Ephesians chapter number 6 tonight. Ephesians chapter number 6. Last time we said that this Word that we find in verse number 11, talking about the wiles of the devil. Let's look at the verse 11. put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The word wiles sometimes is translated schemes. We must be aware of the methods that he uses, the craftiness, cunning, deception. That's what we're going to be talking about tonight. Satan's evil schemes are built around stealth and deception. I want you to make no mistake, Satan and his demons seek to attack us as believers. He just does. And just as we should use all of the armor and arsenal that we've been given to us to thwart his attacks, I want you to understand that he uses everything he can in his effort to defeat us. That's why we need to stand strong. And tonight I want us to Take a look at some ways that Satan attacks the saints. I thought it would be good for us to look at this from a biblical perspective and see nine ways that I found anyway. I'm sure there's probably more. But the more that we know how Satan attacks, the better off that we're going to be whenever we try to thwart those attacks. So we're not going to spend a lot of time on each one of these. We'll be here a while again. But we will turn to quite a bit of Scripture tonight. I trust that you'll take time to join us in some of this. First thing I want us to see is Satan attempts to impugn God's character and the credibility of both God and His Word. Now he's been doing that from the very beginning. You find him doing that with Eve. in the Garden of Eden. Yea hath God said? Is that what God said? God doth know. In other words, God was... He tried to impugn the character of God. Say, God's holding out on you, Eve. He hasn't told you everything. Tried to take and impugn God's character and His credibility. He did the very same thing against Job. If you remember Job, was a man that was perfect and upright, one that feared God and eschewed evil. The book of Job opens up. But we see Satan comes against him. Satan goes before the Lord to get permission to do some evil against Job. Verse 8, the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth? a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil. That's the way that God looked at Job. And Satan answered the Lord and said, Doth Job fear God for naught? Hast thou not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. but put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." What was he doing there? He was accusing Job of being a paid lover. The only reason he loves you is because you're good to him. You take away the goodness. And he's going to curse you. And we know that what he was trying to do is get Job, get the Lord to open up, let him attack, and thinking that Job was going to turn on God, And that's the way that he works. He tries to impugn God's character and the credibility of both God and His Word. In countless variations, Satan will continue to tempt us to doubt God's will. And sometimes to doubt God's motives. Why God allows something. That's kind of the deal with what was happening with Job. Why is God letting this happen? And we know that it caused us also to doubt God's love and God's care. Second way I want us to see, and if you'll turn to Acts chapter 13, I want us to take a look at some verses here in chapter 13, chapter 14. Satan attacks this way. He seeks to undermine present victory by generating trouble that makes our lives difficult. I like to put it this way. If you are in a place of blessing, be on your guard. If you're in a place of blessing, be on your guard because Satan is not too far behind to try to take and tear you down. Good example. is that we see Satan had to undermine present victory by generating trouble that makes our lives difficult. We see the example there of Paul and Barnabas' missionary journey. Acts 13, verse number 42. We see here that when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, It says that the Gentiles were sought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. The Jews didn't want to hear, but lo and behold, the Gentiles wanted to hear. Paul said, OK, we'll do that. Verse 43, Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God. Well, we would say, well, praise God, man, what a great crowd we got. Well, it wasn't all good. We see there in verse number 45, but when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Now, again, our battles are not flesh and blood. What was happening here? Satan was behind that. These guys saw the flesh and blood battle, but it's a spiritual battle. Satan was trying to cause them trouble to get their focus off of the Lord, get their focus off of what they were doing. And we see here that they preached, notice verse 46, And Paul and Barnabas waxed bold. I mean, they weren't going to back down. They said it was necessary that the word should first have been spoken to you, but seeing you put it from you and judged yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation to the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as were ordained to the eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But... Things were going well, wasn't it? But the Jews stirred up. the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coast. And they shook off the dust of their feet against them and came unto Iconium." Notice it says that the disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Ghost. They didn't let it bother them. Yeah, I mean, they weren't happy about that happening, but they praised God and it went on anyway. Notice in chapter number 14 there, it came to pass in Iconium, that's the next place it went, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews in Sospeg, and they had a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. Praise God! Amen? But, there it is, God's blessing, but the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil-affected against the brethren. Who's behind that? Satan is. Satan is behind it. And you see all down through this particular chapter. Let's skip down here to verse number 19. And there came together certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Well, time to quit and go home, isn't it? We would think so, wouldn't we? Most of us would. