Can Demons or Satan Enter People? And How Can You Protect Yourself?
Many people ask: Can Satan, fallen angels, or demons actually enter into people?
The Bible gives a clear answer: Yes. But it also shows us how to protect ourselves — and how to be completely free.
1. Demons and Satan Can Enter the Lost
The Scriptures show that demons (unclean spirits) can enter and control people who are not filled with God.
Luke 22:3 (NIV): “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.”
John 13:27 (NIV): “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, ‘What you are about to do, do quickly.'”
Mark 5:2-8: A man possessed by many demons (“Legion”) lived among tombs until Jesus cast them out.
Luke 8:2: Mary Magdalene was delivered by Jesus from seven demons.
Key truth: Satan and demons target empty, unprotected people — those who do not have the Holy Spirit living inside them.
2. People Without God Are Vulnerable
The Bible says people who walk without God are under the influence of Satan:
Ephesians 2:2 (NIV): “…when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
Without the Holy Spirit, a person’s heart and mind are unguarded — making them vulnerable to:
- Possession (full control by demons)
- Oppression (constant attack)
- Temptation (pulling into sin)
- Confusion, bondage, and fear
3. People of God Are Protected
Those who truly belong to God — those who have been born again and have the Holy Spirit living inside them — cannot be possessed by demons.
Romans 8:9 (NIV): “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.”
1 John 4:4 (NIV): “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
Important: Demons can still attack, tempt, or oppress a believer from the outside. But they cannot enter and control someone filled with the Holy Spirit.
4. Why Was Judas Vulnerable?
Although Judas was around Jesus, he was never truly surrendered to God.
John 6:70 (NIV): “Then Jesus replied, ‘Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!'”
John 12:6: Judas loved money and often stole from the disciples’ money bag.
His heart remained open to sin, and eventually, Satan entered him because Judas chose darkness over light.
5. How Can the Lost Protect Themselves?
If you are not walking with God, here’s how to protect yourself — the only way:
Step 1: Repent and Turn to Jesus
Acts 3:19 (NIV): “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Repent means to turn away from sin and turn fully to God.
Step 2: Believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
Romans 10:9 (NIV): “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Step 3: Receive the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:38 (NIV): “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’
Step 4: Stay Filled and Walk with God
Jesus warned that if a person is set free from demons but remains empty (without God’s Spirit), demons will come back:
Matthew 12:43-45 (NIV): “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”
How to Stay Filled:
To stay filled, you must seek God daily. Spend time in prayer, read and meditate on His Word, obey His commands, and worship Him with your whole heart. Staying connected to God is not a one-time decision — it’s a daily walk.
The Bible tells us:
Ephesians 5:18-19 (NIV): “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”
When you are constantly drawing near to God, the Holy Spirit fills you afresh, guards your heart, and strengthens you against every attack.
An empty heart is an open invitation to the enemy — but a heart filled with God becomes a fortress he cannot enter.
Warning: Stay Faithful to Remain Protected
Even those who have been saved must remain faithful and walk closely with God. The Bible warns that persistent, unrepented sin can harden the heart, grieve the Holy Spirit, and open doors to the enemy.
The Scriptures warn us:
Hebrews 3:12 (NIV): “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
2 Peter 2:20 (NIV): “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”
Remaining filled with the Holy Spirit through daily repentance, obedience, prayer, and devotion keeps our hearts strong and sealed. We must not take salvation lightly or treat God’s grace as permission to live in sin. True protection comes by abiding faithfully in Christ every day.
Summary
| If you are without God | If you belong to Jesus |
|---|---|
| You are vulnerable to Satan and demons | You are protected and filled with the Holy Spirit |
| Demons can enter, control, and destroy | Demons cannot possess you |
| Only salvation through Jesus protects you | God’s Spirit inside you is greater than the enemy |
Final Call: Choose Jesus Today
If you are lost, today is the day to turn to Jesus, repent of your sins, and receive His Spirit. Without Him, the enemy has an open door. With Him, you are sealed, protected, and victorious.
John 10:10 (NIV): “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”