IT MATTERS WHAT YOU BELIEVE | How to Close Doors to the Enemy

Introduction and Prayer

This week, we are continuing our series, "What We Believe Matters." There is a part of me that asks how much longer this is going to be, and the answer is until we work through our statement of faith. Sometimes we will take little sidetracks and do a sub-series, like we did with healing. This week, we are talking about spiritual warfare. We talked about it some last week, and I will recap that briefly, but I do not want to rehash it because I have new things to share today.

The Victory is Already Won

The thing I want us to remember from last week is that Jesus has already won. We are not trying to get victory; Jesus has already gained victory. The darkness never overcomes the light; the light always overcomes the darkness. As Christians, we have entered into what the Bible calls the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of God. Therefore, we do not have to have any concerns, fears, or worries.

However, we do have to interact with the devil. He is an enemy who has been defeated, but he may not know it—or he does not act like it if he does. Today, we will discuss what that looks like in daily life and in the lives of people in the Bible. I am determined not to give the devil any praise, glory, or credit. I am simply acknowledging that he exists. I can acknowledge there is an ant bed without praising the ants; I can look for poison to kill them. It is important to me that no one gets worried about the devil because Jesus already beat him. If you are not a Christian, perhaps you should be worried because you are still in the enemy’s kingdom and he has sway over you. But for a Christian, there is no need for concern, only certain things we should do.

Seeking Wisdom and Understanding

Let’s pray. Father, thank you for the gift of your Word and for the gift of your body. Lord, they are vital to us as Christians and believers. You tell us to gather together and to read your Word. All through the book of Proverbs, it says, "My son, listen to wisdom." The Bible says that in all of your getting, gain understanding. So Lord, I pray you give us wisdom and understanding today. Help us understand who you are and seek the wisdom of your heart. May we be more like Jesus today than we have ever been. We give you this time and ask that the things of you would remain in us, while anything of our own hearts or other sources would dissipate. Watch over our minds so that we do not come away with the wrong ideas. In Jesus' name, amen.

Possession vs. Demonization

Here is a question many have asked: Can a Christian be possessed by the devil? This is an interesting question regarding biblical translation. Throughout our Bibles, we see the words "someone was possessed." In the Greek, they take the word "demon" and turn it into a verb. Imagine the word "wash." It can be a noun or a verb. You can have a wash tub, or you can wash the dishes. In the sense of demons, there are demons and they "demonize" people. The question is: At what level can an individual be demonized?

One perspective suggests a scale of one to ten. A level ten would be "meat puppet" demonization, which is what we see in horror movies or, less dramatically, like Kermit the Frog. Does the demon control you the way a puppeteer controls a puppet? Can that happen to a Christian? To what degree can a Christian be impacted by the devil? Is it always zero or ten, or is there something in the middle?

I will give you the spoiler upfront: The Bible bears out that a Christian can be influenced by demons in a way that people might colloquially call "possessed," but I believe that word is wrong. I would not use the word "possessed." The Greek word is "demonized." There are people who are wholeheartedly Christians and love Jesus, but they play with things they ought not to be playing with, and the devil comes into their lives to exercise influence and sway.

The Danger of Spiritual Yokes

Think of it like this: You can be the best human in the world, but the Bible says bad company corrupts good conscience. You can be a great Christian and marry someone who hates Jesus, and it will ruin your life. The Bible warns against being unequally yoked with unbelievers because you are not going in the same direction. In the same way, we can make decisions that yoke us to spiritual things we have no business being yoked to. This does not mean you are suddenly not a Christian—you can yoke a bull and a donkey together, but they are still a bull and a donkey.

Paul says in Corinthians to serve Jesus so that by your good life, you might draw others to Christ. I am not telling you to get out of your marriage; the Bible says God hates divorce. But what I am telling you is there are decisions we can make that will impact us. The amount we are impacted by the enemy is what the Bible calls "demonization." It might be zero, or it might be more.

The Spirit of Divination in Acts 16

Let’s look at Acts chapter 16, starting in verse 16. "One day, as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl." The Bible tells us she was possessed; she was not a Christian. She was a fortune teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed Paul, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."

