IT DOESN’T MATTER IF ONE IS PLAYING CARDS WITH FRIENDS, ENJOYING A PICK-UP GAME OF BASKETBALL AT THE GYM, OR EVEN LENDING SOMETHING OF VALUE TO A FRIEND, NOBODY LIKES IT WHEN SOMEONE IS CAUGHT CHEATING, TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE RULES, BREAKS OR FAILS TO RETURN WHAT WAS BORROWED.
WE HATE CHEATING. WE DON’T LIKE TO GET DUPED, FOOLED, TRICKED, AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY ANYONE. IT SEEMS TO BE ESPECIALLY PAINFUL IF IT INVOLVED TRUSTED FRIENDS OR FAMILY.
WHAT IS MORE DISAPPOINTING IS WHEN IT IS LATER FOUND THAT THOSE WHO TRICKED AND CHEATED US HAD PLANNED IT OUT ALL ALONG. PREMEDITATED, INTENTIONAL WELL EXECUTED PLANS.
RATHER EVIL? IT SHOULD! ACTIONS SUCH AS THESE ARE NONE OTHER FROM THE SPIRITUAL REALM OF THE DEVIL. AS IT HAS BEEN SAID, “EVIL RARELY LOOKS EVIL UNTIL IT ACCOMPLISHES ITS GOAL; IT GAINS ENTRANCE BY APPEARING ATTRACTIVE, DESIRABLE, AND PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE. IT IS A BAITED AND CAMOUFLAGED TRAP.” 2 CORINTHIANS 11:14, AFFIRMS, “…FOR SATAN HIMSELF MASQUERADES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT.”
THE DEVIL WILL NEVER HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST IN MIND. IN FACT, THE ONLY THING ON HIS MIND IS YOUR DESTRUCTION. WE ARE WARNED IN 1 PETER 5:8, “BE ALERT AND OF SOBER MIND. YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR.”
LIKE A LION, THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS STALKING FOR PREY. HE IS A BLOODTHIRSTY, VIOLENT, RAVENOUS ENEMY WHO QUIETLY WAITS AND WATCHES FOR A CHANCE TO SUDDENLY POUNCE AND VICIOUSLY ATTACK WHEN A HUMAN SOUL LEAST SUSPECTS IT.
YOUR RUIN IS HIS PRIZE. ORCHESTRATING YOUR COMPLETE ANNIHILATION IS HIS PLEASURE. HE PLAYS DIRTY. HE PLAYS MEAN. HE CHEATS. HE FOLLOWS NO RULES AND IS THE MASTER OF DECEPTION AND CHIEF ANTAGONIST. HE SHOWS NO MERCY.
HE LOVES MORE THAN ANYTHING TO “SHOOT THE WOUNDED” AND TO RUB AS MUCH SALT INTO THE WOUNDS HE INFLICTED. HE REALLY WANTS TO MAKE IT HURT AND HURT BAD. HIS GREATEST HOPE IS TO ATTACK WHEN WE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE.
HE USES MANY TACTICS: TEMPTATION, FEAR, LONELINESS, WORRY, AND DOUBT. HE ESPECIALLY LOVES IT WHEN WE BECOME WEARY, DISTRACTED, AND DISTANCED FROM GOD, THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELIEVERS.
IF THIS WASN’T BAD ENOUGH, THERE IS THE STRATEGY IN WHICH HE GOES ABOUT ALL THESE ATTACKS. PAUL REFERS TO THIS IN VERSE 11 AS THE “WILES OF THE DEVIL.”
WHAT MAKES THIS INTRIGUING IS THAT THIS COMPOUND WORD IS ONLY USED HERE AND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. PAUL DID THIS SO THERE WOULD BE NO MISTAKING OR MISINTERPRETING THE POINT HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE.
THE WORD “WILES” CONTAINS THE WORDS “METHOD” AND A WORD MEANING “DECEIT” “TRICKERY” OR “CRAFTY.” PAUL TELLS US THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE STRATEGY OF THE DEVIL, HE IS NOT HAPHAZARD OR BLINDLY TAKING SHOTS AT YOU OR THE CHURCH HOPING TO “HIT SOMETHING.” NOT QUITE!
