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What Kind of Power Does the Devil Have?

Posted: February 2, 2026

The Bible describes the devil as a real and influential being, but his power is strictly limited by God’s ultimate authority. While he is called the “god of this world,” his power is primarily focused on deception, temptation, and accusation rather than equal strength with the Creator. Christians should respect the devil’s ability to influence the world without living in fear, knowing that his reach has clear boundaries and a certain end.

The Ruler Of A Fallen World

To understand what kind of power the devil has, we first need to look at his current position in the world. Scripture refers to Satan using titles like “the ruler of this world” or “the god of this age.” These titles do not suggest that he owns the world in a legal or permanent sense, but they do indicate that he has significant influence over the systems, philosophies, and spiritual darkness of our current era. His power is atmospheric and persuasive. He works through the hearts of people who are not following Christ, nudging them toward rebellion and away from the truth of God.

When people wonder why the world is full of such chaos and pain, it is often because they underestimate the level of influence the devil exerts over human culture. He isn’t everywhere at once like God is, but he leads a hierarchy of spiritual forces that work to cloud human judgment and suppress the knowledge of God. His power is real enough that even the apostle Paul warned believers to be aware of his schemes. However, this authority is temporary. It exists only because humanity originally handed over its stewardship through sin, and it remains only as long as God allows it for His greater purposes.

The Strategy Of Deception And Lies

The most dangerous kind of power the devil has is his ability to lie. Jesus famously described him as the “father of lies,” suggesting that deception is his native language. Most people expect the devil to show up with horns and a pitchfork, but the Bible says he often disguises himself as an “angel of light.” His power isn’t usually found in brute physical force, but in the subtle twisting of words and the manipulation of truth. He wants to make good look bad and bad look good.

“He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

The devil uses this power to create strongholds in our minds. By planting seeds of doubt about God’s goodness or his own identity, he leads people into spiritual bondage. He also acts as the “accuser of the brothers,” pointing out our sins and failures to make us feel unworthy of God’s love. If he can convince you that you are beyond grace, he has effectively used his power to sideline your faith. His goal is to distract, discourage, and deceive you until you no longer trust the Word of God.

Breaking The Power Of Death

One of the most intimidating aspects of the devil’s influence is his historical connection to death. In the book of Hebrews, we learn that the devil once held a specific kind of authority over death. This doesn’t mean he has the power to kill anyone he chooses at any time—since God remains the author of life—but rather that he used the fear of death and the legal claim of sin to keep humanity in spiritual slavery. Because sin leads to death, the devil used our guilt as a chain to keep us terrified of what comes after this life.

“Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.” (Hebrews 2:14)

The “power of death” was essentially the devil’s ability to hold the sentence of eternal separation over our heads. However, the good news of the Gospel is that Jesus became human specifically to take that power away. By dying in our place and rising again, Jesus rendered the devil’s greatest weapon useless. For those who belong to Christ, death is no longer a source of dread or a tool of the enemy; it is simply a doorway into the presence of God. The devil has been disarmed of the very thing he used to keep the world in bondage.

Boundaries And Divine Permission

A common misconception is the idea that God and the devil are two equal and opposing forces locked in a cosmic coin toss. This is not biblical. The devil is a created being, which means he is subject to the Creator. He cannot do anything without God’s permission. We see this clearly in the story of Job, where Satan had to ask for permission before he could touch Job’s life or property. Even then, God set a hard line that the devil was not allowed to cross.

“The Lord said to Satan, ‘All right, you may test him. Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.’ So Satan left the Lord’s presence.” (Job 1:12)

This reveals that the devil’s power is on a leash. He is not all-knowing, he is not all-powerful, and he cannot be in more than one place at a time. He is a formidable foe, but he is a defeated one. His power is limited to the “permitted” space God allows for the testing of our faith and the eventual display of God’s glory. Because Jesus died and rose again, the devil has been stripped of his ultimate weapon: the power of death and the permanence of sin for those who are in Christ.

Resisting The Devil’s Influence

Because the devil’s power relies heavily on our cooperation with his lies, the Bible gives us a clear strategy for dealing with him. We are told to “resist the devil,” and the promise is that he will flee. We don’t resist him through our own willpower or by shouting at the darkness. We resist him by submitting to God and putting on the “armor of God.” This armor consists almost entirely of spiritual truths: the truth of the Gospel, the righteousness of Christ, and the Word of God, which is our only offensive weapon.

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

The devil has the power to tempt us, but he does not have the power to force us to sin. He can suggest a thought, but he cannot control our will unless we give him ground. For the believer, the “One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” This means that while we should be sober and alert, we do not have to live in a state of spiritual paranoia. Our victory is already secured through the finished work of Jesus on the cross, which effectively disarmed the powers of darkness.

The Takeaway

The kind of power the devil has is significant but strictly secondary to the power of God. He functions as a deceiver, an accuser, and a tempter who operates within the boundaries God sets. His primary goal is to use lies and the fear of death to lead people away from the truth. However, for those who follow Jesus, the devil is a defeated enemy whose influence is broken by the truth of Scripture and the finished work of Christ.

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Talk about it:

  1. Why do you think it is important to understand that the devil is a created being rather than God’s equal?
  2. In what ways have you seen the “father of lies” use deception in our modern culture or media?
  3. Hebrews 2:14 says Jesus broke the devil’s power of death. How does that change your perspective on your own mortality?
  4. How does knowing that the devil needs “permission” to act change the way you view difficult trials in your life?
  5. What are some practical ways we can “resist” the devil in our daily thought lives?

See also:

Hebrews (Series)

 

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