Can Christians Have Demons? Generational Curses, Demonization & Spiritual Freedom | Bobby Schuller | Podcast Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Can Christians Have Demons? Generational Curses, Demonization & Spiritual Freedom

Shepherd's Grove • Jul 9, 2026 • 23 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Pastor Bobby Schuller addresses questions regarding generational curses, demonic influence, sexual temptation, and structural church accountability. While believers are redeemed through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, opening doors to darkness or yielding to the flesh can expose Christians to spiritual harassment. By practicing immediate repentance in the thought life, submitting to church accountability, and renouncing involvement with the occult, believers can experience lasting victory and spiritual freedom.

Themes

Spiritual WarfareDemonization and FreedomRepentance and Thought LifeOccult ExposuresChurch Structure and Accountability

Key Points

1.
Christ redeemed believers from every curse on the cross, but keeping occult objects, horoscopes, or idols in the home can expose Christians to spiritual harassment (Galatians 3:13).
2.
Curses and spiritual ties associated with idols or occult practices can be broken through prayer, repentance, and receiving Holy Communion.
3.
Actions taken in secret carry immense spiritual weight—hidden sin brings bondage and shame, while secret prayer and worship build spiritual integrity.
4.
Overcoming temptation begins at the thought level; practicing rapid repentance the moment a wrong thought enters the mind stops sin before it takes root.
5.
Believers are not immune to demonic influence if they yield to the flesh, engage with occult media, or harbor overwhelming fear.
6.
As seen with Peter at Caesarea Philippi, a Christian can speak by the Holy Spirit in one moment and yield to demonic influence in the next if they do not guard their heart (Matthew 16:16-23).
7.
The biblical concept of "demonization" refers to spiritual harassment, parasite-like holds, or oppression rather than Satan owning a believer.
8.
Structural accountability and elder oversight serve as vital safeguards that protect pastors and leaders from hidden moral failures and spiritual blind spots.

Sermon Moments

“The cross did deliver us from every curse in the same way that the cross delivered us from sickness.”

“The scriptures say that Jesus became a curse for us on the tree. And so we pray like thank you Lord that he became a curse for me. We break every tie with that.”

“Everything you do in secret has the most power. That's also true with good things.”

“Literally in one paragraph, you have Peter at least being influenced by the Holy Spirit, and then the next it's Satan talking through Peter.”

“I think this is actually a really good warning to think that we're immune to the wiles of the enemy... Don't fool yourself. If you yield to the flesh... you're opening a door to this stuff.”

“The word possessed is actually not in the Bible. The word is demonized.”

“The oversight and the accountability I think is really good... they're good for me and they're good for the pastors that have yielded to it.”

This Week

Examine your home for any idols, occult items, horoscopes, or superstitious objects and remove them immediately.

Pray a prayer of renunciation, thanking Jesus that He became a curse for you on the cross to break every spiritual tie (Galatians 3:13).

Practice instant repentance the moment a sinful, lustful, or fearful thought enters your mind, surrendering it directly to God.

Develop secret spiritual habits, such as private prayer and scripture reading, to build genuine inner strength and integrity.

Be intentional about what media you consume, avoiding movies, shows, or content that center on the occult or cultivate chronic fear.

Seek out strong godly accountability through church elders, leaders, or trusted mentors to guard against personal blind spots.

Participate regularly in Holy Communion to reflect on Christ's redemption, repent of subtle sin, and reset your spiritual focus.

Remember This

Believers find complete spiritual freedom by relying on Christ's finished work on the cross, cutting off entry points to darkness, and practicing immediate repentance in their thought lives.

A Challenge for You

Take inventory of your life today by shutting down every entry point to darkness, repenting immediately of sinful thoughts, and placing yourself under strong godly accountability.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.