Protecting yourself from demonic intrusion.
We would not have to consider casting out demons if we prevented demonic intrusions in the first place. The apostle Paul warned us against having “fellowship with demons” (1 Corinthians 10:20). Paul’s larger point was to reject idolatry. Having an idol before God does not necessarily mean you overtly worship it. Idolatry can be as simple as being in agreement with what the idol represents. The same is true of demonic intrusion. We can inadvertently give ourselves over to demonic harassment and obsession by agreeing with the wrong things.
We are not to give any demon any way to enter, at any time. This means we need to be alert! Here is what Peter said, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
—1 Peter 5:8-9
The enemy is always looking for ways to penetrate the hedge. Often, we make it easy for him by opening doors and inviting him in. We can keep those doors slammed shut by forgiving others, refusing bitterness and all sin, and guarding against the careless and self-centered acts that make it easy for Satan to exploit us. Instead of thoughtlessly speaking words of judgment, dishonor, and defeat that play into his hands, we can choose words that give life and encouragement. When the right things come out of our mouths, we literally keep demons at bay! The enemy and his cohorts cannot penetrate barriers built and undergirded by God’s Word.
Wisdom and abstinence are important, too, serving as spiritual firewalls against demonic intrusion. It’s not our wisdom but His wisdom that denies access to demons. If we operate in the truth we have, we can control the things that are within our purview. For example, we can resist temptation by abstaining. We don’t have to eat at the table of demons. We can refuse to dabble in controlled substances and alcohol. We can reject sexual sin. When others engage in demonic games and chants such as “Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board,” we can shut down our desire for “an experience” and just walk away. Demon-involved levitation is more than an experience; it is submission to Satan.
We also protect against demonic intrusion by being vigilant. Do you know Thanatos (Death) and Hypnos (Sleep)? They pal around with Incubus and Succubus, a “male” and “female” demon, respectively, that prey upon women and men as they sleep. Nightmares, night terrors, and wet dreams are sometimes associated with these demons. Vigilant believers don’t allow these characters to hang around. I can tell you that they definitely are not authorized inside my perimeter.
Some demonic intrusions occur because of events over which we have no control, such as trauma caused by others. Trauma makes us vulnerable, and the devil knows it. For example, when children are abused, their difficulties are more complex than they are prepared to handle at a young age. The trauma they experience can set them up for fear, trust issues, sorrow, gender confusion, self-hatred, and other issues that leave them more vulnerable to demonic attack.
Trauma affects adults, too—even Christian adults, who can become preoccupied by fear and avoid activities related to whatever they were doing when the trauma happened. Unresolved fears are open doors the enemy loves to exploit. The level of his attack depends largely upon the traumatized person’s spiritual maturity and response to the trauma. For unbelievers who are traumatized, full-on possession can be more easily accomplished.
When I was 27 years old and enjoying a family vacation, a van hit me as I rode a motorbike. I had planned later that day to dive off a waterfall with my niece. As the car hit me and I went down, I thought, Oh, man. I won’t get to jump off the waterfall like I wanted to! I was disappointed at the thought of missing out on the fun, but realizing that I wasn’t going to die made the loss a lot easier to take!
Depending upon how we process incidents like this, they can be traumatic. There wasn’t much I could do to avoid the incident. It happened. But I had to choose how I would respond to it. I’m thankful for my upbringing in faith and for the support of my wife and my entire family. It made all the difference.
Your Weapons and Armor
If you are in Christ, the good news is that the unseen battle is tilted in your favor! I do not downplay Satan’s power or resources; he has plenty of both. But God is unbeatable. Fight His way, and you will enjoy His victory. You would be crazy to do otherwise! You cannot win with your worldly resources. If you try, you will hit the mat before the first round is even over.
Centuries before Christ, God reminded Zerubbabel (and us) how the battle should be fought: “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). In God’s economy, the strongest of warriors can be outdone by the physically weakest. Victory is won in the Spirit and by the Spirit, using the weapons and armor God supplies.
