SWORDS Bible Study: Ephesians 6:11

By Mari

 

Hi SWORDS!

All caps are for emphasis only!

This week we will look at Eph 6:11: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

It is most interesting to note that the Lord is directing us to put on the WHOLE armor of God…not just a piece or two as we think we might need them, but the whole armor! Why?

So we may STAND against the wiles of the devil!

Do you believe that you are familiar with the wiles of the devil, or that you can fight him and his wiles on your own, without God’s armor? Before you answer, let’s take a look at what the “wiles of the devil” are all about…by understanding the meaning of the word wiles:

1. Trick, artifice, or stratagem meant to fool, trap, or entice; device.
2. Wiles, artful or beguiling behavior.
3. Deceitful, cunning; trickery.

Verb (used with object)

4. To beguile, entice, or lure (usually followed by away, from, into, etc.): The music wiled him from his study.

First of all we need to understand that today we do not see Satan as the evil that he IS! That’s because in this present dispensation he presents himself as an angel of light, perhaps as a false religious leader who lights a way for men causing them to THINK they are following God!

Satan uses this stratagem of deception quite well to fool, trap, or entice people by teaching FALSE doctrines. He is all about corrupting the SOUND doctrines of God. This is the FOCUS of Satan today, to tear apart sound doctrine, keep unbelievers blinded, confuse believers, and hopefully to render them of no earthly good to the Lord.

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

To counter his efforts, it is OUR job as ambassadors of Christ to spread SOUND doctrine/truth (Titus 2:1; Eph 3:9).  OUR responsibility as the church is to be the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15) as Satan continues to promote his confusing false doctrines (1 Cor 14:33). He does this not only through those who are IGNORANT of sound doctrine, but also through those who KNOW sound doctrine, but have NO love for the truth. (2Th 2:10; 2Tim 4:3-4)

Paul gives us many helps, directions and safeguards from the Lord.

Tit 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Our weapons in this battle are NOT carnal 2 Cor 10:3-7, they are SPIRITUAL, they are DOCTRINAL (Eph. 6:11-18), ACCORDING TO THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST (v.19). You see, it is the preaching of the mystery, the truth of the Bible rightly divided (IITim.2:15), that ruins the wiles of the devil!

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Satan may turn himself into a minister of “truth” to us (2 Cor 11:13-15), but he is not strong enough to win the battle over Christ, for Christ is ultimately the head of Satan and his host.

Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Christ is the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

He is the head, we are members of His Body. When the members of His Body are wearing the full armor of God and are rightly dividing His Word, we are complete in Him and can better see the deceptiveness of the devil!

Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Those Satan may use, for one reason or another, to spread false and confusing doctrines of devils are helping the darkness by trying to prevent the spread of truth and the doctrines of God.

2Co 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Satan uses people, men and women who transform themselves into “apostles of Christ”…just as Satan himself transforms into an angel of light! How are people transformed into ministers of righteousness?

NOT with any supernatural satanic power, but through the power of their own sin, their own lust, as they PREFER the lies of the devil to the truth of God.

Do you know anyone this evil, who would actually prefer Satan to God?

I don’t think most people set out to go against God directly, accepting Satan as their God, though surely there ARE some who do! I believe it is more often accomplished little by little as men prefer their own way, their own understanding over God. They let themselves be blinded to the truth that does not fit in with their image of what truth should be. Slowly, slowly they turn away or perhaps never choose to believe the God of the Bible, the word of God and His plain-spoken truths.  Instead, choosing their own perception of what is good and right.  Either never saved or saved and living a life of their own making. Making themselves into their own light, being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine:

Eph_4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

This is the wiles of the devil, deceiving people into thinking that their way is better, actually godlier, and more acceptable to more people.  It is true, many think they can do more than God has asked, and instead of this being an affront to God, they believe they have made themselves holier through their own determinations of what should and should not be!

Some do not bother with the armor of God because they believe they can rely on their own inner compass for what is right and wrong, and what is of the devil and what is not, despite what the word of God may have to say! Oh the wiles of the devil to make someone feel so important and justified in their FEELINGS instead of the DOCTRINES of God.

And what does God tell us to do about it?

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil

It is only when we stick to God’s doctrine that we are no longer tossed to and fro …that we are able to stand in the truth of His doctrine with our armor on fully. What we learn from the word of God here is that it is only AFTER putting on the whole armor of God that we are able to STAND against the wiles of the devil!

We know it is not armor that we have made…it is not armor made out of worldly materials…it is armor made by God and it is spiritual. It is put on by faith and worn by faith.

It is put on and worn by those who believe God’s word rightly divided. It is SOUND DOCTRINE that is put on and worn by every believer who believes we are in a spiritual battle and wants to withstand in the evil day.

The armor of God is worn so that we will stand in His truth, in His righteousness, prepared with His gospel of peace (Eph.6:15), shielded in faith (v.16), in the hope of our salvation, with the truth of the word of God before us (v.17), with all prayer and supplication for all the saints, praying for boldness in speech (v.18)….

For what?

Declaring the mystery (v.19)!

Making known the mystery of the gospel of the grace of God, which is the ANSWER to Satan’s wiles.

Once again we see the importance of the armor of God. In the end it is to help us make known the mystery of the gospel (Eph 6:19-20).

We can see and understand what our goal is! We understand how the wiles of the devil try to stop us at every turn from making known the truth of God to others.

Eph 3:9-12 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.