Deliverance – Scriptural case studies

Ken Fish presents three scriptural case studies to illustrate the concept of demonization, along with related testimonial stories:

1. The Man with an Unclean Spirit in the Synagogue (Mark 1:21-28)

• Scriptural Account: This passage describes Jesus entering a synagogue in Capernaum on the Sabbath and teaching with authority. A man with an unclean spirit cries out, challenging Jesus and acknowledging him as the Holy One of God. Jesus rebukes the spirit, commanding it to be silent and to come out of the man. The unclean spirit throws the man into convulsions and cries out loudly before leaving him.
• Key Points:
  • The term “unclean spirit” is significant, as it relates to violations of the Mosaic Law, suggesting that demonization can be connected to moral transgressions.
  • The man’s demonization was not immediately obvious; he was seemingly just another person attending the synagogue.
  • The deliverance was public and demonstrated the authority of Jesus.
  • The demon’s exit was not silent, it involved convulsions and a loud cry, challenging the idea of “quiet deliverance”.
• Testimonial Story: Ken shares that in his experience when demons start to vocalize it is in the four to six range on a scale of 1 to 10. At levels one to three demons rarely vocalize but they might project thoughts.
• Relevance: This case study illustrates that demonization can be present even in seemingly normal individuals, and that deliverance involves a power encounter. It also provides an example of demons manifesting loudly, contradicting the idea of quiet deliverance.

2. The Boy with a Mute Spirit (Mark 9:14-29)

• Scriptural Account: This passage recounts a father bringing his son to Jesus, explaining that the boy has a spirit that makes him mute. When the spirit seizes him, it throws him into convulsions, causing him to foam at the mouth and grind his teeth. The disciples of Jesus were unable to cast out the spirit. After rebuking the disciples for their lack of faith, Jesus commands the deaf and mute spirit to come out of the boy and never return. The boy is healed and appears as if dead but Jesus raises him up.
• Key Points:
  • The boy’s symptoms include muteness, convulsions, foaming at the mouth, and rigidness, impacting him spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and socially.
  • The disciples’ failure to cast out the demon highlights the need for spiritual depth and faith in deliverance ministry.
  • The demon manifests upon the arrival of Jesus, indicating Jesus’ authority and the ability to provoke the demons into activity.
  • This deliverance was done in semi-privacy because the crowd had gathered.
  • Demons can put up a battle during deliverance
• Testimonial Story: Ken shares a story of people in Taiwan who had abandoned their belief in demonic manifestations, due to teaching at North American seminaries and that when they were in a service with him the demons started “popping out everywhere”.
• Relevance: This case demonstrates that demonization can manifest in various physical and mental symptoms, and highlights the importance of faith, prayer, and fasting in effective deliverance ministry. It also shows the reality of spiritual warfare and the power of Jesus’s authority. The account stresses the importance of a mature spirituality when dealing with such matters.

3. Deliverance in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8)

• Scriptural Account: This passage describes Philip preaching in Samaria, and people paying attention to his words because of the signs and wonders he was performing. Unclean spirits were crying out with a loud voice and coming out of people who had them. Additionally, many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
• Key Points:
  • This story demonstrates the use of deliverance in an evangelistic setting.
  • The signs, including deliverance, validated the message of the gospel.
  • This is an example of loud deliverance.
• Testimonial Story: The speaker shares a story of Catherine Crick who preaches in city parks and people get delivered in her meetings and the speaker shares that Greg Locke has also done this in large tent revivals.
• Relevance: This case illustrates that deliverance is not only a personal matter but can also be a tool for evangelism. It shows that demonic influence can manifest in various forms of physical and spiritual ailments. The fact that the signs and wonders validated the preaching shows a need for the church to carry these.

• Title: Deliverance in the Modern Age
• Speaker: Ken Fish
• Start time: 37:59
• End time: 1:21:07

Orbis Ministries – Link to Ken Fish’s Ministry material.