As one prepares to engage an enemy in warfare, it is important to understand conditions on the battlefield. Our battle field is not in the physical realm. Paul wrote the Ephesians that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood" (6:12). To the Corinthian church he wrote, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal . . .)" (2 Corinthians 10:3,4). This war then is in not fought with physical weaponry on a material battlefield. Where do the battles take place? In the spiritual realm. How? Through our thoughts and those of others as expressed in a variety of ways. Note how Paul continued in 2 Corinthians 10:4,5 "but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." The war involves "casting down," defeating, imaginations, and thoughts opposed to God. Then bringing them to Christ.
How the enemy will attack is also important information for successful warfare. The attack involves "the wiles of the devil." The Living Oracles translation published by Alexander Campbell translates the phase as "the crafty ways of the devil." Insight into his crafty ways is seen in Genesis 3 and his attack on Eve.
Now the serpent was more subtle 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? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 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. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 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’s attack began with a question designed to create doubt, did not God say you may eat of every tree of the garden? Genesis 2:16,17 records what God said: "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." God did say as Satan implied but He also immediately qualified it with the prohibition against eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. After creating the doubt; he lied, you will not die. God simply does not want you to be like He is. God is operating from a selfish motive. The tactic of Satan led Eve to view the fruit differently. She saw it as a new source of food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for the wisdom Satan said it offered, she rebelled against God and ate the forbidden fruit. Additionally she offered it to Adam who also ate it.
Satan continues to operate the same way. He wants to create doubt about God’s way and present some new way of thinking and acting. And he has a great deal of help as Paul pointed out in Ephesians 6:12. There are principalities, powers, rulers of darkness in league with the devil for the war. We must be prepared for the deceptive attacks that they launch against us in the spiritual realm.
More next week.
—Denny