Considering Our Enemy
Ephesians 6:11:b-12
We previously considered our “battle position”–stand, withstand. We are in a defensive position in a hostile world, more hostile than we can even imagine. God has set up His “lighthouses” as beacons of righteousness, peace and joy in this world, and having done all, we are to stand. But lest we take this “standing” lightly, thinking this means just standing around, and underestimate the necessity and quality of God’s armament, we must consider the enemy, our adversary.
I. Vs 11b We are to stand against the wiles of the devil! Our environment is not neutral–it’s a battlefield!!!
A. A brief, inspired biography of our enemy from the lips of our Victor, Christ Jesus.
John 8:44 Speaking of the Pharisees, but by implication, of all the “children of disobedience (Eph. 2.2), “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and stood not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks out of his own resources (person, being) for he is a liar and the father of it (lies).” This is in stark contrast to Jesus’ statement of Himself in vs 40, “...A Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God.”
Eph. 2:2 Recall that Paul says that we “once walked according to the course (path, way of walking) of this world”, and that that course, what is normal to “worldlings” is determined by the prince (ruler) of the power of the air, and it is he, the prince, who is the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. In John 12:31 and 14:30, Jesus speaks of satan as the ruler (KJV prince) of this world. This is why in John exhorts us to “love not the world.” in I John 2:15 If anyone loves the world, “the Love of The Father is not in him.”
The “world lover” has a different master, a different prince. THERE IS NO THIRD OPTION!!!
I John 5:19 After giving great encouragement (vs 18-19b), John gives a sobering statement as to rule, “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” In Rev. 12:9, John again says that “that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world.”
II Cor. 4:3-4 Paul lays the spiritual blindness of sinners to the gospel call at the feet of “the god of this age. The deadness and blindness of the lost soul is far beyond any convincing argument or persuasive words. Only those who have been drawn by and learned from the Father come unto Jesus. John 6:44-45 it requires One stronger that the strong man to “spoil” his house.
See Luke 11:`17-23
Eph 6:11b Satan doesn’t play fair–he is wiley! We are way out of our league!!!
Wiles–#3180 methodia His “M.O.” is trickery, crafty, deceit, cunning. Remember the warning in Eph 4:14 against the devils minions who seek to trick the saints of God, “in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive.” His main target is the Word of God, both written and Personified. “Has God said?”
He knows our weaknesses, which are often our very “strengths”. Were it not for the Prayer of His Great High Priest, Peter would have been satans fodder! Luke 22:31-32
B. Vs 12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.” Satan is not omnipresent, nor is he omniscient! But he has his minions doing his bidding–the angels that left their “first estate”, their created order as servants of the Most High God .(Jude 6)
Note: Except for Titus 3:1( where this phrase refers to governmental authorities that Paul exhorts us to be subject to) and this verse, Christ Jesus’ power and authority is stated in the context that He is over all principalities and powers, having put them under His Feet! (Ps. 110:1). Rom 8:38; Eph 1:21(by His Resurrection), 3:10; Col 2:15; I Pet 3:22 (by His Ascension). According to Jude, satan’s “ministers” operate on borrowed time, just like their master.
Vs 12b “Against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenlies.” They run the show on this earth-think powers!
Luke 22:51-53 Peter attempted to use fleshly weapons against those under control of the rulers of darkness. Jesus sets him and us straight–“But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Consider Peter’s “interpretation of this and ensuing events in Acts 2:23–“Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken with lawless hands, have crucified and put to death, Whom God raised up!
Acts 26:18 These are the “power of satan” that the Gospel alone can deliver from. They take on whatever form that is needed to enslave humanity, especially religion. (Vs 17) II Cor 4:4
Col 1:13 These are the “governors” of the kingdom of satan, the power of darkness that defines our existence, until “ the Father qualifies us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, transferring us into the Kingdom of the Son of His Love!!!
Whatever is used to keep us in the dark as to our spiritual condition and the wrath of our Creator to come, whether seemingly legitimate or not, these are at the bidding of the rulers of darkness, the spiritual hosts of wickedness. They are most effective when they wear a tidy, “moral garment”, making us feel good about ourselves!
C. The lion: I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour.” Peter was well acquainted with his adversary. (Matt 16:23; Luke 22:31; Gal 2:11)
I have saved this passage for last because it is the perfect preface to Paul’s treatise on the Armor of God and our desperate need of it.
Luke 22:53 Recall Jesus’ words, “this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Couple that with John 12:31, Jesus’ prediction of his death–“Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” And then this crucial passage, right before Jesus goes into the garden to pray, John 14:30–“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, AND HE HAS NOTHING IN ME.”!!!!!!!!!!
Beloved, our Lord Jesus Christ is the only man that satan couldn’t sink his teeth into!!! He had no sin, nor inclination to sin. No other human, by any measure of piety, by any measure of austere legalism, can keep satan from sinking his canine teeth into him. He is the ruler of this age. He has an innumerable army of powers to do his bidding in the affairs of humanity. Only One Greater than he can defeat the strong man. (Matt 12:28-29) Our enemy is already judged, defeated. (John 16:11)
And that brings us to our armament. We will see that every piece of armor is a description of the Person and Work of our Jesus. Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Philippians 3:3 “For we are the circumcison, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Eph. 6:10 “FINALLY, MY BRETHREN, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.”