THE DEVIL HAS A DETAILED PLAN TO DESTROY YOU. HE HAS DEVELOPED AN INTRICATE METHOD OF BOMBARDING YOUR MIND WITH FEAR, ANXIETY, BAD IDEAS, NEGATIVE EMOTIONS, THOUGHTS, AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE ACTS OF DECEPTION TO PUT YOUR LIFE INTO A “TAIL SPIN” OF CONFUSION, UNCERTAINTY, AND DEFEAT.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT “WILES” ARE….WILES ARE TRICKS OR MANIPULATIONS DESIGNED TO DECEIVE SOMEONE. WORDS SUCH AS: COMPROMISE. JUSTIFY. NEGOTIATE. EXCUSES. LYING. PLAYING AROUND WITH YOUR HEART AND MIND TO INSTILL DOUBT AND UNCERTAINTY THAT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD YOU TO A SERIES OF DECISIONS THAT RESULT IN YOUR DOWNFALL AND DEMISE.
AFTER ALL, THAT IS HOW SIN ENTERED INTO THIS WORLD IN THE FIRST PLACE. GENESIS 3:1, ARE THE FIRST RECORDED WORDS OF THE DEVIL, THROUGH THE SERPENT, WHEN HE CHALLENGED EVE BY ASKING: “DID GOD REALLY SAY YOU MUST NOT EAT THE FRUIT FROM ANY OF THE TREES IN THE GARDEN?”
THE “WILES OF THE DEVIL”IN THIS CASE IS THE DECEPTION OF TWISTING GOD’S WORDS. GOD DID NOT SAY THEY COULD NOT EAT FROM ANY OF THE TREES. THE TRICKERY IS NOT ONLY TWISTING GOD’S WORDS, BUT CHANGING THE CONTEXT AND MEANING.
GOD GAVE ADAM THE INSTRUCTIONS (BEFORE EVE WAS CREATED) IN GENESIS 2:16-17, “ BUT THE LORD GOD WARNED [ADAM], “YOU MAY FREELY EAT THE FRUIT OF EVERY TREE IN THE GARDEN— EXCEPT THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. IF YOU EAT ITS FRUIT, YOU ARE SURE TO DIE.”
THE DEVIL IS CUNNING AND A MASTER OF MANIPULATING GOD’S WORDS. THIS IS THE SAME TACTIC USED ON JESUS WHILE BEING TEMPTED IN THE DESERT FOR 40 DAYS. MATTHEW 4:5-6, “THEN THE DEVIL TOOK HIM TO THE HOLY CITY, JERUSALEM, TO THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE TEMPLE, AND SAID, “IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, JUMP OFF! FOR THE SCRIPTURES SAY,‘HE WILL ORDER HIS ANGELS TO PROTECT YOU. AND THEY WILL HOLD YOU UP WITH THEIR HANDS SO YOU WON’T EVEN HURT YOUR FOOT ON A STONE.’”
SATAN IS QUOTING FROM PSALM 91:11-12 BUT DISTORTING IT. HE SAYS “…HE WILL ORDER HIS ANGELS TO PROTECT YOU.” THE PSALM ACTUALLY READS “HE WILL ORDER HIS ANGELS TO PROTECT YOU, WHEREVER YOU GO.” SATAN LEFT OUT A FEW IMPORTANT WORDS.
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? DOESN’T THAT STILL MEAN THE SAME THING? NO! BY OMITTING A PORTION OF THAT TEXT, SATAN IS MAKING IT APPEAR TO BE PROMISING JESUS SOMETHING THAT THE SCRIPTURE DOES NOT PROMISE. SATAN CHANGED THE MEANING!
SATAN IS USING TRICKERY AND DECEPTION TO TEMPT JESUS INTO TESTING GOD. SATAN WANTS JESUS TO TEST GOD BY JUMPING OFF THE TEMPLE JUST FOR KICKS TO SEE IF GOD IS ACTUALLY THERE AND WILL INTERVENE AND SAVE HIM. PERHAPS, SATAN WAS HOPING THAT JESUS WOULD “TAKE THE BAIT,” JUMP, AND DIE ON IMPACT TO END ANY POSSIBILITY OF GETTING TO THE CROSS?
JESUS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS LIE BECAUSE HE KNOWS GOD IS WITH HIM WHEREVER HE GOES. JESUS KNOWS THAT HE DOESN’T NEED TO PROVE THAT TO SATAN OR ANYONE ELSE BY JUMPING. HE DOESN’T JUMP…HE GOES TO THE CROSS, INSTEAD.
THIS IS THE WHOLE REASON THE “WILES OF THE DEVIL” NEED TO BE KNOWN AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THE DEVIL IS THE MASTER OF DECEPTION WITH GETTING INTO OUR HEADS TO TRICK US, TO LEAD US ASTRAY, AWAY FROM GOD, AND TO OUR UTTER RUIN.
