Can the devil work miricles?

[christkid777]

Considering that scripture says all authority in heaven and earth rest in Christ where could the devil get the power to work miracles? Or can he really work miracles at all? Is our modern perception of the devil as much the concoction of fiction as the Word? What does the Word really say about the devil and his power? My present contention is that he can not work true miracles but relies upon sophisticated deception and an age old understanding of the base nature of man. What do you think? And please realize I have read the scripture for 30 years. I know the traditional views.

 

[olivetree32]

does the word counterfeit ring a bell?
satan is a copy cat.

2Cr 11:14And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

 

[Slepsog4]

2 Thess. 2:9

[FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [/FONT]

 

[MahogonySnail]

satan has power, human beings have power, all depends on what kind of power we are talking about.
Aside from the use of deception or illusion, yes, the devil can work miracles. Remember Pharoah's magicians turning their staffs into snakes, they could do the same thing which Moses and Aaron could do. The difference is the source of the power. Moses and Aaron's power came from God, the magician's power either came from satan or from somewhere else, themselves or the earth. I think its witches use magic harnessing the power from the earth or something like that. There's no doubt that this power has the ability to heal, cause illness, move or throw physical objects etc. They are not merely illusions or deceptions.

 

[olivetree32]

satan has power, human beings have power, all depends on what kind of power we are talking about.
Aside from the use of deception or illusion, yes, the devil can work miracles. Remember Pharoah's magicians turning their staffs into snakes, they could do the same thing which Moses and Aaron could do. The difference is the source of the power. Moses and Aaron's power came from God, the magician's power either came from satan or from somewhere else, themselves or the earth. I think its witches use magic harnessing the power from the earth or something like that. There's no doubt that this power has the ability to heal, cause illness, move or throw physical objects etc. They are not merely illusions or deceptions.

mahogony, anything from satan is a lie. so how can he heal a person. he is a copy cat rememeber?

 

[olivetree32]

2Cr 11:13For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

 

[Kyra]

This is interesting.

Let me ask you this: Is it a true healing if the person is under oppression after the healing?

 

[MahogonySnail]

mahogony, anything from satan is a lie. so how can he heal a person. he is a copy cat rememeber?

Just because he copies, doesn't mean the healing doesn't work. Why would people use magic and seek healing from satan if it didn't work?

Remember God gave the devil power (Luke 4:6). Rev 13:14, Rev 16:14
And Pharaoh's sorcerers could do the same things Moses could (Exo 7).
The idea that satan can work miracles is certainly biblical.

 

[olivetree32]

Just because he copies, doesn't mean the healing doesn't work. Why would people use magic and seek healing from satan if it didn't work?

Remember God gave the devil power (Luke 4:6). Rev 13:14, Rev 16:14
And Pharaoh's sorcerers could do the same things Moses could (Exo 7).
The idea that satan can work miracles is certainly biblical.

um yea, thats why they are not real miricles mahogony. Satan has no power over us remember.he is a liar, and a conterfiet.

Act 10:38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.1Jo 3:8He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

 

[olivetree32]

i just wanted to add this verse because its comming to mind.
2Cr 10:4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2Cr 10:5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

 

[MahogonySnail]

Of course they are real miracles. Or don't you believe Pharoah's magicians actually turned their staff into snakes? Were they some kind of smoke and mirrors illusion?
Remember they had no special effects in those days.

 

[olivetree32]

ok mahogony,im not going to argue with you alright. night.

 

[NazariteNation]

Considering that scripture says all authority in heaven and earth rest in Christ where could the devil get the power to work miracles? Or can he really work miracles at all? Is our modern perception of the devil as much the concoction of fiction as the Word? What does the Word really say about the devil and his power? My present contention is that he can not work true miracles but relies upon sophisticated deception and an age old understanding of the base nature of man. What do you think? And please realize I have read the scripture for 30 years. I know the traditional views.

Since the bible says that there is no other God besides Yahweh, the Creator God, personally I don't feel that Satan himself has the power to create anything new. All he can do is lie, manipulate, distort, and confuse. So I don't feel that Satan has the power to heal anyone, make beds bounce across the room, or make blood drip from walls. However, Satan is a very "impressionable" being. By that I mean, once he is given access into your thoughts, he can make you believe in almost anything - that is if you allow him to. If a person sees demonic stuff that frightens you, then chances are Satan has somehow created a direct "uplink" into your mind that needs to be spiritually broken.

 

[NazariteNation]

Of course they are real miracles. Or don't you believe Pharoah's magicians actually turned their staff into snakes? Were they some kind of smoke and mirrors illusion?
Remember they had no special effects in those days.

