No believer will be able to walk in total victory until he or she has the mind delivered from manipulation. Paul rightly describes our battle; it is spiritual and not physical. Satan is the chief enemy of the Christian; and he is being helped by highly structured demonic hierarchies. As for their jobs, they torment their victims. The moment evil spirits gain access, they begin to manipulate.

Saul was manipulated to envy, anger, murder, wrong decisions, and eventual death.

A clear case of how Satan manipulates people can be seen in the life of King David. For no justifiable reason, he ordered that the army of Israel should be numbered. That initiative was contrary to the mind of God. The initiative also failed the test of scrutiny by the king’s trusted advisers; but David had his way. It was Satan who moved him to embark on that frivolous exercise which later led to the destruction of thousands of people and livestock. Saul was manipulated to envy, anger, murder, wrong decisions, and eventual death. Satan and his angels constitute blockade to people’s progress (1 Thessalonians 2:18). However, Jesus has already won the victory! A prayerful life plus obedience to God will cut off the activities of these forces of hell.