HE WANTS TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE CONVINCED THAT GOD HAS ABANDONED AND FORSAKEN US. SATAN WANTS US TO TURN FROM GOD IN DISGUST AND TO ABANDON OUR FAITH IN DISBELIEF.
NO MATTER HOW MANY HAND-CRAFTED, PERSONAL ATTACKS IT TAKES, HE NEEDS YOU TO FALL. SATAN NEEDS YOU TO BLAME GOD AND TO THINK GOD IS CURSING AND PUNISHING YOU. YOUR ISSUES, PROBLEMS, FAILURES AND CHALLENGES IN LIFE ARE ALL GOD’S FAULT. GOD ISN’T FAIR! GOD IS CRUEL! GOD IS DISTANT. SATAN WILL DO ALL HE CAN TO CONVINCE US TO TURN FROM GOD.
HERE IS OUR GOOD NEWS! PAUL OFFERS US COUNSEL ON HOW TO COMBAT THESE ATTACKS AND TO BE PREPARED FOR THESE TRICKS OF THE DEVIL. PAUL IS ADVISING US TO DO THREE THINGS: ONE; PUT ON GOD’S ARMOR. TWO; ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT YOU ARE UP AGAINST AND THREE; STAND FIRM.
FIRST, PUT ON GOD’S ARMOR! I WONDER, SOMETIMES, IF WE HEAR THAT SO OFTEN THAT WE OVERLOOK THAT IT IS GOD’S ARMOR, NOT OUR OWN, THAT WE MUST PUT ON. GOD HAS HIS OWN ARMOR! PAUL WAS REFLECTING BACK ON ISAIAH 59:17, “HE PUT ON RIGHTEOUSNESS AS HIS BODY ARMOR AND PLACED THE HELMET OF SALVATION ON HIS HEAD. HE CLOTHED HIMSELF WITH A ROBE OF VENGEANCE AND WRAPPED HIMSELF IN A CLOAK OF DIVINE PASSION.”
WE CAN’T FIGHT ON OUR OWN TERMS AND ABILITIES. WE MUST BE COMPLETELY PREPARED TO FIGHT. THE WORD “WHOLE” IMPLIES “FULL” AND “COMPLETE” MEANING WE MUST BE WEARING THE COMPLETE SET OF ARMOR. THIS MUST BE A DAILY PRACTICE!
EVERYTHING MUST BE WORN BECAUSE PAUL CALLS THE FIGHT A STRUGGLE. THE WORD “STRUGGLE” COMES FROM THE WORD “WRESTLING” AND IT IS ALSO A MILITARY TERM THAT IMPLIES HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT. THE STRUGGLE IS PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL.
WHAT I FOUND MOST FASCINATING ABOUT PAUL’S LIST OF ARMOR WAS THAT IT WAS ALL THE PIECES FOR PROTECTING THE FRONT OF THE BODY. THERE ARE SOME PIECES OF ARMOR THAT PAUL DOESN’T MENTION. THAT IS A POWERFUL CLUE!
PAUL DOES NOT REFERENCE ANY PIECES FOR THE BACK OF THE BODY. THE IMAGERY OF BEING FULLY EXPOSED IN THE BACK INDICATES THAT THE CHRISTIAN IS TO FACE THEIR ENEMY, FIGHT, AND NEVER THINK OF TURNING IN RETREAT. WE HAVE THE LORD GOD ON OUR SIDE FIGHTING WITH US AND FOR US. WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO FEAR TURNING AROUND AND RUNNING AWAY.
ANOTHER IMAGE OF BEING EXPOSED IN THE BACK, IS TO VISUALLY HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT WE MUST STAY ON THE ALERT AND WATCH EACH OTHER’S BACKS. WE LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. WE NEVER RETREAT AND WE GOT EACH OTHER’S BACKS! PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD AND KEEP IT ON!
SECONDLY, ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT YOU ARE UP AGAINST. PAUL SAYS THAT IT IS NOT “FLESH AND BLOOD” BECAUSE IF IT WERE FELLOW HUMANS, WE WOULD NOT NEED GOD BECAUSE HUMAN STRENGTH WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO OBTAIN VICTORY.
PAUL SAID IN VERSE 12, THAT WE ARE FIGHTING “…AGAINST EVIL RULERS AND AUTHORITIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD, AGAINST MIGHTY POWERS IN THIS DARK WORLD, AND AGAINST EVIL SPIRITS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.”IN MILITARY STRATEGY ONE MUST NEVER UNDER-ESTIMATE THE STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY.
