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SUBJECT: Satan
QUESTIONS: Does Satan have limitations? Can he hear
my silent prayers to God?
ANSWER:
There is specific indication that God hears us and knows our
thoughts. There is no specific indication that Satan hears
us and knows our thoughts. He can, however, tempt us and
place thoughts in our minds.
God is without limitations.
Satan has several limitations.
God can do anything He desires.
Satan can do nothing without permission from God.
Let us look at some specifics:
1) God is a Spirit and
hears our thoughts:
Psalm 94:11
The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Psalm 139:2
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou
understandest my thought afar off.
1 Corinthians 3:20
And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that
they are vain.
The question is, does God know our thoughts because He is
Lord or because He is Spirit? Our opinion: Because He is
Lord.
2) Jesus as human with the
Spirit of God in Him knew the thoughts of those around Him:
Matthew 9:4
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye
evil in your hearts?
3) Satan has limitations:
Satan is not self-existent. He is created.
He is not sovereign.
Satan rules a domain of demons, but he does not rule beyond
the bound of that confinement of rule which God has given
him. Satan never has cast off the government of God, since
the rebellion totally failed. He has been exiled to the
earth and the domain around it (Ephesians 2:2). Satan’s
chain stretches just so far and God allows him to go that
far and no farther. He operates completely within the sphere
of God’s allowance (e.g. Job 1:12; 2:6). God even uses
Satan to His own ends (2 Corinthians 12:7).
Ephesians 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Job 1:12
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in
thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So
Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job 2:6
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand;
but save his life.
2 Corinthians 12:7
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the
abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn
in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I
should be exalted above measure.
Satan is not omnipotent (all-powerful).
He is powerful, yes, but not all powerful (1 John 4:4).
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the
world.
Satan is not omniscient [ŏm-nĭsh'ənt]
(all-knowing).
Satan is an angel and angels don’t know everything (1 Peter
1:11-12). There is no indication in Scripture that Satan
can read our thoughts. But he’s pretty good at predicting
our behavior, because he’s an expert on human nature.
1 Peter 1:11-12
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth
not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the
devils.
Satan is not omnipresent (everywhere
at the same time).
He’s fast, but not omnipresent. But he is the head of a
network of subordinate devils who make his influence
practically worldwide.
Matthew 12:24
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth
not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the
devils.
THE POWER OF SATAN OVER
THOSE OUTSIDE OF CHRIST . . .
Satan has the whole world of unbelievers under his control.
Matthew 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high
mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and
the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if
thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it
is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him
only shalt thou serve.
John 14:30
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of
this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
1 John 5:19
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in
wickedness.
Unbelievers belong to him (1 John 3:8, 12) and are his
children (1 John 3:10).
1 John 3:8, 12
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil
sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God
was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the
devil.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his
brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works
were evil, and his brother's righteous.
1 John 3:10
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children
of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of
God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Satan has the power of influence and blinding. He blinds the
minds of the unbelieving (2 Corinthians 4:4). He prevents
the gospel from entering their hearts (Matthew 13:19). Satan
speaks through fortunetellers (Acts 16:16), cult leaders (1
Timothy 4:1-2), and false preachers (2 Corinthians
11:13-15). He seeks to deceive about his existence, his
purposes, his activities, and his coming defeat. He is the
deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:8). His ultimate
deception will be in the anti-christ (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Matthew 13:19
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and
catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he
which received seed by the way side.
Acts 16:16
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel
possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought
her masters much gain by soothsaying:
1 Timothy 4:1-2
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared
with a hot iron;
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an
angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end
shall be according to their works.
Revelation 12:8
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in
heaven.
2 Thessalonians 2:9
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with
all power and signs and lying wonders,
Satan can control a person’s body. Demons can cause muteness
(Luke 11:14), mental disorder (John 10:20), violent action
(Luke 8:26-29), and crippling (Luke 13:11, 16). In these
examples Satan caused people to be handicapped although
there was nothing physically wrong with them.
Luke 11:14
And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came
to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and
the people wondered.
John 10:20
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear
ye him?
Luke 8:26-29
26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which
is over against Galilee.
27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the
city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no
clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before
him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with
thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee,
torment me not.
29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of
the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept
bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands,
and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
Luke 13:11, 16
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of
infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could
in no wise lift up herself.