Ephesians 6:11:b-12
We previously considered our “battle position”–stand, withstand. We are in a defensive position in a hostile world, more hostile than we can even imagine. God has set up His “lighthouses” as beacons of righteousness, peace and joy in this world, and having done all, we are to stand. But lest we take this “standing” lightly, thinking this means just standing around, and underestimate the necessity and quality of God’s armament, we must consider the enemy, our adversary.
I. Vs 11b We are to stand against the wiles of the devil! Our environment is not neutral–it’s a battlefield!!!
A. A brief, inspired biography of our enemy from the lips of our Victor, Christ Jesus.
John 8:44 Speaking of the Pharisees, but by implication, of all the “children of disobedience (Eph. 2.2), “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and stood not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks out of his own resources (person, being) for he is a liar and the father of it (lies).” This is in stark contrast to Jesus’ statement of Himself in vs 40, “...A Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God.”
Eph. 2:2 Recall that Paul says that we “once walked according to the course (path, way of walking) of this world”, and that that course, what is normal to “worldlings” is determined by the prince (ruler) of the power of the air, and it is he, the prince, who is the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. In John 12:31 and 14:30, Jesus speaks of satan as the ruler (KJV prince) of this world. This is why in John exhorts us to “love not the world.” in I John 2:15 If anyone loves the world, “the Love of The Father is not in him.”
The “world lover” has a different master, a different prince. THERE IS NO THIRD OPTION!!!
I John 5:19 After giving great encouragement (vs 18-19b), John gives a sobering statement as to rule, “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” In Rev. 12:9, John again says that “that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world.”
II Cor. 4:3-4 Paul lays the spiritual blindness of sinners to the gospel call at the feet of “the god of this age. The deadness and blindness of the lost soul is far beyond any convincing argument or persuasive words. Only those who have been drawn by and learned from the Father come unto Jesus. John 6:44-45 it requires One stronger that the strong man to “spoil” his house.
See Luke 11:`17-23
Eph 6:11b Satan doesn’t play fair–he is wiley! We are way out of our league!!!
Wiles–#3180 methodia His “M.O.” is trickery, crafty, deceit, cunning. Remember the warning in Eph 4:14 against the devils minions who seek to trick the saints of God, “in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive.” His main target is the Word of God, both written and Personified. “Has God said?”
He knows our weaknesses, which are often our very “strengths”. Were it not for the Prayer of His Great High Priest, Peter would have been satans fodder! Luke 22:31-32
B. Vs 12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.” Satan is not omnipresent, nor is he omniscient! But he has his minions doing his bidding–the angels that left their “first estate”, their created order as servants of the Most High God .(Jude 6)
Note: Except for Titus 3:1( where this phrase refers to governmental authorities that Paul exhorts us to be subject to) and this verse, Christ Jesus’ power and authority is stated in the context that He is over all principalities and powers, having put them under His Feet! (Ps. 110:1). Rom 8:38; Eph 1:21(by His Resurrection), 3:10; Col 2:15; I Pet 3:22 (by His Ascension). According to Jude, satan’s “ministers” operate on borrowed time, just like their master.
Vs 12b “Against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenlies.” They run the show on this earth-think powers!
Luke 22:51-53 Peter attempted to use fleshly weapons against those under control of the rulers of darkness. Jesus sets him and us straight–“But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Consider Peter’s “interpretation of this and ensuing events in Acts 2:23–“Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken with lawless hands, have crucified and put to death, Whom God raised up!
Acts 26:18 These are the “power of satan” that the Gospel alone can deliver from. They take on whatever form that is needed to enslave humanity, especially religion. (Vs 17) II Cor 4:4
Col 1:13 These are the “governors” of the kingdom of satan, the power of darkness that defines our existence, until “ the Father qualifies us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, transferring us into the Kingdom of the Son of His Love!!!
Whatever is used to keep us in the dark as to our spiritual condition and the wrath of our Creator to come, whether seemingly legitimate or not, these are at the bidding of the rulers of darkness, the spiritual hosts of wickedness. They are most effective when they wear a tidy, “moral garment”, making us feel good about ourselves!
C. The lion: I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour.” Peter was well acquainted with his adversary. (Matt 16:23; Luke 22:31; Gal 2:11)
I have saved this passage for last because it is the perfect preface to Paul’s treatise on the Armor of God and our desperate need of it.
Luke 22:53 Recall Jesus’ words, “this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Couple that with John 12:31, Jesus’ prediction of his death–“Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” And then this crucial passage, right before Jesus goes into the garden to pray, John 14:30–“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, AND HE HAS NOTHING IN ME.”!!!!!!!!!!
Beloved, our Lord Jesus Christ is the only man that satan couldn’t sink his teeth into!!! He had no sin, nor inclination to sin. No other human, by any measure of piety, by any measure of austere legalism, can keep satan from sinking his canine teeth into him. He is the ruler of this age. He has an innumerable army of powers to do his bidding in the affairs of humanity. Only One Greater than he can defeat the strong man. (Matt 12:28-29) Our enemy is already judged, defeated. (John 16:11)
And that brings us to our armament. We will see that every piece of armor is a description of the Person and Work of our Jesus. Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Philippians 3:3 “For we are the circumcison, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Eph. 6:10 “FINALLY, MY BRETHREN, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.”