THE EPHESIANS WERE NOTED FOR PRACTICING WITCHCRAFT, MAGIC, AND REACHING OUT INTO THE SPIRITUAL REALMS. THEY HAD FIRST-HAND ENCOUNTERS WITH THE DEMONIC AND EVIL SPIRITS FROM “THE HEAVENLY REALMS.” THEY KNEW WHAT DEMONS WERE AND WHAT THEY WERE CAPABLE OF DOING. SO, THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF WHAT PAUL WAS TALKING ABOUT.
OUR ENEMY IS QUITE POWERFUL, BUT IN JESUS CHRIST, HE IS ALSO A DEFEATED FOE. BUT, WE STILL HAVE TO FIGHT FULLY DRESSED IN GOD’S ARMOR. AS WE PREPARE TO ENGAGE HIM IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE, WE MUST NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY HIS METHODS AND WAYS HE USES TO COME AFTER US. THE SECOND STEP IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHO WE’RE UP AGAINST.
THE THIRD AND FINAL STEP IS TO STAND! I’VE HEARD IT SAID THAT THE EASIEST THING TO HIT IS A STATIONARY TARGET. PAUL IS NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD JUST “STAND THERE AND TAKE IT.” STANDING STILL IS NOT WHAT THIS WORD “STAND” MEANS.
“STAND” IS AN ACTION WORD THAT IMPLIES OFFENSIVE ASSAULT AS OPPOSED TO A DEFENSIVE REACTION TOWARD THE ENEMY. THE WORD MEANS TO “HOLD ONE’S POSITION,” OR “RESISTING” AND EVEN “PREVAILING INSTEAD OF SURRENDERING.” THAT MEANS WE PURSUE, ENGAGE, FIGHT, WRESTLE AND WIN.
THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT ROMAN WARFARE WAS THE STRATEGY ON THE BATTLEFIELD. ROMAN SOLDIERS WERE TO STAND THEIR GROUND AT ALL COST AND NOT RETREAT. THEY KNEW THAT AS LONG AS THEY STOOD THEIR GROUND TOGETHER AND DID NOT BREAK THE RANKS, THEIR LEGIONS WERE CONSIDERED VIRTUALLY INVINCIBLE. ROME RARELY LOST. THE THIRD AND FINAL STEP IS TO STAND OUR GROUND.
THERE IS AN ACTIVE POWER OF EVIL IN THE WORLD AND THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE GROUND. IN ANCIENT TIMES, THOSE “STILL STANDING” AFTER BATTLE WERE THE VICTORS. AS CHRISTIANS, BECAUSE OF JESUS, IS THAT WE WILL CONQUER AND WILL HAVE THE FINAL VICTORY.
CHRISTIANS MUST NOT RUN AND HIDE OR COWER IN FEAR AS IF GOD IS GOING TO DO ALL THE FIGHTING FOR US. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RESOURCES AND ABILITY TO STAND WITH ALMIGHTY GOD, OUR HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS FATHER. WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR. WE MUST ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE VICTORY THAT JESUS IS WINNING OVER SATAN.
WE KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THIS BATTLE AND THE WAR, BUT STILL RECOGNIZE THAT OUR INDIVIDUAL BATTLES CAN BE LOST IF ANY BELIEVER HASN’T DONE ALL THEY CAN TO BE FULLY DRESSED FOR BATTLE AND FOUND STANDING THEIR GROUND.
THIS IS WHY I LEAVE YOU WITH 1 PETER 5:7-11, “GIVE ALL YOUR WORRIES AND CARES TO GOD, FOR HE CARES ABOUT YOU. STAY ALERT! WATCH OUT FOR YOUR GREAT ENEMY, THE DEVIL. HE PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION, LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR. STAND FIRM AGAINST HIM, AND BE STRONG IN YOUR FAITH. REMEMBER THAT YOUR FAMILY OF BELIEVERS ALL OVER THE WORLD IS GOING THROUGH THE SAME KIND OF SUFFERING YOU ARE. IN HIS KINDNESS GOD CALLED YOU TO SHARE IN HIS ETERNAL GLORY BY MEANS OF CHRIST JESUS. SO AFTER YOU HAVE SUFFERED A LITTLE WHILE, HE WILL RESTORE, SUPPORT, AND STRENGTHEN YOU, AND HE WILL PLACE YOU ON A FIRM FOUNDATION. ALL POWER TO HIM FOREVER! AMEN.”
