Biblical Question

[technoczech]

Hi all, Maybe one of you can help me with this question. I have heard a couple of people say that Satan cannot hear your thoughts, but I've been unable to find a reference to this in the Bible. Does anyone know if and where the Bible says that?

Thanks!

[lynnmosher]

I'm going to stick my opinion-neck out there and probably get trounced for it...but here goes. I don't believe there is any reference in scripture that would back this up. If he can mimic God, and God knows our thoughts...well, I don't know. Yes, I know the enemy (I don't like giving him any name, especially with a capital letter!) is not as powerful as God and I don't want to start a debate. That's not what I'm saying. I just wonder how he knows when to stick in those rotten thoughts into our heads just at the right time...seems to me that ol' enemy must know something! You know what I mean? :confused:

[Lookin^Up]

He knows our thoughts and sometimes enters them, turning them against our knowledge of faith as he did with Eve. “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” He knew what God said; he just wanted Eve to doubt His trustworthiness. Surely he knew what Judas Iscariot was hoping about Jesus; that's why he entered him.

However, what Satan does not know is the thoughts of God; otherwise he would have stopped Jesus' Crucifixion instead of egging it on. Actually, we don't always know God's thoughts, either, for Isaiah 40:13-14 says, "Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?" Romans 11:33-34 agrees with this. Only if He decides to share His plans with men--as He did with Abraham in Genesis 18, and with many of the prophets--do we know what's on His mind.

Sorry, I don't have a definitive Scripture to back up the idea that the enemy knows our thoughts. It's just an impression I have from reading the Bible, coupled with personal experience.

[technoczech]

Thank you both for your replies. Both times that I've heard the statement that the enemy cannot hear our thoughts it struck me as wrong, but I'll never claim to be a Bible scholar, so I always try to do my due diligence in researching and correcting my thinking when it comes into question. My experience seems to be that the enemy can hear my thoughts otherwise how would he know and try to take advantage of my unspoken weaknesses.

Thanks again!

[Ransom v. Unman]

If I could weigh in my two cents, which do count for something now (I have this fancy piece of paper from a school in New York to proove it :rolleyes:) this isn't really a biblical question due to the fact that the Bible never addresses this issue.

What the Bible does tell us is that God knows our hearts, that the Holy Spirit can reveal our hearts to people, and the devil and his forces can gather plenty of information about us, whether or not he can actually hear our thoughts.

But, as to the specific answer to your question, I don't think the Bible lets us know. From there, it could only delve into theological speculation.

[chart]

I don't believe the Bible specifically says that satan "knows" our thoughts however, I believe he can "influence" the thoughts, emotions and actions of Christians. He certainly influenced Eve. He's a manipulator, accuser and an abuser...he mixes lies with truth to control. He may know how one might "respond" rather than "know" their every thought. Evidently his spiritual thinking is decieved otherwise he wouldn't be "opposing" God's will, therefore I would have to say he doesnt' know the Mind of Christ...ah..but we do. 1Cr 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. That's one thing he could never obtain. Is he jealous?....Of Course!!! That's what all this warfare is about. He only gets to be prince and power of the air! Not over life itself.

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the "prince of the power of the air", the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

I hope this helps,
C. Hart

[Tamera]

I don't believe I can remember a verse where it says that Satan can't read our thoughts. However there is no verse that says he can and for me that's the important thing. He can plant thoughts. He can observe reactions. He can observe body language. He can tempt us. He can hear us when we speak. I believe he can find out a lot about what we are thinking by doing the above. But he is not all knowing. Only God knows our thoughts before we speak them. Many times people give Satan credit for things he can't do. Just my opinion.

[mahatma]

He can plant thoughts.
Personally I don't think he can read my thoughts (anymore) now that I am a new creation in Jesus Christ. Access denied!
He sure still tries to plant thoughts in my mind that are not mine, his fiery darts... I resist them (take them captive) with my words! He can sure hear me! :D

[DrRita]

Since we are now citizens of God's kingdom and have been seated in the heavenlies in Christ (Ephesians 1), certain restrictions have been taken away, namely our limitations in spiritual warfare. Our physical bodies do not restrict access to our thought processes. Rebuking Satan either in my mind or verbalizing it has the same effect. I know that he can intrude into my thought life and converse with me. He's done it plenty of times. Can he read my thoughts . . . sure but he cannot do anything with them or harm me in any way. He has not that kind of power. He can only scare, intimidate, threaten, seduce, chide, accuse and the like, all just a bunch of "spear rattling" and nothing more. Yes, he may have a gun but only shoots blanks. The only way he gains power into my life is when I open the door/succumb to his seductive or intimidating ways. "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 Resistance IS NOT futile!

[TropoGurl]

Well he certainly knows how to taunt me when I'm at my weakest but whenever I feel really close to God I don't feel him tormenting me. So I don't know maybe he can only hear your thoughts when you let you're guard down and drift away from God.

[lynnmosher]

Go, Rita, go! Preach it! !thumbsup!