Weapons: Thoughts, Words, and Meditation
Our weapons are awesome, and there isn’t a single tank, assault rifle, or fighter jet among them. The apostle Paul explains why not:
Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
—2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Satan does not fight with tanks, rifles, or jets, either; he builds strongholds, raises arguments, and lifts his brand of knowledge against God’s truth. Among our weapons are our sanctified faculties—our thoughts, words, and meditation (or focus). When we train ourselves to use them as Scripture prescribes, we can take down every wicked thing Satan tries to lift up!
Ephesians 6:16 tells us that Satan hurls “fiery darts” at us. They come in a continuous 24/7 flow of words and thoughts sent to derail, defame, and discourage us. Unless we become consciously aware of what is happening, we will unconsciously digest Satan’s bile and allow it to become part of us, warping our perceptions, perspectives, relationships, and outcomes in life.
Wherever our thoughts go, our words and actions follow.
When the Pharisees accused Jesus of operating in demonic power, He called them a “brood of vipers” and said: “How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” (Matthew 12:34-35). In other words, whatever is in our hearts will come out of our mouths. This is important because words have power. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” For better or worse, we reap whatever our words sow.
This means that the right words are among our most powerful weapons. When we speak in line with God’s Word, we shut down the enemy and his works. Earlier in this article, we saw how this relates to preventing demonic intrusions; the right words raise a barrier the enemy cannot penetrate. Plus, speaking in line with God’s Word empowers the angels to bring our words to pass. That is part of their commission—to respond to what agrees with His Word!
To keep our thoughts and words in the right place requires our meditating on the right things, not in the Eastern tradition of emptying our minds but in the biblical tradition of filling our minds with God’s Word. The Lord explained this to Joshua when he succeeded Moses in leading the Israelites:
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
—Joshua 1:8
David also understood godly meditation, as his writings show: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer”; “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works…”; “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches” (Psalm 19:14; 143:5; 63:6).
The apostle Paul offers us a very practical understanding of godly meditation:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
—Philippians 4:8
When we are focused on God, we are able to recognize fiery darts and quench them. This drives the devil crazy! But when our focus is away from God, those darts hit their targets very easily. Take Judas, for example, of whom we are told “the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot” (John 13:2) to betray the Lord.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira serves as another ominous example. They lived in the first century, when the early Church was experiencing great unity and power. Here is how Luke described those amazing times:
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
—Acts 4:32-35
The Church was truly one body. No one compelled Christians to share; their sharing came from their hearts. One couple, Ananias and Sapphira, appeared to be moved by the same love and devotion to unity. Like many others, they sold some land and brought the proceeds to the apostles, but Peter perceived that another spirit was working in them. He asked, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?” (Acts 5:3).
Peter’s perception was correct: Ananias and Sapphira had secretly withheld a portion of the proceeds. They were not being led by the Holy Spirit but were driven by the wicked one. No doubt others in the crowd had been similarly tempted, but they resisted Satan’s fiery darts by keeping their minds fixed on God. As a result, those in the crowd were blessed in what God was doing, while both Ananias and Sapphira fell dead on the spot!
When we choose our thoughts and words carefully and meditate on God and His Word, our outcomes benefit us and others and bring Him glory. This is our true warfare.
The unseen battle is real—but victory is already yours.
Why does life sometimes feel like an endless struggle, with unseen resistance holding you back? Why do fear, temptation, or spiritual confusion linger even when you know Christ has won the ultimate victory? And why does evil seem to prevail in a world ruled by a good and sovereign God?
Every hardship points to the same reality: there’s an invisible battle raging for your soul, and knowing the truth changes everything.
Through years of ministry and study, Pastor Frederick K. Price Jr. uncovered the biblical truths about angels, demons, and the spiritual hierarchy influencing human life. This breakthrough resource reveals the schemes of the enemy, the power of God’s angels, and the believer’s place of authority in the midst of the unseen battle.
In these pages, you’ll discover how to:
Discern between biblical truth and popular myths about angels and demons.
Stand in Christ’s authority to cast out demons and resist temptation.
Unmask Satan’s tactics and expose the lies he uses to keep you bound.
Recognize the influence of unseen powers in culture, entertainment, and everyday life.
Equip yourself and your family for victory in generational spiritual battles.
The enemy’s defeat is certain. Your breakthrough is promised. This book is your invitation to step into clarity, confidence, and lasting spiritual victory.
