 Hey guys, I don't know if you saw this but right now I'm kind of on this whole delivery ministry thing. By the way, good morning, good evening, good afternoon. I hope all of you are doing well, but I saw something yesterday and it made me even, it made me think even more about this whole deliverance ministry. Obviously, there are times, there are needs that people have where there are things that come at them, things that they're involved in, things that are around them that they need to be delivered from. And I'm going to get to the root of what a deliverance ministry actually is because there is a need for people to be delivered. But I saw these two, these posts on two different people's community boards and it made me think. And so looking at these two, one is by Isaiah Saldivar, the other one is by Alexander Pagani. And just look at what it says. The one by Alexander Pagani says that I was against deliverance from 1999 to 2011. Well, a couple of things before I go to the next one. No one's against deliverance. Nobody. Nobody in their right mind is against someone being delivered or set free from anything that binds them against, what does the Bible call them, strongholds. And people can be in a particular stronghold, no doubt about it. What do we call those strongholds guys? We'll talk about those strongholds again in just a second, but I want you to just think about this for a second. And then the other one is from Isaiah Saldivar. And this one's kind of cutting. And I wonder, I just wonder if these are, they both came out the same day in response to what I've said a few days ago in, and again, I did call them out and I'm still calling them out. But his statement was religious people experience experiences with God because they never have them experience. I mean, religious people condemn experiences with God because they never have them. Now, again, not against deliverance. And to say that people like myself are religious, because what do they say? You hear people, they'll, they'll use these terms. They'll call us Pharisees. They'll call us religious. Well, first of all, if they read the Bible, they understand that religious and religion is not a sin. We are to have good religion. As Paul says, we are to, we ought to conduct ourselves a certain way. And that is being religious, no if and buts about it, no questions about it. And so we should be that way. But, but their point is that it's more of a put down. Their point is that we're more like Pharisees. We want to look a certain way, but we don't have any sort of power, any sort of dealing. Well, guys, I take extreme exception to that. I do. Can I just tell you about my experiences? As a matter of fact, many of you will have some of the same experiences. And what I want to do, I want to pull up some passages. Let me pull up, let me pull a, pull a passive on the screen. And I want to put it up for you guys to see. All right, guys, I'm sorry about that. I had a little, a little issue, but notice what Jesus is saying here. He's saying, the spirit is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty, liberty, liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Meaning that Jesus whole point of coming was to deliver people who are oppressed, meaning that there are people who are oppressed. Now, let me just make this clear to anyone who has any issues about this. We don't quite understand where our point is, where we're coming from. We've got experiences also. However, our experiences tend to be backed up and bolstered by scripture. See, let me tell you my experiences. And I'm feeling a certain way where I may even get off of my notes and y'all forgive me, but this is near and dear to me. And so I'm going to be on this whole deliverance tirade, so to speak, if there's no other better way of putting it for a while here, because I believe that that is Jesus's ministry. Let me tell you about my experience with deliverance. My experience is being delivered from a drug-infested environment, being kept safe from flying bullets, being delivered from homelessness, being delivered from in a literal prison, being shackled. Most folks can't say that where I had some shackles. I was bound in chains and being delivered from that. More than that was being delivered from me. That's my experience, but even more to the point, my experiences with God and the power of God and his delivering, his awesome mic, is to let God use me and my mouth and even my walk in other people's lives. In someone who had an issue with homosexuality and watching that person, not through me, but through the power of Christ, be delivered from that. Someone who had an issue with anger and not through me, but through the power of Christ being delivered from that. Someone who has had an issue with other sexual sins, with depression and through the power of Christ being delivered from that. See, we believe that deliverance comes from the hand of a man, but not just any old man, but from the hand of the man Jesus who was also God. That's true deliverance. And so before I kind of get on my little tirade, I want to go and look at some more scriptures to talk about why this is so important. Because I believe that we are pointing or giving a false view of what deliverance is and how it's done and really who Christ actually is in our lives, what he came to do. So let's go back to the scriptures. And I've got an interesting point that I want to show you guys at the very end to prove to you all what deliverance actually is. In 1 John 4, he says, little children, you are from God and have what overcome them. For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Now, let me say it again, some of your version may say greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. Verse 5, they are from the world. Therefore, they speak from the world and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this, we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. But going back to verse 4, greater is he or he who is in you or in us, all of us, us believers, that very same person who's in us is greater than whoever else is in the world. Meaning this, something is in us and then there's something that's outside of us. Better put, there's someone in us, a he. Someone is in us and there's also someone or something outside of us. Are there demonic forces? Sure. Where are they? Outside of us. Are there angelic forces? Is there heavenly forces? Sure. Where is it? In us. So what's greater? The thing that's in us, that being God, what's outside of us? The thing that's