Some people claim that the devil or demons have “legal rights” over people. For example, Derek Prince claims that if we (including Christians) have any unconfessed sin, then “in that area we do not have the full legal rights of redemption. Satan still has a legal claim in that area…. He has a legal right to occupy that territory. The devil is a legal expert.”[1]
If you have read lots of books on spiritual warfare or deliverance, you might be convinced that Satan has legal rights. But those who haven’t bathed themselves in such books wouldn’t come to this conclusion simply from reading the Bible because, well, it simply isn’t there.
The Bible never claims that demons have any “legal rights.” In contrast, Charles Kraft erroneously claims that demonic “rights are granted according to the rules God has set up to govern the universe.” He suggests, for example, that “one of the rules God has set up is that if a person holds on to anger or any other negative emotional reaction, a demon has the legal right to live inside that person.” He then wrongly claims, “This is spoken of in Ephesians 4:26-27, where we are told to not hold on to anger past sundown … lest we give the devil an opportunity—a legal right—to cause us trouble, presumably from inside of us.”[2]
This passage says nothing about legal rights. Rather, Ephesians 4 indicates that a person might “make room for the devil” (v. 27, NRSV)[3] to destroy the unity of the church community by means of more sinful behaviors.
Practically speaking, if the devil or demons have legal rights over all people (including Christians) who have unconfessed sin, then the devil probably has legal rights over every Christian because I’m pretty sure that most Christians have sinned in ways that they have forgotten to confess. Some liturgical traditions have their parishioners confess their sinfulness in every worship gathering, so perhaps they are safe from demons (tongue in cheek).
But those who speak of Satan’s “legal rights” generally claim that we need to name and renounce the specific sins we have committed in order to remove Satan’s legal rights over us.[4] I don’t recall Jesus ever saying anything like this.
I believe that demons are real and that they do affect people, but my impression is that many books on spiritual warfare and deliverance turn dealing with the demonic into magical formulas that we need to follow. If we don’t follow the formula right by renouncing the right sins, then we don’t break the spells (“legal rights”) that demons have over us.
This seems eerily similar to the prosperity gospel, where you have to “confess” your faith in just the right way in order to get God to act in the way that you want. The difference here is that the magical formula of our words is meant to control demons instead of God.
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You might also be interested in these posts:
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Andrew K. Gabriel, Ph.D., is the author of Touched by God: Experiencing the Holy Spirit (forthcoming) as well as three academic books, including The Lord is the Spirit. He is a theology professor at Horizon College and Seminary and serves on the Theological Study Commission for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. You can follow him on Facebook or on Twitter.[1] Derek Prince, War in Heaven: God’s Epic Battle With Evil (Grand Rapids: Chosen, 2003), 158-160.
[2] Charles H. Kraft, The Evangelical’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare: Practical Instruction and Scriptural Insights on Facing the Enemy (Grand Rapids: Chosen, 2015), 219.
[3] The Greek literally reads “do not give a place [topos] to the devil.”
[4] For example, Kraft, The Evangelical’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare, 165. See another example here: http://www.greatbiblestudy.com/legalrights.php, which, contrary to its name, is not a great bible study.
I through Jesus said before he left. I am. Leaving the evil one is coming but don’t be afraid because he has nothing in me so he does not have any power over me. Is this a orrect statement by Jesus in John 14:30
Sounds about right.
I was in total agreement with you until I remembered how WE do allow demons access to us. God does not give demons legal rights to us, however we can give demons access to us (Luke 11.24-26). Here is a great article that I came across that helped me understand WE can allow satanic activity in our lives.
http://blog.adw.org/2015/03/how-can-a-demon-driven-out-return-with-seven-more-a-meditation-on-a-puzzling-parable-of-jesus/
Absolutely, Thank you for saying this bc it is the ABSOLUTE TRUTH!! The more we know and understand of what we have allowed in our lives then the faster we can attach ourselves to the Lord’s Revelations to be set FREE!!
Good stuff!! Thank you Andrew!
The Scripture says ” For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” “spirit of fear”; can that be translated “demon”?
Have heard that there is an evil spirit behind every act of the “Sinful nature” per Gal 5. Seems plausible to me since the Bible speaks of our being led by the Spirit of God.
Can we say therefore, that this sinful nature is influenced/led by the evil one and his minions, while the fruit of the Spirit is influenced by God?
We therefore hold on to the evil acts and the demons behind them by not renouncing/confessing the sin and not turning away from same. Hence as mentioned the demons may not have the legal right from God but we give them that right.
