I am curious exactly how Satan is able to influence us.
That’s an interesting question, Bob. From what I understand, Scripture often describes Satan’s influence in terms of temptation and deception. He tempted Jesus in the wilderness, and Jesus called him the “father of lies” in John 8:44.
But I don’t think that means every temptation or wrong choice comes directly from Satan. James 1:14 also talks about people being tempted by their own desires. So it seems Scripture recognizes both outside influences and what is already within the human heart.
Maybe Satan’s influence is often less about controlling people and more about encouraging us to believe what isn’t true or tempting us toward choices that draw us away from God.
I’ve wondered if Satan is in our minds. Somebody recently said that Satan doesn’t have that power, but then I found this scripture:
[2] And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
[3] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,
[4] rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. John 13:2-4 RSV
Apparently, then, Satan can get inside our minds or hearts.
The sad thing is, most people live in their own little bubbles. They just do. They live in their happy little houses, drive their happy little cars, and go about their daily routines without a single solitary clue as to what reality is. That is, until their happy little bubble is popped. Until something hits home, they do not even really care to know what is going on. They, for the most part, are asleep.
Most people go about their days with a “carnal mind.” They walk in the flesh, fulfilling the things of the flesh. They, for the most part, do not see beyond themselves and their desires. Humankind has accepted, justified, and even glorified some of these desires. However, what they do not even know is this.
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6
Look at the world. “He with the most toys at the end wins.” People will lie, cheat, steal, and even kill, for what? Pride, greed, envy, and desire for power. The desire to be God. Mankind fell for pride, greed, envy, and the desire for power. The desire to be God. God told Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The devil told Eve what?
“But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5
He said you will be like God. You will be wise and powerful. You will be in control of your own lives. You will no longer need God. You will be a god. But wait, what is so bad about “knowing good and evil?” Think about it for a second. Sounds like a legitimate question. The short answer is, if you know evil and do it anyway, then you are guilty. Look what Jesus says in John 15:21-22
“But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin."
Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:12-14
“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”
God takes ignorance into account. “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin,” and “But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief.” Adam and Eve did not sin because there was no sin. Until they willfully disobeyed God and ate of the tree.
From that point on, we became responsible for our actions and guilty of sin. From that point on, there was a rift between God and us. A war between the spirit realm came to include us. Now we war in ourselves, spirit versus flesh. We no longer had that direct connection to God. That is the whole reason Yeshua, or Jesus, had to come. To restore that connection. That relationship.
One of the greatest accomplishments of the devil is convincing the world that he doesn’t exist. No devil, then no hell. No devil, no hell, no sin. No sin, no reason for a Savior. No Savior, no God. No evil means no good. No hell, then no heaven. No judgment for sin, if there is no sin. Simply, live as you will.
Jesus tells us the Devil is real. Luke 10:18-19
“And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”
If he were not real, why would Jesus warn us against him? However, Satan is not how you may picture him. The devil is not some red-faced, horned head, tail-wagging, pitchfork-wielding demon straight out of a Hollywood horror movie. He is not a creature so hideous that you would run in terror if you saw him. He is “son of the morning.” Luke 10:18. He is as beautiful as “every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold.” Ezekiel 28:13: The truth is, if he were to walk into a church, many would fall and worship him, thinking he was Jesus Himself. He is what he is.
Second, he is not all-powerful. This is an important fact for you to understand. The devil IS the “Lord of the air.” Ephesians 2:2: He is “the ruler of this world.” John 12:21: He is the “god of this world.” 2 Corinthians 4:4: He is in control of this natural realm. As long as you are of this world, you are of him. You are in his hands. However, the Word tells us he needs permission to tempt the children of God. We see this in Job 1 and 2. We see this when Jesus said to Peter,
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:” Luke 22:31
We see this in the Word when the Word declares this in James 4:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
It does not say, Resist the devil and he MAY. It says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” We see this when Jesus tells us we should not fear the devil. Or anything but God Himself
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
The devil will not force you to do anything. He does not have to. He will make whatever you desire seem obtainable.He suggests. He whispers.
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” James 1:14
Be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is LORD!
Peter
Scripture shows Satan influencing people primarily through temptation, deception, accusation, and lies, but not by removing our responsibility for our choices.
James 4:7 says to “resist the devil.”
Ephesians 6:10–18 points us to God’s armor, especially truth, faith, and His Word.
His influence is real, but it is neither unlimited nor greater than God’s power.
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He sets the course of the world (Eph 2:2). So one can see where friendship with the world (James 4:4) would be a problem.
Satan also sets snares to take captive the contentious (2 Tim 2:25-26). These seem to work through entanglement with the flesh like pride.
The degree to which we abandon the selfishness of the flesh and walk by the Spirit in the selfless love of Christ-likeness seems to make the Christian less vulnerable to Satan’s devices.
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There are some GREAT and thorough responses to your questions here. Good job all. I will add a few things that I think have not been said yet.
The word “satan” is a Hebrew masculine noun that mean “adversary”, one who “hinders”. As adversary he “opposes” that which is good which he does mainly through “accusation”. As accuser he is referred to as “the accuser of the brethren” (Rev 12:10). Satan is called “the devil” (Gk: diabolos) in the New Testament, which also means “accuser”. This is what Jesus was saying when he said “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (John 6:70) So, one way the devil influences our life is through “accusation”. When we walk by faith (taking God at His word) we walk in truth and thereby do not provide the accuser with anything with which he may accuse us.
The devil is a created being. As powerful as he may be, he is still limited to being in one place at one time. He is also limited to only acting in ways which are permitted by God. Since God controls his actions, we are confident God protects us, His children from anything that may harm us eternally. Therefore the devil’s influence in the world is mainly through establishing social norms by spreading falsehood,lies that stand contrary to the revealed truth . Falsehood works like leprosy; it is a disease, highly infectious; a little can go a long way. Like leprosy, falsehood is fatal, destructive, relentless, and once the infection gets started it is going to spread unnoticed until the whole population is infected. Once leprosy gets into a house, there is no saving that house; it and all the contents need to be burned. Jesus is “The Life” and paid for our healing and vaccination from falsehood (so to speak). Falsehood, and the consequences of falsehood can still influence us, but by implanting The Holy Spirit within us, falsehood cannot infect us permanently. We can still be carriers, however. Jesus The Truth teaches us to remain clean, shun falsehood, and to spread His light of truth. We know The Truth by being diligent to absorb the truth of His Word.
The devil is defeated. The devil’s greatest power is the power of death. This power began in the garden of Eden, and continues to today. Jesus defeated the devil by defeating death. Risen, Jesus became the “firstfruits” of many brethren. You and I have been invited into Jesus’s victory, and death no longer is a threat to us. We will rise and forever be with The Truth in an environment like Eden, where no falsehood exists.
Just a few things to consider
KP