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Operation - "Under Cover"

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What is deliverance?

Deliverance is the act of freeing a person from spiritual bondage. Deliverance is not about demons – it is about the children of God receiving and walking in the freedom that Christ died to give them.

"The ministry of deliverance is about bringing spiritual victory and freedom to those who are in bondage. It doesn't matter what you call it (demonized, possessed, oppressed, etc.), if a person is in demonic bondage, whether they need to tear down a stronghold, break up a legal ground, cast a demon out, or all three... it's still deliverance, because it's setting the captives free. Casting out demons, is just part of the overall ministry of deliverance." — Robert L. - Great Bible Study

Who can minister deliverance?

Deliverance can be ministered by any believer in the body of Christ or even by yourself. Any person covered by the blood of Christ can minister deliverance for it is not by our authority that we break chains of bondage, but by the authority of the cross.


What is the difference between deliverance and freedom?

Deliverance is the process of breaking chains of bondage and releasing a person into the freedom Christ offers through His sacrifice. Freedom is life released from bondage.


Who is called to deliverance?

Jesus came to free prisoners and captives. We are called to do His same works. Therefore all persons in the body of Christ are called to minister deliverance.

Luk 4:18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,

Joh 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

Joh 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

Mat 10:8 "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.


What is the difference between ministering deliverance and deliverance ministry?

While all believers are called to help persons in bondage find freedom, not all are called to deliverance ministry.

A person called to deliverance ministry has a calling on their life. The Holy Spirit has chosen that person and has called them to serve in that ministry.


Four Elements of Deliverance Ministry

There are four primary elements to deliverance. They are inner healing, the tearing down of strongholds, the breaking of legal grounds through renouncement, and finally expelling demons or unclean spirits.

1. Inner Healing:
   
   Many times when a person has been abused, rejected, wounded, or hurt in some way, there is an emotional wound that needs to be healed. Demons will use these wounds and weaknesses against the person, as leverage to hold them in bondage and get them to re-open doors so that they can re-enter. Inner healing is a vital step in the overall restoration process that needs to take place in the lives of those who seek deliverance and freedom.

1. Tearing Down Strongholds:
   
   Strongholds are incorrect thinking patterns that people develop over time, and are often set up and nurtured by demons through lies and deception. I shared an example of this in lesson one with my testimony of the demon spirit nicotine. Demons thrive on strongholds, and use them to hang around a person and torment them. Failing to tear down strongholds can hold a person in bondage and prevent them from walking in complete spiritual freedom.

1. Removing Legal Rights or Grounds:
   
   Legal rights are conditions that give dark spirits permission to enter and remain in our lives. Before these spirits are cast out, or evicted if you will, it is important to cancel or revoke their legal rights. Failing to remove legal rights can prevent a person from receiving complete freedom through deliverance as the dark spirits will fight to stay where they have the right to remain.

1. Expelling or Casting out a Demon:
   
   Deliverance is not an exercise of power – it’s an exercise of authority. The phrases "cast out a demon" or "expelling a demon" amount to commanding an unclean spirit to leave a person by the authority of the blood of Jesus. We should all use the example Jesus gave us in Mat 8:32 when He cast out a demon with one word, "Go!"
   
   When Jesus commanded an unclean spirit to "Go!" we sometimes see Him send it away or to a dry place where it finds no rest. Deliverance ministers would be wise to do as Jesus did and avoid the temptation to act as judge and send an unclean spirit to the abyss, for that role belongs to God the Father.

The World’s View of Spirits

1Co 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

God’s word tells us in 1Co 2:14 that the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to a natural man. Who is a natural man? That would be any man who cannot hear God’s voice through the Spirit of Truth, and so what he sees and tries to understand is incomplete and inaccurate through natural world thinking.

The natural world thinks of spirits as attitudes.

• If one were to say, "He has a benevolent spirit," the world understands this to mean he has a kind and giving attitude.
• If one were to say "He has a vengeful spirit" the world understands this to mean his attitude is hurtful or harmful.
• If one were to say "He has a compassionate spirit" the world understands this to mean his attitude is one of empathy with concern for others.
• God’s word, however, shows that spirits are not attitudes. They are spiritual beings with self-awareness that make self-serving choices.

