Is The Enemy All Powerful

This may come as a shock to you, but Satan is not all powerful, neither is he able to be everywhere all at once. If he were, he would be as God is, and there’s only ONE GOD! So Satan, if he were all powerful, would make himself more visible to us! Since he isn’t all powerful and omnipotent, and defiantly not omnipresent, he has his own army of fallen angels! An army of messengers or demons if you will. This rascal oversees his army and they’re of one mind or have one goal, and that’s to foul up Gods plans! Satan and his demons are able to plant ideas, cause situations, and generally be troublemakers to hinder the cause of Christ. Now that they can do.

I’ll give you a for instance about the limitations of this critter… Satan must have been busy when Paul was under demonic attack, because the devil sent a messenger instead of himself: 2nd 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 must not be any stronger then the other angels because of what we’re told in the end time scriptures: Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Satan hasn’t even spent time in hell yet. That’s a future event.

Can the devil just pick one of Gods children to torment? No… Satan needs permission to touch one of Gods people: Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 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. So, in order for Satan to even interfere with a born again child of God, one of a couple of things has to be happening:

  • God wants to show the devil that one of His servants is faithful.
  • The one being attacked by the devil has left the hedge God has placed around them.
  • Or God Himself has removed that hedge around them, either for His greater Glory, or punishment for un-repented sin. 1 Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

But when all things have been said and done, Satan is a creature that we need to learn all we can about from the Word of God: 2nd Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. Trusting wholly in the Living God, and seeking His Will, is the only way we can run that odd bird off! James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The image that everyone has of Satan is just a fantasy… Satan (Lucifer) was created as the angel of light. A very beautiful creature. There’s no horns on his head. He’s not red as fire. He doesn’t have a pointed tail. He doesn’t carry a pitchfork. He doesn’t rule Hell. Shoot, he’s never even seen hell yet. 2 Corinthians 11:12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 11:15 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.

To make short of this answer, the devil is not all powerful, not everywhere at any time, and defiantly controllable! By the way, God is a fair God, and since Satan is our accuser, it’s only fair that Satan be allowed in the presence of the Lord! How can he get permission otherwise? He can’t pray to God, because the only ones that God pays attention to in prayers are His children. Those washed in the Blood of the Lamb!

All quotes are from the King James Bible.

The author, Tim Davis has a Christian Question and Answer site called The Parsons Corner, Ask the Preacher at http://parsonscorner.org/. Please visit and ask whatever Biblical question you may have.

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Timothy
I'm your host and webmaster. I'm someone who enjoys life to it's fullest and love programming, drafting, farming, and an ordained Baptist pastor and sheriff's department chaplain.