"The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.
"
- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
...or insert thoughts into your brain?
Any Scriptural suggestions are much appreciated...
Or maybe you've never thought about this before? Is your definition of spiritual warfare, "Satan making you think certain things"?
Think carefully first, then tell me what you think under comments. :)
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1. Out of the Bloo
- 09/19/2006 4:57 pm CDT
Can the devil read minds? And other questions . . . Phil asks an excellent question over at Thinklings: Can The Devil Read Minds? …or insert thoughts into your brain? Any Scriptural suggestions are much appreciated… Good question, and there are already some good answers in the co...
Comments on "Can The Devil Read Minds?":
2. Alan
- 09/19/2006 1:03 pm CDT
That's a good example, De.
Luke tells us that Satan entered into Judas, so I don't think we can conclude from John's account that Satan can place thoughts into our head apart from possessing someone.
We know from scripture that demons can possess humans. But I think the scriptures teach that one who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit is not subject to at least that kind of control. So I think the answer depends on whether the person is regenerate.
The question would be. if a believer is not subject to Satan's control, is he yet subject to Satan's influence by thought placement, mind reading, or suggestion.
This would involve a number of issues:
1) What does it mean for a spiritual being to communicate with us? I can imagine that communication from a spiritual being would not have to engage our sense of hearing, for example. Would that be discernible as separate from our own thoughts? I think it would be. On the other hand, I can't imagine how I could communicate with Satan through my thoughts. I can hear myself thinking, but I can't make myself be heard through thinking in any way that I'm aware of.
2) Would there be any covenantal barriers to or limitations on communication? I think so-- I don't think Satan's status is the same now as before the ministry of Jesus, in terms of the access he has to us (so that, for example, OT data would be of limited value). And as I said above, I think the Holy Spirit protects us from demonic control.
3) What would it mean for Satan to be able to read our minds? I can't imagine that he could without controlling our minds, unless we would have some reason to believe that our thoughts have some kind of spiritual existence out there to which Satan has access.
4) Interestingly, James tells that it is our own lusts that draw us into sin, but he opposes that to God, so I don't think one can fairly infer from that there is no role for Satan. However, I think we can infer that the emphasis is on our lusts, not Satan.
5) The record of demonic-human interaction in the NT is always presented as on the verbal/physical level (at least as to the Christians involved; i.e., in the biblical examples, an apostle is casting out a demon and talking to him in real space and time, not on some spiritual plane).
6) If Satan could place thoughts in our heads, and do so surreptitiously such that we (as believers) would not know he had done it, it seems to me that would be controlling our minds in a sense, i.e. getting us to think his thought as our own. I don't think that would be consistent with indwelling by the Spirit.
So I can't think of scriptural reasons to think that the devil can read the minds of believers, nor that he can insert thoughts into our brains.
3. Mike
- 09/19/2006 3:10 pm CDT
Let's back up and look at it from a bit of a different perspective.
We know that Satan, a created being, is finite and is an angel. To ask if Satan can read our minds is to ask the larger question of whether or not angels can read our minds. Satan is an angel, after all, and a fallen one at that. If Satan can read our minds, then so must Michael, Gabriel, and a host of archangels (at least) be able to know our thoughts.
Apart from theophanies (i.e., the Angel of the Lord), I can think of no instances when angels are said to be capable of reading our minds. I can find no theological or biblical support for this notion. In fact, Paul posits a contrary position in 1 Cor 2.11a:
This would seem to indicate that only our spirit - and God - are capable of knowing our thoughts. Satan, based on this verse, would be excluded.
Satan uses the world to appeal to our flesh, thereby putting ideas (in the form of temptations) in our minds. The choice, however, is always ours. But "putting ideas in our heads" is quite different from being able to read our minds.
