Can a Christian have a demon?
A Christian can have a demon—but a demon cannot have a Christian. Someone once told me they disagreed that Christians could have demons. I asked them, “Can a Christian open the door to a demon?” They said yes. So I replied, “Then a Christian can have a demon.”
Demons are like flies or mosquitoes. If you open a window, they come in. You can post a sign that says, “Mosquitoes not welcome,” but they don’t read signs—they see an opening. Likewise, demonic spirits look for entry points. Just because a mosquito is in your house doesn’t mean it owns the house; the same applies to demons.
There are three main categories of open doors:
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Inheritance: Some demons are passed down through family bloodlines or can enter the womb if a child is rejected by their parents, often manifesting as a spirit of rejection.
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Intrusion: These occur through traumatic experiences—abuse, broken families, or emotional wounds—especially in childhood.
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Involvement: Habitual, unrepentant sin or engagement with the occult. This can include witchcraft, abortion, drugs, pornography, or possession of occult objects. Such practices invite demonic spirits to influence or control specific areas of a person’s life, though not necessarily the entire person.
1. Witchcraft and New Age
When we step into witchcraft or the occult, we’re stepping onto the enemy’s territory. When you step into Satan’s territory through sin or witchcraft, the devil will no longer just “bark” (tempt)—he will attack and torment.
If demons can’t stop someone from coming to Jesus, their next goal is to prevent them from growing in Him. People with unclean spirits often feel intense restlessness or resistance when pursuing God.
Think of Lazarus—he was resurrected but still bound in grave clothes. That’s what it’s like for someone who loves Jesus but is spiritually restricted. Or like Israel in Egypt: alive, chosen, but oppressed.
2. Restlessness around Spiritual Things
Sometimes, people experience a persistent struggle with sleep, particularly when trying to read Scripture or pray. Now, not every instance of tiredness is demonic—our bodies naturally need rest—but if you notice perpetual resistance to the things of the Spirit, even when your heart genuinely desires them, it may point to a spiritual issue rather than a physical one.
3. Hostility Toward Deliverance Ministry
One of the clear signs of demonic influence is hostility toward deliverance. In Scripture, we see that when Jesus entered the synagogue, a devout Jewish man suddenly became violent. It wasn’t the man himself—it was an unclean spirit reacting to the presence of Jesus.
Today, the same thing happens. During deliverance services, people sometimes feel nauseous, dizzy, or overwhelmed by a sudden urge to leave. Others may even hear voices telling them to run. When prayer begins, the person can become physically resistant or agitated. This reaction is not from the person’s will but from the spirit inside that fears exposure and expulsion. The closer the light gets, the more darkness resists.
4. Intrusive Thoughts or Voices
Another sign is the presence of intrusive thoughts or hearing voices within the mind. The enemy loves to plant thoughts that imitate our own internal voice. Scripture says that Satan placed thoughts into Judas’ heart before entering him, and Peter rebuked Ananias for allowing Satan to fill his heart with deceit.
Demons often manipulate a person’s thoughts from the inside. The difference between the flesh and a demon is this: the flesh doesn’t speak—demons do. A person may hear a distinct, intrusive voice in the mind that blasphemes, promotes self-harm, or encourages suicide. Temptation comes from the outside; torment speaks from within.
5. Surges of Violence or Self-Destructive Behavior
Sudden bursts of uncontrollable anger, violence, or self-harm can also reveal demonic activity. We see this with King Saul—during a family meal, he would suddenly throw a spear at his own son. The Bible says a distressing spirit came upon him.
I’ve ministered to people who, during violent episodes, acted in ways completely out of character—throwing objects, attacking teachers, or harming themselves—and afterward, they said, “I don’t know what happened; I wasn’t in control.” While we still hold people accountable for their choices, we must also recognize when something spiritual is taking the driver’s seat. Deliverance restores self-control—the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
6. Attacks During Sleep
The Bible says in Matthew 13: “While men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares.” The enemy loves to attack in the night, when our defenses are down. People often experience terrifying dreams—falling, being shot, chased, or attacked by animals. Others suffer recurring sexual dreams involving unseen partners, sometimes called incubus or succubus spirits.
Such dreams can lead to fatigue, marital problems, and even infertility. In deliverance sessions, demons have been known to claim a false spiritual marriage, calling themselves the “husband” or “wife” of the afflicted person. Once those spirits are expelled, peace, freedom, and physical restoration follow.
7. Heaviness, Fear, and Depression
The Bible calls it “a spirit of heaviness.” This isn’t ordinary sadness—it’s a spiritual weight that medicine and therapy can’t lift. Emotional exhaustion can often be treated by rest or counseling, but when heaviness is a spirit, only the Holy Spirit can remove it.
The same is true for fear. Scripture says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear.” This kind of fear is paralyzing and oppressive—it grips a person so tightly they can’t leave their house or function normally, even when everything seems fine externally. Deliverance replaces that spirit of fear with the peace of Christ.
