There Is No One Right Way to Do Deliverance: Let the Holy Spirit Lead
Deliverance ministers should be guided by the Holy Spirit, minister with humility, and avoid criticizing others simply because their methods are different.
The ministry of deliverance has grown significantly in recent years. As more believers embrace Jesus’ command to cast out demons and minister freedom to the oppressed, conversations about how deliverance should be conducted have become increasingly common.
Unfortunately, these conversations sometimes become criticism.
Some ministers insist there is only one correct method. Others criticize fellow deliverance ministers because they spend too much time, too little time, speak to demons, refuse to speak to demons, charge for ministry, or offer their services freely.
For a broader biblical overview of this subject, read A Biblical Guide to Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom, and Deliverance .
Healthy Opinions Are Good—Condemnation Is Not
There is nothing wrong with having an opinion about how deliverance can be improved.
Constructive feedback can help ministers grow. Sharing experiences can sharpen one another. Learning from other ministries is healthy.
The problem begins when someone declares:
- “This is the only way to do deliverance.”
- “You’re doing it wrong.”
- “No true deliverance minister would do it that way.”
The body of Christ needs unity rather than unnecessary division. Deliverance ministers should encourage one another, learn from one another, and recognize that God often works through different personalities and ministry styles.
Believers who want to grow in practical ministry may also benefit from reading Deliverance Ministry Training and 3 Deliverance Ministers Teaching Inner Healing and Deliverance for Free .
Jesus Did Not Always Minister the Same Way
One common criticism heard within deliverance ministry is that ministers should never speak to demons.
Yet the Gospels record at least one occasion when Jesus asked a demon its name.
“And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.”
Mark 5:9, KJV
This demonstrates that Jesus was not limited to one rigid method. Every ministry encounter was guided by divine wisdom.
Likewise, some ministers prefer not to ask demons questions, while others do so only as the Holy Spirit leads. Neither approach should automatically be condemned simply because it differs from another minister’s practice.
Three Things Should Guide Every Deliverance Minister
Rather than following another minister’s formula, every deliverance minister should allow three factors to shape their ministry.
1. Your Personality
God created each believer uniquely.
Some ministers are naturally quiet and gentle. Others are bold and authoritative. Some teach extensively. Others are more direct.
God uses different personalities for different people. A minister should never feel pressured to imitate someone else.
2. Your Experience
Every minister brings a unique background into ministry.
Life experiences, pastoral training, counseling skills, and personal testimony all influence how someone ministers to others.
God often uses these experiences to help ministers relate to people with compassion and understanding.
3. The Leading of the Holy Spirit
Most importantly, deliverance should always be directed by the Holy Spirit.
Some sessions may take fifteen minutes. Others may last an hour. Still others may require several hours because of the complexity of the person’s history and spiritual needs.
The duration itself is not the measure of success. Obedience to the Holy Spirit is.
To learn more about preparing for ministry with biblical wisdom, read Preparing for a Deliverance Session .
Why Deliverance360 Takes More Time
At Deliverance360, the ministry follows a longer process because the emphasis is not simply on casting out demons but on helping people experience lasting freedom.
The session begins by listening.
For thirty minutes to an hour, the ministry team listens carefully to the person’s life story, asks questions, and seeks the Holy Spirit’s direction.
During this time, the team listens for possible legal rights, spiritual open doors, emotional wounds, patterns of rejection, trauma, and other issues that may require prayer after deliverance.
You can learn more about spiritual open doors in The Main Causes of Demon Oppression: Unforgiveness, Sexual Immorality, and Occult Involvement .
Many individuals have never shared these painful experiences with anyone before. Listening itself often becomes part of the healing process.
Readers seeking a deeper explanation of emotional wounds and spiritual freedom may find A Biblical Guide to Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom, and Deliverance helpful.
A Holistic Approach to Deliverance
Following the initial conversation, Deliverance360 proceeds through several stages:
- Prayer honoring the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Repentance.
- Forgiveness.
