“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”
Demons are real. They’re active today. But they’re operating illegally, contrary to the theology of many modern deliverance ministries. Deliverance and casting out devils are legitimate aspects of the church’s ministry in the world, but not like what’s typically displayed in deliverance seminars.
Much of deliverance ministry is steeped in legalistic, spiritual-sounding mysticism. Instead of being anchored in the finished work of Jesus Christ, much of today’s deliverance practices revolve around an unbalanced focus on evil spirits, dialogue with demons, mystical legalistic checklists of open doors, and burdensome rituals for "freedom" that have already been secured for us by the blood of Christ.
We need to make a clear distinction between New Covenant deliverance, which rests entirely on what Jesus has accomplished, and mystical legalism, a man-centered form of ministry that inadvertently empowers evil spirits rather than truth. The church needs to make clear what true freedom looks like under the New Covenant, and debunk the myth of demonic “legal rights.” And we need to establish a biblical framework for helping people walk free from demonic oppression, based on Jesus' victory and the believer's identity in Him.
We Have Already Been Delivered
The foundation of New Covenant deliverance is found in Colossians 1:12-14:
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins
Notice the past-tense language: He has delivered us. This is not a future hope or a conditional outcome—it is a completed fact. The word "power" here is exousia, which means authority. Before the resurrection of Christ, demons and evil spirits had some sort of rank and authority in the heavenlies. But under the New Covenant, Jesus disarmed them entirely through His death, burial, and resurrection.
"Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."
(Colossians 2:15)
This victory is not merely symbolic—it’s legal, eternal, and spiritual. The enemy no longer has authority or rights to use the Law or our sin to accuse us, because Jesus removed the very foundation of accusation:
"Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."
(Colossians 2:14)
The list of sins and failures that demons might claim as justification for oppression has been erased. Jesus removed the law's ability to condemn, disarming the accuser at the core of his strategy. Jesus was tried, judged, and punished for each and every one of your sins, past, present, and future. As 1 John 2:2 says And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. So nothing you do gives the enemy a right to oppress you. You might still experience oppression, but we’ll get to that.
The Name Above Every Name Means Authority
Deliverance is not achieved by shouting or performing rituals—it’s exercised in the name of Jesus, which means His authority.
"At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."
(Philippians 2:10)
Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). This authority is not something demons can resist when properly enforced. Deliverance happens not because we "break contracts" with demons or discover some hidden sin from 10 years ago, or cancel curses from your grandfather who was a Freemason—it happens because Jesus reigns supreme.
"Demons don’t need permission to attack you; they’ll lie and manipulate if you let them. But they have no legal ground or right. Jesus stripped them of that."
— Finished Work Deliverance
Jesus Forbade Demons to Speak—So Should We
Modern deliverance ministries often feature ministers interrogating demons: asking their names, where they came from, and why they’re present. But in Mark 1:25, Jesus models a completely different approach:
"But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet, and come out of him!’"
Jesus forbid them to speak. He didn’t entertain dialogue. He didn’t build his strategy around information from the enemy. He silenced them and commanded them out. When he addresses the man in the Gadarenes who was possessed by a legion of demons, he is asking the man his name, not the demon's. Jesus was trying to connect with the man and ask him questions, as he did in several other cases when he healed that person.
Involving demons in conversation is not only unnecessary—it’s dangerous. Demons are liars by nature (John 8:44). Building a ministry on their testimony and revelations creates confusion and gives them a platform they no longer have a right to.
In the New Covenant, the only name that matters is Jesus. His name, not knowing a demon’s name, is the authority that sets people free.
Mystical Legalism: The False Gospel of Conditions
A prominent teaching in some deliverance circles is that demons have “legal rights” to inhabit or oppress people based on open doors. Lists often include:
Unconfessed sin
Unforgiveness
Involvement in New Age practices
Generational sin
Secular entertainment
Sexual sin
Not tithing
Soul ties
These teachings may sound spiritual but they functionally deny the sufficiency of the cross. If demons truly had legal rights because of these things, it would mean that Jesus’ blood was insufficient to deal with sin, and the person must now “earn” their way back into freedom through works or rituals.
But Scripture says:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."
(Romans 8:1)
And:
"For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified."
(Hebrews 10:14)
If the believer is perfected in Christ, there is no remaining legal charge that can be used to oppress them. Deliverance becomes about truth displacing lies, not earning God's protection.
This is actually even true for unbelievers. An unbeliever’s sin does not give the enemy rights to their lives, just because they aren’t saved. Why? Because Jesus has ALL authority in Heaven and on Earth, and the enemy has NONE, period, no matter what!
Heart Beliefs: The Real Battlefield
Though demons have no legal rights, many believers believe they do. And that belief can cause them to tolerate lies, oppression, and fear.
Proverbs 4:23 says:
"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
(NLT)
The heart and mind, not wrestling with the demon, is where battles are won or lost. If a person believes they are vulnerable, unworthy, or cursed, they may submit to a lie even though Jesus gave them victory 2000 years ago.
Deliverance, therefore, involves renewing the mind and aligning heart beliefs with the truth to properly exercise Christ’s authority, which we have been given permission to use. Not just permission, but a commission:
"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
(John 8:32)
When someone embraces the truth of who they are in Christ and know the power of His authority within them, demons lose all influence—not because of a ritual, but because faith activates the reality of the finished work.
This is evident with The Seven Sons of Sceva.
In Acts 19:13–16, the sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons “in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” But the demon replied:
"Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?"
