Above & Beyond Deliverance Academy

[Podcast] The Spirit Realm: 12 Things Christians Should Know

Don Ibbitson — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 10:14:19 +0000

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The Spirit Realm: 12 Things Christians Should Know

Don Ibbitson — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 06:24:55 +0000

Few topics polarize the Body of Christ like the spirit realm and spiritual warfare. The discussions may not be as passionate as the gift of tongues, but good-hearted folks can disagree fervently over the impact of demons and Satan in our lives today. I want to outline 12 points that I believe are relevant and important for the times we live in.Let me begin with a straightforward premise: spiritual warfare for believers is for today and ignorance can lead to death. Our active participation is not just for the prayer closet, but for almost every aspect of our daily lives. I’ll not make that case here; we’ve discussed it in other articles, podcasts, and videos.

Many teachings about spiritual warfare are long on generalities and short on personal, practical tools to apply. From my perspective as a deliverance minister, I find them to be biblically accurate, but the focus is on Satan (which misses the point), and directives are vague or inadequate. If you want to develop as a spiritual warrior, you need practical, nuts-and-bolts information you can use.

Below are twelve specific things you need to understand about the spirit realm. There are many more than twelve, but it’s such a biblically compelling number that I’m going to run with it. They provide a framework for moving ahead and getting more skilled for battle.

Our struggle is against demonic spirits assigned to us, not Satan himself. This distinction is important because we can put the battle in the proper context. Satan is not omnipotent, omniscient, nor omnipresent, unlike our God. Do we really think that 99.9999 % of us warrant his attention and presence? He has a hierarchy of evil agents at his disposal, but he is not our personal antagonist.
Jesus defeated Satan on the cross, but skirmishes are still happening. The demonic kingdom is actively at work to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10) and will work to derail your destiny. At salvation, your battle is not over; instead, it’s just beginning!
There are not demons behind every problem, but you cannot counsel demons out of people. You can receive and act on biblical counsel when the torment is gone.
Fasting does not typically drive demons out as many contend by referencing Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29. Read our article: Does Deliverance Ministry Require Prayer and Fasting?
There is more to spiritual warfare than praying and rebuking. Sadly, many people never progress beyond these activities. Discerning spirits, resisting them and driving them out are also important elements.
If you cannot wage spiritual warfare more effectively, it will be hard to reach your destiny in Christ. Everyone is called to battle; it’s not a spiritual gift open only to some. Failure to learn and grow can lead to wrong results (Hosea 4:6).
Demon spirits are created beings with minds, wills, and emotions and operate in a hierarchical structure (Matt 12:45). They are your real enemy.
We have been given power and authority over the demonic realm, and they know it. Do you know it… and believe it?
Knowledge is essential otherwise fear rules. Demonic movies are designed to put fear into you, so avoid them; that is not the real spiritual world. Get your knowledge and training from trusted sources and not random internet searches. Much of what you’ll find, even from Christian sites, is incomplete at best misleading or inaccurate at worst.
There are three heavens; demonic activity happens only in the first two. There are different demons in each realm, and our strategies and tactics must reflect that. Deliverance and binding/loosing is a first heaven (earthly) activity. Second heaven warfare should be engaged in by people who are correctly trained and covered spiritually because the enemies are different.
Most interpersonal problems are grounded in spirit realm issues. Paul, in Ephesians 6:12, reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against evil forces in the heavenly and earthly realms.
Our human mind is the primary battlefield for individuals. After you are delivered from demons, this is where much of the struggle occurs. It is vital to grow in knowledge and giftings so you can maintain the victory.

You are the head, not the tail, more than a conqueror in Christ (Rom 8:37). Did you know that? Do you believe it? If you do, then you must begin to walk that reality out in your life. The demonic realm knows and understands, and if you start to grow and mature in these areas, stable and lasting fruit will begin to manifest in your life. Fruit of the Spirit in you and salvations and changed lives in your family. It’s worth the effort.

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[Podcast] Called to Be a Deliverance Minister? 5 Questions to Ponder

Don Ibbitson — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 10:12:29 +0000

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[Podcast] Called to Be a Deliverance Minister? 5 Questions to Ponder

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[Slideshare] Called to Be a Deliverance Minister? 5 Questions to Ponder

Don Ibbitson — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 10:14:08 +0000

Called to Be a Deliverance Minister? 5 Points to Ponder from Above & Beyond Christian Counseling

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Called to Be a Deliverance Minister? Five Questions to Answer

Don Ibbitson — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 06:29:46 +0000

Driving demons out of people is one of the signs to follow believers (Mark 16:17). What are the qualifications for someone to minister in deliverance? We have ministered deliverance to thousands of people and trained hundreds; I want to share our perspective on this vital question.

