Deliverance is one of the most powerful expressions of Jesus’ ministry. It’s also one of the easiest to mishandle.
Many believers step into deliverance with pure hearts but poor preparation. The result? They cause more fear than freedom, more trauma than healing, and sometimes open spiritual doors they don’t know how to close.
In Experiences of the Paranormal: Real Conversations With Demons, Terry Fox shares story after story where well-meaning Christians made critical mistakes that complicated the spiritual lives of others, and sometimes themselves.
From mistaking the flesh for the demonic, to ministering without authority, to driving people into shame instead of freedom, the consequences were very real.
This blog outlines 7 major mistakes ministers make when attempting deliverance, and how to avoid them.
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1. Mistaking Mental Illness for a Demon
The Mistake:
Not every person claiming to hear voices is possessed. Some people are mentally ill.
There have been cases where a person was labeled “possessed” but they were mentally ill. Ministers tried casting out a spirit of emotional instability. What the person needed was mental health care with compassion and discipleship.
How to Avoid It:
Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment. Some people have demons. Some people have a mental illness. Some people have both. Study Chapter 8 in my book, “Experiences of the Paranormal: Real Conversations with Demons” about mental health. Pray for wisdom to understand the difference between mental illness and spiritual oppression. Don’t assume — investigate.
2. Public Shaming During Deliverance
The Mistake:
Deliverance should never humiliate. In the past, some individuals were forced to confess sins in front of large groups, which was embarrassing and humiliating. These actions not only break trust. They can deepen trauma.
How to Avoid It:
Use safe, private spaces. Deliverance should be done privately, with a small deliverance team, to maintain privacy. Protect their dignity. Jesus ministered deliverance with compassion, not spectacle.
3. Ministering Without Authority or Spiritual Covering
The Mistake:
Fox warns that demons don’t just obey volume. They respond to authority. He shares a chilling case where a man attempted deliverance while hiding secret sin. The demon resisted, and exposed the minister publicly.
How to Avoid It:
Before ministering deliverance, examine your own walk with God. Repent of anything hidden. Walk in the Spirit. If you are a new believer, serve under a mature leader. Never engage in deliverance if you’re unsure of your authority.
4. Stopping Due to Physical Reactions
The Mistake:
There have been cases where people were praying over someone and demons began to manifest, forcing them to scream, fall, or vomit. The people praying stopped because the reactions scared them. Stopping at this point because of these physical reactions can be a mistake. These reactions are common, and they are a sign that there are demons that need to be exposed and expelled.
How to Avoid It:
Expect physical reactions. The person may growl or scream or cuss at you. They can kick or physically hit you. The demon in them can tell people about your sins. They can make up lies about you. It is not usually a fun experience. If you do a deliverance, do the deliverance in a safe space so the person will not be hurt. Have some other people there to help hold the person so they will not fall out of their chair or hurt anyone. If you are worried you are in over your head, before you attempt a deliverance on your own, call someone more experienced to help you.
5. Failing to Close Spiritual Doors After Deliverance
The Mistake:
Fox describes people who were set free, only to have the spirits return because the open doors weren’t closed because of unrepented sin, cursed objects, soul ties, or unforgiveness.
How to Avoid It:
During deliverance, walk through each door with the person. Have them pray prayers of renunciation, forgiveness, and cleansing. Make sure the person is saved. Remove any items the Holy Spirit highlights. Teach them how to stay filled. Encourage the person to join a church or find some other Bible believing people with whom they can fellowship. They need to be taught how to put on the full armor of God through prayer.
6. Using Unbiblical Rituals or Hype
The Mistake:
Fox has witnessed ministers using salt circles, shouting matches, holy oil overload, and even making people wear crosses, as if the object, not Jesus, had power.
How to Avoid It:
Stick to Scripture. Use Jesus’ model: authority, repentance, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. Don’t add drama or superstition. God doesn’t need theatrics. He needs truth and obedience.
7. Not Providing Aftercare or Discipleship
The Mistake:
Deliverance is not an endpoint. It’s the beginning of spiritual growth. Fox shares that many people fall back into bondage because they’re never discipled after being set free.
How to Avoid It:
Follow up. Help the person connect with a mentor, Bible study, or discipleship group. Encourage them to stay in the Word, worship, and community. Deliverance is personal. But freedom is maintained together.
Do you know, Why Demons Return and How to Stop It?
Final Thoughts:
Deliverance ministry is not about showing power. It’s about setting captives free, biblically, and responsibly.
If you feel called to help others walk in freedom, do it with humility. Let the Holy Spirit lead. Be teachable. Make Scripture your foundation, not emotion. And above all, never forget the person in front of you is not your project. They are God’s child.
Terry Fox’s Experiences of the Paranormal: Real Conversations With Demons is not just a deliverance ministry book. It’s a training manual written through years of hard-earned wisdom. Use it to learn what works. Use it to learn what doesn’t. And above all, minister freedom the way Jesus did with love, authority, and truth.
