The Great Commission and Deliverance From Evil Spirits
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
“The Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand”
When Jesus Christ sent forth His disciples, He did not send them with only a message to preach salvation to the lost. He sent them with authority over the kingdom of darkness. The ministry of deliverance was not an optional part of the Gospel — it was ordained by Jesus Himself as part of the Great Commission and the entire body of Christ are called to minister deliverance.
Deliverance literally brings the kingdom of God to those who receive deliverance from evil spirits. The Lord placed the responsibility on the disciples to preach the gospel and cast out devils.
Jesus said:
“And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”
— Matthew 10:7-8
The ministry of casting out devils was not invented by men. It did not begin in modern churches. It was commanded directly by Jesus Christ. When Jesus commissioned the twelve disciples, He gave them power (authority) against unclean spirits.
“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out…”
— Matthew 10:1
This authority came from Heaven. It was part of the advancing Kingdom of God to destroy the works of devil and his demons from the life of believers, it is also the most ignored ministry instituted the Lord Jesus Christ.
Deliverance Is Part of the Gospel
Many believers are comfortable with evangelism. Churches gather to hear preaching. Missionaries travel across nations. Worship ministries fill buildings with music. Teaching ministries teach and explain doctrine.
But deliverance ministry is different.
Deliverance confronts the powers of darkness directly.
When devils are cast out, Satan loses territory. Bondages are broken. Tormented souls are made free. Captives are released from spiritual oppression. This is why the ministry of deliverance is one of the most resisted ministries in the Body of Christ. Deliverance destroys Satan this is why the devil fights and wars against anyone who believes and promotes the ministry of casting out devils. Jesus was never afraid to confront the devil, and the body of Christ should be following Jesus example and fear devils, their fear should be that they might be ignoring the teachings of Jesus about casting them out because the devil will begin to scare them from the ministry of casting out devils.
Jesus Himself demonstrated this ministry everywhere He went. Jesus told the disciples not to fear any of the devil’s “scare tactic” that try to stop them from casting out devils.
“And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases and cast out many devils…”
— Mark 1:34
“But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”
— Matthew 12:28
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
— Luke 10:19
Notice what Jesus said. The casting out of devils was evidence that the Kingdom of God had arrived. Deliverance is not separate from the Gospel — it is proof of the authority of Jesus Christ over Satan and all of his demons and “NOTHING” will hurt the believers who cast evil spirits out.
Why Deliverance Is So Resisted
One would think that when believers learn that Jesus commanded His disciples to cast out devils, the Church would rejoice and eagerly learn this ministry. Yet throughout history, deliverance has often been mocked, feared, avoided, or resisted even by many who call themselves believers in Jesus.
Why?
Because deliverance strikes directly at the kingdom of darkness.
Satan does not fear powerless religion. He does not fear dead traditions. He fears the authority of Jesus Christ operating through obedient believers who understand the great commission that Jesus gave to the body of Christ.
When demons are confronted, darkness will always manifest resistance. This is why many believers who step into deliverance ministry face criticism, misunderstanding, rejection, and spiritual warfare.
The devil fights hardest against the ministries that destroy his influence.
The preaching of the Gospel gathers people, and this is good.
Mission work reaches nations, and this is good.
Teaching imparts understanding, and this is good.
But deliverance breaks the chains of the devil.
It destroys spiritual strongholds.
It exposes hidden darkness.
It liberates souls that Satan has held in bondage for years.
This is why the ministry ordained by Jesus is so fiercely opposed.
Jesus Came to Destroy the Works of the Devil
The mission of Christ included destroying the power of Satan.
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
— 1 John 3:8
Jesus did not merely preach against demons. He confronted them openly and cast them out.
“And in their synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out… And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.”
— Mark 1:23-25
The people were astonished because Jesus taught with great authority and people in the synagogue, today we would say a “church”, and people were astonished at his teaching because they probably never saw anyone confront the devil and cast his unclean demons out with great authority and the demons obeyed and came out at his command.
“What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.”
— Mark 1:27
Deliverance was part of Christ’s ministry from the beginning.
The Great Commission Includes Deliverance
The command to cast out devils did not end with the twelve disciples. Jesus expanded this authority to all believers.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus declared:
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…”
— Mark 16:17
This verse is critical.
Jesus did not say these signs would only follow only pastors, apostles, prophets, or evangelists. He said:
“them that believe”
Every believer is called to represent Jesus Christ and advance His Kingdom here on earth.
The Great Commission was not only about preaching sermons. It was about demonstrating the authority of Jesus Christ over sickness, sin, and demonic oppression.
