Ephesians 6:10-13 comments: standing against the wiles of the Devil

10 ¶  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The word, “wiles,” we find first in the Old Testament. In the context it is linked to, “beguile.”

Numbers 25:18  For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake.

The pagan prophet, Balaam, when he realized that he could not oppose God by cursing the Israelites launched upon a different stratagem.

Numbers 31:16  Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Balaam’s trickery was of a sexual nature and this would work well with the Israelites who were easily seduced by the loose morals of the Canaanite women, whose very religion was consumed by sexual misconduct from incest to bestiality. It was a powerful temptation then as it is today.

The only way to stand against Satan’s cunning and trickery is to put on the whole armor of God. This is our defense and our offense against Satan’s deceptions. God reveals his power and strength through all of the weapons of defense and offense He has given us. Remember what we are fighting against in reality. It is not the gubmint or, “those people.” It is Satan’s effort to destroy our witness for Christ, the pull of our flesh, and the demands of the world system to adore it rather than Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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; 6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The location of Satan’s power, as he is called the prince of the power of the air, in Ephesians 2:2, is above us. The powers in this verse are not physical powers but spiritual.  The spiritual wickedness spoken of here, said not to be flesh and blood, is not necessarily in palaces and government buildings, but in the heavens above us, “spiritual wickedness in high places.” The “rulers of the darkness of this world,” are spiritual beings. Remember that, in the beginning darkness covered everything.

Genesis 1:2  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

 God called the Light to reveal Himself.

Genesis 1:3 ¶  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And God divided the Light from the darkness.

Genesis 1:4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

The darkness could neither understand nor conquer the Light.

John 1:5 ¶  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

The Lord Jesus Christ is that Light.

John 1:6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

These clear references to the physical universe are also allegories for what is going on in the spiritual world we cannot see.

You can resist the government all you like and still be defeated by Satan. You can resist every bad influence, every corrupting influence, and every oppressing influence, stop paying your taxes, destroy your television, and barricade yourself in your house and still be defeated by Satan. The war is not in this dimension of existence. It is in the spirit.

13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Again, “the whole armour of God,” is repeated. You cannot fight this fight without every piece of this kit. The Holy Spirit doesn’t repeat things for no reason. You will not be standing at the end of the day of trouble without “having done all.” The list of what you need is coming next.