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It’s not uncommon for me to receive emails daily—often from women across the world who are wrestling with their past involvement in unbiblical teachings. Many share stories of how God, in His mercy, has brought them out of the Word of Faith movement, the New Apostolic Reformation, or the modern deliverance movement. Some are still sorting through the damage, others are just beginning to question what they’ve been taught, and many are seeking assurance that the truth really does set them free.
What’s becoming more frequent, and more heartbreaking, are the emails I receive from mothers who were never involved in deliverance teachings themselves, but who have suffered relational devastation because their adult children now believe they carry generational curses. These moms have been cut off, told not to send gifts or even family photos—out of fear that a demon might be transmitted through such objects. In the name of spiritual warfare, they’ve been cast aside.
A Shackling Belief System
The modern deliverance movement promises freedom, but it functions as a system of spiritual bondage. It often replaces sound doctrine with sensationalism and leaves people in a state of constant fear and confusion. What I’ve seen, and what many others have experienced, is this: everything becomes filtered through the lens of demons. Every hardship, illness, temptation, or emotion is tied back to a supposed spiritual stronghold or curse. People are taught to look within for demons rather than looking to Christ for sanctification.
Coming out of that movement is often disorienting. There is grief, conviction, and a deep sense of regret for once believing such things and encouraging others to do the same. Some even question whether their current suffering is proof that demonic attachments remain—after all, that’s what they were taught.
Wrestling with Questions After Leaving
Even after leaving physically, the spiritual and emotional aftermath can linger. You may be asking:
- “Are these difficulties in my life caused by demons?”
- “What if I missed a curse?”
- “How do I know I’m really free?”
These are not uncommon questions. And if you’re asking them, I want to say with deep compassion—you are not alone. Many are walking the same path. And it is not an easy one. But there is hope.
Yes, There Is Freedom in Christ
Here’s the truth: freedom does not come from rituals, renunciations, or deliverance ministers. Freedom comes from Jesus Christ alone.
The glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ shines brightly in even the darkest places. Jesus died for our sins, bore the wrath of God on the cross, paid our debt in full, and rose from the dead in victory. If you are in Christ, then you have already been delivered—from the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13–14).
You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). You are no longer a slave to sin, but a child of God. You don’t need to be re-delivered. You need to be renewed by the Word of God.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
— Romans 8:1
True Spiritual Warfare
Yes, we are in a spiritual battle. But the deliverance movement often gets the direction of that battle wrong.
For those in Christ, the war is not within in the form of indwelling demons—it is outside, in the temptations of the world, the schemes of the devil, and the struggle against the flesh. And God has given us everything we need to stand: His Word, His Spirit, prayer, and the local church.
You are not left to fight alone. You are not under condemnation. And you are not a slave to fear.
Healing Through the Word and the Church
If you’ve come out of deliverance ministry, let me encourage you:
- Abide in Scripture daily.
- Find a sound local church.
- Surround yourself with believers who will walk with you in grace and truth.
- Rest in Christ. You are safe in Him.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not only sufficient to save—it is sufficient to heal.
When Loved Ones Are Still Deceived
To those whose family members are still entrenched in the deliverance movement: I see you. And more importantly, the Lord sees you.
You may be experiencing estrangement, rejection, or sorrow over broken relationships. Keep praying. Be faithful in truth and gentle in spirit. Speak the truth in love when the Lord gives opportunity. And trust that God is still in the business of rescuing the deceived. He did it for you. He can do it for them.
A Final Word of Hope
If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ, then you are no longer in darkness. You are a new creation. You are being conformed to the image of Christ—not by deliverance rituals, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
— John 8:36
🎧 Listen: “Delivered from Deliverance Ministry – Testimonies of Hope” – The Lovesick Scribe Podcast
Available on Apple Podcasts
Dawn Hill is a Christian blogger known as The Lovesick Scribe, and the host of The Lovesick Scribe Podcast. She is passionate about sharing the truth and pointing others back to Jesus Christ through the written Word as the standard of authority for Christian living and instruction while being led by the Holy Spirit into maturity. She is the author of NonProphet Woke: The Reformation of a Modern-Day Disciple. She writes articles for Christianity.com, Servants of Grace, and her blog posts have been shared by individuals such as Tim Challies. She will be featured in the upcoming docuseries, American Gospel: Spirit and Fire. She co-leads a women’s support group with Emily Massey called Snatched from the Flames, where they minister to women who have come out of the hypercharismatic and New Apostolic Reformation movement. She is a wife to Nicholas and a mother to Anabel and Ephraim. You can follow her on The Lovesick Scribe and Instagram.
