I think Satan can bring a thought to your mind
Question:
Yes, Satan can put thoughts in a man's mind. Look at the Scripture. I disagree with what you answered to "Can Satan put bad thoughts into your head?"
- "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel" (I Chronicles 21:1).
- " But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land?" (Acts 5:3).
This is why we have to examine our thoughts and test them against the word.
- "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" (II Corinthians 10:5).
He can bring a thought to your mind, but he can't force your will.
Answer:
I don't disagree that Satan can encourage a person to think about sinful things. That is, after all, what temptation was all about. What I took the questioner to mean, which was later confirmed by the response, was whether Satan can force a person to think about sinful things. It is that which I argued cannot be. Your example of I Chronicles 21:1 illustrates this. Satan provoked David to number Israel. But also in II Samuel 24:1 we learn that the Lord moved David to say that Israel should be numbered. Yet, the one held responsible for numbering Israel was David because it was his word (II Samuel 24:4).
