“But all these (gifts) worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (I Cor. 12:11); “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenlies” (Eph. 1:19-20); “For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles” (Gal. 2:8); “Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily” (Col. 1:29); “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to his power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20).  It is also said in regard to the energizing power of Satan, using the same original word:  “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work” (II Thes. 2:7); “For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death” (Rom. 7:5).  In the last two passages quoted, the meaning is, like the preceding passages, of an imparted energy, and is, therefore, most suggestive.

It may then be concluded from the testimony of Scripture that Satan imparts his wisdom and strength to the unbelieving in the same manner as the power of God is imparted to the believer by the Holy Spirit.  There is, however, no revelation as to the comparative degree of strength imparted by each.  It should be further noted in this connection that this impartation of energizing power from Satan is not toward a limited few who might be said, because of some strange conduct, to be possessed of a demon; but is the common condition of all who are yet unsaved, and are, therefore, still in the “power of darkness.”

The relation between the unregenerate and Satan is still more vital, according to the original from which I Jno. 5:19 is translated.  The Revised Version renders it, with marginal note, as follows:  “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.”  In this passage there are two startling revelations in regard to this relationship.  First:  the word “in” is the same as is used everywhere of the believer when he is said to be in Christ, and in the case of the believer it signifies an organic union to Christ—­as a branch is in the vine, so the believer is in Christ.  Though the word, when used of the unregenerate, probably cannot mean the same degree of organic life-relationship as exists between Christ and the believer, yet it does denote a deep relationship; and Satan is the light, inspiration, and power, of all those whom he energizes.