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed
from this bond on the sabbath day?
Satan influences governments and nations. Daniel
10:12-13, 20-21 gives us a glimpse into the spiritual realm
of angels and demons and how they affect nations. The
"prince of the Persian kingdom" (v.13) is apparently a demon
exercising influence over the Persian realm in the interests
of Satan. The archangel of God named Michael finally
overcame his resistance. Likewise the "prince of Greece" in
verse 20 is also a demon.
Daniel 10:12-13, 20-21
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the
first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and
to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and
I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one
and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes,
came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of
Persia.
20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee?
and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia:
and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall
come.
21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture
of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these
things, but Michael your prince.
SATAN’S POWER OVER BELIEVERS
. . .
Satan tempts believers to . . .
disobedience
1 Chronicles 21:1-7
1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to
number Israel.
2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people,
Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the
number of them to me, that I may know it.
3 And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred
times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are
they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord
require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to
Israel?
4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab.
Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and
came to Jerusalem.
5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto
David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and
an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four
hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the
king's word was abominable to Joab.
7 And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote
Israel.
lose faith in God
Luke 22:31-32
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath
desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as
a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Ephesians 6:16
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
lie
Acts 5:3
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart
to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price
of the land?
immorality
1 Corinthians 7:5
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for
a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer;
and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your
incontinency [ĭn-kŏn'tə-nən-sē].
be preoccupied by the world
1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is
not in him.
2 Timothy 4:10
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,
and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia,
Titus unto Dalmatia.
be proud
1 Timothy 3:6
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into
the condemnation of the devil.
discouragement
1 Peter 5:6-7, 10
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his
eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a
while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
He also tries to create doubt (Genesis 3:1),
persecutes the Church (Revelation 2:10), hinders our
service (1 Thessalonians 2:18), infiltrates our
ranks—and so confuses the world as to what a Christian
really is (1 John 4:1-6; See also 2 Peter 2).
Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field
which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman,
Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the
garden?
Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt
suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into
prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation
ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee
a crown of life.
1 Thessalonians 2:18
Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and
again; but Satan hindered us.
1 John 4:1-6
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false prophets are
gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that
confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and
even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the
world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world,
and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is
not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of
truth, and the spirit of error.
but . . .
Jesus cast out demons as evidence of His victory over the
prince of demons.
The truth is that "his infernal majesty" is bound and is
powerless before the Son of God (Mark 3:27). Christ has
defeated Satan (John 12:31). He defeated Satan and all
spiritual forces of evil at the cross (Colossians 2:14-15).
Satan has fallen from the heavens (Luke 10:18). He is cast
out of heaven and into the earth and no longer has the
ability to accuse us before the Father (Revelation 12:10,
12-17).
Mark 3:27
No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his
goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he
will spoil his house.
John 12:31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of
this world be cast out.
Colossians 2:14-15
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was
against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the
way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a
shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Luke 10:18
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from
heaven.
Revelation 12:10, 12-17
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the
power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast
down, which accused them before our God day and night.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.
Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the
devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he
knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth,
he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle,
that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place,
where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a
time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood
after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away
of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her
mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out
of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make
war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Christians do not need to fear Satan, because . . .
Satan can only do to believers what God permits him to
do.
Job 1:12
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in
thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So
Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job 2:6
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand;
but save his life.
In Christ we have been delivered from Satan’s power.
Colossians 1:13
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are
sanctified by faith that is in me.
We have the promise that God will not allow us to be
tempted beyond our capacity.
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to
man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Christ keeps us safe and Satan cannot lay hold of the
believer to harm him.
1 John 5:18
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he
that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one
toucheth him not.
Demonic powers cannot separate us from God’s love in
Christ.
Romans 8:37-39
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Those who are in Christ can overcome Satan.
Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the
word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto
the death.
Romans 16:20
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet
shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Amen.
1 John 2:13-14
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that
is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because
ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little
children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known
him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you,
young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God
abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Greater is the One who is in us than Satan who is in the
world.
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the
world.
We can resist the devil and he will flee from us.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you.
The weapons that we have been given can pull down
strongholds.
1 Corinthians 10:3-4
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank
of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was
Christ.
If we use the armor of God, we have God’s promise that we
can take our stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:11, 13
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye
may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done
all, to stand.