Evil Spirits Have Recognizable Behaviors

In Mat Chapter 8 and Mark Chapter 5 we can see demon spirits demonstrating several types of behavior.

• They demonstrate free will by making self-serving decisions.
• They demonstrate reasoning and intellect by judging possible outcomes.
• They demonstrate an awareness of community by speaking collectively with the plural pronouns us, we, and our.
• They demonstrate an awareness of time by referencing future events.
• They recognize their subservient nature to the Son of God by throwing themselves at Jesus’ mercy.

Understanding Evil

Unclean demonic spirits are spiritual beings. They think and they reason. They consider the outcome of actions and make choices. They can see when something does work and when it doesn’t work. They can back off and regroup. They can come at things from a different angle. They can see and understand the advantage of blind-siding someone or catching someone off guard.

• Unclean spirits will hurt you because it amuses them.
• Unclean spirits will torment you for nothing more than entertainment.
• Unclean spirits are evil and act out of self-serving motivations.

One of the most dangerous things a believer can do is to think of unclean demon spirits as nothing more than attitudes.


Out of Proportion

Unclean or evil spirits take real world conditions and blow them out of proportion or magnify them. Often the real condition is minor but made to appear overwhelming by dark spirits.


Operation Under Cover

Operation Under Cover is a guide to cancelling choices, closing open doors, and proclaiming new choices to stand with God under the protective covering of His Spirit.

The guide has twelve parts each with a verse, a question, and a proclamation. Each verse is the word of God. Each question asks you to choose - agree with or disagree with God’s word. Each proclamation is provided so you may proclaim your choice and God’s word - releasing its power into your life.

Each of the twelve parts addresses a condition of freedom as set forth in God’s word. Remember Jesus said that freedom was conditional on continuing or abiding in God’s word.

The twelve parts of this guide are ordered so that those elements that may obstruct receiving from God’s Spirit are dealt with first. Start at the beginning and work your way to the end in order.

A copy of this guide, in the PDF format, is available for you to download on the lesson-six page of this course. You are free to use the guide for your own personal use or in your ministry.

One final thought before we begin, remember that faith without works is dead. It’s not enough to read the words aloud. You must believe and your words must be proclamations of your faith.


Humble Yourself

Luke 18:14 – "…for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Question: Are you willing to humble yourself before God?

Proclamation: I renounce all practices of the occult, all evil deeds of darkness, all unclean spirits of the dark kingdom. I proclaim by the blood of Christ, my life cleansed of all things detestable to the LORD my God.


One True God

Exo 20:3,5 - "I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…You shall have no other gods before Me."

Question: Will you proclaim God the Father as the only true God and renounce all other gods?

Proclamation: Father, I proclaim you are the one and only true God and I put no other god before you.


Proclaim Jesus as Lord

Joh 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

John 15:5 - …for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Question: Are you willing to proclaim your faith in Jesus Christ?

Proclamation: Jesus, apart from you, I do not exist. You are my Lord and savior - I come to the Father through You. I place my faith in You knowing You are Faithful and True.


Take Your Stand with God

Rom 8:31 … If God is for us, who is against us? When we choose to stand with God, He will stand with us.

Question: Are you willing to proclaim your stand with God the Father against all evil?

Proclamation: Father, I stand with you against all evil for it is written, ‘if God is for us, who is against us?’


Renouncing Evil

Deu 18:10-12 "There shall not be found among you anyone who…uses divination, …practices witchcraft, or …a sorcerer, For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD."

Question: Are you willing to renounce all evil and all evil deeds of darkness?

Proclamation: I renounce all practices of the occult, all evil deeds of darkness, all unclean spirits of the dark kingdom. I proclaim by the blood of Christ, my life cleansed of all things detestable to the LORD my God.


Confess Your Sins

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Question: Are you willing to confess your sins before God?