Snakes can be trained and / or drugged... as I kid I used to catch them all the time. Even owned a python in my early 20's. You'd be suprised how easy it is to tame a snake.

 

[NazariteNation]

What's really sad is the number of christians that live in fear of Satan and have been taught to do so by their pastors. Rather than teach their congregations that one can have dominion over there own thought processes (for the most part anyways, no one is perfect), they are taught that Satan is a mystical being who will slip into your room at night and somehow burn the mark of the beast into your right hand or fore head. These pastors also teach that their denomination is the only accurate denomination and that there interpretation of the bible is the only real interpretation. Everyone else is simply decieved and on there way to hell.

You see alot of this in the south, especially among more traditional denominations who cling to various "traditions" that were created at a time when most folks didn't have very good educations or simply wasn't exposed to the various behaviors that the bible, in it's proper context, was refering to.

Scare tactics like these only promote fear and division, not faith and community. In most instances, it's they only way they can keep people in the pews.

I would not want to go to a church where the pastor preaches that Satan has all sorts of mystical powers yet God has decided not to manifest his power among his people anymore and that real miracles are no longer for today.

Makes you wonder just who is really decieved doesn't it?

 

[MahogonySnail]

hymm...so you don't believe when the bible says their staffs actually turned into snakes, they actually turned into snakes? you think it was just snake charming?

I think the reality on the ground is that satan does have mysical powers. Of course the person is not healed like God can.. satan can simply give someone a disease and then take it away, rather than a creative restoring miracle, a demon can enter cause illness and then leave..because satan cannot manifest the gift of life.

Here are some accounts from missionaries in asia about witches who had the ability to allow women to become pregnant , or heal people, even temporarily. Of course the spiritual control and bondage the people get themselves in cannot be ignored. But just note that these people are revered as healers in their communities, it is not denied that some kind of healing or temporal relief took place, so they must have some sort of healing ability that is not from God:

http://www.gfa.org/christian-witch-doctor-leads-many-to-christ

http://www.gfa.org/newsupdate022107

http://www.gfa.org/goddess-worshiper-finds-prince-of-peace

 

[DaveScotland]

Well i think they Devil has no power to maych God, He still has a lot of power. Take a look at all mediums, psychics etc. they certainly don't get their power from Christ.

 

[MahogonySnail]

Of course, satan's "power", is no match for God. In all of these stories while they may have obtained some relief from their illness through witch doctors it was only God that healed them physically permanently and healed them spiritually as well. satan only has the power God gives him (see Job) and the power that people give him by letting themselves be fooled.

 

[olivetree32]

hymm...so you don't believe when the bible says their staffs actually turned into snakes, they actually turned into snakes? you think it was just snake charming?

I think the reality on the ground is that satan does have mysical powers. Of course the person is not healed like God can.. satan can simply give someone a disease and then take it away, rather than a creative restoring miracle, a demon can enter cause illness and then leave..because satan cannot manifest the gift of life.

Here are some accounts from missionaries in asia about witches who had the ability to allow women to become pregnant , or heal people, even temporarily. Of course the spiritual control and bondage the people get themselves in cannot be ignored. But just note that these people are revered as healers in their communities, it is not denied that some kind of healing or temporal relief took place, so they must have some sort of healing ability that is not from God:

http://www.gfa.org/christian-witch-doctor-leads-many-to-christ

http://www.gfa.org/newsupdate022107

http://www.gfa.org/goddess-worshiper-finds-prince-of-peace

you know mahogony, thats why we are the head and not the tail. And here is another verse for ya....
yea thats why we have the authority in Jesus name to pull down every strong hold!!!!
Luk 10:19Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
of cours if anything took place mahog, it was not permanent because its not REAL! satan has power and authority in areas in our lives if we let him yes, but the real power comes from Christ Alone.
All this stuff satan heals, remember he transforms himself into an angel of light, what does that mean to you? he is a conterfiet, and copy cat. he copies God and wants to be God, but to bad so sad he is not, he is nothing but that serpent of old that tricked adam and eve as well. nothing but a liar, thats it.
why do you think the world today is desieved, espeacially when it comes to music, worship. We were created to worship our God, but instead the flesh of many has gone astray, and people worship people instead of the only true and living God. You see the copy cat, conterfeit?

 

[olivetree32]

Of course, satan's "power", is no match for God. In all of these stories while they may have obtained some relief from their illness through witch doctors it was only God that healed them physically permanently and healed them spiritually as well. satan only has the power God gives him (see Job) and the power that people give him by letting themselves be fooled.

thank you, i just saw your post. yes they are being fooled.