FACTS this was well written
You said exactly what I was thinking! Now think of this, people like this author write articles giving people false doctrine! Look at all the people who believe the authors and material they write and now live under demons having legal right to control the things of their life. Wake up people! The biggest weapon we have is repentance, we become cleansed of our sins by Jesus and remove the legal rights the demonic has over us. This is why the Bible says all chains can be broken with our Lord. God bless you🔥🔥
I certainly affirm that repentance is important, and even that this can shift the influence of demons over a person’s life. I, however, see that as different than removing a “legal right.” This makes me wonder what you mean by “legal right.”
Thank you for sharing!!!! You are exactly correct!! Let us continue to speak the truth and set people completely FREE!!!! I’d be afraid to be this author of this post and have their photo plastered front and centre on the top of this post without any conviction….let him repent!!
Thank you. This article has really open my eyes to that erroneous teaching. I used to attribute every problem big or small to some sort of “ demonic legal right”. It can cause condemnation because I would just dig up past sins that I had already asked forgiveness for thinking it still had some sort of legal right of operation in my life.
Thank you for sharing your story. And I’m glad you found the article helpful.
First of all what are Demons???
I don’t like the term deliverance ministry, and I certainly don’t agree with a lot of it and this is one of those aspects. There are many people, Bob Larson is a great example of those that take this legalism to an extreme–and where does he get this information? He has a scribe that writes down what the demons say and extrapolates that into a basic rule book. I said he listens to the demons and what they have to say. If you have not dealt with demons directly, be forewarned that they are LIARS. Many people also base too much of “how” to deal with the demonic based on their experiences with them.
I try to keep my “methodology” for lack of better term in dealing with demons strictly to a biblical model as opposed to using my experience which inevitably would turn into a mantra or some type of exorcism ritual. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. I was even speaking yesterday to the pastor who helped my wife and ultimately was used by God to get me into helping people with demonic issues. He agrees as well and he has way more experience than I do.
Pray folks. If it isn’t biblical, it doesn’t need to be used. Don’t tell them to go to the pit, claim you are sending hell fire on them, commanding angels to bind them and torment them etc…these are theatrics that frankly demons will go with and ultimately they won’t leave.
Nate how then will , suggest we deal ,pray against demons.
What biblical or an example of such , can I use.
Thank you
Lizan
I don’t have a complete answer, but there are the words used by Jesus. I think one example is he would say something like ‘step back, step away. leave this woman and never return.’
I remember watching a video that explained this a while back. I can’t say whether that works or not.
So, from what I can tell, Jesus just drove spirits out from the people suffering from them, but didn’t command them to go to a pit. I think that would be something that God/Jesus would judge when he returns – not something to be judged by us because we don’t have that authority (as far as I know).
As my friend Cheryl Fritz pointed out, a person may give opportunity to a thief by leaving their house unlocked, doors wide open, and valuables showing in the windows when gone on vacation. The thief may have easy access, but still has no “legal right” to steal. And the cops still have the “legal right” to expel him.
A girl may wear scanty clothing and go to a bar late at night, drink too much, and get taken advantage of. She was vulnerable due to her choices, but a rapist still has not “legal right” to abuse her.
Thus there’s a big difference between a “legal right” and a “foothold” or vulnerability. We should give no place to the devil, but neither should we imagine that he has a “legal right” over us.
The devil is a thief and a murderer. Thieves and murderers, by definition, look for vulnerabilities and act outside of the law. I wonder how demons came screaming out of people when cloths that Paul had touched were brought to them. Would that have been possible if they had a “legal right” and couldn’t have been expelled without first dealing in legalities?
Colossians chapter 2 says the legal code, which was against us and stood opposed to us, was nailed to the cross. Satan was stripped of his rights at the cross. Now, through righteousness in Christ and redemption, we are the ones who have a “legal right” to kick Satan out and undo his work.
Great observations. Thanks.
Good examples with the thief and the girl wearing scanty clothing. I agree. I can’t think where in the Bible it says it, but maybe it says somewhere that it is because of our own actions that some things happen, or we give ourselves over to these things. That doesn’t mean a ‘legal right’, just that we have given it an opportunity. ‘Stop sinning’ in other words, because you are giving these things an opportunity. Maybe the rules (at least some of them) are there for a reason.
when we sin we give satan legal access to accuse us of the sin that Jesus speak against. If we do not repent and sin no more we give satan access to destroy us, ( the wages of sin is death). The bible reads satan is the accuser of the brethren he does not accuse of lies he accuse us to God of things we really done, God is a covenant keeping God whether his covenant or the covenant we made with satan. Choose yea this day whom you will serve.