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and came into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and taught many, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch. They went back the same way they came, even though they had had trouble there. Amen. They were focused on what the Lord had given them to do. They were not focused upon these that were trying to upset what they were doing. Satan tempts us to forsake our adherence and obedience to God's standards and God's calling. He wants people to quit. He wanted Paul and Barnabas to just go home. Y'all just call it quits, go home, say we can't do this, we can't get this done. But that's not what they did. In fact, 1 Corinthians 16, 9, Paul said, For a great door and effectual is open unto me, and there are many adversaries. Many adversaries. Look at Acts 19. Verses 8-10 here. Acts 19 verse number 8. and understand that they just found a group that had not received the Holy Ghost. This is a transitional book. And of course, we know that not everybody was involved in that initial day of Pentecost, what happened there. There were 12 here that Paul was able to see that they received The Holy Spirit in verse number 8 is what everyone would pick up at. There were 12 of those. And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. And when divers were hardened and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude. He departed from them and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one tyrannous." Now who's behind all that? Who's behind all the dispute? Well, we know. And Paul knew. And it says in verse 10, he didn't quit. He says, "...and this continued by the space of two years, so that all which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. And so in the midst of blessing, Satan tries to attack, and he just kept right on going. I'm not going to have you turn to 2 Timothy 4. We looked at that passage this morning with this morning's message. But we saw there how nobody stood with Paul, but nevertheless, the Lord stood with him. I just remind you of that. The Lord will be with you. Number three thing here, Satan attacks believers through doctrinal confusion and falsehoods. That's why we took so long looking at how to interpret Scripture properly and how we looked at the Scripture twisting methods that they use to confuse and deliver falsehoods. Believers who are not students of God's Word easily fall prey to wrong ideas about the things of God. And that's why God has given in the church, He's given apostles and prophets and evangelists and pastors and teachers. He says that in Ephesians 4 verses 11-14. He's given those for the purpose of perfecting And that word perfecting is talking about complete furnishing of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. And he talks about until we all come in the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God and to a perfect man, until we measure the stature of the fullness of Christ. And verse 14 is what I want to get to. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by slight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love may grow up in Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." The Lord doesn't want us to be drawn away into error. And that's why He's given the church and the ministers of the church to be able to teach and preach the Word of God. But you've got to be under the teaching and preaching. And when you hear, you've got to listen. You've got to listen. You can't fall asleep. You can't joke around. You'd distract somebody else if you do that. What you need to do is pay attention and let the Lord speak to your heart. And don't allow Satan to hinder you. Paul asked a question to the Galatian church. And we know the Galatian church was drawn into doctrinal confusion by the Judaizers. And he said in Galatians 5, 7, that you did run well. Who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth? We know that Paul mentioned two blasphemers by name that he said he had to deliver to Satan. Hymenaeus and Alexander. It's talked about in 1 Timothy 1.20. Why did he do that? Because, listen, if he hadn't have done something with them, they would have caused more believers doctrinal confusion and falsehoods. Number four, Satan attacks God's people by hindering their service to him. I know this is related to number two, but let me share with you here. Listen to the different places where Paul talked about the hindrance that came his way. Remember how the Romans, it's not been a long time since we've been in the book of Romans, but you remember when we were early in the book of Romans, the Roman church wondered why Paul hadn't come. Was something wrong? He had a problem with them? And he let them know right off the bat. In chapter 1, verse 13, he says, And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oft times I purposed to come to you, but was let hitherto. In other words, he's prevented from being able to go. Romans 15, 22. He told them again as he's getting toward the end of the book. He said, For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. It's not that he lacked a desire to go there. But twice, the beginning and the ending of the book there, he mentions that he was hindered. In 1 Thessalonians 2.18, Paul said, Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us. And again, you can look through all the book of Acts, And you're going to see the apostles hindered almost at every juncture. Even when they were accomplishing great things, it seemed like Satan was wanting to battle and hinder what they were doing. Don't think that you're going to be in the service of God without having some hindrance, because it's going to come. And again, it's not flesh and blood battles. It is Satan behind those attacks. Now here's a big one, and I want you to pay attention to this. Satan attacks believers by causing divisions among them. This is one of the main tactics today. I see this happen. There's churches that have their doors closed because they allow Satan to get a foot in the door and cause divisions within the house of God. 1 Corinthians 1 and verse number 10 1 Corinthians 1, verse number 10, Paul is speaking to the saints there at Corinth. He says, And I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that they should be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. And the reason why he brought that up is found in verse 11 and 12. He says, For it hath been declared unto me of you by my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. And he talked about where those contentions lie. Now this I say, that every one of you say, I am of Paul, and I am of Paulus, and I am of Cephas, and I am of Christ. It was a deal with personalities there. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? We know that the Lord is not pleased with divisions in our midst. Look at 2 Corinthians 2. And we see another passage here. 2 Corinthians 2. And look at what Paul had to say in verse 10 and 11. And this is going to lead to a place I do want you to turn. If you don't bother turning here, I would like for you to turn to Hebrews 12 in just a moment. But here in 2 Corinthians 2, verse 10-11, it says, To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also. For if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ. Notice this, lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of His devices. When we have somebody that offends us, and we're not willing to forgive, that's a problem. That's one of Satan's devices. Look at what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews chapter number 12. Hebrews chapter number 12. Look at verse number 14 and 15. And it says here in verse 14, follow peace with all men. That's what we ought to try to do. We ought to try to be at peace. Especially with one with another, but we ought to try to be at peace with others as well. Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently. Lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled. I can't tell you how many times I've seen in local churches people that get a root of bitterness springing up in them and it troubles them and it troubles the church. Other people are defiled because of it. God help us to maintain a right heart attitude and to have Have a little forbearance in our lives to put up with one another. We're called to forbear. And forbear means to put up with. Amen? Because if you don't give anybody any grace at all, guess what? You're not right with the Lord. Just not. Look at number six on our list there. Satan attacks believers by persuading them to trust their own resources instead of trusting God. That's a big one. Realize that one of our greatest strengths is for us to trust God fully. And how can you trust God fully in your life? Because Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 tell us that's what we're to do. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. That's trusting God fully. And lean not into thine own understanding. In other words, don't try to figure it out yourself. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. One of Satan's objectives is to cause us to trust something or someone other than the Lord. He just does. And so we have to watch in that area of trust that Satan doesn't get us to trusting our own resources, trusting in some other folks that are in our life. Number seven, Satan attacks believers by leading them into hypocrisy. He loves for us to talk a good talk, but not walk a good walk. He loves for us to say one thing with the mouth, but to live contrary to what we say. And what I'm saying, man, we've got to guard against being like the scribes and the Pharisees. Scribes and Pharisees were hypocrites. That's what Jesus called them. And He really wrecked them over the coals in Matthew 23. I'm not going to take time to turn there. Let me encourage you to read that. They were very religious, but they were very hypocritical. And we must guard against hypocrisy in our life because it's so easy to do. You ever see Phariseeism pop up in your own life? It's not a pretty thing when you honestly look at your life and you see it pop up there. Number eight, Satan attacks believers by leading them into worldliness. There's a good example of this in 2 Timothy 4.10. A fellow by the name of Demas who is mentioned in Colossians 4.14. In fact, in Colossians 4.14, he's mentioned that he was greeting the believers in the Colossian church along with Paul. That's a good thing, right? He was serving God at one time in his life. What happened? Well, he got his eyes on the world. 2 Timothy 4.10 says, For Demas hath forsaken me. It's Paul talking to Timothy here. Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica." God helped us to get our eyes off the world. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. That's what the Apostle John said in his first epistle there. We're not to love the world. Satan got his eyes on the things of this world and it's so easy to get your eyes on those things and it will pull you away from God and pull you into being worldly and pull you away from being godly. Number nine, Satan attacks believers by leading them to disobey God's Word. And we know 1 Peter 5, verse 8 and 9, We know that Satan is an adversary. And it talks in 1 Peter 5 verse number 8. It tells us as believers to be sober, to be vigilant. because your adversary the devil has a roaring line walked about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Resist steadfast in the faith. And that's why it's so necessary to be clothed with the armor of God and have the weapons that are given to us, the weapon of the Word of God in prayer. Ephesians 4.27 tells us, neither give place to the devil. Neither give place to the devil. Don't let the devil get an inch on you. Don't give up an inch. And that has to do with our standing against the wiles of the devil. Amen? So Satan has an in-force. But remember that God has promised us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He's won the victory for us. 1 Corinthians 15, 57. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. If you're going to be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, you've got to be clothed. the whole armor of God. God's given us the whole armor of God with which we can stand victoriously against the schemes of Satan. And He's graciously provided the armor. It's His armor. It's the whole armor of God. But we must be obedient to do as He tells us. You've got to put it on. Armor doesn't do you any good if you don't put it on. There are five pieces of armor here with which we should be clothed. And a once and for all decision should be made by us. I'm gonna wear the armor. I'm gonna wear the armor. And then I believe daily we should make sure that the armor is in place. And Lord willing, we're gonna take a look at one of those pieces of armor for each of the next few weeks. Lord willing, next week we're going to consider Ephesians 6.14 where it says, Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth. Talk about the belt of truth, the girdle of truth. Paul was in prison when he was writing that. He was being guarded by a Roman soldier who probably had most if not all of the armor there. I imagine he just kind of took a look and it reminded him of the things we need to do to guard against the attacks of Satan. So let's be wise with regard to how Satan attacks. It helps if you stay in the Book. If you stay in the Book, the Lord will remind you of those things. Sometimes we have a tendency to forget. That's where the Lord uses me a lot of times. Sometimes we go over stuff that we've gone over before. The reason for that is to remind us. We get so forgetful. that we get so forgetful. Alright, let's pray and then we're going to have the invitation. Father, we just thank You so much for the Word of God. And we thank You how, Lord, You have warned us and You have shown us in Your Word. We see the examples of the things we've talked about so that we can be wiser about how Satan might attack us. And Lord, if we are wise through that, When those attacks come our way, we can successfully know how to shield ourselves. And that is to take up the whole armor of God and Lord, to be wise unto those things that He attacks, the areas He attacks. Help us with these things, Lord. We know that You pay the price for our sins and You saved us. Thank God for that. Lord, help us to see. You paid it all, but we owe You everything. Lord, help us to not sit on the sidelines, but Lord, to be busy about Your business. We pray all this in Christ's name, Amen.