4. Matt Self
- 09/19/2006 3:11 pm CDT
I think the best example of this is in Gen. 3, where we learn the vital theological lesson: DON'T TALK TO SNAKES. However, as we all learn, the sin was first in Adam & Eve's heart. If it wasn't, then God unjustly punished them & us. Our hearts deceive us. They don't need any assistance to sin, although the enemy is clearly willing and able to assist us along that path. My dog doesn't need any encouragement to jump on my sofa, but he's so much less fretful about it when my wife encourages him to do it when I'm not there. (sigh)
In terms of spiritual warfare, it's pretty clear to me in scripture, both OT and NT, the enemy is actively seeking to tear down God's Kingdom. I don't suspect the enemy's methods have changed much since that Luci dude went around heaven questioning the authority of his creator, both moral and supernatural. (That logic still mystifies me) If I already have doubts or temptation and I'm not addressing them in the Book or in prayer, how much does it really take to push me over the edge?
5. Mike
- 09/19/2006 3:12 pm CDT
1 Cor 2.11a was supposed to be in blockquotes, but obviously it didn't work. Here's the verse:
"For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?"
6. Gem
- 09/20/2006 4:23 am CDT
I know I went to a ladies' luncheon where a well-known pastor's wife in our area was speaking. She mentioned that Satan can't read our minds, so when we rebuke him, we need to do it out loud. I had never heard that before, and couldn't figure out Scripturally where she got that idea.
7. Weekend Fisher
- 09/20/2006 6:55 am CDT
Communication means putting ideas in other peoples' heads, no?
For Adam and Eve, it sounded to me like before the serpent spoke to them, they had not considered coveting God's place in the universe. That the serpent coveted, and communicated this thought to them. At this point, they either could have rejected it (in which case the sin would not have been inside them) or -- well, as some people might say, the rest is history.
Before the fall, Adam and Eve had to be tempted externally; afterwards, we've managed to tempt ourselves. Did the serpent have to say anything else or did we just internalize the message?
Btw I think that's why the devil had to be present at Jesus' temptation: he couldn't be tempted internally, only externally.
8. Danny Kaye
- 09/20/2006 7:19 am CDT
I don't believe that Satan can read minds. Nor do I believe that he can "plant" thoughts in our heads. We are told that we have the ability to "take captive every thought" we have.
But the one thing I am sure of is that the evil one knows me. He knows my character. He knows my weaknesses. He knows the things that tempt me most. But the evil one cannot bring out of our hearts, minds, and actions, things that are not already there in the first place. Isn't this a main principle taught in Mark 7:21-24? Seem logical to me.
I remember very clearly instances when I was just going about my day, thinking fine, godly thoughts, and WHAMMO!!!...There is all of a sudden something that wants to take my focus in a direction I do not wish to go. There dwelt within me the desire for whatever the WHAMMO was and so begins another temptation. And if my defenses are down, I am going to go in that direction.
The evil one is relentless in his attacks. Day in and day out we are battling the flaming arrows he shoots at us.
9. Mandi
- 09/20/2006 8:12 am CDT
I don't remember where I heard this but someone once told me to say my prayers in my head because then Satan could not hear them. If you pray out loud Satan can hear your prayers and can do things to frustrate what you prayed for. (Sorta like the whole "don't pray for patience" deal.)
I found the following online which seemed to make sense to me:
God knew Job's mind (because God is omniscient), but Satan knows only what he sees of Job and what he believes Job's response will be to trouble. Satan evidently believed that if he could abuse Job, Job's faith would crumble (Job 1:11; 2:4-5). He clearly didn't know Job's mind and God did (Job 2:10). On this example, we'd conclude that Satan cannot read minds. Of course, this is just a kind of logical assumption from one example and I'm always hesitant about establishing a doctrine based on assumption or single illustration.
It's worth mentioning -at the same time- that Scripture ascribes omniscience (which would have to be closely related to mind-reading, right?) solely to God. There are a number of examples of God knowing a person's thoughts (Psalm 139:4) and Jesus knowing thoughts (Mark 2:6-8). There is never anything like this said of Satan. So in spite of what we have read or seen in science fiction, mind reading and thought communication is probably the privilege of God alone.
