Can demons read our minds?

[tonychanyt]

1 Corinthians 2:

11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

If a demon possesses a person's spirit, it may be able to read his thoughts. Otherwise, I don't think so. Further, true believers have the Spirit/Paraclete dwell in their spirits. They cannot be possessed by demons, and demons cannot read the thoughts of truly born-again Christians.

Satan miscalculated Job. If he could read Job's thoughts, he wouldn't have miscalculated so much. Job 1:

9 Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out Your hand and strike all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

Job never cursed God to His face.

Satan also miscalculated Jesus, Matthew 4:

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Satan didn't see that coming.

Can Satan read our thoughts?

I doubt it.

Or does he base his schemes on our previous actions, hoping we'll repeat them?

I think so. Demons, like angels, have been observing human behavior for millennia. They might be able to make educated guesses about thoughts based on behavior, patterns, and circumstances, but this is different from actually reading minds.

Can God read our minds?

Yes, Psalm 139:

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

Our thought life is an area of spiritual warfare. 2 Corinthians 10:

5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Even though demons cannot read our thoughts, we should still be careful about the kinds of things that we spend time thinking about. Php 4:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

See also Can Satan Inject Thoughts Into Your Mind?.

 

[johansen]

All i can say is where is that in the bible...

 

[Unqualified]

Phil 4 6-8 or so.

 

[tonychanyt]

All i can say is where is that in the bible...

Where is what? Can you be more precise?

 

[KevinT]

Demons, like angels, have been observing human behavior for millennia. They might be able to make educated guesses about thoughts based on behavior, patterns, and circumstances, but this is different from actually reading minds.

A parent can often do a pretty good read on what a young child is thinking. I suspect we are pretty transparent to demons.

KT

 

[johansen]

Where is what? Can you be more precise?

Your opinions and speculation.

 

[tonychanyt]

Your opinions and speculation.

Can you be more precise and quote them? I prefer to debate people who can be precise in their thinking and writing. This is the 2nd time I have asked.

 

[Richard T]

Good teaching as always Tony. I like how you got context into that "spirit within a man" scripture.

The way the devil seems to read us is through familiar spirits. They may watch people for years. So when the devil tries to tempt, they notice how you react. The devil learns your tendencies on sin, what makes you angry, how to invoke lusts, how you respond to fear. So unless one walks in the spirit and learns to cast those things down, they really are at risk. I do think too that the devil targets some more than others. Perhaps he knows the giftings from observing the spirit realm. They might see your angels, how you have moved in the spirit in the past. etc. So high value targets might be a priority first. Perhaps too the devil sees certain crossroads you can take and tries to steer you away from the right path. The devil might even interject extra good thoughts to keep you away from God's will. This is deception at its finest. Like telling someone who should marry that they will be a great preacher if they do not marry.

If I can speculate a little and I have not bought into this but have thought on it a little. I tend to not want to judge someone that is carrying demons. Could be if they did not do that, they might target you. This assumes a zero sum game though. Certain devils are in chains, but the rest seem to roam freely. If one city rids their atmosphere of demons, do they them just make it worse for somewhere else? Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.

Also, is the binding and loosing in context just for Peter? If for us, is that perpetual? As the evil seems to be getting worse, either the devils are getting more productive or they just cycle back to easier targets? I am not saying Christians should not cast out devils, and help anyone in need in that way, but where are they going? The devils wanted in the pigs? Why? They just ran the pigs off the cliff and then roamed freely it seems. Deliverances surely give God glory and believers with faith can have victory now but the rest are going to just suffer until Jesus binds them up forever? I suppose the results of that are from Adam.

 

[tonychanyt]

If I can speculate a little and I have not bought into this but have thought on it a little. I tend to not want to judge someone that is carrying demons. Could be if they did not do that, they might target you. This assumes a zero sum game though.

Right, in the sense that Satan's total resource is finite and fixed at any given time.

Certain devils are in chains, but the rest seem to roam freely. If one city rids their atmosphere of demons, do they them just make it worse for somewhere else?

I think so. It is a matter of priority and deployment.

Also, is the binding and loosing in context just for Peter? If for us, is that perpetual?

See Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven and follow up there.

As the evil seems to be getting worse, either the devils are getting more productive or they just cycle back to easier targets? I am not saying Christians should not cast out devils, and help anyone in need in that way, but where are they going? The devils wanted in the pigs? Why? They just ran the pigs off the cliff and then roamed freely it seems.

This is a tough one. Try The unclean spirit passes through WATERLESS places seeking rest

 

[Richard T]

Right, in the sense that Satan's total resource is finite and fixed at any given time.


I think so. It is a matter of priority and deployment.


See Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven and follow up there.


This is a tough one. Try The unclean spirit passes through WATERLESS places seeking rest

Thanks for the feedback and additional link. I pray the impact of your ministry and teaching is enlarged through God.

 

[johansen]

If a demon possesses a person's spirit, it may read his thoughts

Lets try this again.

Where is that in the bible.

 

[johansen]

Otherwise, I don't think so

Take two.

 

[johansen]

They cannot be possessed by demons,

Not the opinion of the vast majority of people who actually do cast out demons. Out of christians.

Please read fred dickason's book. He cast demons out of 400 christians over 13 years. He did this as a cessationist, with no prior theological study. He did not go looking for demons, he cast them out of believers who had been referred to him by counselors who had given up on them, and he simply invited the power of God to reveal them, he did NOT use any of his own gifts to see hear them, etc.

 

[tonychanyt]

Lets try this again.

Where is that in the bible.

I edited that sentence in the OP. Take another look. Feel free to follow up

 

[tonychanyt]

Not the opinion of the vast majority of people who actually do cast out demons. Out of christians.

See What's the difference between demon possession and oppression? and follow up there

 

[KevinT]

The devils wanted in the pigs? Why? They just ran the pigs off the cliff and then roamed freely it seems.

Well, one effect was that the town people came out, saw their dead pigs, and asked Jesus to leave. So the demons seemed to be trying to play a chess game, and the pigs were pawns in their power play. However, Jesus sent the freed demoniac into the town and he spread the news of what God had done for him -- circumventing the attempt to keep people on that area from learning of the life and love that Jesus offers.

Kevin

 

[johansen]

Well, one effect was that the town people came out, saw their dead pigs, and asked Jesus to leave. So the demons seemed to be trying to play a chess game, and the pigs were pawns in their power play. However, Jesus sent the freed demoniac into the town and he spread the news of what God had done for him -- circumventing the attempt to keep people on that area from learning of the life and love that Jesus offers.

Kevin

and God/Jesus knew this ahead of time. so, the chess game just gets more interesting.

 

[Unqualified]

Well, one effect was that the town people came out, saw their dead pigs, and asked Jesus to leave. So the demons seemed to be trying to play a chess game, and the pigs were pawns in their power play. However, Jesus sent the freed demoniac into the town and he spread the news of what God had done for him -- circumventing the attempt to keep people on that area from learning of the life and love that Jesus offers.

Kevin

but remember He went back to that area and healed their sick. But I remember that’s all they wanted.