When we know that we are in a war against the devil and are not fighting against humans, we are closer to walking in victory. The devil has tactics, plans and schemes to bind us so that we don’t live the redemptive life Christ died to give us, but we can overcome when we put on the full armour of God (Eph.6:11-12).

God has the Kingdom of light; Satan has the kingdom of darkness. The devil is real and not a figment of our imagination.

Praise God, He sent Jesus to set the captives free (Isa.61:1). One who has made Jesus his/her Lord and Saviour cannot be demon-possessed because his/her spirit is possessed by the Holy Spirit, but the believer can be demon-oppressed or demonized.

Paul tells us not to give place to the devil (Eph.4:27), to stand firm and not fall again into a yoke of slavery (Gal.5:1).

When Jesus arrived at the tomb, He called Lazarus who came out still bound in grave clothes. Jesus told the people to loose him & let him go (John 11:43). This is a picture of many in the church today: alive in Christ but still bound. The Lord wants to set us free; to break the chains so that we can fulfill our destiny in Christ (2 Cor.3:17).

Jesus told the Syro-Phoenician woman who came to seek deliverance for her daughter, “let the children be filled first!”, meaning, deliverance is first for the children of God (Mark 7:27-28). Peter asked Ananias why he had allowed Satan to fill his heart (Acts 5:3). Jesus was preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons (Mark 1:39). Jesus delivered the woman with the issue of blood who was bound for 18 years. Paul asked the Galatian church who had bewitched them (Gal.3:1). Paul warns that in latter days believers will give heed to the doctrine of demons (1Tim.4:1).

Open doors to the demonic:

1. The occult – Tampering with the occult (ouija board, lucky charms, horoscopes, idol worship, witchcraft, sorcery, omens, etc) opens our lives to demonic bondage (Deut.18:10-13). We must get rid of all occultic possessions today (Acts 19:19)!

2. Bitterness & strife – These poison our hearts and open doors to the enemy therefore we should seek forgiveness (Acts 8:22-23).

3. Sex before and outside marriage – Pre-marital sex & extramarital sex open doors that allow demons to oppress us (1 Cor.6:16).

The devil prowls around like a lion looking for an open door through which he will come in and put us in chains (1 Pet.5:8). As believers, we are no exception, so be on guard and put on the full armour of God!