Q. I've been dismayed by the amount of credit given to Satan and his followers. He has been defeated and has
no place in the life of a Christian, He has no power, nor does He have influence over one who has been saved by the blood of Christ.... fredcorey@yahoo.com A. You are forgetting quite a few facts/Scriptures:
1. Jesus himself was tempted by Satan. (Matthew 4; Luke 4)
2. Demons tried to interfere with the work of the apostles in the Book of Acts: "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us..." (Acts 16:16, 17)
3. Satan convinced a couple disciples in the Book of Acts to lie - which led to their death. (Acts 5:3)
4. 1 Peter 5:8 says Satan goes around "like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
5. Ephesians 6:11 identifies him as our enemy, and lists the battle gear (faith, the Word of God, etc.) we need to fight him!
It is true that demons are subject to those who believe. We do have victory over them. (Luke 10:17, 19, 20; Romans 16:20; Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12-15; 1 John 2:13, 14; 4:4; 5:18; Revelation 12:11) But Christians don't always walk in that victory, do they? (We should.)
Satan is very much active on the earth:
1. To hinder the work and the Word of God.
Daniel 10:12, 13
Mark 4:15
1 Thessalonians 2:18
2. To "deceive the nations."
Revelation 12:9; 20:3, 8
3. To afflict man.
2 Corinthians 12:7
a. Physically.
Job 2:1-8
Matthew 9:32, 33; 12:22
Mark 1:26, 9:17, 20, 25
Luke 9:42; 13:11
b. Mentally and spiritually.
Judges 9:23
1 Samuel 16:14; 18:9-11; 19:9
1 Kings 18:26-28; 22:22
2 Chronicles 18:20-22
Matthew 4:24,17:15
Mark 5:5, 15, 18; 9:22
Luke 8:27, 35, 36; 22:31, 32
John 8:44; 10:10; 13:27
Acts 16:16; 19:16
2 Corinthians 11:3
1 Timothy 4:1
Taken in part from "Satan, Demons & the Powers of Darkness," (c) 1976 by Diane S. Dew. The complete study is available online at http://www.dianedew.com/satan.htm