The Bible paints vivid stories of spiritual affliction, possession, and healing — stirring accounts that have captivated Christians for over two millennia, while also sparking vibrant conversations about the relationship between good and evil.
The discussion over spiritual warfare and the levels to which people face affliction has also ignited ongoing theological debate. Among the terms to emerge in this ever-complex discussion is “deliverance,” a word sometimes interchangeably used for “exorcism.”
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“Deliverance is the act of getting free from the burdens and the trauma that the enemy has had an inroad into our lives for,” Bible teacher Jareb Nott recently told “Billy Hallowell’s Playing With Fire Podcast.” “Deliverance [is] simply a matter of ministering freedom and removing the demonic attachments that really have come into our lives.”
Nott and his wife, Petra, are coauthors of the book “The Science of Deliverance: How Spiritual Freedom Brings Physical Healing,” and operate a deliverance ministry and train others to help set people free from demonic influence.
Listen to them explain their views on how pornography and other issues have demonic elements:
Nott explained the differences between people who are completely overtaken by the demonic — individuals who have fully committed themselves to evil — and those who struggle with certain issues or in various arenas in their lives.
Full possession, he said, is rare. But issues like pornography, among other struggles, are far less irregular and can open believers up to spiritual problems.
“Most people, they’re not going to fully commit their lives to Satan,” he said. “What we see frequently is there are areas in our life, say the gates of pornography. … our eyes, our ears. The things that we are involved in because they’re enticing.”
When people “dip their toes” into such sinful behavior, Nott said it can have dire consequences.