with the occult is a major open door to the demonic and is strictly forbidden in Scripture (see Deuteronomy 18:9-12). There are two sources of supernatural power in the world: God and Satan. The word occult means “secret or hidden” and refers to the supernatural realm of Satan.

Some examples include witchcraft, fortunetelling, communication with the dead, magic arts, eastern meditation, sorcery, Ouija board, astrology, Satanism, new age teachings, psychics, astral projection, and channeling. This is not an all-inclusive list but should give you an idea of what to avoid. If you have had any contact with the occult—even if it was a long time ago and it was “just for fun”—I encourage you to verbally renounce your involvement and seek deliverance ministry.

Curses

The last open door we will look at is the area of curses. In the West we tend to think that the idea of curses is a superstitious belief but it is found in the Bible quite a bit. What is referred to as generational curses could certainly be an open door. This is when either sinful actions (like adultery) or negative attributes (like depression or suicide) get passed down through a generational line.

Another type of curse is what is called a word curse. James 3:8-10 talks about the tongue and how blessing and cursing can proceed from the same mouth and Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Some parents don’t realize that they are literally cursing their children by saying things like “you are so stupid” or “you will never amount to anything.” I have been amazed at the dramatic results when words like this were broken off of a person during a time of prayer for deliverance.

The above list is not comprehensive by any means; there are several other doors that could be mentioned. But this should give you a good idea of how evil spirits seek to take advantage of doors that are opened so that they can enter a person’s life. As we are more aware of the enemy’s schemes, we can resist him and walk in freedom from his influence.

Questions: Have you ever considered that to the spiritual world our body is a house? Which of the above open doors is the most surprising to you?

In other areas of the world, where they are not so ignorant of the spiritual realm, many people are dominated by the opposite problem: a fear of demons. In this type of setting superstition flourishes and much effort is spent on trying to appease spirits through charms, sacrifices, or other rituals.  This equates to the worship of demons and is a terrible bondage.

There is a lot confusion and misunderstanding surrounding the subject of deliverance ministry. We must overcome our ignorance in this area so that we can be equipped to set people free. Below are four common myths regarding deliverance ministry.

Myth 1: Deliverance from evil spirits is a very rare need

Many believers, who would never deny the existence of the spirit world and the fact that demons can inhabit people, think that it is extremely rare to come across a person needing deliverance. Often this ministry is relegated to the mission field in faraway third world countries. The problem with this thinking is that it does not line up with the ministry of Jesus.

It was not a rare thing for Jesus to cast out a demon. Mark 1:39 puts it this way: “And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.” Casting out demons was as common to Jesus as preaching. And much of His deliverance ministry was apparently happening inside the synagogues among the “church-going” people of His day.

If deliverance was so commonly needed in the New Testament, why would we think it is any different today?

Myth 2: It is always obvious when a person has a demon

I used to think that if a person had a demon it would be blatantly obvious to everyone. When I was in college there was a homeless man who would walk the streets yelling curse words and other random things at people with a wild look in his eyes. He was known as “Crazy Mike” and he was the type of person who I assumed could possibly have a demon.

The truth is, when a person has an evil spirit it is not usually obvious. Demons prefer to dwell in darkness, not wanting their presence to be exposed by the light. Once when Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, a man with an unclean spirit began to manifest and Jesus cast the spirit out (see Mark 1:21-26). The spirit was not always outwardly manifesting in this person’s life, but as Jesus taught with authority it was exposed to the light and forced out.

Myth 3: A Christian cannot have a demon

This is perhaps the most commonly held and most damaging myth concerning the ministry of deliverance. There are many, even among those who believe in the gifts of the Spirit and ministry of healing, who hold to this view. It is primarily based on the following logic: Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit and an evil spirit cannot dwell in the same place as the Spirit of God. This seems to be a good argument, but really has no scriptural foundation.

Just like idols were brought into the Old Testament temple, evil spirits can gain entrance into the New Testament temple (our bodies) if there are open doors. Just like the manifest presence of God dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the temple, the Holy Spirit dwells in the human spirit of a believer. I do not believe that an evil spirit can enter into a believer’s spirit, but can dwell in the body or soul.

Consider 2 Corinthians 11:4 (NIV): “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” Paul warned the Corinthian believers that if they received a different gospel or a different Jesus, they could also receive a different spirit than the Holy Spirit. This should be evidence enough that it is possible for a Christian to have a demon.

