The Prince of This World
Just How Powerful Is the Devil?
Is the Devil Equal with God? No
▷Is the devil equal in power with God; has
he always existed like God; is he the evilopposite of God (“dualism”)? No
▷Satan (adversary), the devil (accuser or
slanderer) was at first a good created spirit
(Gen. 1:31; Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17) and
later chose to rebel (2 Pet. 2:4)
Is the Devil Omnipresent?
▷God is omnipresent (Psa. 139), but not the
devil
▷It is true that the devil is not limited like
man is; he is an angel (2 Cor. 11:14)
▷But, the devil comes and goes (Job 1:6-12;
2:1-7; Mt. 4:3,11; 1 Pet. 5:8)
▷How can the devil get billions of people to
do evil if he is not omnipresent?
Is the Devil Omnipresent? No
He works through…
▷Worldly people (Jn. 8:40; 2 Tim. 2:26;
1 Jn. 3:12; 5:19; Rev. 12:9)
▷ Selfish individuals (Mt. 16:22-23; Jn. 6:70;
Ac. 13:10; 2 Thess. 2:9)
▷Hosts of wickedness (Eph. 6:12)
Is the Devil Omnipresent? No
▷Adverse circumstances (1 Thess. 2:18;
3:4-5; 2 Cor. 12:7)
▷Habitual sinners (1 Jn. 3:8-10)
▷Persecution (Rev. 2:10)
▷False religion (Rev. 2:9, 13, 24; 3:9)
▷Wicked governments (Rev. 13:1ff)
Is the Devil Omnipotent? No
▷God is omnipotent (Lk. 1:37), but not the
devil
▷The devil is powerful (Jn. 12:31; 14:30;
16:11; 2 Cor. 4:4; Ac. 10:38; Eph. 2:2), but
limited in his power by God (Job 1:12;
2:3,6; Lk. 4:6; 22:31)
▷The devil gains power over a person when
the person opens up to the devil (Gen. 3:1ff
[2 Cor. 11:3]; 1 Chron. 21:1; Lk. 22:3, 31;
Jn. 13:2, 27; Ac. 5:3; 1 Cor. 7:5; Eph. 4:27;
1 Tim. 3:6-7; 5:14-15)
Is the Devil Omnipotent? No
▷The devil can and does lose (Gen. 3:15;
Lk. 10:18; 13:16; Jn. 12:31; Acts 26:18
[Col. 1:13]; Rom. 16:20; Col. 2:14-15;
Heb. 2:14; 1 Jn. 2:13-14; 3:8; 4:4;
Rev. 12:9-12; 20:2, 7-10)
▷The devil can be resisted (Jn. 17:15;
2 Cor. 2:11; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Jn. 2:13-14;
5:18)
Is the Devil Omniscient? No
▷God is omniscient (1 Jn. 3:20), but not the
devil
▷Can the devil read your mind, hear your
thoughts? No
▷The devil is an angel and angels don’t
know everything (Job 1:11; 2:5; Lk. 4:13)
Is the Devil the Ruler of Hell? No
▷Hell is a place created by God for the
devil’s torment; he is sent there by God; he
does not rule over it, he is ruled by it
forever (Mt. 25:41; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6;
Rev. 20:10)
The Prince of This World
▷Pray for help (Mt. 6:13)
▷Put on your armour (Eph. 6:10ff)
▷Resist him and withstand him (Jas. 4:7;
1 Pet. 5:8-9)