THE WILES OF THE DEVIL
Ephesians 6:10 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. 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.
We have a very powerful enemy, with very devious means of warfare against us. He is referred to as the “accuser” in Revelation 12:12; as the “tempter” in Matthew 4:3; as a “liar” and “murderer” in John 8:44; as a “lion” in 1 Peter 5:8; as a “serpent” in Revelation 12:9; an “angel of light” in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; and as “the god of this world (age) in 2 Corinthians 4:4.
That word, “wiles” means “strategies and deceits” of the devil. Consider Ephesians 4:14. It speaks of his “cunning craftiness” which he instills in those who would oppose us. 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;
But this reveals to us what a mighty Savior and Lord we have as He is Satan’s Lord and Master! 1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Therefore James gives us a two-fold act in resisting the powers of Satan. For he instructs us that it is in submitting ourselves first to God that we resist the devil, causing him to flee from us. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
And one of the main ways the Lord instruction’s require our submission is found in Matthew 5:25. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. And we know that our main adversary is the devil. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Therefore when he acts out one of his main wiles as that of his being our accuser, bringing up our past sinful state, our Lord tells us to quickly agree with him! For he is actually telling us the truth! We were but transgressors when the Holy Spirit, sovereignly and without any cause, except for God’s eternal purpose, brought grace and mercy into our hearts. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
For this wile of the devil is going to give us opportunity to exalt Christ as being a great Saviour! For if we were not guilty of trespasses and sins against the holy God, a two-for-a-nickel Jesus would have sufficed! But being great sinners, we needed a great Saviour! Therefore agreeing with our adversary as he dregs up our sin results in a good, honest confession for our souls, and in the exalting of the Holy Lamb of God in his providing a perfect redemption! Then the devil, despising any involvement in the honoring of our Master, flees from us!
And since all things work together for good for those called according to the purpose of God, the devil’s forcing us to confess ourselves as sinners is a spiritually healthy matter! For with the mouth confession is made unto salvation! Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Therefore it is only confessed, realized sinners who have any assurance of God’s salvation by His sovereign grace alone.
And the scriptures never tell us to confess our sins to anyone but the Lord. They only instruct us to “confess your faults one to another.” James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. And that verse in the Amplified Bible implies that it is in the praying for the sick (see James 5:15) that confession of, “your slips, your false steps, your offenses, you sins” can be discussed with those praying for you, in order “that you may be healed and restored to a spiritual tone of mind and heart.”
For when other true believers are praying for one “overtaken in a fault,” they will also take thought that they are capable of being likewise tempted. Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
We must keep in mind that our adversary is a defeated foe! Our sovereign Lord did that at the cross. Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
And we have this pictured for us in Christ’s revelation to the Apostle John. Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Not only does the devil’s wiles include such accusations against us in our waking hours, but they also include trying to terrify us in the night. Job 4:12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. 13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, 14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. 15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: 16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, 17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
We must therefore be careful what we do and what we say during the day, as dreams can come through the influences of our daily involvements. The daily christian walk is of great importance, not only to our submission to the Lord, but also in our resistance to the devil. Ecclesiastes 5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
Let us now consider the revealed mind of our Lord, as to what He purposes to be for our peace of mind and joy of heart, overriding the devil’s wiles and even overcoming our own doubts and fears. Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
There is a ‘oneness’ of purpose between the Father and Son concerning our secure spiritual perseveration. Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.
The devil, like the giant Goliath is far stronger in his person than the little believer, like David, the shepherd boy. But when we face the devil in submissive faith, he will flee from us. gb
