Thanks for engaging! I have trouble with your statement "Satan is largely free to do what he wants with no restraint from God". This is what I believe to be incorrect/in error.
So who stopped Paul going to the Thessalonians, Satan or God?
1Thes2v18Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
If Paul believed your theology, he would have said that God stopped him not Satan.
We are not dualists. God is God and Satan has no autonomy.
This is nothing to do with dualism, just bible facts.
Who gave Satan the right to enter Ananias's heart, God or Ananias?
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
The answer is at the end of the next verse. "
Why have you conceived this thing in your heart?"
Their agreement to deceive God gave Satan legal rights to enter, just as with Achan at Jericho.
That is how spiritual warfare always works Maria. Legality and rights.
The parable of the sower illustrates this point, except in this case, the seed is not the word of God, but the word of Satan. He and his demons are constantly whispering in foolish people's ears, trying to entrap them. That's why we are commanded to take every thought captive, and make it obedient to Christ.
Sadly, instead of taking their thoughts captive, millions are taken captive by their thoughts, carefully planted by demons in order to enslave.
is only powered through God’s permission and for infinitely wise purposes unknown to us.
God gave Adam responsibility for ruling the earth, and then when he rebelled, Adam gave major rights to Satan.
Ps115v16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.
ie. Satan has always had standing permission because man constantly gives it to him.
If God chooses to allow Satan to test an individual it is for His purpose to reveal truth.
As I said, Satan invariably has standing permission, and doesn't need to ask God.
Now I'm sure at this point you'd love to quote Job, where Satan asked God's permission to attack Job. The trouble with that story is that Job was a man completely above reproach and constantly claiming the blood covenant. There was nobody like Job in the whole earth
Job1v8Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
So before anyone tries to draw a parallel with Job, let's compare their characters.
All evil is attributed to flesh driven lusts. This is where Satan dwells in the flesh.
I couldn't agree more.
As a believer we are guided by His Holy Spirit so that we do not walk in darkness. Unbelievers do not have the light, they are in darkness.
Yes, believers do have that light, but most of them still walk in spiritual darkness, their lives led by the enemy not God.
Paul makes it clear that Satan is still at work.-
Romans16v20And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.