In the Book of Ephesians chapter 6 verse 11 the Apostle Paul warns us to beware of the “wiles” of the devil. The word “wilds” in the Greek language is “methodeia” which means scheming, craftiness, strategy, to lie in wait. Many in professing Christendom do not believe in a literal Satan. Others believe that he exists, but that he has no real influence over the lives of men. Some, like Paul who received his gospel directly from Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:12), know the power of Satan and understand that without knowledge of his power and his methods, mankind is spiritual puddy in his hands. We must remember that the man Jesus was at war with him every day of His life. To prepare them for the future, He  warned His disciples that they would also be at war with the devil as long as they lived. He then told them to warn their disciples that they too would live under constant attack from their arch enemy. Just prior to His death and departure Jesus warned the disciples and all who worship and obey Him to stay on guard lest they be deceived by Satan’s false prophets (Mat. 24:4,5,11,24). To make sure that they understood the power of Satan, Jesus warned them that not even the Very Elect were beyond his spiritual reach. The fact is that JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF WAS NOT EXEMPT FROM THE DEVIL’S WILES. For this reason He would at times beseech His Father with “strong crying and tears” (Heb. 5:7). JESUS WAS SUBJECT TO THE DEVIL’S TEMPTATOINS LIKE ANY OTHER MAN. And like any other man, He had to overcome him in order to become the Savior of mankind. JESUS HAD TO QUALIFY FOR THE ROLE GOD COMMISSIONED HIM TO FULFILL.  In Revelation 3:21 He said that in order to spend eternity with Him we must “… OVERCOME (SATAN) EVEN AS I OVERCAME (HIM).” We cannot overcome what we are not aware of and understand. One of the ways the devil keeps church people in his spiritual pocket is through ignorance of his “wiles”–his schemes, craftiness, strategy and lying in wait tactics. One such wile concerns “touching.” Let us investigate this most effective yet unknown weapon in Satan’s arsenal. But first, a little background information is needed.

Because of Adam’s supposed alteration of man’s spiritual DNA, few people take seriously Jesus’ statement found in Revelation 3:21. This is proved by the fact that the vast majority of professing Christians call themselves “sinners saved by grace.” Sinners are people who have not overcome Satan’s temptations to sin and therefore will not sit with Jesus on His throne in the hereafter. Because we are supposedly “born in sin,” have no power over Satan, and therefore must live our lives in sin, those calling themselves “Christians” see no need to “Resist the devil” as we are commanded to do in James 4:7. Jesus, we are told, does our resisting for us. Our only responsibility is to believe in Him. No one entrapped in Catholicism or Protestantism believes God’s Word concerning His command to resist and overcome the devil. Proof of this lies in the fact that if they did obey Revelation 3:21 and James 4:7 they would be neither Catholic nor Protestant, but would instead be true Christians and would have nothing to do with the two-headed monster commonly called “the church.”

The premier enemy of mankind is indeed wiley, smooth and seductive. His powers are designed to bring about the spiritual death of his victims. A human being who deliberately deceives other human beings resulting in their deaths is called a “psychopath.” Satan is the ultimate “spiritopath” (my word) in that he kills people spiritually. When a psychopath is active the people know what is happening and are on guard against him. The police and news media constantly warn that he is on the hunt. But the church does not warn the people that Satan is on a constant killing spree. No social agency speaks or writes about his numerous victims. The devil continues to practice his wiles in secret because people, including church people, are ignorant of them. In the spiritual realm, ignorance is bliss. While being put to death, man goes merrily on his way not knowing that he is slowly dying. And when someone dares to expose Satan and his power he is treated like a pariah, an enemy of all that is good. The public’s self-inflicted ignorance of God’s Truth makes it possible for Satan to kill not only at will, but in secret. One of the many weapons in his hidden arsenal concerns “touching.” L.J.