Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV) 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For the last two weeks, I have been talking about obtaining favor by walking in a position of strength. I believe this is an important element in bringing favor into the life of a believer. I want to restate that the favor I am talking about here is not favor with God. We already have that. Throughout the bible, we see times when God has given his people special favor with other people. Sometimes it is with a group of people and sometimes with one or two key people.
God wants to give us favor but we need to be in the proper position to receive it. We need to be committed to the will of God. We need to walk according to the commandments of God and we need to follow God’s ways. I also believe that God can more readily bring favor to someone who understands that their relationship with the Lord puts them in a position of strength in the spirit even when they may seem to be in a position of weakness in the flesh. This was the case with the Israelite women who asked their Egyptian neighbors for treasure during the exodus.
Last week we began looking at the full armor of God as something that is necessary in order for a believer to live from a position of strength. God has provided this battle clothing so that we can walk through “enemy territory” and not be afraid of attack. Even though attack will come because we live in a warzone, the armor God has provided for us will protect us. It is important that we put on our armor and know how to use it if it is going to help us.
The parallel that we can see in our own day is the body armor worn by our soldiers in the field. For the first time in centuries, the individual soldier has armor that is effective against the weapons of the day. When a US soldier goes against an enemy who has no body armor, he is in a position of power against that enemy. He is not invulnerable, but he is much less vulnerable than his enemy is.
In future weeks, we are going to look at this armor in detail. We will learn what each piece is and how it works to protect us from the enemy. We will also look at the offensive potential of our armor. We tend to think of armor in a strictly defensive way, but the Greek word used by Paul in Ephesians 6:11 does not mean defensive armor alone but the whole weaponry available to the soldier. We need to know how to go on the offensive against our enemy as well.
Today I want to look at the purpose Paul gives for putting on the whole armor of God. Certainly, it is that we may be “strong in the Lord” as stated in verse 10, but there is another reason given in verse 11. Paul says that we must put on this armor so we may stand against the wiles of the devil. Another important element in operating from a position of strength is intelligence. I am not talking about being smarter than your enemy is but knowing your enemies plans and methods. Look at this verse from 2 Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV) 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
The context of this statement is an incident in the Corinthian church involving someone who needed to be disciplined. The discipline was carried out and Paul says it is time to forgive the man, so he will not be “overcome with sorrow.” He then tells them that Satan can take advantage of us if we do not understand his “devices.” This word carries the idea of a plan or purpose. Paul tells us we need “intelligence” concerning the plans and purpose of the enemy.
One of the most important battles in World War II highlights the value of intelligence. The United States had been severely damaged by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. By June of 1941 The US was still in a very dangerous position in the Pacific. The Japanese Navy greatly outnumbered the navy of the United States and the vastness of the Pacific Ocean determined that the war against Japan would be a naval war.
In the spring of 1942, the United States code breakers had managed to break the Japanese naval codes. The Japanese plan was to attack some strategic American target and lure the US aircraft carriers into a decisive battle. If they could destroy the American carriers, the Japanese believed the US would be forced to sue for peace. Because of the US Naval Intelligence service, the Americans knew the Japanese plan.
This intelligence enabled the United States to turn the tide on the Japanese. Naval Intelligence found that the attack would occur in early June at a place called Midway Island. Because they knew the enemy plan in advance, the Americans were waiting when the Japanese arrived. Instead of Japan destroying the American carriers, the Japanese carriers were destroyed. Japan never recovered from this defeat.
In 1943 and 1944, the Japanese built seven new aircraft carriers. In the same period, the United States built ninety of these all-important warships. The naval intelligence victory at Midway gave the United States time for its economic and industrial advantage to take hold. How different might the outcome of World War II have been without this important victory? No one can say, but knowing the plan of the enemy in this battle literally changed history.
Paul says that the armor of God will enable us to stand against the “wiles” of the devil. In 2 Corinthians 2:11 we read that we should not be ignorant of his devices. These two words have similar meanings. What are the “wiles” or “devices” of the devil? How does he come against us? What are his plans? When we learn these things, we will not only be strong defensively but we will be able to go on the offensive. I am tired of simply responding to the attacks of the devil. I am ready to take the battle to the enemy just as the US Navy did at the battle of Midway.
Join me tomorrow for an intelligence briefing.
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