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Don Stewart :: Is Satan Able to Perform Miracles?

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Don Stewart
Satan has many powers. Is the ability to perform miracles one of them? What does the Bible say?

Good Angels Can Perform Miracles
We know that good angels, through the power of God, have the ability to perform miracles. An example of this would be the blinding of the evil men at Sodom.

And they [the angels] struck with blindness the men who were at the door of the house, both small and great, so that they were unable to find the door (Genesis 19:11).

Testimony Of Jesus
When John the Baptist sent messenger to Jesus to confirm that He was the Messiah, Jesus answered as follows.

Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at Me" (Matthew 11:4-6).

To demonstrate that He was the Messiah, Jesus performed miracles. John the Baptist, as well as the rest of the people, could now be certain that Jesus was whom He claimed to be - because genuine miracle-working ability belongs to God and Him alone. Satan, a created being, does not have that power.

Though Satan does not have the ability to perform genuine miracles, he is able to produce counterfeit miracles or lying wonders.

And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his coming; even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:8,9).

These are deceptive works - not the real thing.

False Signs
We see Satan performing his false signs before the Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt. The sorcerers from Egypt duplicated some of the signs that God performed through Moses.

Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers: and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their enchantments (Exodus 7:11).

Their power to duplicate God's signs was limited - they could only go so far in their deceit.

No Power Over Nature
We find that Satan needed to make a request of the Lord when he touched Job's family. He had no power over nature until the Lord allowed him to act.

The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!" So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD (Job 1:12).

Satan used the forces of nature against Job only after he was granted God's permission.

Summary
Satan is not the opposite of God - he cannot do miracles. Since he is the master deceiver he will do counterfeit miracles, but he does not have the ability to do the real thing. Jesus proved that He was the genuine Messiah by His miracles. The so-called miracles of Satan are nothing but counterfeit.
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