Are You a Mouthpiece for Satan?

It is possible.  In fact, you likely have been a mouthpiece for Satan at one point or another in your Christian life.

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. (Matthew 16:21-23).

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? (Acts 5:4)

Christians can unwittingly speak the Satan’s words.

Isn’t it interesting that the man that Jesus rebukes for speaking Satan’s words is the man who rebukes Ananias for speaking Satan’s words.

There is no doubt that Peter was a believer when he spoke the rebuke of Matthew 16:18 to the Lord.  He had just made his great confession of faith and Jesus had commended him for it, ascribing his confession of Christ as the Messiah unto God.

Ananias and Sapphira were also Christians.  They were part of the church and were giving as part of the church.  They had an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit—so much so that they could lie to Him.

In both cases, Satan, or some demonic forces whispered in their ears. While we must be sensitive to the words of scripture and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, not everything that flashes through our minds is divine in origin.  It is not all our own either.  The indication of these two passages of scripture is that some ideas that we get are Satanic (or demonic) in origin.  We should test everything that we think against the revealed word of God.

Peter’s rebuke of the Lord was prompted by Satan, and he was susceptible because of arrogance. Maybe he got puffed up because of the commendation Jesus gave him in Mattew 16:18. Or maybe it was some other reason. But we know the problem was arrogance because he was rebuking Jesus!  This is the same Jesus that he called the Son of the Living God in Matthew 16:16. What person in their right mind would presume to correct the Son of the Living God.

Ananias and Sapphira lied to people as a result of arrogance as well. They wanted the same attention given them that had been given Barnabas in Acts 4:36. So, as part of their desire to be admired, they took what should have been an act of worship, lied about it, and turned it into an occasion to serve their personal pride.

In my past, I have spoken hurtful words to people, maybe even words prompted by Satan.  Sometimes they have been about perceived personal hurt, anger, arrogance, sinful pride. Those words have damaged others and hurt the cause of Christ.

Satan’s timing is strategic.

Satan loves to use the words—or actions—of believers to discourage believers at just the right moment, when they can do the most damage. In Matthew 16:21 Jesus began to have the hardest of all conversations with the disciples. He knew that they loved Him and He had to tell them that He was going to suffer horribly and die. In His humanity, this was a dark time for Jesus.  We do not know exactly how the two aspects of Jesus’ nature worked together in the depths of His heart, but we do know that on the night before Jesus was crucified, His prayer was so intense that He sweat great drops of blood.

The struggle in His soul was so great that Jesus said, “O, my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me.” (Matthew 26:39).

It was into this time period that Peter spoke these words of rebuke. No doubt Peter intended them as a sideways affirmation, but they would serve as a discouraging condemnation.  This is why it occasioned Jesus’ rebuke.

For Ananias and Sapphira, their lie born of Satan was intended to derail the blessings of spiritual awakening pouring from the early church.  Satan loves to derail revivals, turning them into selfish acts of personal aggrandizement.

When Satan prompts us to speak, it is often exactly the wrong thing to say at the worst time possible.  We let another believer “have it” out of personal frustration or arrogance only to find out that it was also a time that they were going through their deepest waters or greatest temptations. Oh, that I could have those words back! How horrible it is to think that I could have damaged a dear child of God so!

I must constantly examine my heart.

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Listen to the audio version of the article here: Are You a Mouthpiece for Satan?