What can Satan do?

[HisGlory]

My husband and I were discussing what Satan is able to do and not able to do. Besides being able to influence our thoughts, tempt us, possession, etc. - Is he able to affect our physical surroundings. An example: The majority of times my husband is working on something for church on his computer or his special printer, he has problems with the equipment that have never come up before. It is amazing how often this has happened over the last several years, with different computers and printers! Is Satan able to cause such difficulties in our lives?

 

[DavidKays]

My husband and I were discussing what Satan is able to do and not able to do. Besides being able to influence our thoughts, tempt us, possession, etc. - Is he able to affect our physical surroundings. An example: The majority of times my husband is working on something for church on his computer or his special printer, he has problems with the equipment that have never come up before. It is amazing how often this has happened over the last several years, with different computers and printers! Is Satan able to cause such difficulties in our lives?

I would’t try to equate every problem with its cause to the devil. The devil really has no power except for what permission you give him. All the evil spirits are still under the reign of God and they cannot go beyond what God allows or permits them to do. It is true that the devil is permitted by God to tempt you and that is generally what all the evil spirits are able to do. There are exceptional cases such as the story of Job, and with Our Lord Jesus and with the many Saints of the Church where the devil is given more authority to do what he wants. Even Jesus commented to the Apostles that the devil has asked Jesus for more permission to sift them as wheat. God at times will allow the devil to exercise more of his power and just to let you one instance in the story of the great Catholic saint, St.John Vianney we read that as the saint was sleeping there was alot of howling going on through the night. Some people staying with the saint heard it and asked St.John about it. Do not worry says the saint because all that howling is the old fox and he is trying to give me a sleepless night because he knows there will be alot of fish coming tomorrow. The saint means that many people will be coming to him for confession. I usually advise my people not to be afraid of the devil. He is more afraid of you than you think and will feed on your fears if you are afraid. Unless you are very holy and have a great relationship with the Lord the devil tends to leave you alone. I mean direct confrontation with him usually occurs to the holy, courageous and prayerful christians. If for example people will not go to church and are very lazy in their religeous duties he tends to leave them alone with occasional temptations. If however you are addicted and are into drugs and so on he will have a better time with you. If you are holy and leading a prayerful life do not be suprised when the devil ups his ante. If the devil is trying to scare you I will not let it bother you. Tactics like these are sent to see how you respond to them. I always advise to people not to be afraid of him. He is more scared of you than you are of him. Why? Because we have the Church, our Lord Jesus, the Holy Mother, our Guardian Angel and countless saints at our disposal. No devil can harm you unless you give him permission to do so. If you are scared of the devil he then becomes a giant and if you despise him he is no more than a dwarf. St.John Bosco was constantly attacked from the devil for a time and some of his boys commented to John Bosco wait until he comes again for he will have to face them. Of course the saint did not like that kind of talk. He said to his boys leave it be. If he is attacking me he is no threat to you. The devil can at times be giving permission to do more but I do not see that here in your case. Even if it was true I would not fear him. He just likes to intice fear and leaving him to himself is the best medicine. He hates that. So just ignore it and fix the problem yourself.

 

[Robert_Sock]

My husband and I were discussing what Satan is able to do and not able to do. Besides being able to influence our thoughts, tempt us, possession, etc. - Is he able to affect our physical surroundings. An example: The majority of times my husband is working on something for church on his computer or his special printer, he has problems with the equipment that have never come up before. It is amazing how often this has happened over the last several years, with different computers and printers! Is Satan able to cause such difficulties in our lives?

It’s not a coincidence! Is it God or is it Satan, is anybody’s guess, but its not a coincidence. I have similar things happen to me, and it takes a lot of patients to deal with. A good sense of humor is advantageous in such situations.

 

[DaveBj]

I interpret the passages about Satan’s being cast out of heaven and down to Earth as meaning that he is limited as to space and time. That puts a serious crimp into his ability to harm us rank-and-filers, simply because he’s occupied with bigger fish than us.

By way of example, I had a very, very tiny part in the 1991 Gulf War (I was in England at the time, and I (and other Yanks with security clearances) trained as a Red Cross volunteer at what was expected to be a jam-packed USAF field hospital at RAF Little Rissington. We were never pressed into service, because casualties were minimal, thank the Lord.

Now, Saddam Hussein, like Satan, was limited as to time and space. He didn’t have a clue who I was or what my role in the war was to be. However, you can bet he knew who Gen’s Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf were. By the same measure, unless you are a really big mover and shaker in the Kingdom of God, Satan probably doesn’t know that you exist. He knows who Papa Benedict is, and who Billy Graham is, but I don’t make his radar screen.

However, Satan’s minions–that’s a whole 'nother story.

DaveBj