on the release service

Statement by the Supreme Church Council of the Pentecostal Church in Poland on the ministry of deliverance

1. Based on the authority of the Bible, we believe and teach that the Lord Jesus Christ has achieved complete victory over Satan and the demons (Luke 10:18; John 12:31–32; Col 2:14–15; Heb 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Rev 12:7–9). The Son of God has authority and power over all spiritual powers and principalities (Mark 1:24–26; Eph 1:20–23; Phil 2:9–11).

2. When Christ comes a second time, Satan and the demons will be imprisoned and punished (2 Pet 2:4; Jude 1:6; Rev 20:1–10). For now, however, they remain active, and God’s people must wage war against them (2 Cor 2:11; 11:3–4; Eph 4:27; 6:10–12; 1 Pet 5:8; Rev 12:9–17).

3. Through His death on the cross and the glory of His resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ broke Satan’s power over those who believe in the Gospel (Col 2:13–15; Heb 2:14–15). Conversion to Christ and faith in the Gospel, confirmed by baptism in water, are sufficient to break the spiritual consequences of sin by virtue of the regeneration into new life that takes place (Rom 8:1–4; 2 Cor 5:17–18; Gal 3:13; Col 1:12–13).

4. As a child of God, a temple of the Holy Spirit and bearing the seal of the Holy Spirit, a Christian is the exclusive possession of God (Matt 12:28–29; John 1:12–14; 1 Cor 6:19–20; Eph 1:13–14; Col 1:13; 2:1; 1 John 3:1).

5. A Christian need not live in fear of Satan and evil spirits, but in the freedom, joy and peace which God bestows so generously (Rom 8:14–16), should serve in the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority which the Lord Christ has granted to his followers, extending the Kingdom of God by proclaiming the Gospel and following Christ (Matt 16:18; Mark 3:15; 16:15–20; Acts 6:7; 19:20).

6. A Christian need not fear that their failings and imperfections will cause them to lose their identity in Christ and fall into Satan’s bondage or become demon-possessed, provided they confess their sins to God and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, sanctify their lives (Rom 8:31–39; Heb 12:14–17; Jas 4:7; 1 John 1:7–2:2).

7. Sanctification in the life of a believer is not necessarily linked to deliverance from demonic bondage, but to the need for the believer’s character to be continually transformed under the influence of the Holy Spirit and guided by the Word of God (Gal 5:16–25; Eph 4:22–32; Col 3:5–14; Phil 3:12–13; 1 Thess 5:23–24).

8. A believer who consciously persists in sin and disregards God’s grace may expose themselves to the influence of demons and come under their control (Matt 12:43–45; Luke 11:24–26; Rom 2:3–5; 2 Pet 2:20). However, this is an extreme consequence of rejecting God and salvation in Christ, rather than an automatic consequence of Christian imperfection (Heb 6:4–6; 10:26–29).

9. In order to confront the demonic forces that enslave people, one must be prepared, above all, in the service of evangelism and mission (Acts 8:4–7; 16:16–18; 19:11–16). Victory over evil spirits is possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit and in the authority of the name of Jesus Christ.

10. Possession by evil spirits must not be confused with a mental or physical illness, nor should behaviour that deviates from the norm be automatically attributed to demonic influence (Matt 4:23–24; Luke 4:38–41 cf. Matt 17:15–18; Mark 7:31–35 cf. Mark 9:17–27; Matt 12:22 and Luke 6:18–19 cf. Matt 8:16 and Mark 1:32–34; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38 cf. John 5:6–9 and John 9:1–3). A diagnosis of a person’s spiritual or physical condition must be accompanied by concern for the person and a sense of responsibility for one’s words and practical actions.

11. Pastoral ethics require us to exercise discretion regarding both the spiritual and psychological issues experienced by those in our ministry.

12. We recognise the professional competence of qualified and registered doctors and therapists. Where necessary, pastoral carers should encourage people who are struggling with issues that may indicate a medical condition to seek help from these specialists.