There is nothing in Scripture that says that all demons automatically leave a person when they are saved or that a saved person cannot ever need deliverance from evil spirits.

Myth 4: If we focus on Jesus we don’t need to worry about demons

The final myth I want to deal with states that talking about demons and deliverance ministry gives too much attention to the devil; that we should just focus all of our attention on Jesus and ignore the devil completely. I wish it were that easy. It is definitely possible to be over-fascinated with the realm of darkness and become more focused on deliverance ministry than necessary, and I too would caution against this. However, ignoring the devil does not make him go away. In fact Paul says specifically that we should not be ignorant of his schemes and that we should take an active stand against him (see 2 Corinthians 2:11 and Ephesians 6:10-12).

If we ignore the ministry of casting out demons we have just removed a major portion of the ministry of Christ. While deliverance ministry should not be seen as an end in itself, it is often a critical step in a person gaining true freedom and fulfilling their destiny in God.

Let’s follow the example of Jesus. He was not obsessed with demons; but He confronted them for the purpose of setting people free. He was not looking for some spiritual power trip or trying to prove He was anointed. He loved people and was passionate to set captives free.

Yes, some in deliverance ministry have gone to harmful and unbiblical extremes. But we cannot allow this to cause us to shy away from this important ministry. Let’s pursue Jesus, follow in His steps, uncover the devil’s schemes, and set the prisoners free!

Questions: Which of the four myths stands out to you the most? Do you struggle with the thought of a Christian needing deliverance?

In this sermon I outlined the four things that Jesus did on a regular basis: preaching, teaching, healing, and deliverance. Then I talked about things that we must be pursuing in order to see the ministry of Jesus restored. Listen to the message to learn how we as the church can begin to bridge the gap between what we are currently experiencing and the ministry that Jesus modeled for us.

Click the play button below to hear the sermon.

Restoring the Ministry of Jesus

I want to follow up now with some more truth about fear. Though we all face fears of different kinds, we must not let fear rule in our lives. Jesus said that “you will know the truth and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). As you read, I pray you will receive a revelation of truth that brings freedom from the torment of fear.

1. Fear is a thief             

The goal of fear is to rob you. It steals joy, peace, hope and seeks to rob you of your destiny. It was fear that kept the children of Israel from entering into the Promised Land after they had been delivered from Egypt. It was their destiny to enter this land; God had promised it to them. But because of fear of the enemies they would have to fight, they refused to enter. (See Numbers 13 for the full story).

In the same way, fear will try to keep you from stepping into your calling and purpose. Fear of failure; fear of the unknown; fear of persecution; fear of rejection; and the list could go on. Fear seeks to paralyze you in such a way as to keep you from doing the very things that God has created you to do. Don’t let it happen!

2. Fear is a liar

Not only is fear a thief, but it is also a liar. Fear tells us that if we are afraid of something it will somehow protect us from it. This false sense of protection is a lie. The truth is, being afraid of something does not protect you from it. For example, fear of calamity does not protect you from calamity. In fact the opposite tends to be true; fear has a way of attracting the very things we are afraid of.

Fear is irrational. It causes us to envision worse-case scenarios that are highly unlikely to happen. We end up fearing not what is actually happening to us, but what could happen to us. Here is an example of the irrational nature of fear: a person is gripped by a fear of flying but has no problem riding in a car. Meanwhile, the statistical chance of dying in a car crash is much higher than the chance of dying in a plane crash. Don’t buy into the lies of fear, and don’t allow fear to be a false sense of protection.

3. Fear is a spirit            

The Apostle Paul admonished Timothy with the following words: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Yes, fear can simply be an emotion, but it can also come from a demonic spirit. There is a spirit of fear, whose goal is to keep people in bondage to the torment of fear. It wants you to be oppressed by intimidation, anxiety, and other forms of fear.

In deliverance ministry, I have dealt with this spirit on a variety of occasions. If you are dealing with paralyzing fear, irrational phobias, or constant intimidation, you may be influenced by the spirit of fear. If this is the case, you must stand against it and cast it out in the name of Jesus. It may be helpful to have a pastor or ministry leader pray over you for deliverance from this spirit.

Though there are many things that could cause us to fear, we must not allow fear to take root in our lives. We must walk in the confidence that God is with us. When it comes down to it, fear does nothing good for us and will only hinder us from walking in all that God has.

May you walk in God’s perfect peace and live free from fear!

Questions: How have you seen irrational fear in your life? Have you ever considered that fear can come from an actual demonic spirit?