Doors to Demonic Oppression
The ministry of deliverance is the ministry of Jesus. Jesus not only brought people into the light through a revelation of God’s love through salvation and repentance, He overcame darkness. By removing the demonic oppression that bound people, He made space for His light to transform those oppressed by the devil. It is a call for all us believers to walk in this aspect of His ministry (ref Mark 16:15-18).
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Mark 16:15-18 NASB
The Word also says, that my people perish for lack of knowledge (ref Hosea 4:6). Knowledge carries power. Especially, when we are dealing with demonic oppression. The enemy loves to find any door he can to oppress God’s people (ref 1 Peter 5:8-11). In fact, he is a legalist. So it’s important if you are going to cast out demons that you first have an understanding of how people become demonized. These are keys in setting people free. Keep in mind, deliverance ministry should never be made into a formula but these are general doorways that once closed are extremely effective in bringing freedom.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children. Hosea 4:6
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:8-11
I have categorized doors to demonic oppression into six key areas. Often addressing doors in multiple areas will be necessary in ministering people into freedom. Keep in mind demonic oppression is another word for demonization. People often like to distinguish between demonic oppression and possession but the Word does not differentiate—people are either demonized or not.
Unforgiveness
When we receive the gift of grace it comes simply by repentance of sin and belief in Jesus as our Savior—our only way to reconciliation with God. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God’s grace covers all our sins. Sin, which was once punishable by death, is now absolved under the blood of Jesus and forgiven bringing us into restoration with God. However, the Word says that one requirement to walk in this grace is our forgiveness for others. Specifically, the word says if we do not forgive others of their transgressions against us, God cannot, in turn, forgive us. Without God’s forgiveness we are not under grace, and God’s grace is a requirement of deliverance. We overcome the devil by the blood of the lamb. That blood is only available if we extend God’s grace to others.
For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses. Matthew 6:14-15
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8
2. Unconfessed Sin
In Genesis 4:7 it says, “sin is lurking at the door; and it’s desire is for you, but you must master it.” When we sin, we give the enemy a foothold into our lives opening ourselves up to potential demonic oppression. Understand that God is kind and protects us and sinning once does not mean we will become demonized. However, when we empower our sin nature and do not repent we are essentially unlocking the front door of our house and letting the enemy know he can come on in. This is true for believers and unbelievers alike.
Unrepented sin brings us out of God’s protection (ref Isaiah 59:2). Furthermore, if we continue in a lifestyle of sin the Word says God will turn us over to our sinful nature and we will even become numb to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2
The good news is that according to 1 John 1:6-10, if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Sin is unrighteousness. It is only by repentance of our sins and salvation through Christ that we are restored and made clean. When sin is forgiven by God we are absolved of it’s penalties and the subsequent demonic oppression has no more right. Keep in mind there still needs to be a casting out once doorways are closed. Demons are possessive and unlikely to leave on their own.
If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:7
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:6-10
A common example would be indulging in pornography. Lusting after the flesh is a sin in God’s eyes (ref Matthew 5:27-28) and those that do this regularly will likely find themselves under demonic oppression to spirits of addiction, lust, sexual perversion, adultery, and so on. This is why is it difficult for many to find freedom once they become demonically oppressed. Demons incite compulsion and those under their influence will find themselves compelled regularly to engage in pornography. The same can be said of any sin—alcoholism, adultery, fornication, lying, etc. Demons often name themselves as sins and they carry some level of power and influence over the people they oppress. However, their power is unmatched to the power of Christ. When sin is confessed and faith is placed in Christ the demon’s right is removed and the door that was once open to the enemy is now closed.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28
3. Unconfessed Generational Iniquity and Sin
Similar to unconfessed sin, unconfessed generational sin and inequity opens the door to demonic oppression but at the place of birth or conception. Those demonized from generational sin may not have even committed the transgression themselves but are under it’s power. According to Deuteronomy 5:9-10, it says that the sins of the father will bring punishment on the third and fourth generations. While it is important to view the old testament through the lens of Christ we cannot dismiss that unrepented generational sin can bring a curse and bondage upon the subsequent blood line.
You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children, even on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Deuteronomy 5:9-10
Often people mistake generational sin and demonic oppression with hereditary conditions. For instance, your father and grandfather struggled with alcoholism so, therefore, you will likely inherit the same condition. The issue with this thinking is that this is not an inherited trait. It is actually a spirit of addiction being passed down through the blood line predisposing those oppressed by this spirit to walk in the same sin. However, if the person chooses not to open the door to this sin and never drinks alcohol the devil cannot have a stronghold in this area.
