The Unknown Bible - Pastor Bevans Welder

Can the devil hear our prayers? Probably so.

For years, there have been people teaching that we can have private prayer between us and the Lord that the devil can't hear, Some even suggest that tongues are a private prayer language that only God can understand [1 Cor 14:14]. However, when it comes to backing this up with scripture, the "proof texts" are weak at best. Paul didn't say anything about the devil not being able to hear or understand his prayer in 1 Cor 14:14. The unknown tongue there is a known language that someone who knew the language would be able to understand but that Paul wouldn't be able to understand. In other words, people have to wrest the scriptures to come up with the interpretation that this is a private prayer language that the devil can’t hear. He seems to have no trouble tempting people all over the world, no matter what language they speak.

Truthfully, it wouldn't really make a bit of difference if the devil could hear our prayers or not. His ability to hear wouldn't diminish the promises of God to answer our prayers nor would it increase the devil's advantage over us. He already has such power that hearing our prayers wouldn't matter. If the truth be known, he’s in the middle of the prayer meeting trying to get your mind on other things to keep you distracted or to get you in contact with an evil spirit that you will mistake for the Holy Spirit.

The devil can devour (1 Pet 5:8), he can accuse (Rev 12:10), he can deceive (Rev 12:9), he can ensnare (2 Tim 2:26; 1 Tim 3:7), he can condemn (1 Tim 3:6), he can fill the heart (Acts 5:3), he can speak (Matt 16:22-23), he can take advantage of us (2 Cor 2:11), he can corrupt the mind (2 Cor 11:3), he can fire at us with fiery darts (Eph 6:16), he can destroy the flesh (1 Cor 5:5), he can tempt (1 Cor 7:5), and he can hinder us (1 Thes 2:18). So, what difference is it going to make if he can hear me praying to God audibly or inaudibly? All these other things he can do and already does to Christians.

What we need to do to strengthen ourselves and protect ourselves against the devil is believe and acknowledge the truth (2 Tim 2 Tim 2:5), submit to God (Jas 4:7), resist the devil (Jas 4:7), draw near to God (Jas 4:8), be sober and vigilant (1 Pet 5:8), humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Pet 5:6), forgive one another (2 Cor 2:10-11), take the shield of faith (Eph 6:16), put on the whole armor of God (Eph 6:11), be honest with God (Acts 5:3-4), keep away from sin (1 Cor 5), maintain good relations with our spouses (1 Cor 7:1-5), maintain a good report (1 Tim 3:7), and keep from being lifted up with pride (1 Tim 3:6).

That's a full time job right there.

Hope this helps,

Pastor Welder