The Secondary Chairs

Everything begins here. Inner healing/deliverance is not about proving how powerful we are. It is not about becoming fascinated with demons. It is not about discovering how much information we can extract from darkness. In fact, on our own, we have no ability and no credibility for accomplishing these things — it is only through the authority of who we represent that this is possible.

Jesus is the center. When the seventy-two returned after seeing demons submit to them, Jesus immediately redirected their attention: "Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." — Luke 10:20

The authority belongs to Christ. The freedom belongs to Christ. The person receiving ministry belongs to Christ (this is also critical). And the glory belongs to Christ.

Therefore, an intercessor's internal posture should continually be: Jesus, what are You doing right now, and how can I agree with You?

A healthy deliverance team needs order. Paul writes, as Jack is so kind to remind us: "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace." — 1 Corinthians 14:33. And: "But all things should be done decently and in order." — 1 Corinthians 14:40

Normally, one person should clearly lead the session. That leader carries the conversation and directs the ministry.

The secondary-chair intercessor normally does not:

• interrupt the leader
• independently interrogate spirits
• begin issuing competing commands
• announce every impression
• diagnose the recipient
• touch the recipient without permission
• turn the session into several simultaneous prayer conversations

You may have spiritual authority in Christ, but authority does not require disorder. Submission to healthy team structure is not weakness — it is maturity.

Paul writes: "Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." — Ephesians 6:18

Notice where this occurs — it comes immediately after Paul's description of spiritual warfare and the armor of God. The intercessor should therefore remain actively engaged throughout the session. You may be outwardly quiet while inwardly praying intensely.

Your prayer might be something as deep and genuine, yet simple as:

• "Jesus, reveal truth."
• "Holy Spirit, bring this person into freedom."
• "Father, expose every lie."
• "Jesus, bring Your peace into this memory."
• "Holy Spirit, give the leader wisdom."
• "Lord, reveal anything that needs repentance, forgiveness, healing, or surrender."

Quiet does not mean passive. Sometimes the person praying most intensely in the room may be the quietest, with the most significant impact.

Both can be important, but it is easy during inner healing/deliverance ministry to become so focused on darkness that the person disappears from our attention. Jesus never lost sight of the person. That said, let's be careful that intercession does not consist primarily of "Demon, I rebuke you."

Instead, much of our prayer should be directed toward God:

• "Father, let Your love become real to them."
• "Jesus, reveal the truth that destroys this lie."
• "Holy Spirit, bring healing into this wounded place."
• "Give them courage to forgive."
• "Give them strength to renounce this agreement."
• "Remind them who they are in Christ."

Inner healing and deliverance should ultimately move someone toward Jesus, not merely away from darkness.

Intercessors should be listening while they pray. This is vital for words of wisdom, knowledge, as well as discernment. The trouble here is that most people have yet to learn how to hear God's voice. This will be another topic of focus very, very soon.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul identifies "the ability to distinguish between spirits" among the manifestations of the Spirit. But discernment must be handled humbly. During prayer you may receive:

• a Scripture
• a word
• a mental picture
• a particular subject
• a memory that comes to mind
• a sense that forgiveness may be involved
• an impression concerning fear, shame, rejection, trauma, or another issue

Do not immediately assume that God told you. Or that it is even of God initially. Instead, hold impressions humbly. Ask, "Lord, is this from You?"

Then, when appropriate, quietly communicate it to the leader. For example: "I may be wrong, but while praying I keep thinking about rejection. Would you weigh that?" That is healthy discernment and it leaves room for testing.

Scripture instructs us to "Test everything; hold fast what is good." — 1 Thessalonians 5:21

A manifestation is not the goal and not even preferred most times. Freedom is. Someone may:

• shake
• cry
• cough
• become angry
• feel pressure
• feel nothing
• experience memories
• become emotional
• or remain completely calm

Do not assume every physical or emotional reaction is demonic. People are complex spiritual, emotional, psychological, and physical beings. Our responsibility is not to manufacture supernatural explanations — our responsibility is to minister truthfully and compassionately.

When something unusual happens, the intercessor should remain calm. Do not ever become intrigued or impressed by darkness. There is no need to study it or dissect it.

A very popular and useful ministry illustration that helps us understand this scenario in simplicity is the concept of "garbage and rats." The idea is simple: if garbage attracts rats, chasing away the rats without removing the garbage leaves the underlying attraction untouched.

In ministry terms, spiritual oppression may sometimes attach itself to unresolved areas such as:

• unforgiveness
• habitual sin
• destructive agreements
• occult involvement
• trauma
• fear
• hatred
• shame
• bitterness
• false beliefs

Therefore, instead of merely praying for the demon to leave or to release its control, an intercessor might better approach this situation with: "Holy Spirit, expose whatever gives darkness a foothold."

