If you are ready to bind the “strong man” and defeat him once and for all, I want to show you how. First, however, you need to be fully aware of how demons operate—and seven devious methods they use to gain entrance into a life.
1. Demons enter through rebellion.
A rebellious spirit is the first step toward destruction.
Because of King Saul’s disobedience against the law of God, the prophet Samuel had to tell him, “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:23) Because of rebellion “the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him” (1 Samuel 16:14). Saul went from liberty to being oppressed and harassed by demons.
Today, many children who rebel against their parents become drug addicts and sexual perverts. With rebellion comes hatred for authority, hatred toward self, and hatred toward God and His Word. Don’t give Satan the opportunity to walk through this door.
2. Demons enter through abuse of the tongue.
You become open to demonic activity by what you say—your conversation and the language you use. The power of life and death is in the tongue.
Scripture tells us, “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3). When your words are not wholesome, Satan finds a place to dwell. Even more, “the wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips” (Proverbs 12:13). Yes, you can become trapped by the abuse of your tongue. When people say things that cause harm to others, they dishonor God and invite demons in.
Since this is a two-way street, be careful what you allow people to tell you. Don’t receive or respond to individuals who are living far from God. Words have consequences.
3. Demons enter through a critical spirit.
I’m sure you’ve met those who go through life tearing others down, dwelling on the negative, and seeking to find flaws rather than good. The apostle Paul asked, “Why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10).
A condemning attitude brings destruction. God says, “Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy” (Psalm 101:5, NKJV). We are also instructed to “shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer” (2 Timothy 2:16-17, NKJV).
Satan would like nothing more than to inflict you with the disease of a critical spirit.
4. Demons enter through fear.
We have already discussed how fear is one of the twelve demonic spirits called
“strong man,” but we must understand that is just an opening Satan uses to control your life.
The reason it is used by the devil is because “fear hath torment [and] he that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
When fear strikes it can be devastating, often resulting in panic attacks and uncontrollable behavior. Perhaps you know someone who has had such an experience. If not conquered, their strength begins to wear away until they are helpless. It’s all because of this powerful tool used by the devil.
Fear is demonic to the core and will attack without warning. That is why we have to stand on God’s Word and fight its entrance. Say with the psalmist, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident” (Psalm 27:1-3).
This is not the time to be afraid.
5. Demons enter through laziness.
There is a curse on the person who is lethargic, lifeless, and has no desire to work.
That is why God tells us to flee from such behavior. God’s Word counsels that “the way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns” (Proverbs 15:19).
It’s been said that idle hands are the devil’s workshop, and that’s so. When there is laziness, Satan takes over.
The Lord is asking, “How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler” (Proverbs 6:9-11, NKJV). That prowler is the devil himself, seeking whom he may devour.
Remember, “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Proverbs 10:4).
6. Demons enter through abnormal sexual activity.
Satan becomes extremely active in the person who rejects God’s truth, and it intensifies in those who practice sexual behaviors that is not normal.
Scripture is specific regarding this matter. The Lord’s wrath turned on those “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25, NKJV). God gave them up “to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due” (Romans 1:26).
By shunning God Almighty, they became filled with “sexual immorality [and] evil-mindedness” (verse 29).
Turn away from Satan’s sexual perversion. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).
Never step beyond the borders of scripture.
7. Demons enter through the mixing of flesh and spirit.
In the natural world, there are consequences to mixtures. For example, when the seed of a horse is mixed with a donkey you have a mule, which is sterile and can’t reproduce. In the spiritual world there are also dangers of mixing righteousness with wickedness. We are commanded, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
My friend, you can’t live for the world six days a week and live for God on Sunday. It doesn’t work. That is why the Lord says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (verse 17).
Again, why open the door to demonic activity?