We recently released an article on the faith level to receive deliverance ministry. We contend that those who want ministry need to stir up their faith for Christ to do a work, prepare correctly and look to Him, not the minister to be their deliverer.

My first exposure to driving demons out of people occurred after a group deliverance seminar attended in 1998. I was immediately entranced and approached the man of God who was leading. Something inside of me was stirring, and I told him that my wife and I wanted to come alongside him and his wife and learn how to do this stuff.

He asked if I wanted to begin right now. When I nodded in the affirmative, he led me into a back room where I helped him minister to a man who had come in at the end.

At that time, I knew very little about driving demons out of people, receiving ministry myself a few hours earlier. I had seen John Wimber, the leader of the Vineyard Church, call demons out of a man once in front of thousands of people at a teaching conference in Anaheim, CA.

Looking back, I realized I had one key drive – I was interested in the ministry and wanted to do it!

My wife and I trained under this couple, Paul and Claire Hollis, for years. I was part of their ministry for seven years until leaving, and the Lord birthed Above & Beyond Counseling Ministries in 2008. During that time, we learned, ministered, studied and let the Lord teach us through hundreds of sessions. We have always walked in the revelation that we had and believe, and know in some cases, that we have helped many.

What about the Anointing for Deliverance?

I believe the anointing comes in response to our obedience to step out and do the works of ministry. It begins with interest and heartfelt desire. Then, do we understand the power and authority that we as believers possess? Many frustrated followers wait for the “unction” or “anointing” to fall before they step out of the boat.

I believe that the anointing and giftings begin to flow once we take the first steps. These steps include prayer, preparation, study, mentoring and, as John Wimber used to say, actually “doing the stuff”.

There is grace to make mistakes and grow in ministry activities. Errors do not include hurting or abusing people so wisdom and safeguards must be in place and these can facilitate growth while allowing God’s grace to flow through the minister.

I do not believe deliverance ministers have to be more “holy” or “sinless” than others are. Every minister in the Body of Christ needs a healthy understanding of who he or she is in Christ. Each must receive His own forgiveness and know that He will walk with them on this journey as they purpose to walk with Him.

To summarize, here are five elements to consider if you feel a stirring to become involved in deliverance ministry:

Do you have a desire to help people in this area? Are your motives pure?
Are you prepared to come under a ministry/church covering that is moving successfully in this area? Lone rangers are dangerous in the Body of Christ because they can do significant damage when accountability is lacking.
Will you commit to reading and researching about what other reputable deliverance ministers are doing? There is nothing new under the sun, and you can build upon and incorporate some of what others are doing. Discernment is critical; not all that glitters is gold. You cannot go wrong by looking at the trails blazed by Peter Horrobin, Don Dickerson, Henry Wright Kim Daniels, and others. For each one, you can “eat the chicken and spit out the bones” if something concerns you.
Can you make it not about you? Settle the issue that it is Christ IN you who gets the glory. You have HIS power and authority, and you have an excellent opportunity to be the junior partner in this venture. When you get that, it will make it easier to focus on the people He brings to you to help.
Will you give yourself the grace to fail at times? Accept the reality that you will make mistakes, and that is one of the ways to mature in this ministry, just as in preaching, teaching, healing, prophecy, and others.

The Body of Christ needs more trained and seasoned deliverance ministers. There are plenty of good ministries out there, and many offer online resources and training.

Start with training and equipping yourself.
As you progress, ask the Lord to connect you with a church or ministry in your area that is supportive and, ideally, is already driving demons out of the sheep. I do not think it is unreasonable to trust in Him to open doors at the proper time.

Prepare so that you can be ready to step out of the boat when He calls you.

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[Podcast] Christian Counselors Doing Deliverance – More or Fewer?

Don Ibbitson — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 10:09:25 +0000

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Christian Counselors Doing Deliverance – More or Fewer?

Don Ibbitson — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 06:30:29 +0000

“Do you think Christian Counselors are more open to deliverance ministry these days?”

I hear this question periodically. I do not know about numbers, but believe many believers will benefit if they had access to this help more readily.

Many denominations refute the notion that Christians need deliverance, so Counselors trained under their spiritual covering do not entertain the need for it.

We’ve generated lots of articles, podcasts and videos laying forth our position that the ministry is for believers and it is for today, not just for seasons past. I’m not going to rehash those arguments here; you can look at our article, podcast and YouTube archives if you are interested.

The spiritual darkness and evil acts that permeate more and more of the world’s newsfeed have, I believe, raised people’s awareness of Satan and the demonic realm.

It’s tough to view many atrocities in the world through any other lens other than there are evil forces at work. In the church, preachers and teachers will lament this rise and exhort their flocks to bind, resist, rebuke and generally get mad at the devil. The messages can be fiery, heartfelt and sometimes helpful, but what is the remedy for those who try to follow what they have been taught but do not see victory?

