Receipts or It Didn’t Happen: The Myth of the Devil’s Legal Rights

Have you ever heard the teaching that goes something like, "If you have wounds, the devil has gained legal rights to harass and oppress you. You have to close all doors"? Let's crush that lie right now!

This teaching is extremely damaging, unbiblical, and makes people feel they have no guard or protection simply because they suffered at someone else's hand. The Word does NOT say, "The devil has legal access because someone wronged you." Instead, it declares that vengeance belongs to the Lord, and He will repay everyone for the wrongs they've done.

This teaching shifts blame to the wounded, even though it sounds "spiritual." Let's not forget—the Pharisees were the epitome of placing burdens on people that they couldn't carry themselves, all while appearing "spiritual." Jesus called them out on it (Matthew 23:4).

Where Did This Teaching Come From?

This doctrine originated from modern charismatic and deliverance ministries that claim the devil gains a foothold when believers have trauma or generational curses, supposedly giving Satan "legal access." Figures like Derek Prince promote renunciation prayers, spiritual contracts, and deliverance sessions to "revoke" such rights.

From this ministry called "The Cloud Of Glory," I truly appreciate their stance on how dangerous this doctrine is: 

“Just about every major Deliverance Ministry teaches that demons can have 'legal rights' to Christians because of something we might have done, or because of some kind of generational curse that was passed down to us. They even tell us that the reason demons might have legal rights over us is because of what somebody else has done to us, thereby suggesting that innocent victims are subject to legal jeopardy brought about by the devil.

A criminal doesn’t get legal rights over the person who was victimized. Neither do demons have a right to terrorize and hold captive those who are abused.

There are people who claim that you may have been completely innocent, but because you were abused by somebody else you ended up getting demons, and they ended up getting legal rights to you. This is absolutely ludicrous! It’s a lie straight from the pit of Hell.” (Source)

The Scripture Used to Back Up This Teaching

The scripture used is Ephesians 4:27

"...and do not give the devil a foothold."

This is why it's so crucial to look at the full context of Scripture. When people pick and choose one verse to build an entire doctrine, it causes confusion. By examining the complete context around Ephesians 4:27, we can clearly see that Paul is admonishing believers to:

• Love our neighbors
• Put off the old self and put on the new self in Christ
• Not grieve the Holy Spirit—walk in step with Him
• Not give the devil a foothold through our way of living when we have new life in Christ

What Does Foothold Mean? 

Biblehub is a great resource to look at the Lexicon Summary of a word within a scripture. The word "foothold" also goes by (Source):

• Opportunity
• Place
• Chance
• Room

The term "foothold" is Greek derived and is named "Topos." (Source)

Topos: Place, location, region, opportunity

Original Word: τόπος

 

KJV: coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where

NASB: place, places, room, opportunity, areas, locality, occasiona spot , i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.)Word Origin

1. (figuratively) condition, opportunity
2. (specially) a scabbard
3. {general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas G5561 is a large but participle locality}

**Ephesians 4:27 commands, “do not give the devil a foothold” (lit. ‘place’). Here τόπος signals moral ground ceded by anger, bitterness, or deceit.

So as we can see within the context of that scripture, it has nothing to do with wrongs someone has done to you, trauma, or wounds. It has to do with heart posture. This scripture is warning believers not to give the devil a foothold through a hardened heart that hurts both you and your neighbor.

The Subtle Lie

Be aware, brothers and sisters, of subtle lies that try to creep into the Body of Christ. Christ is coming back for us as a virgin, one without spot or blemish (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:27). This includes doctrines of demons that we entertain. We are children of the light, not of the darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

Don't you think the devil wants to distort how we view ourselves in Christ? The devil is a thief who looks for someone to exploit (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8). If he can make you undermine your authority in Christ, he will continue trying to cause more mental damage (2 Corinthians 2:11).

This teaching makes believers think that because their innocence was hijacked or they endured trauma, it swings open demonic doorways. It causes fear and anxiety that every door must be immediately shut or you become the devil's playground.

This may seem subtle to you, but the Lord even convicted me about a mental agreement I made with a song. I liked a particular song because some of its undertones mirrored struggles I was dealing with in my spiritual walk. One of the lyrics essentially said the heart was a hollow place for the devil to dance. The Lord told me, "Why are you in agreement with this? You sit in heavenly places with me, and I have given you authority over the devil." I didn't realize what I had allowed in my heart to be true.

This is for you too—do not agree with things that seek to destroy you, but seek the abundant life Jesus wants to give you.

