Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
www.suscopts.org
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Does the devil have power to do miracles, healings, raise people from the dead, and power over nature-such as moving mountains? Also, what differentiates the power of Christianity from any other religion?

The devil does have power to perform different kinds of miracles but not to the point of raising the dead .An example of Satan's power in the Old Testament is when Moses met with Pharaoh. The magicians of Pharaoh were able to duplicate some of the plagues God delivered into Moses' hands such as changing the water of the river to blood, the plague of the frogs and the flies (Exodus 7:8).

The devil can make people do miracles in the Lord Jesus Christ's name. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said about them "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:22-23).

St. Paul also says about Satan "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). So miracles are part of the devil's work to deceive people and lead them away from God.

What differentiates  power in Christianity from that in any other religion is that  in Christianity, power is not a physical, outward power founded on miracles and signs. It  is an internal power which enabled our Lord Jesus Christ to face the most humiliating and painful circumstances while on the cross being treated like a criminal. It is this power we exalt during the Holy Week singing to the Lord, "Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory". The power being referred to is the power which enabled the Lord Jesus Christ to face the most humiliating and painful of circumstances while hung on the Holy Cross like a thief or murderer. The Power of the Lord Jesus Christ was the power to endure the mocking, the blasphemy, the spitting, the scourging, the crown of thorns and the crucifixion for our salvation. His power was in asking the Father, while on the Holy Cross, to forgive those who crucified Him. It would have been very easy for the Lord Jesus Christ to come down from the Holy Cross when those passing by said "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." Perhaps if He had come down from the Holy Cross many would have believed in Him that very moment, but this was not why He was Incarnate.

In Christianity, the pivot of power resides in loving one another and enduring humiliation for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake. This is simply the Power of love. St. Paul, praying for his followers to be filled with the power of God, does not say that this power will make us perform miracles and do wonders. But St Paul does say "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light" (Colossians 1:9-13).

He also says that God has given us power to share in the sufferings for the Holy Gospel "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began" (2 Timothy 1:7-9).
Home | Ask A Question | Search Q&A