Satan: Does he influence people?
This question and article really aren’t just about Satan and HIS influence but also all those other angels who work with him that Christians typically speak of as demons. They are all working as a team to influence the decisions and actions of people. You’ll find more information about this in my other articles about him on this website. Here are the links to several of them—
Satan: What are the basics about him?
Satan: Did “the devil” make you do it?
Satan: How is it that he gains advantage over us?
Satan: Can he blind people to the truth of the gospel?
One of the first things everyone needs to know about Satan is that he’s a created being, a creature. That, among other things, means he can only be in one place at a time. Even people not all that far away from you can’t rightfully claim he himself is influencing them and you at the same time. Satan is a powerful creature, but being in two places at one time is not something he can do.
Satan’s influence today comes primarily through people the apostle Paul speaks of as minister of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
I hope you know that Satan is an angel but one of many who has revolted against God.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. [Emphasis added]
I don’t think anyone wants to admit that the person they’ve been following most has been one of Satan’s ministers of righteousness but I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s going on in most cases. Of course, nearly all these people are completely unaware of how he’s using them. As it was in the time of our Lord’s earthly ministry the false ministers were called the scribes and Pharisees who were all cloaked in righteousness. Even our Lord’s apostles were for a time fooled by them.
Matthew 23:27-28
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even YE also outwardly appear RIGHTEOUS, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. [Emphasis added]
It wasn’t their teachings of the Law of Moses that were bad; it was their interpretation and application of the Law that was bad. Note what our Lord told them about this.
Matthew 23:1-7
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. [Emphasis added]
Is it any different today? Don’t we see things like this going on today? Notice how Jesus speaks publicly of them. Some would say He was unloving in saying such things about such “respectable” well to do people. But Jesus went around exposing them for who they really were and who they really served. This is why they came to despise Him so much. He exposed them to all.
Matthew 23:13
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. [Emphasis added]
They weren’t the truly godly people they made themselves out to be. “Religious” leaders today do much the same by serving to hinder the salvation of people just as these people did then. The apostle Paul and every grace minister deals with this sort of thing ongoing. They’re accused of teaching such things as what they call “easy-believism” and other things that represent true grace thinking. The Bible is our best source for correct information about this and so many other things.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God [THEOPNEUSTOS = God-breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect [TELEIOS = brought to maturity], thoroughly furnished unto all good works. [Emphasis added]
Our Bible tells us Satan used a false prophet to physically hinder the Apostle Paul from reaching a Gentile with the gospel message. There should be no doubt that he did this sort of thing often even as he does now.
Acts 13:6-12
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer [MAGOS = magician, where we get the word magic], a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent [SUNETOS = intelligent, sagacious, understanding] man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the Word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost [PNEUMA = Spirit], set his eyes on him.
10 And said, O full of all subtilty [DOLOS = a bait, a snare] and all mischief, thou child of the devil [DIABOLOS = accuser, slanderer, devil], thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert [DIASTREPHO = distort or twist] the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. [Emphasis added]
As simple as it is, believing in or putting one’s faith in the gospel message is all anyone must do to be saved. People who are “religious” claim that’s just too easy. They always want to add some things to it. But faith in the “work” God has done through Jesus Christ is all that’s necessary.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For BY GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God:
9 NOT of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Satan and his organization have fooled a lot of people, causing them to believe that faith in Christ’s work alone is not enough. They always want to add to it and thereby distort the true message of grace and that of the gospel—the good news. They’ll even take Scripture that is not addressed to us and attempt to use it to justify their beliefs. I’ve even written articles about this that you’ll find on this website. Here are their links—
Works: How important are they?
Works: What about verses that seem to demand them for salvation?
Can Satan and his organization of demons deceive people about such matters today? They certainly can and do. Satan does all kinds of things to disrupt God’s work to rightly influence people. Confusion and disruption have always been a part of his activity. Satan used a “thorn in the flesh” to discourage Paul and physically disrupt God’s ministry through him.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet [KOLAPHIZO = punch or slug] me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. [Emphasis added]
Satan’s primary goal in distorting the truth is to influence people, especially those people who are most prone to self-righteousness. In doing this he uses counterfeit teachers, counterfeit miracles, counterfeit Bible translations, counterfeit church organizations and more. But please note that they’re all made to look like the right thing. Note again what Paul tells the Corinthians about this—
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of LIGHT.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. [Emphasis added]
Satan’s work today is to use non-dispensational and counterfeit dispensational Bible studies. There are many forms them, but he’ll use anything that the apostle Paul did not teach. Satan tries to cause people to ignore Paul’s teachings including and especially his gospel.
Romans 16:25-26
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and [KAI = the ascensive use of the word not meaning and but –even] the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: [Emphasis added]
For more information about Paul’s gospel, please see my other articles about it—
Gospel: How did the prophets know our gospel?
Gospel: Is OUR gospel in “the four gospels?”
Gospel: Is ours in the gospels? II
Gospel: Where did Paul get the one he preached?
Gospel: Which one is ours today?
What deceptive work Satan has done in the use of this word— gospel! The work he’s done to blind people to the truth about all this is amazing. He’s obviously been giving this his best effort. This is certainly something he’s also been quite successful at doing. Everywhere one turns one can see the fruit of his labor. In “religious” circles he works to get people to focus on Christ’s earthly ministry rather than His heavenly one. Here’s the link to a video I’ve produced that includes information about this—
#41 ~ I Corinthians 11:1 – Following Christ and following the teachings of the apostle Paul
Satan wants people to ignore the teachings of the apostle Paul about all this. They fail to see that Christ’s earthly ministry was strictly addressed to Israel and not us today.
2 Corinthians 5:16
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh [speaking of Christ’s message in His earthly ministry]: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more [speaking of the importance of Christ’s message in His Heavenly ministry]. [Emphasis added]
Jesus was quite outspoken in His comments about this.
Matthew 15:24
24 But he answered and said, I am NOT sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [Emphasis added]
Christ’s focus was on Israel, not the Gentiles. The apostle Paul speaks clearly about this.
Romans 15:8
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision [Israel] for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: [Emphasis added]
Not only did this involve the gospel for one’s salvation but the teaching for Christian living. Satan wants us to ignore what Paul taught about all this—
Romans 6:14-15
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. [Emphasis added]
Romans 8:15
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [Emphasis added]
Satan does everything he can to cause people to ignore the gospel of God’s grace and cause them to believe some other gospel that always involves the one Peter proclaimed or some variation of it. Our gospel that Paul revealed is stated so plainly—
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you [as opposed to what Peter and others were teaching], unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
The one Peter was commissioned with and wrote is seen in his preaching in the early Acts period—
Acts 2:37-38
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [Emphasis added]
It is this or some variation of it that you’ll often hear in churches today. But this is not our gospel today and no one ever gets saved by it. It is the gospel message Paul presented that holds the key to people’s salvation today.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
It is by way of people believing this gospel, this truth that people get saved today. And Satan does everything he can to keep people from knowing and believing this wonderful message. What is the message you’ve been trusting in for your salvation? Only by way of this one that God gave us through the apostle Paul can anyone get saved in our time. I hope you’ll do everything you can to help people know this. It is Satan and his people that will do the most to hinder you in this extremely important work.