10. Mandi
- 09/20/2006 8:16 am CDT
In response to my above thing about praying out loud...I was looking online some more about this and apparently other people have been told this. John Macarthur answered about this by saying --- So, there is nothing in the Bible that says Satan can read our thoughts. Certainly demons can hear what we say. They can understand what we say… And as I said before, they are very good at predicting the common responses of man because they’ve been at it for such a long time. And, apparently—interestingly enough—there’s a very strong ESP among spirit beings: they have a language of their own and a communication of their own. But don’t worry about that! This lady said to me, “We whisper,†I said, “Well, that’s foolish!†You can go boldly before the throne of grace. In the Old Testament, it doesn’t say, “And David whispered to the Lord and we have no idea what he said.†It says, “And David said unto the Lordâ€â€”and out it came. And you never hear any time in the apostle Paul’s instruction to us about prayer when he says, “Don’t talk out loud.†When he wanted to pray, he just flat out prayed and it didn’t bother him whether Satan heard it because he was living such a kind of a life that Satan couldn’t do anything about it anyway. That’s the issue.
11. nhe
- 09/20/2006 8:35 am CDT
Ok, he can't read minds, and he's not omniscient, but what about omni-presence?....Danny Kaye said the devil knows his character - does he know mine too? Does he know every individual's character - if he's not omnipresent, does he somehow get around to everyone like Santa Claus?
Or does he tempt and scheme and devour based on what he observes more generally? Can he truly know my individual character if he has not observed me? - or is he making inferences about what would trip me up
generally based on thousands of years of observing?
If Satan can use the forces of darkness to carve us up like a turkey (when our defenses are down) but he's not all knowing, not everywhere, nor in people's heads, how does he do it?......other than by putting things generally (not specifcally) in our paths - things that are tried and true via centuries of trial and error.
If he can't read our minds, does that mean that he can't give us thoughts of suicide, depression, anger, etc.? He's still the author of those things - how is he authoring them, other than by external circumstances to which we have a choice as to how respond?
12. Danny Kaye
- 09/20/2006 9:08 am CDT
"Does he know every individual’s character - if he’s not omnipresent, does he somehow get around to everyone like Santa Claus?"
nhe
Does it not say in Job 1:6 that Satan travels the earth? And does verse 7 not infer that the reason he travels the earth is to check us out?
And does it not say in 1 Peter 5:8 that he prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour"?
I do not believe that Satan is omnipresent, meaning I don't believe he can be everywhere at the same time as God can. But I imagine the spirit world travels a wee bit faster than we do even with our jets and such.
I don't think it's a stretch to say that he knows the people on the planet. I don't imagine the spirit world is limited by faulty memories and disorganized minds to the point that they would forget that a person existed and certain things about said persons.
And yeah...I could be wrong.
And as far as tempting in general ways, have you never run across a temptation that could only have been custom made for you?
For instance: It was summertime. I was making a conscious effort to stay pure in my thoughts and not let my eyes roam toward the women with almost nothing on. And wouldn't you know it? I went downstairs to load up the car for a trip to Florida at 6:00 on a friday morning and BOOM...I get outside just in time to see a girl disrobe to dive into the complex pool (which is just outside the door) WITH NOTHING ON!!! There was not another soul around. Just me. And let me tell you, seeing as how this girl lived in our complex, I had to see her a few more times before she finally moved out. So what image do you think flashed through my mind each time I saw her? Yeah...you got it...
Now I ask you: Did Satan know that I wasn making an effort to stay pure? Absolutely. He is not blind to the battles we choose to take on. Did Satan know that I was having success in my efforts? Absolutely. He is not blind to our "little" victories...and he hates them!
This is but one example of a custom-made temptation, timed just right.
So yeah. I believe he knows each person.
(Now go update your website, will ya'?) ;-)
13. De
- 09/20/2006 9:13 am CDT
I'll weigh in here.
Last night I posted this as I got to thinking about Phil's post.
