BLINDED BY DOCTRINE THAT DOES NOT DELIVER

By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas

Key Text

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
— 2 Timothy 3:5 (KJV)

Many Christians today are ensnared by doctrines taught in many churches that intentionally ignore and reject the “casting out of devils” for different reasons. What makes this matter worse is that those who attend these churches really believe that God has placed them there and they become comfortable in the church pews of churches that deny the transforming power of God that is needed to overcome this world, the flesh, and the devil.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD DO

If I were the devil, I would rejoice when people are deceived. I would want people who are seeking God and His truth to continue their faith journey pilgrimage of life sitting in church pews week after week listening to ministers who deny the deliverance teachings of Jesus Christ. I would use every deceptive method available, preaching false doctrines that I and my demons love to promote.

I would want church pews filled with people who deny deliverance from demons. I would convince them they are doing the will of God by supporting these churches—both financially and by evangelizing to others about the very churches I am successfully running. I would assign my demons to reinforce the false teachings that me and my demons love to promote to draw people away from churches that preach the truth about deliverance.

I would keep them focused on man-made church programs, pot-lucks that make them feel good about what they believe and what they are doing, rather than on the full truth of God’s Word. When they come into their church for “fellowship” I would make sure my name which by the way is “Satan” is never mentioned among them. I would have them focused of everything else but what Jesus actually said and taught in the Bible. If I were the devil I would immediately attack any minister who dares to mention anything about personal deliverance from demons by casting out devils.

My greatest fear as the devil would be for anyone to come into contact with believers who truly know, believe, and do the Word of God and cast out devils as Jesus taught in the Bible. I would make sure that whenever someone encounters the few people or churches that dare to promote and preach sound doctrine about deliverance from demons, I would begin a strategic strategy of attack against them to scare them away from hearing or receiving any deliverance from demons. I would find a weakness and use offenses to drive them away from these true gatherings that I hate the most. I would ensure they avoid anyone who genuinely believes, preaches, and teaches deliverance as it is written in the Word of God because I would NEVER want them free.

I would also make sure they never lift a finger to support or promote churches that are preaching the truth. I would sow confusion and division within those churches that preach deliverance until people leave, and turn them away from the truths that these people are preaching. My greatest fear is that people would know the truth and the truth will make them free when they cast me and all my demons out.

My ultimate goal as the devil would be simple: to keep people continually deceived and ignorant of the word of God by replacing truth with falsehood.

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WARNINGS FOUND IN SCRIPTURE

The scriptures actually teach that in the last days the devil would “seduce” some people by having evil spirits teach them doctrines taught by devils. These doctrines taught by devils will cause them to err and “depart from the faith” as they give heed to the devil’s lies. Their conscience becomes seared if they continue to believe the lies that these demons are promoting.

1 Timothy 4

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 

The scriptures also teach us that a time will come when people will not endure sound doctrinal teachings found written in the word of God. They will not endure sound doctrine, and the devil will replace it with lies. As this happens to them, they still want to have some sort of relationship with God, but not on scriptural truth of what the scriptures actually teach, but based on what they want to hear. This demonic journey leads them to “depart from the faith” through demonic seduction of demons that lead them to churches where others like them are taught by teachers that are in the same spiritual condition. These “false teachers” will not tell them the truths found in the scripture because they themselves reject truth, and they all become comfortable hearing and believing lies of the devil.

2 Timothy 4

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away theirears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

These “false teachers” found in many churches today “shall turn away theirears from the truth”, and turn people that are not able to endure truth to “fables” – LIES.

I. INTRODUCTION: WHEN RELIGION HAS FORM BUT NO POWER

A. False Doctrine Is Often Subtle

• Sounds loving, inclusive, intelligent, true and rewarding
• Avoids confrontation with sin, demons, and scriptural error
• Replaces repentance with affirmation
• Offers comfort without transformation

“Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
— 2 Timothy 3:7 (KJV)

B. The Danger of Powerless Christianity

• No repentance → no freedom
• No deliverance → ongoing bondage
• No confrontation with darkness → darkness remains

The Apostle Paul taught that the kingdom of God is not with “enticing words”, but in the power of God.

“4 And my speech and my preaching wasnot with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (KJV)

Paul reiterates his statement about his preaching in the power of God when he said these words.

“For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:20 (KJV)

II. JESUS’ MINISTRY INCLUDED DELIVERANCE

A. Jesus Forgave, Healed, and Delivered

“And he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.”
— Matthew 8:16 (KJV)

Deliverance was not optional—it was normal in the life of Jesus and should be normal in the church whenever the need arises and becomes necessary to cast out demons.

B. Deliverance Was Prophesied

“He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives…”
— Luke 4:18 (KJV)

C. Deliverance Was Commissioned

“In my name shall they cast out devils.”
— Mark 16:17 (KJV)

To ignore deny deliverance is to deny part of Christ’s ministry and mission. The sad truth is that many including many churches do exactly that and claim they are preaching the gospel.

Ministries or churches that deny or exclude the ministry of casting out of devils will stand before the Lord one day and give an account as to why they denied the Lord and is word.

