THE WILES OF THE DEVIL

Please stand and turn to Ephesians 6:10-16 (p. 1255) while I read it.

“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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:10-16).

My text is Ephesians 6:11,

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

The Devil and his demons are out to trick you and destroy your Christian life.

And yet I am surprised that so little is said today about the “wiles of the devil.” There is only one hymn on this subject in most hymnals – and it was written in the 7th century! Let us sing it – to the tune of “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” It is the only hymn that specifies the “wiles of the Devil and his demons.” Stand and sing it!

Christian, dost thou see them? On the holy ground,
     How the powers of darkness Compass thee around?
Christian, up and smite them, Counting gain but loss,
     In the strength that cometh, By the holy cross.
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war,
     With the cross of Jesus Going on before.

Christian, dost thou feel them, How they work within,
     Striving, tempting, luring, Goading into sin?
Christian, never tremble, Never be downcast;
     Gird thee for the battle, Watch and pray and fast.
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war,
     With the cross of Jesus Going on before.

Christian, dost thou hear them, How they speak thee fair,
     “Always fast and vigil, Always watch and prayer.”
Christian, answer boldly, “While I breathe I pray.”
     Peace shall follow battle, Night shall end in day.
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war,
     With the cross of Jesus Going on before.
(“Christian, Dost Thou See Them?” by Andrew of Crete, 660-732;
       translated by John M. Neale, 1818-1866; chorus from
         “Onward, Christian Soldiers” by Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924).

You may be seated.

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That is a Catholic hymn. I don’t know of a single Protestant hymn that speaks of the wiles of the Devil as well as that hymn by Andrew of Crete (660-732).

Dr. A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) said,

“When we are first converted, especially if one comes from a non-Christian background…our trust in other Christians is likely to be boundless. That there could be hypocrites…never once enters our minds…our first encounter with a worldly church member comes as a shock to our sensitive minds. They become religious cripples. Their growth is stunted and their usefulness is greatly hindered from that moment on” (The Size of the Soul, p. 57).

Some of you may think I have been too hard on Chan, Waldrip, and John Cagan. But I don’t think so. If you come through a church split, you are made aware of the “wiles of the devil” right away.

I myself went through a horrible church split before I was saved. My Sunday School teacher left the church, stole money at gunpoint, and became an unbeliever. It shocked me, but it did not stop me.

My wife, Ileana, went through an awful church split when she was a new Christian. Over 80 of her closest friends left in that split, but it did not stop her at all.

Pastor Wurmbrand was put in jail and beaten by the Nazis before he became a saint. It did not stop him.

Dr. Tozer was ridiculed by his unsaved family to the point of despair before he became a prophet for God. It did not stop him.

Dr. Cagan was treated very badly by his “friends” who split our church before he became a saint. But it did not stop him.

Mrs. Salazar was beaten by her wicked husband before she became a saint. But it did not stop her. She is probably the strongest saint in our church today. It did not stop her.

These saints of God were strengthened by seeing unbelievers act like hypocrites. It made all of them realize that “the wiles of the devil” were powerful – so they became stronger Christians.

But many others were destroyed by the church splits they saw. But they were all the exceptions. Most weak Christians were “blown away” when they saw the horrible crimes the hypocrites committed in our church! Jesus said,

“Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6; p. 1024).

Dr. Tozer said,

“It is better to die than to imperil the faith of the weak Christian. Christ’s words may mean more than this, but they can hardly mean less” (ibid., p. 58).

“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead” (Proverbs 21:16; p. 687).

Dr. John R. Rice was one of the greatest saints I have met. Here is his favorite hymn. It’s number 2 on your song sheet. Stand and sing it!

Jesus, I my cross have taken, All to leave and follow Thee.
     Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition, All I've sought, and hoped, and known;
     Yet how rich is my condition, God and heaven are still my own!

Let the world despise and leave me, They have left my Saviour, too;
     Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like man, untrue;
And, while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might,
     Foes may hate, and friends may shun me; Show Thy face, and all is bright.

Man may trouble and distress me, ‘Twill but drive me to Thy breast;
     Life with trials hard may press me, Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
O ‘tis not in grief to harm me, While Thy love is left to me;
     O ‘twere not in joy to charm me, Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

Haste thee on from grace to glory, Armed by faith, and winged by prayer;
     Heaven’s eternal day’s before thee, God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days,
     Hope shall change to glad fruition, Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.
         (“Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” by Henry F. Lyte, 1793-1847).

Remain standing and sing number 1 on your song sheet,

Christian, dost thou see them? On the holy ground,
     How the powers of darkness Compass thee around?
Christian, up and smite them, Counting gain but loss,
     In the strength that cometh, By the holy cross.
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war,
     With the cross of Jesus Going on before.

Christian, dost thou feel them, How they work within,
     Striving, tempting, luring, Goading into sin?
Christian, never tremble, Never be downcast;
     Gird thee for the battle, Watch and pray and fast.
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war,
     With the cross of Jesus Going on before.

Turn to I Peter 5:8-11 (p. 1315).

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (I Peter 5:8-11).