The Bible does not say if Satan can or cannot put thoughts in a Christian’s mind. However, there are scriptures related to this topic, which I’ll examine below. Nevertheless, Satan can influence the thinking of Christians and, of course, unbelievers. He can use circumstances and other people to frustrate, anger, and even injure. But as far as putting actual thoughts in a Christian’s mind, that needs to be clarified biblically. In fact, when you read this article, you’ll find that I cannot absolutely defend the answer to the question. But, it is worth looking at the topic and the scriptures related to it.
We’ve all experienced a time in prayer, driving, or just doing whatever, and suddenly, an evil thought pops into our minds. What is that? Was it put there by the devil, or is it derived from our fallen natures? I tell people that I don’t need the devil’s help to think bad things. After all, I’m still a sinner – even though I’m saved (Rom. 7:18-25). So, when those evil thoughts pop into my mind, I immediately pray and ask God to help me deal with them and rebuke them.
Christians cannot be demon-possessed
Matt. 12:43–45, “Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44 “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”
The above Scriptures tell us that when a demonic force leaves a person and returns, it can reenter if the “house” from which it came is found empty. The inference is that if the person does not have the Holy Spirit in him, then a demonic force can once again live in a person. It makes no sense to say that a sinister force can occupy the same place as the Holy Spirit. So, Christians cannot be demon-possessed.
But what about influences from demonic forces?
External influences
We are all familiar with the famous prayer that starts with “Our Father who is in heaven.” It is an instruction Jesus taught in Matthew 6:9-13. We see in that prayer that He tells us to seek God and ask that we not be tempted (v. 13). He doesn’t tell us what kind of temptation it is, whether friends, circumstances or our sinful desires demonically influence it. But since this is an article about Satan’s influence upon us, I will focus on that.
- Matt. 6:9–13, “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”
We know from Scripture that Satan tempts people (1 Cor. 7:5; 1 Thess. 3:5). This is an external work. In other words, it happens outside of us and affects us. But does this mean that Satan can put thoughts in our minds – but it doesn’t mean he can’t, either?
Internal influences
- James 1:14, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”
This verse is vital because it informs us that our lust can tempt us. We can fall into sin without an external influence. Sometimes, all we need to sin is just listening to our desires over God’s word. We’ve all experienced that. This is why it’s difficult to discern which sinful thought or desire that we might have comes from ourselves or from the devil.
Judas and the devil
- John 13:2, “During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,”
- John 13:27, “After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore, Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.’“
We see from the above verses that Satan put an evil desire into the heart of Judas. What is interesting is that this occurred before the devil possessed him. But does this mean Christians can have a thought put in their minds? Not necessarily because Judas was not saved. We know this from John 6:64, “‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.” So, it would seem that the devil can put thoughts into peoples’ minds – if they’re not Christians.
Peter and Satan
- Matthew 16:21–23, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.’“
Peter certainly believed in Jesus. And Jesus rebukes him for his “thought, “which would have denied the atoning sacrifice. Jesus addressed Peter as Satan. Or was he addressing Satan in Peter? Or, yet again, was he addressing Satan, who would influence Peter? All three of these are logical possibilities.
It is difficult to conclude exactly which possibility is the truth. One of the additional issues that complicates the matter is that Christ had yet to be sacrificed. Because of this, some theologians affirm that the Holy Spirit did not permanently indwell Christians because Jesus had not yet been crucified, and people were not yet cleansed (by Christ’s sacrifice) to be indwelt by the Lord (John 14:23). But, again, it is not as definitive as we would like.
At the very least, though well-motivated, Peter’s defense of Jesus was actually wrong. Perhaps Jesus addressed Peter in such a way as a reflection of the seriousness of what was to occur by the Lord Jesus in His death on the cross, that death by which we are redeemed.
Ananias and Sophia and the Holy Spirit
- Acts 5:3, “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?'”
In the book of Acts, many Christians sold their property and laid the money at the apostles’ feet. But Ananias “kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge…” (Acts 5:2). Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?” (Acts 5:3). Now the question is whether or not Ananias and Sapphire were saved. If they were, then this would be evidence that Satan could put thoughts into people’s minds. If they were not saved, then this would not be proof. So, we have a problem because we don’t know which is the case.
Conclusion
There is no definitive proof in the Bible as to the ability or inability of Satan to put evil thoughts into the minds of Christians. But if Ananias and Sophia were saved, then that would mean Satan could put an evil thought in their minds as Christians. If they were not saved, then we still can’t determine whether or not Satan can put thoughts into Christians’ minds.
