In my experience with deliverance ministry and maintaining freedom I have discovered that it has a lot more to do with what not to do. Don’t open doors. That’s the way to keep demons out. Obedience to the Lord is not what keeps them out, it is disobedience that let’s them in. The teaching that the clean house must be filled is not even close to how this works. One could be so full of the Holy Spirit that they are overflowing, but unconfessed sin will still open a door.

The mis-taught scripture is in Matthew 12, boy, the demons love to play havoc with this scripture.

43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Christ’s ejection of unclean spirits was final, and as such He barred a re-entry. In Mark 9:25  we find him charging the evil spirit to go out, and enter no more.

“...He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.”

Casting out is final in the Name of Jesus. The legion of demons cast from the man in Gadera pleaded to stay in circulation. They went from the person to the pigs to the pit.

Now first of all this account in Matthew is a parable by Jesus referring to Israel. We draw conclusions from the parable and how many times have I heard well-intentioned but uninformed preachers talk about filling the house to keep the “cast out” demons from returning in greater numbers. The demons love this teaching. It instills fear into prospective deliverance candidates and prevents some pastors from even teaching the about demons at all. Demons that are  cast out don’t have an option to return. There are plenty that can take their place, but when cast out into the abyss, they no longer have access to that life.

Read the scripture again. The illustration Jesus is using does not use the word “cast out,” but rather, gone out. The implication is that the demon goes out on his own, not at the command in the Name of Jesus Christ. The demon “goes out” a door, looks for a better dwelling place, communicates with other demons and “goes” back to “his” house. It is still his house.  I will return into my house from whence I came out . . . “My” house . . . from whence “I” came out. It is still his house and he will go back in the same door he came out. The door is still open. Not only that, he invites his demon friends that he encountered in the dry places to come with him.

I know of so-called deliverance ministries that command demons to go to dry places. Why would you do that? That’s where the demons congregate and make decisions. That would be putting them back into circulation and communication with other demons.

He went back to see if the door was still open in “his” house and it had nothing to do with the house being  full of the Holy Spirit. The house was in good condition. Clean and decorated. That’s not permission for demons to enter. The permission was that it was still “his house.” He still had a doorway.

Demons must be “cast out.” I don’t know why the demon left in this scriptural illustration, but he was not cast out and doorways were not closed. The rights the demon had to the life had not been removed, as long as the legal rights remain he could come and go as he pleased.

Don’t you have to ask your self, what is the point of casting out demons if they can come back in greater force? I did. I explored that issue for months. There is no indication anywhere in scripture that God operates like this. This, I believe, is an insult to God’s character. That He would honor someone’s efforts to be free from demon powers in Jesus Name and then permit the demons to come back and torment them to a greater degree.

Let me also say, that since 1995 when I first started doing this, I have never seen this happen  Now, I will add that if more doorways are opened more demons will come, but once doorways have been closed and demons are cast out “those” demons cannot return. So, it is not a matter of reading your bible enough or praying enough that keeps demons out, it is disobedience that allows them in.

The bottom line is clearly don’t open doors. The principle throughout God’s Word is “don’t go there” . . . don’t do things that open doors. Don’t allow sin to linger. If you think that living a holy life will keep you demon free that is only partially true. Living a holy life helps you to not open doors. It helps you to recognize sin and confess it in order to receive forgiveness. However, the most righteous person you know is subject to opening doorways to demons.

The way to remain free, to maintain freedom, is to maintain a confessed relationship with God thru Jesus. Practicing disobedience is a certain doorway for demons. That is why it is so dangerous to engage in territorial warfare. Don’t go there. 

I have read a few books on this subject and have heard many comments from believers concerning staying free. While virtually all of the information is good instruction in building Christian character and establishing a strong foundation. Reading so many chapters a day does nothing to get rid of demons. Certainly it makes them uncomfortable but demons don’t leave because you read the Bible. Going to church whenever the doors are open is likely a good thing to do but that is not what keeps demons out.

Some of the most messed up lives I have encountered have been church leaders. The up-front people in the church are sometimes the ones tormented most. I say this not to discourage you but to emphasize that doing things for the Lord doesn’t get rid of demons.  While most of us know what is expected of us as believers, doing those things will likely please the Lord but will not make demons leave.

Clearly, simply, their legal rights must be removed. You can read your Bible all day but if you carry any unconfessed sin then legal permission has been granted. That should not trouble you, it should encourage you. God’s grace will always be sufficient, He will always forgive and it pleases Him when we can confess a sin and receive His cleansing. Demons are looking for an opening . . . unconfessed sin is an opening. Jesus is looking to cover our sin. Demons are looking for what is not covered.

Rotten fruit can be wholesome and healthy only a few minutes before it becomes rotten. It is staying forgiven that keeps us free. It is not in living without sin, it is recognizing sin and admitting it to God.  

You see. What’s good about this is that anyone can do it. It’s not having to measure up all of the time, it’s more of admitting it when we don’t. It’s recognizing who Jesus is, it is acknowledgment of who we are. Staying free doesn’t depend upon you living a perfect life but in knowing that we have a perfect Savior.

 Great blessings for you and your household.