Deliverance | Derek Prince
Experiencing the Power of Deliverance: Lessons from a Pastor’s Journey
Deliverance is a word that often brings to mind images of dramatic spiritual encounters and freedom from oppressive forces. As Christians, we know our faith is not simply about attending church on Sundays or following a moral code. There is a deeper, spiritual reality where, through Christ, we are set free from every power of the enemy. In this article, we explore one pastor’s transformative experiences ministering deliverance and what Christians today can learn about God’s heart to set people free.
Answering the Call to Serve
After moving to Minneapolis and briefly serving as an associate pastor in an Assembly of God church, I quickly discovered how God can lead our paths in unexpected directions. Through various connections, doors began to open for me to minister in places I never anticipated. One such invitation led my wife Lydia and me all the way to Seattle, Washington, to become pastor of an independent Pentecostal church.
We went, trusting God, not knowing that the church had just weathered a major internal crisis. In fact, almost all the board members had resigned before we arrived, leaving only one to greet us. It was clear this congregation needed more than organizational solutions—they needed a move of God’s Spirit.
Discovering the Reality of Deliverance
Though I never sought out a deliverance ministry, God had other plans. One day, a Baptist pastor called me and shared that a woman in his congregation desperately needed help for what he believed was demonic oppression. He felt led by the Holy Spirit that my wife and I should pray for her deliverance.
This request was entirely new to me. I took it before the Lord in prayer and sensed a clear ‘yes’ in my heart. We arranged for the pastor to bring the woman over, and by God’s providence, a Presbyterian couple who were filled with the Holy Spirit happened to be visiting with us the same day. The five of us gathered together to pray.
Confronting Spiritual Darkness
Contrary to my expectations, the woman needing deliverance looked like any ordinary American housewife. There were no outward signs of spiritual turmoil. As we began to minister, the visiting pastor loudly rebuked the demons, but nothing seemed to happen. Feeling prompted by the Holy Spirit, I stepped in and gently but firmly addressed the unseen spirit, commanding it in Jesus’ name to identify itself.
To my surprise, the response was immediate. A deep, chilling voice within the woman responded with one word: “Hate.” In that moment, I saw in her eyes a level of hatred I had never witnessed before—raw and undisguised. Recognizing this was a spiritual battle, I commanded the demon to leave in the authority of Jesus Christ.
The struggle was intense. The spirit resisted and even tried to physically harm the woman by causing her to choke herself. Together, we intervened and held her hands away from her throat. After more prayer and spiritual warfare, the power of God prevailed, and the demon left her. Instantly, the tension broke; the woman’s body relaxed, and we all sensed a freedom and peace settle in the room.
Breakthroughs and Insights
This single breakthrough marked only the beginning. As we continued to pray, one spirit after another named itself and left the woman—hate, fear, self-pity, infidelity, and finally death. Each time a spirit left, it was as if a heavy burden had been lifted both from her and from us who were praying.
This powerful encounter revolutionized my understanding of what it means to set captives free. The Bible is clear that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12). Delivered from multiple demonic oppressions, the woman began to rejoice, praising God and praying in tongues. It was evident to everyone present that Jesus had truly set her free.
Ministering Deliverance in the Church
Armed with this experience, I returned to my Pentecostal congregation with greater discernment. I realized that quite a few believers, though devout and outwardly religious, struggled with spiritual bondage. Still, I knew that teaching openly about demons would require wisdom and patience. I chose to minister grace, truth, and love, while trusting the Holy Spirit to bring revelation at the right time.
One Sunday, as I preached a message of hope from the life of Elijah, the unexpected broke out in the service. Without warning, our regular pianist let out a piercing scream and collapsed, convulsing in front of the congregation. At that moment, all eyes turned to me. Would I shrink back, or would I stand on God’s Word?
I gathered a small team, including my wife and our Presbyterian friends, and began to pray for this woman. The battle was fierce—even as we commanded the spirit to reveal its name, a voice repeatedly tried to evade us. Finally, in a loud roar, the demon identified itself as “Lies.” With persistence and the authority of Scripture, we commanded it to leave, and after a sustained struggle, it left her body with a supernatural cry.
The woman laid on the floor, utterly exhausted but free. I realized that deliverance is rarely a simple “one and done” process, but often involves persistent prayer, discernment, and counseling. Compassion and patience are necessary, as wounded souls need time to process their healing.
Addressing Deeper Issues
As the congregation processed what had happened, we discovered that the spiritual oppression the pianist experienced was linked to issues in her personal life. Through honest conversation, her parents explained that something had shifted in her relationship with her husband, and inappropriate attachments with a family member had developed. We confronted these hidden sins with grace and truth, calling her to repentance.
Only after this moment of surrender and confession could we lead her into complete
