Eld Chew Chong Kiat

I.    Introduction

A Christian is only as strong as God is! But what more do we need? “What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?” (Rom 8:31) O what power we often forfeit, because we lean on arms of flesh, and trust in vain horses and chariots, instead of taking to arm the armour and weaponry provided by God “to stand against the wiles of the devil” (v11b).

Now to convince us further to arm, the Apostle instructed us on our foe. When we are ignorant of the fierceness and potency of our foe, we will not think it necessary to be armed with what have been provided. I recalled how I disliked the heavy steel helmet in my recruit days, taking every opportunity to take it off to cool the head and ease the neck. But no soldier will do so in the heat of battle with bullets and shrapnel flying, but will hold down every piece of weapons provided to him for his dear life.

II.   Our Foe (v11c-12)

1. He is crafty foe. “the wiles of the devil” (v11c). The Devil is our enemy and he is wily and crafty. He is the master of deceit, and he and his devils lie in wait to seek an opportunity to destroy our testimony by leading us to sin. He knows our weaknesses and will attack us at our weakest if God permits. But Satan, with all his wits and wiles, will never succeed if we are clad and standing with His spiritual armour of graces.
2. He is a wrestler. “We wrestle” (12a) Wrestling involves two in a contest, and victory is decided when the victor is able to hold his opponent down with his hand upon his neck. He is a professional who had fought in countless matches but we are infants and amateur before a giant. The Christian's life is a perpetual warfare, a continual wrestling against a deadly foe who seeks to incapacitate our witness.
3. He is not “flesh and blood” (12b). He is a spirit, invisible to the naked eyes and the battle is spiritual. All the carnal weapons of the flesh that man possess, no matter how powerful they are in this world are useless for this battle. We need an armour that is spiritual and mightier.

How then is the devil and his angels described?

1. 1. Satan is a fallen archangel (Eze 28, Isa 14). He did not fall alone, one-third of the angels fell together with him (Rev 12:4), called the devils, too many to be numbered when we compare with the innumerable two-third good angels in heaven (Rev 5:11).
   2. He is in control of the “principalities” and “powers” of this world. Satan is called the great and mighty prince in this world in John 12:31. We see for example how he was in control of the Roman authority and the Sanhedrin council to seek the death of the Messiah. Even today, he is in control of the political, military, and economic powers. Only the restraining power of God had given us days “to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (1Tim 2:2) How foolish of man to think that he can trust in his military might, economic sanctions and political alliances!
   3. Satan and his subordinate fallen angels are term “rulers of the darkness of this world”. They exercise control, through the system and philosophies of this world, over the minds of all who are still in bondage to sin. All who do not follow Christ, comes under the control of the devil and can also be his agents, mostly unaware. Even Christians can become his agents like Peter (Mt 16:23) when they do not do the will of God, but their own will.
   4. Satan and his angels are called “spiritual wickedness”, i.e. wicked spirits. They are depraved, malicious and evil in their intent. There is nothing good in them.
   5. They are said to dwell “in high places”, e. in the air, of which he is called the prince. Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

III.  Our Need to Arm (v13)

v13 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.

The Apostle having described the enemy, bids the Ephesians to arm, describing the days that Christians live as “evil day” because of the maliciousness of our foe. Without the use of God’s armour, we cannot stand in that day. Our natural gifts and graces and strength cannot defeat our enemy and we will be taken captive. But with the whole armour provided by God, every piece in place, neglecting none, we “may be able” (i.e. have the power) to “withstand” and resist the powerful enemy.

Note that we are not commanded to destroy him or to bind him, which the Charismatics fancy. James likewise exhorts “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (Ja 4:7, emphasis added). We just need to stand against him in the might and grace that God provides by remaining holy according to Scriptures, and he will not succeed against us, but flee from us, not because of us but because of God who is with us and for us. To undergird this point, the Apostle added “having done all, to stand”, to remember that the victory is sure, and when the battle is over, and the dust has settled, we will stand victorious through Him who has gotten the victory on our behalf.

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)