Absolutely! This article is not at all biblically sound. Jesus had a DELIVERANCE ministry as he was here on earth. I pray that people would test the spirit by the spirit with this article because it will keep many bound.
It seems you did not understand the main point of the article. It does not deny the reality of demons or that Jesus delivered people from demons.
What’s your point? You are not clearly addressing anything here. .and you have left no conclusions for what you trying to say 😕😑
Thank you for this.
I was wondering about this topic because I have read most books of the Bible and some many times yet have never come across anything about all of this hocus pocus so I was wondering if I missed something!
I have read many “spiritual warfare” books and while many are good; there are some that are dangerous. Demons are liars so why would you want to talk to them? Do as Jesus says, tell them to leave and be done with it. I’m being simplistic here. There are author’s who say to talk to them. No thank you! Just get out and be gone.
Bless you! You are one of the few who know the truth about the “legal rights” lie. Interestingly most of the people who subscribe to this theory are deliverance ministers!! Iwas ministered to for years under this way of thinking and finally the Holy Spirit showed me the truth. Then came a level of freedom i had not yet known. It took a long time to renew my mind via scripture. Shout it from the mountain tops! 🙂 hooray for you! Blessings evermore to you. 🙂
THEIR IS no POWER ,[BUT THE POWER OF YAWHU, NONE BESIDE ME 00 NO POWER,BUT THE POWER OF YAWHU OR YAHU,AND YAWHUSHA ! SHOW ME THE LAW ! AND THE devil’s ARE destroyed by THE POWER YAWHU ,YAWHU
ok, you don’t need to shout…who is this fellow yawhu who? the name of our God is I AM THAT I AM and His Son one with God is Jesus. are you an english speaking person? stick to your language.
why use names for God Almighty that you have no idea who they are? have you researched into it? you have not and that comma there between two names that might be or not true !! is disrespectful to our Sovereign God.
don’t believe everything you hear and take for granted information that there is no biblical basis of. I know this name is found in the OT but in newer versions that have been manipulated by unsaved jews.
it comes from 4 letters and they admit they don’t remember the name of our God because it was forbidden to pronounce His sacred name!! that’s a different story. you must be a baby christian. please pray for discernment and wisdom. I AM THAT I AM will give it to you.
Andrew, spiritual warfare has always been a mystery to me. There are a plethora of books on the subject but a lot of conjecture and assumptions. What author/book would you recommend? I enjoyed your article. I have come to the same conclusion but I do not address it much other than obedience and walking in the Spirit to overcome the lusts of the flesh and demonic influence.
Hi Berdine, I recommend you take a look at the book “Holy Housekeeping” by Janet Warren. I interviewed her here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD6x9UHHTG0.
And for what its worth, I think your approach is a good one–stay close to God and seek to live a holy life with the Spirit’s help.
The Apostle Paul in 2Corinthian 2says satan will take advantage if we are ignorant of his divice if we leav a sinful like and not forgiving others satan will take advantage there
Demons are real. Jesus cast out demons. There are reasons for demons to enter and I believe they enter because of sin. The sin that causes the entry of demons has to be dealt with in order for demons to be cast out. Yes deliverance ministry is the way out of demonic harassment whether inwardly or outwardly.
Indeed, demons are real and cause significant problems.
I think Andrew has not appreciated that the bible is a legal document. The death of Jesus happened to satisfy a legal requirement. Mercy, justice, justification are all legal issues. Talk of covenants, sins etc . Look at words such as laws, commandments, statutes, judgments etc; they are all legal terms. Understanding the bible from the legal point of view will help greatly. Thankyou
Hi Emmanuel, You are right that there are some legal ideas in the Bible. But that does not make the Bible a legal document, as such. Similarly, there are all kinds of ideas about nature in the Bible (the sky, stars, God is a rock, the trees of the fields clap their hands, etc.), but this does not make the Bible a nature document.
Aside from metaphors, there are so many different genres in the Bible so it would be hard to say that it is any one type of document. There are letters, historical writings, poetry, etc. I’m not sure how one could regard poetry as a legal document.