I’ve talked to many Christian counselors who have poured tirelessly into some clients and not seen lasting fruit or breakthrough in defeating the torment. The issues they are dealing with include fear, anger, depression, addictions and lust/perversion to name only the most prevalent ones.

They frequently conclude, with no real theology to back up their views that the devil is somehow behind the problems their client is experiencing. Traditional counseling techniques and processes, even after months or years of trial, do not yield victory. Many of these counselors will also employ inner healing processes in an attempt to get to the root. Some will bind and rebuke Satan off their lives, or lead the counselee in animated declarations of war against the torment, to little avail.

I have personally witnessed a small resurgence of Christian counselors who are open to incorporating deliverance into their practice. Many may believe in the need for it but don’t know how to do it effectively. Some disdain the theatrics and bombast that they have seen in person or on social media. Others, while recognizing the need, prefer to refer them to trained “professionals” like us who do deliverance more extensively (insert crooked “smiley face” here).

Who can blame those who are wary or even fearful of getting involved? Some methods do appear frightening, like a three-ring circus. Who wants to be part of that, especially within the quiet and private confines of a counseling office?

Christian Counseling Meshes With Deliverance Ministry

I’ve said before that Christian counselors can be more effective in helping clients if they see deliverance as one of the clubs in their bag, to use a golfing analogy.

There are not demons behind every problem, but one cannot counsel demons out of people. Jesus didn’t do it, and many of His children endure long seasons of heartache and torment because they need someone to kick the devils out of them rather than talk at them more.

I’ve had little success trying to convince counselors they should include deliverance as part of their therapeutic processes. Either they get the revelation on their own from the Lord, or they resist it.

I see the door widening by the counselors who are purchasing our Boot Camp training. It is gratifying to hear the testimonies from them about people they have helped through this new offering.

There are plenty of biblically sound, gentle and effective deliverance ministry tools and processes in the Body of Christ. My prayer and fervent hope are that more Christian Counselors catch the vision. Above & Beyond, and many others, are here to help when they begin to explore options.

The need is great, the harvest is ready, and deliverance ministry is one of the fields where we need to pray for the Lord to send more workers! Those who are already counseling to the sheep are well suited to join the team.

If you’re a Christian Counselor, I encourage you to explore the dynamics and possibilities of incorporating this into your offering. If you are a follower of Christ and believe in the present day ministry of driving out demons, do the research. Become trained and experienced through reputable sources and be prepared to embark on this venture as the Lord opens doors for you.

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Binding Demonic Spirits: Why It’s Important

Don Ibbitson — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 15:57:38 +0000

Jesus dealt with the demonic realm a great deal in the gospels, primarily in the context of casting them out. He trained the disciples to do it also and said that driving out demons was one of the signs to follow believers.

Paul teaches that there is a spiritual gift of discernment available to believers so that we would know what the demonic realm is doing. In conjunction with submitting to God, we are also exhorted to resist demons so they will flee.

Is there biblical support for the concept of binding spirits? What does it mean to bind them up?

In Matthew 16:19, Jesus gives a succinct teaching on binding and loosing. This verse is understood differently by many and has a broad spectrum of application in the Body of Christ.

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Christ’s disciples have been given authority to bind on earth that which has been bound in heaven and to loose on earth that which has been loosed in heaven. In other words, we are to bring heaven to earth so His will be done, as it is in heaven, per Jesus’ instruction in the Lord’s Prayer.

The word “bind” means to tie or fasten something tightly. Is there a reference to one or more demons being bound in Scripture?

Look at Rev. 20:2: “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, which is the devil or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” An angel binds Satan for a thousand years so there is a precedent.

Mark 3:27 and Matthew 12:29 tell us that before we can enter a strong man’s house unless we first bind him. By any reasonable measure, that scripture applies to demonic spirits.

Believers have been given authority over demonic spirits and we have seen profound positive benefits in our Counseling Center from binding up spirits. We are not advocates of trying to bind Satan himself in the context of earthly (first-heaven) spiritual warfare, but we it is appropriate for tormenting spirits at work in a person’s life.

We contend that you bind spirits by speaking out loud and declaring that the demon is bound and will not torment the person. It does not need to be done in front of the person; in fact, that can inflame the demon even more so we recommend against it. Here is a sample declaration, to be used as a guideline only,

“In the name of Jesus, I bind up that spirit of (anger, fear, etc.) that is tormenting ‘Joe’. I bind you with the blood of Jesus. You will not be active’ you’ll not torment him and you will not communicate nor draw strength from any other spirits. I loose the Holy Spirit upon Joe that You will reveal Your great love for him and… (add any specific desired action consistent with God’s Word and His heart for Joe).”

