Inner healing and deliverance are two works of God in Scripture: inner healing mends the heart's wounds, and deliverance frees a person from the oppression of evil spirits. For you, it means you can bring both your hurts and any spiritual oppression to Jesus, with people who will pray beside you.
Where does the Bible show Jesus doing both?
Jesus named both works early in His ministry, in the synagogue at Nazareth. He stood up to read from the book of the prophet Isaiah and found the place where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. — Luke 4:18 (King James Version)
Healing the brokenhearted and preaching deliverance to the captives stand side by side in one sentence, and the King James Version uses the very word deliverance here. Neither was a side issue; both belonged to the mission He was sent to fulfill. When you bring Him a broken heart, or an area of life that feels bound, you bring Him what He named as His own work.
Which part of a person needs healing and freedom?
In The Supernatural Now, Apostle Guillermo Maldonado places this work in the soul: the mind, the emotions and the will. In that teaching, a person who receives Jesus is born again in the spirit, while the soul still needs renewing, changing and delivering. A believer cannot be possessed, since the Holy Spirit lives within, but can be influenced in those three areas. Influence on the will, where decisions are made, can make obeying God a struggle.
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV)
Paul prayed this over believers, asking the God of peace to keep the whole person. Needing freedom in some area of your life does not mean you are not God's child. You can bring that area to Him in prayer, just as Paul brought the whole person before God.
Why do inner wounds and spiritual oppression belong together?
A wound can become an opening, as Apostle Maldonado's message Emotional Deliverance explains. Abuse, mistreatment or trauma can hurt the emotions and even harden them, until showing love or giving a hug feels hard. Such wounds can open a door for demonic powers to take hold. So, as the mind needs renewing, the emotions need healing. The same message keeps a balance: not every struggle comes from a demon.
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. — Psalm 147:3 (KJV)
A wound is something that happened to you, often through what someone else did. Naming it never blames the one who was hurt; it brings the hurt to the One who binds up wounds. Wounds like these also deserve skilled help: prayer never replaces a doctor's care, and doctors, counselors and medicine are good gifts from God.
Is deliverance a single moment or a process?
For most believers it is a process: in Overcoming Fear, Apostle Maldonado writes that “Deliverance is progressive in our lives.” The book calls complete deliverance at salvation uncommon. Most people are set free as they grow in the knowledge of the Word and in God. Some carry very deep problems that need careful help from a person trained in deliverance.
If you have prayed and still struggle, that does not mean you have failed, and it is no reason to stop. Keep bringing the matter to God, and keep letting others carry it with you in prayer.
What is the freedom for?
Freedom is for serving God: in Emotional Deliverance, Apostle Maldonado teaches that deliverance is a means to God's goal, not the goal itself. That goal is a person free to fulfill their purpose in life, enjoy the Christian life and serve God freely. Jesus spoke of this freedom in plain words:
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. — John 8:36 (KJV)
Scripture makes the same link between freedom and service. Zacharias prophesied that God's people, delivered out of the hand of their enemies, might serve Him without fear (Luke 1:74). Freedom in Christ makes room to love God and to serve the people He has placed around you.
Who carries on the ministry of deliverance today?
Jesus shared this ministry with His followers rather than keeping it to Himself. He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all devils (Luke 9:1).
Our deliverance ministry applies that pattern within the church, as care given by trained leaders. This is not a weight to carry alone.
How can you ask for prayer or deliverance?
Start with a person. If you would like someone to pray with you, we would love to. Our Help and Prayer Support page gives our phone number (305-382-3171) and a way to send a message. If you may be in immediate danger, contact your local emergency services, or a trusted person who can be with you now.
When you are ready to ask for deliverance, a private, confidential session can be requested through our deliverance page. Where you live, the pastor of a local church can also stand with you through it. Meanwhile, tell God plainly where it hurts and what holds you. You do not need special words to be heard.
Frequently asked questions
What is true deliverance according to the Bible?
True deliverance is God's own work through His Son. Colossians 1:13 names both sides of the rescue: deliverance from the power of darkness, and a place in the kingdom of His dear Son. If you belong to Christ, thank Him for it. Then ask a pastor to pray over any area where you still feel bound.
What is the spiritual meaning of deliverance?
Spiritually, deliverance is release for someone held captive. Acts 10:38 says Jesus went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him. The same Lord still cares for the oppressed. Name what holds you when you pray, and invite a trusted believer to stand with you.
Does deliverance replace a doctor or a counselor?
No. Seeking deliverance is never a reason to set treatment aside. Keep your appointments and follow your doctor's guidance while you bring your need to God in prayer. If a struggle feels too heavy, tell your doctor or counselor and a pastor, so that you do not carry it alone.
Related teaching from the store
- Inner Healing and Deliverance, a book by Apostle Maldonado, recommended on our deliverance page for anyone preparing to ask for ministry.
- Supernatural Deliverance, also by Apostle Maldonado, for a longer study of the subject.
- Inner Healing & Deliverance collection, where the books and manuals on this need sit together.
Published by King Jesus International Ministry. This article draws on Scripture, on King Jesus International Ministry's deliverance page, and on Apostle Guillermo Maldonado's book Overcoming Fear and his messages “Emotional Deliverance” (2021), “Why is Deliverance a Necessity?” and “Deliverance and Demons” (The Supernatural Now, 2026). It is offered for study and encouragement. It is not medical, psychological, or financial advice.