My bottom-line hypothesis is that satan himself "probably" doesn't know me. I don't think I'm important enough, and I think he, as a finite, non-omniscient, non-omnipresent (though certainly quite powerful) being has bigger fish to fry than me.
That doesn't mean that I don't think there might be some in the enemy's demonic camp who pay attention to me. I just don't think lucifer himself knows or cares.
He's much to busy (and way too low-powered, compared to God) to pull off such a God-sized task of knowing, with any degree of intimacy, every person on the planet.
That's my take. Thoughts?
14. nhe
- 09/20/2006 9:29 am CDT
I guess I'm more of a poster than a blogger Danny (at least so far)....sorry
Danny and De seem to be on opposite sides on this. I will say Danny that I don't think Satan randomly puts naked women in front of us when we're trying to stay pure - I think its possible that this was a specific temptation, but I'd guess it to be just a coincidence - I think his temptations are thrown out more generally - newstands, cable channels, etc., UNLESS God gives someone over to Satan, then all bets are off....thus, I'd tend to agree more with De on this.
15. Philip
- 09/20/2006 9:32 am CDT
De,
You are far too modest. What you wrote over at your blog IS EXACTLY the point I was trying to make. And here also... You are awesome.
I get tired of hearing people talk about "Satan making me be doubt" or whatever. That sort of statement presupposes Satan being present in that person's circumstance, AND that Satan can read minds or plant thoughts.
I don't think he can either.
That said, I don't jump on everyone who makes a comment like that. Because if Satan is the master planner, I suppose that some things (such as church splits) can be attributed to "Satan" since it is part of his master plan even if he is not personally involved.
But too often I get the feeling that people imagine the devil personally sitting on their shoulder placing negative thoughts and temptations in their brain.
Those debates we have with ourselves? That's the new nature vs. the old nature, folks. Not you versus the devil. It makes us feel better, I suppose to attribute those sinful desires and thoughts to an outside force...
16. Danny Kaye
- 09/20/2006 9:55 am CDT
Like I said...I could be wrong. I don't know enough about the workings of the spirit world to say definatively one way or the other. I have a hard time thinking that the hatred of Satan toward all of us does not drive him relentlessly after each one of us.
Scripture is not clear...it's just my take.
(And no...I don't sit there imagining the l'il devil and the l'il winged wonder on my shoulders...)
17. nhe
- 09/20/2006 10:23 am CDT
Danny, don't sell yourself short.....I appreciate very much that you treat spiritual battle as something real....a good friend once challenged me with the question - "Do you live your Christian life on a ballfield or a battlefield?" I've got serious "ballfield" issues - that's for sure.
I admire believers who take "be sober and on the alert" seriously at all times - it is serious.....to not see it that way means that the enemy has us just where he wants us.
18. De
- 09/20/2006 10:34 am CDT
Danny, I agree with nhe - this is dangerous territory for me to be making an absolute judgement on as we really don't know (regarding satan knowing us or not)
I've got ballfield issues as well :-)
20. blestwithsons
- 09/20/2006 12:40 pm CDT
I don't know what to think about the whole mind-reading thing.
But I also get tired of hearing everything blamed on Satan. (what -am I defending him?!) I remember when I had pneumonia one December and had to bail on the Christmas cantata. A well-meaning sister emailed me "Satan sure is attacking you". And here I thought it was germs! Actually - I knew that I was actually under discipline from the Lord for some arrogance problems regarding my singing. It seems like some are so quick to assume that any unhappy circumstance is "an attack". How do we know that God isn't ordaining said circumstance for our benefit?
All that said.... I'm sure there are definite times when it is the evil one. I just don't know how we know which are which. I myself am at the tail end of a tough struggle with my own pet sin - and the whole thing started with a dream. From whence came the dream? Beats me.
21. Brian in Fresno
- 09/21/2006 7:16 am CDT
I have had a hard time reading this thread without having The Screwtape Letters spring to mind.
I don't think Satan can read minds. And as De has so beautifully stated our flesh gives us enough problems. We have increased vectors of temptation, particularly men with physical lust.