nowhere near as powerful as what's in us, that being demonic forces, the world, all these things coming at us. Sometimes it may even be another person. Sometimes it may be a thing, maybe a situation, circumstances. But I do know this. I know God will deliver me out of each and every one of them as he sees fit. Now, I'm going to next week talk about Paul's deliverance ministry, but I am reminded of Paul and how he had issues that he needed to be dealt with and delivered from. But they weren't all delivered. Why? Because God has a purpose and a plan in our lives. And so sometimes there are some things, some situations that we won't be delivered from. But the issue is going to be some sort of demonic force. Are we bound by any sort of demonic force? Let's go back to the scriptures and continue to look. In 1 John 5 4, it says, for everyone who has been born of God, overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world. Our faith. Did you hear that? Our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Uh-oh. Did you hear that? He says, who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? In other words, Christians have overcome the world. Christians cannot be bound. There is no, there is no example anywhere in scripture where a Christian is bound by any demonic forces. There is no such thing as a Christian who has not been delivered. I'm going somewhere. I'm going to show you that in, in, in just a minute. Just by a particular name. I'm going to show you this in a second. But let's go back to the scriptures. I hope that someone who's involved in these deliverance ministries, I hope some of these folks who know that I'm coming at you, I'm looking at you. I'm not doing it to be mean-spirited because I care about you, but I also care about the folks who are listening to you. And so I hope that you're listening to what I'm saying. I'm in Bible country. I'm reading scriptures. Let's see. This isn't the Quran. This isn't the Vedas. This isn't some good book or dictionary. This is the Bible. And so going back to it in James 5.13, looks what he says. Look what he says. He says, is anyone among you suffering? Well, wait a minute. Isn't that the whole crux of the deliverance ministries, these other deliverance ministries? That's the whole crux. If you're suffering, if you are bound by something. And so what does James say? Is anyone among you suffering? Verse 13 says, let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him or her with oil in the name of the Lord. And look what he says. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. But look at the point that James is making. James didn't say if anyone is bound, if anyone is sick, if anyone is suffering, bring him here. Let's cast a demon out. Nope. That's not what he says. He says, if any of you are sick, let's go ahead and cause that demon. Let's rebuke that demon in the name of Jesus and drive him on out. That's not what James says, is it? He says, if anyone is suffering, do what? Pray. Wait a minute, James. Wait a second. There's got to be more to that. There's got to be more to it than just praying because a five-year-old can pray. Someone who doesn't know the scriptures very well, they can pray. No, we need some power. No, you don't need power. You need a connection with a person who has power. That is Christ. And so if you are a believer and if you are suffering, pray. Those are our battle utensils. Matter of fact, speaking in that regard, let's look at what Paul says in Ephesians 6. He says, finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Well, who works with the devil? Demons. And since we're talking about demons being cast out, if it works for the devil, it works for his underlings. So let's keep reading. He says, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and against the authorities, against the cosmic powers, over this present darkness. Again, demonic powers against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. So it sounds like Paul is talking about demonic influence or the dark world even as it pertains to us. But look what he says. Notice what he doesn't say. He does not say he does. Let me say it again. He does not say cast out these demons. Someone said, and I think I'm going to have him on as well, but someone stated that there is no scripture that states that a Christian cannot be demon possessed. Well, first of all, I think he's wrong, but there also, if he wants to use that logic, then there are no scripts to say that a Christian can be demon possessed. But however, are there times where the demonic forces or the enemy wants to come against us? Sure, he sees us. We are his enemy as well. And so what does he want to do? He wants to thwart our life. Remember what Jesus says, I've come to give you life and what sort of life and abundant life. Is he going to give us that abundant life? Sure. What does the demon want to do? Stop that? Is he going to win? No, he's not, not in the lives of a Christian. But let's go back and finish reading. He says, for we do not, let's go to verse 13. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand firm, stand there for having fast. Now, I won't go into the rest of that, but what's God's, I mean, what's Paul's point? What does he say we are to do? Stand, stand tough, stand tall, stand proud, right? Knowing who actually is fighting for us. And he gives us some things to use. I won't go through it at this time. I'll cover this later. But Paul, Paul's point again, isn't lay hands on a person, has somebody come lay hands on you and have them cast out, whatever it is. No, because it's never, ever, ever reported that anything is in us. There are things outside of us that are against us. And obviously we have to fight against those things without question. As a matter of fact, his influence might be a whisper to us, might be someone who is not a believer coming to us. And so if there is Christ in us and who, first of all, isn't it amazing how the devil understands what we have, but we don't, the devil understands that there is a God that lives in us who he is afraid of. And so what does he do? He knows he's not going to try to get in us. He can't get in us. But if he could to try to work in, well, he can't fight that battle. But he wants to do is kind of work around with things that are outside of us, maybe with someone else who's not a believer or different things. Fine. Devil, this is your world. You can have it. But as far as my life, you are not in control. Sin has no dominion over me, but Christ has come that he is now my leader. I