Deliverance Hits the Big Screen
The desire for the supernatural and what is unseen with the natural eye is a desire shared both in the secular world and among the religious. The acknowledgement of demonic influence and casting out demons is an area of great interest regarding the supernatural, specifically when looking at practices within the hyper charismatic movement.
For those who may not know, a deliverance film will be released next month in two thousand movie theaters across the United States. Come Out in Jesus Name will feature individuals such as Greg Locke, Isaiah Saldivar, Alexander Pagani, Mike Signorelli, Vlad Savchuck, and Leon Dupreez. Modern deliverance ministry is stated by these men to be the greatest awakening in church history. I will come back to that statement later, as there are questions to consider surrounding this statement.
Here is the synopsis for this movie, “Following a startling chain of events, the most controversial pastor in America, Greg Locke, took a 180-degree turn from his mainstream religious traditions and led his church to the brink of revival. He and a diverse group of unconventional preachers then began to spark the most important awakening in the history of the Christian Church — through the most unlikely means – by casting out demons. This fiery film documents the beginnings of their journey. “Come Out In Jesus Name” will be followed by a live simulcast event where Pastor Locke and his fellow demon slayers will lead a supernatural mass deliverance… in Jesus name.” In other words, they are planning on casting demons out of movie goers across the country.
I believe it is important to note that in deliverance ministry, deliverance is only to be performed on born again believers. This is the teaching being perpetuated. As stated above, the individuals featured in this film believe that “The most important awakening (deliverance ministry) in church history has begun.” I want you to consider the implications of that statement, and ask yourself, is that true? Is deliverance ministry, the belief of casting demons out of Christians, more important than the awakening that took place on the day of Pentecost with the preaching of the gospel, salvation being proclaimed, and the inception of the church? Has God been incapable of building the church over the past 2,000 years because of a lack of deliverance from demons? Is this practice even Biblical? This is not a denial of Satan and demons, but a thoughtful question as to if this specific belief and practice bears witness with Scripture.
With regards to the simulcast at the end of the film, performing mass deliverance in these theaters, I want you to consider the potential for chaos that could ensue, if the gospel will truly be ministered, and if potential new converts will be discipled in solid Biblical churches. I have great concerns that these practices are going to bring confusion and more bondage to many others who may have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who may not understand the true freedom salvation brings.
We Have Been Delivered!
Scripture is encouraging to us as believers in Christ and in the hope, we have as believers, sojourners in this world while we look to our eternal hope in Christ awaiting each of us. Be encouraged by Scripture, which while silent on the matter of Christians having indwelling demons, is not silent on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We are reminded that we have been sealed by the promise of the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). We have heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation. and we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is the guarantee of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13,14).
Jesus Christ has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. We have redemption and forgiveness of our sins in Him alone (Colossians 1:13,14). John reminded fellow believers in 1 John 4:4, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Our battle with the demonic is outward, not inward. How is there hope in Christ and being sealed by the promise of the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption if we have to worry about demons indwelling us by man’s doctrine of “legal right”?
Dear believer, you belong to God. You are made to glorify God in every area of your life, to love Him in every area of your life, to glorify God in your body. You and I cannot do this without His Spirit indwelling us. We cannot know God’s ways without abiding in His Word. Our body is not an apartment complex where the Holy Spirit cordons Himself from cohabiting demons. Scripture tells us our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are to honor God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19,20). Jesus gave this first commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Matthew 22:37) Those who teach demonic deliverance of Christians believe that the soul is your mind, will, and emotions, but Jesus gives this commandment, incapsulating how a born-again believer is to completely love God. These very Scriptures encourage us that we need not fear a demon indwelling our soul or body. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, conforming us to the image of Christ and in loving God with every area of our lives.
Sin is the problem, and the gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer. Proper Biblical discipleship is the answer. Understanding progressive sanctification is the answer. What is the point of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of His death for our sins in accordance with Scripture, His burial, and resurrection in accordance with Scripture, if we remain appearing like the world? What hope do we have if demons can indwell the temple of the Holy Spirit, our mortal bodies? The finished work of Christ on the cross is far greater! If the apostles, who were chosen By Jesus Christ and who authored Scripture by the leading of the Holy Spirit, did not see the need to address the issue of demons indwelling born again believers, leaving the Bible silent on the matter, perhaps we should stop following and giving an ear to those who teach otherwise.
Listen to this episode, discussing the deliverance film, the history of modern deliverance ministry, and the upcoming docuseries, American Gospel: Spirit and Fire: The Lovesick Scribe Podcast: Deliverance Hits the Big Screen on Apple Podcasts
3 thoughts on “Deliverance Hits the Big Screen”
EXCELLENT!! Gentle examination of error without doctrinal compromise.
The same scrubbing of world history and cancel culture paradigm is evidentially visible in the modern church.
Copious books such as “Fundamentals of the Pentecostal Faith,” “God’s Generals,” etc. were written with intentional scrubbing of the Theosophy, gnostic, pagan, New Thought and New Age doctrines which were held by late 19th century (and burgeoning mid 20th century) “founders” of “modern day faith.” These pagan practitioners “christianized” the esoteric and mystical vernacular in order to make it palatable to the former generations of doctrinally sound Bible Believers.
This is what Constantine did when he “christianized” his sun worshipping cult. The offspring was the apostate church in the early 4th century, which is the same harlot church mentioned in Revelation.
A little leaven leavens the entire lump. There is no such thing as “eat the meat and spit out the bones” as Hagin loved to say.
God said the entire lump is leavened.
Without sound doctrine in which Scripture interprets Scripture, one is incapable of discerning meat from bones, sticks from hay or poison from non-poison.
I loved one of your anchor points as you were wrapping up: the 4 gospels in contrast to the Epistles. God the Father was validating and authenticating the message and the Messenger, God the Son [God, the Word] as it was prophesied about Him, the Messiah, when He was to come.
“God, who at various times and in various ways (miracles, signs, wonders) spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…” Heb. 1:1-2.
It is also acutely poignant that Revelation 13 points to the coming of the False Christ/beast and how he will be validated through great deceiving signs.
Paul penned in 2 Thess. 2 that the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Just those two verses are a sobering reality of how God defines who is whom. Based on Scripture, I submit a point to ponder for folks who yearn for experiential signs and wonders in their relationship with God…
deliverance, signs, wonders, etc. are not not “something we lost” or “something church shies away from.” Scripturally speaking, this New Era (as Pagani quipped) is the true-FALSE.
The modern church is embracing the same old paganism and proclaiming they are ministers of God, when in reality, they are ministers for the False Christ and his doctrines of demons which masquerade as Light.
Signed,
6-years-removed-from-the-false-church-and-false-doctrine. PTL for His rescuing hand!!
I just found your podcast and it has blessed me greatly! Thank you for your boldness in speaking out on this.
Thank you for upholding scriptural integrity! I just found your podcast and will continue to listen.
Father, thank you for Dawn and her family. I pray you will continue to protect them as they are faithful and obedient to your Word. I pray continued courage and faithfulness for them and for all those they love. I pray in the holy name of my Savior… thank you, Jesus. Amen
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