Not every test is going to come from the "dark side". It may be refinement by fire. We are to welcome instruction and correction from a loving Father.
Now the voices that mental patients hear. I think that may be demon possesion.
I am a firm believer that Satan or other demonic being are not responsible for every case of depression or suicidal thoughts.
Very good discussion with very interesting input. I hope the thread gets much longer.
22. Debra
- 09/22/2006 2:27 pm CDT
When speaking of what I think is a spiritual attack, I attribute it to 'the Enemy'. I don't say Satan (even though his name means adversary) because I realize that it is highly unlikely to be 'Satan', himself, that is involved. He is certainly neither omniscient nor omnipresent. But I really don't know the limits of the knowledge and powers of the 'spiritual hosts of wickedness' with which we wrestle. All I know is that I have had thoughts and images flash through my mind when I am attempting to pray that I do not recognize or claim as my own. (And I don't consider a thought in my mind to be control of my mind. That would be like saying someone shouting obscenities at me was controlling my mind.) Does my experience prove that a Believer's thoughts can sometimes be of external spiritual origin? Of course not. But where scripture is silent I can only rely on my perceptions, reasoning, experience and speculations--flawed or not. It doesn't really matter one way or the other, as my response should be the same regardless of where the temptation originates. So I am content to speculate on what remains in the area of mystery as far as I'm concerned.
23. Cheryl
- 09/25/2006 10:56 am CDT
Satan for sure cannot read minds according to the Bible.
2 Chronicles 6:30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men,
So God alone knows the hearts of men. 1 Kings 8:39 confirms that God alone reads our hearts.
1Ki 8:39 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men,
1 Chronicles 28:9 shows that reading the heart is knowing the thoughts of a human being. It is good to know our enemy, however it is not good to attribute to him a God-like status that has him capable of reading our innermost thoughts. That belongs to God alone. I use this as one of the ways to prove that Jesus is God to Jehovah's Witnesses. No one but God can read our thoughts - yet Jesus read the thoughts of man!
24. ruby T
- 10/01/2006 3:41 am CDT
I know this is way late, but at the risk of sounding like a crazy nut, and without sharing too many personal details, I'll say that I've had a spiritual witness that Satan knows me intimately. He knows my strengths and my weakness, and he is doing everything in his power to cause me to fail. But, I don't need to be afraid because as long as I'm true to my commitments to the Lord, He'll make sure that Satan doesn't overpower me.
Of course, I realize that this is personal, and doesn't necessarily apply to everyone....maybe I'm super amazing? :)
Anyway, I also agree with De in that I believe that Satan definitely delegates responsibilities. He had to have been a charasmatic and efficient leader to lead away a third of the hosts of heaven....
25. Shrode
- 10/02/2006 9:25 am CDT
Ruby T, you don't sound crazy to me. Another person above shared how certain tempting situations seem individually crafted. I empathize with your feelings. Let me just encourage you not to give the devil too much power...
26. concern
- 10/03/2006 7:45 pm CDT
Ok, this may sound crazy, but allow me to explain. What if everytime I am praising the Lord in my mind not out loud, certain people comment and react funny around me to what I am singing,or thinking about the Lord. Their reactions around me are usaully ugly. They have even ran way from me as if I said the words I was singing out loud.
I hope this is clear. I have even stood in the post office in line singing a christian song inwardly and had a man follow me outside to tell me after i finish singing it in my head, "don't stop singing". "Huh"? I said to him, I was so scared I kept walking. Now that was weird! How did he know I was singing. Yes, they are spiritual songs I love praising the Lord and thinking and meditating on his word.
28. De
- 10/05/2006 4:43 pm CDT
Hi concern
Thanks for commenting. This is a somewhat old thread so that may be why no one has answered you.
To be honest, I have no idea. I believe in the spiritual realm, of course, but I have no idea how the dynamics of what I sing or pray inwardly having an effect on others.
Anyone have a take on this?
29. Philip
- 10/06/2006 12:16 am CDT
Concern,
You asked if someone can explain. I can't. I really can't. I don't know that anyone here could.
