For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
David Cory Enderby
I don't have any biblical references to this question, but I can at least add to the discussion. There is a testimony by a man named Shawn Weed on YouTube. If you Google Shawn Weed Hell Testimony, you will find it. It's really good.
In his testimony, Shawn is in Hell. While in Hell, he said that you don't even need to speak a word. Thoughts can be read. The demon that has control of him in his testimony was able to read his thoughts.
Keep in mind, he was not in his body. On Earth, while in your body, I am not sure. But in Hell, while in your spirit (according to this testimony), yes, they can read your thoughts.
Seth Freeman
The problem I see with a story like that is it runs under the assumption that demons have some sort of ruling position in hell. Hell is not some hangout of Satan's. Nobody wants to be in hell, including demons. In the end, Satan, the other fallen angels, non-believers, and hell itself will be thrown into the lake of fire where they will all be having a pretty bad time.
Any story that involves demons having some stewardship over hell is probably going to be false.
Terry Galloway
Hi. I have been a born again believer for almost 9 years. I had read a couple of books and done a class on spiritual warfare, but not until I did a week long retreat two weeks ago did I really learn the tools that answers your question.
The retreat teaches how to fight. Our battle is not against flesh and blood. Satan has his army of evil spirits out to attack us. The Bible talks a lot about demons to warn us and inform us of the battle we are in while we are here on earth. 1 John teaches about the two teams. There are only two. Most diseases are the result of being attacked. I learned to speak out loud to fight them. I am an evangelist so I get attacked a lot. It is not Satan but his demons/army who is trying to bring you down. But we also have thoughts of temptation that are not of God that are from our own sinful nature.
I had depression and a broken heart for years. I learned to speak out loud in the name of Jesus Christ to say things like "Go away you spirit of unforgiving. I choose to forgive. " I am doing so much better as I learned about the battle in my mind and experienced a renewing of my mind (Romans 12:1-2).
www.beinhealth.com teaches about the spirits that we must speak out against because we as Christ followers are over comers. We are victorious in Christ. We have the armor of Ephesians 6.
I hope that wasn't too deep for your question. I just want everyone to learn to have the abundant life Jesus promised.
Paul Bayne
Satan is an angel--a fallen angel with no power or authority. He has no power or ability to read anyone's thoughts. The only way it seems he can read your thoughts is by his ability to suggest things to your mind. Then if you act on them, he responds in like.
The devil is on a leash as was evidenced by the book of Job, and he is only allowed to do that which God gives him permission to.
Only God is omniscient and only God can read our thoughts as Jesus evidenced when He knew people's thoughts.
Satan has been defeated and put down under the authority and victory of the work of Christ on the cross. Let's keep him there.
Anyone who goes to hell, stay in hell.
Virginia Jorden Wackens
The Bible states that if we resist the devil he will flee from you. This is important because it suggest that the devil does have some influence over our behavior. We believe that God has to be the one to do the work for us but we still have the responsibility to resist his influence which are things that we know to be sinful and against the teachings of the Bible.