Jesus said:
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
— Mark 16:15
Then immediately afterward He included deliverance among the signs that would follow believers.
This means deliverance must be taught in every Church where believers gather.
Believers should not remain ignorant concerning spiritual warfare and the authority Jesus has given them.
Authority Over the Power of the Enemy
Jesus gave His followers authority over demonic powers.
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy…”
— Luke 10:19
The disciples returned rejoicing because demons were subject to them through the name of Jesus. Demons had no choice, they had to obey the believers when they cast them out.
“Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”
— Luke 10:17
The power was not in the disciples themselves. The authority was in the name of Jesus Christ.
There is no greater authority than the authority of the risen Son of God.
The Early Church Practiced Deliverance
The ministry of deliverance continued after the resurrection of Christ.
The Book of Acts shows that casting out evil spirits was active in the early Church.
“And believers were the more added to the Lord… insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets… and they were healed every one.”
— Acts 5:14-16
“For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them…”
— Acts 8:7
The Apostle Paul also confronted demonic spirits directly.
“I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”
— Acts 16:18
The early Church understood that the Gospel was not mere words. It was the power of the Holy Spirit.
Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare
The Bible teaches clearly that believers are wrestling against spiritual dark forces called evil spirits.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world…”
— Ephesians 6:12
Deliverance ministry reveals the reality of spiritual warfare. When these demons are confronted they not only tremble at the name of Jesus, but they know their time is about to up when confronted to they begin to fight back because they worked hard to enter the persons body or mind and they do not want to be evicted from the body that they are in causing destruction, and sicknesses and all kinds of diseases.
It reminds believers that Christianity is not simply intellectual agreement. The Kingdom of God is spiritual power operating through the authority of Jesus Christ.
“For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:20
The Church Must Return to the Full Gospel
Many churches preach salvation but ignore deliverance.
Many teach theology but avoid confronting darkness.
Many speak of freedom but never address spiritual bondage.
Yet Jesus never separated deliverance from the preaching of the Gospel. Deliverance is part of the gospel.
The same Jesus who preached repentance also cast out devils.
The same disciples who preached the Kingdom also healed the sick and delivered the oppressed.
The Church must return to the full commission of Christ.
Not a partial Gospel.
Not powerless religion.
Not traditions without authority.
But the Gospel of the Kingdom demonstrated through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul understood clearly that the gospel is the power of God.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” — Romans 1:16
The Apostle Paul also demonstrated the power of God, not with the enticing words that cannot deliver anyone from tormenting evil spirits that are destroying peoples lives, but his speech (preaching), was with a focus of demonstrating the power of God to others, and the Apostle Paul cast out many devils throughout his ministry.
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:” — 1 Corinthians 2:4
Freely Ye Have Received, Freely Give
Jesus gave this command freely. The disciples were not to merchandise the power of God as many are doing today.
“Freely ye have received, freely give.”
— Matthew 10:8
Deliverance ministry is not about fame, control, money, or spectacle.
It is about compassion for the oppressed and obedience to Jesus Christ.
Christ came to set captives free.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives…”
— Luke 4:18
The Great Commission still stands today.
The Gospel must be preached.
The sick must be healed.
The oppressed must be delivered.
The authority of Jesus Christ must be proclaimed to the nations.
People do not only need to learn about God, they also need God to deliver them from the demons that are oppressing and tormenting them or the preaching becomes something they wish they could have until the receive deliverance that brings the kingdom of God to them. Ministers and ministries should follow the ministry example of Jesus and all the Apostles and cast out demons so people can be made free!
And every believer must understand that through the name of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of darkness can will be overcome.
Key Scriptures on Deliverance and the Great Commission
Matthew 10:1, 7-8
Mark 1:23-27
Matthew 12:28
Luke 4:18
Luke 10:17-19
Mark 16:15-18
Acts 5:14-16
Acts 8:7
Acts 16:18
Ephesians 6:12
1 Corinthians 4:20
1 John 3:8
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils…”
— Mark 16:17
Conclusion:
Questions that every believer in Jesus should ask and pray about…
Do I really believe that the ministry of casting out of devils is part of the great commission?
Do I as a believer of Jesus really believe the that the gospel includes the casting out of devils?
Do I or the church I am attending casting out demons?
Does the Lord really want me to learn how to cast out demons?
What might me scaring me from the ministry of deliverance?
Am I willing to obey what Jesus taught about believers casting out devils?
Am I willing to fight the good fight against the kingdom of darkness when I decide to start casting out devils as Jesus commanded believers?
Or will I neglect and rebel against the teachings of Jesus about the casting out devils?