However, I also don't know you or your situation personally. You asked if something might be wrong with you. I'm not saying there is, but I don't think that strangers on the other side of cyberspace can answer such a question. If these occurences are disturbing you, I would strongly suggest you see a pastor, minister or christian counselor.
Again, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with you, I'm just saying that cyber-strangers aren't equipped to handle your personal specific situation.
I would strongly urge you to talk to someone in the "real world". If there is no such person, let me know, and I'll try to make further suggestions.
Please don't interpret my note as meaning that I don't care. Quite the opposite. I do care, but am prevented from helping by the nature of cyberspace. This is why I suggested the above. Because you are important. And the best encouragement you can receive is from the Holy Spirit, first, and then manifested by flesh and blood temples of that same Holy Spirit. Please find a fellow believer and share your struggle with them. You don't have to be alone.
30. concern
- 10/06/2006 10:24 am CDT
Are you saying Philip that this cannot be true? It may not be, However,I was thinking someone else knew or experience something like this. I have spoken with a pastor and the same oh same of, what you guys wrote earlier. So, on that note,I guess I will leave it alone and trust in Lord with all my heart leaning not on my or anyone elses understanding.
31. Philip
- 10/07/2006 1:58 am CDT
Concern,
my answer had a lot more to do with what I interpreted as a cry for help than as to whether or not I believe you. You came to an internet web page and asked strangers about this thing that you have experienced. I guessed that it was really troubling you, and though I don't know you personally, I do care, and I didn't want you to leave without some kind of help...which is what you asked us for. :)
Your name here is "concern". I took that seriously and still do.
I totally understand you wondering if someone else had experienced something similar. I haven't personally, but that doesn't mean much. :)
Scripture, not experience, is our final authority.
33. Ray
- 12/12/2006 11:09 am CST
Does the Bible give any details on the power differences between Satan and God? What can God do that Satan can't do a in practical sense? Is it ever explored? I had wondered for a long time as to why a God would "choose" to allow something evil such as Satan to exist in our world?
34. De
- 12/12/2006 5:29 pm CST
Hi Ray,
The Bible teaches that God is the creator, and that aatan is a created being.
God is portrayed in Scripture as being omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (everywhere at once), omnipotent (all-powerful). Satan is portrayed as a limited creature. For instance, in the book of Job satan states that he has been "running all over the earth" (showing that he is not omnipresent).
In the gospels Jesus is shown as having full authority over demons. They are scared of him, and they beg him not to throw them into "the abyss".
And, in answer to your question, God in his own time will destroy satan
. . . and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Revelation 20:10
37. Philip
- 12/14/2006 7:51 am CST
Ray,
It's nice to see you visiting other comment threads here and there. I think it's good, esp. since we've discussed so many things over the years. I don't know that we have a post on EVERY subject, but we cover a lot. :)
I just wondered if Satan wasn’t killed off because maybe God can’t kill him off? World has been here 4 and a half billion years. You think that would be plenty of time to get round to dealing with his Lex Luthor. Wouldn’t you think?
Human beings haven't been around that long though, right? So he's only been messing with people for a few thousand years, compared to eternity that's just a drop in the bucket.
The Bible portrays Satan as being completely subject to God's authority. Satan will be knocked off one day. Just because God hasn't taken him out yet, doesn't mean he can't. Also, Christians believe that Satan's already been defeated, by the cross. He's just thrashing around in desperation. God will finish him off in due time. And Satan isn't God's arch-enemy in the literary sense. Arch-enemies are usually the hero's equal. (Like Moriarty to Sherlock Holmes) Satan isn't God's equal but opposite nemesis. He's a rebellious created creature. He's only powerful compared to mortal humans. But compared to God, Satan too is limited and finite.
What do I mean by Scripture, not experience, is the final authority? Well, Let's use science as an analogy. Our senses can fool us. Just because the sun appears to rise, doesn't mean it does. Just because very hot water can feel "cold" doesn't mean it is. In both cases, we need an objective actual standard to tell us what's actually going on. We need something outside our own perspective.