Proclamation: Father I confess...(be led by the Holy Spirit)


Repent

Act 17:30 "...God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,"

Question: Are you willing to repent or turn away from your own sinful nature and the sinful nature of this world?

Proclamation: By my free will, I choose to turn my back on the sinful nature of this world and the sinful nature of my own flesh. In my heart, I choose to continue in God’s word as led by the Spirit of Truth.


Renounce

Pro 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Question: Are you willing to renounce all choices and permissions you gave to spirits of the dark kingdom that allow them to work in your life?

Proclamation: By the power and authority of the blood of Christ, I cancel all legal grounds and permissions I created by my actions and choices. I proclaim in the name of Jesus that unclean spirits have no authority to operate in or over my life.


Forgive Others

Mat 6:14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Mat 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions."

Question: Are you willing to forgive all who have sinned or wronged you?

Proclamation: As an act of my own free will, I choose to forgive all who have ever sinned or wronged me. I choose to release all unforgiveness and animosity from my heart. In particular, I choose to forgive...(Let the Holy Spirit lead you.)


Receive Forgiveness & Healing

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Question: Do you believe God is faithful to forgive you, cleanse you, and heal you?

Proclamation: Father, as I have forgiven all who have sinned against me, I ask you to forgive me, cleanse me and heal me. Free me from evil and heal my wounds and deliver me into the freedom and righteousness that is mine through the blood of Jesus.


Release from Curses

Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--

Question: Do you believe that Christ became a curse, taking your curses upon Himself, so you may be released from your curses and share in the blessings of God the Father?

Proclamation: Lord Jesus, I thank You, that on the cross You were made a curse, that I might be redeemed from every curse and inherit God's blessing. On that basis, I ask You to release me and set me free from all curses, all word curses, and all generational curses that are at work in my life. In the name of Jesus, I declare all curses over my life are broken.


Proclaim Your Freedom

Joh 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
Joh 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Question: Are you willing to receive and proclaim healing and freedom?

Proclamation: Thank you Father for your unlimited grace. Thank you Jesus for freeing me from bondage and oppression of sin. I receive Your gift of freedom. I proclaim by the blood of Jesus, by the Truth of God’s word, and by His living Spirit within me, that I am free. I proclaim that by the blood of Jesus, I stand righteous and holy before God the Father – dressed in the blood of the Lamb of God.


Key Point Review

1. Deliverance is not about demons – it is about the children of God receiving and walking in the freedom that Christ died to give them.
2. Deliverance can be ministered by any believer in the body of Christ.
3. The four elements of deliverance ministry are inner healing, tearing down strongholds, removing legal grounds, and expelling or casting out demons.
4. Persons who have been abused, rejected, emotionally wounded, or hurt in some way may need inner healing as part of deliverance.
5. Failing to tear down strongholds may prevent a person from recieving deliverance.
6. Failing to remove legal rights can prevent a person from receiving complete freedom through deliverance as the dark spirits will fight to stay where they have the right to remain.
7. Without knowledge from the Holy Spirit, the natural man is not able to understand the nature of demon spirits and may think of them as attitudes.
8. Deliverance is not an exercise of power – it’s an exercise of authority.
9. Demon spirits exhibit several types of behaviors including self-serving choices, awareness of time, awareness of community, awareness of consequences, and awareness of their subservient nature to the Son of God.
10. Demon spirits will magnify real conditions to make them appear overwhelming.

References:

• Download Unchained & Under Cover's Prayer of Deliverance

• Find Scripturally Sound Deliverance Ministry Teaching at Robert L's Great Bible Study

• Derek Prince - They Shall Expel Demons

Study Questions:

1. Referencing Mat 8:28-32 and Mark 5:2-13 explain how these scriptures show demon spirits having awareness of community, awareness of time, making self-serving choices, and recognizing their subservient nature to Jesus.
2. This lesson taught the four elements of deliverance. Explain why inner healing is one of those elements.
3. Explain why it is dangerous to think of demon spirits as attitudes.
4. Deliverance ministry is not an exercise of power - it is an exercise of _______________.

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