am a slave to him. No longer am I a slave to sin as Jesus himself said so. But I want to show you guys something. I want to show you guys something that I think I think is amazing. I really do. Now we know for a fact that people suffer. First of all, everything that people suffer with isn't demonic, right? This is a fallen world and some people might have seizures, epileptic seizures. Some folks might have other issues where their body doesn't work the way others work. And it's not necessarily a demonic force. It's we're in a fallen world. Somebody's hand might be or arm might be born longer than the other arm would have. There are different things that happen as a result of the fall. But to say it is the devil, no, no, or it's some demonic force. No, some things just happen because again, we still have this flesh and our flesh still has desires irrespective of what the devil or any demon is trying to do in our lives. And so what we don't need to do is categorize everything as some sort of demonic influence, though we know that they are busy. But why don't we have to worry about demonic influences? Why didn't the Bible give up? Because you would think that if it was so important, so prevalent, you would think that the Bible would spend every book in the New Testament talking about these demonic forces, these demonic influence. Why is it so? It seems to be messy. It's a glaring omission by the Bible. Could it be that this slipped the Lord's mind? Or could it be that they were supposed to write and they decided, we don't need this? No, there is a glaring omission. And that is that there is just not a lot talked about about this demonic influences, oppression, depression, possession, or what they'll say demonization. There's no real lengthy mentioning of it. Why is that? Why is that? Well, I'll tell you why. Have you ever looked up the word deliverance in the Bible? Have you ever just looked at the word just to say, you know what? Let me find the word. Now, there are different words for the word deliver or deliverance, which means to place something. But the type of deliverance that we're talking about is the deliverance where we are in something and we need to be brought out of. There needs to be this relief from this oppressive power. And I want you to notice the word. Let me pull up one of the passages here, and I want you to see this particular word. Psalm 72-4, he says, may he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor. I want you guys, listen, I want you to pay attention to something. Now, this word, it's only found a few times in the old and only once in the New Testament in terms of the deliverance we're talking about. Now, there's this word for placing something that's not what we're talking about, right? But I want you to see what this word is, and then see what should cause you all to be excited and happy and never ever have to fear. Again, this is the reason why the Bible doesn't go through great lengths to talk about this demonic impression, I mean, oppression or influences, because even though it's there, we've already found the cure. Let's go back to it. I want you all to see this. The word, this shoes there for deliverance is this Hebrew word over here. This Hebrew word over here is Yoshi. I'm sorry, Yoshi, Yoshi, Yoshi. Did you hear what I said? This word is Yoshi. Pause on that for a second. Let me show you the Greek word and we'll come back to this Hebrew word, Yoshi. In the Greek in Philippians 119, let me put up for you guys to see, Philippians 119 says, For I know that through your prayers and the gospel of the spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance. Do you know what the word here for deliverance is? The word here for deliverance is the Greek word for Soterion. Soterion. Have you ever heard of the word Soterion or Soter? So let me get the word Soteriology, which is salvation. In other words, salvation, which is deliverance. Why is that important? Well, here's why that's important, because there is no more need for a deliverance or salvation. If why, we already have it. Let's go back to that Hebrew word. That Hebrew word is Yosha. Do you know what Yosha, do you know what that word, the root of that word is? Yasha. What did the Jews have as the Jewish name for Jesus? Anybody know? What was the Jewish name for Jesus? The Jewish name for Jesus is for them, Yeshua. Let's go back to that word again. I want to pull it up again, and I want to make my point. Again, this Hebrew word for deliverance is this Hebrew word here for Yosha, which is part of the root Yasha, simply meaning that our deliverance comes from Jesus. Say it in Hebrew, Yeshua, Yosha. Say it in Greek, Jesus. It he is the deliverer. He is the one that sets us free. Guys, I want you to understand this and understand it as clear as day, because what's happening is people are thinking that I have no hope because this demon has me bound, but know where the spirit of the Lord is. Guess what? There is liberty. Understand this, because to say otherwise, to say that we need some deliverance ministry or some deliverance minister is to say that the power of Christ is not enough, now what we need is the power through the hand of a man. Not Christ is enough, he got it, he got it going, but some other man, we have to rely on the power of this other person. Guys, that is almost blasphemous. Now, since Jesus is the true deliverance, then we need to understand this. If we are believers, only if we are believers, if we are in Christ, as John said, that my deliverance, your deliverance, all of our deliverance is in where, in whose hand, in the hand of the Lord. No other way around it, no if ends buts about it. And so guys, if you need, if you struggle with anything, if you struggle with pain, if you struggle with depression, if you struggle with any sort of anxiety, if you struggle with addiction, if you struggle with sexual morality, if you struggle with anger, with wrath, with jealousy, with telling the truth, with anything that you struggle, if you struggle with being able to control yourself. What does the Bible say the fruits of the spirit are? The result of having the spirit is joy, peace, love, all these things that knock out the things that folks are being oppressed by, all those things. It's not that, it's not that difficult. It's not that difficult. And so if anyone needs deliverance, if anyone has an issue, what, what have I said before? You draw closer to him and he'll draw closer to you. Get closer to him and watch and see if you then won't be delivered. Amen.