THE NATURE OF DEMONS:
The Bible clearly portrays them as personal beings. They
have:
intellect
Mark 5:7
And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do
with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure
thee by God, that thou torment me not.
knowledge
Acts 19:15
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and
Paul I know; but who are ye?
emotion
James 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the
devils also believe, and tremble.
self-awareness
Mark 5:9
And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying,
My name is Legion: for we are many.
will
Matthew 8:31
So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out,
suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
ability to speak
Mark 1:24
Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou
Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee
who thou art, the Holy One of God.
Mark 5:7-12
7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do
with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure
thee by God, that thou torment me not.
8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean
spirit.
9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered,
saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away
out of the country.
11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd
of swine feeding.
12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the
swine, that we may enter into them.
Acts 19:15
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and
Paul I know; but who are ye?
Restrictions:
Demons are not omnipresent nor do they have unlimited power.
Their freedom is restricted, as is that of Satan, by their
own nature and the power of God (Job
1:12; 2:6-7, mentioned above). Since demons are
fallen angels, like angels they are immaterial and not
usually subject to human visibility or our other senses.
Demons are not all-knowing. Demons are fallen angels and
angels don't know everything (1 Peter 1:11-12). There is no
indication in the Bible that demons (or
Satan for that matter) can read our thoughts.
They are pretty good at predicting human behavior, however,
because they are experts on human nature. Demons are
numerous. It is impossible to count the number of angels
(Revelation 5:11; Hebrews 12:22; Daniel 7:10) and the fallen
angels were apparently a third of all these (Revelation
12:4, 9). This means that there are many, many demons.
Nevertheless the number of demons is far less than holy
angels who care for God's people.
1 Peter 1:11-12
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of
Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified
beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that
should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but
unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported
unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with
the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the
angels desire to look into.
Revelation 5:11
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round
about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the
number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and
thousands of thousands;
Hebrews 12:22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the
living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable
company of angels,
Daniel 7:10
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him:
thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand
times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set,
and the books were opened.
Revelation 12:4, 9
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,
and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before
the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her
child as soon as it was born.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent,
called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole
world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were
cast out with him.
Descriptions of the powers, activity and personality of
Satan and are scattered throughout the Bible:
He is a created being, a former Archangel, and thus is
inferior to God. Among other limitations, he can be only in
one place at one time; he has limits to his knowledge and
power.
Satan cannot perform any acts unless God approves (Job1:6
to 2:10, mentioned above).
He is a trickster and an unreliable source of information.
John 8:44 speaks
of him as a liar, the father of all lies.
He is the ruler of the earth
John 12:31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of
this world be cast out.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.
2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
He leads a personal army of demons
Matthew 12:24
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth
not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the
devils.
He can adopt a spirit form, reside inside a person and
influence their thoughts and behavior:
Ephesians 2:2
describes him as a spirit who works within "the children of
disobedience."
John 13:2
describes how Satan "put into" Judas Iscariot's mind the
decision to betray Jesus.
Acts 5:3
describes how Satan filled Ananias' heart with the decision
to lie to the Holy Spirit about the proceeds of a real
estate sale.
His existence places humans in extreme peril.
1 Peter 5:8
describes him as a dangerous entity, a roaring lion, who
roams all over the earth "seeking whom he may devour."
******************************
Ephesians 6:16
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God:
Commentary
Take the helmet of salvation
- Or, as it is expressed, 1Thessalonians 5:8, And for a
helmet, the hope of salvation. It has already been observed,
in the description of the Grecian armor, that on the crest
and other parts of the helmet were a great variety of
emblematical figures, and that it is very likely the apostle
refers to helmets which had on them an emblematical
representation of hope; viz. that the person should be safe
who wore it, that he should be prosperous in all his
engagements, and ever escape safe from battle. So the hope
of conquering every adversary and surmounting every
difficulty, through the blood of the Lamb, is as a helmet
that protects the head; an impenetrable one, that the blow
of the battle-axe cannot cleave. The hope of continual
safety and protection, built on the promises of God, to
which the upright follower of Christ feels he has a Divine
right, protects the understanding from being darkened, and
the judgment from being confused by any temptations of
Satan, or subtle arguments of the sophistical ungodly. He
who carries Christ in his heart cannot be cheated out of the
hope of his heaven,
1 Thessalonians 5:8
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope
of salvation.
James 4:7
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you.
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