In talking about spiritual things especially, how can we trust our own senses? Should we not trust an outside source, an authority on the subject? And who better than the supreme Spirit himself?
So Scripture being "God-breathed" serves as our external, objective authority.
Let me give you another example. If an individual is allowed to determine his own morality, it can become quite twisted. We need an outside, external, objective, trustworthy source. Because I believe in God, I don't think there's a better source.
In reference to the subject of this post specifically I say that because some Christians have been known to attribute waaaay too much power to Satan. They interpret their own experiences through feelings and circumstances which are untrustworthy as sources of authority. For example, some might say they didn't get a particular job because Satan was thwarting them, or that Satan made their spouse cheat on them, or that Satan made their football team lose, or Satan made their car breakdown or that Satan runs Microsoft because windows runs like the devil :) or whatever. I was trying to caution people against that sort of thinking.
Did I answer your question?
38. Dr. Chiffonie
- 12/26/2006 4:16 am CST
This is an area that I have studied much and here are my conclusions.
1.Can Satan and his angels see our thoughts?
First let me say that many Christians only want to believe that they themselves and God can know their inner thoughts. They are threatened by this concept, perhaps because of the great multitudes of wicked thoughts that have passed through their minds.
There is no doubt that Satan and his angels can inject premeditated thoughts into the minds of mankind, for this is how he controls the lost world and wages war against the saints, this is elementary. John 13:2 reveals that the devil put into the heart(mind)of Judas thoughts to betray Jesus; the Greek word for heart here is "kardia," which is the mind or seat of thought. This same Greek word is used again when Satan filled Anania's heart(mind) with thoughts to lie to the Holy Spirit about the money he was giving to the diciples.
Satan's direct controling power lies in this alone, by injecting a thought, idea or mental picture into the mind, so that it appears as the saints own thought, own idea or own mental picture. This way the stealthful lion gets away without being noticed. The key to detecting Satan's warring mental input that he fires into the mind of the saint, is this, when he fires his mental arrows (thoughts & pictures) into the mind, we are not thinking ourselves, our minds are passive. In essence Satan tries to think for us, influence us and control us with his injected thoughts that appear as our own thinking or his injected mental imagery, which appear as still pictures and moving pictures (daydreams) in our minds. We are instructed to demolish these thoughts and imaginations that are against the knowledge of God (will of God)2 Corthians 10:5-6.
My personal life was transformed when I started to watch for Satan's injected thoughts and pictures, then when I spotted his very subtle assaults, I would command Satan to leave in the name of Jesus, using the sword of the Spirit and Satan would flee and my mind became tranquil, when I became skilled at this, Satan was rendered powerless over my life, because everything he presented to my mind, from sexual immoral thoughts to thoughts of blasphemy where destroyed, and now every seed that Satan tries to plant into my mind, I demolish with the Sword of the Spirit. You can learn to do this too and be set free and liberated from Satan's controling power. I'm on fire for the Lord now because I have learned how to exercise my authority over Satan.
Satan is a spirit being and thoughts are spirit in nature too, since Satan is purely a spirit being, how could he see anything that is physical, unless he possesses someone's body to see with their physical eyes?
So does a supernatural spirit being, see what is spirit? The unpopular answer is yes, it's the truth no matter what anybody tells you. Let's look at proof from the Scripture reguarding this, Matthew 5:19, "When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart(kardia)mind.
When anyone hears the word of God,(saved or non-saved alike) and does not understand it, the words that he heard are extracted from his mind by the evil one. We are talking about thee entire world here, how could anyone know when someone understands or not unless he can see into their mind.
I hope this helps, For further questions write to:
Dr. Chiffonie ILoveTheGospel@aol.com
Blessings!
I don't know if he can read minds, but he can put evil into the hearts and minds of men. Consider Judas Iscariot, for instance - he made Judas think of betraying Jesus, according to John 13:2.