They didn’t know who they were in Christ, and the enemy could tell. But, Like Paul, when you are confident in the supreme authority of Christ, the enemy knows and flees from you, because they are fleeing from Christ in you. This is why we need to establish people in the Gospel and their identity in Christ, rather than merely rid people of demons and then send them off to be oppressed again.
This is a sobering reminder: authority comes from identity, not performance. If you are in Christ, you carry His authority. If you're not rooted in your identity, the enemy may bluff you into fear and launch you on a never-ending trail to find the “open door that has given the enemy a right into your life.”
Yes, We Should Turn from Sin—But Not Because Demons Have Rights
Should we avoid sin, forgive others, and detach from occult practices? Absolutely. But not to avoid demonic access—because we are already delivered from the power of the enemy in Christ. We should avoid those things for several reasons.
We are dead to sin
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin still kills because you reap what you sow, but the enemy cannot use it against you as a legal precedent to oppress you, because the Law used to accuse you was nailed to Christ’s cross and He paiod the penalty for each and every one.
We should repent but repentance is not penance for sin; it is realignment. It brings our minds and hearts into sync with the identity we already have. We should forgive others, but because we are already forgiven in Christ. We should avoid sin and dark things, but not because it may give the enemy rights. Those things dull our hearts and make us susceptible to deception, which is the enemy’s only weapon under this New Covenant.
The Truth About Generational Curses
Where Did Generational Curses Come From?
The idea of generational curses comes from Old Covenant law, particularly:
"You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me."
(Deuteronomy 5:9)
And:
"The Lord will not spare him... and all the curses that are written in this Book will settle on him."
(Deuteronomy 29:20-21)
These were part of the Mosaic covenant, which was a conditional agreement between God and Israel: obey and be blessed, disobey and be cursed.
What Changed?
Jesus came under that law and fulfilled it completely. Then He took the curse of the law upon Himself:
"Christ has 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’)."
(Galatians 3:13)
The generational curses found in Deuteronomy were God’s response to law-breaking. But Jesus bore those curses, satisfying the justice of the law so that we could be free.
This is why Ezekiel prophesied:
"The son shall not bear the guilt of the father... The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself."
(Ezekiel 18:20)
And why the New Covenant, declared in Hebrews 8, is based on better promises—because it’s not dependent on our works, but on Christ’s.
There is no longer any generational curse for a believer. The blood of Jesus is stronger than family sin patterns.
We may have generational lies that are passed down from our ancestors, but we can repent (change our minds and turn away from sin) and align with truth. Modern science reveals that epigenetics carries traits like thought patterns, behavioral propensities, and predispositions, which may mimic unavoidable demonic oppression, but those issues are corrected through mind-renewal unto transformation.
Ghosts and Familiar Spirits
Evil spirits like to keep it in the family. If your ancestor entertained a demon and then died, that spirit is going to try to inhabit or attach itself to someone of a similar disposition because they are familiar with that family. And they will masquerade as the ghost of your deceased loved one, or another figure that is familiar with your family and your life.
Familiar spirits following a bloodline down to a new host do not have the right to be there, and they have no authority to enforce a curse. So it’s entirely unnecessary for break legal curses that may be present through your ancestors' sins. However, you may need to cast away an evil spirit that oppressed your deceased loved one or family member.
The Truth That Sets Us Free
Deliverance is not about finding the right formula. It’s about believing the truth.
The cross was enough. Jesus disarmed the enemy, nailed the law to the cross, took the curse, and gave us His authority. We are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), not fighting for victory, but from it.
Sin doesn’t give demons rights—only deception gives them influence. When we walk in truth, we walk in freedom.
Walking Someone Through Deliverance: A New Covenant Approach
Here’s a biblical, finished-work-based process for helping someone walk in freedom:
Step 1: Establish Identity
Start by reminding the person who they are in Christ:
They are forgiven (Col. 2:13)
They are free (Gal. 5:1)
They are seated with Christ (Eph. 2:6)
They are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17)
Step 2: Confess the Lordship of Jesus
Ask them to speak out loud:
"Jesus is Lord. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. I belong to Him."
Step 3: Speak to the Spirit
From that place of authority, instruct them to say:
"In the name of Jesus, I command every unclean spirit to leave. You have no right to be here. I belong to Jesus."
Step 4: Silence and Dismiss
Don’t dialogue with demons. Don’t ask them their names. Simply command them to go.
Step 5: Ask the Holy Spirit
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak truth:
"Holy Spirit, show me where I’ve believed a lie. Teach me who I am."
Identifying the lie is not necessary to be free, it’s only a follow-up measure to guard the heart going forward.
Step 6: Renew the Mind
Help them write down truths to meditate on daily:
“I am free.”
“I have authority in Christ.”
“The enemy is defeated.”
“God is for me.”
Step 7: Encourage discipleship Ongoing Transformation
Encourage them to put on the new man daily by:
Meditating on truth
Letting go of condemnation
Living in fellowship with God
Choosing grace over fear
We encourage you to walk people through discipleship after you have helped them rid themselves of demons. (You’re welcome to use our Discipleship tool, which is free in this course)
Final Words
You don’t need to be afraid of the enemy. His only weapon is deception. He has no legal rights. He has no authority. Jesus stripped it all away.
You don’t need deliverance ministries that dig up your past or tell you you’re cursed.
You need the gospel.
You need Jesus.
And once you know who you are in Him—the enemy will know it too and will voluntarily flee from you.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