[Tommie Lyn]

Can he read my thoughts . . . sure but he cannot do anything with them or harm me in any way.
I'd always had the impression that he knew what I was thinking, because he always knew at which points he could tempt me. And those points at which I could be vulnerable to temptation would not necessarily be obvious just from my behaviour. So I had always assumed he was privy to my thoughts.

But, as you quoted from scripture -- resist him and he will flee.

[Lookin^Up]

Mahatma and Dr. Rita have made some excellent points about our salvation protecting us from Satan's wiles and thought patterns. To revise my answer, it's only when we dwell on the things he tells us that he's able to gain a foothold. And once he has a foothold, you know he'll keep digging until he has produced a shell of a Christian. On the other hand, keep your eyes on Jesus, and that will never happen.

[Scotsman]

These reminders from the preceding posts reveal our "power" over the enemy are that indeed - powerful.

Every believer's most pressing battle field takes place in their mind.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations (we know where speculations form) and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Keeping the helmet of our salvation on – covers and protects our minds.

Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war ...

[DrRita]

These reminders from the preceding posts reveal our "power" over the enemy are that indeed - powerful.

Every believer's most pressing battle field takes place in their mind.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations (we know where speculations form) and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Keeping the helmet of our salvation on – covers and protects our minds.

Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war ...

Excellent Scripture references!! Isn't it wonderful to know we are safe and secure in the Lord!!

[jvdoles]

I don't think satan necessarily knows our thoughts, but he does know human nature. Jesse DuPlantis put it this way: The devil can't read your mind, but he can whisper in your ear and watch your face. I think that says it pretty well.

[Scotsman]

I don't think satan necessarily knows our thoughts, ...

I wonder if he even knows who most of us are. In Acts 19:13-15, the evil spirit, when the seven sons of Sceva tried to oust him, said, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"

Are we "important" enough for the leader of the unrighteous realm to deal with us directly? Don't forget, he isn't omnipresent.

[jvdoles]

I wonder if he even knows who most of us are. In Acts 19:13-15, the evil spirit, when the seven sons of Sceva tried to oust him, said, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"

Are we "important" enough for the leader of the unrighteous realm to deal with us directly? Don't forget, he isn't omnipresent.

Well, I used the word "satan," but I think it applies to anything demonic.

If we understood more of who we are in Christ, we would not be such easy prey to demonic deceptions.

[DrRita]

It's dangerous to think that the enemy isn't more attune to our inner thoughts and doings. He is able to seduce with more than evil stuff . . . his greatest tool is seducing us with "other good" which pulls most Christians off God's chosen path for us. He's been around for a very long time and has more lures in his tackle box than most of us have ever seen. He usually doesn't need them though as the "regular" ones work quite well.

And yes, jvdoles, he can read your thoughts.

[jvdoles]

It's dangerous to think that the enemy isn't more attune to our inner thoughts and doings. He is able to seduce with more than evil stuff . . . his greatest tool is seducing us with "other good" which pulls most Christians off God's chosen path for us. He's been around for a very long time and has more lures in his tackle box than most of us have ever seen. He usually doesn't need them though as the "regular" ones work quite well.

And yes, jvdoles, he can read your thoughts.

I think you attribute to the devil more than his due, more than the Scriptures do. No doubt, he knows all about human behavior and how to manipulate it. And he knows how to introduce thoughts into our minds. But if he is "reading" our thoughts, it is as a "cold read" from the outside. He does not know them in the same way that our Father in heaven knows them. He does not know them from the inside. satan is not omniscient.

[DrRita]

Well, iv . . . that's your take. Hope it works for you. I know he's able to do more than you give him credit for but I also know that I don't have anything to fear either. Perhaps we both are fine with our views. No he's not omniscient but he does have powers that are beyond man. We lost most of ours at the Fall.

So we can both agree to disagree. Okay?

[Lookin^Up]

The point of "Who are you?", I think, is that they did not recognize the sons of Sceva as being connected to the Power in exorcism. If Jesus had driven them out, they'd be driven out, no contest. If Paul had driven them out in Jesus' Name, they would have recognized his Divine authority--plus his holy life, notwithstanding his previous standing as a Pharisee--and again there would be no contest. But the sons of Sceva were not "plugged in" to that Power, so to speak. They were not dedicated believers of Jesus, just a group of brothers who decided to cash in on someone else's action. So "Who are you?" doesn't mean the demons could not read their thoughts, only that their attempt at exorcism was invalid and impotent because they were not connected.

[jvdoles]

Well, iv . . . that's your take. Hope it works for you. I know he's able to do more than you give him credit for but I also know that I don't have anything to fear either. Perhaps we both are fine with our views. No he's not omniscient but he does have powers that are beyond man. We lost most of ours at the Fall.

So we can both agree to disagree. Okay?

satan can only do to us what we allow him to. When we submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee. The problem comes when we forget who we are in Jesus Christ; then we fall prey to the lies and accusations they devil wants to lay on us. Forgetting who we are, we sign for the package the devil wants to deliver. All he has is deception, and he is always trying to get us to agree with him instead of with what the Word of God says about us. When we remember who we are in Christ, we can send the devil packing.

[DrRita]

Duh, think that's been said already.