- Renunciation.
- Deliverance as directed by the Holy Spirit.
- Prayers of blessing and encouragement.
- Teaching on consecration and discipleship.
- Some spend fifteen minutes.
- Others spend several hours.
- Some ask questions.
- Others do not.
- Some offer ministry freely.
- Others charge for their time and services.
- A Biblical Guide to Inner Healing, Spiritual Freedom, and Deliverance
- How Do I Know If I Need Deliverance?
- The Main Causes of Demon Oppression
- Repentance: A Hedge of Protection Against Demon Oppression
- 3 Deliverance Ministers Teaching Inner Healing and Deliverance for Free
- Deliverance From the Queen of the Coast Demon
- Deliverance From Hearing Voices That Tell You to Curse the Holy Spirit
- Browse All Deliverance360 Articles
The goal is not merely the removal of spiritual oppression but helping the individual develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
Repentance is an important part of closing spiritual doors. Read Repentance: A Hedge of Protection Against Demon Oppression for more teaching on this subject.
Every Session Is Different
No two people have identical histories.
No two ministry sessions are exactly alike.
Because of this, Deliverance360 believes every deliverance session should remain flexible and responsive to the Holy Spirit rather than following a rigid script.
Those who are unsure whether they need ministry can read How Do I Know If I Need Deliverance? .
Charging or Not Charging
Another area of disagreement among deliverance ministers concerns fees.
Some ministries receive payment for deliverance ministry. Others provide ministry free of charge.
Neither practice should automatically be criticized. What matters is whether the minister is following what they believe the Holy Spirit has directed them to do.
Deliverance360 offers ministry without charge because the ministry believes that is its calling. You can learn more about ministries that provide training and ministry freely in 3 Deliverance Ministers Teaching Inner Healing and Deliverance for Free .
Deep Deliverance
Deliverance360 describes its ministry as deep deliverance.
Rather than focusing only on commanding a demon to leave, the ministry seeks to understand the broader spiritual picture, including possible spiritual hierarchies, recurring oppression, and underlying issues, while ultimately relying on the Holy Spirit for direction throughout the process.
The ministry may seek to identify the strongman, determine what spiritual authority is operating above it, address related entities, and then bind and cast them out together as the Holy Spirit leads.
For an example of teaching on strongmen, legal rights, covenants, and spiritual hierarchies, read Deliverance From the Queen of the Coast Demon .
Deliverance360 also considers whether occult activity may involve more than one individual, such as a coven or network, rather than treating every case as an isolated spiritual issue.
This approach is unique to Deliverance360 and should not be used as a standard by which every other ministry is judged.
Deliverance Is About More Than Casting Out Demons
Deliverance ministry should help people close open doors, address unresolved wounds, renew their minds, and grow in obedience to Jesus Christ.
Some people struggle with intrusive thoughts, tormenting voices, fear, shame, and spiritual exhaustion. For additional guidance, read Deliverance From Hearing Voices That Tell You to Curse the Holy Spirit .
Deliverance should be joined with discipleship, consecration, prayer, biblical teaching, healthy fellowship, and personal responsibility.
A Call for Unity
Perhaps the strongest message is a call for unity among deliverance ministers.
The body of Christ is strengthened when ministers encourage one another instead of competing over methods.
Different ministers may approach deliverance differently.
The important question is not whether every minister uses the same method, but whether they are faithfully seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit and ministering in a way that points people to Jesus Christ.
Believers who want practical training can also read One-Day Deliverance Ministry Class for Birmingham, Florence, Decatur, and Huntsville .
Final Thoughts
Deliverance ministry is not about developing a perfect formula. It is about partnering with the Holy Spirit to bring healing, freedom, and restoration in the name of Jesus Christ.
Healthy discussion is valuable.
Constructive criticism has its place.
But unity, humility, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit should always characterize those who minister freedom to others.
When ministers remain submitted to Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to direct every session, they can confidently serve people while recognizing that God often works through different methods, personalities, and ministry styles.