In an moment when spiritual deception runs rampant and evil masquerades as light, the body of Christ must awaken to a sobering truth: spiritual warfare isn’t a metaphor, and demonic activity isn’t limited to Hollywood horror scripts. It is real, it is present and it is targeting lives, homes, churches and even entire generations. To stand victorious, believers must recognize the entry points that give demons legal access—and decisively shut the gate.
Discernment: The First Line of Defense
Discernment is the spiritual ability to distinguish between truth and error, between the Holy Spirit and deceiving spirits. It is not just a spiritual gift for a few, but a mandate for every believer walking in these end-times. Jesus warned that even the elect could be deceived if possible (Matt. 24:24). That warning alone should drive every Spirit-filled believer to sober vigilance.
The demonic realm does not operate without permission. Evil spirits are legalists. They require access—a doorway or a portal through which they can enter. And far too often, believers unknowingly open the gates.
Gateways: Spiritual Entry Points
Scripture speaks frequently about gates, doors and openings in a symbolic and spiritual sense. Proverbs 25:28 says, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” A broken-down city is one with open gates, exposed and vulnerable to enemy invasion.
These gates are not external; they are internal. They are the gates of the heart, the mind, the soul and the body. And they are under your control. Demons cannot force their way into a believer’s life. There must be a breach, an invitation or an agreement.
Let’s explore how these spiritual breaches happen and how to discern and close them.
The Hidden Doors: How Demons Gain Legal Access
Generational Curses and Ancestral Sin: The consequences of sin are often generational. Exodus 20:5 speaks of the iniquity of the fathers being visited upon the children to the third and fourth generation. This isn’t about God being unjust—it’s about legal spiritual consequences passed down through bloodlines.
Signs of generational curses may include patterns of:
Chronic illness or hereditary diseases. These are not just medical issues; they can be spiritual afflictions rooted in family sin. Recurring health issues that defy medical explanation often have spiritual origins.
Financial hardship despite hard work. When poverty follows a family despite diligence and stewardship, a curse may be at work. It’s more than bad luck—it’s bondage.
Family breakdown, divorce and addiction. Cycles of relational failure or recurring addictive behaviors across generations point to spiritual strongholds that must be broken.
Emotional or mental instability. Depression, anxiety or bipolar disorders that run in families often have demonic roots passed down through generations.
Spiritual stagnation or confusion. Inability to hear God’s voice or engage in meaningful worship and prayer can be a sign of inherited spiritual hindrance.
Deliverance from these inherited strongholds begins with recognition and repentance. Break agreement with the sins of the forefathers. Declare the blood of Jesus over your family line.
Trauma in Early Life and Birth: The enemy plays dirty. Many doorways open not by our choosing, but through early trauma—even in the womb. Children rejected in the womb, born into conflict or left in isolation (e.g., in incubators) often carry a spirit of abandonment or fear.
Even words spoken during pregnancy or birth carry power. A mother saying, “I wish I never got pregnant” may unknowingly curse her child with rejection. A traumatic birth or difficult pregnancy can create spiritual cracks that must be healed and sealed through prayer.
Soul Ties and Sexual Sin: Sex is not just physical; it is spiritual. Paul warns that when we unite sexually, we become one with that person (1 Cor. 6:16). When sex occurs outside of God’s covenant, a soul tie forms—a spiritual bridge through which demons travel.
Pornography, casual sex, adultery and sexual abuse are powerful gateways. These behaviors not only defile the body but bind the soul. Spirits of lust, perversion, confusion and shame often enter here and remain hidden until confronted.
New Age Practices and Occult Involvement: Satan doesn’t care if you call it a “harmless curiosity” or “just for fun.” The moment you consult horoscopes, play with Ouija boards, read tarot cards or attend a séance, you enter into covenant with darkness.
Other occult doorways include:
Eastern mysticism. Practices such as yoga, transcendental meditation and chakra alignment often disguise idolatry as wellness.
Freemasonry and secret societies. These organizations often swear oaths and practice rituals that open the door to false gods and spiritual bondage.
Energy healing, crystals and spirit guides. These practices are counterfeit spiritual tools that invite demonic influence under the guise of healing.
Native spiritualism or witchcraft. Any involvement with shamanism, tribal rituals or spiritual ceremonies outside of Christ are spiritually dangerous.
Hypnotism and astral projection. Altered states of consciousness open the soul to manipulation and spiritual intrusion.
Any spiritual practice that bypasses the cross of Christ is demonic in origin and must be renounced.
