What Does Deliverance Look Like?
What does deliverance from God look like for you and me? How does He deliver His people and how should I pray when I am in need of deliverance?
“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.” Philippians 1:18-26
Consider the deliverance of two men, both of which occurred in the town of Dothan in the Old Testament:
Elisha and his servant were delivered from a powerful army when God opened their eyes to see that the hills were covered with mighty warrior angels who delivered them without them having to even lift a finger. (2 Kings 6)
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers at Dothan. (Genesis 37) This resulted in his being moved to Egypt, where he was later imprisoned for a rape he did not commit. Then, through the miraculous and delivering power of God, he was elevated overnight to become the second most powerful man on earth.
Elisha was delivered FROM his battle while Joseph was delivered THROUGH his battle.
What does deliverance look like?
Sometimes it looks like:
Armies of angels to deliver you
Earthquakes while singing worship in prison
An angel waking you up in prison while you sleep
Marching around a city quietly for 6 days before marching with a shout on day 7
“Take up your mat and go home”
And sometimes it looks like:
Joseph - angels holding you up as you’re sold into slavery and then sent to prison
God’s sufficient grace for your thorn (messenger of Satan to torment you)
The garden of gethsemane and “let this cup pass from me, but your will be done”
Take a little wine for your stomach (Paul’s advice to Timothy, rather than praying a deliverance prayer)
Sometimes God delivers us FROM and sometimes God delivers us THROUGH.
This we know - deliverance is ours, through Christ Jesus.
What is all this about, anyway? Like everything in all creation, it is all about the glory of God!
Last time I checked, the mortality rate in this region is still 100%. We are all going to die someday. Eternal life is for our heavenly bodies, not our earthly ones.
Two Keys to keep in mind when you need deliverance:
Stay on that altar as a living sacrifice - Romans 12:1-2
Always ask God for deliverance FROM the battle and be willing to experience deliverance THROUGH the battle.