EP 3 – The Deliverance of a Man with an Unclean Spirit
Share This Blog Post On:
Facing unseen battles in your daily life? We equip you with biblical truth and practical strategies to stand firm against spiritual opposition. Join us for insights on spiritual warfare and strength for your faith journey. Click here to armor up and walk in victory, one truth at a time!
In this blog post, we will examine the deliverance of a man with an unclean spirit as recorded in Mark 1:21-28 and the parallel account in Luke 4:31-37. By studying this account, we will draw six practical lessons for our own understanding and practice of deliverance ministry.
Below is the story as rendered in Mark’s account (KJV):
“And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
(Mark 1:21-28)
Lesson 1: Teaching is the Foundation of Deliverance Ministry
“And straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught…for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:21-22). Before Jesus confronted the demon, He first taught the Word. This means that deliverance begins with the proclamation of the Gospel or the Word first.
Biblical Examples:
- In both the commands that Jesus gave us, the pattern is that signs and wonders follow the Word (Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 28:19-20).
- God confirmed the word given by Paul and Barnabas with signs and wonders (Acts 14:3)
- God is watching His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12)
- The world was created with a word command – “let there be” (Genesis 1) – there was a word first, then manifestation
- Acts 8:5-7 – Philip preached the Word before deliverances occurred.
- Acts 2:14-41 – Peter proclaimed the gospel before 3,000 were saved.
- Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11) – He used the Word, not spells, to overcome.
- Paul and Barnabas taught in Antioch for a whole year, firmly establishing the believers. (Acts 11:25-26).
- Paul taught daily in the School of Tyrannus in Ephesus for two years, addressing doctrinal gaps after encountering disciples of John. (Acts 19:1-10).
- Aquila and Priscilla corrected Apollos, who was mighty in Scripture but incomplete in understanding. (Acts 18:24-26).
Application:
- Ground your deliverance ministry in biblical teaching, patterns, and sound doctrine, not emotion or gimmicks.
- Allow your teaching to create an environment where God’s power can manifest.
Lesson 2: Deliverance Manifestations Can Be Messy
“Let us alone…art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.” And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. (Mark 1:24-26) Deliverance often involves convulsions, loud cries, and visible manifestations in the victims.
Biblical Examples:
- Mark 9:26; Matthew 8:29; Mark 5:12; Luke 4:35; Luke 9:42 – Deliverance often causes fear, astonishment, and chaos.
- Acts 8:7 – Even Philip’s ministry involved dramatic manifestations.
- Talking to demons like Jesus did it in Mark 5:9 or Luke 8:30
Application:
- Do not fear messiness—deliverance is about freedom, not pleasing the crowd. Jesus focus was on setting people free that maintaining order and calmness.
- If you want to be ‘all loved’, ‘never opposed’, ‘not challenged’ stay away from the deliverance ministry – you are better off selling ice cream at least you will not offend anyone there.
- Any ministry that seeks approval over obedience to God will struggle in this area.
- Be discerning – Be as wise as a serpent but also harmless and a dove (Matthew 10:16) in the midst of ‘misunderstood’ manifestations. Jesus had 4 circles or levels of interactions (the inner circle – the three, the 12, the 72 and the crowd) – there are things He allowed the 3 to see and not the other circles.
Lesson 3: Deliverance Flows from Authority
“What new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27) The demons began to manifest and cry out in response to the authority of Jesus’ identity (The Holy One of God) and the Word He taught authoritatively as compared to how the scribes did. This shows us that the deliverance ministry is effective not because of our personal power but because of Jesus’ authority.
Biblical Examples:
- The Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-16) – Seven sons of a Jewish chief priest tried to cast out demons using Jesus’ name without truly knowing Him. The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” The demon-possessed man overpowered them, and they fled naked and wounded. This shows that authority cannot be borrowed or faked—it must be genuine.
- The Seventy-Two Disciples (Luke 10:17-20) – When Jesus sent out the seventy-two, they returned with joy saying, “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” They succeeded because they operated under Jesus’ delegated authority. Their names were written in heaven, meaning they had a covenant relationship with God.
- Philip the Deacon (Acts 6:5; 8:6-7) – Philip wasn’t an apostle, yet he had a powerful deliverance ministry in Samaria. Why? Acts 6:5 tells us he was “full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” When he preached, “unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many.” His effectiveness came from being filled with the Spirit, not from holding a special position.
Application:
- Recognize the Source of Your Authority – As believers, our authority comes from several sources, such as the finished work of the cross, the name of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. We must cultivate humility and complete reliance on Christ’s authority, not our own abilities or experience.
