Demonic Schemes and the Armour of God

Standing firm in evil days

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

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Paul instructs the Ephesian believers to put on the whole armour of God, leaving nothing out, so that they may be able to stand against the “schemes” of the devil. The term translated here as “schemes” refers to cunning deceit, craft, and trickery. It is the same word Paul used earlier in the letter regarding the danger of being blown about by every “wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (4:14). Thus, “schemes” refers here to cunning and deceit that is specifically doctrinal in nature.

When Satan assails the saints it is often through subtle lies aimed at corrupting the truth. This is what he did to Eve in the garden (Gen. 3:1) and what he attempted to do to our Lord in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11). The church, therefore, must gird herself with the belt of truth and wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, against all such lies.

What this entails is being daily renewed in the spirit of our minds (Eph. 4:23) and learning to see ourselves, and the world, in accordance with the revelation of truth given in the gospel. It entails having our understanding so shaped by the reality of Christ that we are able to destroy every argument and lofty opinion that is raised against the knowledge of God and “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

It entails taking up the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, and the helmet of salvation, and being ready at all times to proclaim the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:14-17). In short, it entails a whole-personed submission to the Lord Jesus Christ and unconditioned obedience to His authoritative Word.

In a culture overrun by the doctrines of demons (1 Tim. 4:1), the church needs to recover this as one of her primary tasks. The victory is the Lord’s, but He will not conquer through idle saints. May we therefore be diligent to give ourselves to these things and take our stand in these evil days, being strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (v. 10).