8. Intense Desire for Defiled Things
Demons feed on defilement. Their appetite is for what is impure—pornography, profanity, violence, and perversion. The flesh desires sin, yes, but the difference is that the flesh can be disciplined; a demon cannot.
Jesus said to cut off the hand or pluck out the eye that causes sin. That means remove the trigger. But if the triggers are gone and the desire still burns uncontrollably, it’s not flesh—it’s a spirit. Flesh must be crucified; demons must be cast out.
9. Chronic Illnesses
The Bible reveals that evil spirits can sometimes be the cause behind physical sickness. Acts 10:38 says that Jesus “went about healing all who were oppressed by the devil.” Not every sickness has a demonic root, but many do.
I once ministered to a man with leukemia who had been given only a few years to live. He spent much of his savings on medical treatments and eventually came to a deliverance service—not for healing, but because he believed a demon was tormenting him. As we prayed, he began to vomit—thick saliva, blood, and other things left his body. Afterward, he felt peace and freedom.
When he returned to the doctor for his next round of treatment, tests showed no trace of leukemia. Six months later, the results remained clear. Today—seven years later—he’s still completely healed.
I’ve seen similar results in people with asthma, arthritis, tuberculosis, sleep apnea, and other chronic conditions. When the demon is removed, the sickness often leaves with it.
10. Paranormal Activity
Another clear indicator of demonic presence is unexplained supernatural activity—objects moving on their own, crosses falling from walls, strange voices, or shadowy figures appearing in your home.
When such disturbances occur repeatedly in one location, it may be a demon attached to that place. But if the same phenomena follow a person wherever they go, the problem isn’t the house—it’s the spirit influencing that individual.
These manifestations are warnings that something spiritual needs to be confronted.
Eight Common Open Doors to Demonic Influence
There are certain objects, habits, and symbols that invite demonic presence into our lives and homes. Many people unknowingly keep these things, not realizing they serve as open doors to oppression.
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Objects Tied to Native or Pagan Practices – Items such as pottery, jewelry, or dream catchers connected to spiritual traditions outside of Christ can attract demonic spirits. Dream catchers, for example, are not harmless decorations—they are spiritual traps that invite demonic influence.
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New Age Materials and Symbols – Books, tarot cards, crystals, or any item associated with channeling, astrology, or energy healing open doors to demonic power.
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Witchcraft Objects – Items like Ouija boards, spell books, and occult paraphernalia are direct invitations for demonic activity.
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Good Luck Charms and Crystals – Anything that promises protection, luck, or power outside of the Holy Spirit operates from an unholy source. There are only two kinds of power: God’s power and demonic power.
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Religious Idols or Statues – Statues or images from false religions may seem harmless, but Scripture shows that behind every idol there is a spirit that promotes deception.
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Games that Glorify Darkness – Certain video and tabletop games rooted in sorcery and demonic themes (like Dungeons & Dragons or Diablo) normalize witchcraft. You don’t fight demons with spells—you overcome them in real life through the name of Jesus.
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Movies and Music that Glorify Sin – Horror films, violent entertainment, and pornography are not just media—they’re gateways. The word entertainment begins with enter for a reason. Spirits can enter through what we watch and listen to.
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Objects or Gifts from Toxic Relationships – This one surprises many people. Letters, jewelry, or gifts from former partners—especially from ungodly or controlling relationships—can maintain unhealthy soul ties. These ties hold part of your heart in the past and hinder your future. When a relationship ends, cut off the spiritual connection by removing those objects.
Remember, soul ties are real and biblical. Scripture says Jonathan’s soul was knit to David’s, and that a husband and wife become one flesh. But ties with people who no longer walk in your destiny must be broken to restore spiritual freedom.
How to Get Free
If you recognize any of these ten signs in your life—or if you have objects or connections that could be open doors to demonic influence—God wants you free. He never intended His children to live under oppression.
Here are the five biblical steps to freedom:
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Recognize – Acknowledge that there is a problem. Denial gives demons permission to stay.
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Repent – Turn away from sin and place your full trust in Jesus Christ. Repent not only for your own sins but also for the sins of your ancestors who may have opened the door through occult practices or idol worship.
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Renounce – Verbally cut ties with all demonic connections. Renounce every form of witchcraft, soul tie, vow, or curse that has linked you to darkness.
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Remove – Remove by casting it out - and get rid of every object associated with sin, the occult, or unhealthy relationships. Burn, destroy, or dispose of them completely.
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Release and Rebuke – Forgive those who have wronged you. Unforgiveness is one of Satan’s strongest weapons. Then, in the name of Jesus, rebuke the demon and command it to leave your life.
Deliverance doesn’t require a stage, a crowd, or a special event. You can experience freedom right now—right where you are. Stretch out your hands and invite the Holy Spirit to fill every area of your life. Jesus is willing and able to deliver you today.
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