Old School Deliverance

Text: Acts 19:11–20 Series: Retro Church (Part 3) Theme: In a generation fascinated with the occult and shallow spiritual substitutes, it’s time to return to Old School Deliverance—the kind that is Real, Radical, and Rooted in the name, the power, and the blood of Jesus Christ.

INTRODUCTION

Deliverance = to rescue from danger | to save

Old School Deliverance is the power of God setting people free from the power of Satan.

Daimonizomai (δαιμονίζομαι) means to be under the influence or power of a demon. It does not always imply full possession (as in total control), but can range from oppression to severe spiritual torment or control.

Mental and Emotional Bondage

Fear & Anxiety (2 Timothy 1:7)

Depression / Hopelessness (Psalm 42:11)

Bitterness / Unforgiveness (Hebrews 12:15)

Self-hatred / Shame / Rejection (Isaiah 61:7)

Suicidal thoughts (Psalm 118:17)

Demonic Influence or Oppression

Occult involvement (Acts 19:19, Deuteronomy 18:10–12)

Witchcraft / Sorcery / Divination (Galatians 5:20)

False religions / Idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:20)

Generational curses (Exodus 20:5, Lamentations 5:7)

Sexual Sin and Immorality

Pornography addiction

Adultery / Fornication

Homosexual behavior (Romans 1:26–27)

Sexual abuse trauma

Unholy soul ties (1 Corinthians 6:15–17)

Addictions

Alcoholism (Proverbs 23:29–35)

Drug use / mind-altering substances (Revelation 9:21, Greek: pharmakeia)

Food addiction / gluttony

Nicotine, gambling, or screen addiction

Controlling or Corrupting Spirits

Spirit of Jezebel (control, manipulation – Revelation 2:20)

Spirit of pride or rebellion (James 4:6, 1 Samuel 15:23)

Spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11)

Spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3)

Spirit of bondage (Romans 8:15)

Relational/Behavioral Patterns

Anger and rage (Ephesians 4:31)

Lying / deceitfulness

Envy / jealousy

Control / domination

Isolation or antisocial behavior

MESSAGE POINTS

Old School Deliverance is Real

Acts 19:11–16 NKJV

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Old School Deliverance is Real in Power.

Acts 19:11–12 NKJV

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

Unusual = unexpected.

God did unexpected things in unexpected ways through the hands of Paul.

Verse 12 indicates that at least some of the sicknesses were the result of evil spirits.

God worked through items that Paul used for working with his hands making tents:

Handkerchiefs = sweatbands.

Aprons = tied around the waist.

There was no power in the items, but they were a point of contact for the person to release their faith toward God.

Old School Deliverance is Real in Authority.

Acts 19:13–16 NKJV

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Itinerant = traveled from place to place.

They were trying to imitate Paul’s formula.

They failed because they had no personal relationship with Jesus and therefore had no authority over evil spirits.

Some only know “the Jesus the pastor preaches” or “the Jesus my spouse believes in.”

But when you have a personal relationship with Jesus, you have the authority in His name over evil spirits.

Evil spirits know who their enemies are and they do not waste their time on people who are not a threat.

OLD SCHOOL DELIVERANCE IS REAL AND HAS THE POWER TO SET THE CAPTIVE FREE!

Old School Deliverance is Radical

Old School Deliverance is Radical in Repentance.

Acts 19:17–18 NKJV

17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.

Ephesus was a demonic stronghold in Paul’s day.

It was a center of pagan worship.

Temple of Artemis (Diana).

Magic arts, sorcery, witchcraft.

So it was a radical change for the name of Jesus to be magnified and for people to confessing and repenting of their sins.

This incident with the 7 sons of Sceva opened their eyes that they were involved in the demonic.

Old School Deliverance is Radical in Demolishing Demonic Strongholds.

Acts 19:19 NKJV

19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.

They repented of their connection to paganism and the occult.

But they did not leave the stronghold in place.

They demolished the strongholds in their lives by destroying their spell books and magic items.

OLD SCHOOL DELIVERANCE IS RADICAL AND HAS THE POWER TO COMPLETELY TRANSFORM LIVES!

Old School Deliverance is Rooted

Acts 19:20 NKJV

20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

Old School Deliverance is Rooted in the Name, Power, and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Jesus has all authority over heaven and earth.

That means He also has authority over evil spirits, sicknesses, demonic oppression: anything that we might need deliverance from.

Old School Deliverance is Rooted in Ongoing Relationship with Jesus.

Notice that “the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”

That means this was not a one-night revival.

God’s Word and the Kingdom of God began to take root in Ephesus in the very heart of paganism in Paul’s day.

OLD SCHOOL DELIVERANCE IS ROOTED AND HAS THE POWER TO MAKE TRANSFORMATION PERMANENT.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING IF TIME ALLOWS

7 Essential Keys to Old School Deliverance

Recognize that you need deliverance.

Admit there is a problem.

Christians can be demonized.

Repent of any known sins.

Repentance is the key to deliverance.

Turn your back on your sin and open the door of your heart to Christ.

Renounce any demonic authority over your life.

Break any contracts the demonic has over your life.

Remove any demonic objects.

Release the demonic control over your life.

Serve the demonic an eviction notice.

Others can pray for you, but you must be willing to release it.

Replace what God delivers you from with His Word.

Removal of demonic strongholds will leave a void.

You must fill the now empty space with the things of God.

Resist the devil.

He will come back and try to place you in bondage again.

When you submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee.

Remain rooted in a spiritual congregation.

You must feed your relationship with Christ daily.

You must fellowship with others on the same spiritual journey.

CALL TO ACTION

Do you need deliverance from sickness?

Do you need deliverance from addictions?

Do you need deliverance from demonization?