We have seen these declarations yield excellent fruit in deliverance ministry sessions and in also in the lives of many believers as they proactively move to wage spiritual warfare for the salvation and deliverance of their loved ones.

Here is a critical clarification: binding spirits is not the same as deliverance. A bound spirit can be loosed by a person’s free will so that binding effectively lasts only as long as it lasts! The duration can be minutes, hours, days, weeks or more because a person’s free will can loose it again.

Binding and loosing, if you make it a regular part of your spiritual disciplines as you pray for loved ones, families, businesses, and ministries, will yield good fruit. When you engage in this, you are recognizing and proactively declaring that the struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).

Practical Applications of Binding Demonic Spirits

When you see a spirit manifesting in a person,
When a spirit is trying to hinder a person from speaking or responding appropriately,
Render the demon inactive for a season so the Holy Spirit (which is loosed) can talk and minister to the afflicted person. This is especially beneficial if you are praying for the salvation of unsaved loved ones.

I encourage you to begin moving in this arena of spiritual warfare. Resolve to be consistent, persistent and faith-filled and see how the Lord responds.

Do you have testimonies of tangible benefits from binding and loosing? I would love to hear from you. Need help in the arena of spiritual warfare or deliverance? Check out our services and client success stories to see if the Lord would lead you to contact us; we help people worldwide over the internet.

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Where Should Deliverance Ministers Send Demons?

Don Ibbitson — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 17:37:16 +0000

Deliverance ministry is the driving out of demons. Where should the deliverance minister send demons? Should they tell them to go somewhere or just leave it up to Jesus? Does it matter?

We have discussed in other articles how there are few standard practices in the realm of deliverance ministry.

The ministry of driving out demons in Christ’s church operates more like a “mom and pop” grocery store than a big time franchise, which means that different techniques and procedures abound.

When demons are called out during deliverance, we have heard or seen directives from the man or woman of God that generally fall into one of the categories below:

No instructions
Sends them to hell
Sends them to dry and uninhabited places
Sends them to wherever Jesus tells them to go

We rely on two scripture verses to give us direction at Above & Beyond. In Matthew 12:43 and Luke 11:24, Jesus said that when a spirit comes out of a man, it goes to dry places (NIV). Other translations use words like arid, desert and waterless.

There is no specific recording in Scripture where Jesus commands this after deliverance, but this is the direction we give to the demons. We also add “and uninhabited” to the command also, which I will explain later.

We also invoke a Jesus Christ-bloodline around the person for protection and will frequently ask that surrounding angels escort that spirit to that location.

We do not send them to hell because not all demons are in hell and we do not presume to consign them before their time. The timing and disposition are up to Christ alone. We have been given authority to drive out demons only.

Some ask the demons to get their direction from Jesus. In other words, ask Him where He wants them to go and then obey! We have no problem with those who adopt this approach but do not see it as a necessary step and there is no supporting passage in Scripture.

We also rely on Mark 16:17, with great comfort, in knowing that Christ has given believers the power and authority to drive out demon spirits.

We Send Spirits to Dry and Uninhabited Places

Let me explain why we send the spirits to dry and uninhabited places.

Let’s address a fundamental question: where are those dry, arid, desert locations that the demons go to? Africa? The Middle East? Nevada? Texas?

What about the people that might live there? Are we exporting torment to them?

These questions are difficult to answer and our response comes back to the scriptures we have referenced. We choose to trust Jesus for how it all works out without engaging in mental mind exercises that can lead to “paralysis by analysis”. That is why, quite simply, we add the words “and uninhabited” to our instructions so that other people are not likely to be in proximity!

We have no idea whether this has any practical benefit, but it makes us feel better. Seriously. We do not know how long demon spirits remain in that dry, isolated location but at least they are not tormenting the host where they used to reside!

At Above & Beyond, we consider that proper teaching and preparation is vital to prepare the delivered person for when the spirits try to return to the house as the bible warns in Matthew 12:44 and Luke 11:24). That topic is addressed in other posts and I will not revisit that here.

In conclusion, we do not hold our approach as superior nor criticize deliverance ministers who have a different method for dispatching demons. When we get to heaven, I doubt that we will be critiqued on whatever tactic we employed!

Christ is going to be more concerned about whether we completed His call on our life. Did we share the gospel in our world? Did we perform the works he had before us? Did we lay hands on the sick and see them healed? Did we drive out demons? Let’s be faithful in carrying out that work!

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[Video] Why We Look In People’s Eyes During Deliverance Ministry

Don Ibbitson — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 15:47:43 +0000

This video is based upon an earlier written blog on Why We Look In People’s Eyes During Deliverance Ministry.

There are a variety of ways to minister in deliverance. We sit down in front of the person, hold their hand and look into their eyes as we call out spirits. This video explains our reasoning.

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