How much power does Satan have?

TL;DR:

While Satan has power and influence in this world, his power is limited by God and he cannot operate past what God permits. We can resist the Devil as we trust in Christ’s victory and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

what does the bible say?

Satan, as a fallen angel, possesses more power than humans but is not all-powerful. He was created by God (Colossians 1:16) and operates under divine limits, unable to act beyond what God permits. Satan is neither omnipresent nor omniscient, meaning he cannot be everywhere at once or know all aspects of God’s plan. His authority, while real, is significantly less than the power of the Holy Spirit within Christians (1 John 4:4), and his ultimate defeat is assured (Revelation 20:10). Despite his current influence, Christians are encouraged to trust in God's superior power and resist Satan's schemes with confidence in Christ’s victory (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8–11).

from the old testament

Satan is an angelic being who rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:13). As an angelic being, Satan has more power than any human being.
Psalm 95:3 declares, "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods," emphasizing His supreme authority and unmatched greatness over all other so-called gods, including Satan.
Satan's power is limited. He is not all-powerful. He is not the evil equal to God. First, he was created by God (Ezekiel 28:13–15 and see Colossians 1:16). Second, only God is all-powerful. Satan can only operate as God allows or permits to accomplish God's perfect, sovereign will. Third, Satan is not omnipresent. He cannot be at all places at all times as God can. He is limited to working in one place at a time, using other evil spirits to accomplish tasks beyond his ability. Satan is also not all-knowing. Satan does not know all of the details of God's divine plan. In fact, since Satan can only operate as God permits, even his evil actions serve as part of God's divine plan, as seen with Job.

from the new testament

Colossians 1:16 states that God created all things, including Satan, who was created as an angel.
Satan's power is less than the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian. The New Testament offers many examples of Christians who displayed power over evil spirits through the power of the Holy Spirit. For example, Philip cast out many demons: "And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed" (Acts 8:6–7).
Satan is described as “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). While Satan has some authority over the world as we know it, his purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Despite Satan’s power, God is above all and uses all things, including Satan’s schemes, for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
Satan leads other fallen angels, known as demons, and will also be the power behind the Antichrist in the last days (Revelation 13).
Satan's time is limited. He may wreak havoc on the earth now, but he will be defeated in the end. Revelation 20:10 describes the ultimate doom of Satan: "the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

implications for today

As Christians, we should not live in fear of Satan and his power because our ultimate security lies in the sovereignty of God. While Satan is a real and active adversary, the Bible assures us that he operates within the limits God allows and that God's power far surpasses any threat Satan may pose. In 1 John 4:4, we are reminded, "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." Despite the reality of spiritual warfare, our focus should be on trusting in God's omnipotence and the protection He provides. Rather than being paralyzed by fear, we are called to stand firm in faith, knowing that God has already secured victory over evil through Jesus Christ. While Satan is powerful, his power does not compare to the power of God. Through the power of Christ, we can overcome Satan's temptations, his afflictions, and his attempts to destroy our efforts to serve the Lord. James 4:7 teaches, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

understand

Satan is created and not all-powerful.
Satan's power is restricted by God's sovereign will, and he can only act within those limits.
Satan’s power will come to an end, as God has already promised his defeat.

reflect

How can recognizing the limitations of Satan’s power impact the way you approach spiritual challenges in your life?
How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to resist temptation and overcome spiritual obstacles?
How does the promise of Satan’s ultimate defeat encourage you to stand firm in your faith?

engage

How does the limitation of Satan’s power by God’s sovereignty influence our understanding of the nature of evil and its role in God’s plan?
What are the implications of Satan’s lack of omnipresence and omniscience for how he interacts with humanity and influences world events?
How can the biblical depiction of Satan’s ultimate defeat and limited power shape our approach to addressing evil and injustice in the world today?