If he ( Satan ) accuses us of being an imposter, is this where we can experience doubt in our faith?

Yes. Satan’s temptation of Jesus gives us insight into how he works. He began two of his temptations with “If you are the Son of God.” Satan’s primary attack is to question our identity. When he does that, and we buy his lies, we will doubt our salvation. 

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. (Revelation 12:10, ESV)

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44, ESV)

Since Satan is not omnipotent, omnipresent nor omniscient- how does he attack our mind? Can he put thoughts in our mind and or just expose the thoughts we have ourselves? (Unwanted thoughts) 

It’s important to remember Satan has a host of demons, who work with the world to partner with our flesh. Satan is the “prince and power of the air.” He is a spirit as are his demons. While they aren’t omni in any characteristic, they are numerous. And they have the world at their behest. So they can put thoughts in our minds through media, through unbelievers, and accentuate our own self doubts.

Notice our condition before Christ. We followed Satan. Most of the world is following him today and Satan works through them.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1-3, ESV)

Can the devil send a person into your life to hurt you?

Yes, Satan can influence someone to hurt someone else. Those who are under his influence (see Ephesians 2:1-3 above) follow his bidding. He is the “spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” Also Jesus’ words about Satan are important here:  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10, ESV)

Can you speak on Matthew 17:14-20 about the demon the disciples could not cast out? How is this applicable to us today?

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:19-20, ESV)

Jesus’ words here are plain–they didn’t have enough faith. Different challenges require a different measure of faith. For example, it takes more faith to go on a mission trip than it does to go to worship on a Sunday morning. The disciples lacked ample faith to cast out the demon. The same can be the case for us. Lack of faith in God can lead us to unsuccessful interactions with Satan, the world and our sinful nature.

How can we help a believer who thinks or has been taught that they can be possessed that they can only be oppressed? And the difference between them?

Possession implies ownership. When we belong to Jesus we cannot be possessed (owned) by Satan.  We’ll discuss this in detail in July, but the answer is the truth of God’s word. Satan is on a leash (read Job 6:6-12). Satan can only do what God allows him to do. (Again the story of Job).  This can trouble some people…that God will allow Satan to oppress us. However, God never allows anything in our lives that he will not ultimately use to bring glory to himself and ultimate good to us.

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