Wiles of The Devil

By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas

 Introduction

The Bible teaches us about “the wiles of the devil.” When we stop and think about what exactly that means, most people are clueless and do not understand what the Bible is teaching us as Christians.

The Bible teaches us to put on the armor of God so that we can stand against the wiles of the devil. This is a clear indication that the devil is using “wiles” against believers in Christ, or we would not be instructed to stand against the wiles of Satan.

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

God expects every believer in Jesus to take a stand against these wiles. The sad truth is that most believers in Christ Jesus are not aware of the fact that Satan is plotting against them, and they are not prepared to take their stand against the devil because they aren’t aware of all the tactics that the kingdom of darkness is using against them.

2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Satan is taking advantage of many believers because they are either ignorant of the devil’s devices, or they refuse to take their stand against Satan as the Scriptures teach.

 Definition of Wiles

Wiles (plural noun): Devious or cunning stratagems employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants.

Stratagems (plural noun): A plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end.

 Based on the definition of the word wiles we can clearly understand what it means. What the Lord is conveying to us as Christians are two things:

• The devil has schemes or “tricks” he uses to manipulate or convince people to do what he wants them to do.
• These schemes are designed to outsmart people so the devil can gain an advantage in order to achieve his plans in a person’s life.

 Satan’s Purpose: Kill, Steal, Destroy

Jesus taught us exactly what Satan’s plans are:

John 10:10 (KJV)
“… kill, steal, and destroy”

All of the devil’s plans are based on killing, stealing, and destroying the lives of others. The devil has stolen the peace, joy, health, finances, and most important the faith and devotion to God from many people’s lives and many are clueless how it all happened. The bible is clear that Satan is looking for a way into a persons life, and the devil is plotting his wiles against them and the Lord is expecting them to take a stand against Satan.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

The Lord is expecting all believers to take their spiritual position against Satan and stand against all that the arrows that Satan shoots against them. We are to stand firm in faith using the word of God against all of the wiles of the devil. The Lord wants all believers to use their faith to “quench” every fiery dart that the devil throws at them. Faith in God is your shield, and the word of God is what quenches all the darts thrown at you by the devil.

Ephesians 6:16-17 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

If a believer ignores this, they will be defeated by the devil. If a believer takes their stand, they will defeat Satan and all of his wiles.

 Example: Destroying the Family

Let’s say for example that the devil wanted to destroy the family structure of a home and cause a divorce to ruin a perfectly good and godly marriage. Satan cannot just walk into a home and begin separating people by force.

Instead, he devises a well thought-out scheme to cause people to want to separate themselves.

• Step 1: He plants a subtle thought of doubt about the marriage.
• Step 2: That thought grows like a seed.
• Step 3: Doubts create division.
• Step 4: Eventually, separation and destruction occur.

This tactic is not new—this is exactly what the devil did in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).

 Satan’s Attack in Genesis 3

1. The Initial Attack – Planting Seeds of Doubt and Unbelief in God and His Word

Genesis 3:1 (KJV)
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

Satan planted a seed of doubt in Eve’s thoughts. Up to that point, she had no issues in her life—until she began to entertain the devil’s lie.

2. Eve’s Error – Not Resisting the Thought

Genesis 3:2-3 (KJV)
“2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”

3. Satan Reinforces the Doubt

Genesis 3:4 (KJV)
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.”

Genesis 3:5 (KJV)
“For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

Satan twisted God’s Word and convinced Eve that his lie was good for her.

4. Eve Acts on the Lie

Genesis 3:6-7 (KJV)
“6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”

 The Mind: Satan’s Battlefield

The wiles of the devil always begin as subtle thoughts of doubt. These thoughts aim to:

• Cause doubt in God and His Word.
• Create separation between man and God.
• Break down relationships, marriages, and families.

When people give place to Satan in their thought life, it opens the door for bigger problems—spiritual, financial, relational, and more.

Romans 12:2 (KJV)
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”

 What we continually think about is what we eventually become.

Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
“…whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report… think on these things.”

 Resisting Evil Thoughts

The Bible commands us not to think evil thoughts.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (KJV)
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.”

Evil thoughts are like seeds planted by the devil in billions of minds. This is why there is so much evil in the world.

 The Devil Sows Bad Seeds

Jesus explained this in the parable of the tares:

Matthew 13:36-39 (KJV)
“The enemy that sowed them is the devil…”

Some believers think Satan’s seeds only affect unbelievers. But John warned us clearly:

1 John 3:8 (KJV)
“He that committeth sin is of the devil… For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

 Sin always comes from Satan. Jesus came to destroy it.

 Devices and Strongholds

2 Corinthians 2:9-11 (KJV)
“…Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

• Device: A plan, method, or trick with a particular aim.
• Stronghold: A fortified place of bondage in a believer’s life.

Satan builds strongholds in people’s lives to keep them trapped in sin. His greatest fear is that they will call on the Lord for deliverance.

 The Good News: Deliverance in Christ

Even if you’ve been ensnared by Satan’s wiles, Jesus can set you free!

Joel 2:32 (KJV)
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered…”

 Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and deliver all who call upon Him.

 Conclusion

The wiles of the devil are subtle, dangerous, and designed to destroy. But as believers, we have hope:

• We are equipped with the armor of God.
• We can renew our minds with God’s Word.
• We can stand strong and call on Jesus Christ for deliverance.

 Don’t be ignorant of Satan’s devices.
 Guard your mind and resist evil thoughts.
 Walk in victory through Christ!

Conclusion:

God wants you to believe the word of God to the point of attacking the devil with the word of God every time Satan rises up against you, the Lord has already defeated the devil when Jesus died on the cross but God wants you to follow the example that Jesus gave us to destroy Satan’s wiles, and his kingdom.

Jesus is our example to follow:
1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”

What God expects from every believer:
Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”