Trauma, Abuse and Emotional Wounds: Unhealed emotional wounds from childhood or adult trauma act like open doors in the spirit. Repeated abuse, bullying or abandonment can invite in spirits of rejection, fear, shame and confusion.
These spirits often disguise themselves, masquerading as mental illness, addiction or insecurity. Hidden pain is a breeding ground for demonic deception. Inner healing and deliverance go hand-in-hand. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and to set captives free.
Addiction and Substance Abuse: What begins as a coping mechanism quickly becomes a prison. Substance abuse opens the door to spirits of bondage, death and self-destruction. These spirits latch on to pain and offer false comfort that leads to destruction.
Alcoholism in the family line is often linked to inherited addictive spirits. Addictions shift forms but remain rooted in the same spiritual stronghold. Freedom comes not just through sobriety, but through deliverance. A spirit must be cast out; a stronghold must be torn down.
Unforgiveness and Bitterness: Jesus warned in Matthew 18 that those who do not forgive are handed over to “tormentors.” Bitterness and unforgiveness are open invitations to demonic harassment.
Holding onto offense gives the devil legal ground. Demons feast on emotional wounds that remain unhealed. Freedom demands forgiveness—not because the offender deserves it, but because you do.
Curses and Negative Words: Life and death are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21). Words spoken over you—by parents, teachers, doctors or even yourself—can empower demons.
Declarations like, “I’ll never be good enough,” or “You’re just like your father,” can function as word curses. These phrases carry spiritual weight. They must be renounced, and new declarations of truth must be spoken aloud in their place.
Entertainment and the Mind Gate: The eyes and ears are gates to the soul. What you watch, read and listen to matters. You cannot feast on darkness and expect to walk in light.
Demons don’t need an invitation written in blood—they enter through agreement. Even cartoons, books or video games that glamorize darkness can plant seeds that grow into bondage. Guard your intake with holy discernment.
Closing the Doors and Sealing the Gates
Recognizing the gateways is only the beginning. Shutting them requires intentional spiritual action.
Repent and Renounce: Confess any known sin or agreement with darkness. Say it out loud. Renounce it. Cancel it with the authority of Jesus’ name.
Break Agreements: Declare aloud: “I break all agreements with [name the spirit or sin], and I command every spirit attached to it to leave in Jesus’ name.” Renunciation is a spiritual legal act that nullifies the devil’s hold.
Apply the Blood of Jesus: The blood of Christ is not symbolic—it is powerful, legal and eternal. Apply it by faith to every gateway in your life. Declare its protection daily.
Invite the Holy Spirit: Empty spaces must be filled. After deliverance, welcome the Holy Spirit to take full residence. He is your Counselor, your Guard and your Power.
Guard the Gates: Remain vigilant. Discern what you allow into your heart, your home and your family. You are the gatekeeper of your soul. Be a watchman over your own soul.
The Fruit of a Closed Gate Life
Deuteronomy 28 paints a vivid contrast between lives lived under blessing and those under curse. When the gates are sealed by righteousness, your life becomes marked by:
Peace of mind. When spiritual torment ceases, clarity and rest return.
Joy in the Holy Spirit. True deliverance brings an overflow of supernatural joy and worship.
Financial provision. As generational curses are broken, God’s provision begins to flow unhindered.
Strong relationships. Freedom from bitterness and trauma paves the way for restoration.
Physical and emotional healing. The departure of tormenting spirits often results in restored health.
Clear spiritual vision. Discernment sharpens, dreams return and intimacy with God deepens.
Victory over temptation. With the gates shut and the Spirit reigning, sin loses its power.
You become a living witness of Christ’s power to save, heal and deliver. And you stand as a fortified city—walls strong, gates guarded, Spirit-filled and victorious.
Final Word: Don’t Wait to Close the Gate
Today is the day to examine your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to shine His light on every hidden crack. Don’t allow generational patterns, unhealed wounds or cultural compromise to dictate your spiritual inheritance.
You were made to live free. Shut the gate. Bar the door. Raise up the standard. And walk boldly in the victory purchased by Jesus Christ at the cross.
Don Dickerman, an ordained Southern Baptist minister, has directed an evangelistic ministry to prisons since 1974. The founder of Don Dickerman Ministries and Liberated Living, he is the author of several books, including When Pigs Move In; Keep the Pigs Out; People, Pigs, and Principalities; and Protected by Angels. His new book, Deliverance Defined, released in March and is available now on amazon.com.
