I received an e-mail from Australia, actually from a pig farmer in that country. I knew he was referring to our book When Pigs Move In, but he said "I just finished your book, Who Let the Pigs Out." He went on to compliment me and tell how the book had helped him in ministry there. I have been thinking about his e-mail. Who let the pigs Out?

Who let the dogs out... whoo whoo. Who let the pigs in..sooey, sooey. Obviously, the reference to Pigs in this book is talking about unclean spirits. If we, as a believer, are the house, how did we keep the pigs out? The pigs go in and out through gates. Once the pigs are kicked out the question becomes how do we keep them out. The simple answer is keep the gate closed.

Gates are for closing and opening. They are for keeping things in and keeping things out. Gates and gate keepers are fairly common words throughout the Bible. The thing is the function of the gate has not changed. It still is what it always has been.

"He also stationed doorkeepers at the gates of the LORD's temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter." 2 Chronicles 23:19

Gates are doorways, very simply, they are entry points. It is common to walk into a building and see signs on or about the doors that may say "entrance" or "exit". They point out the obvious most often. In essence they say, here’s the way in and here is the way out. Do you know that demons must have an entry way! Spiritual access to our life is through a doorway that we control. No one else can open these doors or the gates. Just the owner.

When Jesus comes into our lives he not only comes through a door but also by way of our invitation. Never does He come uninvited or use forceful entry.

The choice is left to us. This is also the case with open doors for demon spirits. They can never enter against our will. Once a person has received Jesus Christ, they have received eternal salvation. However, thru the similar process of opening doors one can choose to have demon spirits. It is rare that someone would consciously make that choice, however it is all about legal permission such as allowing sin to remain unforgiven. I tell you pigs will track down the garbage smell and feast on it.

Throughout this book you will read that demons are empowered when we believe a lie. The lie of course is generally wrapped in an attractive package that is filled with partial truths. My friend, Sid Roth, whose ministry now spans the world, would speak to you about being entangled in a "new age" lie that offered him supernatural power but was filled with darkness and disconnect.

After Sid Roth’s salvation he had to find a deliverance minister to cast out the evil spirits that had come through his "new age" encounter.

Often the lie that demons use to gain access is no more than convincing you that a particular person or teaching is a better way than what is written in God’s Word. Coming into agreement with a "new age" type thinking, or some Eastern mystical religion however sincere you might be is a doorway for demons.

Any teaching that deny’s the Deity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is, when embraced, a doorway for demon powers. That is one gate that let’s the pigs in. Secret orders and fraternities that point people to God but do so by by-passing the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is an absolute doorway to demon powers. Generally, these fraternal or sorority type of organizations boast of the good works they do in the communities but will not proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. Often they are good people and their organizations do good works. The issue is that there is but one way to God and that is thru Jesus Christ.

False religions or false teachings within the Church are always a potential gateway for demons. Embracing any teaching that offers a way to God apart from Jesus Christ is a lie of demons. It is important to know that demons are liars, they kill, steal and destroy. It is their objective to war against the saints. They are subtle and they are slick. They manipulate much thru false gifts.

I will tell you from many years of deliverance and multitudes of personal experiences. It is not difficult to walk in freedom. It is simple and it involves yielding our lives to truth. Remember, Jesus said, "Thy word is truth." When Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32 It is much more than we can perceive or comprehend. Virtually every doorway for demons is hinged upon a lie. It can be thinly veiled, and often is.

There are several biblical accounts of how this happens. It appears to always be the plan of demons to wreak havoc. Jesus gave warning directly to Peter.

I wonder how many times that may be true in our lives? How often are Satan and his demons looking for a way to "sift" our lives. To toss and turn us one way then the other. What I know is that without legal consent they cannot do their dastardly deeds.

I also wonder how Jesus knew that Satan desired to have Peter to sift him as wheat. Apart from being Omnipotent, how did Jesus know this? Did Satan come before the Father and inquire about Peter as he did about Job. Did he make an official request? Did Satan talk privately with Jesus about Peter? It is clear that Satan had already attempted to use Peter to hinder God’s plan. Look at the discussion involving the three of them.

Jesus said, "Get thee behind me Satan" while talking to Peter. These are the same words He spoke directly to Satan during the wilderness temptation. Satan was already strongly associated with Peter’s life and was influencing his thinking when Jesus told him that what Satan would like to do with him was sift him as wheat.

Satan had success with Judas that he did not have with Peter. He actually "entered" into him.

Satan himself entered into Judas. Actually possessed him. It didn’t seem that difficult, just a sentence to describe it in God’s Word. What doorway did he have? We could all guess but it is obvious that there was a doorway thru unconfessed sin and that he was likely a thief. Jesus even said,

". . . Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? John 6:70. It is interesting that Jesus did not say that Judas had a devil . . . he said, he is a devil.

Maybe he was a secret agent of Satan. Look at John 13:2

Look at this, he was at the Lord Supper. Not just Judas, Satan was there! It was there that he possessed Judas. In the most solemn of moments. After they had prayed together and given thanks Satan went into Judas. You see, demons are spirits, I don’t think anyone saw this happen. It wasn’t visible it was not even apparent. The other disciples were not even sure that it might be one of them that would betray Him. Other than the heaviness of the moment and words from Jesus do you think there was an evil presence. Did anyone sense it? I have often wondered about this, was Judas so under a generational curse that demons could go in and out thru that door. Had he "made a deal" with the devil? Certainly he was capable of that for he made one with the authorities to betray Jesus. People still make deals with the devil.

As foolish as it sounds to me I know that folks in their frustration and foolish thinking try to make bargains with Satan. Often they seek power and favors thru demonic means. I don’t think Judas was doing any of that but I do believe Satan had something on him and perhaps pridefully Judas couldn’t confess it.

Judas was a devil from the beginning. That’s what God’s Word says.

Satan entered into Judas. That’s what God’s Word says.

Satan wanted to bring chaos to Peter.

It is clear that Satan uses key people in order to interfere with God’s plan and to create demonic havoc in the affairs of men. The passage mentioned earlier in Deuteronomy 18 tells Israel many things not to do but the bottom line was to be blameless before the Lord. Freedom is maintained by being blameless. That is, keeping sin confessed and not giving a gateway to demons. To be "blameless" is to have character that is without reproach, this can only be attained by an individual keeping himself covered and clothed in the righteousness of Christ.Look how Paul talks about it in Ephesians 4.

Neither give place to the devil.

Clearly he says anger that lingers gives a place for demons. Look at the flesh list here. Lying, stealing, corrupt communication, grieving the Holy Spirit, bitterness, anger, mailice, evil speaking and clamor. These things, unforgiven, are demon doorways!

After these gates or doorways have been closed a way to keep them closed is being tenderhearted and forgiving. These things are clearly written by the Holy Spirit. These things are easily understood.