Can Satan Read Your Mind

Can Satan Read Your Mind? January 20, 2013

A God knows the thoughts of your heart.

1 In Christ’s earthly ministry He “Perceived” the hearts of men.

a “Perceived” in scripture means to know something from a spiritual perception, & not from information gained by experience or observation.

aa 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Matt 16:8 (KJV)

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Matt 22:18 (KJV)

8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Mark 2:8 (KJV)

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Luke 5:22 (KJV)

bb He knew information / insight that had been revealed to Him by the Holy Spirit.

38 "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38 (NASB)

b The Apostle Paul reveals there are 9 gifts of the Spirit.

7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,10 and to another the effecting of miracles , and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Cor 12:7-10 (NASB)

3 Categories (power gifts, vocal gifts, mind gifts)

Vs. 8: Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Vs. 10: Discerning of Spirits

aa Wisdom: Solomon; Amazing insight & solve complex problems

bb Word of Knowledge: (Revelation Knowledge) Ability to search the Word of God & pull out deep things of God (types, shadows, patterns)

cc Discerning of Spirits: Detect / know spirits and discern the spirit of a person, discover real motives & hidden attitudes of the heart.

dd This mind gifts are to help the church deal with difficult people, situation, & the enemy working through them! (Also helpful for helping people who need a spiritual breakthrough)

c Jesus possessed all the gifts including the word gifts!

aa He knew people’s heart, motives, agenda...

bb Today, accused of being a psychic / mind reader but this was from the Holy Spirit, not Satan!

2 The devil has perverted / counterfeited the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the mind gifts.

a IL. Have you ever seen a counterfeit $3? No, because the treasury department hasn’t ever printed a real $3. $1, $5, $10, Yes!

aa There cannot be a copy without an original!

bb The devil has his imitation of mind gifts / psychic, mind readers, mediums, ect.) But if there is a counterfeit then there must be an original!

b Weak ministries & liberal theologians have scared & warned Christian’s about the dangers of all spiritual manifestations as some sort of demonic spirit

B Today, some of the most popular shows on cable have to do with paranormal, mind - readers, spiritual mediums, Psychics, ghost hunters

1 These alleged Psychics / Mediums claim to know something about you / your past ... appear to be accurate

a Some are out & out “con artists.”

aa IL. Secretary @ Psychics demonstration (Calling people by name, parents, loss of a loved one, ect)

bb Comes to her (Wrong name, SS. License plate)

b Sometimes these spiritists tap into a familiar spirit: acquainted with the person of the past / giving out information that is already known.

2 These familiar spirts are deceptive / evil ... Real.

a Just as God reveals insight by the Holy Spirit, the devil uses his demons to reveal false insight based on deception & mixed with facts already established,

b How does Satan know so much?

C We’re told only God knows the future, but there are certain things in the Spirit world known by angelic beings & Satan himself about the future. (The cross wasn’t one of them!)

6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;1 Cor 2:6-8 (NASB)