The Devil

[Dieter Schneider]

Can the devil read our thoughts or does he rely on empirical evidence? Any comments would be welcome!

 

[Dagmire]

I don't think he can read our thoughts, nor do I think he can affect our thoughts. I think a lot of people give the devil too much credit at the cost of recognizing our own responsibility and depravity.

 

[Barnpreacher]

I don't know about anyone else but I simply refuse to give the devil a hearty welcome to the PB.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

 

[Dagmire]

Do you mean by talking about him?

 

[Barnpreacher]

Do you mean by talking about him?

No, I was referring to the thread title and the fact that it was started in "The Welcome to the Puritanboard" forum.

 

[BobVigneault]

I moved the Devil to the Theological Forum. I didn't want to welcome him either.

 

[Dagmire]

No, I was referring to the thread title and the fact that it was started in "The Welcome to the Puritanboard" forum.

Ah, I didn't notice it was posted in the Welcome forum.

 

[Jimmy the Greek]

I don't think Scripture indicates that Satan is either omnipresent or omniscient, but it is surprising how some seem to attribute those to him. I don't think he is a mind-reader either, but that's just me shooting from the hip.

 

[Barnpreacher]

I don't think Scripture indicates that Satan is either omnipresent or omniscient, but it is surprising how some seem to attribute those to him. I don't think he is a mind-reader either, but that's just me shooting from the hip.

 

[MrMerlin777]

I don't believe he can read our thoughts either. But, with his intelect can discern from our postures, behaviours etc what thoughts may be going through our heads, just as any of us can. He's just more talented at it I think.

 

[Dagmire]

Well, considering he is the father of lies and the author of sin, I imagine he's quite keen on recognizing when a person's steps are on the path to destruction.

 

[jenney]

I don't see any Biblical evidence for the Enemy being able to read our minds (I don't think in words, anyway, more like pictures, feelings, senses about things, but not in complete sentences).

However, he is smart and a student of humanity for the purpose of trapping us. he has thousands of years of experience studying us and he can watch us when we don't know he's looking over our shoulder. When he isn't, one of his minions can be and we are none the wiser. For that reason, I expect he doesn't need to read our minds in order to know what we're thinking. I suppose he can figure it out from our histories and our physical appearance.

All that said, we know that he cannot do anything without the Lord's permission, and that our Lord works all things to our good: no reason for us to fear the Accuser when we have Son interceding for us.

 

[MrMerlin777]

Well, considering he is the father of lies and the author of sin, I imagine he's quite keen on recognizing when a person's steps are on the path to destruction.

Definitely.

 

[panta dokimazete]

It's not like he has to read our thoughts to know what snares us...he has a laundry list to throw at us to see what sticks...and not a terribly long list at that...

 

[KMK]

It's not like he has to read our thoughts to know what snares us...he has a laundry list to throw at us to see what sticks...and not a terribly long list at that...

That's what I was thinking. Who needs to read our thoughts? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh!

As long as Satan has ears, he does not need to read our thoughts.