- Maintain Your Relationship with God – The sons of Sceva failed because they had no relationship with Jesus. Our authority in deliverance is directly connected to the intimacy of our walk with God. Regular prayer, worship, and obedience keep us connected to the source of all spiritual authority. It’s the branch that remains connected to the vine that bears much fruit (John 15:5).
- Walk in Holiness and Be Spirit-Filled – Like Philip, we must be full of the Holy Spirit and maintain holy living. Sin creates open doors for the enemy and weakens our spiritual authority. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Submission comes before resistance—we must first be under God’s authority to exercise it over demons.
Lesson 4: Deliverance Is a Ministry of Warfare
“And Jesus rebuked him, saying, hold thy peace, and come out of him. And the unclean spirit…came out of him.” (Mark 1:25-26) Deliverance is direct spiritual confrontation. The demon did not leave by Jesus’ mere presence but by His command. If demons leave without direct confrontation, then the demonized man would have began crying out immediately Jesus walked into the synagogue. That was not the case because the demon’s reaction came after Gospel proclamation and a direct rebuke from Jesus.
Biblical Examples:
- Church attendance does not equal total deliverance – Even a saved Christian or believer can be oppressed by the devil because the Holy Spirit is in our spirit but demons operate from our flesh…the same way a Christian can get drunk if they expose themselves to alcohol is the same way they can be oppressed by the devil is they give him a foothold (Ephesians 4:27).
- You must resist steadfastly (1 Peter 5:9) and confront the devil to be delivered fully as seen in Daniel’s prayer confrontations (Daniel 10:13), Paul and Silas at Philippi (Acts 16:16-18) or Joshua and the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6)
- The Kingdom Requires Spiritual Warfare Jesus declared, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). Advancing God’s Kingdom requires confronting and overthrowing demonic strongholds. We cannot be passive—we must actively take territory from the enemy.
Application:
- Prepare spiritually for confrontation with demonic forces by equipping yourself through prayer, fasting, discernment, and the Word of God. For example, there is a kind that does not go except by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights before contending against the devil (Matthew 4).
- Do not retreat, do not surrender until the devil leaves you for a season (Luke 4:13; Luke 9:62)
Lesson 5: Deliverance Is Not Optional
“And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.” (Mark 1:28). This verse shows us that what began as a teaching event eventually became a display of Christ’s power, glory, and fame. Meaning that we cannot advance the Kingdom of God on earth without the ministry of deliverance.
Biblical Examples:
- Deliverance Announces the Kingdom’s Arrival: In Jesus’ first recorded public act in Galilee (Mark 1:21-28), deliverance appears as one of the primary signs of the Kingdom’s coming. When Jesus cast out the unclean spirit, the people were amazed, saying, “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 ministry demonstrated that God’s Kingdom had broken into human history.
- The Kingdom Operates in Power, Not Just Words Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 4:20. Deliverance demonstrates this power. When Philip preached in Samaria, “unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed” (Acts 8:7), and great joy filled the city. The Kingdom is proven through supernatural demonstration.
- Jesus Commissioned Us for This Work “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils” (Mark 16:17). This wasn’t optional—it was a command. Jesus also said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19).
- Deliverance Fulfills Messianic Prophecy Jesus read from Isaiah in the synagogue: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives” (Luke 4:18). Setting captives free was central to His mission—and now to ours.
- Deliverance Reveals God’s Compassion When Jesus delivered the Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20), He showed that no one is beyond hope. The man who lived among tombs, cutting himself, became a powerful witness. Deliverance ministry expresses God’s heart for the bound and tormented.
Application
- View deliverance as normal Christian practice—it was the ministry of Jesus given to us (Mark 16:17). Every believer has the authority to minister freedom in Christ’s name.
- Recognize deliverance manifests the Kingdom of God—it brings freedom to captives and demonstrates that Satan’s kingdom is being plundered (Matthew 12:29).
- Understand that deliverance validates the Gospel message—when people are set free, they become living testimonies of God’s power, just as the Gadarene demoniac went throughout the region declaring what Jesus had done for him.
- See deliverance as an act of compassion—Jesus was moved with compassion for those oppressed by the devil. Our ministry should flow from the same heart of love for the hurting people.
Conclusion
Deliverance is grounded in the Word, flows from authority, involves confrontation, and often produces dramatic results. It is not optional for it’s essential to the manifestation of the Kingdom of God on Earth. To learn more about deliverance from the previous lessons, check out the guides below:
Continue Reading More On Spiritual Warfare In The Guides Below:
|