What the Bible Actually Says

The Bible doesn't say, "Well, you're wounded. Have fun, devil!" Instead, the scriptures declare:

• Jesus was sent to heal the brokenhearted and set captives free (Isaiah 61:1)
• God is near to the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 34:18)
• Physical afflictions don't automatically mean anyone has sinned—sometimes it's so God's glory may be displayed (John 9:1-3)
• Our records of debt were canceled by the cross, and Jesus has disarmed darkness (Colossians 2:14-15)

How Jesus Actually Treated the Oppressed

In Scripture, we see instances of people with infirmities, for example:

• The woman bent over for 18 years (Luke 13:10–17)
• The Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39)
• The boy with an unclean spirit (Mark 9:14–29; Matthew 17:14–21; Luke 9:37–43)
• The man born blind (John 9)

In all these circumstances, we don't see Jesus saying, "You gave the devil legal access!" or "Why did you allow demons to attach themselves to you while you were downcast?" Instead, we see MERCY, HEALING, and these people were still REACHABLE.

This tells us that our Father isn't out to shame us to the point of death, but to redeem all that He draws to Himself. He wants to offer healing, refreshment, and new life. Today, I believe this healing can still happen for people—I've experienced some myself—but God works on His timeline. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast. Sometimes our afflictions have nothing to do with sin or spiritual transactions, but are places where God wants His glory and works displayed.

The presence of torment doesn't cancel covenant. The devil doesn't need a legal document to harass or lie—he just needs to make you believe you're still bound. He roams the earth seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). If you look deeply into 1 Peter 5:8, it doesn't say "he will devour" but whom he can devour. We have options. The battle is the Lord's!

The Devil is NOT a landlord, he is a SQUATTER. Treat him as such.

Let Jesus make His home within you and get cozy there 💗

The Harm to Hurting Hearts

I have personally experienced abuse as a child and adult. During my formative years, I thought I was a complete bust and doomed. When I heard "Your frontal lobe isn't developed until you're 25 years old," I thought, "Well, I'm cooked. Let's cement in the trauma as well as the devil's shenanigans." I felt completely hopeless, demonized, ashamed, and thought healing was out of reach until every single door imaginable was closed. I felt anxiety, panic, and constantly like an open playing field for the devil. I fervently prayed and prayed, catching every slip, every thought, racing to nowhere—when all along, the Lord wanted to hold me and root me within Himself. Jesus didn't tell people, "Close doors before I heal." He said, "Get up and walk... go home... rise..."

Now imagine telling someone who went through severe childhood abuse and developed C-PTSD that their mind and body is the devil's playground because they were abused at someone else's hands. How will this person trust the Lord for healing? I felt like damaged goods—imagine someone who's also been through abuse! This teaching sounds spiritual but is wrapped in torment that Christ died to set us free from.

What Actually Opens a Door

Willful rebellion and sin opens the door to the devil. Unforgiveness, not being sober-minded, entertaining sin, allowing temptation to take root, and not being rooted in Christ gives the devil a wide-open door. Being tempted doesn't mean you've failed—temptation is literally what it means. Temptation and sin are not the same thing. Jesus was tempted but did not sin. 

When you're sinned against, the devil uses that pain to exploit you. Sure, he probably goes before the courts of God trash-talking all of us, but God knows what's in each heart. If you're struggling in sin and bring God into the midst of it, God will not turn you away. This is why David was seen as a man after God's own heart even though he committed serious sins. He confessed them and laid himself bare before the Lord. That's what honors God—this is an example of submitting to God so the devil flees from you. David remained on God's heart.

Come Out of the Courtroom

Please stop thinking, brother or sister in Christ, that you're in a courtroom waiting for Christ to defend you. He already did that by the Father's commissioning. (I'll do another blog post about this "good cop, bad cop" stance the Body of Christ seems to place between the Father and Son.)

God the Father wanted you to be saved, so He sent His Son to do it. The law was good, but we could not keep it. The law couldn't keep us from sinning, but it exposed what sin was. Jesus finished this work, so believers in Christ no longer have to fear God's wrath.

If you are truly in Christ, you cannot keep on sinning (1 John 3:9). God will complete the work He started in you (Philippians 1:6), and this includes wholeness. If you've been wounded, Christ wants to heal your heart, soul, and mind. He wants you to be of sound mind and without fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Surrender all your depths to Christ because deep calls out to deep (Psalm 42:7).

Christ healed that demonized man the townspeople had given up on. He healed his MIND and HEART, not just his body. Christ wants the same for you, and He has loosed all holds of the devil happily for you (Colossians 2:15). Walk in victory!

With a holy kiss and triumph, 

Love Ashley 💓

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Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.