This is a supplemental blog for the sermons taught on 10/12/25 and 10/19/25. We recommend listening to both of these messages, which cover the doctrine of Satan (who he is and what he does) and how we as believers are to respond in the spiritual battle.
The week of 10/12, we started a two-part series on the dangers of Satan. At the beginning of the first message, I mentioned several misconceptions about Satan, and then at the end of the message I gave a you a list of things that you and I are NOT to do in regard to Satan. I want to offer two clarifications for each list.
On the first list, I mentioned that Satan cannot indwell or abide in believers, which is to say, take over their heart and mind and control them. A Christian cannot be Satan or demon possessed. Satan and his demons can tempt you, and do all kinds of nastiness to wreak havoc in your life, but they can’t control you, if you are a believer.
Since it was a quick mention and not one of the main points of that message, I didn’t give you Bible references to go with this truth, but rest assured it is based on Scripture. Though there’s not one explicit text, it is implied based on the following Biblical truths. Satan or his demons cannot indwell a Christian because:
- Believers are children of God (Rom. 8:16-17; Gal. 3:26; 1 Jn. 5:18).
- Believers are God’s own possession, bought and paid for by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 2:9).
- God protects believers (Jn. 10:11-15; 17:15; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Jn. 5:18).
- Believers abide in Christ (Rom. 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 1:13.).
- Christ abides in believers (Rom. 8:10; Col. 1:27).
- The Holy Spirit abides in believers (Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 3:16).
- Believers are victorious in Christ (Rom. 8:37-39; 2 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:1-6; 1 Jn. 2:13-14).
If a believer could be Satan or demon-possessed, then the previous Scriptural claims would be false.
There was something else I talked about at the end of the message under the heading “What Christians are NOT to do.” Scripture never tells a Christian to bind, command, rebuke or talk to Satan or try to cast or exorcise demons out of somebody. You could then ask, “What about the fact that Jesus did do such miracles and He gave His disciples the ability to do the same?” While this is true, these miracles would have been considered sign miracles, which Jesus and the disciples did to authenticate the gospel message they were preaching and teaching. Remember, the people did not have the completed canon of Scripture yet so everything Jesus and the apostles were teaching them was new, with only the Old Testament to verify anything. Therefore, the miracles validated the message they were heralding. It’s what John 20:30-31 tells us, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” That was the main point, so that people would believe in the gospel message they were preaching and teaching.
As we said, Jesus passed some sign gifts onto the 12 disciples. Luke 9:1-2 says, “And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.” And they do, which the gospels confirm.
But then what starts happening is that when we get to the book of Acts, the sign gifts become less and less prominent, until the end of the book when they are almost non-existent. If the main point of the miracles was to authenticate God’s word coming through Jesus and the apostles (including Paul and some others), now since we have the completed canon of Scripture, the sign gifts are no longer necessary or active. This is why Christians today don’t have the ability to perform miracles including healings and casting out demons. It’s not that these things don’t happen, but Christians are only called to pray for God’s intervention, not try and heal people on their own or perform exorcisms.
I will also mention that if the archangel (chief angel) Michael refused to pronounce a railing judgment against Satan (a judgment of blasphemy), instead leaving any rebuke to the Lord (Jude 9), what makes us think we can? Do we have more power than the most powerful angel? We do not. Rather, we should be like Michael and pray to the Lord, asking Him to drive out any demons or to heal or perform miracles.
Lastly, let me give you a couple of reminders I wasn’t able to include in my two messages on the Dangers of Satan…
As powerful as he is, Satan is always accountable to God. He is still under God’s authority. At the beginning of Job, Satan shows up with other angels to present himself before God. He is like any other subject who must be granted permission to even appear before God.
He is also restricted by God. He could only do to Job that which the Lord allowed. Same with Simon Peter when Jesus allowed Satan to sift Peter and bring severe trial and temptation into his life (Luke 22:31-32).
Satan and his demons can even be used by God. There are times in the Old Testament when the Lord would send an evil spirit to terrorize someone. In the New Testament, demons begged Jesus to cast them into pigs and Paul was given “a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment him,” to keep him from exalting himself (2 Cor. 12:7).
I hope this gives clarification!
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Eph. 6:10-11).”