Ephesians 6:10–12– “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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.”
Notice that the word “against” is used 6 times in three verses. There is one enemy we don’t stand against; and one we do. The one in which we do stand against has a multi-front attack, four to be exact. They are upon us, already. Yes, that means now. You’ve been under attack already on these fronts. What are they? Glad you asked, but let’s discover first the one enemy we stand against and the one we do not.
We put on the armour to “be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” That’s the enemy. He is a hostile nemesis, a very real combatant on the field of war. This entire text speaks of combat, conflict, rivals, and vigilance. One of the key words is: stand. That requires our own set of vigilance and passion in the conflict. To be “able” to stand, brings with it the converse thought of not being able to stand. Without an accurate outlook on this text, therefore our spiritual life, we will falter, we will fail, and we will be knocked down. This is not God‘s will, therefore he has enlightened us as to what is happening around us and to us in this battle of life.
The enemy has patterns. This is the insight God let’s us have right off the bat. Remember that your enemy is a created being. The word “wiles” is ‘methodeias’ and means a method of scheming, craftiness, deceit. In the first century they used it commonly as: predictable behavior. We are therefore instructed to stand against Satan’s predictable methods. General George Patton studied his enemy. He read every book he could get a hold of about Erwin Rommel, known as the Desert Fox. Patton would sit down with strategists and people whom knew Rommel before the war, just to know how his opponent thought and maneuvered. It worked. Patton’s courage was absolute, but he needed to out maneuver his opponent. He needed to know what was going to happen next. He could do so, by knowing the predictable methods Rommel would typically deploy. For us, we should see a change in our awareness to this. We won’t win them all, but we should be able to reduce the frequency of losses and subsequent casualties.
This is also mentioned by Paul in 2 Corinthians 2.11– “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Here, he’s mentioning forgiveness. The lack thereof can allow Satan an open door for tempting. Why give him an advantage in the fight? It doesn’t make sense to do so. The point to bring out would be the last portion… “we are not ignorant of his devices.” Satan has ways of doing things. We should see it coming. Temptation is going to come and it will take us under occasionally. But, we can know his range of attack at least. If we know there are certain things that open an opportunity for Satan, wouldn’t we be wise to close it? Don’t be ignorant of his devices. He has strategies and they are normal and common for each of us. Some are tailor made, but typically even those still appeal to our flesh or pride. In this case, unforgiveness is the open door that needs to be slammed shut by forgiveness. It opens a door for him to tempt our pride. Shut it.
The enemy has emissary’s at his disposal. Four in this case. An emissary is defined as a person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative. Nothing more true could be said of these fronts against us. They are diplomatic representatives of the kingdom of darkness. They are vicious vipers, war hardened and prepared better than you. Here they are…
- Principalities (rulers). The word ‘archer’ which means one who rules in a magisterial sense. There are people set up over us intentionally by Satan for the persecution and/or destruction of the gospel as we know it. God is above them, but be aware of this front.
- Powers (authorities). The word ‘exousia’ or authority literally means weight or weighty. This is usually used in the sense of a moral authority, or so called authority. Typically used as one who has influence over said authority. There are those who have ‘authority’ conferred power; delegated empowerment over us in this world on such matters. Satan loves to influence the influencers who then tell us how to live. They are pawns in the game. My God hasjurisdiction over them too.Be aware of this front, it’s on the news every day.
- Rulers of the darkness of this world (cosmic powers of darkness). This is straight up demonic activity with little or no middle man. ‘kosmokratór’, one with dominion to rule. They are a ruler of this world, that is, of the world as asserting its independence of God. They are literally a world-ruler, by ruling people in this world’s system.
- Spiritual wickedness in high places (spiritual forces in heavenly places). The word for spiritual is cousin to spirit as in human, or holy. It’s a being higher than man but inferior to God (wicked in this case). The word for heavenly places here means: heavenly, celestial, in the heavenly sphere, the sphere of spiritual activities. This is unearthly activity affecting life here on earth. There is then a great battle in array, that we cannot see. Cosmic forces are in play. God is still above that.
Be vigilant to stand against these. This is not generic, it is specific. We are to focus our attention against these fronts of attack. These emissaries of Satan are sent against us all day every day, we are not to be ignorant of it.
Don’t go at this in your own strength or intellect. Paul warned in verse 10– “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” When the attack comes, and it will, make sure to depend on Sovereign God (Lord). He knows, and is almighty. How foolish for us to engage our intellect and strength against an enemy that has 6000 years experience shredding humans. Allow the Spirit to guide and facilitate. Be sensitive to His voice and promptings. Then, and only then, will we be fully prepared for the onslaught headed our way…every day.
Finally, the one enemy we don’t stand against, or go to war with, is “flesh and blood”. This is not a human thing for us any longer. The evil presented against us, is unearthly, with earthly chess pieces. The wiles of the devil often are other people of flesh and blood. Be aware of this… it’s Satan against Jesus and using us and others in the process. Next time you want to retaliate on that person or situation, wait. God, through Paul, just told us to see beyond their face and see the real struggle against us. Who are you really against? They don’t wear jeans, do they? Be careful who you’re against before you get flanked.