She was telling the truth. The demons want to be gods with a small "g," but they recognize the Most High God. This girl was telling the truth, and she was making people rich. Sometimes, the things of the devil seem great because he tells enough truth that we will not reject him. The problem is that when we raise snakes, we may not realize they are cobras. They seem like pets that add value to our lives, but they are dangerous animals.

Demons do not want to be cast out because they know Jesus beat them. They often add some actual value so we will not be done with them. This went on until Paul got so exasperated that he said to the demon, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." Instantly, it left her.

The Cost of Freedom

Once the demon was gone, her masters' hopes of wealth were shattered. Notice they did not care about the teaching for days; it wasn't until the demon—and their profit—was gone that they became upset. There are things in our lives that look good but align us with evil. Often, we are concerned about what will happen if we release something that has brought us joy, peace, or security. These men sought her "demonization" because it brought them wealth.

They dragged Paul and Silas before the authorities, and the city was in an uproar. A mob formed, and the officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten and thrown into the inner dungeon with their feet in stocks. Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns. Suddenly, a massive earthquake shook the prison, the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains fell off. The jailer woke up and prepared to kill himself, assuming the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Stop! Don’t kill yourself. We are all here."

The jailer fell down trembling and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." He and his entire household believed and were baptized that very night. This situation in Philippi shows that even when Paul and Silas were just teaching, a demon showed up, got cast out, and it led to the salvation of an entire family.

Spiritual Alignment and Hidden Costs

In the case of the men who owned this slave girl, they realized that seeking her freedom meant losing their wealth. The Bible specifically notes that when their hope of profit was gone, that is when they became upset. They were not worried about the theological teachings of Paul and Silas until it impacted their ability to make money.

There are things in our lives that may look good or provide a temporary benefit but actually align us with evil. If that evil remains, it eventually brings its own destruction. However, when it is removed—as we saw with the jailer—it can bring salvation to an entire household. The whole city eventually learned that these men had the power to cast out demons in the name of Jesus.

The Danger of an Empty House

Let’s look at Matthew chapter 12, starting in verse 43. Jesus says, "When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first."

This is a critical principle for us to understand. Jesus is describing a situation where a person gets "cleaned up." They might stop a bad habit, get rid of an addiction, or even have a demon cast out. Their "house" is swept clean and put in order. But the problem is that the house remains unoccupied.

Filling the Void with the Holy Spirit

If you just focus on getting the "bad stuff" out without filling your life with the "good stuff"—the presence of God, His Word, and the Holy Spirit—you are leaving an invitation for the enemy to return. Freedom is not just the absence of a demon; it is the presence of Jesus.

As Christians, our "house" should be occupied by the Holy Spirit. If we are full of the Spirit, there is no room for the enemy to come back and set up residence. But if we are "Christian" in name only, or if we are living in a way that leaves our spiritual lives empty, we are at risk. The enemy looks for a vacuum. We must be proactive about being filled with God.

Identifying Legal Ground and Spiritual Yokes

This brings us back to the idea of being "demonized" or "yoked." Why do we sometimes feel oppressed or stuck in patterns of fear, anxiety, or sin? Often, it is because we have given the enemy "legal ground" in our lives. We might have objects in our homes, participate in activities, or hold onto bitterness that acts as a yoke, tethering us to the kingdom of darkness.

I know this might sound intense to some, but we have to be honest about what we allow into our spaces. Why do I have certain things on my wall? Why is there certain media in my children's rooms? We might think these are "little things," but if they represent a door we've opened to the enemy, they are not small at all.

The Call to Spiritual Maturity

We are called to be a people who are discerning. We don't need to fear the devil, but we must respect the reality of spiritual warfare. We are in the Kingdom of Light, but we are still in a battle. Our job is to stay yoked to Jesus. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. When we are yoked to Him, He does the heavy lifting, and He leads us into true, lasting freedom.

Closing Prayer

Lord, I pray for each person here. I ask that You would speak to our hearts—maybe right now, maybe later today as we go about our lives. If there is anything in our homes, our habits, or our hearts that is giving the enemy a foothold, reveal it to us. Give us the courage to get rid of the "cobras" we've been keeping as pets. Fill us so completely with Your Holy Spirit that there is no room for anything else. We thank You for the victory Jesus has already won. In His mighty name, amen.