Satan's Only Ability
The only ability Satan has is the ability to attack our minds and to deceive us into believing a lie. God has given us power over all the purported power, lies, deceptions, and attacks of the already-defeated enemy.
Jesus has given us power over all things:
Far above all principality, and power and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:21-23)
It is only when we accept the devil's lies, such as Ananias and Sapphira did in the days of the early apostles, that we become vulnerable to his wicked schemes. Satan lied to Ananias and Sapphira, convincing them that if they held back part of the price they received for their land, they would somehow be better off than giving it all to the disciples for the work of the Lord as had been agreed upon by the disciples (Acts 5:1-3). They believed the devil's lie, attributed to him power he did not have, and paid the price of this deception with their lives.
There is a very well-known scripture often quoted in the Body of Christ, but usually without the full context:
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds…
This is usually where people stop the quote. But look carefully at what comes next…
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4,5)
It is true that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal because the nature of our battle is spiritual. But — as we learned in our meditations during March — many Christians fail to recognize that the battlefield is in the mind. They imagine that Satan is strong, that he has unlimited power, and they become captive to his purported power. But the only weapon the devil has to get your thoughts to be his evil thoughts is to deceive you, just as he deceived Ananias and Sapphira, through his lies.
The only way Satan has any power in your life is if you do not bring your thoughts into captivity and you fall for his age-old lie that he actually has power over the earth. Don't believe it!
Make this declaration:
Today I will bring every thought into captivity. Satan will have no power over me.