Thank you brother Andrew for God’s work in you and through you. In essence, I thank God for you! I appreciate the insight and revelation He gives you in His holy Word. I often find myself frustrated and grieved with how many in the Church erroneously claim and/or teach the Word! However, sola fide, Sola Christus!!!
For an example when Jesus was giving the story of the wicked servant and that wicked servant did not forgive someone else that owed them as he was forgiven Yeshua says that if we don’t forgive that God will turn us over to the tormentors, so this gives them access to them, so as we allow the Bible to answer our questions and not man opinions, the accurate answer will be in the word of God as we study been guided and led by the Spirit of God
I assume you are thinking of Matt 18:34 in the King James Version. If you read this verse in any other Bible translation and consider the context of this passage, you will see that it is not talking about demons in that verse.
Thanks, Doctor Andrew
The devil has no power on us but can try to torment us. We should remember that we have the secret in Ephesiens 6 on how to react to his schemes. We have the Holy Spirit in us who will teach us how to fight in victory for the glory of God.
Excellent thoughts. The Holy Spirit indwells believers (Romans 8:9-10; 1 Corinthians 3:16). Evidence of this is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The Believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit; therefore, it is inconceivable that the sons and daughters of God could potentially be inhabited and controlled by a demon. There is no biblical examples of believers being possessed by demons. I would argue that the silence of Scripture on the topics speaks volumes.
From the moment the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness and the rule and reign of Satan to the kingdom of righteousness and of His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:18 tells us “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him” (NASB). The word “touch” could be rendered ‘seize’. Demons cannot seize ‘legal authority’ over a believer. Those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord belongs to Christ, and neither Satan nor his demons can reclaim one who belongs to the Him. I offer up Jesus words as a final though to ponder, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall loose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day’ – John 6:39.
In the New Testament (John 13:26-27), before Jesus was crucified a demon/Satan entered Judas and presumably made him betray Jesus. Judas was one of the disciples so must have been a believer at least at some point, but the demon/Satan still entered him.
Andrew, here are my thoughts, informed by scripture, supported by experience:
While it is indeed true that demons have no “legal rights” over anyone in highest truth because God the Creator is indeed sovereign and has complete rule over satan, one of His Creations, it is still quite accurate to say that through unrepentant sin, BOTH unbelievers as well as Christians can “lawfully” (I.e. scripturally) give satan and his demons “place” in their lives, scripturally supported “rights” to torment them, and create
Demonic strongholds in their lives which can defy and effectively resist all human efforts (prayer, Bible study, counseling, etc.) at helping and/or delivering such a person.
True, No human, Christian or non-Christian, can “lawfully” go head to head with Satan in such “verbal contests” as those many in the Charismatic/Pentecostal denominations teach and suggest and engage in—-satan knows humans (even saved ones) are humans, and as such, have no “lawful” authority or power to “rebuke” him or his demons directly, though Jude clearly demonstrates that in the end times such as these there will be humans who despise angelic dominions and powers, (and in essence, the God who created them, and who alone has ultimate power over them) and will be about the business of bringing against satan those ignorant and pompous types of “railing accusations” which we read in Jude that even Michael the archangel refused to bring against satan when disputing over the body of Moses, but rather said, “The LORD rebuke you.”
Those among us who are presuming to have equality with God to tell satan what he can and cannot do and using the name of Jesus like some magical “incantation” that they believe will give their human words power to cast out demons as THEY will, are in for one rude awakening—-these are those of whom the Lord Jesus spoke would, in the day of judgment, say Lord, Lord, didn’t we do all these mighty works and prophesy and cast out demons IN YOUR NAME? and Jesus will call them workers of iniquity and command their departure saying He never knew them.
Notwithstanding, satan DOES indeed have Lawful, Biblically sanctioned “right” to torment anyone, Christian or not, who “opens the door” so to speak, or “gives place to the devil” through serious, unrepentant sin of any sort, (most often, in my experience as a Biblical Coubselor) sin of root of bitterness/anger/unforgiveness, and this is substantiated by many scriptures.
So those using this language to describe what they are seeing in the case of demonizations are not so much incorrect in their observations and descriptions of what they are encountering as they are totally misguided as to how to “lawfully” deal with demonization. Their methods are unbiblical, and unlawful, but many of their observations and conclusions as to causes of demonization are indeed, spot on.
Thank you Jan for your insight. We learned (in a very intense way) there is an entire judicial system in the heavens…that Satan comes before Jesus consistently to fight for souls that have given him “legal rights.” I believe most people do have unclean spirits associated to this fact and this is a big reason why the path is SO narrow. It’s why the world is the way it is today. Articles like this, sadly, support the devils cause. Sigh….