Also notice Paul's warning: "Be angry and do not sin... and give no opportunity to the devil." — Ephesians 4:26–27. See what gives opportunity now or again? Sin. Jesus said "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." — John 5:14. Why would something worse? Because we can welcome and reintroduce even more evil via open doors through sin.

So in these sessions, the goal is not merely confrontation and expulsion — the goal is freedom grounded in truth, repentance, forgiveness, healing, and allegiance to Jesus.

Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." — John 8:32

Most areas of bondage are reinforced by lies:

• "God abandoned me."
• "I am worthless."
• "I will always be this way."
• "Nobody can love me."
• "What happened to me defines me."
• "God could never forgive me."

Intercessors should continually ask, "Holy Spirit, what truth does this person need right now?" The answer may be Scripture. Or a word of knowledge or wisdom. When appropriate, pass that to the leader rather than immediately interrupting the session.

The intercessor is also praying for the person leading ministry. Pray:

• "Give them wisdom."
• "Give them discernment."
• "Keep them compassionate."
• "Help them recognize what matters and ignore what doesn't."
• "Protect them from pride."
• "Give them the right question."
• "Show them when to press forward and when to stop."

This resembles the picture of Aaron and Hur supporting Moses while Israel fought Amalek: "But Moses' hands grew weary... Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side." — Exodus 17:12

The intercessor helps hold up the hands of the person currently leading. That is secondary-chair ministry.

When you do not know what to pray, pray the Word. Here are a few common examples to keep nearby:

Scripture keeps the intercessor grounded when emotions in the room become intense.

There will be moments when the Holy Spirit may give an intercessor something important. The key is timing and submission.

Unless the leader has established another system, do not interrupt immediately. Write it down. Continue praying. If the impression remains strong, quietly tell the leader at an appropriate pause or slip him or her the note.

A simple model is:

Not: Receive → Immediately announce. This protects everyone in the room.

Deliverance ministry is particularly vulnerable to spiritual pride. One intercessor gets a word. Another sees something. Another believes they know the spirit involved. Soon everyone is talking. That is not necessarily spiritual power — sometimes it is simply noise and distraction, tools used by the enemy.

Paul's teaching concerning spiritual gifts is important here: "The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets." — 1 Corinthians 14:32

A genuine spiritual impression does not require you to lose self-control. The Holy Spirit produces self-control. — Galatians 5:22–23

You can receive something from God and quietly hold it until the proper moment. If it is from God, that moment will come.

This may be the most important lesson of all these. The person sitting in front of you is not a ministry project. They are not "a deliverance." They are a human being Jesus loves and has stepped out in faith hoping you can help connect them more deeply with Christ.

They may be carrying:

• trauma
• abuse
• shame
• addiction
• rejection
• grief
• sexual wounds
• family pain
• fear
• confusion
• years of secrecy

Never stare at manifestations and never back away. Never appear fascinated. Never laugh. Never treat someone's suffering like spiritual entertainment. Maintain dignity. Maintain confidentiality. Maintain compassion.

Jesus' ministry repeatedly flowed from compassion — so should ours. If our deliverance ministry becomes powerful but ceases to be compassionate, something has gone badly wrong, and He who gives can also take away. Bigger than this though, we are representing our Kingdom, and our Father. Be careful the representation that you promote.

This is an essential truth in inner healing and deliverance. Not every thought is a demon. Not every sickness is a demon. Not every addiction is a demon. Not every emotional wound is a demon. Not every mental-health struggle is demonic oppression.

Scripture recognizes multiple sources of human struggle, including:

• the flesh — Galatians 5:16–21
• the world — 1 John 2:15–17
• sin — James 1:14–15
• spiritual opposition — Ephesians 6:12
• physical weakness and illness — 1 Timothy 5:23
• grief and emotional anguish — numerous biblical examples

Discernment means discovering what actually needs ministry rather than forcing every problem into some idea of demonization. That simply isn't true or biblical.

What happens in the room stays in the room — except where established safeguarding requirements require appropriate reporting or in communicating with necessary pastoral staff.

Never turn someone's deliverance session into a testimony without their permission. Never tell another church member or friend, "You wouldn't believe what happened today." Never use someone's vulnerability as a ministry story. You were entrusted with sacred information. Treat it accordingly.

The ministry is not finished simply because a confrontation ends. During and after the closing inner healing prayer, pray for the person to be filled with:

• the Holy Spirit
• peace
• truth
• love
• joy
• courage
• wisdom
• spiritual hunger

Paul says: "Be filled with the Spirit." — Ephesians 5:18

We are not merely interested in what leaves; we need to care deeply about what fills the person's life afterward. Pray that Jesus occupies every place previously surrendered to fear, lies, sin, bitterness, shame, or darkness.