Foundational Preparation – Establishing Lordship and Spiritual Alignment
“You cannot cast out what you have welcomed.” – Derek Prince
Before stepping into deliverance, there needs to be some groundwork done. Deliverance is about walking into deeper freedom with Jesus. But it only works the way God intended when we’re aligned with Him. That starts with salvation, surrender, and separation from anything that’s not of Him.
This isn’t about performance or perfection but about coming under Jesus’s lordship, recognising that we are sinners who need him and the freedom from bondage that we recognise in our own lives.
1. Salvation and the New Birth
John 3:3 – “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”
Jesus said “Deliverance is the children’s bread” (Mark 7:27). In other words, Deliverance is for the sons and daughters of God.
Who are the sons and daughters of God? Those who put their faith in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Saviour: “For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus” – Gal 3:26.
Those who do so are become a new creation through the power of the Holy Spirit and go from death to life, darkness to light, old to new: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” – 2 Cor 5:17.
The legal right for our spiritual freedom is secured through Jesus’ broken body and shed blood, but we access that freedom through repentance, acceptance of Jesus as both our redeemer and Lord with genuine faith and surrender.
Those who have not made Jesus Lord of their life can be delivered temporarily, however the danger here is that without the Spirit of God living in the person, the enemy comes back even worse than before (see Matthew 12:43–45).
2. Making Jesus Lord
Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Luke 6:46 – “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
What does it mean to put your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour?
Real freedom comes when we place everything in our lives under His Lordship – to listen to His teachings and commands in the Bible.. and to obey them! Surrender is a lifestyle.
Many people say “Jesus is Lord”, but hold back areas of their lives – whether that be in regards to relationships, habits, decisions, etc.
Partial surrender leaves areas in our lives that are not under Jesus’ Lordship and are therefore open doors for the enemy to attack.
3. Renouncing False Allegiances and Agreements with Darkness
Acts 19:18–20 – “Many who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done… They brought their scrolls and burned them publicly.”
Deliverance isn’t just about saying “sorry”—it’s about cutting ties. When people came to faith in the early church, they didn’t just believe quietly—they brought out the things that once tied them to darkness and got rid of them for good.
Renunciation means breaking agreement with anything that’s not of God. That could include:
- Occult practices – horoscopes, crystals, witchcraft, energy healing, séances, etc.
- False religions or spiritual paths – New Age, Eastern mysticism, Freemasonry, ancestral worship
- Sexual sin or soul ties – 1 Corinthians 6:16–20 speaks to how spiritual connection can be formed through intimacy
- Bitterness, unforgiveness, and inner vows – Ephesians 4:26–27 warns how these give the devil a foothold
Freedom starts when we stop covering things up and start naming them. When we renounce these things, we’re breaking the enemy’s grip and taking back the territory.
Prayer of Commitment and Renunciation:
“Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God and the only way to the Father. I give You full authority over my life. I repent for every sin—known and unknown—and ask for Your forgiveness. Wash me clean with Your blood. I renounce Satan and all his works. I break every agreement I’ve made with darkness—whether through occult practices, false beliefs, sexual sin, or unforgiveness. I sever every tie and declare that I belong to You alone. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Before Moving Forward
If you’re getting ready for deliverance ministry, take a moment to check in with your heart:
- Have I truly accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord?
- Am I committed to following Him, not just believing in Him?
- Have I renounced all spiritual allegiances that go against Christ?
- Am I willing to let the Holy Spirit lead me from here?
If any of those answers feel unsure, don’t worry. Raise anything that seems unresolved, unclear or uncertain with your deliverance prayer team or your Christian support community. The goal here isn’t to rush but to walk into the full freedom Jesus has purchased for you. He is the author and finisher of your faith.