Another common example would be generational witchcraft and idolatry. Perhaps your ancestors practiced Santeria or participated in Freemasonry rituals opening themselves up to demonic oppression from religious, witchcraft spirits. You may have never practiced this religion yourself but because your ancestors did you are now demonically oppressed from the same spirits. A common manifestation may be children experiencing migraines at a very young age because of this type of oppression. This doesn’t seem fair does it? Well, the enemy doesn’t play fair. He has no mercy. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Yet again, though, knowledge carries power and when we understand how these doors were once opened we can close them and people can walk in freedom.
4. Wrong Beliefs and Word Curses
Proverbs 27:3 says as a man thinks within himself, so he is. Repentance is actually the processing of changing our mind. It’s a process of renouncing a lie or sin and choosing to believe and walk in truth. When people choose to believe things that are contrary to the Word of God, they open themselves up to demonic oppression.
For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you. Proverbs 23:7
For instance, if someone believes at the root that he or she should be afraid that opens them up to oppression by a spirit of fear. Now, understand changing your beliefs is not just a process of casting out demons but of pulling down strongholds in your mind (ref 2 Corinthians 10:3-6) and replacing it with truth. Fear is a common stronghold for many people. This is why it is so important that we continually renew our mind in the Word.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Let’s not forget that life and death is in the power of the tongue (ref. Proverbs 18:21). When we pronounce something over ourselves or others it carries the power to bring life or destruction. Remember, God created the earth by speaking it into existence. The spoken Word of God is an offensive weapon against the enemy but a spoken curse over ourselves is a doorway to oppression. If you have spoken things over yourself like, “I want to die.”, “I’d rather be dead.”, or “I’d rather die than do that.” you just opened the door to a spirit of suicide and death.
According to the book of James, the tongue is a like a ship’s rudder. It has the power to steer the ship’s direction. Similarly, the words we speak set the course for our lives and if we speak curses we defile ourselves and others.
Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. James 3:4-6
This is the same reason why verbal renouncement of open doors to the enemy carries the power to bring freedom.
5. False Religion
False religions, new age practices, and idolatry are huge gateways to demonic oppression. These spirits will keep people bound by pride and religiosity and often will revolt against the true move of the Holy Spirit. When someone chooses to believe there are gods other than salvation through Jesus they are committing the sin of idolatry. God specifically states many times throughout scripture that you should have no other gods or idols before Him (ref Exodus 20:2-6). As a jealous God, the sin of idolatry resulted in generationally punishment. As mentioned before, this could be a generational sin or something you yourself have practiced. Either way, it must be renounced and cleansed by the blood of Jesus. A few common examples of false religions would be Hinduism, Buddhism, Santeria, Scientology, Islam, and Satanism.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. Exodus 20:2-6
Additionally, new age practices seeking spiritualism and healing through power sources other than Jesus will also open the door to spirits of witchcraft and divination. Some common practices would be Yoga, Reiki, Astrology, divination such as tarot card readings and consulting mediums, Gnosticism, Chinese Medicine, and so on. These practices pull on power that is not the power of the Holy Spirit but demonic power. Practicing these things is detestable to the Lord (ref Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
When you enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, a soothsayer, one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who consults the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God is going to drive them out before you. Deuteronomy 18:9-12
6. Trauma and Abuse
Trauma and abuse is a very common entryway due to the human spirit and soul being especially weak in these events and more susceptible to the enemy. The loss of a loved one, a fearful accident, rejection or betrayal, ongoing bullying, witnessing violence, and physical or sexual abuse are common entry points for demonization. Sexual abuse, while not the victim’s fault, opens up a spiritual connection between the abuser and victim. Sex is a spiritual covenant in the eyes of the Lord and is intended only between a husband and wife. When someone is sexual abused, demonic soul ties can be created which need to be broken and spirits of perversion and trauma can easily attach themselves to the broken-spirited victim and soul wound. It’s not uncommon for children who have been sexual abused to struggle with homosexuality, lust, sexual perversion, and identity issues due to demonic oppression that attached itself during the trauma.
Similarly, physical abuse or incidents that have wounded a person’s soul weakens them and makes them susceptible to spirits of fear, anger, rage, hate, bitterness, etc. While it may not seem fair for a victim to have to renounce something that happened to them, they are shutting the door to the susceptible area. Likely, this type of oppression will also require the need for inner healing of the soul wound to completely bring freedom. That’s why Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds (ref Psalm 147:3).
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
In summary, when you understand the doorways that made the way for demonization you now hold the keys to unlock your freedom and others. These keys also serve as revelation to maintain your freedom and prevent re-demonization.
Additionally, revelation from the Holy Spirit will also be a necessary key. He will bring light to open doors as you pray through deliverance. These may be moments of sin, traumatic memories, generational bondages, word curses, and more. Always remember, it’s in partnership with the Holy Spirit that the anointing for deliverance flows.
Finally, be encouraged, not one of these open doors is any match for the power and blood of Jesus. Through Him we have been given victory over the enemy.
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
