Good Shepherd Institute
Good Shepherd Institute
As a minister with over twenty years experience in exorcism, I regularly deal with persons with Hollywood conceptions of the act of casting out demons. Thus, my interest in public perception of films like "Emily Rose."
Truth is, most exorcisms are rather gentle and quiet, up to a certain point. When the tormenting spirit realizes it has been discovered and frantically tries to hide or bluff its way into staying, then things get a little noisy. But the atmosphere of a typical exorcism is loving, not bombastic and confrontational.
The moment comes when the enemy is engaged and the fog of war lends an unpredictability to what follows. But the heads spinning 360 degrees, the vomiting, the levitating...all mostly the stuff of Hollywood, with occasional exceptions. Love in Christ remains the primary weapon of warfare, not creeds, processes, formulas, rituals, etc.
Exorcism is basically relational, an encounter between two animate, non-corporeal beings : Jesus and the evil spirit. Jesus alone delivers. The deliverance minister only assists Him in His work. When Christ's love flows thru the minister - or ministerial team - it presents an antidote to the hatred of satan and its hosts. Without that love, no proficiency in scripture or procedure will set a tormented person free. Thus, it is not what we "do" as much as what we "are" in the presence of evil. When we "have this mind among ourselves which is ours in Christ Jesus" (Phil 2), then the stage is set for
deliverance.
- Brian Connor, Director, Good Shepherd Institute
posted by Brian Connor @ 7:56 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I understand what you mean by it is not what we "do" as much as what we "are" in the presence of evil, but can you recommend any reading material that might be helpful in understanding.
Thanks
A really fine book on deliverance is DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL SPIRITS by Francis MacNutt. He and his wife, Judith, run the Jacksonville Healing Center in Florida. They offer much material (printed, audio and video)thru their ministry. I don't have their website link, but you can probably easily find it.
An added word on "being" over "doing" in a deliverance: Ultimately, Christ is the deliverer. He alone has overcome the world. Outside of Him, we cannot "be" all that is necessary to conquer evil. So for however
righteous, pure, etc., we think we need to "be" to help someone in this way, our primary prerequisite is to "be" in Christ. The "breastplate of righteousness" we put on is His, not ours.
June sends Beth love.
Thank you so much for the information and mostly for the added word. It was just what I needed to hear. June remains much in my prayers, she is such a blessing to me.
Curses are a mystery to me. As I understand them, they are the work of evil spirits sent against a third party by someone who has entered a cooperative relationship with powers of darkness. For reasons I do not understand, sometimes believers feel their effects. Why? My two-fold guess is this:
First, believers have the fruit of sin in their lives. Although their sin-guilt is removed thru personal faith in Christ, the earthly consequences of sin remain. God is not mocked. He allows us to reap what we sow. Thus, sin in a Christian's life presents ground on which evil can take root and work. A curse against a believer feeds off unconfessed, unrepented sin.
Second, I think the effects of curses are sometimes allowed by God to challenge, test and grow people of faith. Job's example is the most famous. The reality of evil and earthly consequences is often not known until experienced.
But God is faithful to those who hand on in the face of trial. When we are faithful, He turns curses into blessings.
In fighting evil, we must remember to never send curses back to their source. Jesus teaches us to bless those who curse us and pray for those who persecute us. We forgive our enemies and intercede for them to the Father. In this, curses against us are transferred to Jesus who became a curse for us (Gal.3:13).
Hi, Dr. Connor, I have been trying to get in touch with you. The email on here is not correct. What is the current email? Thanks
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