I do find this blog very liberating. Thank you so much.
In Christ
I agree the devil and demons have no legal rights except they find open room, they seduce us. Gabriel can you shade some light on advocates of “the courts of heaven”?
You’re correct Gabriel. The devil is a liar, a thief, a murderer (Jn 10:10).
Andrew Gabriel, you’re absolutely correct countering false teaching “… the devil or demons have legal rights …” Does a robber have legal rights to enter a house with open door? Listen to Jesus’ description of Satan “… he comes to steal, to destroy and kill …” John 10:10. The fact that Christians have unconfessed sins it doesn’t mean it’s a legal right for demons or Satan to enter. Whether confessed or unconfessed sins it’s not a legal right for the devil
Those are some helpful observations.
Thank God there is someone out there that debunks the unscriptual legal rights theory. It is a doctrine of demons and the irony of this, is that the deliverance ministries are the one teaching it. Which is counterproductive to thier work! Crazy. Are there more of us out there?
I have been a follower of Christ for over 50 years and I am convinced and agree that Christians can give demons legal rights if they open doors. Legal is the same thing as saying permission is given. People give demons the right to stay when they refuse to repent.
Holding hate, unforgivness as well as willful sinning and what one speaks with their mouth can open doors to demons as well. Persistent sin is dangerous. Derek Prince whom i highly respect is correct about his teaching on legal rights.
Hi Marie, I actually agree with most of what you say. However, the way that some Christian authors speak of “legal rights” clearly goes beyond simply saying there is “permission” for demons to be present.
I agree Marie. DP changed our lives forever and for the highest! Thank you.
We are told that Jesus became a Curse for us taking ALL the curse how is it that some teach WE have to Break the General Curse through a Process?
Thank You
Fantastic explanation
It’s scary to think what all those manifestations are that people demonstrate when in a deliverance meeting
As a reformed Baptist, I found this a really helpful explanation. I am concern about this language which is foreign to scripture. Thank you for you careful reasoning in this answer.
Grace and Peace,
“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster and collapse.”
Proverbs 24:16 AMP
from 1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):–just, meet, right(-eous).
Our words are not meant to control God either 🤦♀️🤷♀️
All I can see is prideful and arrogance written all over the face of this author, repentance needs to come from him first and then to remove this false doctrine….Those with a godly discernment can see it all!!!
Even if his heart is in the right place, he is not only deceived, but sending people in the WRONG direction. So sad.
May God be with you and show you the truth. You obviously have no experience with lengthy deliverance.
Thanks Andrew….great article as I had a question about satan’s “legal rights.” You might want to consider the validity of your footnote on person’s who believe in the “prosperity gospel” and all they have to do to obtain prosperity is confess it like a magic formula. I’m in the Word of Faith movement and that is not the way prosperity is taught. I understand that its perceived to be taught in that manner. We believe that part of Jesus’ finished work is prosperity. Therefore we already have that in our salvation. By confessing it were simply appropriating it same way as our initial salvation was obtained…by grace through faith.
This is easily said when you haven’t been tormented by demons. Inner wounds and trauma somehow allow them to have influence over you. I don’t know how or why, but the legal rights aren’t entirely wrong. I’ve lived it myself. It is very different once you live through it. I didn’t want to believe it was true, but once you live through it you know it is. There is a reason why demons would torment a person and are allowed to do that. It’s easy to say it’s not true because it’s not in the Bible, but not all personal revelation is in the Bible. The Bible is the word of God, but God also speaks to you in prayer and visions too. God will reveal specific things for specific situations. If you have not demonized then this knowledge is of little profit to you, but if you have it will be priceless. This is not made up. Focus on your specific life situation and in following Christ in it.
Hi Elisa, Thanks for sharing. I do recognize the reality of demons and that people can be demonized. However, there is a difference between this experience and concluding that demons have legal rights. Similarly, one might have an experience and interpret it as seeing water on the road, only to drive up further and realize their interpretation was wrong, and that it was just heat rising up from the road. In both cases, there was an experience, and the person wasn’t wrong about what they were experiencing, but their interpretation was at first.
Oh brother. A lot of people disagreeing here are definitely charismatic Pentecostals which would mean they have flawed theology/doctrine. Love the article though brother!
What is a legal right to you sir?