III. WHEN DELIVERANCE IS DENIED, BONDAGE REMAINS

A. The Results of Doctrine That Does Not Preach Deliverance

• Bound minds
• Tormented emotions
• Repeated defeat
• Comfortable demons

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
— Hosea 4:6 (KJV)

IV. ASSISTED LIVING:
Why every believer needs God’s help and deliverance.

People worldwide use the term “assisted living” and there is nothing wrong with people helping people especially the elderly, orphans, and those physically challenged to have a better quality of life. God has his own way of assisting his children, God calls it deliverance.

A. Why Is It Called Deliverance? It’s God’s way of “Assisted Living” spiritually speaking. Here are just a few reason why God gives the body of Christ deliverance from demonic beings.

• We are saved, but still live in a fallen world filled with sin and rebellion. (Romans 3:23)
• We are redeemed, but still targeted demonic entities we can’t physically see. (1 Peter 5:8)
• We are spiritual beings, but still have our flesh. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Weather we realize it or not, all have a need for deliverance,

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
— John 15:5 (KJV)

“And now I am no more in the world,but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father,keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”
— John 17:11 (KJV)

Jesus does not just command victory—He assists believers into victory as long as they continue to abide in Jesus. When anyone quits or refuses to continue to abide in Christ Jesus, they become an easy target for Satan to begin destroying their lives.

V. THREE AREAS JESUS DELIVERS US FROM

1. DELIVERANCE FROM THIS WORLD

“Be not conformed to this world…”
— Romans 12:2 (KJV)

How Jesus Ministered

• Refused worldly glory (Matthew 4:8–10)
• Warned against loving the world (John 12:25)
• Overcame the world (John 16:33)

How He Assists Us

“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world.”
— Galatians 1:4 (KJV)

2. DELIVERANCE FROM THE DEVIL

“Your adversary the devil…seeketh whom he may devour.”
— 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

How Jesus Ministered

• Jesus Confronted Satan (Matthew 4:1–11)
• Jesus Cast out devils (Matthew 8:16)
• Jesus Destroyed Satan’s works (Colossians 2:15)

God’s plan of salvation includes the destruction of the devil’s working in peoples lives.

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
— 1 John 3:8 (KJV)

How Jesus Assists Us

“The Lord is faithful…to keep you from evil.”
— 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (KJV)

The Lord’s Prayer includes

“..deliver us from the evil one” — Matthew 6:13 (KJV)

3. DELIVERANCE FROM THE FLESH

“The flesh lusteth against the Spirit…”
— Galatians 5:17 (KJV)

How Jesus Ministered

• Perfect obedience (Philippians 2:8)
• Prayer and fasting (Matthew 4:2)
• Submission to the Father (Luke 22:42)

How He Assists Us

“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
— Galatians 5:16 (KJV)

VI. FREEDOM IS GOD’S INTENTION

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.”
— Galatians 5:1 (KJV)

Jesus never told us to manage bondage—He told us to come out of it.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
— John 8:36 (KJV)

DELIVERANCE PRAYER SECTION

Preparation Scripture

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
— James 4:7 (KJV)

The churches that many attend ignore, reject and refuse teach people how to resist and cast out devils because they know their numbers will decrease and so will the offerings they greedily take week after week, yet many continue going to these dead churches who think they are really doing the will of God not realizing they are attending a “Laodicean Church” we read about in Revelation.

Revelation 3

“15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

PRAYER OF REPENTANCE AND SUBMISSION

Father God,
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
I come before You humbly.

I confess my sins before You.
I repent of every known and unknown sin.
I turn away from the world, the flesh, and the devil.
I submit myself fully to You, Lord.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us.” — 1 John 1:9

PRAYER OF RENUNCIATION

In the name of Jesus Christ,
I renounce every work of darkness.
I renounce false doctrine that denied God’s power.
I renounce fear, pride, rebellion, anger, bitterness, and unbelief.

I break agreement with every lie of the enemy.

PRAYER FOR SELF DELIVERANCE

In the name of Jesus Christ,
by the authority of the Word of God,
I command every foul and unclean spirit, every familiar spirit, every spirit that is not of God
to leave me now.

“In my name shall they cast out devils.” — Mark 16:17

I declare that I belong to Jesus Christ.
My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.
I am free by the blood of the Lamb.

PRAYER OF INFILLING AND VICTORY

Holy Spirit, fill every place that in me that was once occupied by darkness.
Renew my mind.
Strengthen my spirit.
Teach me to walk in holiness and truth.

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” — Philippians 2:13

DECLARATION OF FAITH

I declare today:

• Jesus Christ is my Lord, Savior, and Deliverer
• I am free indeed by the shed blood of Jesus
• I walk in the Holy Spirit and His power
• I overcome the world
• I resist the devil
• I crucify the flesh

All glory belongs to Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Conclusion

Many in the body of Christ are experiencing unnecessary oppression that the devil and false teachers are throwing at them because they either have never been taught or they refuse to submit and endure what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, or they are ashamed of casting out devils. (2 Timothy 3:5)

As senior pastor of Open Heaven Christian Church I will never withhold the truth to gain popularity or money because truth cannot be purchased with money. I will never preach or teach what tickles the ears of people to get large numbers of souls to join the church because it is the Lord that adds to the church as the truth is proclaimed. I will never deny the ministry of casting out of devils as taught by the Lord in scripture because I understand that this is included in the great commission and is the will of God.

Sr. Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – (Romans 1:16)