Assorted questions about satan...

[derrick09]

Hello, this question concerns the specific amount of power that satan has over people (especially believers). What I specifically an wanting to find more info on is does satan (like God) have the ability to monitor people's thoughts? I know that satan can mess with people's minds but does he have unlimited access to people's thoughts or can he only observe people from a onlookers point of view? Because, for quite sometime, I've been under the impression that satan can only observe people from a onlookers view and he does not have access to people's minds unless they invite him in either through the occult or through some other similar means. Also, does he have any creative power to either create or enter into a person either at or before birth? This somewhat would apply to the antichrist and whether or not he will be a direct creation of satan or if he will be controlled and manipulated by satan at a early age. From what I know currently about this (though previous Bible and church teaching) satan can only pervert he cannot create. So from these questions, what do you all know from past learning and experience? Thanks for your time and God bless.

[CeT-To]

You are right he cannot create but rather only perverse but umm i think if you look at the book of Job you can see that God gives permission of what satan can and cannot do... in that sense any trials or persecution that we have by satan we CAN beat it thanx to Gods limit that he put on satan..... can you imagine the world without the help of God O_O.....

[ChrisB]

Hello, this question concerns the specific amount of power that satan has over people (especially believers). What I specifically an wanting to find more info on is does satan (like God) have the ability to monitor people's thoughts? I know that satan can mess with people's minds but does he have unlimited access to people's thoughts or can he only observe people from a onlookers point of view? Because, for quite sometime, I've been under the impression that satan can only observe people from a onlookers view and he does not have access to people's minds unless they invite him in either through the occult or through some other similar means. Also, does he have any creative power to either create or enter into a person either at or before birth? This somewhat would apply to the antichrist and whether or not he will be a direct creation of satan or if he will be controlled and manipulated by satan at a early age. From what I know currently about this (though previous Bible and church teaching) satan can only pervert he cannot create. So from these questions, what do you all know from past learning and experience? Thanks for your time and God bless.

Hey Derrick. I believe that Satan monitors peoples minds, but only inasmuch as the Lord allows. Satan and his demons can plant evil seeds (evil/sinful thoughts) to tempt us just as God plants good seeds (inspirational thoughts/ideas, as well as the Word upon our hearts). Likewise, just as God (and I think angels too but I'm not sure) sometimes whisper to us voices of encouragement, Satan and his demons will at times whisper voices of doubt in order to discourage us and get us to doubt God as well as ourselves (non-believers are at much greater risk of this as they do not have the Lord's Spirit, 2 Cor. 4:3, 4). We are gradually being crafted into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 4:16), and Satan will do everything in his power to stop this change in us, as we, being salt and light (Matt. 5:13, 14, 15-16), are a threat to his kingdom, which is already fading (1 John 2:8, 17). Therefore we must be watchful and alert to such temptations, praying to God always that we may have power to resist and to rebuke such temptation with the truth of God when it shows up in our lives just as the Lord Himself did (1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:12; 1 Pet. 4:7-8). We must also help our brothers and sisters when they succumb to temptation (Gal. 6:1, 2).

As for any possible creative power, Satan can't create like God does, he can only corrupt what God has made. You need only to look at society to see this.

Now for the possibility of "entering" people... that could only happen if the parents were engaged in heavily occultic rituals focused on the child, which I have read only one account of.

[Sudsy]

This somewhat would apply to the antichrist and whether or not he will be a direct creation of satan or if he will be controlled and manipulated by satan at a early age.

Obviously, you are not a preterist.