When I played football in high school, just about every week during the season was the same. Mondays were film day. On Tuesdays, we focused on putting in our offense that could score against our opponents defense. On Wednesdays, the focus was on our defense and learning how to defeat their offense. Thursdays were mostly a review. Fridays were a brief walk-through. Saturdays were game days.
It would have been foolish to go into a game without having studied and practiced against what we expected to see in the game. Victory depended on us being aware of the offensive and defensive schemes we would see against us on Saturday.
In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God so that we can take a stand against the devil’s schemes. The armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and the shield of faith. Many of us are familiar with the armor, even if we don’t always put it on.
The armor is critical, but I think it would also help to understand the “devil’s schemes.” When Paul warns us to take a stand, what are we standing against?
Let’s start with deception. Satan is a deceiver. He is the father of lies. He deceived Adam and Eve by convincing them God was holding out and couldn’t really be trusted. It’s a tactic he continues to use today. If he can convince us that God isn’t really good and really can’t be trusted, then we’re left with no choice but to get our needs met apart from God. And that only leads us into trouble.
To combat deception, we must know and believe the truth. Unless we allow the word of God to “dwell in us richly”, we will be vulnerable to the enemies lies and deceptions. Spending time in God’s word renews our minds and the mind is where the battle is fought.
What lies or deceptions are you vulnerable to? Are you tempted to believe you’d be happier married to someone else? Is he telling you that you’re not hurting anyone by looking at pornography? Has he convinced you that food or shopping or alcohol or a drug will make you feel better?
It’s important to recognize the lies when they first come. If we don’t, we may believe them. If we believe them, we’ll act on them. Those acts easily become habits, which can become addictions and idols.
Knowing the truth, so we can recognize the deception, is our defense.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at two of the enemy’s other schemes.